This information has been compiled from my years of researching from family notes, letters, news clippings, census, birth, marriage, death and pension records, as well as other secondary sources such as the much noted Margaret Campbell Pilcher papers, the John E. Sunder novel of Joshua Pilcher, and many biographical sketches. My thanks to those who have genrously contributed their family photos and information.

Descendants of the Joshua Pilcher of Culpeper County, Virginia remain in general opinion that he was the son of James Pilcher, who was the son of Robert.  With this in mind, Robert shall be considered the first generation, but descendants of Joshua can expect the line to be followed with greater certainty. 

Since it is my intention to make available as much information as possible, I have now included all the Pilcher descendants of this line which I've traced.  If you have records that can prove helpful in linking them, or find errors, please feel free to contact me with documentation so I can make those changes.

I may also have information on other branches of the Pilchers that are not included here, and have extracted census records of other Pilcher lines, so please check my census index for their surname, and my outside links for other websites regarding branches not of this direct line. Thank You - Patricia Peters

Robert Pilcher was said to have been born about 1708 and emigrated from Wales to Maryland in the early eighteenth century, which following an interlude of royal rule, had emerged as a center of resistance to British policy in the period preceding the outbreak of the American Revolution.

In 1744, following the imposition of the royal tax on tea, Maryland patriots burned a tea ship and a popular convention was organized in the same year to direct the revolutionary movement. 

During this period Robert Pilcher had a son James, and had moved his family to Stafford County, Virginia where James grew to manhood, married Phoebe Fielding and had a son, Joshua who was born in Culpeper County, Virginia in 1749, the same year the Virginian planters had established fur trading posts in the Ohio Valley.

Five years later, the American conflict began in which colony rivalry gradually developed between France and Great Britain over these lucrative fur trading posts, the lands west of the Appalachian Mountains, as well as the fishing rights off the coast of Newfoundland. - The French hoped to contain English settlement, particularly in the Ohio Valley, and prevent the British from expanding westward.  If this was achieved, France might well be able to unite its Canadian empire through a chain of forts as far south as New Orleans.

The Seven Years' War officially ended in 1763 and on February 10 of that year the Treaty of Paris was signed to settle the differences, which ultimately led to the American Revolution in which son Joshua was said to have been a Revolutionary soldier at the time he resided in Culpeper County, Virginia, but no record has been found to confirm this. 

James Pilcher is said to have died in Tarborough, Edgecombe Co., NC in 1781. [ View Early Census records ]

1. Joshua Pilcher - born 1749 in Culpeper County, VA.  He married Nancy and left Virginia for Kentucky in 1793.  He died in 1810 in Lexington, Fayette County, KY. 
2. James E. Pilcher - born 1752 in Culpeper Co., VA. He married Nancy Hill and died 1820 in York District, South Carolina. 
3. Robert Pilcher - born 1758 in Culpeper Co., VA. He married Eunice Bowen and died 1828. 
4. Daniel Pilcher - born 1760 in Culpeper Co., VA.  He married Susanna Murphy and died 6 Dec 1830 in Yadkin County, North Carolina.
5. Mary Pilcher - born in Surry County, NC. 
6. Phoebe Pilcher - born in Surry County, NC. 

The 1790 Tax Assessment ascertains that life on the Culpeper farm was difficult as Joshua was only taxed on two horses, his  other personal property being was too meager to be taxed.  Because of this, and the fact that he seemed to have been falling gradually into debt, he decided to abandoned the farm and head toward the promise land of Kentucky.

In 1793 the The family headed west, probably over Swift Run Gap in the Blue Ridge and down into the Shenandoah Valley, moving frequently in parties, joined for companionship and protection against Indian and white outlaws, the travelers made their way on on foot or horseback along the Wilderness Road.

Near Hazel patch, in the foothills of the Cumberlands, they left the main road and followed Boone's old trail north to the beautiful valley of the Kentucky River and then to the town of Lexington which was five hundred miles from Culpeper County and was the trade, social, and intellectual nucleus of Kentucky.

The town, containing perhaps three or four hundred homes, clustered around the court-house in the midst of a vast plain, and although it was not a major market place, the community consisted of smiths, shoemakers, hatters, and a local brewer who supplied the taverns.  Some good land was for sale for seven shillings (about $1.20 per acre), but this was much too high a price for Joshua who, after looking carefully and shrewdly for land, arranged in the summer of 1795 to share crop a tract south of town below the road linking Lexington to Frankfort on the west,  and to Clark Courthouse (Winchester) on the east. 

It seems likely that they made a living by growing corn and possibly hemp and tobacco, and by 1796 Joshua was paying taxes on twice as much livestock as he had owned in Virginia; and in 1804 he paid taxes for a slave. 

Here, the children grew and exchanged life on the family farm for marriages and homes of their own.  Shadrach married Sarah Proctor, Moses removed to Jessamine County, Fielding became a lieutenant in the Kentucky Militia and moved to Woodford County, and daughter Margaret married Hiram Shaw, a merchant hatter, and resided in Lexington where the youngest child, Joshua, also learned the trade before becoming a fur trader and later the Superintendent of Indian Affairs.

Joshua died in Lexington, Kentucky during mid-summer of 1810 at the age of sixty-one, and it was at this time that the Pilcher household was broken up.  The crops, stock, furniture, and utensils were sold, and Nancy later moved in with one of her married children.  She had been enumerated in the 1810 census of Fayette County Kentucky, as head of household along with one male between the age of 16/26; one female under age 10, one female between age 26/45 and one slave.  Listed on the next line of the census was Zachariah Pilcher between age 16/26 along with a female of the same age and one female under age ten.

1. Shadrach Pilcher - born 27 Feb 1768 in Culpeper County, VA.  He married Sarah Proctor and died 28 Sep 1831 in Morgan Co., Illinois. 
2. Fielding Pilcher - born 1769 in Culpeper County, VA.  He married Sarah Collins.
3. Moses Pilcher - born 1771 in Culpeper Co., VA.  He married Elizabeth Collins and died 1806 in Nashville, TN. 
4. Benjamin Pilcher - born before 1779 in Culpeper Co., VA.  He moved from Kentucky to Ohio in about 1813, was married and was said to have had a large family.
5. Margaret Pilcher - born 1777 in Culpeper Co., VA; She married Hiram Shaw and died 24 Mar 1861 in Lexington, Fayette Co., KY.
6. Zachariah Pilcher - born before 1779 in Culpeper Co., VA.  He married Jemima Collins and was said to have removed from Kentucky to Indiana in about 1823, but is said to have died 1838 in Jefferson Co., KY. 
7. John Pilcher - born 1787 in Culpeper Co., VA; may have died 13 Jul 1813 in Paris Twp., Bourbon Co., KY.
8. Joshua Pilcher - born 15 Mar 1790 in Culpeper Co., VA; He became a fur trader and took over the Missouri Fur Company after the death of Manuel Lisa.  He married Poporine Barada and had by her one son who was raised by Big Elk, an Omaha Chief.  Joshua died 5 Jun 1843 in St. Louis, St. Louis, Co., Missouri.

1. John Pilcher - born 1786 in Surry Co., NC.  He married Edith Carringer. 
2. James Pilcher - born 1788 in Yadkin, NC.  He married Elizabeth McSwain.
3. Phoebe Pilcher - married on 18 Dec 1804 John Roape.
4. Mary Pilcher - married on 2 Apr 1814 Martin Roape. 
5. Frances Pilcher
6. Nancy Pilcher
7. Pamela Pilcher

1. John Pilcher - born 1 Mar 1781 in Montgomery Co., NC.  He married Elizabeth Edwards Taliaferro and died 4 Feb 1851 in Ackerman, Choctaw, MS.
2. Dixon Green Pilcher - born 1783 and died in young manhood.
3. Elizabeth Pilcher - born 1790 and married  (---) Wilson and had son William Wilson who married Elizabeth Perry.

1. Phoebe Pilcher - born 1786 in Surry Co., NC.  She married Thomas Norman there on 14 Jun 1809 in Surry Co., NC.
2. Mary Pilcher - born 1788 in Surry Co., North Carolina, and married there on 2 Apr 1814 Royal Allgood.
3. Daniel Pilcher - born between 1790 and 1803 in Surry Co., North Carolina.  He married Levicy Hutchins and died 20 Mar 1848 in Jackson Co., MO. 
4. James Pilcher - married Lydia Cornder/Carrender on 23 Jan 1816 in Surry Co., NC and had eight children: Rufus, James Enos, Cephas, Alvis, Ambrose, Amos, Eunice and Louisa Pilcher.
5. Elizabeth Pilcher - born 1799 in Surry Co., NC and married Robert Warden there on 20 Jan 1821.  Elizabeth died in Lincoln Co., Illinois in 1861. 
6. Charity Pilcher - born 1801 in Surry Co., North Carolina, was the wife of William Scott and died 1890 in Yadkinville, Yadkin, North Carolina. 
7. William Pilcher - born 1804 in Surry Co., NC; died in Harrison Co., Missouri and was married to Marian Lakey.
8. Joseph Pilcher - born 1805 in Surry Co., North Carolina and married there on 19 Sep 1829,  Catherine Aceborn.

When Shadrach was twenty-nine he married Sarah Proctor who was born on 7th of March in 1774 in Fayette County. Not much has been found regarding her parentage, but one note written by their son Ezekiel's wife (Louisa Ballard) states she was the daughter of John Proctor and perhaps Elizabeth Hudnall.

Shadrach was in the War of 1812 and received Bounty Land in Illinois which was patented January 7 Warrant No. 256; Section North 1/2 of 17; Township 6 north 5 west.  This land sold to Honorable R. M. Johnson on January 24, 1812 - and he then settled east of the Illinois River in Morgan County where the family lived in Jacksonville. 

Shadrach died on the 9th of May in 1866 and was buried in Hebron Cemetery.

1. Ezekiel Pilcher - born 04 Jan 1800 in Lexington, Fayette, Kentucky; died 16 Dec 1858 in Woodburn, Macoupin County, Illinois; married Louisa Ballard.
2. Moses Pilcher - born about Apr 1802 in Lexington, Fayette County, Kentucky; died 26 October 1866 in Springfield, Sangamon County, Illinois; married Mary E. True.
3. Sarah Pilcher - born in Fayette County, Kentucky; married John W. Paine on 25 Aug 1837 and were the parents of Melissa who was born in about 1838 and married her cousin Jeptha (son of Moses Pilcher & Mary True); and son Dudley.
4. Jeptha Dudley Pilcher - born 29 May 1808 in Fayette County, Kentucky; died 6 Feb 1887 in Morgan County, Illinois; buried in Hebron Cemetery; married Hannah Smith.
5. Mary Pilcher - born about 1810 in Fayette County, Kentucky; died 2 Aug 1861; buried in Jacksonville, East Cemetery, Morgan County, Illinois; married on 01 Aug 1831 in Morgan Co., IL, Anderson Foreman who was born 24 July 1809; died 15 Jan 1852 in Jacksonville, Morgan County, Illinois; buried in Jacksonville, East Cemetery; marriage license lists her as Polly Pilcher.
6. Margaret Pilcher - born in Fayette Co., Kentucky; married on 10 Jan 1828 in Morgan County, Illinois to Greenbury True - record Book A, p.1 License #192.
7. Shadrach Pilcher - born 22 Aug 1813 in Fayette County, Kentucky; died 23 Feb 1878 in Canton, Lewis County, Missouri; married Caroline Ballard.

1. Charles Mason Pilcher -  born about 1795 in Lexington, KY.  He married Lucretia Hubble. 
2. Fielding Lewis Pilcher - born 20 Nov 1800 in Fayette Co., KY.  He married his cousin Nancy Shaw and died 13 Oct 1839. 

1. Merritt Scott Pilcher - born 1 Jan 1802 in Fayette Co., KY.  He married Nancy Barrow and died 11 Jan 1865 in Franklin, TN.
2. Nancy Ann Pilcher - born in Fayette Co., KY.  She married (1) on 30 Jun 1822 in Fayette, KY James S. Hensley who was born about 1810; (2) on 24 Dec 1844 N.S. Anderson. 

Hiram was born in North Adams, Massachusetts and went into business with John Lowry under firm name of Lowry & Shaw. Their place of business was on corner of Main and Broadway (then called Main and Cross Street). This firm did not prosper and Hiram died leaving his Margaret and the children in destitute circumstances.

The eldest child was Nathaniel who had been born in 1804 and was sixteen or eighteen years of age, when his father died. He had been working in the county Ccerk's office as a writer, preparing to study law but at his father's death he left this employment and became an apprentice under Thomas B. Megowan, in the cabinet making trade. He worked for Megowan several years and then secured work as Clerk on the Mississippi River on Steamboats operated by the Hull and Marsh families at Madison, Indiana. 

Hiram died in Lexington in 1820.  Margaret was residing with her son Hiram at the time of the 1850 census, living in Lexington. She died on 24 Mar 1861.

Shaw - Hiram Shaw, Hatter of Lexington, KY

1. Sarah E. Shaw - born 29 Mar 1802 in Fayette Co., Kentucky.
2. Nathaniel Shaw - born 31 Jan 1804 in Lexington, Fayette Co., KY; and died there 15 Feb 1849.
3. Ann T. Shaw - born 18 Apr 1806 in Lexington, Fayette Co., KY. 
4. Ammi Shaw - born 18 Dec 1807 in Lexington, Fayette Co., KY.
5. Hiram Shaw - born 13 Aug 1809 in Lexington, Fayette Co., KY. 
6. Nancy Shaw - born 31 Jan 1812 in Lexington, KY.  She married on 2 Jan 1830 in Fayette Co., KY Fielding Lewis Pilcher who was born 20 Nov 1800 in Fayette Co., KY, died 13 Oct 1839 and was the son of Fielding Pilcher and Sarah Collins.  Nancy died 14 Oct 1848 in Lexington, KY. 
7. John P. Shaw - born 29 Oct 1814 in Lexington, Fayette Co., KY. 

Zachariah was listed in the 1810 Fayette County, KY as head of household with one female his age and one female under the age of ten.  In about 1823 he removed to Indiana and had at least three children - Elizabeth who married William Servies, America, & Thomas Pilcher.  Zachariah returned to Kentucky where he died 1838 in Jefferson County.

Major Joshua Pilcher, Hatter, Fur Trader & Superintendent of Indian Affairs

Headstone Photos of Joshua Pilcher - Bellefontaine Cemetery

1. Russell Pilcher - married unknown .Although his wife is unknown, his children are: Daniel born 1852, and James born 1856. 
2. Daniel Pilcher - born 1834 in Surry Co., NC and married there on 4 Mar 1858, Rebecca Adams.  Daniel died 5 Aug 1862 in Richmond, Virginia.

James and Caroline's other children were: Caphas, Lucy, Dixon, Eunice, Alice, Enos, Amos, and Margaret Pilcher.

The Virginia Soldiers of 1776, by Burgess, Vol. 2,  states that Captain Richard Taliaferro's heirs were allowed Land Bounty for his services as captain in the Continental line for three years, and that his daughter Elizabeth, was the wife of John Pilcher. 

John Pilcher was listed in the 1850 census of in Ackerman, Choctaw, Mississippi, and died not long afterwards on 04 Feb 1851.

1. Rebecca Mildred Pilcher - married  John Collins and died 5 Nov 1886 in Ackerman, Choctaw, MS.
2. Dixon Green Pilcher - born 29 Mar 1808 in Chester District, SC.  He married Jane Hope Carothers and died 26 Jun 1862 in French Camp, Choctaw, MS.
3. William Pilcher - born 5 Aug 1818 in Chester District, SC.  He married Mary M. Smith and died 20 Oct 1849 in Ackerman, Choctaw, MS.
4. Isabella Pilcher 
5. Taliaferro Pilcher
6. Davis Pilcher

Daniel died 20 Mar 1848 in Jackson Co., Missouri.

1. Squire W. Pilcher - born 1820 in North Carolina; married in 1848 in Jackson Co., Missouri. 
2. Benjamin W. Pilcher - born 1823 in North Carolina; married on 27 Jan 1853 in Jackson Co., Missouri, Elizabeth C. Rice.
3. Huldah C. Pilcher - born 1825 in North Carolina; married on 13 Sep 1846 in Jackson Co., Missouri, Walter O. Griffeth. 
4. John A. Pilcher - born 1828 in North Carolina. 
5. Mary T. Pilcher - born 1833 in North Carolina; married on 19 Feb 1854 in Jackson Co., Missouri, Tapney Oldham. 
6. James T. Pilcher - born 1833 in North Carolina; married in 1858 Margaret. 
7. Josiah S. Pilcher - born 1834. 
8. Daniel C. Pilcher - born 1839 in Jackson Co., Missouri; married Lucina Jane Demasters. 
9. Sarah T. Pilcher - born 1844 in Jackson Co., Missouri. 
10. Robert W. Pilcher - born 1847 in Van Buren, Jackson, Missouri. 

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Updated 19 May 2009
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