There were five persons named Belcher," documented",
who "settled "in New England first before 1640,
and from two of them are descended a great many of the name in the United States.
There are many immigrants that are not documented and many passengers of ships, not
known. Especially the soldiers that came with them and the crew of the ships.
These five Belcher immigrants, in New England, on the Winthrop fleet of ships were:
I...EDWARD BELCHER,
born about 1595, came to New England in 1630 with Governor Winthrop,
and was one of the founders of Boston. He was the fourth son of William Andrew Belcher of Guilsborough,
Northamptonshire, England, but his male descendant line ran out,
with his grandson.
ships records on the "LITTLE JAMES" states Edward and Mrs Belcher
10 July 1623: Edward JR.
Married:Christian Talmage Wormwood
Edward Belcher's house lot was adjacent to that of William Talmage,
and the two men were also authorized their lots at Muddy River at the same time.
married to Talmage's widowed sister.
II...ANDREW BELCHER Born 1614: DIED: 2 July 1658 44 YRS OLD
He was the sixth son of William Andrew Belcher of Guilsborough
Immigrated to America in 1630 by 1639 was in Sudbury:
Died: 29 MAY 1709 Cambridge Mass:
Married:Elizabeth Danforth B: 1618 Married: 1 Oct. 1639
Dau. of John Nicholas Danforth of Cambridge :
Son of Nicholas Danforth
Listed as a mariner,trader,vintner,innkeeper, and a painter
Andrew and his wife Both Baptized in full Communio of Church of Boston
NOTES: Andrew Belcher and Edward Belcher were brothers:
Governor Jonathan Belcher is a descendent of this line>
III.....GREGORY BELCHER B 1606 in England
died Nov 25 1674 MASS:
son of Thomas Belcher of Wardend parish of Aston County Warwickshire England
came to America on John Winthrops fleet of ships.
to the Mass Bay Colony: came to Boston 1634 was A Freeman By 13 May 1640:
"listed on the freeman list" "Colonial America 1607-1789 MA Census index"
Gregory must have been a man of prominence as he was one of the founders of the
first church of Braintree.
Resident of Mt. Wollastan Braintree (Now Quincy) Farmer
"on July 14 1664 he purchased of John Smith 9 acres of land in Milton,
which he gave to his son Joseph Belcher for a marriage portion.
(Suffolk Co. Deeds, vol 4 page 204)
When Gregory Belcher died in 1674 his inventory showed: a total of 629 pounds 5 shillings and 0 pence.
was presented to his widow Jan 29 1674(Suffolk County Probate)
Married: Catherine
NOTES: Douglas Macarthur Was a descendant of this line:
and an indirect line to Winston Churchill:
Gregory's grandaughter Mary married John and Priscilla
Aldens grandson Joseph Alden and through this line is connected to
Miles Standish.
IV...JEREMIAH BELCHER,
born about 1613, came to New England in the Spring of 1635 on the "Susan and Ellen" and settled in
Ipswich Ma., where he died: listed as a merchant
"said to been born in Wiltshire England"
Listed as son of Thomas Belcher of Wiltshire and Anne:
22 Yrs of age on ships listings."Hottens Original Listspage 59":
took oath of freeman by 13 March 1639:
acquired extensive lands by grant and purchase: In the records, he is usually referred to
as "merchant" but sometimes appears as "sergeant" On may 28 1659 he was granted 300 acres
by the General Court to be located outside of the settled plantations but he did not take up tis grant,which was revived in favor of his son Jeremiah over sixty years later in 1722
(Province Laws vol X page 220)
Married: #1 Mary Clifford age 25: came on the same ship with him in 1635, her name entered next to his
on the passenger list of the "Susan and Ellen"
deed Mary Lockwood #2 wife land for life on 30 July 1652
deeded lands to sons Jeremiah And John B. 15TH May 1661
NOTES: There is speculation that this Jeremiah is son of Thomas also and Gregory's brother
no proof of this as yet Jeremiah is unplaced for parents.
V...WILLIAM THOMAS BELCHER
took oath of freeman in Mass: 6 NOV 1632
"note: this entry is listed as Thomas Bucher: in the old early handwriting
E L is often mistaken for U ; This has been taken by many for Belcher
If you have done any reading of the old documents you will see that this is
definitely so."
B. 1605: England Married: Tabitha Bartlett
B: 1618: Married: Isle of Wight County Va.: 1636
Anne is possibly her middle name:
Warrosquyoake (1634-37), Name changed to Isle of Wight in 1637.
came to America on the ship "Anne" in 1623
she would have been 5 yrs old.
Robert Belcher of Mass was listed on the ship "Anne" but no listing for
Tabitha. Several of the passengers are not known. Whether Tabitha was on
on this ship is not proven.
According John Seward'S "Early Virginia Immigrants":
William Thomas Belcher came to America on the Winthrop fleet around 1630
Immigrated to Isle of Wight County Va. (Warrosquoyoake)1637:
Records have him marrying Tabitha in 1636 at Isle of Wight County:
difference in 1 year here:
A court record in the Virginia state Library states:
"Belcher in Virginia , a judgment of court for a debt. Jan'ry 12, 1659-
Thomas Wm Belcher ordered to pay Mr. Jno. Cogan 650lb. tobo."
OTHER EARLY BELCHER FAMILIES
JONATHAN BELCHER, colonial governor, was born at Cambridge, Mass., Jan. 8, 1681,
son of Capt. Andrew Belcher, a member of the Provincial council. and
Sarah Gilbert Belcher.
He graduated at Harvard in 1699, and afterwards visited England, where he remained six years. Upon his return to his native land he settled in Boston as a merchant, became a member of the Provincial council.
An heir to a large fortune he had been accustomed to dispense it in ways to draw attention and give him
consequence. His acquaintance with the Conn. people was wide and in 1729 acted as agent for this colony
in England and while there, in 1730, was commissioned governor of Massachusetts and New Hampshire.
grandson of the Andrew Belcher above
...JOSIAH BELCHER B; 1631 lived in Boston
Died: 3 April 1683 age 52 buried in the Granary Burying Ground where his gravestone
still remains(1906)"
"was a wheelwright"??settled in Boston
Son of Gregory and Catherine Belcher
Josiah Belcher was one of the founders of the Ancient Honorable Artillery Co.
Married: 3 March1654/5 Ranis Rainsfordb: 4 June 1638
Ranis Died: 2 Oct 1691:
dau. of Edward Rainsford:
Edward Rainsford was age 24 when he came to America on ship Abigail, 1635 96
Born 1611 : Died 28 Ag 1680 English :Origin Staverton,Northants;
Came to New England 1630 With Winthrop fleet
Resided in Boston : Freeman of MBC Ap 1637,Occupation fisherman,
merchant:
married #1???(d 1632),married #2 Mary Elizabeth (dp1680)
Elder of the first church and one of the founders.
SAMUEL BELCHER B: 24 AUG 1637
D: 17 June 1679 Braintree: Son of Gregory and Catherine Belcher
May 6 1680 administration his estate was granted " to Roger Billing, Alexander
Marsh, and Moses Belcher-his father-in-law and two of his brothers
Married: At Dorchester 15 DEC 1663 Mary Billings
dau of Roger Billings, Mary remarried after the death of Samuel to:
Samuel Benjamin Niles of Braintree
(Suffolk County Probate)
"Samuel Belcher & Mary Billings were married the 12th mo 15th. 1663, by Capt Clapp."
NOTE: This line is the line to General Douglas Macarthur
MOSES BELCHER B 1644
Braintree, Norfolk, Mass.
Died 5 Jul 1691 Braintree: Married: Mary Nash ,23
May 1666 Braintre:
Mary died: 30 Dec 1707 dau of James and Alice Nash of Weymouth:
Moses Belcher witnessed a deed of James Nash the day before the wedding.
(Suffolk County deeds vol 5, page 82)
Moses is listed as a freeman in 1671 "Colonial America 1607-1789 Ma Census index"freemans list
He is called "Corporal" Belcher on the records
He died: July 5 1691 and in his will dated 3 days before
July 2 1691: mentions wife, and daughter Mary Bass, other daughters to have portions
equal to that of Mary:
NOTE:Mary Belcher was married to Joseph Bass, son of John Bass
and Ruth Alden, dau of John and Priscilla Alden
This Alden line extends to many, many, people.
There is also an Edward Belcher, age 8 of the ship Abigail, immigrated to America in 1635 roll call 138.
Who this Edward Belcher is not known: maybe Edwards son, came on a different ship , that often happened. maybe
came as a cabin boy.(speculation).
On one of the family lines:
WILLIAM CHENEY (Chaney) is one of our Belcher connections:
William born in England 1604 died in Roxbury Mass June 30 1667
married in England before 1626, Margaret???
was made a freeman of the colony May 23, 1666. He died 30 June 1667 age 63,
according to the church records.
NOTES: Franklin Delano Roosevelt is also a descendent of this William Cheney
The Cheney/Chaney/Cheyney surname is in the headlines today because of the Vice
Presidential Candidate Richard Cheney. The Chaney families of Va and Ky and
Maryland descended from the early Richard Cheney of Maryland.
WILLIAM ODELL, sr. the first: was in Concord 1639
brought wife,?? and children from England
the Winthrop Fleet of Ships were bringing many people to America at this time
1...William b: 1637
1...James b: 2 Jan 1640 died in 1641
2...Rebecca b 17 July 1642
WILLIAM ODELL b: 1637
son:
John Odell Fairfield 1664, freeman listed 1665, Boston
married Priscilla
ODELL, or ODLE, JOHN, Fairfield 1664, s. of William the
first, freeman. 1665. REGINALD, Boston, by w. Priscilla had Reginald, b.
20 Jan. 1687; Samuel, 29 Jan. 1688, d. soon; Thomas, 8 Apr. 1690;
Samuel, again, 20 Aug. 1695; and William, 19 July 1697. WILLIAM,
Concord 1639, Apr. brot. w. and ch. from Eng. had there James, b. 2
Jan. 1640, d. next yr.; and Rebecca, 17 July 1642, rem. to Southampton,
L. I. that yr. and soon aft. to Fairfield, in 1670 was call. sen.
WILLIAM, Greenwich, perhaps s. of the preced. in 1681 was aged 47.
"Savages New England Dictionay"
HATEVIL NUTTER, Dover 1641, was
in 1649 of the gr. jury in Maine, but soon back on the W. side of
the river; much betrust. a rul. elder, active against the Quakers," as says
Sewall, I. 564, "who perverts his good name to Nutwell,
he died 1675, aged 71.
son..
Anthony Nutter of Dover,
married: Sarah Langstaff
had John, b. 27 Dec.
1662, perhaps other ch. was freeman 1666, rep. in Mass. 1674, and 6, of
the Council of N. H. 1682, d. 19 Feb. 1686.
dau..MARY married John Wingate, Dover 1660, had gr. of land there 1658,
dau..Abigail Nutter married Thomas Roberts
son..John Nutter married: Mehitable Eddington 17 Oct. 1674,
GEORGE POLLEYof Woburn
married: 21 May 1649, Elizabeth Winn
daughter of Edward Winn:, and he d. 22 Dec. 1683
son..John, b. 16 Dec. 1650;
son..Joseph, 25 born Dec. 1652;
son..George, 4 Jan. 1656; married Mary Knight
dau..Elizabeth 14 Apr. 1657;
son.. Samuel, born 24 Jan. 1661, died in 2 wks
dau.. Hannah, 6 Apr. 1662, died the same day;
dau.. Hannah, again, 28 June 1663; married Isaac Curtis.
JOHN HOLLY,,, Stamford 1664, rep. 1670, and for Greenwich 1673. Elizabeth
came in the Blessing, 1635, aged 30.
JOSEPH HOLLEY,Dorchester 1634, Weymouth 1639, was prob. of Sandwich
1643, and d. early in Dec. 1647.
Richard Holly married Mary Downing 29 Oct 1663
