Richard Belcher

1710 - 1763
Henrico Co, Va - Chesterfield Co, Va

Richard was one of seven sons of John Belcher and Elizabeth Frogley.  His siblings:
        John jr. 1698 (or 89 - maybe a typo on my part)
        James 1694
        Robert 1700 (some date him and Richard both at 1710)
        William 1707
        George 1712
        Isaac 1714

He married Mary Obedience Clay ~1732 in Henrico County, Virginia.  She is generally believed to be the daughter of Henry Clay and Mary Mitchell, but one researcher (Diane at the Blankenship site) suspects that she really was the daughter of Henry's brother John.  In either case, however, her grandfather was the same, Charles Clay (born 1635 or 1638 in Virginia).

Richard and Mary Obedience had 5 or maybe 9 children:
           Anne b 1730 d 1766/7 m. Peter Blankenship sr bef 1762
           Isham b 1732 d 1823 m Elizabeth Clay June 2, 1759 Chesterfield Co, Va
                     (Elizabeth b.17 Apr 1735 Chesterfield)
                     - 14 children
                            1. George
                            2. Isham b 13 Oct 1769 m. 1. Martha "Patsey" Hodges, 2. Nancy Blankenship
                                 son with Patsey = Isham b 1794 m Rebecca Bailey (maybe) 20 Oct 1826 Tazewell
                                          Isham & Rebecca had a son Isham b. ~1830
                            3. William // 4. Moses // 5. Richard // 6. James // 7. Sarah // 8. Lucy // 9. John // 10. Phoebe
                            11. Martha b. 1772/3 // 12. Samuel // 13. Jesse
                            14. Elizabeth m John D. Barrow, Franklin Co, Va Sep 1841 unconfirmed
           Richard b1734 VA d ? m Mary Unknown
           Phebe 1737 Bedford Co, VA d. 1813 [1810] Franklin Co, Va
                     m. Mitchell Clay 1760 Franklin Co/Pearisburg, Giles Co, Va.
                         (Mitchell b1735 Henrico, d 1812)
                     - 14 children
                    1. Rebecca 1768 - 1844 m George Pearis 1745/46 - 1810
                    2. Bartley b. 1765, 3. Tabitha b? and 4. Ezekiel b 1770 were killed by Indians in 1783
                    5. Charles // 6. Mitchell 1772 - 1851 // 7. William // 8. Henry // 9. David
                    10. Obedience m John French // 11. Mary m Ralph Stewart // 12.Sally m John Peters jr
                    13. Patience m George Chapman // 14. Nannie m Joseph Hare
           Elizabeth Ann 1749 Chesterfield Co d. 1820 Tazewell Co, m Richard Bailey 1762 Chesterfield Co
                  - 10 or 12 children
                   John // James // Richard jr // Chloe // Micajah // Reuben // Archibald // Sarah Ann // Eli // Henry
           Thomas 1744
           Robert 1746
           William 1748-1796
           Benjamin 1749
The last four boys are only listed by Walter Bailey (Bailey-Coulter Archives).

From the Belcher GenForum site:
           I am showing Francis Belcher and Phoebe Cabanis as parents of Elizabeth Ann and Phoebe (Belcher)Clay wife of Mitchel Clay - jimdrapp @aol.com

          Jim, it is an ongoing debate as to Francis/Phoebe or Richard/Mary. I don't think anyone has hard irrefutable evidence--if someone does, please fill me in--but among Belcher researchers it is more accepted with the Richard Belcher line. Also,I think most Stewart researchers accept the Ricahrd Belcher line as the one. I don't mind you joining in at all, I always want to know the truth, if it can be known. If anyone has a proof of Phoebe's parentage, I'd love to see it. - Rose

This research comes from the Blankenstein site
1728 Henrico
Henrico Co, Va Deeds 1706-1737 (975.5453 Weisiger)
        Page 103 p.222 24 Dec 1728 Benjamin Hopkins of Henrico Co., to Thomas Oliver …
              Wit: …RICHARD (x) BELCHERS… Recorded 1st Mon. Feb. 1728
1736 Henrico
Henrico Co, Southside 1736
      Page 7 RICHD BELSHAR. Dr. 1736. 1 Levy. For your last year's levy. Pd by John Belshar Senr.
      Page 10 John Belshar. Dr. 1736. 1 Levy. Clerk's fees. To I Registerar "to your promise for RD BELSHAR". "Cr given you in my Store 110". "To yr or to R BELSJAR for his Levy 51". In the Credits "The Clk fee is to BELLSHAR junr". The balance of 338 lb tobo pd by Inspector's note."
      Page 19 Aaron Haskins, Dr. 1736. 1 Levy. 100 acres. Clks fees. To lev'd you by the public for taking up yr Runaway. To del yr pet'o vs Ben Lee. To arrest RD BELSHAR. Pd by Co Levy and cash.
      Page 26 Wil Norris. Hund'd Norris. Dr. 1736. 1 Levy. Clks fee. Store debt, Mr Cary's debt. To summon vs. R BELSHAR. Paid by an Inspector's mote and "By Jno Belshar junr for RICHARD BELSHAR".
1749 Chesterfield
William & Mary Quarterly 4 W (2)
     Page 129 Some Wills of the Clay, Just and Harralson Families
     …Henry Clay, Chesterfield Co. March 28, 1749. Mentions sons William, Henry, Charles, John, Daughters Amey Williamson, Mary Watkins, grandson Henry Clay, granddaughter Mary Clay, wife Mary. Also RICHARD BELCHER, James Hill. Witness, George Farrar, Aleson Clark, George Reny Turner….
Chesterfield Co, Va. Wills 1749-1774 (975.5594 Weisiger)
      Page 55 p.544 Will of Henry Clay of Henrico County written 28 March 1749 (Clay died 1760)
      To son William, land and plantation he lives on, and my land & plantation on Deep Creek in Henrico, where RICHARD BELCHER now lives… (also on page 99, p. 244)
1753,4,5 - Chesterfield
Chesterfield Co Va Deeds 1745-1750 Weisiger (975.5594W)
      Page 33 p.375 26 Feb 1753 RICHARD BELCHER of Chesterfield to William Thompson, Gent., of same, for L20,2 tracts, one being plantation I live on, 100 acres; and other being plantation where William Tanner lately lived. Wit John (+) Nunnally, Michael Clay, John Ward - Recorded 4 May 1753
      Page 63 p.220 4 Dec 1754 RICHARD BELCHER of Chesterfield Co., to Peter Blankenship of Amelia Co., for L 8, 100 acres bounded by Skinquarter Road, William Gates, Horsepen branch and BELCHER's old line. Wit: Joseph (X) Beville, Edward Tanner, - recorded Dec. Court 1754
      Page 65 p 240 7 Feb 1755 William Thompson, Gent. Of Chesterfield Co., to Peter Daniel of same, for L 8/12, 77 acres; being part of a patent to RICHARD BELCHER, bounded by south side of Skinquarter Road, Skelton's line, Perdue's line, Gording's line and Peter Blankenship. Wit: Francis Flournoy, William Newby, Jacob Ashhurst - Recorded 7 Feb. 1755
1758, 1762, 1764
Chesterfield Co. Va Deeds 1756-1764 (975.5594 Weisiger)
      p. 227 3 March 1758 Mr. William Thompson, Gent., to Isham Belcher of Chestefield Co., for L 10, 100 acres, being part of land RICHARD BELCHER lives on, on north side of Skinquarter Road. No witnesses. Signed: William Thompson Recorded 3 March 1758 p.54 20 July 1762 Peter Blankinship of Dale Parish Chesterfield Co., to John Nunnally of same, for L 25, 100 acres in Dale Parish, bounded by William Gtes, Skinquarter Road, RICHARD BELCHER, Isham Belcher and Lodowick Blankinship. Wit: Peter (+) Blankinship, Margret (+) Nunnary, Jane (+) Nunnery Signed: Peter (+) Blankinship, Ann (+) Blankinship - Recorded Aug. 1762
      p. 62 17 March 1764 RICHARD BELCHER of Chesterfield Co., to Thomas Moore of same, for L 30, land on Deep Creek, 100 acres. Wit: James Elam, Joseph Blankinship, Wm Blankinship Signed; RICHARD (+) BELCHER Recorded 6 July 1764 [This was not recorded until after Richard's death.]
1763? - Chesterfield
Chesterfield Co, Va. Wills 1749-1774 (975.5594 Weisiger)
      Page 37 p.340 Inventory of RICHARD BELCHER, Value L 7/16/6 William Clay (executor ?) by Jordan Anderson, Robert Elam, James Elam [No date is listed but the ones on either side are 1760 & 1761 & 1763. This book does not appear to be in date order.]
      Page 136 p.421 3 June 1763 William Clay granted administration of estate of RICHARD BELCHER, dec'd; John Elam, Robert Elam, Thomas Bass, Jr., and Jordan Anderson to appraise.
      Page 137 p. 465 20 October 1763 Inventory of RICHARD BELCHER returned.

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page last updated 29 Aug 2004