William Welch was born circa 1734 in Fauquier County, Virginia near Tin Potts and Licking Run Creeks. His parents were THOMAS WELCH and DORCAS BUTLER, d/o JOSHUA BUTLER and GRACE PAIGE. Thomas Welch received a Northern Neck Land Grant in 1725 [Northern Neck Grants Book A, P-138]. Thomas Welch died in 1752 leaving sons William (and wife Alice), David (and wife Frances), John (and wife Elizabeth), Joshua, Daniel, and Benjamin [Fauquier County DB-1, P. 511]. In 1762, William Welch married Alice Settle in Fauquier County, VA. In the same year , a William Welch received a South Carolina land grant for 150 acres on Lynches Creek near present Darlington County [SC State Grants, Vol. 35, P. 363]. William apparently lived near Society Hill SC until about 1795 by which time both Alice Settle and his second wife, Bibbe Bruce (widow of Caleb Bruce) had died. William Welch and Alice Settle’s known children were: George, b. c1764, Daniel, b. c1765, Suckey [Suzannah], and Polly [Mary].
While living in Cheraws District, SC, William served with the South Carolina Volunteer Militia (1779) during the American Revolution [Stub Indent #240] and in 1780 by provided food and forage for the Continental Army [SC Stub Indent #66]. His brother, Daniel also served with the Volunteer Militia [S.C. Stub Indent #241]. The 1790 US Census of Cheraws SC shows Daniel Welch living near Rev. Edmund Botsford. William Welch lived nearby. David Welch and wife, Frances, settled in Pendleton District S.C. (now Anderson County) where David died in 1807. A Benjamin Welch also lived in Anderson Co SC. Joshua Welch lived in Pittsylvania, VA where he died in 1789. John Welch may have remained in Virginia.
By 1800 William Welch was living in Greenville County [1800 SC Census, Roll 47, P.276, #1261]. William came to Greenville District SC around 1791 where records show he leased 500 acres from Richard Brooke Roberts. Two years later he purchased the land, however, did not record the deed until 1797 [GCDB-D-P.340]. This land was located on a branch of Raburn’s Creek of the Reedy River near the Laurens County line.
A Trover Suit filed in Greenville SC in 1807 explains William’s marriage to Bibbe Bruce. The suit regarded ownership of a Negro woman named Chloe, her son, Ben and her daughters, Rose, Viny, and Fanny, formerly belonging to Caleb Bruce. In 1807 William Welch was in possession of Chloe and her children. [Court of Common Pleas, Greenville, SC, Box 81, No. 2152 and 2156 Judgement Rolls, S.C. Archives]. William Bruce and Wright Bruce brought the suit. Witnesses for William Welch was an old family friend, Thomas Allen of Rowan County North Carolina, (son of George Allen, dec’d, of Warren County, North Carolina, formerly of Fauquier, Virginia) and Rev. Edmund Botsford, Pastor of the Welsh Neck Baptist Church in Darlington, South Carolina. There is no indication any children were born to William Welch and Bibbe Bruce.
The 1800 U.S. Census Greenville SC, indicates William was widowed. He married for a third time to a widow, Mrs. Elizabeth Jones by 1810. Elizabeth was the mother of William Welch, Jr. (b. about 1807, d. about 1820) [GCDB-O, P280, GGCDB-P, P.137]. There may have been an earlier son also named William whose name appears on the will of WILLIAM COOPER, ca 1793 SC. When William Welch died in 1818, he left to his wife, Elizabeth, the Raburn’s Creek property until her death or remarriage.[Elizabeth m/3 Asa Wright.] Children from William’s will: DANIEL, GEORGE, POLLY, SUCKEY, and WILLIAM, JR. [WBA-288-Apt.8-File#514]. Also named were sons-in-law Henry Reans, and Thomas Austin; Linney Wels; and Negroes, Ben and Chloe. Probate records indicate there were eleven Negroes. Greenville CoSC Census records indicate Daniel Welch was widowed in 1800. Daniel Welch married (1) _____ ; and second, Priscilla _____(Roe?); George Welch married Mary _____(?d/o David McCulloch, d.1795 Laurens Co SC); m/2 (?) Elizabeth (?). George left Greenville County by 1809, evidence indicates he settled in Montgomery County, AL.
16 July 2001
Bennie Lou Hook Altom
Baltom@NovaOne.Net
