Adam BELCHER

Notes:

Name:
Adam Belcher, born June 30, 1756; died May 30, 1819; married (1) Elizabeth Bennett; (2) Sarah Bennett. The date of neither marriage is known, the year given in each case being the preceding the birth of the first child. Adam's second wife was a sister of his first wife. It is presumed there was a divorce, since it is known that Elizabeth married again, that her husband's surname was Davey, and that her daughter Elizabeth, who became Mrs. George Patterson, was always known to us as "Aunt Betsey Patterson." Through his wives, Adam Belcher was indirectly connected with the Townsend family of Chester and Southfields, their sister Mary having become, on Apr. 18, 1776, wife of Henry Townsend VI, born Oyster Bay, New York, Feb 9, 1752. The father of these Bennett girls is said to have been a mine superintendent at Sterling, and one of his descendants states that Henry Townsend VI was disinherited for marrying the daughter of a mine worker. Of Adam Belcher's family of eleven children, the first of whom, the son of Elizabeth, was grandfather of the authors of this work, none ever uttered a word of criticism of their father, ho was a good husband and kind to his children. It is not known why he separated from his first wife. It is evident, however, that whatever their difference was, no shadow remained on the character of either, and both were afterwards happily married.

At the outbreak of the Revolution, Adam Belcher signed the Associator's Pledge, placing himself definitely on the side of those who resisted the aggressions of the British.

His father, John Belcher, is described as "a forgeman of New Cornwall," and at his death Adam was appointed administrator of the estate, which he probably inherited, as he continued to conduct the business which his father had established at what is now known as Southfields, but was then called Chesekook or Cheesecocks, in Orange County, New York. In 1802 this name was changed to Southfield, the final letter"s" not having been added.

Adam married Elizabeth BENNETT in 1780. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

1. John Adam BELCHER was born on 30 Jul 1781 in Eagle Valley, Orange Co., New York; died on 22 Nov 1855 in Belcher Homestead.

Adam married Sarah BENNETT in 1791. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

Name:
There does not appear to be any record of his marriage or death, or of the birth of his children, with the single exception of Adam, dates of whose birth and death having been carved on the stone at the head of his grave in the cemetery at Southfields. The name of John Belcher appears in the list of heads of families living in New Cornwall when the first United States Census was taken in 1790.


A search of the records of Orange County reveals the letters of administration granted to his son, Adam Belcher on the death of John Belcher, who had made no will.As this document is dated Feb. 22, 1791, it is assumed that John Belcher died early in that year.

Johannes married Elizabeth ?. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]