King George, Stafford, Prince William
and Fauquier Counties VA

THOMAS WELCH was born circa 1700 (possibly VA), m. circa 1728 DORCAS [Dorias] Butler; died  1752 in Prince William Co.,VA.  On 9 October 1724 Thomas filed for a land grant in Stafford and King George Counties, Virginia adjoining NATHANIEL HEDGEMAN, THOMAS GARNER, etc.  This deed was cancelled and the land granted by deed folio 138.  [VirginiaNorthern Neck Grants A, 1722-26, P. 88.]  On 15 April 1725, Thomas, Lord Fairfax granted to Thomas Welch 1,267 acres in King George County, Virginia,  beginning at Nathaniel Hedgeman's line and adjoining Gardner's land.  [Virginia Northern Neck Grants, A.,  Page 138].

In 1725 THOMAS WELCH brought suit against PETER HEDGEMAN  in King George County VA. [King George County Orders 1725-1728, P. 300-Sparacio 1992, P. 5.] 2 Oct 1730 THOMAS WELCH of Hanover Parish, King George County sold to SAMUEL BRONAUGH and JEREMIAH BRONAUGH 600 acres of the 1,267 acres, wife, DORCAS WELCH [Dorias?] released her dower by Power-of- Attorney to  WILLIAM STROTHER, and JOHN WRIGHT. [King George CoDB A-1, Pp92-96, Sparacio, 1986.]   Thomas Welch was one of the appraisers in the Estate of JAMES JONES of King George CoVA in 1744 [Page 316, Will Abstracts of King George CoVa, 1752-1780, Sparacio.]  Thomas' will was probated 13 April 1752, in Prince William CoVA.   The will is not extant but is quoted in Prince William CoVA Minute Book, Page 71 [Sparacio] and again in Fauquier CoVA Deed Book 1, Page 302-304 [Gott].  On  25 September 1756,  JOHN WITHERS purchased 664 acres of THOMAS WELCH's estate but clear title was unavailable until BENJAMIN WELCH became 20 years of age.

Fauquier County, VA Minute Book (1764-1765) Page 29 records conveyance of the remaining 498 acres of THOMAS WELCH's Tin Pott and Great Run property to JOHN WITHERS of Stafford County, Planter.  Heirs are listed: DAVID WELCH and FRANCES his wife; JOHN WELCH and ELIZABETH his wife; WILLIAM WELCH and ALICE his wife; JOSHUA WELCH, DANIEL WELCH, and BENJAMIN WELCH, sons and devisees of THOMAS WELCH, late of Prince William County, now Fauquier County. It is from this indenture to John Withers; the family of  THOMAS WELCH of  Fauquier County VA (ca1700-ca1752)  is identified. [Fauquier CoVA Deed Book 1, Pp. 511-512 Gott]   Fauquier CoVA Deed Book 1, Page 302-304 [Gott] states that David is the oldest son, and further states that David, Joshua, John and William are the four oldest sons with Benjamin identified as the youngest.

U.S. Census records indicate that Thomas' son, DAVID WELCH and his wife Frances [Mitchell?] settled in Pendelton District SC (now Anderson County) where he died in 1808.  BENJAMIN WELCH  also moved to Pendelton County.  WILLIAM  and DANIEL WELCH settled in Darlington County SC where they  contributed to the American Revolution effort.  [SC Stub Indent #66-214.]  Around 1795 William moved to Greenville County SC where he died in 1818.  JOHN WELCH  and JOSHUA WELCH  may have remained in Virginia.
 

( 22 March 2000 - Bennie Lou Hook Altom, 9966 Galway Drive, Dallas, TX 75218-2821 / 214-327-9260 / BAltom@NovaOne.net).