Genealogy Brick Walls

Anna Eliza Beidler¹

b. 1854, d. 3 November 1917

Family

Father*

Joseph Beidler² b. 12 Jul 1821, d. 28 Oct 1908

Mother*

Maria Leatherman Bewighouse³ b. 25 Aug 1825, d. 27 Oct 1907

Birth*

1854

Anna Eliza Beidler was born in 1854.¹

Marriage*

1883

She married John Myers, son of Samuel Garges Myers and Susannah Fretz, in 1883.^1,4,5

Death*

3 November 1917

She died on 3 November 1917 at age 62¹

Burial*

7 November 1917

and was buried on 7 November 1917 with her husband in Plot N 51 3 of Doylestown Cemetery, Doylestown.^1,4

Family

John Myers b. 1833, d. 23 Jul 1906

Citations

[S748] Find a Grave website, which often provides cemetery and tombstone photos, and sometimes personal biographies, that may be obtained from the site, online at www.findagrave.com, Anna Eliza (Beidler) Myers, Memorial# 29345795. Hereinafter cited as Find a Grave website.
[S748] Find a Grave website, online at www.findagrave.com, Joseph Beidler, Memorial# 51606138.
[S748] Find a Grave website, online at www.findagrave.com, Maria Leatherman (Bewighouse) Beidler, Memorial# 51606154.
[S748] Find a Grave website, online at www.findagrave.com, John Myers, Memorial# 80153860.
[S34] 1900 United States Federal Census, online at www.ancestry.com, household of John and Anna E. Myers, Doylestown, Bucks, Pennsylvania; Page: 5; Enumeration District: 0013; FHL microfilm: 1241384. Hereinafter cited as 1900 United States Federal Census.

Joseph Beidler¹

b. 12 July 1821, d. 28 October 1908

Family

Birth*

12 July 1821

Joseph Beidler was born on 12 July 1821.¹

Marriage*

He married Maria Leatherman Bewighouse, daughter of John Bewighouse and Esther Krout Leatherman.^2,1

(Husband) Death

27 October 1907

Joseph became a widower when Maria Leatherman (Bewighouse) Beidler died on 27 October 1907 at age 82.²

Death*

28 October 1908

He died one year and one day after his wife on 28 October 1908 at age 87¹

Burial*

and was buried with his wife in Deep Run Mennonite Church East Cemetery, Bedminster, Bucks County, Pennsylvania.^1,2

Family

Maria Leatherman Bewighouse b. 25 Aug 1825, d. 27 Oct 1907

Child

Anna Eliza Beidler¹ b. 1854, d. 3 Nov 1917

Citations

[S748] Find a Grave website, which often provides cemetery and tombstone photos, and sometimes personal biographies, that may be obtained from the site, online at www.findagrave.com, Joseph Beidler, Memorial# 51606138. Hereinafter cited as Find a Grave website.
[S748] Find a Grave website, online at www.findagrave.com, Maria Leatherman (Bewighouse) Beidler, Memorial# 51606154.

Alice Belcher¹

b. 1856

Family

Father*

John W. Belcher¹ b. 1825, d. 19 Oct 1859

Mother*

Caroline Stafford¹ b. 1836, d. 1916

Birth*

1856

Alice Belcher was born about 1856 in Illinois.¹

(Daughter) Census US 1860

14 August 1860

Alice was enumerated on the 1860 census taken on 14 August 1860 in the household of her widowed mother in Grafton, Jersey County, Illinois. She was 4 years old and had attended school within the census year.¹

Citations

[S18] 1860 United States Federal Census, online at www.ancestry.com, household of Caroline Belcher, Year: 1860; Census Place: Grafton, Jersey, Illinois; Roll: M653_188; Page: 86; Family History Library Film: 803188. Hereinafter cited as 1860 United States Federal Census.

Arthur Belcher¹

b. between 1790 and 1800

Family

Father-Probable*

William Belcher^2,3 b. bt 1764 - 1774

(Father) Brick Wall Research

While we were working to organize and understand the information we had been collecting on the Belcher families of Orange and Crawford counties in Indiana, we ran into a serious Brick Wall. Two young girls, Mary Ann Belcher, age 16, and Catharine Belcher, age 11, were enumerated on the 1850 census in Patoka, Crawford County, Indiana in the household of William Hollen. Mary Ann and Catharine, whom we suspected were sisters, had both been born in Orange County, Indiana. We had no idea which Belcher family these two young girls belonged with, and wondered why they would be living with the Hollen family.

From previous research, we’ve learned that the two most common circumstances causing children to live with relatives other than their immediate families were the deaths of one or both parents, and/or the arrival of a stepparent into their household.

The Belcher family we were researching had five brothers: James, Jesse, Joseph, Berry, and John. We had initially used the 1850 census as our primary source, and had been in the process of identifying the children of each of the brothers in order to develop each of their five families. We knew, for example, that James, the eldest brother, had died in 1842 leaving a wife and several children, most of whom had been born in Orange County; that the third brother, Joseph, had moved with his wife and children to Illinois by 1830; that the first wife of fourth brother, Berry, had died after giving birth to five children, that Berry had married a second time, had seven more children by 1850, and that his seven children born before 1841 had all been born in Orange County; that the youngest brother, John, as well as his wife and any children they may have had, were all deceased before 1850; and that Jesse, the second brother, had a wife and seven children, five of whom had been born in Orange County. From the 1850 census, we also learned that Jesse’s eldest daughter, Minerva, and Berry’s eldest daughter, Martha Jane, and second son, Jesse, had all been enumerated in separate households on the same census page as our two Brick Wall children, Mary Ann and Catharine Belcher. That was a fair amount of information, we thought, and hoped it provided us with enough clues to identify Mary Ann and Catharine’s parents. We still believed the girls belonged to one, or possibly two, of the five Belcher brothers, so we needed to make a deeper dive, using a variety of sources, into the families of each one. Reviewing all that we already knew, we felt the two most logical Belcher brothers to analyze first were Jesse and Berry because both were enumerated on the 1850 census in Patoka, Crawford County, Indiana, the same place where we found Mary Ann and Catharine in the household of William Hollen.

We began our targeted Brick Wall research of the brothers with the family of Jesse Belcher, the second brother, whose household on the 1850 census was a few census pages away from William Hollen’s. Jesse’s widowed daughter, Minerva, was enumerated in 1850 on the same census page as Mary Ann and Catharine in the household of William’s brother, Marcum Hollen. We were hopeful, initially, that we could connect at least one of the girls to Jesse. We tried; then had to admit that the birth years of his children too closely overlapped the birth years of Mary Ann and Catharine and that, if the girls belonged with Jesse and his wife, we would have found them with their parents.

Berry Belcher, the fourth brother, was enumerated in 1850 with his second wife and nine of his sixteen children, two from his first wife and seven from his second. They, too, were enumerated in Patoka, Crawford County, Indiana, a few pages away from the subjects of our search, and on the other side of the Hollen household from Berry’s brother, Jesse. Berry’s eldest daughter, Martha Jane, had married Nathan Hollen, a son of William Hollen, and Martha Jane and Nathan were enumerated in 1850 in the next household after Nathan’s father on the same census page. Enumerated with Nathan and Martha Jane was Martha Jane’s brother, Jesse Belcher. Again, we were hopeful as we recognized the intermingling relationships between the Belcher and Hollen families; and again, we were disappointed. Some of the birth years of Berry Belcher’s children either overlapped the birth years of Mary Ann and Catharine, or were too close together to be realistic.

Leaving our research in Crawford County, we moved on to Orange County, Indiana, where Mary Ann and Catharine had both been born. We were hopeful again about James, the oldest of the five Belcher brothers, because most of his six children had likely been born in Orange County. James had died in 1842, and his wife, Nancy, had not remarried. She was enumerated with her younger children, in Jackson, Orange County, in 1850. The birth years of the couple’s six children were consistently spaced at about four to five years apart, which could have left room to insert the two girls. Without any evidence, however, or even workable clues, we realized we were grasping at straws. Hating to let go, though, we decided that, rather than fully eliminate James and Nancy from our dwindling list of parental candidates, we would set them aside until we had completed our research of all of the Belcher brothers.

And, yes, we knew we were running out of brothers because we had already learned that John, the youngest of the Belcher brothers, as well as his wife and any children they may have had, were all deceased before 1850.

That left us with only Joseph, the third Belcher brother, on our list of parental candidates. He and his wife had moved permanently to Illinois by 1830. Additionally, they had a son born in Illinois the same year Catharine was born in Orange County, Indiana. We found it easy and appropriate to eliminate Joseph from our list of potential parents.

After completing phase two of our research on the Belcher brothers, we still had no parents for Mary Ann and Catharine. We had not yet completely given up on the eldest brother, James, and his wife, Nancy, as “possibles” and tried again to see them as plausible. After relooking at everything, and giving them additional consideration, we again determined it just wasn’t working. James and Nancy were not the parents we were searching for. We would have to look elsewhere.

Then later, after working unsuccessfully with other research methods, we discovered a 1904 death certificate for a Catharine (Belcher) Trusty, whose reported date of birth matched the birth year for our 11-year-old Catharine Belcher. The informant for Catharine's death certificate was her widowed husband, Levi Trusty, who reported the name of Catharine's father as Arthur Belcher, and her mother as ______ Pigg. Arthur??? With all of the Belchers we had already researched, we had no Arthur. We did, however, again have hope, and also excitement, as we began to look for Arthur.

We found an Arthur Belcher on the 1840 census in Jackson, Orange County, Indiana. He was between the ages of 40 thru 49 years and his household consisted of seven children, two males and five females. Arthur, we believe, had been widowed by 1840 because his household included no female old enough to be the children's mother. Three of the females were under the age of 10 years, and because Arthur was also enumerated in Orange County in 1830, it was logical to conclude that those three young females on the 1840 census had been born in Orange County, as had Mary Ann and Catharine. This was a Belcher family we had known nothing about, and wondered… Wow! Could this Arthur really be our Catharine’s father? And could one of those other young girls in Arthur’s household in 1840 have been Mary Ann? We definitely hoped so as we set about learning more about Arthur Belcher.

We found him on the 1830 census, also in Orange County, Indiana. His household consisted of seven individuals, three males and four females. We believe that Arthur was the one male between the ages of 30 thru 39 years, and that his wife was the one female between the ages of 20 thru 29 years. Neither Mary Ann nor Catharine were born by 1830, so they wouldn’t have been included among the other females.

Continuing backwards, we found Arthur on the 1820 census in Warren County, Tennessee. His household consisted of three individuals. Arthur and his wife were both between the ages of 16 thru 25, and only one child, a female under the age of 10 years, was enumerated with them. In the next adjacent household on the same census page, William Belcher was enumerated as the head of household. William and his wife were both over the age of 45 years and we suspected they were Arthur's parents. We did not find Arthur enumerated in any other census after 1840, and believe he died before 1850.

We needed earlier information about Arthur's life, and the Bureau of Land Management’s land patent information sent us down another road of exciting research. We learned that not just Arthur, but some of the other Belchers, had also purchased land patents in Indiana about the same time and location. The Belcher brothers’ father, John Belcher Sr., purchased 80 acres in Orange County on 5 August 1837; his fourth son, Berry, purchased 40 acres in Orange County on 1 September 1838; and his fifth son, John Jr., purchased 40 acres in Orange County on 1 August 1839, the same date Arthur purchased 40 acres on the border between Crawford County and Orange County.

We had known, since first discovering Arthur, that he was not a sixth brother of our five Belcher brothers. After completing our research of their land patent purchases, we began to realize that, although not brothers, they were likely related. Our “original” Belcher family began in Tennessee with John Belcher and his wife Martha Johnston, who moved with their five sons, James, Jesse, Joseph, Berry and John, and possibly daughters, to Orange County, Indiana. If there had been another son, Arthur, he would have to have died before 01 August 1839 when the four oldest sons of John Sr., disposed of their shares in their deceased father's property in Orange County by selling it to their youngest brother, John Jr. And we already knew that Arthur was living in 1840 when he was enumerated on that year’s census. So, if Arthur was not a fifth brother of our original Belcher family, who was he?

It was important to remind ourselves that our research objective was to determine the identities of Mary Ann and Catharine Belcher who were enumerated without their parents on the 1850 census in the household of William Hollen in Patoka, Crawford County, Indiana.

So far, our most significant find was Catharine (Belcher) Trusty's death certificate reporting that her father's name was Arthur Belcher. Lacking any information to the contrary, we decided to believe it. Her mother’s surname may have been Pigg, as reported on her death certificate, and her full name even Elizabeth Pigg, as surmised on Catharine's Find a Grave memorial page. Not knowing her mother, though, would have to wait; we felt confident in our conclusion that Arthur Belcher was Catharine's father. So far, so good; however we still had found no evidence that Catharine and Mary Ann were sisters or why they would have been living with the William Hollen family in 1850.

Mary Ann, we learned, married Almarine Moore in 1851, and Almarine’s brother, Harral Moore, married Julia Ann Belcher in a double ceremony on the same date. Their marriage was the first time we had any evidence of a Julie Ann Belcher, and wondered if this was a case of brothers marrying sisters? And, if so, where was Julia Ann in 1850? We have not been able to find her anywhere! We knew this was going to take some thinking, as well as additional research. Then, when we learned that Jesse Belcher married Harral and Almarine’s sister, Mary Ann Moore, less than two months after Mary Ann and Julia Ann Belcher married the Moore brothers, our head exploded! To review… Jesse Belcher was Berry Belcher’s son. Jesse was enumerated in the home of his sister, Martha Jane, and her husband, Nathan Hollen, in 1850. Nathan’s father, William Hollen, was enumerated in 1850 one household above his son Nathan, and it was in Willam Hollen’s household that Mary Ann and Catharine Belcher were enumerated in 1850.

We don’t believe in coincidences. Mary Ann Belcher was born about 1834; Julia Ann Belcher was born about 1836; and Catharine Belcher was born in 1838. Mary Ann and Catharine were enumerated together, and we believe they were sisters. Catharine was a daughter of Arthur Belcher, so therefore we believe Mary Ann was also a daughter of Arthur Belcher. We cannot find Julia Ann Belcher anywhere on the 1850 census and believe she was likely also residing, with Mary Ann and Catharine, in the William Hollen household in 1850. We believe she was simply skipped by the census taker. She named her second son Arthur -- also likely not a coincidence. She was married in a double ceremony with Mary Ann, and we believe they were sisters who married brothers. We therefore believe that Mary Ann, Julia Ann and Catharine Belcher were all three sisters and, in 1850, the orphaned daughters of Arthur Belcher.

Okay, fine… But why were they living in the household of William Hollen?... To try to answer that question, we had to find out more about who Willam Hollen was. We learned he had been born in Tennessee, and we actually laughed out loud when we learned that his parents were Nathan Hollen and Elizabeth Belcher. So, there was an earlier connection between the Belcher and Hollen families. We just had to sort out how that early connection evolved into the families' later relationships. We had our original Belcher brothers, whose father was John Sr; we had Arthur Belcher, whose father we had decided was William Belcher; and we thought that John Sr. and William were brothers. Neither John Sr., nor any of his sons, named a son Arthur, while John Sr.’s brother, William Belcher, did name a son Arthur. Nathan and Elizabeth (Belcher) Hollen named a son Arthur, and was therefore likely to be more closely related to William Belcher than to John Sr. So, how was Elizabeth Belcher related to William Belcher? We believe she was Arthur's sister, about 10 years his senior, and possibly William Belcher’s eldest child. She would therefore have been an aunt to Arthur’s daughters, Mary Ann, Julia Ann and Catharine Becher. On the Hollen side, Nathan Hollen married Elizabeth Belcher and their son, William Hollen, was therefore Arthur Belcher’s nephew. And, it was in William Hollen’s household that the Belcher girls were enumerated in 1850. So, if Elizabeth (Belcher) Hollen was an aunt to Mary Ann, Julia Ann and Catharine Belcher, as we believe, it all makes perfect sense. The orphaned Belcher girls were enumerated in 1850 in the home of their 1st cousin, William Hollen, who had children the same ages as the Belcher girls.

Most importantly, at least to us anyway, is that we believe we've finally solved our serious Belcher girls Brick Wall: Mary Ann Belcher, Julia Ann Belcher, and Catharine Belcher were daughters of Arthur Belcher who died between 1840 and 1850.

It was a long and twisting road and, as if all of that wasn't enough to make us crazy... William Hollen had at least three brothers, Markham Hollen, Arthur Hollen and Mitchell Hollen, who married Minerva (Belcher) Belcher, Polly Belcher and Elizabeth Belcher, respectively. William's brother, Markham, married, as his second wife in 1853, Minerva (Belcher) Belcher, eldest daughter of the second Belcher brother, Jesse. Minerva's first husband had also been a Belcher, and she became a widow with four young children when he died before 1850. It concerns us a great deal that we have not been able to learn the given name, or Belcher family connection, of Minerva's first husband, and would greatly appreciate hearing from someone who knows. And, there are other Belcher family members we wonder about. William Hollen's brother, another Arthur, married Polly Belcher in 1835, and their brother, Mitchell, married Elizabeth Belcher in 1836. Additionally, we think that the Moses Belcher who married Eliza Belcher in 1835 was a son of William Belcher, and a brother of Arthur Belcher and Elizabeth (Belcher) Hollen, William Hollen's mother. Unfortunately, we have no idea which Belcher family, or families, Minerva's husband, or Polly, Elizabeth and Eliza belong with, and are hoping that someone reading this knows , and will tell us... Please...^{4,5,6,7,8,9,10,11,12,13,14,15,16,17,18,1,19,20,2,3,21,22,23,24,25,26,27,28,29,30,31,32,33,34,35,36,37,38,39,40,41,42}

Birth*

between 1790 and 1800

Arthur Belcher was born between 1790 and 1800 in Tennessee.⁴³

Relationship Note*

Arthur Belcher and Elizabeth Belcher were certainly close relatives, and we believe were siblings.⁴⁴

Marriage*

He married ______ Pigg.¹

Census US 1820*

7 August 1820

Arthur Belcher was enumerated as the head of his household on the 1820 census taken on 7 August 1820 in Warren County, Tennessee. His household consisted of three individuals. Arthur and his wife were both between the ages of 16 thru 25, and Arthur was engaged in agriculture. One child, a female under the age of 10 years, was enumerated with them. In the next adjacent household on the same census page, William Belcher was enumerated as the head of his household. William and his wife were both over the age of 45 years and we suspect were probably Arthur's parents.²

Census US 1830*

1830

Arthur Belcher was enumerated as the head of his household on the 1830 census taken in Orange County, Indiana. His household consisted of seven individuals, two males and five females. One male was under the age of 5 years; one male was between the ages of 30 thru 39 years; one female was under the age of 5 years; two females were between the ages of 5 thru 9 years; one female was between the ages of 10 thru 15 years; and one female was between the ages of 30 thru 39 years.²⁰

Land Patent

1 August 1839

A Land Patent was issued to Arthur Belcher of Orange County, Indiana on 1 August 1839 according to an Act of Congress dated 24 April 1820 which made further provision for the initial sale of public lands by the Federal Government to individuals. After confirming that he had paid in full, Arthur received title to land in Crawford County, Indiana, his land situated on the border between Crawford County and Orange County, and described as:

The North West quarter of the North East quarter of Section Thirty-Six in Township One, South, of Range Two, West, in the District of Lands subject to sale at Vincennes, Indiana, and containing forty acres.

Arthur's uncle, John Belcher Sr., and cousins, Berry Belcher and John Belcher Jr., also received patents for nearby land in Orange County. His uncle John purchased 80 acres on 5 August 1837; his cousin Berry purchased 40 acres on 1 September 1838; and his cousin John purchased 40 acres on 1 August 1839, the same date as Arthur.^21,22,24,23

(Husband) Death

before 1840

Arthur became a widower when ______ (Pigg) Belcher died, probably before 1840.¹⁹

Census US 1840*

1840

Arthur Belcher was enumerated on the 1840 census as the head of his household in Jackson, Orange County, Indiana. He was between the ages of 40 thru 49 years, was employed in agriculture and could neither read nor write. He appears to have been widowed before 1840 and his household consisted of seven children, two males and five females, all under the age of 20 years. The older male, who was likely a son, was between the ages of 10 thru 14 years, and worked as a farmer with Arthur, and the younger male, who was also likely a son, was between the ages of 5 thru 9 years. The oldest female, who may have been a daughter or hired help, was between the ages of 15 thru 19 years, and the four younger females were likely Arthur's daughters. One was between the ages of 10 thru 14 years; one was between the ages of 5 thru 9 years; and two of the females were under the age of 5 years. We believe that Arthur's Brick Wall daughters, Mary Ann Belcher, Julia Ann Belcher and Catharine Belcher, who in 1840 would have been ages 6, 4 and 2 years, respectively, were enumerated in their father's household.¹⁹

Family 1

______ Pigg d. b 1840

Child

Catharine Belcher^1,19 b. 24 Sep 1838, d. 20 Nov 1904

Family 2

Children

Mary Ann Belcher+^6,45,46,19 b. 1834

Julia Ann Belcher+¹⁹ b. 1836

Citations

[S1571] Indiana, U.S., Death Certificates, 1899-2017, online at www.ancestry.com, death on 20 November 1904 in Taswell, Crawford, Indiana, USA, of Catharine Trusty, transcribed by Ancestry as "Tensty", age 66, married to Lee Trusty, born 24 September 1838 to Arthur Belcher and ______ Pigg in Crawford Co, referencing Indiana Archives and Records Administration; Indianapolis, IN, USA; Death Certificates; Year: 1904; Roll: 03. Hereinafter cited as Indiana, U.S., Death Certificates, 1899-2017.
[S468] 1820 United States Federal Census, online at www.ancestry.com, household of Arthur Belcher, 1820 U S Census; Census Place: Warren, Tennessee; Page: 310; NARA Roll: M33_122; Image: 274. Hereinafter cited as 1820 United States Federal Census.
[S468] 1820 United States Federal Census, online at www.ancestry.com, household of William Belcher, 1820 U S Census; Census Place: Warren, Tennessee; Page: 310; NARA Roll: M33_122; Image: 274.
[S17] 1850 United States Federal Census, online at www.ancestry.com, household of William and Elizabeth Hollen, Year: 1850; Census Place: Patoka, Crawford, Indiana; Roll: 139; Page: 16b, image# 16 of 23. Hereinafter cited as 1850 United States Federal Census.
[S2244] Family Search Ancestry Discovery Blog, online at https://www.familysearch.org/blog/en/… .Caution: This is a beautifully presented collection of "Person Pages" containing a variety of information about specific ancestors submitted by individual contributors -- often, unfortunately, with no sources. If the information we have chosen to pass along here is accurate, we are extremely grateful to the contributor(s) who have shared it. Without documentation, however, we researchers are always forced to question the validity of information. We hope what we have selected to include was originally obtained from family Bible records, or other reliable sources, and is accurate. Although, even when we have found contributed information to be unreliable, inaccurate or incomplete, we consider the information useful as possible clues as we research, citing the Belcher Heirs Deed, 1839, Orange County, Indiana, submitted by Jeannie Watts <e-mail address> with special thanks to Frankie Lu Eads of Princeton, Indiana who sent her a photocopy of the deed which we found attached in three files under Memories for Berry Belcher, online at https://www.familysearch.org/tree/person/memories/LTHD-H2Y. Hereinafter cited as Family Search Ancestry Discovery Blog.
[S17] 1850 United States Federal Census, online at www.ancestry.com, household of Nancy Belcher, Year: 1850; Census Place: Jackson, Orange, Indiana; Roll: 163; Page: 399a.
[S2244] Family Search Ancestry Discovery Blog, online at https://www.familysearch.org/blog/en/…, viewed online at https://www.familysearch.org/tree/person/details/G6WH-L1P
[S16] 1830 United States Federal Census, online at www.ancestry.com, household of Joseph Belcher, Year: 1830; Census Place: Crawford, Illinois; Series: M19; Roll: 23; Page: 18; Family History Library Film: 0007648. Hereinafter cited as 1830 United States Federal Census.
[S748] Find a Grave website, which often provides cemetery and tombstone photos, and sometimes personal biographies, that may be obtained from the site, online at www.findagrave.com, Berry Belcher, Memorial# 34936541. Hereinafter cited as Find a Grave website.
[S17] 1850 United States Federal Census, online at www.ancestry.com, household of Berry and Mary Belcher, Year: 1850; Census Place: Patoka, Crawford, Indiana; Roll: 139; Page: 18b, image# 20 of 23.
[S2283] Indiana, U.S., Compiled Marriages, 1802-1892, online at www.ancestry.com, marriage on 14 December 1826 in Orange County, Indiana, USA, of John Belcher and Eunice Pitman, referencing FHL Film# 1316696. Hereinafter cited as Indiana, U.S., Compiled Marriages, 1802-1892.
[S16] 1830 United States Federal Census, online at www.ancestry.com, household of John Belcher, Junior, Year: 1830; Census Place: Orange, Indiana; Series: M19; Roll: 31; Page: 34; Family History Library Film: 0007720.
[S2294] Will of Lewis Pitman dated 20 March 1849 in Macoupin County, Illinois, submitted for probate on 7 April 1849; transcription originally shared on 28 December 2012 by WLawrence2182, and attached to an Ancestry Tree; viewed on 27 April 2022, online at https://www.ancestry.com/mediaui-viewer/tree/85867149/…. Hereinafter cited as Will of Lewis Pitman.
[S17] 1850 United States Federal Census, online at www.ancestry.com, household of Jesse and Sarah Belcher, Year: 1850; Census Place: Patoka, Crawford, Indiana; Roll: 139; Page: 13a, image# 9 of 23.
[S17] 1850 United States Federal Census, online at www.ancestry.com, household of Marcum Hollen, Year: 1850; Census Place: Patoka, Crawford, Indiana; Roll: 139; Page: 16b, image# 16 of 23.
[S17] 1850 United States Federal Census, online at www.ancestry.com, household of Nathan and Martha Jane Hollen, Year: 1850; Census Place: Patoka, Crawford, Indiana; Roll: 139; Page: 16b, image# 16 of 23.
[S487] 1840 United States Federal Census, online at www.ancestry.com, household of Joseph Belcher, Year: 1840; Census Place: Jersey, Illinois; Roll: 61; Page: 339; Family History Library Film: 0007642. Hereinafter cited as 1840 United States Federal Census.
[S17] 1850 United States Federal Census, online at www.ancestry.com, household of Joseph and Ruth Belcher, Year: 1850; Census Place: Point, Calhoun, Illinois; Roll: 99; Page: 335a.
[S487] 1840 United States Federal Census, online at www.ancestry.com, household of Arthur Belcher, Year: 1840; Census Place: Jackson, Orange, Indiana; Roll: 89; Page: 29; Family History Library Film: 0007728.
[S16] 1830 United States Federal Census, online at www.ancestry.com, household of Arthur Belcher, his name spelled "Arter" by the census taker and transcribed as "Aster" by Ancestry, Year: 1830; Census Place: Orange, Indiana; Series: M19; Roll: 31; Page: 36; Family History Library Film: 0007720.
[S1585] Bureau of Land Management General Land Office Records (U.S. Department of the Interior), online at https://glorecords.blm.gov/search/default.aspx, land patent for 40 acres in Crawford County, Indiana, purchased by Arthur Belcher of Orange County, Indiana, on 1 August 1839 from the Land Office of the United States at Vincennes, Indiana; viewed 22 April 2022, online at https://glorecords.blm.gov/details/patent/default.aspx. Hereinafter cited as Bureau of Land Management General Land Office Records.
[S1585] Bureau of Land Management General Land Office Records, online at https://glorecords.blm.gov/search/default.aspx, land patent for 80 acres in Orange County, Indiana, purchased by John Belcher of Orange County, Indiana, on 5 August 1837 from the Land Office of the United States at Vincennes, Indiana; viewed 25 April 2022, online at https://glorecords.blm.gov/details/patent/default.aspx
[S1585] Bureau of Land Management General Land Office Records, online at https://glorecords.blm.gov/search/default.aspx, land patent for 40 acres in Orange County, Indiana, purchased by Berry Belcher of Orange County, Indiana, on 1 September 1838 from the Land Office of the United States at Vincennes, Indiana; viewed 25 April 2022, online at https://glorecords.blm.gov/details/patent/default.aspx
[S1585] Bureau of Land Management General Land Office Records, online at https://glorecords.blm.gov/search/default.aspx, land patent for 40 acres in Orange County, Indiana, purchased by John Belcher of Orange County, Indiana, on 1 August 1839 from the Land Office of the United States at Vincennes, Indiana; viewed 25 April 2022, online at https://glorecords.blm.gov/details/patent/default.aspx
[S748] Find a Grave website, online at www.findagrave.com, Catharine (Belcher) Trusty, Memorial# 204517313.
[S1501] Indiana Marriages, 1811-2019, database with images, online at www.familysearch.org. Digital collection of microfilmed records located at the Wayne County Courthouse, Richmond, Indiana. Includes surname indexes, marriage licenses were issued on 11 November 1851 by the Circuit Court in Paoli, Orange County for Harral Moore to marry Julia Ann Belcher and for Almarine Moore to marry Mary Ann Belcher, viewed online at https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:33S7-9TMC-9X9F. Hereinafter cited as Indiana Marriages, 1811-2019.
[S1501] Indiana Marriages, 1811-2019, online at www.familysearch.org, marriage on 12 November 1851 in Orange County of Almarine Moore and Mary Ann Belcher and also of Harral Moore and Julia Ann Belcher, viewed online at https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:33S7-9TMC-9X9F
[S1444] Indiana, U.S., Marriage Index, 1800-1941, online at www.ancestry.com, marriage on 12 November 1851 in Orange County of Mary Ann Belcher and Almarine Moore, referencing Orange County, Indiana, original record located in the County Clerk's Office in Paoli, Indiana; Book: C- 3; Page: 389. Hereinafter cited as Indiana, U.S., Marriage Index, 1800-1941.
[S1501] Indiana Marriages, 1811-2019, online at www.familysearch.org, marriage on 12 November 1851 in Orange County of Harral Moore and Julia Ann Belcher and also of Almarine Moore and Mary Ann Belcher, viewed online at https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:33S7-9TMC-9X9F
[S1444] Indiana, U.S., Marriage Index, 1800-1941, online at www.ancestry.com, marriage on 12 November 1851 in Orange County of Julia Ann Belcher and Harral Moore, referencing Orange County, Indiana, original record located in the County Clerk's Office in Paoli, Indiana; Book: C- 3; Page: 389.
[S1501] Indiana Marriages, 1811-2019, online at www.familysearch.org, marriage on 8 January 1852 in Crawford County of Jesse Belcher and Mary Ann Moore, certifier's name: C. W. Kindle; officiator's name: J. H. McMickle, viewed online at https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:DV77-GZ6Z
[S1444] Indiana, U.S., Marriage Index, 1800-1941, online at www.ancestry.com, marriage on 8 January 1852 in Crawford County of Mary Ann Moore and Jesse Belcher, his given name transcribed as "Isaac" by Ancestry, referencing Crawford County Indiana Marriages, 1818 - 1880, Books A - D, contents: Part I, Index of Grooms, Part II, Index of Brides, Compiled by Ruth M Slevin; Book: B; Page: 148.
[S748] Find a Grave website, online at www.findagrave.com, Mary Ann (Moore) Belcher, Memorial# 232116375.
[S37] 1870 United States Federal Census, online at www.ancestry.com, household of Harold and Julia Moore, Year: 1870; Census Place: Madison, Pike, Indiana; Roll: M593_350; Page: 502B. Hereinafter cited as 1870 United States Federal Census.
[S2244] Family Search Ancestry Discovery Blog, online at https://www.familysearch.org/blog/en/…, viewed online at https://www.familysearch.org/tree/person/details/KGCK-1WC
[S2244] Family Search Ancestry Discovery Blog, online at https://www.familysearch.org/blog/en/…, viewed online at https://www.familysearch.org/tree/person/details/KP3F-CTV
[S2244] Family Search Ancestry Discovery Blog, online at https://www.familysearch.org/blog/en/…, viewed online at https://www.familysearch.org/tree/person/details/KP3F-C5V
[S2244] Family Search Ancestry Discovery Blog, online at https://www.familysearch.org/blog/en/…, viewed online at https://www.familysearch.org/tree/person/details/KP3F-CC1
[S1444] Indiana, U.S., Marriage Index, 1800-1941, online at www.ancestry.com, marriage on 2 October 1853 in Orange County, of Markham Holland and Minerva Belcher, referencing Orange County, Indiana.
[S1501] Indiana Marriages, 1811-2019, online at www.familysearch.org, marriage license issued, and marriage performed by William C. Walls, Justice of the Peace, on 3 August 1835 in Orange County between Arthur Hollen and Polly Belcher; viewed online at https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:33S7-9TMC-96HZ
[S1501] Indiana Marriages, 1811-2019, online at www.familysearch.org, marriage license with written consent issued, and marriage performed by William C. Walls, Justice of the Peace, on 15 August 1836 in Orange County between Mitchell Hollen and Elizabeth Belcher; viewed online at https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:33SQ-GTMC-9867
[S1501] Indiana Marriages, 1811-2019, online at www.familysearch.org, marriage license issued, and marriage performed by William C. Walls, Justice of the Peace, on 9 July 1835 in Orange County between Moses Belcher, his father's consent verbally given, and Eliza Belcher, consent in writing; viewed online at https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:33S7-9TMC-96HZ
[S23] 1880 United States Federal Census, online at www.ancestry.com, household of Levi and Catharine Trusty, Year: 1880; Census Place: Patoka, Crawford, Indiana; Roll: 271; Page: 363A; Enumeration District: 028. Hereinafter cited as 1880 United States Federal Census.
[S221] Analysis and opinion of researcher, Liz Heaton Brown (Summerlin, Nevada).
[S17] 1850 United States Federal Census, online at www.ancestry.com, household of William and Elizabeth Hollen, Year: 1850; Census Place: Patoka, Crawford, Indiana; Roll: 139; Page: 16b.
[S17] 1850 United States Federal Census, online at www.ancestry.com, household of Jesse and Sarah Belcher, Year: 1850; Census Place: Patoka, Crawford, Indiana; Roll: 139; Page: 13a.

Audrey T. Belcher^1,2,3

b. 1908, d. 1989

Family

Birth*

1908

Audrey T. Belcher was born in 1908.^1,2

Marriage*

22 December 1925

She married Lewis D. Kissner, son of Richard David Kissner and Lucy Randall Miller, on 22 December 1925 in Marion County, Illinois.^3,1,2

Children*

Audrey and Lewis had two daughters, both of whom died in infancy.^2,1

(Wife) Death

1980

Audrey became a widow when Lewis D. Kissner died in 1980 at about age 80.⁴

Death*

1989

She died in 1989 at about age 81¹

Burial*

and was buried in Patoka Cemetery, Patoka, Marion County.²

Family

Lewis D. Kissner b. 1900, d. 1980

Citations

[S748] Find a Grave website, which often provides cemetery and tombstone photos, and sometimes personal biographies, that may be obtained from the site, online at www.findagrave.com, Lewis Kissner, Memorial# 94001180. Hereinafter cited as Find a Grave website.
[S748] Find a Grave website, online at www.findagrave.com, Audrey (Belcher) Kissner, Memorial# 94001165.
[S1701] Illinois, U.S., County Marriage Records, 1800-1940, online at www.ancestry.com, marriage of Lewis D. Kissner and Audrey T. Belcher on 22 December 1925 in Marion County, citing FHL Film Number: 001010516. Hereinafter cited as Illinois, U.S., County Marriage Records, 1800-1940.
[S748] Find a Grave website, online at www.findagrave.com, Richard David Kissner, Memorial# 94017380.

Berry Belcher¹

b. 22 September 1803, d. 9 March 1885

Family

Father*

John T. Belcher Sr.^2,3,4,5 b. 13 Oct 1774, d. Jun 1839

Mother*

Martha Johnston^3,6,5

(4th Brother) Brick Wall Research

While we were working to organize and understand the information we had been collecting on the Belcher families of Orange and Crawford counties in Indiana, we ran into a serious Brick Wall. Two young girls, Mary Ann Belcher, age 16, and Catharine Belcher, age 11, were enumerated on the 1850 census in Patoka, Crawford County, Indiana in the household of William Hollen. Mary Ann and Catharine, whom we suspected were sisters, had both been born in Orange County, Indiana. We had no idea which Belcher family these two young girls belonged with, and wondered why they would be living with the Hollen family.

From previous research, we’ve learned that the two most common circumstances causing children to live with relatives other than their immediate families were the deaths of one or both parents, and/or the arrival of a stepparent into their household.

The Belcher family we were researching had five brothers: James, Jesse, Joseph, Berry, and John. We had initially used the 1850 census as our primary source, and had been in the process of identifying the children of each of the brothers in order to develop each of their five families. We knew, for example, that James, the eldest brother, had died in 1842 leaving a wife and several children, most of whom had been born in Orange County; that the third brother, Joseph, had moved with his wife and children to Illinois by 1830; that the first wife of fourth brother, Berry, had died after giving birth to five children, that Berry had married a second time, had seven more children by 1850, and that his seven children born before 1841 had all been born in Orange County; that the youngest brother, John, as well as his wife and any children they may have had, were all deceased before 1850; and that Jesse, the second brother, had a wife and seven children, five of whom had been born in Orange County. From the 1850 census, we also learned that Jesse’s eldest daughter, Minerva, and Berry’s eldest daughter, Martha Jane, and second son, Jesse, had all been enumerated in separate households on the same census page as our two Brick Wall children, Mary Ann and Catharine Belcher. That was a fair amount of information, we thought, and hoped it provided us with enough clues to identify Mary Ann and Catharine’s parents. We still believed the girls belonged to one, or possibly two, of the five Belcher brothers, so we needed to make a deeper dive, using a variety of sources, into the families of each one. Reviewing all that we already knew, we felt the two most logical Belcher brothers to analyze first were Jesse and Berry because both were enumerated on the 1850 census in Patoka, Crawford County, Indiana, the same place where we found Mary Ann and Catharine in the household of William Hollen.

We began our targeted Brick Wall research of the brothers with the family of Jesse Belcher, the second brother, whose household on the 1850 census was a few census pages away from William Hollen’s. Jesse’s widowed daughter, Minerva, was enumerated in 1850 on the same census page as Mary Ann and Catharine in the household of William’s brother, Marcum Hollen. We were hopeful, initially, that we could connect at least one of the girls to Jesse. We tried; then had to admit that the birth years of his children too closely overlapped the birth years of Mary Ann and Catharine and that, if the girls belonged with Jesse and his wife, we would have found them with their parents.

Berry Belcher, the fourth brother, was enumerated in 1850 with his second wife and nine of his sixteen children, two from his first wife and seven from his second. They, too, were enumerated in Patoka, Crawford County, Indiana, a few pages away from the subjects of our search, and on the other side of the Hollen household from Berry’s brother, Jesse. Berry’s eldest daughter, Martha Jane, had married Nathan Hollen, a son of William Hollen, and Martha Jane and Nathan were enumerated in 1850 in the next household after Nathan’s father on the same census page. Enumerated with Nathan and Martha Jane was Martha Jane’s brother, Jesse Belcher. Again, we were hopeful as we recognized the intermingling relationships between the Belcher and Hollen families; and again, we were disappointed. Some of the birth years of Berry Belcher’s children either overlapped the birth years of Mary Ann and Catharine, or were too close together to be realistic.

Leaving our research in Crawford County, we moved on to Orange County, Indiana, where Mary Ann and Catharine had both been born. We were hopeful again about James, the oldest of the five Belcher brothers, because most of his six children had likely been born in Orange County. James had died in 1842, and his wife, Nancy, had not remarried. She was enumerated with her younger children, in Jackson, Orange County, in 1850. The birth years of the couple’s six children were consistently spaced at about four to five years apart, which could have left room to insert the two girls. Without any evidence, however, or even workable clues, we realized we were grasping at straws. Hating to let go, though, we decided that, rather than fully eliminate James and Nancy from our dwindling list of parental candidates, we would set them aside until we had completed our research of all of the Belcher brothers.

And, yes, we knew we were running out of brothers because we had already learned that John, the youngest of the Belcher brothers, as well as his wife and any children they may have had, were all deceased before 1850.

That left us with only Joseph, the third Belcher brother, on our list of parental candidates. He and his wife had moved permanently to Illinois by 1830. Additionally, they had a son born in Illinois the same year Catharine was born in Orange County, Indiana. We found it easy and appropriate to eliminate Joseph from our list of potential parents.

After completing phase two of our research on the Belcher brothers, we still had no parents for Mary Ann and Catharine. We had not yet completely given up on the eldest brother, James, and his wife, Nancy, as “possibles” and tried again to see them as plausible. After relooking at everything, and giving them additional consideration, we again determined it just wasn’t working. James and Nancy were not the parents we were searching for. We would have to look elsewhere.

Then later, after working unsuccessfully with other research methods, we discovered a 1904 death certificate for a Catharine (Belcher) Trusty, whose reported date of birth matched the birth year for our 11-year-old Catharine Belcher. The informant for Catharine's death certificate was her widowed husband, Levi Trusty, who reported the name of Catharine's father as Arthur Belcher, and her mother as ______ Pigg. Arthur??? With all of the Belchers we had already researched, we had no Arthur. We did, however, again have hope, and also excitement, as we began to look for Arthur.

We found an Arthur Belcher on the 1840 census in Jackson, Orange County, Indiana. He was between the ages of 40 thru 49 years and his household consisted of seven children, two males and five females. Arthur, we believe, had been widowed by 1840 because his household included no female old enough to be the children's mother. Three of the females were under the age of 10 years, and because Arthur was also enumerated in Orange County in 1830, it was logical to conclude that those three young females on the 1840 census had been born in Orange County, as had Mary Ann and Catharine. This was a Belcher family we had known nothing about, and wondered… Wow! Could this Arthur really be our Catharine’s father? And could one of those other young girls in Arthur’s household in 1840 have been Mary Ann? We definitely hoped so as we set about learning more about Arthur Belcher.

We found him on the 1830 census, also in Orange County, Indiana. His household consisted of seven individuals, three males and four females. We believe that Arthur was the one male between the ages of 30 thru 39 years, and that his wife was the one female between the ages of 20 thru 29 years. Neither Mary Ann nor Catharine were born by 1830, so they wouldn’t have been included among the other females.

Continuing backwards, we found Arthur on the 1820 census in Warren County, Tennessee. His household consisted of three individuals. Arthur and his wife were both between the ages of 16 thru 25, and only one child, a female under the age of 10 years, was enumerated with them. In the next adjacent household on the same census page, William Belcher was enumerated as the head of household. William and his wife were both over the age of 45 years and we suspected they were Arthur's parents. We did not find Arthur enumerated in any other census after 1840, and believe he died before 1850.

We needed earlier information about Arthur's life, and the Bureau of Land Management’s land patent information sent us down another road of exciting research. We learned that not just Arthur, but some of the other Belchers, had also purchased land patents in Indiana about the same time and location. The Belcher brothers’ father, John Belcher Sr., purchased 80 acres in Orange County on 5 August 1837; his fourth son, Berry, purchased 40 acres in Orange County on 1 September 1838; and his fifth son, John Jr., purchased 40 acres in Orange County on 1 August 1839, the same date Arthur purchased 40 acres on the border between Crawford County and Orange County.

We had known, since first discovering Arthur, that he was not a sixth brother of our five Belcher brothers. After completing our research of their land patent purchases, we began to realize that, although not brothers, they were likely related. Our “original” Belcher family began in Tennessee with John Belcher and his wife Martha Johnston, who moved with their five sons, James, Jesse, Joseph, Berry and John, and possibly daughters, to Orange County, Indiana. If there had been another son, Arthur, he would have to have died before 01 August 1839 when the four oldest sons of John Sr., disposed of their shares in their deceased father's property in Orange County by selling it to their youngest brother, John Jr. And we already knew that Arthur was living in 1840 when he was enumerated on that year’s census. So, if Arthur was not a fifth brother of our original Belcher family, who was he?

It was important to remind ourselves that our research objective was to determine the identities of Mary Ann and Catharine Belcher who were enumerated without their parents on the 1850 census in the household of William Hollen in Patoka, Crawford County, Indiana.

So far, our most significant find was Catharine (Belcher) Trusty's death certificate reporting that her father's name was Arthur Belcher. Lacking any information to the contrary, we decided to believe it. Her mother’s surname may have been Pigg, as reported on her death certificate, and her full name even Elizabeth Pigg, as surmised on Catharine's Find a Grave memorial page. Not knowing her mother, though, would have to wait; we felt confident in our conclusion that Arthur Belcher was Catharine's father. So far, so good; however we still had found no evidence that Catharine and Mary Ann were sisters or why they would have been living with the William Hollen family in 1850.

Mary Ann, we learned, married Almarine Moore in 1851, and Almarine’s brother, Harral Moore, married Julia Ann Belcher in a double ceremony on the same date. Their marriage was the first time we had any evidence of a Julie Ann Belcher, and wondered if this was a case of brothers marrying sisters? And, if so, where was Julia Ann in 1850? We have not been able to find her anywhere! We knew this was going to take some thinking, as well as additional research. Then, when we learned that Jesse Belcher married Harral and Almarine’s sister, Mary Ann Moore, less than two months after Mary Ann and Julia Ann Belcher married the Moore brothers, our head exploded! To review… Jesse Belcher was Berry Belcher’s son. Jesse was enumerated in the home of his sister, Martha Jane, and her husband, Nathan Hollen, in 1850. Nathan’s father, William Hollen, was enumerated in 1850 one household above his son Nathan, and it was in Willam Hollen’s household that Mary Ann and Catharine Belcher were enumerated in 1850.

We don’t believe in coincidences. Mary Ann Belcher was born about 1834; Julia Ann Belcher was born about 1836; and Catharine Belcher was born in 1838. Mary Ann and Catharine were enumerated together, and we believe they were sisters. Catharine was a daughter of Arthur Belcher, so therefore we believe Mary Ann was also a daughter of Arthur Belcher. We cannot find Julia Ann Belcher anywhere on the 1850 census and believe she was likely also residing, with Mary Ann and Catharine, in the William Hollen household in 1850. We believe she was simply skipped by the census taker. She named her second son Arthur -- also likely not a coincidence. She was married in a double ceremony with Mary Ann, and we believe they were sisters who married brothers. We therefore believe that Mary Ann, Julia Ann and Catharine Belcher were all three sisters and, in 1850, the orphaned daughters of Arthur Belcher.

Okay, fine… But why were they living in the household of William Hollen?... To try to answer that question, we had to find out more about who Willam Hollen was. We learned he had been born in Tennessee, and we actually laughed out loud when we learned that his parents were Nathan Hollen and Elizabeth Belcher. So, there was an earlier connection between the Belcher and Hollen families. We just had to sort out how that early connection evolved into the families' later relationships. We had our original Belcher brothers, whose father was John Sr; we had Arthur Belcher, whose father we had decided was William Belcher; and we thought that John Sr. and William were brothers. Neither John Sr., nor any of his sons, named a son Arthur, while John Sr.’s brother, William Belcher, did name a son Arthur. Nathan and Elizabeth (Belcher) Hollen named a son Arthur, and was therefore likely to be more closely related to William Belcher than to John Sr. So, how was Elizabeth Belcher related to William Belcher? We believe she was Arthur's sister, about 10 years his senior, and possibly William Belcher’s eldest child. She would therefore have been an aunt to Arthur’s daughters, Mary Ann, Julia Ann and Catharine Becher. On the Hollen side, Nathan Hollen married Elizabeth Belcher and their son, William Hollen, was therefore Arthur Belcher’s nephew. And, it was in William Hollen’s household that the Belcher girls were enumerated in 1850. So, if Elizabeth (Belcher) Hollen was an aunt to Mary Ann, Julia Ann and Catharine Belcher, as we believe, it all makes perfect sense. The orphaned Belcher girls were enumerated in 1850 in the home of their 1st cousin, William Hollen, who had children the same ages as the Belcher girls.

Most importantly, at least to us anyway, is that we believe we've finally solved our serious Belcher girls Brick Wall: Mary Ann Belcher, Julia Ann Belcher, and Catharine Belcher were daughters of Arthur Belcher who died between 1840 and 1850.

It was a long and twisting road and, as if all of that wasn't enough to make us crazy... William Hollen had at least three brothers, Markham Hollen, Arthur Hollen and Mitchell Hollen, who married Minerva (Belcher) Belcher, Polly Belcher and Elizabeth Belcher, respectively. William's brother, Markham, married, as his second wife in 1853, Minerva (Belcher) Belcher, eldest daughter of the second Belcher brother, Jesse. Minerva's first husband had also been a Belcher, and she became a widow with four young children when he died before 1850. It concerns us a great deal that we have not been able to learn the given name, or Belcher family connection, of Minerva's first husband, and would greatly appreciate hearing from someone who knows. And, there are other Belcher family members we wonder about. William Hollen's brother, another Arthur, married Polly Belcher in 1835, and their brother, Mitchell, married Elizabeth Belcher in 1836. Additionally, we think that the Moses Belcher who married Eliza Belcher in 1835 was a son of William Belcher, and a brother of Arthur Belcher and Elizabeth (Belcher) Hollen, William Hollen's mother. Unfortunately, we have no idea which Belcher family, or families, Minerva's husband, or Polly, Elizabeth and Eliza belong with, and are hoping that someone reading this knows , and will tell us... Please...^{7,2,8,9,10,1,11,12,13,14,15,16,17,18,19,20,21,22,23,24,25,26,27,28,29,30,31,32,33,34,35,36,37,38,39,40,41,42,43,44,45,46}

Birth*

22 September 1803

Berry Belcher was born on 22 September 1803 in Clairborne County, Tennessee.¹

Marriage*

11 March 1824

He married first Jane Trimble, daughter of Moses James Trimble and Mary Berry, on 11 March 1824 in Orange County, Indiana.^4,1

Census US 1830*

1830

Berry Belcher was enumerated as the head of his household on the 1830 census taken in Lawrence County, Illinois. His household consisted of six people. Berry would have been one of the males between the ages of 20 thru 29, and his wife, Jane, would have been the one female between the ages of 20 thru 29. The couple's three children, Moses, Martha Jane, and Jesse were enumerated with them in 1830. Moses would have been the one male between the ages of 5 thru 9; Martha was the one female under the age of 5; and Jesse would have been the one male under the age of 5. The second male between the ages of 20 thru 29 has not been identified with certainty, although he was possibly one of Berry's brothers or cousins.⁴⁷

(Husband) Death

1837

Berry became a widower when Jane (Trimble) Belcher died about 1837. Her death left him with five young children.¹

Marriage*

8 February 1838

He married second Mary Trusty, daughter of John Trusty and Jane Williams, on 8 February 1838 in Orange County, Indiana.^48,49,1

Land Patent*

1 September 1838

A Land Patent was issued to Berry Belcher of Orange County, Indiana on 1 September 1838 according to an Act of Congress dated 24 April 1820 which made further provision for the initial sale of public lands by the Federal Government to individuals. After confirming that he had paid in full, Berry received title to land in Orange County, Indiana, described as:

The South East quarter of the North East quarter of Section Twenty-Two in Township One, South of Range Two, West, in the District of Lands subject to sale at Vincennes, Indiana, and containing forty acres.

Berry's father, John Belcher, brother, John Belcher, and cousin, Arthur Belcher, also received patents for nearby land. His father purchased 80 acres on 5 August 1837; his brother John and cousin Arthur each purchased 40 acres on 1 August 1839.^27,26,28,25

(4th Son) Land Records

1 August 1839

After their father's death, the five sons of John T. Belcher Sr. inherited equal parts of a specific tract or parcel of land consisting of 80 acres in Orange County, Indiana that their father had owned at the time of his death. Subsequently, each of his four oldest sons sold his inherited share in that land, which would have amounted to about 16 acres each, to their youngest brother. A deed dated 1 August 1839 in Orange County, Indiana, described the transaction, and we note that the description of the 80 acres of land in the deed is not the same as the description of the 80 acres of land their father purchased in 1837 as a Land Patent from the United States Federal Government. Our transcription of the deed follows:

This indenture made 1 August 1839 between James Belcher and Nancy Belcher his wife and Jesse Belcher and Sarah Belcher his wife and Joseph Belcher and Ruth Belcher his wife and Berry Belcher and Mary Belcher his wife, heirs of John T. Belcher Sr., late of Orange County, deceased, each of the County of Orange and State of Indiana, of the one part, and John Belcher Jr. of the County and State aforesaid, of the other part, Witnesseth that the said James Belcher and Jesse Belcher and Joseph Belcher and Berry Belcher, for and in consideration of the sum of $88.89 to them in had paid by the said John Belcher Jr., the receipt whereof they do hereby acknowledge, hath granted, bargained, sold, conveyed and confirmed and doth by these presents grant, bargain, sell, convey and confirm unto the said John Belcher Jr., his heirs and assigns forever, their part of a certain tract or parcel of land in the County of Orange aforesaid, it being the west half of the North west quarter of Section No. 25 in Township No. 1 South of Range No. 2 west, estimated to contain 80 acres, be the same more or less, together with all the appurtenances thereunto belonging, and the reversions, remainders and profits thereof, and all the estate, title and interest of the said James Belcher and Jesse Belcher and Joseph Belcher and Berry Belcher in and to their part of the 80 acres aforesaid, to have and to hold the premises aforesaid, with all the appurtenances, to the only proper use, benefit and behoof of the said John Belcher Jr., his heirs and assigns forever, and the said James Belcher and Jesse Belcher and Joseph Belcher and Berry Belcher for themselves, their heirs, executors and administrators doth covenant and agree to and with the said John Belcher Jr., his heirs and assigns, that they, the said James Belcher, Jesse Belcher, Joseph Belcher and Berry Belcher, is lawfully seized in fee of the premises aforesaid, that they are free from all incumbrance and that they have good right to sell and convey the same in manner and form aforesaid, and further that they and their heirs, executors and administrators shall and will warrant and defend the said premises to the said John Belcher Jr., his heirs and assigns, against the lawful claims of themselves and their heirs and also against the lawful claim or claims of all and every other person or persons whatsoever, and the said Nancy Belcher, the wife of the said James Belcher, and Sarah Belcher, the wife of the said Jesse Belcher, and Ruth Belcher, the wife of the said Joseph Belcher, and Mary Belcher, the wife of the said Berry Belcher, doth hereby relinquish all their right and title of dower of and in the premises aforesaid.

In witness whereof the said James Belcher and Nancy Belcher his wife and the said Jesse Belcher and Sarah Belcher his wife and the Joseph Belcher and Ruth Belcher his wife and Berry Belcher and Mary Belcher his wife have hereunto set their hands and seals the day and year above written.

The deed was signed sealed and delivered in presence of William C. Walls and John Walls Jr.

James Belcher and Nancy Belcher each signed with their X marks
Jesse Belcher and Sarah Belcher each signed with their X marks
Joseph Belcher signed his name and Ruth Belcher signed with her X mark
Berry Belcher signed his name and Mary Belcher signed with her X mark

Jonathan Palmer, Justice of the Peace in and for the County of Orange, wrote that the within named James Belcher and Nancy Belcher his wife and Jesse Belcher and Sarah Belcher his wife and Joseph Belcher and Ruth Belcher his wife and Berry Belcher and Mary Belcher his wife appeared before him personally on 1 August 1839 and acknowledged that they signed, sealed and delivered the written indenture as their act and deed for the purposes therein specified and the said Nancy Belcher and the said Sarah Belcher and the said Ruth Belcher and the said Mary Belcher being at full age and being by the Justice of Peace duly examined separate and apart from their said husbands, and the contents of the said indenture being made known to them declared that they relinquished all their right and title of dower in and to the lands and tenements in the written indenture set forth and that they voluntarily and of their own free will and accord and without any coercion or compulsion of their said husbands signed, sealed and delivered the said indenture as their act and deed for the purposes aforesaid.

Jonathan Palmer, J.P. signed and sealed his name to the document on 1 August 1839, and the indenture was filed on 8 September 1839 and recorded on 14 September 1839 in Orange County, Indiana.^2,26

Census US 1840*

1840

Berry Belcher was enumerated, likely with his wife Mary, as the head of his household on the 1840 census taken in Jackson Township, Orange County, Indiana. Their household consisted of ten people, three of whom were employed in agriculture. Berry would have been the one male between the ages of 30 thru 39 years, and his second wife, Mary, whom he married in 1838, would have been the one female between the ages of 20 thru 29 years. Eight children were enumerated with them in 1840, four males and four females. Two of the males were under the age of 5 years; one male was between the ages of 10 thru 14 years; and one male was between the ages of 15 thru 19 years. On the female side, one was under the age of 5 years; two females were between the ages of 5 thru 9 years; and the fourth female was between the ages of 10 thru 14 years.

Our research indicates that the five oldest children would have been from Berry's first marriage with Jane (Trimble) Belcher, and the two youngest from his marriage with Mary Ann. That leaves us with one of the children recorded in the Belcher household on the 1840 census that we have not identified. These are seven of the eight children we believe we have correctly named:

Berry's eldest son from his first marriage, Moses, who would have been the one male between the ages of 15 thru 19, and Berry's second son from his first marriage, Jesse, who would have been the one male between the ages of 10 thru 14, were likely the two others, in addition to their father, who were employed in agriculture; Berry's eldest daughter from his first marriage, Martha Jane, would have been the one female between the ages of 10 and 14; Berry's second daughter from his first marriage, Lucinda, would have been one of the two females between the ages of 5 thru 9, and Berry's youngest daughter from his first marriage, Rebecca, would have been the one female under the age of 5 in 1840. From Berry's second marriage with Mary, their two young sons, John and Thomas were both under the age of 5 years. We don't know who the identity of the second female who was recorded as between the ages of 5 thru 9 years. It's possible she was another daughter, who died before the 1850 census was taken, of Berry with his first wife, Jane.⁵⁰

Census US 1850*

27 August 1850

Mary and Berry Belcher were enumerated on the 1850 census taken on 27 August 1850 in Patoka Township, Crawford County, Indiana. Berry was recorded as 40 years of age, although he was closer to 50, and a farmer with real estate valued at $150. Mary was age 31 and not able to read or write. They were enumerated with nine children in 1850. Lucinda and Rebecca, two of Berry's daughters from his first marriage, were ages 17 and 14 years, respectively; and John W., Thomas, James, Sarah, George, Jesse and Nancy, seven children from Berry and Mary's marriage, were ages 11, 10, 9, 7, 5, 4 years, and one year, respectively. Berry's eldest son from his first marriage, Moses Jackson Belcher, was enumerated with the family of Berry's brother, Joseph Belcher, in Calhoun County, Illinois in 1850.⁵¹

Death*

9 March 1885

He died on 9 March 1885 in Orange County, Indiana, at age 81¹

Burial*

and was buried in Highfill Chapel Cemetery, Taswell, Orange County.¹

Family 1

Jane Trimble d. 1837

Children

Moses Jackson Belcher^52,1 b. 1824, d. 17 Aug 1899

Martha Jane Belcher^53,1 b. 19 Oct 1825, d. 7 Jun 1898

Jesse Belcher^1,54 b. Jun 1830, d. 1908

Lucinda Jane Belcher^51,1 b. 1833

Rebecca Emaline Belcher^51,1,55 b. 23 Mar 1836

Family 2		Mary Ann Trusty b. 1 Feb 1819, d. 9 Jan 1892
Children	1.	John Wesley Belcher^51,56,1 b. 26 Nov 1838
	2.	Thomas B. Belcher^51,57,1 b. 9 Apr 1840
	3.	James M. Belcher^51,1 b. 1841
	4.	Sarah Malinda Belcher^51,1 b. 1843
	5.	George W. Belcher^51,58,1 b. 8 Apr 1845
	6.	Jesse F. Belcher^51,1 b. 1846
	7.	Nancy Jane Belcher^51,59,1 b. 4 Nov 1848
	8.	Mary Elizabeth Belcher^60,1,61 b. 7 Jan 1853
	9.	Cyntha Ellen Belcher^60,1 b. 1855
	10.	Levi Francis Belcher^60,1,62 b. 15 Jul 1858
	11.	Henry Clay Belcher^63,1 b. 5 Mar 1861

Citations

[S748] Find a Grave website, which often provides cemetery and tombstone photos, and sometimes personal biographies, that may be obtained from the site, online at www.findagrave.com, Berry Belcher, Memorial# 34936541. Hereinafter cited as Find a Grave website.
[S2244] Family Search Ancestry Discovery Blog, online at https://www.familysearch.org/blog/en/… .Caution: This is a beautifully presented collection of "Person Pages" containing a variety of information about specific ancestors submitted by individual contributors -- often, unfortunately, with no sources. If the information we have chosen to pass along here is accurate, we are extremely grateful to the contributor(s) who have shared it. Without documentation, however, we researchers are always forced to question the validity of information. We hope what we have selected to include was originally obtained from family Bible records, or other reliable sources, and is accurate. Although, even when we have found contributed information to be unreliable, inaccurate or incomplete, we consider the information useful as possible clues as we research, citing the Belcher Heirs Deed, 1839, Orange County, Indiana, submitted by Jeannie Watts <e-mail address> with special thanks to Frankie Lu Eads of Princeton, Indiana who sent her a photocopy of the deed which we found attached in three files under Memories for Berry Belcher, online at https://www.familysearch.org/tree/person/memories/LTHD-H2Y. Hereinafter cited as Family Search Ancestry Discovery Blog.
[S748] Find a Grave website, online at www.findagrave.com, Joseph Belcher, Memorial# 40043678.
[S2283] Indiana, U.S., Compiled Marriages, 1802-1892, online at www.ancestry.com, marriage on 11 March 1824 in Orange, Indiana, USA, of Berry Belcher and Jane Trimble, referencing FHL Film# 1316696. Hereinafter cited as Indiana, U.S., Compiled Marriages, 1802-1892.
[S748] Find a Grave website, online at www.findagrave.com, John T. Belcher Sr., Memorial# 63963602.
[S1686] Virginia, U.S., Compiled Marriages, 1660-1800, online at www.ancestry.com, marriage of John Belcher and Martha Johnston on 25 October 1794 in Washington County, Virginia. Hereinafter cited as Virginia, U.S., Compiled Marriages, 1660-1800.
[S17] 1850 United States Federal Census, online at www.ancestry.com, household of William and Elizabeth Hollen, Year: 1850; Census Place: Patoka, Crawford, Indiana; Roll: 139; Page: 16b, image# 16 of 23. Hereinafter cited as 1850 United States Federal Census.
[S17] 1850 United States Federal Census, online at www.ancestry.com, household of Nancy Belcher, Year: 1850; Census Place: Jackson, Orange, Indiana; Roll: 163; Page: 399a.
[S2244] Family Search Ancestry Discovery Blog, online at https://www.familysearch.org/blog/en/…, viewed online at https://www.familysearch.org/tree/person/details/G6WH-L1P
[S16] 1830 United States Federal Census, online at www.ancestry.com, household of Joseph Belcher, Year: 1830; Census Place: Crawford, Illinois; Series: M19; Roll: 23; Page: 18; Family History Library Film: 0007648. Hereinafter cited as 1830 United States Federal Census.
[S17] 1850 United States Federal Census, online at www.ancestry.com, household of Berry and Mary Belcher, Year: 1850; Census Place: Patoka, Crawford, Indiana; Roll: 139; Page: 18b, image# 20 of 23.
[S2283] Indiana, U.S., Compiled Marriages, 1802-1892, online at www.ancestry.com, marriage on 14 December 1826 in Orange County, Indiana, USA, of John Belcher and Eunice Pitman, referencing FHL Film# 1316696.
[S16] 1830 United States Federal Census, online at www.ancestry.com, household of John Belcher, Junior, Year: 1830; Census Place: Orange, Indiana; Series: M19; Roll: 31; Page: 34; Family History Library Film: 0007720.
[S2294] Will of Lewis Pitman dated 20 March 1849 in Macoupin County, Illinois, submitted for probate on 7 April 1849; transcription originally shared on 28 December 2012 by WLawrence2182, and attached to an Ancestry Tree; viewed on 27 April 2022, online at https://www.ancestry.com/mediaui-viewer/tree/85867149/…. Hereinafter cited as Will of Lewis Pitman.
[S17] 1850 United States Federal Census, online at www.ancestry.com, household of Jesse and Sarah Belcher, Year: 1850; Census Place: Patoka, Crawford, Indiana; Roll: 139; Page: 13a, image# 9 of 23.
[S17] 1850 United States Federal Census, online at www.ancestry.com, household of Marcum Hollen, Year: 1850; Census Place: Patoka, Crawford, Indiana; Roll: 139; Page: 16b, image# 16 of 23.
[S17] 1850 United States Federal Census, online at www.ancestry.com, household of Nathan and Martha Jane Hollen, Year: 1850; Census Place: Patoka, Crawford, Indiana; Roll: 139; Page: 16b, image# 16 of 23.
[S487] 1840 United States Federal Census, online at www.ancestry.com, household of Joseph Belcher, Year: 1840; Census Place: Jersey, Illinois; Roll: 61; Page: 339; Family History Library Film: 0007642. Hereinafter cited as 1840 United States Federal Census.
[S17] 1850 United States Federal Census, online at www.ancestry.com, household of Joseph and Ruth Belcher, Year: 1850; Census Place: Point, Calhoun, Illinois; Roll: 99; Page: 335a.
[S1571] Indiana, U.S., Death Certificates, 1899-2017, online at www.ancestry.com, death on 20 November 1904 in Taswell, Crawford, Indiana, USA, of Catharine Trusty, transcribed by Ancestry as "Tensty", age 66, married to Lee Trusty, born 24 September 1838 to Arthur Belcher and ______ Pigg in Crawford Co, referencing Indiana Archives and Records Administration; Indianapolis, IN, USA; Death Certificates; Year: 1904; Roll: 03. Hereinafter cited as Indiana, U.S., Death Certificates, 1899-2017.
[S487] 1840 United States Federal Census, online at www.ancestry.com, household of Arthur Belcher, Year: 1840; Census Place: Jackson, Orange, Indiana; Roll: 89; Page: 29; Family History Library Film: 0007728.
[S16] 1830 United States Federal Census, online at www.ancestry.com, household of Arthur Belcher, his name spelled "Arter" by the census taker and transcribed as "Aster" by Ancestry, Year: 1830; Census Place: Orange, Indiana; Series: M19; Roll: 31; Page: 36; Family History Library Film: 0007720.
[S468] 1820 United States Federal Census, online at www.ancestry.com, household of Arthur Belcher, 1820 U S Census; Census Place: Warren, Tennessee; Page: 310; NARA Roll: M33_122; Image: 274. Hereinafter cited as 1820 United States Federal Census.
[S468] 1820 United States Federal Census, online at www.ancestry.com, household of William Belcher, 1820 U S Census; Census Place: Warren, Tennessee; Page: 310; NARA Roll: M33_122; Image: 274.
[S1585] Bureau of Land Management General Land Office Records (U.S. Department of the Interior), online at https://glorecords.blm.gov/search/default.aspx, land patent for 40 acres in Crawford County, Indiana, purchased by Arthur Belcher of Orange County, Indiana, on 1 August 1839 from the Land Office of the United States at Vincennes, Indiana; viewed 22 April 2022, online at https://glorecords.blm.gov/details/patent/default.aspx. Hereinafter cited as Bureau of Land Management General Land Office Records.
[S1585] Bureau of Land Management General Land Office Records, online at https://glorecords.blm.gov/search/default.aspx, land patent for 80 acres in Orange County, Indiana, purchased by John Belcher of Orange County, Indiana, on 5 August 1837 from the Land Office of the United States at Vincennes, Indiana; viewed 25 April 2022, online at https://glorecords.blm.gov/details/patent/default.aspx
[S1585] Bureau of Land Management General Land Office Records, online at https://glorecords.blm.gov/search/default.aspx, land patent for 40 acres in Orange County, Indiana, purchased by Berry Belcher of Orange County, Indiana, on 1 September 1838 from the Land Office of the United States at Vincennes, Indiana; viewed 25 April 2022, online at https://glorecords.blm.gov/details/patent/default.aspx
[S1585] Bureau of Land Management General Land Office Records, online at https://glorecords.blm.gov/search/default.aspx, land patent for 40 acres in Orange County, Indiana, purchased by John Belcher of Orange County, Indiana, on 1 August 1839 from the Land Office of the United States at Vincennes, Indiana; viewed 25 April 2022, online at https://glorecords.blm.gov/details/patent/default.aspx
[S748] Find a Grave website, online at www.findagrave.com, Catharine (Belcher) Trusty, Memorial# 204517313.
[S1501] Indiana Marriages, 1811-2019, database with images, online at www.familysearch.org. Digital collection of microfilmed records located at the Wayne County Courthouse, Richmond, Indiana. Includes surname indexes, marriage licenses were issued on 11 November 1851 by the Circuit Court in Paoli, Orange County for Harral Moore to marry Julia Ann Belcher and for Almarine Moore to marry Mary Ann Belcher, viewed online at https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:33S7-9TMC-9X9F. Hereinafter cited as Indiana Marriages, 1811-2019.
[S1501] Indiana Marriages, 1811-2019, online at www.familysearch.org, marriage on 12 November 1851 in Orange County of Almarine Moore and Mary Ann Belcher and also of Harral Moore and Julia Ann Belcher, viewed online at https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:33S7-9TMC-9X9F
[S1444] Indiana, U.S., Marriage Index, 1800-1941, online at www.ancestry.com, marriage on 12 November 1851 in Orange County of Mary Ann Belcher and Almarine Moore, referencing Orange County, Indiana, original record located in the County Clerk's Office in Paoli, Indiana; Book: C- 3; Page: 389. Hereinafter cited as Indiana, U.S., Marriage Index, 1800-1941.
[S1501] Indiana Marriages, 1811-2019, online at www.familysearch.org, marriage on 12 November 1851 in Orange County of Harral Moore and Julia Ann Belcher and also of Almarine Moore and Mary Ann Belcher, viewed online at https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:33S7-9TMC-9X9F
[S1444] Indiana, U.S., Marriage Index, 1800-1941, online at www.ancestry.com, marriage on 12 November 1851 in Orange County of Julia Ann Belcher and Harral Moore, referencing Orange County, Indiana, original record located in the County Clerk's Office in Paoli, Indiana; Book: C- 3; Page: 389.
[S1501] Indiana Marriages, 1811-2019, online at www.familysearch.org, marriage on 8 January 1852 in Crawford County of Jesse Belcher and Mary Ann Moore, certifier's name: C. W. Kindle; officiator's name: J. H. McMickle, viewed online at https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:DV77-GZ6Z
[S1444] Indiana, U.S., Marriage Index, 1800-1941, online at www.ancestry.com, marriage on 8 January 1852 in Crawford County of Mary Ann Moore and Jesse Belcher, his given name transcribed as "Isaac" by Ancestry, referencing Crawford County Indiana Marriages, 1818 - 1880, Books A - D, contents: Part I, Index of Grooms, Part II, Index of Brides, Compiled by Ruth M Slevin; Book: B; Page: 148.
[S748] Find a Grave website, online at www.findagrave.com, Mary Ann (Moore) Belcher, Memorial# 232116375.
[S37] 1870 United States Federal Census, online at www.ancestry.com, household of Harold and Julia Moore, Year: 1870; Census Place: Madison, Pike, Indiana; Roll: M593_350; Page: 502B. Hereinafter cited as 1870 United States Federal Census.
[S2244] Family Search Ancestry Discovery Blog, online at https://www.familysearch.org/blog/en/…, viewed online at https://www.familysearch.org/tree/person/details/KGCK-1WC
[S2244] Family Search Ancestry Discovery Blog, online at https://www.familysearch.org/blog/en/…, viewed online at https://www.familysearch.org/tree/person/details/KP3F-CTV
[S2244] Family Search Ancestry Discovery Blog, online at https://www.familysearch.org/blog/en/…, viewed online at https://www.familysearch.org/tree/person/details/KP3F-C5V
[S2244] Family Search Ancestry Discovery Blog, online at https://www.familysearch.org/blog/en/…, viewed online at https://www.familysearch.org/tree/person/details/KP3F-CC1
[S1444] Indiana, U.S., Marriage Index, 1800-1941, online at www.ancestry.com, marriage on 2 October 1853 in Orange County, of Markham Holland and Minerva Belcher, referencing Orange County, Indiana.
[S1501] Indiana Marriages, 1811-2019, online at www.familysearch.org, marriage license issued, and marriage performed by William C. Walls, Justice of the Peace, on 3 August 1835 in Orange County between Arthur Hollen and Polly Belcher; viewed online at https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:33S7-9TMC-96HZ
[S1501] Indiana Marriages, 1811-2019, online at www.familysearch.org, marriage license with written consent issued, and marriage performed by William C. Walls, Justice of the Peace, on 15 August 1836 in Orange County between Mitchell Hollen and Elizabeth Belcher; viewed online at https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:33SQ-GTMC-9867
[S1501] Indiana Marriages, 1811-2019, online at www.familysearch.org, marriage license issued, and marriage performed by William C. Walls, Justice of the Peace, on 9 July 1835 in Orange County between Moses Belcher, his father's consent verbally given, and Eliza Belcher, consent in writing; viewed online at https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:33S7-9TMC-96HZ
[S16] 1830 United States Federal Census, online at www.ancestry.com, household of Berry Belcher, transcribed by Ancestry as "Benj Burke", Year: 1830; Census Place: Lawrence, Illinois; Series: M19; Roll: 25; Page: 267; Family History Library Film: 0007650.
[S1444] Indiana, U.S., Marriage Index, 1800-1941, online at www.ancestry.com, marriage on 8 February 1838 in Orange County of Berry Belcher and Mary Trusty, referencing Orange County, Indiana, original record located in the County Clerk's Office in Paoli, Indiana, Book C-2, page 84.
[S748] Find a Grave website, online at www.findagrave.com, Mary Ann (Trusty) Belcher, Memorial# 93495742.
[S487] 1840 United States Federal Census, online at www.ancestry.com, household of Berry Belcher, Year: 1840; Census Place: Jackson, Orange, Indiana; Roll: 89; Page: 29; Family History Library Film: 0007728.
[S17] 1850 United States Federal Census, online at www.ancestry.com, household of Berry and Mary Belcher, Year: 1850; Census Place: Patoka, Crawford, Indiana; Roll: 139; Page: 18b.
[S748] Find a Grave website, online at www.findagrave.com, Moses Jackson Belcher, Memorial# 34490032.
[S748] Find a Grave website, online at www.findagrave.com, Martha Jane (Belcher) Hollen, Memorial# 180962946.
[S17] 1850 United States Federal Census, online at www.ancestry.com, household of Nathan and Martha Jane Hollen, Year: 1850; Census Place: Patoka, Crawford, Indiana; Roll: 139; Page: 16b.
[S748] Find a Grave website, online at www.findagrave.com, Rebecca Emaline (Belcher) Trusty, Memorial# 93494982.
[S748] Find a Grave website, online at www.findagrave.com, John Wesley Belcher, Memorial# 35404205.
[S748] Find a Grave website, online at www.findagrave.com, Thomas B. Belcher, Memorial# 34925649.
[S748] Find a Grave website, online at www.findagrave.com, George W. Belcher, Memorial# 43403898.
[S748] Find a Grave website, online at www.findagrave.com, Nancy Jane (Belcher) Cox, Memorial# 80290140.
[S18] 1860 United States Federal Census, online at www.ancestry.com, household of Berry and Mary Belcher, Year: 1860; Census Place: Patoka, Crawford, Indiana; Roll: M653_250; Page: 482; Family History Library Film: 803250. Hereinafter cited as 1860 United States Federal Census.
[S748] Find a Grave website, online at www.findagrave.com, Mary Elizabeth (Belcher) Conrad, Memorial# 35107879.
[S748] Find a Grave website, online at www.findagrave.com, Levi Francis Belcher, Memorial# 204463546.
[S748] Find a Grave website, online at www.findagrave.com, Henry Clay Belcher, Memorial# 130459228.

Catharine Belcher^1,2

b. 24 September 1838, d. 20 November 1904

Family

Father*

Arthur Belcher^1,3 b. bt 1790 - 1800

Mother*

______ Pigg¹ d. b 1840

Brick Wall Research*

While we were working to organize and understand the information we had been collecting on the Belcher families of Orange and Crawford counties in Indiana, we ran into a serious Brick Wall. Two young girls, Mary Ann Belcher, age 16, and Catharine Belcher, age 11, were enumerated on the 1850 census in Patoka, Crawford County, Indiana in the household of William Hollen. Mary Ann and Catharine, whom we suspected were sisters, had both been born in Orange County, Indiana. We had no idea which Belcher family these two young girls belonged with, and wondered why they would be living with the Hollen family.

From previous research, we’ve learned that the two most common circumstances causing children to live with relatives other than their immediate families were the deaths of one or both parents, and/or the arrival of a stepparent into their household.

The Belcher family we were researching had five brothers: James, Jesse, Joseph, Berry, and John. We had initially used the 1850 census as our primary source, and had been in the process of identifying the children of each of the brothers in order to develop each of their five families. We knew, for example, that James, the eldest brother, had died in 1842 leaving a wife and several children, most of whom had been born in Orange County; that the third brother, Joseph, had moved with his wife and children to Illinois by 1830; that the first wife of fourth brother, Berry, had died after giving birth to five children, that Berry had married a second time, had seven more children by 1850, and that his seven children born before 1841 had all been born in Orange County; that the youngest brother, John, as well as his wife and any children they may have had, were all deceased before 1850; and that Jesse, the second brother, had a wife and seven children, five of whom had been born in Orange County. From the 1850 census, we also learned that Jesse’s eldest daughter, Minerva, and Berry’s eldest daughter, Martha Jane, and second son, Jesse, had all been enumerated in separate households on the same census page as our two Brick Wall children, Mary Ann and Catharine Belcher. That was a fair amount of information, we thought, and hoped it provided us with enough clues to identify Mary Ann and Catharine’s parents. We still believed the girls belonged to one, or possibly two, of the five Belcher brothers, so we needed to make a deeper dive, using a variety of sources, into the families of each one. Reviewing all that we already knew, we felt the two most logical Belcher brothers to analyze first were Jesse and Berry because both were enumerated on the 1850 census in Patoka, Crawford County, Indiana, the same place where we found Mary Ann and Catharine in the household of William Hollen.

We began our targeted Brick Wall research of the brothers with the family of Jesse Belcher, the second brother, whose household on the 1850 census was a few census pages away from William Hollen’s. Jesse’s widowed daughter, Minerva, was enumerated in 1850 on the same census page as Mary Ann and Catharine in the household of William’s brother, Marcum Hollen. We were hopeful, initially, that we could connect at least one of the girls to Jesse. We tried; then had to admit that the birth years of his children too closely overlapped the birth years of Mary Ann and Catharine and that, if the girls belonged with Jesse and his wife, we would have found them with their parents.

Berry Belcher, the fourth brother, was enumerated in 1850 with his second wife and nine of his sixteen children, two from his first wife and seven from his second. They, too, were enumerated in Patoka, Crawford County, Indiana, a few pages away from the subjects of our search, and on the other side of the Hollen household from Berry’s brother, Jesse. Berry’s eldest daughter, Martha Jane, had married Nathan Hollen, a son of William Hollen, and Martha Jane and Nathan were enumerated in 1850 in the next household after Nathan’s father on the same census page. Enumerated with Nathan and Martha Jane was Martha Jane’s brother, Jesse Belcher. Again, we were hopeful as we recognized the intermingling relationships between the Belcher and Hollen families; and again, we were disappointed. Some of the birth years of Berry Belcher’s children either overlapped the birth years of Mary Ann and Catharine, or were too close together to be realistic.

Leaving our research in Crawford County, we moved on to Orange County, Indiana, where Mary Ann and Catharine had both been born. We were hopeful again about James, the oldest of the five Belcher brothers, because most of his six children had likely been born in Orange County. James had died in 1842, and his wife, Nancy, had not remarried. She was enumerated with her younger children, in Jackson, Orange County, in 1850. The birth years of the couple’s six children were consistently spaced at about four to five years apart, which could have left room to insert the two girls. Without any evidence, however, or even workable clues, we realized we were grasping at straws. Hating to let go, though, we decided that, rather than fully eliminate James and Nancy from our dwindling list of parental candidates, we would set them aside until we had completed our research of all of the Belcher brothers.

And, yes, we knew we were running out of brothers because we had already learned that John, the youngest of the Belcher brothers, as well as his wife and any children they may have had, were all deceased before 1850.

That left us with only Joseph, the third Belcher brother, on our list of parental candidates. He and his wife had moved permanently to Illinois by 1830. Additionally, they had a son born in Illinois the same year Catharine was born in Orange County, Indiana. We found it easy and appropriate to eliminate Joseph from our list of potential parents.

After completing phase two of our research on the Belcher brothers, we still had no parents for Mary Ann and Catharine. We had not yet completely given up on the eldest brother, James, and his wife, Nancy, as “possibles” and tried again to see them as plausible. After relooking at everything, and giving them additional consideration, we again determined it just wasn’t working. James and Nancy were not the parents we were searching for. We would have to look elsewhere.

Then later, after working unsuccessfully with other research methods, we discovered a 1904 death certificate for a Catharine (Belcher) Trusty, whose reported date of birth matched the birth year for our 11-year-old Catharine Belcher. The informant for Catharine's death certificate was her widowed husband, Levi Trusty, who reported the name of Catharine's father as Arthur Belcher, and her mother as ______ Pigg. Arthur??? With all of the Belchers we had already researched, we had no Arthur. We did, however, again have hope, and also excitement, as we began to look for Arthur.

We found an Arthur Belcher on the 1840 census in Jackson, Orange County, Indiana. He was between the ages of 40 thru 49 years and his household consisted of seven children, two males and five females. Arthur, we believe, had been widowed by 1840 because his household included no female old enough to be the children's mother. Three of the females were under the age of 10 years, and because Arthur was also enumerated in Orange County in 1830, it was logical to conclude that those three young females on the 1840 census had been born in Orange County, as had Mary Ann and Catharine. This was a Belcher family we had known nothing about, and wondered… Wow! Could this Arthur really be our Catharine’s father? And could one of those other young girls in Arthur’s household in 1840 have been Mary Ann? We definitely hoped so as we set about learning more about Arthur Belcher.

We found him on the 1830 census, also in Orange County, Indiana. His household consisted of seven individuals, three males and four females. We believe that Arthur was the one male between the ages of 30 thru 39 years, and that his wife was the one female between the ages of 20 thru 29 years. Neither Mary Ann nor Catharine were born by 1830, so they wouldn’t have been included among the other females.

Continuing backwards, we found Arthur on the 1820 census in Warren County, Tennessee. His household consisted of three individuals. Arthur and his wife were both between the ages of 16 thru 25, and only one child, a female under the age of 10 years, was enumerated with them. In the next adjacent household on the same census page, William Belcher was enumerated as the head of household. William and his wife were both over the age of 45 years and we suspected they were Arthur's parents. We did not find Arthur enumerated in any other census after 1840, and believe he died before 1850.

We needed earlier information about Arthur's life, and the Bureau of Land Management’s land patent information sent us down another road of exciting research. We learned that not just Arthur, but some of the other Belchers, had also purchased land patents in Indiana about the same time and location. The Belcher brothers’ father, John Belcher Sr., purchased 80 acres in Orange County on 5 August 1837; his fourth son, Berry, purchased 40 acres in Orange County on 1 September 1838; and his fifth son, John Jr., purchased 40 acres in Orange County on 1 August 1839, the same date Arthur purchased 40 acres on the border between Crawford County and Orange County.

We had known, since first discovering Arthur, that he was not a sixth brother of our five Belcher brothers. After completing our research of their land patent purchases, we began to realize that, although not brothers, they were likely related. Our “original” Belcher family began in Tennessee with John Belcher and his wife Martha Johnston, who moved with their five sons, James, Jesse, Joseph, Berry and John, and possibly daughters, to Orange County, Indiana. If there had been another son, Arthur, he would have to have died before 01 August 1839 when the four oldest sons of John Sr., disposed of their shares in their deceased father's property in Orange County by selling it to their youngest brother, John Jr. And we already knew that Arthur was living in 1840 when he was enumerated on that year’s census. So, if Arthur was not a fifth brother of our original Belcher family, who was he?

It was important to remind ourselves that our research objective was to determine the identities of Mary Ann and Catharine Belcher who were enumerated without their parents on the 1850 census in the household of William Hollen in Patoka, Crawford County, Indiana.

So far, our most significant find was Catharine (Belcher) Trusty's death certificate reporting that her father's name was Arthur Belcher. Lacking any information to the contrary, we decided to believe it. Her mother’s surname may have been Pigg, as reported on her death certificate, and her full name even Elizabeth Pigg, as surmised on Catharine's Find a Grave memorial page. Not knowing her mother, though, would have to wait; we felt confident in our conclusion that Arthur Belcher was Catharine's father. So far, so good; however we still had found no evidence that Catharine and Mary Ann were sisters or why they would have been living with the William Hollen family in 1850.

Mary Ann, we learned, married Almarine Moore in 1851, and Almarine’s brother, Harral Moore, married Julia Ann Belcher in a double ceremony on the same date. Their marriage was the first time we had any evidence of a Julie Ann Belcher, and wondered if this was a case of brothers marrying sisters? And, if so, where was Julia Ann in 1850? We have not been able to find her anywhere! We knew this was going to take some thinking, as well as additional research. Then, when we learned that Jesse Belcher married Harral and Almarine’s sister, Mary Ann Moore, less than two months after Mary Ann and Julia Ann Belcher married the Moore brothers, our head exploded! To review… Jesse Belcher was Berry Belcher’s son. Jesse was enumerated in the home of his sister, Martha Jane, and her husband, Nathan Hollen, in 1850. Nathan’s father, William Hollen, was enumerated in 1850 one household above his son Nathan, and it was in Willam Hollen’s household that Mary Ann and Catharine Belcher were enumerated in 1850.

We don’t believe in coincidences. Mary Ann Belcher was born about 1834; Julia Ann Belcher was born about 1836; and Catharine Belcher was born in 1838. Mary Ann and Catharine were enumerated together, and we believe they were sisters. Catharine was a daughter of Arthur Belcher, so therefore we believe Mary Ann was also a daughter of Arthur Belcher. We cannot find Julia Ann Belcher anywhere on the 1850 census and believe she was likely also residing, with Mary Ann and Catharine, in the William Hollen household in 1850. We believe she was simply skipped by the census taker. She named her second son Arthur -- also likely not a coincidence. She was married in a double ceremony with Mary Ann, and we believe they were sisters who married brothers. We therefore believe that Mary Ann, Julia Ann and Catharine Belcher were all three sisters and, in 1850, the orphaned daughters of Arthur Belcher.

Okay, fine… But why were they living in the household of William Hollen?... To try to answer that question, we had to find out more about who Willam Hollen was. We learned he had been born in Tennessee, and we actually laughed out loud when we learned that his parents were Nathan Hollen and Elizabeth Belcher. So, there was an earlier connection between the Belcher and Hollen families. We just had to sort out how that early connection evolved into the families' later relationships. We had our original Belcher brothers, whose father was John Sr; we had Arthur Belcher, whose father we had decided was William Belcher; and we thought that John Sr. and William were brothers. Neither John Sr., nor any of his sons, named a son Arthur, while John Sr.’s brother, William Belcher, did name a son Arthur. Nathan and Elizabeth (Belcher) Hollen named a son Arthur, and was therefore likely to be more closely related to William Belcher than to John Sr. So, how was Elizabeth Belcher related to William Belcher? We believe she was Arthur's sister, about 10 years his senior, and possibly William Belcher’s eldest child. She would therefore have been an aunt to Arthur’s daughters, Mary Ann, Julia Ann and Catharine Becher. On the Hollen side, Nathan Hollen married Elizabeth Belcher and their son, William Hollen, was therefore Arthur Belcher’s nephew. And, it was in William Hollen’s household that the Belcher girls were enumerated in 1850. So, if Elizabeth (Belcher) Hollen was an aunt to Mary Ann, Julia Ann and Catharine Belcher, as we believe, it all makes perfect sense. The orphaned Belcher girls were enumerated in 1850 in the home of their 1st cousin, William Hollen, who had children the same ages as the Belcher girls.

Most importantly, at least to us anyway, is that we believe we've finally solved our serious Belcher girls Brick Wall: Mary Ann Belcher, Julia Ann Belcher, and Catharine Belcher were daughters of Arthur Belcher who died between 1840 and 1850.

It was a long and twisting road and, as if all of that wasn't enough to make us crazy... William Hollen had at least three brothers, Markham Hollen, Arthur Hollen and Mitchell Hollen, who married Minerva (Belcher) Belcher, Polly Belcher and Elizabeth Belcher, respectively. William's brother, Markham, married, as his second wife in 1853, Minerva (Belcher) Belcher, eldest daughter of the second Belcher brother, Jesse. Minerva's first husband had also been a Belcher, and she became a widow with four young children when he died before 1850. It concerns us a great deal that we have not been able to learn the given name, or Belcher family connection, of Minerva's first husband, and would greatly appreciate hearing from someone who knows. And, there are other Belcher family members we wonder about. William Hollen's brother, another Arthur, married Polly Belcher in 1835, and their brother, Mitchell, married Elizabeth Belcher in 1836. Additionally, we think that the Moses Belcher who married Eliza Belcher in 1835 was a son of William Belcher, and a brother of Arthur Belcher and Elizabeth (Belcher) Hollen, William Hollen's mother. Unfortunately, we have no idea which Belcher family, or families, Minerva's husband, or Polly, Elizabeth and Eliza belong with, and are hoping that someone reading this knows , and will tell us... Please...^{4,5,6,7,8,9,10,11,12,13,14,15,16,17,18,1,3,19,20,21,22,23,24,25,26,27,28,29,30,31,32,33,34,35,36,37,38,39,40,41,42,43}

Birth*

24 September 1838

Catharine Belcher was born on 24 September 1838 in Orange County, Indiana.^1,44,45

(Daughter) Census US 1840

1840

Catharine was probably one of the young females enumerated on the 1840 census in the household of Arthur Belcher, whom we believe was her father, in Jackson, Orange County, Indiana. She was about 2 years old in 1840, and would have been enumerated on the census as one of the two females under the age of 5 years.³

(Cousin) Census US 1850

26 August 1850

Catharine Belcher and her sisters, Julia Ann and Mary Ann, were enumerated on the 1850 census taken on 26 August 1850 in the household of their 1st cousin, William Hollen, and his wife Elizabeth in Patoka, Crawford County, Indiana. The orphaned girls were ages 11, 14 and 16 years, respectively, and although Julia Ann was skipped by the census taker, we believe she was there with her sisters.²

Marriage*

12 November 1857

She married Levi J. Trusty, son of John Trusty and Jane Williams, on 12 November 1857 in Crawford County, Indiana.^46,26,47

Death*

20 November 1904

She died on 20 November 1904 in Taswell, Crawford County, at age 66.^26,1

Family

Levi J. Trusty b. 18 Oct 1834, d. 8 Feb 1916

Citations

[S1571] Indiana, U.S., Death Certificates, 1899-2017, online at www.ancestry.com, death on 20 November 1904 in Taswell, Crawford, Indiana, USA, of Catharine Trusty, transcribed by Ancestry as "Tensty", age 66, married to Lee Trusty, born 24 September 1838 to Arthur Belcher and ______ Pigg in Crawford Co, referencing Indiana Archives and Records Administration; Indianapolis, IN, USA; Death Certificates; Year: 1904; Roll: 03. Hereinafter cited as Indiana, U.S., Death Certificates, 1899-2017.
[S17] 1850 United States Federal Census, online at www.ancestry.com, household of William and Elizabeth Hollen, Year: 1850; Census Place: Patoka, Crawford, Indiana; Roll: 139; Page: 16b. Hereinafter cited as 1850 United States Federal Census.
[S487] 1840 United States Federal Census, online at www.ancestry.com, household of Arthur Belcher, Year: 1840; Census Place: Jackson, Orange, Indiana; Roll: 89; Page: 29; Family History Library Film: 0007728. Hereinafter cited as 1840 United States Federal Census.
[S17] 1850 United States Federal Census, online at www.ancestry.com, household of William and Elizabeth Hollen, Year: 1850; Census Place: Patoka, Crawford, Indiana; Roll: 139; Page: 16b, image# 16 of 23.
[S2244] Family Search Ancestry Discovery Blog, online at https://www.familysearch.org/blog/en/… .Caution: This is a beautifully presented collection of "Person Pages" containing a variety of information about specific ancestors submitted by individual contributors -- often, unfortunately, with no sources. If the information we have chosen to pass along here is accurate, we are extremely grateful to the contributor(s) who have shared it. Without documentation, however, we researchers are always forced to question the validity of information. We hope what we have selected to include was originally obtained from family Bible records, or other reliable sources, and is accurate. Although, even when we have found contributed information to be unreliable, inaccurate or incomplete, we consider the information useful as possible clues as we research, citing the Belcher Heirs Deed, 1839, Orange County, Indiana, submitted by Jeannie Watts <e-mail address> with special thanks to Frankie Lu Eads of Princeton, Indiana who sent her a photocopy of the deed which we found attached in three files under Memories for Berry Belcher, online at https://www.familysearch.org/tree/person/memories/LTHD-H2Y. Hereinafter cited as Family Search Ancestry Discovery Blog.
[S17] 1850 United States Federal Census, online at www.ancestry.com, household of Nancy Belcher, Year: 1850; Census Place: Jackson, Orange, Indiana; Roll: 163; Page: 399a.
[S2244] Family Search Ancestry Discovery Blog, online at https://www.familysearch.org/blog/en/…, viewed online at https://www.familysearch.org/tree/person/details/G6WH-L1P
[S16] 1830 United States Federal Census, online at www.ancestry.com, household of Joseph Belcher, Year: 1830; Census Place: Crawford, Illinois; Series: M19; Roll: 23; Page: 18; Family History Library Film: 0007648. Hereinafter cited as 1830 United States Federal Census.
[S748] Find a Grave website, which often provides cemetery and tombstone photos, and sometimes personal biographies, that may be obtained from the site, online at www.findagrave.com, Berry Belcher, Memorial# 34936541. Hereinafter cited as Find a Grave website.
[S17] 1850 United States Federal Census, online at www.ancestry.com, household of Berry and Mary Belcher, Year: 1850; Census Place: Patoka, Crawford, Indiana; Roll: 139; Page: 18b, image# 20 of 23.
[S2283] Indiana, U.S., Compiled Marriages, 1802-1892, online at www.ancestry.com, marriage on 14 December 1826 in Orange County, Indiana, USA, of John Belcher and Eunice Pitman, referencing FHL Film# 1316696. Hereinafter cited as Indiana, U.S., Compiled Marriages, 1802-1892.
[S16] 1830 United States Federal Census, online at www.ancestry.com, household of John Belcher, Junior, Year: 1830; Census Place: Orange, Indiana; Series: M19; Roll: 31; Page: 34; Family History Library Film: 0007720.
[S2294] Will of Lewis Pitman dated 20 March 1849 in Macoupin County, Illinois, submitted for probate on 7 April 1849; transcription originally shared on 28 December 2012 by WLawrence2182, and attached to an Ancestry Tree; viewed on 27 April 2022, online at https://www.ancestry.com/mediaui-viewer/tree/85867149/…. Hereinafter cited as Will of Lewis Pitman.
[S17] 1850 United States Federal Census, online at www.ancestry.com, household of Jesse and Sarah Belcher, Year: 1850; Census Place: Patoka, Crawford, Indiana; Roll: 139; Page: 13a, image# 9 of 23.
[S17] 1850 United States Federal Census, online at www.ancestry.com, household of Marcum Hollen, Year: 1850; Census Place: Patoka, Crawford, Indiana; Roll: 139; Page: 16b, image# 16 of 23.
[S17] 1850 United States Federal Census, online at www.ancestry.com, household of Nathan and Martha Jane Hollen, Year: 1850; Census Place: Patoka, Crawford, Indiana; Roll: 139; Page: 16b, image# 16 of 23.
[S487] 1840 United States Federal Census, online at www.ancestry.com, household of Joseph Belcher, Year: 1840; Census Place: Jersey, Illinois; Roll: 61; Page: 339; Family History Library Film: 0007642.
[S17] 1850 United States Federal Census, online at www.ancestry.com, household of Joseph and Ruth Belcher, Year: 1850; Census Place: Point, Calhoun, Illinois; Roll: 99; Page: 335a.
[S16] 1830 United States Federal Census, online at www.ancestry.com, household of Arthur Belcher, his name spelled "Arter" by the census taker and transcribed as "Aster" by Ancestry, Year: 1830; Census Place: Orange, Indiana; Series: M19; Roll: 31; Page: 36; Family History Library Film: 0007720.
[S468] 1820 United States Federal Census, online at www.ancestry.com, household of Arthur Belcher, 1820 U S Census; Census Place: Warren, Tennessee; Page: 310; NARA Roll: M33_122; Image: 274. Hereinafter cited as 1820 United States Federal Census.
[S468] 1820 United States Federal Census, online at www.ancestry.com, household of William Belcher, 1820 U S Census; Census Place: Warren, Tennessee; Page: 310; NARA Roll: M33_122; Image: 274.
[S1585] Bureau of Land Management General Land Office Records (U.S. Department of the Interior), online at https://glorecords.blm.gov/search/default.aspx, land patent for 40 acres in Crawford County, Indiana, purchased by Arthur Belcher of Orange County, Indiana, on 1 August 1839 from the Land Office of the United States at Vincennes, Indiana; viewed 22 April 2022, online at https://glorecords.blm.gov/details/patent/default.aspx. Hereinafter cited as Bureau of Land Management General Land Office Records.
[S1585] Bureau of Land Management General Land Office Records, online at https://glorecords.blm.gov/search/default.aspx, land patent for 80 acres in Orange County, Indiana, purchased by John Belcher of Orange County, Indiana, on 5 August 1837 from the Land Office of the United States at Vincennes, Indiana; viewed 25 April 2022, online at https://glorecords.blm.gov/details/patent/default.aspx
[S1585] Bureau of Land Management General Land Office Records, online at https://glorecords.blm.gov/search/default.aspx, land patent for 40 acres in Orange County, Indiana, purchased by Berry Belcher of Orange County, Indiana, on 1 September 1838 from the Land Office of the United States at Vincennes, Indiana; viewed 25 April 2022, online at https://glorecords.blm.gov/details/patent/default.aspx
[S1585] Bureau of Land Management General Land Office Records, online at https://glorecords.blm.gov/search/default.aspx, land patent for 40 acres in Orange County, Indiana, purchased by John Belcher of Orange County, Indiana, on 1 August 1839 from the Land Office of the United States at Vincennes, Indiana; viewed 25 April 2022, online at https://glorecords.blm.gov/details/patent/default.aspx
[S748] Find a Grave website, online at www.findagrave.com, Catharine (Belcher) Trusty, Memorial# 204517313.
[S1501] Indiana Marriages, 1811-2019, database with images, online at www.familysearch.org. Digital collection of microfilmed records located at the Wayne County Courthouse, Richmond, Indiana. Includes surname indexes, marriage licenses were issued on 11 November 1851 by the Circuit Court in Paoli, Orange County for Harral Moore to marry Julia Ann Belcher and for Almarine Moore to marry Mary Ann Belcher, viewed online at https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:33S7-9TMC-9X9F. Hereinafter cited as Indiana Marriages, 1811-2019.
[S1501] Indiana Marriages, 1811-2019, online at www.familysearch.org, marriage on 12 November 1851 in Orange County of Almarine Moore and Mary Ann Belcher and also of Harral Moore and Julia Ann Belcher, viewed online at https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:33S7-9TMC-9X9F
[S1444] Indiana, U.S., Marriage Index, 1800-1941, online at www.ancestry.com, marriage on 12 November 1851 in Orange County of Mary Ann Belcher and Almarine Moore, referencing Orange County, Indiana, original record located in the County Clerk's Office in Paoli, Indiana; Book: C- 3; Page: 389. Hereinafter cited as Indiana, U.S., Marriage Index, 1800-1941.
[S1501] Indiana Marriages, 1811-2019, online at www.familysearch.org, marriage on 12 November 1851 in Orange County of Harral Moore and Julia Ann Belcher and also of Almarine Moore and Mary Ann Belcher, viewed online at https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:33S7-9TMC-9X9F
[S1444] Indiana, U.S., Marriage Index, 1800-1941, online at www.ancestry.com, marriage on 12 November 1851 in Orange County of Julia Ann Belcher and Harral Moore, referencing Orange County, Indiana, original record located in the County Clerk's Office in Paoli, Indiana; Book: C- 3; Page: 389.
[S1501] Indiana Marriages, 1811-2019, online at www.familysearch.org, marriage on 8 January 1852 in Crawford County of Jesse Belcher and Mary Ann Moore, certifier's name: C. W. Kindle; officiator's name: J. H. McMickle, viewed online at https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:DV77-GZ6Z
[S1444] Indiana, U.S., Marriage Index, 1800-1941, online at www.ancestry.com, marriage on 8 January 1852 in Crawford County of Mary Ann Moore and Jesse Belcher, his given name transcribed as "Isaac" by Ancestry, referencing Crawford County Indiana Marriages, 1818 - 1880, Books A - D, contents: Part I, Index of Grooms, Part II, Index of Brides, Compiled by Ruth M Slevin; Book: B; Page: 148.
[S748] Find a Grave website, online at www.findagrave.com, Mary Ann (Moore) Belcher, Memorial# 232116375.
[S37] 1870 United States Federal Census, online at www.ancestry.com, household of Harold and Julia Moore, Year: 1870; Census Place: Madison, Pike, Indiana; Roll: M593_350; Page: 502B. Hereinafter cited as 1870 United States Federal Census.
[S2244] Family Search Ancestry Discovery Blog, online at https://www.familysearch.org/blog/en/…, viewed online at https://www.familysearch.org/tree/person/details/KGCK-1WC
[S2244] Family Search Ancestry Discovery Blog, online at https://www.familysearch.org/blog/en/…, viewed online at https://www.familysearch.org/tree/person/details/KP3F-CTV
[S2244] Family Search Ancestry Discovery Blog, online at https://www.familysearch.org/blog/en/…, viewed online at https://www.familysearch.org/tree/person/details/KP3F-C5V
[S2244] Family Search Ancestry Discovery Blog, online at https://www.familysearch.org/blog/en/…, viewed online at https://www.familysearch.org/tree/person/details/KP3F-CC1
[S1444] Indiana, U.S., Marriage Index, 1800-1941, online at www.ancestry.com, marriage on 2 October 1853 in Orange County, of Markham Holland and Minerva Belcher, referencing Orange County, Indiana.
[S1501] Indiana Marriages, 1811-2019, online at www.familysearch.org, marriage license issued, and marriage performed by William C. Walls, Justice of the Peace, on 3 August 1835 in Orange County between Arthur Hollen and Polly Belcher; viewed online at https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:33S7-9TMC-96HZ
[S1501] Indiana Marriages, 1811-2019, online at www.familysearch.org, marriage license with written consent issued, and marriage performed by William C. Walls, Justice of the Peace, on 15 August 1836 in Orange County between Mitchell Hollen and Elizabeth Belcher; viewed online at https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:33SQ-GTMC-9867
[S1501] Indiana Marriages, 1811-2019, online at www.familysearch.org, marriage license issued, and marriage performed by William C. Walls, Justice of the Peace, on 9 July 1835 in Orange County between Moses Belcher, his father's consent verbally given, and Eliza Belcher, consent in writing; viewed online at https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:33S7-9TMC-96HZ
[S748] Find a Grave website, online at www.findagrave.com, Catharine (Belcher) Trusty, Memorial# 204517313, reporting her place of birth as Crawford County, Indiana.
[S17] 1850 United States Federal Census, online at www.ancestry.com, household of William and Elizabeth Hollen, Year: 1850; Census Place: Patoka, Crawford, Indiana; Roll: 139; Page: 16b, reporting Catherine's her place of birth as Orange County, Indiana.
[S1444] Indiana, U.S., Marriage Index, 1800-1941, online at www.ancestry.com, marriage on 12 November 1857 in Crawford County, of Catharine Belcher and Levi Trusty, referencing Crawford County Indiana; Marriages 1818 - 1880 Books A - D, Part I Grooms, Part II Brides, compiled by Ruth M Slevin; Book: B; Page: 310.
[S748] Find a Grave website, online at www.findagrave.com, Levi J “Lee” Trusty, Memorial# 176608284.

Celia Belcher¹

b. 3 March 1827, d. 18 June 1918

Family

Father*

Joseph Belcher¹ b. 20 Mar 1802, d. 8 Apr 1853

Mother*

Ruth Walls¹ b. 1803

Birth*

3 March 1827

Celia Belcher was probably born on 3 March 1827 in Indiana, and may not have known how old she really was or the year she was born. On the 1850 census her year of birth was estimated as 1827; in 1860 it was estimated as 1828; on the 1870 census it was estimated as 1829; and in 1900 it was estimated as 1832. The record of her death reported her date of birth as 3 March 1831. It also appears from the census records that she wanted to be younger as she aged.^2,3,4,1,5

(Daughter) Census US 1830

1830

Celia was probably enumerated on the 1830 census in the household of her parents in Crawford County, Illinois. She would have been about 3 years old.⁶

(Older Daughter) Census US 1840

1840

Celia was likely enumerated on the 1840 census in the household of her parents in Jersey County, Illinois. She would have been the one female between the ages of 10 thru 14 years.⁷

Marriage

10 January 1841

She married, as his first wife, Elias Dabbs on 10 January 1841 in Calhoun County, Illinois.^8,9

Divorce*

Celia (Belcher) Dabbs and Elias Dabbs had separated, and were possibly divorced, not long after their marriage. They had no children together. Celia married her second husband in February 1845 and Elias married his second wife in September 1850.^10,11

Marriage*

21 February 1845

She married second Herman Page on 21 February 1845 in Calhoun County, Illinois.^10,12,13,14

Census US 1850*

15 November 1850

Celia and Herman Page were enumerated on the 1850 census taken on 15 November 1850 in Point, Calhoun County, Illinois. Herman was 29 years of age and a farmer with real estate valued at $200, and Celia was 23 years of age and unable to read or write. They were enumerated with their daughter, Elizabeth, who was 4 years old. Celia's parents, Ruth and Joseph Belcher, with their other children and extended family, were enumerated in 1850 three households above Herman and Ceclia's on the same census page.^10,13

Marriage*

16 July 1856

She married third Lewis DeWeese on 16 July 1856 in Jersey County, Illinois.¹⁵

Marriage*

25 November 1859

She married fourth Henry Myers, son of Henry Myers, on 25 November 1859 in Jerseyville, Jersey County, Illinois.^16,17

Census US 1860*

14 August 1860

Celia and Henry Myers were enumerated on the 1860 census taken on 14 August 1860 in Grafton, Jersey County, Illinois. The census taker spelled the surname of everyone in the household as "Mires". Henry was 28 years of age and a farmer with a personal estate valued at $200, and Celia was 32 years of age. Celia's three children from two of her earlier marriages were enumerated with the couple in 1860. Although all were recorded with the surname "Mires", Elizabeth and William Page, whose father was Herman Page, were ages 14 and 7 years, respectively, and Lewis DeWeese was about 3 years old. Henry's father, also Henry Myers, and two siblings, Maria Myers and Christopher Myers, were also enumerated with Celia and the younger Henry in 1860. His father was 56 years of age, his sister Maria was 31 years of age and his brother Christopher was age 18. At the bottom of the same census page in 1860, Celia's sister-in-law, Caroline Belcher, the widow of Celia's brother John, was enumerated with her family.³

Census US 1870*

30 July 1870

Celia and Henry Myers were enumerated on the 1870 census taken on 30 July 1870 in Township 6, Range 13, Jersey County, Illinois. Henry was 36 years of age and a farmer with real estate valued at $800 and a personal estate valued at $350, and Celia was 41 years of age and keeping house. Henry was unable to read or write, and Celia could read, but not write. Three children were enumerated with the couple in 1870, two from Celia's previous marriages and one from the couple's marriage. William Page was 16 years old, had attended school within the census year and worked as a farm laborer; Lewis DeWeese was 12 years old, could read but not write, had attended school within the census year and worked as a farm laborer; and Joseph H. C. Myers was 8 years old and had attended school within the census year. Celia's widowed sister-in-law, Caroline Belcher, was enumerated with her children in the next household on the same census page in 1870.⁴

Marriage*

3 February 1884

She married fifth, as his second wife, William Murphy, son of Jesse Murphy and Ellen Matthews, on 3 February 1884 in Jersey County, Illinois.¹⁸

(Grandmother) Census US 1900

2 June 1900

Mrs. Celia Murphy was enumerated on the 1900 census taken on 2 June 1900 in the household of her grandson and his wife, Mary and Aaron A. Page, at 211 Market Street, Ward 3, Alton, Madison County, Illinois. Celia was a widow, 68 years of age, had given birth to seven children, three of whom were living, and was not able to write, although she was able to read and speak English.¹⁹

Death*

18 June 1918

She died on 18 June 1918 in Richwood, Jersey County, Illinois, at age 91.¹

Family 1

Herman Page b. 1821

Children

Elizabeth Page¹³ b. 1846

William Aaron Page+¹⁴ b. 3 Sep 1853, d. 22 Jan 1927

Family 2

Lewis DeWeese

Child

Lewis DeWeese¹⁷ b. 1857

Family 3

Henry Myers b. 1835

Child

Joseph H. C. Myers⁴ b. 1862

Family 4

William Murphy b. 1830

Citations

[S1727] Illinois, Deaths and Stillbirths Index, 1916-1947, online at www.ancestry.com, entry for Celia Murphy, age 87, born on 3 March 1831 in Indiana, daughter of Joseph Belcher, died on 18 June 1918 in Richwood, Jersey County, Illinois, burial on 19 June 1918, citing FHL Film# 1543999. Hereinafter cited as Illinois, Deaths and Stillbirths Index, 1916-1947.
[S17] 1850 United States Federal Census, online at www.ancestry.com, household of Herman and Celia Page, (transcribed by Ancestry as Harmon and Cela Raye), Year: 1850; Census Place: Point, Calhoun, Illinois; Roll: 99; Page: 335a, her year of birth estimated as 1827. Hereinafter cited as 1850 United States Federal Census.
[S18] 1860 United States Federal Census, online at www.ancestry.com, household of Henry and Celia Myers, their surname spelled "Mires" by the census taker, Year: 1860; Census Place: Grafton, Jersey, Illinois; Roll: M653_188; Page: 86; Family History Library Film: 803188, estimating her year of birth as 1828. Hereinafter cited as 1860 United States Federal Census.
[S37] 1870 United States Federal Census, online at www.ancestry.com, household of Henry and Celia Myers, Year: 1870; Census Place: Township 6 Range 13, Jersey, Illinois; Roll: M593_233; Page: 802A, estimating her year of birth as 1829. Hereinafter cited as 1870 United States Federal Census.
[S34] 1900 United States Federal Census, online at www.ancestry.com, household of Aaron A. and Mary Page, Year: 1900; Census Place: Alton Ward 3, Madison, Illinois; Roll: 325; Page: 2; Enumeration District: 0035; FHL microfilm: 1240325, her date of birth reported as 3 March 1832. Hereinafter cited as 1900 United States Federal Census.
[S16] 1830 United States Federal Census, online at www.ancestry.com, household of Joseph Belcher, Year: 1830; Census Place: Crawford, Illinois; Series: M19; Roll: 23; Page: 18; Family History Library Film: 0007648. Hereinafter cited as 1830 United States Federal Census.
[S487] 1840 United States Federal Census, online at www.ancestry.com, household of Joseph Belcher, Year: 1840; Census Place: Jersey, Illinois; Roll: 61; Page: 339; Family History Library Film: 0007642. Hereinafter cited as 1840 United States Federal Census.
[S260] Illinois, Compiled Marriages, 1790-1860, online at www.ancestry.com, marriage on 10 January 1841 in Calhoun County, Illinois, of Celia Belcher and Elias Dabbs, referencing Family History Library, Salt Lake City, UT, microfilm# 1305044. Hereinafter cited as Illinois, Compiled Marriages, 1790-1860.
[S1681] Illinois, U.S., Marriage Index, 1860-1920, online at www.ancestry.com, marriage of Elias Dabbs and Celia Belcher on 10 January 1841 in Calhoun County, Illinois, USA. Hereinafter cited as Illinois, U.S., Marriage Index, 1860-1920.
[S260] Illinois, Compiled Marriages, 1790-1860, online at www.ancestry.com, marriage on 21 February 1845 in Calhoun County, Illinois, of Hiram Page and Celia Dabbs, referencing Family History Library, Salt Lake City, UT, microfilm# 1305044.
[S260] Illinois, Compiled Marriages, 1790-1860, online at www.ancestry.com, marriage on 18 September 1850 in Jersey County, Illinois, of Elias Dobbs and Rebecca Sackett, referencing Family History Library, Salt Lake City, UT, microfilm# 1317902.
[S1681] Illinois, U.S., Marriage Index, 1860-1920, online at www.ancestry.com, marriage of Celia Dabb and Hiram Page on 21 February 1845 in Calhoun County, Illinois, USA.
[S17] 1850 United States Federal Census, online at www.ancestry.com, household of Herman and Celia Page, (transcribed by Ancestry as Harmon and Cela Raye), Year: 1850; Census Place: Point, Calhoun, Illinois; Roll: 99; Page: 335a.
[S1727] Illinois, Deaths and Stillbirths Index, 1916-1947, online at www.ancestry.com, entry for Aaron Page of Godfrey, Illinois, age 73, Retired Grocer, husband of Harriet Page, born on 3 September 1853 in Binghamton, New York, son of Herman Page, born in New York, and Celia Belcher, born in Illinois, died on 22 January 1927 in Godfrey, Madison County, Illinois, burial on 25 January 1927, citing FHL Film# 1613726.
[S1701] Illinois, U.S., County Marriage Records, 1800-1940, online at www.ancestry.com, marriage of Celia Page and Lewis Deweese on 16 July 1856 in Jerseyville, Jersey County, Illinois, USA. Hereinafter cited as Illinois, U.S., County Marriage Records, 1800-1940.
[S1701] Illinois, U.S., County Marriage Records, 1800-1940, online at www.ancestry.com, marriage of Henry Myers and Celia Dewees on 25 November 1859 in Jerseyville, Jersey County, Illinois, USA.
[S37] 1870 United States Federal Census, online at www.ancestry.com, household of Henry and Celia Myers, Year: 1870; Census Place: Township 6 Range 13, Jersey, Illinois; Roll: M593_233; Page: 802A.
[S1701] Illinois, U.S., County Marriage Records, 1800-1940, online at www.ancestry.com, marriage on 3 February 1884 in Jersey County, Illinois, USA, of Celia Myers, age 53, daughter of Joseph Belcher and Ruth Walls, and William Murphy, age 54, son of Jesse Murphy and Ellen Matthews.
[S34] 1900 United States Federal Census, online at www.ancestry.com, household of Aaron A. and Mary Page, Year: 1900; Census Place: Alton Ward 3, Madison, Illinois; Roll: 325; Page: 2; Enumeration District: 0035; FHL microfilm: 1240325.

Charles E. Belcher¹

b. 1854

Family

Father*

John W. Belcher¹ b. 1825, d. 19 Oct 1859

Mother*

Caroline Stafford¹ b. 1836, d. 1916

Birth*

1854

Charles E. Belcher was born about 1854 in Illinois.¹

(Son) Census US 1860

14 August 1860

Charles was enumerated on the 1860 census taken on 14 August 1860 in the household of his widowed mother in Grafton, Jersey County, Illinois. He was 6 years old and had attended school within the census year.¹

(Son) Census US 1870

30 July 1870

Charles E. was enumerated on the 1870 census taken on 30 July 1870 in the household of his widowed mother in Township 6, Range 13, Jersey County, Illinois. He was 16 years old, worked as a farm hand and had attended school within the census yea.²

Citations

[S18] 1860 United States Federal Census, online at www.ancestry.com, household of Caroline Belcher, Year: 1860; Census Place: Grafton, Jersey, Illinois; Roll: M653_188; Page: 86; Family History Library Film: 803188. Hereinafter cited as 1860 United States Federal Census.
[S37] 1870 United States Federal Census, online at www.ancestry.com, household of Caroline Belcher, Year: 1870; Census Place: Township 6 Range 13, Jersey, Illinois; Roll: M593_233; Page: 802A. Hereinafter cited as 1870 United States Federal Census.

Cyntha Ellen Belcher^1,2,3

b. 1855

Family

Father*

Berry Belcher^1,3 b. 22 Sep 1803, d. 9 Mar 1885

Mother*

Mary Ann Trusty^1,2 b. 1 Feb 1819, d. 9 Jan 1892

Birth*

1855

Cyntha Ellen Belcher was born about 1855 in Indiana.¹

Citations

[S18] 1860 United States Federal Census, online at www.ancestry.com, household of Berry and Mary Belcher, Year: 1860; Census Place: Patoka, Crawford, Indiana; Roll: M653_250; Page: 482; Family History Library Film: 803250. Hereinafter cited as 1860 United States Federal Census.
[S748] Find a Grave website, which often provides cemetery and tombstone photos, and sometimes personal biographies, that may be obtained from the site, online at www.findagrave.com, Mary Ann (Trusty) Belcher, Memorial# 93495742. Hereinafter cited as Find a Grave website.
[S748] Find a Grave website, online at www.findagrave.com, Berry Belcher, Memorial# 34936541.

Eliza Belcher¹

b. between 1811 and 1820

Family

Birth*

between 1811 and 1820

Eliza Belcher was born between 1811 and 1820.²

Marriage*

9 July 1835

She married Moses Belcher, son of William Belcher, on 9 July 1835 in Orange County, Indiana. Consent for Moses to marry was verbally given by his father, and consent for Eliza to marry was provided in writing. They were married by William C. Walls, Justice of the Peace.¹

(Wife) Census US 1840

1840

Eliza was likely enumerated on the 1840 census in the household of her husband, Moses Belcher, in Crawford County, Indiana. Their household consisted of four people; one male between the ages of 20 thru 29 years, which would have been Moses; one female between the ages of 20 thru 29 years, which would have been Eliza; one male under the age of 5 years; and one male between the ages of 5 thru 9 years.²

Family

Moses Belcher b. bt 1811 - 1820

Citations

[S1501] Indiana Marriages, 1811-2019, database with images, online at www.familysearch.org. Digital collection of microfilmed records located at the Wayne County Courthouse, Richmond, Indiana. Includes surname indexes, marriage license issued, and marriage performed by William C. Walls, Justice of the Peace, on 9 July 1835 in Orange County between Moses Belcher, his father's consent verbally given, and Eliza Belcher, consent in writing; viewed online at https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:33S7-9TMC-96HZ. Hereinafter cited as Indiana Marriages, 1811-2019.
[S487] 1840 United States Federal Census, online at www.ancestry.com, household of Moses Belcher, Year: 1840; Census Place: Crawford, Indiana; Roll: 76; Page: 456; Family History Library Film: 0007722. Hereinafter cited as 1840 United States Federal Census.

Elizabeth Belcher¹

b. between 1781 and 1790

Family

Father-Probable*

William Belcher² b. bt 1764 - 1774

Birth*

between 1781 and 1790

Elizabeth Belcher was born between 1781 and 1790 in Tennessee.^3,1

Marriage*

She married Nathan Hollen.^4,1

Relationship Note*

Elizabeth Belcher and Arthur Belcher were certainly close relatives, and we believe were siblings.²

(Wife) Census US 1830

1830

Elizabeth was likely enumerated on the 1830 census in the household of her husband, Nathan Hollen, in White County, Tennessee. Their household consisted of thirteen people, eight males and five females. Nathan would have been the one male between the ages of 50 thru 59 years, and Elizabeth would have been the one female between the ages of 40 thru 49 years.³

Family		Nathan Hollen b. 1779
Children	1.	William Hollen+^5,1 b. 1806
	2.	Jesse Hollen^6,1 b. 1807
	3.	Markham Hollen+^1,7 b. 21 Nov 1810, d. 1880
	4.	Arthur Hollen^8,1 b. bt 1811 - 1820
	5.	John Hollen^9,1 b. 1813
	6.	Elisa Hollen^10,1 b. 1816
	7.	Mitchell Hollen^11,1 b. 1818

Citations

[S2244] Family Search Ancestry Discovery Blog, online at https://www.familysearch.org/blog/en/… .Caution: This is a beautifully presented collection of "Person Pages" containing a variety of information about specific ancestors submitted by individual contributors -- often, unfortunately, with no sources. If the information we have chosen to pass along here is accurate, we are extremely grateful to the contributor(s) who have shared it. Without documentation, however, we researchers are always forced to question the validity of information. We hope what we have selected to include was originally obtained from family Bible records, or other reliable sources, and is accurate. Although, even when we have found contributed information to be unreliable, inaccurate or incomplete, we consider the information useful as possible clues as we research, viewed online at https://www.familysearch.org/tree/person/details/KP3F-CTV. Hereinafter cited as Family Search Ancestry Discovery Blog.
[S221] Analysis and opinion of researcher, Liz Heaton Brown (Summerlin, Nevada).
[S16] 1830 United States Federal Census, online at www.ancestry.com, household of Nathan "Holland", Year: 1830; Census Place: White, Tennessee; Series: M19; Roll: 182; Page: 27; Family History Library Film: 0024540. Hereinafter cited as 1830 United States Federal Census.
[S2244] Family Search Ancestry Discovery Blog, online at https://www.familysearch.org/blog/en/…, viewed online at https://www.familysearch.org/tree/person/details/KP3F-C5V
[S2244] Family Search Ancestry Discovery Blog, online at https://www.familysearch.org/blog/en/…, viewed online at https://www.familysearch.org/tree/person/details/KGCK-1WC
[S2244] Family Search Ancestry Discovery Blog, online at https://www.familysearch.org/blog/en/…, viewed online at https://www.familysearch.org/tree/person/details/KH1B-138
[S2244] Family Search Ancestry Discovery Blog, online at https://www.familysearch.org/blog/en/…, viewed online at https://www.familysearch.org/tree/person/details/KP3F-Z9C
[S2244] Family Search Ancestry Discovery Blog, online at https://www.familysearch.org/blog/en/…, viewed online at https://www.familysearch.org/tree/person/details/KP3F-CC1
[S2244] Family Search Ancestry Discovery Blog, online at https://www.familysearch.org/blog/en/…, viewed online at https://www.familysearch.org/tree/person/details/KP3F-ZKC
[S2244] Family Search Ancestry Discovery Blog, online at https://www.familysearch.org/blog/en/…, viewed online at https://www.familysearch.org/tree/person/details/KHYQ-NQ9
[S2244] Family Search Ancestry Discovery Blog, online at https://www.familysearch.org/blog/en/…, viewed online at https://www.familysearch.org/tree/person/details/KP3F-C44

Elizabeth Belcher¹

Family

Marriage*

15 August 1836

She married Mitchell Hollen, son of Nathan Hollen and Elizabeth Belcher, on 15 August 1836 in Orange County, Indiana. Consent for their marriage license had been given in writing, and their marriage was performed by William C. Walls, Justice of the Peace.¹

Family

Mitchell Hollen b. 1818

Citations

[S1501] Indiana Marriages, 1811-2019, database with images, online at www.familysearch.org. Digital collection of microfilmed records located at the Wayne County Courthouse, Richmond, Indiana. Includes surname indexes, marriage license with written consent issued, and marriage performed by William C. Walls, Justice of the Peace, on 15 August 1836 in Orange County between Mitchell Hollen and Elizabeth Belcher; viewed online at https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:33SQ-GTMC-9867. Hereinafter cited as Indiana Marriages, 1811-2019.

Emily Belcher¹

b. 1840

Family

Father*

Joseph Belcher¹ b. 20 Mar 1802, d. 8 Apr 1853

Mother*

Ruth Walls¹ b. 1803

Birth*

1840

Emily Belcher was born about 1840 in Illinois.¹

(Daughter) Census US 1850

15 November 1850

Emily was enumerated on the 1850 census taken on 15 November 1850 in the household of her parents in Point, Calhoun County, Illinois. She was 10 years old and had attended school within the census year.^1,2

(Daughter) Census US 1860

11 August 1860

Emily was enumerated on the 1860 census taken on 11 August 1860 in the household of her widowed mother in Otter Creek, Jersey County, Illinois. She was 19 years old.³

Citations

[S17] 1850 United States Federal Census, online at www.ancestry.com, household of Joseph and Ruth Belcher, Year: 1850; Census Place: Point, Calhoun, Illinois; Roll: 99; Page: 335a. Hereinafter cited as 1850 United States Federal Census.
[S17] 1850 United States Federal Census, online at www.ancestry.com, household of Herman and Celia Page, (transcribed by Ancestry as Harmon and Cela Raye), Year: 1850; Census Place: Point, Calhoun, Illinois; Roll: 99; Page: 335a.
[S18] 1860 United States Federal Census, online at www.ancestry.com, household of Ruth Belcher, written or transcribed as "Belker", Year: 1860; Census Place: Otter Creek, Jersey, Illinois; Roll: M653_188; Page: 149; Family History Library Film: 803188. Hereinafter cited as 1860 United States Federal Census.

Enoch Belcher¹

b. 1835

Family

Father*

Jesse Belcher¹ b. 1798

Mother*

Sarah Kellems¹ b. 1802

Birth*

1835

Enoch Belcher was born about 1835 in Illinois.¹

(Son) Census US 1850

21 August 1850

Enoch was enumerated on the 1850 census taken on 21 August 1850 in the household of his parents in Patoka, Crawford County, Indiana. He was 15 years old and worked as a farmer, probably with his father and brother Martin.^1,2

Citations

[S17] 1850 United States Federal Census, online at www.ancestry.com, household of Jesse and Sarah Belcher, Year: 1850; Census Place: Patoka, Crawford, Indiana; Roll: 139; Page: 13a. Hereinafter cited as 1850 United States Federal Census.
[S17] 1850 United States Federal Census, online at www.ancestry.com, household of Marcum Hollen, Year: 1850; Census Place: Patoka, Crawford, Indiana; Roll: 139; Page: 16b.

George W. Belcher¹

b. 1842

Family

Father*

Jesse Belcher¹ b. 1798

Mother*

Sarah Kellems¹ b. 1802

Birth*

1842

George W. Belcher was born about 1842 in Orange County, Indiana.¹

Relationship Note*

George W. and James F. Belcher were twins.^2,1

(Son) Census US 1850

21 August 1850

George W. was enumerated on the 1850 census taken on 21 August 1850 in the household of his parents in Patoka, Crawford County, Indiana. He was 8 years old, as was his twin brother James.^1,3

(Son) Census US 1860

14 June 1860

George was enumerated on the 1860 census taken on 14 June 1860 in the household of his parents near the Hudsonville Post Office, Harrison, Daviess County, Indiana. He and his twin brother, James, were 19 years old and only George was recorded as having attended school within the census year.²

Citations

[S17] 1850 United States Federal Census, online at www.ancestry.com, household of Jesse and Sarah Belcher, Year: 1850; Census Place: Patoka, Crawford, Indiana; Roll: 139; Page: 13a. Hereinafter cited as 1850 United States Federal Census.
[S18] 1860 United States Federal Census, online at www.ancestry.com, household of Jesse and Sarah Belcher, Year: 1860; Census Place: Harrison, Daviess, Indiana; Roll: M653_251; Page: 602; Family History Library Film: 803251. Hereinafter cited as 1860 United States Federal Census.
[S17] 1850 United States Federal Census, online at www.ancestry.com, household of Marcum Hollen, Year: 1850; Census Place: Patoka, Crawford, Indiana; Roll: 139; Page: 16b.

George W. Belcher^1,2

b. 8 April 1845

Family

Father*

Berry Belcher^1,2,3 b. 22 Sep 1803, d. 9 Mar 1885

Mother*

Mary Ann Trusty^1,2,4 b. 1 Feb 1819, d. 9 Jan 1892

Birth*

8 April 1845

George W. Belcher was born on 8 April 1845 in Crawford County, Indiana.^1,2

(Son) Census US 1850

27 August 1850

George was enumerated on the 1850 census taken on 27 August 1850 in the household of his parents in Patoka Township, Crawford County, Indiana. He was 5 years old.¹

Citations

[S17] 1850 United States Federal Census, online at www.ancestry.com, household of Berry and Mary Belcher, Year: 1850; Census Place: Patoka, Crawford, Indiana; Roll: 139; Page: 18b. Hereinafter cited as 1850 United States Federal Census.
[S748] Find a Grave website, which often provides cemetery and tombstone photos, and sometimes personal biographies, that may be obtained from the site, online at www.findagrave.com, George W. Belcher, Memorial# 43403898. Hereinafter cited as Find a Grave website.
[S748] Find a Grave website, online at www.findagrave.com, Berry Belcher, Memorial# 34936541.
[S748] Find a Grave website, online at www.findagrave.com, Mary Ann (Trusty) Belcher, Memorial# 93495742.

Gregory Belcher¹

Family

Marriage*

He married Elizabeth Ruggles.¹

Family

Elizabeth Ruggles

Child

Samuel Belcher¹ b. 1699, d. 1738

Citations

[S869] Marcus Taft Jones, Hayward-Howard genealogy and family history: descendants of William and Margery Hayward of Braintree, Massachusetts, 1648; earlier of Weymouth. Microfilm of typescript at the Rhode Island Historical Society in Providence, Rhode Island. Hayward genealogy 1648-1690: pages 1-13; FHL Film# 22344, Item 2, LDS Family History Library, Salt Lake City, Utah. Hereinafter cited as Hayward-Howard genealogy and family history.

Henry Clay Belcher¹

b. 5 March 1861

Family

Father*

Berry Belcher^1,2 b. 22 Sep 1803, d. 9 Mar 1885

Mother*

Mary Ann Trusty^1,3 b. 1 Feb 1819, d. 9 Jan 1892

Birth*

5 March 1861

Henry Clay Belcher was born on 5 March 1861 in Orange County, Indiana.¹

Citations

[S748] Find a Grave website, which often provides cemetery and tombstone photos, and sometimes personal biographies, that may be obtained from the site, online at www.findagrave.com, Henry Clay Belcher, Memorial# 130459228. Hereinafter cited as Find a Grave website.
[S748] Find a Grave website, online at www.findagrave.com, Berry Belcher, Memorial# 34936541.
[S748] Find a Grave website, online at www.findagrave.com, Mary Ann (Trusty) Belcher, Memorial# 93495742.

James Belcher¹

b. 1796, d. May 1842

Family

Father*

John T. Belcher Sr.^2,3,1,4 b. 13 Oct 1774, d. Jun 1839

Mother*

Martha Johnston^3,1,4

(Eldest Brother) Brick Wall Research

While we were working to organize and understand the information we had been collecting on the Belcher families of Orange and Crawford counties in Indiana, we ran into a serious Brick Wall. Two young girls, Mary Ann Belcher, age 16, and Catharine Belcher, age 11, were enumerated on the 1850 census in Patoka, Crawford County, Indiana in the household of William Hollen. Mary Ann and Catharine, whom we suspected were sisters, had both been born in Orange County, Indiana. We had no idea which Belcher family these two young girls belonged with, and wondered why they would be living with the Hollen family.

From previous research, we’ve learned that the two most common circumstances causing children to live with relatives other than their immediate families were the deaths of one or both parents, and/or the arrival of a stepparent into their household.

The Belcher family we were researching had five brothers: James, Jesse, Joseph, Berry, and John. We had initially used the 1850 census as our primary source, and had been in the process of identifying the children of each of the brothers in order to develop each of their five families. We knew, for example, that James, the eldest brother, had died in 1842 leaving a wife and several children, most of whom had been born in Orange County; that the third brother, Joseph, had moved with his wife and children to Illinois by 1830; that the first wife of fourth brother, Berry, had died after giving birth to five children, that Berry had married a second time, had seven more children by 1850, and that his seven children born before 1841 had all been born in Orange County; that the youngest brother, John, as well as his wife and any children they may have had, were all deceased before 1850; and that Jesse, the second brother, had a wife and seven children, five of whom had been born in Orange County. From the 1850 census, we also learned that Jesse’s eldest daughter, Minerva, and Berry’s eldest daughter, Martha Jane, and second son, Jesse, had all been enumerated in separate households on the same census page as our two Brick Wall children, Mary Ann and Catharine Belcher. That was a fair amount of information, we thought, and hoped it provided us with enough clues to identify Mary Ann and Catharine’s parents. We still believed the girls belonged to one, or possibly two, of the five Belcher brothers, so we needed to make a deeper dive, using a variety of sources, into the families of each one. Reviewing all that we already knew, we felt the two most logical Belcher brothers to analyze first were Jesse and Berry because both were enumerated on the 1850 census in Patoka, Crawford County, Indiana, the same place where we found Mary Ann and Catharine in the household of William Hollen.

We began our targeted Brick Wall research of the brothers with the family of Jesse Belcher, the second brother, whose household on the 1850 census was a few census pages away from William Hollen’s. Jesse’s widowed daughter, Minerva, was enumerated in 1850 on the same census page as Mary Ann and Catharine in the household of William’s brother, Marcum Hollen. We were hopeful, initially, that we could connect at least one of the girls to Jesse. We tried; then had to admit that the birth years of his children too closely overlapped the birth years of Mary Ann and Catharine and that, if the girls belonged with Jesse and his wife, we would have found them with their parents.

Berry Belcher, the fourth brother, was enumerated in 1850 with his second wife and nine of his sixteen children, two from his first wife and seven from his second. They, too, were enumerated in Patoka, Crawford County, Indiana, a few pages away from the subjects of our search, and on the other side of the Hollen household from Berry’s brother, Jesse. Berry’s eldest daughter, Martha Jane, had married Nathan Hollen, a son of William Hollen, and Martha Jane and Nathan were enumerated in 1850 in the next household after Nathan’s father on the same census page. Enumerated with Nathan and Martha Jane was Martha Jane’s brother, Jesse Belcher. Again, we were hopeful as we recognized the intermingling relationships between the Belcher and Hollen families; and again, we were disappointed. Some of the birth years of Berry Belcher’s children either overlapped the birth years of Mary Ann and Catharine, or were too close together to be realistic.

Leaving our research in Crawford County, we moved on to Orange County, Indiana, where Mary Ann and Catharine had both been born. We were hopeful again about James, the oldest of the five Belcher brothers, because most of his six children had likely been born in Orange County. James had died in 1842, and his wife, Nancy, had not remarried. She was enumerated with her younger children, in Jackson, Orange County, in 1850. The birth years of the couple’s six children were consistently spaced at about four to five years apart, which could have left room to insert the two girls. Without any evidence, however, or even workable clues, we realized we were grasping at straws. Hating to let go, though, we decided that, rather than fully eliminate James and Nancy from our dwindling list of parental candidates, we would set them aside until we had completed our research of all of the Belcher brothers.

And, yes, we knew we were running out of brothers because we had already learned that John, the youngest of the Belcher brothers, as well as his wife and any children they may have had, were all deceased before 1850.

That left us with only Joseph, the third Belcher brother, on our list of parental candidates. He and his wife had moved permanently to Illinois by 1830. Additionally, they had a son born in Illinois the same year Catharine was born in Orange County, Indiana. We found it easy and appropriate to eliminate Joseph from our list of potential parents.

After completing phase two of our research on the Belcher brothers, we still had no parents for Mary Ann and Catharine. We had not yet completely given up on the eldest brother, James, and his wife, Nancy, as “possibles” and tried again to see them as plausible. After relooking at everything, and giving them additional consideration, we again determined it just wasn’t working. James and Nancy were not the parents we were searching for. We would have to look elsewhere.

Then later, after working unsuccessfully with other research methods, we discovered a 1904 death certificate for a Catharine (Belcher) Trusty, whose reported date of birth matched the birth year for our 11-year-old Catharine Belcher. The informant for Catharine's death certificate was her widowed husband, Levi Trusty, who reported the name of Catharine's father as Arthur Belcher, and her mother as ______ Pigg. Arthur??? With all of the Belchers we had already researched, we had no Arthur. We did, however, again have hope, and also excitement, as we began to look for Arthur.

We found an Arthur Belcher on the 1840 census in Jackson, Orange County, Indiana. He was between the ages of 40 thru 49 years and his household consisted of seven children, two males and five females. Arthur, we believe, had been widowed by 1840 because his household included no female old enough to be the children's mother. Three of the females were under the age of 10 years, and because Arthur was also enumerated in Orange County in 1830, it was logical to conclude that those three young females on the 1840 census had been born in Orange County, as had Mary Ann and Catharine. This was a Belcher family we had known nothing about, and wondered… Wow! Could this Arthur really be our Catharine’s father? And could one of those other young girls in Arthur’s household in 1840 have been Mary Ann? We definitely hoped so as we set about learning more about Arthur Belcher.

We found him on the 1830 census, also in Orange County, Indiana. His household consisted of seven individuals, three males and four females. We believe that Arthur was the one male between the ages of 30 thru 39 years, and that his wife was the one female between the ages of 20 thru 29 years. Neither Mary Ann nor Catharine were born by 1830, so they wouldn’t have been included among the other females.

Continuing backwards, we found Arthur on the 1820 census in Warren County, Tennessee. His household consisted of three individuals. Arthur and his wife were both between the ages of 16 thru 25, and only one child, a female under the age of 10 years, was enumerated with them. In the next adjacent household on the same census page, William Belcher was enumerated as the head of household. William and his wife were both over the age of 45 years and we suspected they were Arthur's parents. We did not find Arthur enumerated in any other census after 1840, and believe he died before 1850.

We needed earlier information about Arthur's life, and the Bureau of Land Management’s land patent information sent us down another road of exciting research. We learned that not just Arthur, but some of the other Belchers, had also purchased land patents in Indiana about the same time and location. The Belcher brothers’ father, John Belcher Sr., purchased 80 acres in Orange County on 5 August 1837; his fourth son, Berry, purchased 40 acres in Orange County on 1 September 1838; and his fifth son, John Jr., purchased 40 acres in Orange County on 1 August 1839, the same date Arthur purchased 40 acres on the border between Crawford County and Orange County.

We had known, since first discovering Arthur, that he was not a sixth brother of our five Belcher brothers. After completing our research of their land patent purchases, we began to realize that, although not brothers, they were likely related. Our “original” Belcher family began in Tennessee with John Belcher and his wife Martha Johnston, who moved with their five sons, James, Jesse, Joseph, Berry and John, and possibly daughters, to Orange County, Indiana. If there had been another son, Arthur, he would have to have died before 01 August 1839 when the four oldest sons of John Sr., disposed of their shares in their deceased father's property in Orange County by selling it to their youngest brother, John Jr. And we already knew that Arthur was living in 1840 when he was enumerated on that year’s census. So, if Arthur was not a fifth brother of our original Belcher family, who was he?

It was important to remind ourselves that our research objective was to determine the identities of Mary Ann and Catharine Belcher who were enumerated without their parents on the 1850 census in the household of William Hollen in Patoka, Crawford County, Indiana.

So far, our most significant find was Catharine (Belcher) Trusty's death certificate reporting that her father's name was Arthur Belcher. Lacking any information to the contrary, we decided to believe it. Her mother’s surname may have been Pigg, as reported on her death certificate, and her full name even Elizabeth Pigg, as surmised on Catharine's Find a Grave memorial page. Not knowing her mother, though, would have to wait; we felt confident in our conclusion that Arthur Belcher was Catharine's father. So far, so good; however we still had found no evidence that Catharine and Mary Ann were sisters or why they would have been living with the William Hollen family in 1850.

Mary Ann, we learned, married Almarine Moore in 1851, and Almarine’s brother, Harral Moore, married Julia Ann Belcher in a double ceremony on the same date. Their marriage was the first time we had any evidence of a Julie Ann Belcher, and wondered if this was a case of brothers marrying sisters? And, if so, where was Julia Ann in 1850? We have not been able to find her anywhere! We knew this was going to take some thinking, as well as additional research. Then, when we learned that Jesse Belcher married Harral and Almarine’s sister, Mary Ann Moore, less than two months after Mary Ann and Julia Ann Belcher married the Moore brothers, our head exploded! To review… Jesse Belcher was Berry Belcher’s son. Jesse was enumerated in the home of his sister, Martha Jane, and her husband, Nathan Hollen, in 1850. Nathan’s father, William Hollen, was enumerated in 1850 one household above his son Nathan, and it was in Willam Hollen’s household that Mary Ann and Catharine Belcher were enumerated in 1850.

We don’t believe in coincidences. Mary Ann Belcher was born about 1834; Julia Ann Belcher was born about 1836; and Catharine Belcher was born in 1838. Mary Ann and Catharine were enumerated together, and we believe they were sisters. Catharine was a daughter of Arthur Belcher, so therefore we believe Mary Ann was also a daughter of Arthur Belcher. We cannot find Julia Ann Belcher anywhere on the 1850 census and believe she was likely also residing, with Mary Ann and Catharine, in the William Hollen household in 1850. We believe she was simply skipped by the census taker. She named her second son Arthur -- also likely not a coincidence. She was married in a double ceremony with Mary Ann, and we believe they were sisters who married brothers. We therefore believe that Mary Ann, Julia Ann and Catharine Belcher were all three sisters and, in 1850, the orphaned daughters of Arthur Belcher.

Okay, fine… But why were they living in the household of William Hollen?... To try to answer that question, we had to find out more about who Willam Hollen was. We learned he had been born in Tennessee, and we actually laughed out loud when we learned that his parents were Nathan Hollen and Elizabeth Belcher. So, there was an earlier connection between the Belcher and Hollen families. We just had to sort out how that early connection evolved into the families' later relationships. We had our original Belcher brothers, whose father was John Sr; we had Arthur Belcher, whose father we had decided was William Belcher; and we thought that John Sr. and William were brothers. Neither John Sr., nor any of his sons, named a son Arthur, while John Sr.’s brother, William Belcher, did name a son Arthur. Nathan and Elizabeth (Belcher) Hollen named a son Arthur, and was therefore likely to be more closely related to William Belcher than to John Sr. So, how was Elizabeth Belcher related to William Belcher? We believe she was Arthur's sister, about 10 years his senior, and possibly William Belcher’s eldest child. She would therefore have been an aunt to Arthur’s daughters, Mary Ann, Julia Ann and Catharine Becher. On the Hollen side, Nathan Hollen married Elizabeth Belcher and their son, William Hollen, was therefore Arthur Belcher’s nephew. And, it was in William Hollen’s household that the Belcher girls were enumerated in 1850. So, if Elizabeth (Belcher) Hollen was an aunt to Mary Ann, Julia Ann and Catharine Belcher, as we believe, it all makes perfect sense. The orphaned Belcher girls were enumerated in 1850 in the home of their 1st cousin, William Hollen, who had children the same ages as the Belcher girls.

Most importantly, at least to us anyway, is that we believe we've finally solved our serious Belcher girls Brick Wall: Mary Ann Belcher, Julia Ann Belcher, and Catharine Belcher were daughters of Arthur Belcher who died between 1840 and 1850.

It was a long and twisting road and, as if all of that wasn't enough to make us crazy... William Hollen had at least three brothers, Markham Hollen, Arthur Hollen and Mitchell Hollen, who married Minerva (Belcher) Belcher, Polly Belcher and Elizabeth Belcher, respectively. William's brother, Markham, married, as his second wife in 1853, Minerva (Belcher) Belcher, eldest daughter of the second Belcher brother, Jesse. Minerva's first husband had also been a Belcher, and she became a widow with four young children when he died before 1850. It concerns us a great deal that we have not been able to learn the given name, or Belcher family connection, of Minerva's first husband, and would greatly appreciate hearing from someone who knows. And, there are other Belcher family members we wonder about. William Hollen's brother, another Arthur, married Polly Belcher in 1835, and their brother, Mitchell, married Elizabeth Belcher in 1836. Additionally, we think that the Moses Belcher who married Eliza Belcher in 1835 was a son of William Belcher, and a brother of Arthur Belcher and Elizabeth (Belcher) Hollen, William Hollen's mother. Unfortunately, we have no idea which Belcher family, or families, Minerva's husband, or Polly, Elizabeth and Eliza belong with, and are hoping that someone reading this knows , and will tell us... Please...^{5,2,6,7,8,9,10,11,12,13,14,15,16,17,18,19,20,21,22,23,24,25,26,27,28,29,30,31,32,33,34,35,36,37,38,39,40,41,42,43,44,45}

Birth*

1796

James Belcher was born about 1796 in Washington County, Tennessee.^1,3,7

Marriage*

1817

He married Nancy Bolling about 1817, possibly in Kentucky.^2,7,46

(Eldest Son) Land Records

1 August 1839

Death*

May 1842

He had died before the 1850 census was taken, and may have died as early in May 1842 at about age 46.^6,7

Family		Nancy Bolling b. 1802
Children	1.	John Belcher⁴⁷ b. 26 Oct 1819, d. 8 Mar 1901
	2.	Jeremiah Belcher+⁴⁸ b. 20 Dec 1821, d. 18 Sep 1905
	3.	William H. Belcher¹⁸ b. 1825
	4.	Timothy Belcher⁶ b. 1830
	5.	Martin Belcher⁶ b. 1836
	6.	Nancy Belcher⁶ b. 1841

Citations

[S1686] Virginia, U.S., Compiled Marriages, 1660-1800, online at www.ancestry.com, marriage of John Belcher and Martha Johnston on 25 October 1794 in Washington County, Virginia. Hereinafter cited as Virginia, U.S., Compiled Marriages, 1660-1800.
[S2244] Family Search Ancestry Discovery Blog, online at https://www.familysearch.org/blog/en/… .Caution: This is a beautifully presented collection of "Person Pages" containing a variety of information about specific ancestors submitted by individual contributors -- often, unfortunately, with no sources. If the information we have chosen to pass along here is accurate, we are extremely grateful to the contributor(s) who have shared it. Without documentation, however, we researchers are always forced to question the validity of information. We hope what we have selected to include was originally obtained from family Bible records, or other reliable sources, and is accurate. Although, even when we have found contributed information to be unreliable, inaccurate or incomplete, we consider the information useful as possible clues as we research, citing the Belcher Heirs Deed, 1839, Orange County, Indiana, submitted by Jeannie Watts <e-mail address> with special thanks to Frankie Lu Eads of Princeton, Indiana who sent her a photocopy of the deed which we found attached in three files under Memories for Berry Belcher, online at https://www.familysearch.org/tree/person/memories/LTHD-H2Y. Hereinafter cited as Family Search Ancestry Discovery Blog.
[S748] Find a Grave website, which often provides cemetery and tombstone photos, and sometimes personal biographies, that may be obtained from the site, online at www.findagrave.com, Joseph Belcher, Memorial# 40043678. Hereinafter cited as Find a Grave website.
[S748] Find a Grave website, online at www.findagrave.com, John T. Belcher Sr., Memorial# 63963602.
[S17] 1850 United States Federal Census, online at www.ancestry.com, household of William and Elizabeth Hollen, Year: 1850; Census Place: Patoka, Crawford, Indiana; Roll: 139; Page: 16b, image# 16 of 23. Hereinafter cited as 1850 United States Federal Census.
[S17] 1850 United States Federal Census, online at www.ancestry.com, household of Nancy Belcher, Year: 1850; Census Place: Jackson, Orange, Indiana; Roll: 163; Page: 399a.
[S2244] Family Search Ancestry Discovery Blog, online at https://www.familysearch.org/blog/en/…, viewed online at https://www.familysearch.org/tree/person/details/G6WH-L1P
[S16] 1830 United States Federal Census, online at www.ancestry.com, household of Joseph Belcher, Year: 1830; Census Place: Crawford, Illinois; Series: M19; Roll: 23; Page: 18; Family History Library Film: 0007648. Hereinafter cited as 1830 United States Federal Census.
[S748] Find a Grave website, online at www.findagrave.com, Berry Belcher, Memorial# 34936541.
[S17] 1850 United States Federal Census, online at www.ancestry.com, household of Berry and Mary Belcher, Year: 1850; Census Place: Patoka, Crawford, Indiana; Roll: 139; Page: 18b, image# 20 of 23.
[S2283] Indiana, U.S., Compiled Marriages, 1802-1892, online at www.ancestry.com, marriage on 14 December 1826 in Orange County, Indiana, USA, of John Belcher and Eunice Pitman, referencing FHL Film# 1316696. Hereinafter cited as Indiana, U.S., Compiled Marriages, 1802-1892.
[S16] 1830 United States Federal Census, online at www.ancestry.com, household of John Belcher, Junior, Year: 1830; Census Place: Orange, Indiana; Series: M19; Roll: 31; Page: 34; Family History Library Film: 0007720.
[S2294] Will of Lewis Pitman dated 20 March 1849 in Macoupin County, Illinois, submitted for probate on 7 April 1849; transcription originally shared on 28 December 2012 by WLawrence2182, and attached to an Ancestry Tree; viewed on 27 April 2022, online at https://www.ancestry.com/mediaui-viewer/tree/85867149/…. Hereinafter cited as Will of Lewis Pitman.
[S17] 1850 United States Federal Census, online at www.ancestry.com, household of Jesse and Sarah Belcher, Year: 1850; Census Place: Patoka, Crawford, Indiana; Roll: 139; Page: 13a, image# 9 of 23.
[S17] 1850 United States Federal Census, online at www.ancestry.com, household of Marcum Hollen, Year: 1850; Census Place: Patoka, Crawford, Indiana; Roll: 139; Page: 16b, image# 16 of 23.
[S17] 1850 United States Federal Census, online at www.ancestry.com, household of Nathan and Martha Jane Hollen, Year: 1850; Census Place: Patoka, Crawford, Indiana; Roll: 139; Page: 16b, image# 16 of 23.
[S487] 1840 United States Federal Census, online at www.ancestry.com, household of Joseph Belcher, Year: 1840; Census Place: Jersey, Illinois; Roll: 61; Page: 339; Family History Library Film: 0007642. Hereinafter cited as 1840 United States Federal Census.
[S17] 1850 United States Federal Census, online at www.ancestry.com, household of Joseph and Ruth Belcher, Year: 1850; Census Place: Point, Calhoun, Illinois; Roll: 99; Page: 335a.
[S1571] Indiana, U.S., Death Certificates, 1899-2017, online at www.ancestry.com, death on 20 November 1904 in Taswell, Crawford, Indiana, USA, of Catharine Trusty, transcribed by Ancestry as "Tensty", age 66, married to Lee Trusty, born 24 September 1838 to Arthur Belcher and ______ Pigg in Crawford Co, referencing Indiana Archives and Records Administration; Indianapolis, IN, USA; Death Certificates; Year: 1904; Roll: 03. Hereinafter cited as Indiana, U.S., Death Certificates, 1899-2017.
[S487] 1840 United States Federal Census, online at www.ancestry.com, household of Arthur Belcher, Year: 1840; Census Place: Jackson, Orange, Indiana; Roll: 89; Page: 29; Family History Library Film: 0007728.
[S16] 1830 United States Federal Census, online at www.ancestry.com, household of Arthur Belcher, his name spelled "Arter" by the census taker and transcribed as "Aster" by Ancestry, Year: 1830; Census Place: Orange, Indiana; Series: M19; Roll: 31; Page: 36; Family History Library Film: 0007720.
[S468] 1820 United States Federal Census, online at www.ancestry.com, household of Arthur Belcher, 1820 U S Census; Census Place: Warren, Tennessee; Page: 310; NARA Roll: M33_122; Image: 274. Hereinafter cited as 1820 United States Federal Census.
[S468] 1820 United States Federal Census, online at www.ancestry.com, household of William Belcher, 1820 U S Census; Census Place: Warren, Tennessee; Page: 310; NARA Roll: M33_122; Image: 274.
[S1585] Bureau of Land Management General Land Office Records (U.S. Department of the Interior), online at https://glorecords.blm.gov/search/default.aspx, land patent for 40 acres in Crawford County, Indiana, purchased by Arthur Belcher of Orange County, Indiana, on 1 August 1839 from the Land Office of the United States at Vincennes, Indiana; viewed 22 April 2022, online at https://glorecords.blm.gov/details/patent/default.aspx. Hereinafter cited as Bureau of Land Management General Land Office Records.
[S1585] Bureau of Land Management General Land Office Records, online at https://glorecords.blm.gov/search/default.aspx, land patent for 80 acres in Orange County, Indiana, purchased by John Belcher of Orange County, Indiana, on 5 August 1837 from the Land Office of the United States at Vincennes, Indiana; viewed 25 April 2022, online at https://glorecords.blm.gov/details/patent/default.aspx
[S1585] Bureau of Land Management General Land Office Records, online at https://glorecords.blm.gov/search/default.aspx, land patent for 40 acres in Orange County, Indiana, purchased by Berry Belcher of Orange County, Indiana, on 1 September 1838 from the Land Office of the United States at Vincennes, Indiana; viewed 25 April 2022, online at https://glorecords.blm.gov/details/patent/default.aspx
[S1585] Bureau of Land Management General Land Office Records, online at https://glorecords.blm.gov/search/default.aspx, land patent for 40 acres in Orange County, Indiana, purchased by John Belcher of Orange County, Indiana, on 1 August 1839 from the Land Office of the United States at Vincennes, Indiana; viewed 25 April 2022, online at https://glorecords.blm.gov/details/patent/default.aspx
[S748] Find a Grave website, online at www.findagrave.com, Catharine (Belcher) Trusty, Memorial# 204517313.
[S1501] Indiana Marriages, 1811-2019, database with images, online at www.familysearch.org. Digital collection of microfilmed records located at the Wayne County Courthouse, Richmond, Indiana. Includes surname indexes, marriage licenses were issued on 11 November 1851 by the Circuit Court in Paoli, Orange County for Harral Moore to marry Julia Ann Belcher and for Almarine Moore to marry Mary Ann Belcher, viewed online at https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:33S7-9TMC-9X9F. Hereinafter cited as Indiana Marriages, 1811-2019.
[S1501] Indiana Marriages, 1811-2019, online at www.familysearch.org, marriage on 12 November 1851 in Orange County of Almarine Moore and Mary Ann Belcher and also of Harral Moore and Julia Ann Belcher, viewed online at https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:33S7-9TMC-9X9F
[S1444] Indiana, U.S., Marriage Index, 1800-1941, online at www.ancestry.com, marriage on 12 November 1851 in Orange County of Mary Ann Belcher and Almarine Moore, referencing Orange County, Indiana, original record located in the County Clerk's Office in Paoli, Indiana; Book: C- 3; Page: 389. Hereinafter cited as Indiana, U.S., Marriage Index, 1800-1941.
[S1501] Indiana Marriages, 1811-2019, online at www.familysearch.org, marriage on 12 November 1851 in Orange County of Harral Moore and Julia Ann Belcher and also of Almarine Moore and Mary Ann Belcher, viewed online at https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:33S7-9TMC-9X9F
[S1444] Indiana, U.S., Marriage Index, 1800-1941, online at www.ancestry.com, marriage on 12 November 1851 in Orange County of Julia Ann Belcher and Harral Moore, referencing Orange County, Indiana, original record located in the County Clerk's Office in Paoli, Indiana; Book: C- 3; Page: 389.
[S1501] Indiana Marriages, 1811-2019, online at www.familysearch.org, marriage on 8 January 1852 in Crawford County of Jesse Belcher and Mary Ann Moore, certifier's name: C. W. Kindle; officiator's name: J. H. McMickle, viewed online at https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:DV77-GZ6Z
[S1444] Indiana, U.S., Marriage Index, 1800-1941, online at www.ancestry.com, marriage on 8 January 1852 in Crawford County of Mary Ann Moore and Jesse Belcher, his given name transcribed as "Isaac" by Ancestry, referencing Crawford County Indiana Marriages, 1818 - 1880, Books A - D, contents: Part I, Index of Grooms, Part II, Index of Brides, Compiled by Ruth M Slevin; Book: B; Page: 148.
[S748] Find a Grave website, online at www.findagrave.com, Mary Ann (Moore) Belcher, Memorial# 232116375.
[S37] 1870 United States Federal Census, online at www.ancestry.com, household of Harold and Julia Moore, Year: 1870; Census Place: Madison, Pike, Indiana; Roll: M593_350; Page: 502B. Hereinafter cited as 1870 United States Federal Census.
[S2244] Family Search Ancestry Discovery Blog, online at https://www.familysearch.org/blog/en/…, viewed online at https://www.familysearch.org/tree/person/details/KGCK-1WC
[S2244] Family Search Ancestry Discovery Blog, online at https://www.familysearch.org/blog/en/…, viewed online at https://www.familysearch.org/tree/person/details/KP3F-CTV
[S2244] Family Search Ancestry Discovery Blog, online at https://www.familysearch.org/blog/en/…, viewed online at https://www.familysearch.org/tree/person/details/KP3F-C5V
[S2244] Family Search Ancestry Discovery Blog, online at https://www.familysearch.org/blog/en/…, viewed online at https://www.familysearch.org/tree/person/details/KP3F-CC1
[S1444] Indiana, U.S., Marriage Index, 1800-1941, online at www.ancestry.com, marriage on 2 October 1853 in Orange County, of Markham Holland and Minerva Belcher, referencing Orange County, Indiana.
[S1501] Indiana Marriages, 1811-2019, online at www.familysearch.org, marriage license issued, and marriage performed by William C. Walls, Justice of the Peace, on 3 August 1835 in Orange County between Arthur Hollen and Polly Belcher; viewed online at https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:33S7-9TMC-96HZ
[S1501] Indiana Marriages, 1811-2019, online at www.familysearch.org, marriage license with written consent issued, and marriage performed by William C. Walls, Justice of the Peace, on 15 August 1836 in Orange County between Mitchell Hollen and Elizabeth Belcher; viewed online at https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:33SQ-GTMC-9867
[S1501] Indiana Marriages, 1811-2019, online at www.familysearch.org, marriage license issued, and marriage performed by William C. Walls, Justice of the Peace, on 9 July 1835 in Orange County between Moses Belcher, his father's consent verbally given, and Eliza Belcher, consent in writing; viewed online at https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:33S7-9TMC-96HZ
[S2244] Family Search Ancestry Discovery Blog, online at https://www.familysearch.org/blog/en/…, viewed online at https://www.familysearch.org/tree/person/details/G6WH-L1L
[S1571] Indiana, U.S., Death Certificates, 1899-2017, online at www.ancestry.com, death on 8 March 1901 in Patoka, Crawford County, Indiana, USA, of John Belcher, age 81, 4 months and 10 days, widow, farmer, born about 1820 to James Belcher and Nancy Bowling in Crawford County, referencing Indiana Archives and Records Administration; Indianapolis, IN, USA; Death Certificates; Year: 1901; Roll: 03.
[S2244] Family Search Ancestry Discovery Blog, online at https://www.familysearch.org/blog/en/…, viewed online at https://www.familysearch.org/tree/person/details/KCS4-9FN

James F. Belcher¹

b. 1842

Family

Father*

Jesse Belcher¹ b. 1798

Mother*

Sarah Kellems¹ b. 1802

Birth*

1842

James F. Belcher was born about 1842 in Orange County, Indiana.¹

Relationship Note*

James F. and George W. Belcher were twins.^2,1

(Son) Census US 1850

21 August 1850

James F. was enumerated on the 1850 census taken on 21 August 1850 in the household of his parents in Patoka, Crawford County, Indiana. He was 8 years old, as was his twin brother George.^1,3

(Son) Census US 1860

14 June 1860

James was enumerated on the 1860 census taken on 14 June 1860 in the household of his parents near the Hudsonville Post Office, Harrison, Daviess County, Indiana. He and his twin brother, George, were 19 years old and only George was recorded as having attended school within the census year.²

Citations

[S17] 1850 United States Federal Census, online at www.ancestry.com, household of Jesse and Sarah Belcher, Year: 1850; Census Place: Patoka, Crawford, Indiana; Roll: 139; Page: 13a. Hereinafter cited as 1850 United States Federal Census.
[S18] 1860 United States Federal Census, online at www.ancestry.com, household of Jesse and Sarah Belcher, Year: 1860; Census Place: Harrison, Daviess, Indiana; Roll: M653_251; Page: 602; Family History Library Film: 803251. Hereinafter cited as 1860 United States Federal Census.
[S17] 1850 United States Federal Census, online at www.ancestry.com, household of Marcum Hollen, Year: 1850; Census Place: Patoka, Crawford, Indiana; Roll: 139; Page: 16b.

James M. Belcher¹

b. 1846

Family

Father*

______ Belcher¹ d. 1849

Mother*

Minerva Belcher¹ b. 1824, d. 9 Jul 1907

Birth*

1846

James M. Belcher was born about 1846 in Orange County, Indiana.¹

Name Variation

His full name was James Madison Hollen.²

(Child) Census US 1850

26 August 1850

James M. Belcher was enumerated with his siblings and widowed mother on the 1850 census taken on 26 August 1850 in the household of Marcum Hollen in Patoka, Crawford County, Indiana. James was 4 years old.¹

(Son) Marriage

2 October 1853

He was 7 years old when his mother married a second time, on 2 October 1853, to Markham Hollen.^3,4

Name Variation

After his mother's second marriage, James used the surname Hollen.³

(Stepson) Census US 1860

19 July 1860

James was enumerated as James M. Hollen on the 1860 census taken on 19 July 1860 in the household of his mother and stepfather, Minerva and Marcum Hollen, in Patoka, Crawford County, Indiana. James was 12 years old.³

Citations

[S17] 1850 United States Federal Census, online at www.ancestry.com, household of Marcum Hollen, Year: 1850; Census Place: Patoka, Crawford, Indiana; Roll: 139; Page: 16b. Hereinafter cited as 1850 United States Federal Census.
[S2244] Family Search Ancestry Discovery Blog, online at https://www.familysearch.org/blog/en/… .Caution: This is a beautifully presented collection of "Person Pages" containing a variety of information about specific ancestors submitted by individual contributors -- often, unfortunately, with no sources. If the information we have chosen to pass along here is accurate, we are extremely grateful to the contributor(s) who have shared it. Without documentation, however, we researchers are always forced to question the validity of information. We hope what we have selected to include was originally obtained from family Bible records, or other reliable sources, and is accurate. Although, even when we have found contributed information to be unreliable, inaccurate or incomplete, we consider the information useful as possible clues as we research, viewed online at https://www.familysearch.org/tree/person/details/KCCT-177. Hereinafter cited as Family Search Ancestry Discovery Blog.
[S18] 1860 United States Federal Census, online at www.ancestry.com, household of Marcum and Minerva Hollen, Year: 1860; Census Place: Patoka, Crawford, Indiana; Roll: M653_250; Page: 481; Family History Library Film: 803250. Hereinafter cited as 1860 United States Federal Census.
[S1444] Indiana, U.S., Marriage Index, 1800-1941, online at www.ancestry.com, marriage on 2 October 1853 in Orange County, of Markham Holland and Minerva Belcher, referencing Orange County, Indiana. Hereinafter cited as Indiana, U.S., Marriage Index, 1800-1941.

James M. Belcher^1,2,3

b. 1841

Family

Father*

Berry Belcher^1,2 b. 22 Sep 1803, d. 9 Mar 1885

Mother*

Mary Ann Trusty^1,3 b. 1 Feb 1819, d. 9 Jan 1892

Birth*

1841

James M. Belcher was born about 1841 in Crawford County, Indiana.¹

(Son) Census US 1850

27 August 1850

James was enumerated on the 1850 census taken on 27 August 1850 in the household of his parents in Patoka Township, Crawford County, Indiana. He was 9 years old.¹

Citations

[S17] 1850 United States Federal Census, online at www.ancestry.com, household of Berry and Mary Belcher, Year: 1850; Census Place: Patoka, Crawford, Indiana; Roll: 139; Page: 18b. Hereinafter cited as 1850 United States Federal Census.
[S748] Find a Grave website, which often provides cemetery and tombstone photos, and sometimes personal biographies, that may be obtained from the site, online at www.findagrave.com, Berry Belcher, Memorial# 34936541. Hereinafter cited as Find a Grave website.
[S748] Find a Grave website, online at www.findagrave.com, Mary Ann (Trusty) Belcher, Memorial# 93495742.

Jeremiah Belcher¹

Family

Marriage*

1726

He married Mary Hayward, daughter of Deacon Jonathan Hayward and Hannah Hobart, in 1726.¹

Family

Mary Hayward b. 1701

Citations

[S869] Marcus Taft Jones, Hayward-Howard genealogy and family history: descendants of William and Margery Hayward of Braintree, Massachusetts, 1648; earlier of Weymouth. Microfilm of typescript at the Rhode Island Historical Society in Providence, Rhode Island. Hayward genealogy 1648-1690: pages 1-13; FHL Film# 22344, Item 2, LDS Family History Library, Salt Lake City, Utah. Hereinafter cited as Hayward-Howard genealogy and family history.

Jeremiah Belcher¹

b. 20 December 1821, d. 18 September 1905

Family

Father*

James Belcher¹ b. 1796, d. May 1842

Mother*

Nancy Bolling¹ b. 1802

Birth*

20 December 1821

Jeremiah Belcher was born on 20 December 1821 in Orange County, Indiana.^1,2,3

Name Variation

He was called Jerry.²

Marriage*

6 January 1848

He married first Rebecca Brock on 6 January 1848 in Crawford County, Indiana.^3,4

Marriage*

22 January 1860

He married second Nancy Jane Pace, daughter of John R. Pace and Elizabeth Taylor, on 22 January 1860 in Crawford County, Indiana.^5,3

Divorce*

1883

Jeremiah Belcher and Nancy Jane (Pace) Belcher were divorced on 1883.^3,5

Marriage*

26 July 1884

He married third, as her second husband, Elizabeth (Tevebaugh) Goldman on 26 July 1884 in Vincennes, Knox County, Indiana.^3,6,7

Death*

18 September 1905

He died on 18 September 1905 in Harrison Township, Knox County, Indiana, at age 83. His daughter, Sarah C. (Belcher] Thorn, provided the information as the informant on his death certificate.^1,2,3

Family 1

Rebecca Brock

Family 2

Nancy Jane Pace b. 6 Aug 1830, d. 15 Feb 1885

Child

Sarah C. Belcher⁸ b. 22 Mar 1869, d. 13 Apr 1958

Family 3

Elizabeth Tevebaugh b. Feb 1825

Citations

[S2244] Family Search Ancestry Discovery Blog, online at https://www.familysearch.org/blog/en/… .Caution: This is a beautifully presented collection of "Person Pages" containing a variety of information about specific ancestors submitted by individual contributors -- often, unfortunately, with no sources. If the information we have chosen to pass along here is accurate, we are extremely grateful to the contributor(s) who have shared it. Without documentation, however, we researchers are always forced to question the validity of information. We hope what we have selected to include was originally obtained from family Bible records, or other reliable sources, and is accurate. Although, even when we have found contributed information to be unreliable, inaccurate or incomplete, we consider the information useful as possible clues as we research, viewed online at https://www.familysearch.org/tree/person/details/KCS4-9FN. Hereinafter cited as Family Search Ancestry Discovery Blog.
[S1571] Indiana, U.S., Death Certificates, 1899-2017, online at www.ancestry.com, death on 18 September 1905 in Knox County, Indiana, USA, of Jerry Belcher, age 83, single, farmer, born on 20 December 1821 to James Belcher and Nancy "Brock" in Indiana, informant Sarah Thorn, burial in Baptist Cemetery, referencing Indiana Archives and Records Administration; Indianapolis, IN, USA; Death Certificates; Year: 1905; Roll: 06. Hereinafter cited as Indiana, U.S., Death Certificates, 1899-2017.
[S748] Find a Grave website, which often provides cemetery and tombstone photos, and sometimes personal biographies, that may be obtained from the site, online at www.findagrave.com, Jeremiah Belcher, Memorial# 34844519. Hereinafter cited as Find a Grave website.
[S2283] Indiana, U.S., Compiled Marriages, 1802-1892, online at www.ancestry.com, marriage on 6 January 1848 in Crawford County, Indiana, USA, of Jeremiah Belcher and Rebecka Brock, referencing FHL Film# 1377775. Hereinafter cited as Indiana, U.S., Compiled Marriages, 1802-1892.
[S748] Find a Grave website, online at www.findagrave.com, Nancy Jane (Pace) Belcher, Memorial# 45751143.
[S1444] Indiana, U.S., Marriage Index, 1800-1941, online at www.ancestry.com, marriage on 26 July 1884 in Knox County of Jermiah Belcher and E Goldman, referencing Knox County, Indiana, original record located in the County Clerk's Office; Book: C-11; Page: 132. Hereinafter cited as Indiana, U.S., Marriage Index, 1800-1941.
[S1444] Indiana, U.S., Marriage Index, 1800-1941, online at www.ancestry.com, marriage on 26 July 1884 in Knox County of Elizabeth Goldman and J Belcher, referencing Knox County, Indiana, original record located in the County Clerk's Office; Book: C-11; Page: 132.
[S748] Find a Grave website, online at www.findagrave.com, Sarah C. (Belcher) Thorn, Memorial# 81724021.

Jesse Belcher¹

b. 1798

Family

Father*

John T. Belcher Sr.^2,3,4,5 b. 13 Oct 1774, d. Jun 1839

Mother*

Martha Johnston^5,3,4

(2nd Brother) Brick Wall Research

While we were working to organize and understand the information we had been collecting on the Belcher families of Orange and Crawford counties in Indiana, we ran into a serious Brick Wall. Two young girls, Mary Ann Belcher, age 16, and Catharine Belcher, age 11, were enumerated on the 1850 census in Patoka, Crawford County, Indiana in the household of William Hollen. Mary Ann and Catharine, whom we suspected were sisters, had both been born in Orange County, Indiana. We had no idea which Belcher family these two young girls belonged with, and wondered why they would be living with the Hollen family.

From previous research, we’ve learned that the two most common circumstances causing children to live with relatives other than their immediate families were the deaths of one or both parents, and/or the arrival of a stepparent into their household.

The Belcher family we were researching had five brothers: James, Jesse, Joseph, Berry, and John. We had initially used the 1850 census as our primary source, and had been in the process of identifying the children of each of the brothers in order to develop each of their five families. We knew, for example, that James, the eldest brother, had died in 1842 leaving a wife and several children, most of whom had been born in Orange County; that the third brother, Joseph, had moved with his wife and children to Illinois by 1830; that the first wife of fourth brother, Berry, had died after giving birth to five children, that Berry had married a second time, had seven more children by 1850, and that his seven children born before 1841 had all been born in Orange County; that the youngest brother, John, as well as his wife and any children they may have had, were all deceased before 1850; and that Jesse, the second brother, had a wife and seven children, five of whom had been born in Orange County. From the 1850 census, we also learned that Jesse’s eldest daughter, Minerva, and Berry’s eldest daughter, Martha Jane, and second son, Jesse, had all been enumerated in separate households on the same census page as our two Brick Wall children, Mary Ann and Catharine Belcher. That was a fair amount of information, we thought, and hoped it provided us with enough clues to identify Mary Ann and Catharine’s parents. We still believed the girls belonged to one, or possibly two, of the five Belcher brothers, so we needed to make a deeper dive, using a variety of sources, into the families of each one. Reviewing all that we already knew, we felt the two most logical Belcher brothers to analyze first were Jesse and Berry because both were enumerated on the 1850 census in Patoka, Crawford County, Indiana, the same place where we found Mary Ann and Catharine in the household of William Hollen.

We began our targeted Brick Wall research of the brothers with the family of Jesse Belcher, the second brother, whose household on the 1850 census was a few census pages away from William Hollen’s. Jesse’s widowed daughter, Minerva, was enumerated in 1850 on the same census page as Mary Ann and Catharine in the household of William’s brother, Marcum Hollen. We were hopeful, initially, that we could connect at least one of the girls to Jesse. We tried; then had to admit that the birth years of his children too closely overlapped the birth years of Mary Ann and Catharine and that, if the girls belonged with Jesse and his wife, we would have found them with their parents.

Berry Belcher, the fourth brother, was enumerated in 1850 with his second wife and nine of his sixteen children, two from his first wife and seven from his second. They, too, were enumerated in Patoka, Crawford County, Indiana, a few pages away from the subjects of our search, and on the other side of the Hollen household from Berry’s brother, Jesse. Berry’s eldest daughter, Martha Jane, had married Nathan Hollen, a son of William Hollen, and Martha Jane and Nathan were enumerated in 1850 in the next household after Nathan’s father on the same census page. Enumerated with Nathan and Martha Jane was Martha Jane’s brother, Jesse Belcher. Again, we were hopeful as we recognized the intermingling relationships between the Belcher and Hollen families; and again, we were disappointed. Some of the birth years of Berry Belcher’s children either overlapped the birth years of Mary Ann and Catharine, or were too close together to be realistic.

Leaving our research in Crawford County, we moved on to Orange County, Indiana, where Mary Ann and Catharine had both been born. We were hopeful again about James, the oldest of the five Belcher brothers, because most of his six children had likely been born in Orange County. James had died in 1842, and his wife, Nancy, had not remarried. She was enumerated with her younger children, in Jackson, Orange County, in 1850. The birth years of the couple’s six children were consistently spaced at about four to five years apart, which could have left room to insert the two girls. Without any evidence, however, or even workable clues, we realized we were grasping at straws. Hating to let go, though, we decided that, rather than fully eliminate James and Nancy from our dwindling list of parental candidates, we would set them aside until we had completed our research of all of the Belcher brothers.

And, yes, we knew we were running out of brothers because we had already learned that John, the youngest of the Belcher brothers, as well as his wife and any children they may have had, were all deceased before 1850.

That left us with only Joseph, the third Belcher brother, on our list of parental candidates. He and his wife had moved permanently to Illinois by 1830. Additionally, they had a son born in Illinois the same year Catharine was born in Orange County, Indiana. We found it easy and appropriate to eliminate Joseph from our list of potential parents.

After completing phase two of our research on the Belcher brothers, we still had no parents for Mary Ann and Catharine. We had not yet completely given up on the eldest brother, James, and his wife, Nancy, as “possibles” and tried again to see them as plausible. After relooking at everything, and giving them additional consideration, we again determined it just wasn’t working. James and Nancy were not the parents we were searching for. We would have to look elsewhere.

Then later, after working unsuccessfully with other research methods, we discovered a 1904 death certificate for a Catharine (Belcher) Trusty, whose reported date of birth matched the birth year for our 11-year-old Catharine Belcher. The informant for Catharine's death certificate was her widowed husband, Levi Trusty, who reported the name of Catharine's father as Arthur Belcher, and her mother as ______ Pigg. Arthur??? With all of the Belchers we had already researched, we had no Arthur. We did, however, again have hope, and also excitement, as we began to look for Arthur.

We found an Arthur Belcher on the 1840 census in Jackson, Orange County, Indiana. He was between the ages of 40 thru 49 years and his household consisted of seven children, two males and five females. Arthur, we believe, had been widowed by 1840 because his household included no female old enough to be the children's mother. Three of the females were under the age of 10 years, and because Arthur was also enumerated in Orange County in 1830, it was logical to conclude that those three young females on the 1840 census had been born in Orange County, as had Mary Ann and Catharine. This was a Belcher family we had known nothing about, and wondered… Wow! Could this Arthur really be our Catharine’s father? And could one of those other young girls in Arthur’s household in 1840 have been Mary Ann? We definitely hoped so as we set about learning more about Arthur Belcher.

We found him on the 1830 census, also in Orange County, Indiana. His household consisted of seven individuals, three males and four females. We believe that Arthur was the one male between the ages of 30 thru 39 years, and that his wife was the one female between the ages of 20 thru 29 years. Neither Mary Ann nor Catharine were born by 1830, so they wouldn’t have been included among the other females.

Continuing backwards, we found Arthur on the 1820 census in Warren County, Tennessee. His household consisted of three individuals. Arthur and his wife were both between the ages of 16 thru 25, and only one child, a female under the age of 10 years, was enumerated with them. In the next adjacent household on the same census page, William Belcher was enumerated as the head of household. William and his wife were both over the age of 45 years and we suspected they were Arthur's parents. We did not find Arthur enumerated in any other census after 1840, and believe he died before 1850.

We needed earlier information about Arthur's life, and the Bureau of Land Management’s land patent information sent us down another road of exciting research. We learned that not just Arthur, but some of the other Belchers, had also purchased land patents in Indiana about the same time and location. The Belcher brothers’ father, John Belcher Sr., purchased 80 acres in Orange County on 5 August 1837; his fourth son, Berry, purchased 40 acres in Orange County on 1 September 1838; and his fifth son, John Jr., purchased 40 acres in Orange County on 1 August 1839, the same date Arthur purchased 40 acres on the border between Crawford County and Orange County.

We had known, since first discovering Arthur, that he was not a sixth brother of our five Belcher brothers. After completing our research of their land patent purchases, we began to realize that, although not brothers, they were likely related. Our “original” Belcher family began in Tennessee with John Belcher and his wife Martha Johnston, who moved with their five sons, James, Jesse, Joseph, Berry and John, and possibly daughters, to Orange County, Indiana. If there had been another son, Arthur, he would have to have died before 01 August 1839 when the four oldest sons of John Sr., disposed of their shares in their deceased father's property in Orange County by selling it to their youngest brother, John Jr. And we already knew that Arthur was living in 1840 when he was enumerated on that year’s census. So, if Arthur was not a fifth brother of our original Belcher family, who was he?

It was important to remind ourselves that our research objective was to determine the identities of Mary Ann and Catharine Belcher who were enumerated without their parents on the 1850 census in the household of William Hollen in Patoka, Crawford County, Indiana.

So far, our most significant find was Catharine (Belcher) Trusty's death certificate reporting that her father's name was Arthur Belcher. Lacking any information to the contrary, we decided to believe it. Her mother’s surname may have been Pigg, as reported on her death certificate, and her full name even Elizabeth Pigg, as surmised on Catharine's Find a Grave memorial page. Not knowing her mother, though, would have to wait; we felt confident in our conclusion that Arthur Belcher was Catharine's father. So far, so good; however we still had found no evidence that Catharine and Mary Ann were sisters or why they would have been living with the William Hollen family in 1850.

Mary Ann, we learned, married Almarine Moore in 1851, and Almarine’s brother, Harral Moore, married Julia Ann Belcher in a double ceremony on the same date. Their marriage was the first time we had any evidence of a Julie Ann Belcher, and wondered if this was a case of brothers marrying sisters? And, if so, where was Julia Ann in 1850? We have not been able to find her anywhere! We knew this was going to take some thinking, as well as additional research. Then, when we learned that Jesse Belcher married Harral and Almarine’s sister, Mary Ann Moore, less than two months after Mary Ann and Julia Ann Belcher married the Moore brothers, our head exploded! To review… Jesse Belcher was Berry Belcher’s son. Jesse was enumerated in the home of his sister, Martha Jane, and her husband, Nathan Hollen, in 1850. Nathan’s father, William Hollen, was enumerated in 1850 one household above his son Nathan, and it was in Willam Hollen’s household that Mary Ann and Catharine Belcher were enumerated in 1850.

We don’t believe in coincidences. Mary Ann Belcher was born about 1834; Julia Ann Belcher was born about 1836; and Catharine Belcher was born in 1838. Mary Ann and Catharine were enumerated together, and we believe they were sisters. Catharine was a daughter of Arthur Belcher, so therefore we believe Mary Ann was also a daughter of Arthur Belcher. We cannot find Julia Ann Belcher anywhere on the 1850 census and believe she was likely also residing, with Mary Ann and Catharine, in the William Hollen household in 1850. We believe she was simply skipped by the census taker. She named her second son Arthur -- also likely not a coincidence. She was married in a double ceremony with Mary Ann, and we believe they were sisters who married brothers. We therefore believe that Mary Ann, Julia Ann and Catharine Belcher were all three sisters and, in 1850, the orphaned daughters of Arthur Belcher.

Okay, fine… But why were they living in the household of William Hollen?... To try to answer that question, we had to find out more about who Willam Hollen was. We learned he had been born in Tennessee, and we actually laughed out loud when we learned that his parents were Nathan Hollen and Elizabeth Belcher. So, there was an earlier connection between the Belcher and Hollen families. We just had to sort out how that early connection evolved into the families' later relationships. We had our original Belcher brothers, whose father was John Sr; we had Arthur Belcher, whose father we had decided was William Belcher; and we thought that John Sr. and William were brothers. Neither John Sr., nor any of his sons, named a son Arthur, while John Sr.’s brother, William Belcher, did name a son Arthur. Nathan and Elizabeth (Belcher) Hollen named a son Arthur, and was therefore likely to be more closely related to William Belcher than to John Sr. So, how was Elizabeth Belcher related to William Belcher? We believe she was Arthur's sister, about 10 years his senior, and possibly William Belcher’s eldest child. She would therefore have been an aunt to Arthur’s daughters, Mary Ann, Julia Ann and Catharine Becher. On the Hollen side, Nathan Hollen married Elizabeth Belcher and their son, William Hollen, was therefore Arthur Belcher’s nephew. And, it was in William Hollen’s household that the Belcher girls were enumerated in 1850. So, if Elizabeth (Belcher) Hollen was an aunt to Mary Ann, Julia Ann and Catharine Belcher, as we believe, it all makes perfect sense. The orphaned Belcher girls were enumerated in 1850 in the home of their 1st cousin, William Hollen, who had children the same ages as the Belcher girls.

Most importantly, at least to us anyway, is that we believe we've finally solved our serious Belcher girls Brick Wall: Mary Ann Belcher, Julia Ann Belcher, and Catharine Belcher were daughters of Arthur Belcher who died between 1840 and 1850.

It was a long and twisting road and, as if all of that wasn't enough to make us crazy... William Hollen had at least three brothers, Markham Hollen, Arthur Hollen and Mitchell Hollen, who married Minerva (Belcher) Belcher, Polly Belcher and Elizabeth Belcher, respectively. William's brother, Markham, married, as his second wife in 1853, Minerva (Belcher) Belcher, eldest daughter of the second Belcher brother, Jesse. Minerva's first husband had also been a Belcher, and she became a widow with four young children when he died before 1850. It concerns us a great deal that we have not been able to learn the given name, or Belcher family connection, of Minerva's first husband, and would greatly appreciate hearing from someone who knows. And, there are other Belcher family members we wonder about. William Hollen's brother, another Arthur, married Polly Belcher in 1835, and their brother, Mitchell, married Elizabeth Belcher in 1836. Additionally, we think that the Moses Belcher who married Eliza Belcher in 1835 was a son of William Belcher, and a brother of Arthur Belcher and Elizabeth (Belcher) Hollen, William Hollen's mother. Unfortunately, we have no idea which Belcher family, or families, Minerva's husband, or Polly, Elizabeth and Eliza belong with, and are hoping that someone reading this knows , and will tell us... Please...^{6,2,7,8,9,10,11,12,13,14,15,16,17,18,19,20,21,22,23,24,25,26,27,28,29,30,31,32,33,34,35,36,37,38,39,40,41,42,43,44,45,46}

Birth*

1798

Jesse Belcher was born about 1798 in Tennessee.⁴⁷

Marriage*

12 August 1819

He married Sarah Kellems on 12 August 1819 in Crawford County, Indiana.^1,48

(2nd Son) Land Records

1 August 1839

Census US 1850*

21 August 1850

Sarah and Jesse Belcher were enumerated on the 1850 census taken on 21 August 1850 in Patoka, Crawford County, Indiana. Jesse was 52 years of age and a farmer, and Sarah was age 48. Neither was able to read or write. Six of their children were enumerated with them in 1850. Martin and Enoch, whose ages were 17 and 15 years, respectively, had both been born in Illinois and worked as farmers, probably with their father; the younger boys, John, James F., George W. and William H. were ages 12, 8, 8 and 7 years, respectively, and had all been born in Orange County, Indiana. The couple's widowed daughter, Minerva (Belcher) Belcher, was enumerated with her four children in the household of Marcum Hollen, whom she would marry in 1853.^47,49

Census US 1860*

14 June 1860

Sarah and Jesse Belcher were enumerated on the 1860 census taken on 14 June 1860 near the Hudsonville Post Office, Harrison, Daviess County, Indiana. Jesse was 62 years of age and a farmer with a personal estate valued at $200, and Sarah was 48 years of age. Neither Jesse nor Sarah was able to read or write. The couple's four youngest children were enumerated with them in 1860. John was 21 years of age and not able to read or write; the twins, George and James, were age 19, and only George was recorded as having attended school within the census year; and William was age 16 and, like his brother George, had attended school within the census year. The couple's son, Martin Belcher, was enumerated in 1860 with his wife and young daughters in the next household on the same census page as his parents.⁵⁰

Family		Sarah Kellems b. 1802
Children	1.	Minerva Belcher+^1,51 b. 1824, d. 9 Jul 1907
	2.	Martin Belcher⁴⁷ b. 1833
	3.	Enoch Belcher⁴⁷ b. 1835
	4.	John Belcher⁴⁷ b. 1838
	5.	James F. Belcher⁴⁷ b. 1842
	6.	George W. Belcher⁴⁷ b. 1842
	7.	William H. Belcher⁴⁷ b. 1843

Citations

[S1571] Indiana, U.S., Death Certificates, 1899-2017, online at www.ancestry.com, death on 9 July 1907 in Sterling, Crawford County, Indiana, USA, of Manervia Holland, age 86, Widow of Marcum Holland, born about 1822 to Jessie Belcher and Sarah Kellems in Tennyson, Warrick County, Indiana, referencing Indiana Archives and Records Administration; Indianapolis, IN, USA; Death Certificates; Year: 1907; Roll: 03. Hereinafter cited as Indiana, U.S., Death Certificates, 1899-2017.
[S2244] Family Search Ancestry Discovery Blog, online at https://www.familysearch.org/blog/en/… .Caution: This is a beautifully presented collection of "Person Pages" containing a variety of information about specific ancestors submitted by individual contributors -- often, unfortunately, with no sources. If the information we have chosen to pass along here is accurate, we are extremely grateful to the contributor(s) who have shared it. Without documentation, however, we researchers are always forced to question the validity of information. We hope what we have selected to include was originally obtained from family Bible records, or other reliable sources, and is accurate. Although, even when we have found contributed information to be unreliable, inaccurate or incomplete, we consider the information useful as possible clues as we research, citing the Belcher Heirs Deed, 1839, Orange County, Indiana, submitted by Jeannie Watts <e-mail address> with special thanks to Frankie Lu Eads of Princeton, Indiana who sent her a photocopy of the deed which we found attached in three files under Memories for Berry Belcher, online at https://www.familysearch.org/tree/person/memories/LTHD-H2Y. Hereinafter cited as Family Search Ancestry Discovery Blog.
[S748] Find a Grave website, which often provides cemetery and tombstone photos, and sometimes personal biographies, that may be obtained from the site, online at www.findagrave.com, John T. Belcher Sr., Memorial# 63963602. Hereinafter cited as Find a Grave website.
[S748] Find a Grave website, online at www.findagrave.com, Joseph Belcher, Memorial# 40043678.
[S1686] Virginia, U.S., Compiled Marriages, 1660-1800, online at www.ancestry.com, marriage of John Belcher and Martha Johnston on 25 October 1794 in Washington County, Virginia. Hereinafter cited as Virginia, U.S., Compiled Marriages, 1660-1800.
[S17] 1850 United States Federal Census, online at www.ancestry.com, household of William and Elizabeth Hollen, Year: 1850; Census Place: Patoka, Crawford, Indiana; Roll: 139; Page: 16b, image# 16 of 23. Hereinafter cited as 1850 United States Federal Census.
[S17] 1850 United States Federal Census, online at www.ancestry.com, household of Nancy Belcher, Year: 1850; Census Place: Jackson, Orange, Indiana; Roll: 163; Page: 399a.
[S2244] Family Search Ancestry Discovery Blog, online at https://www.familysearch.org/blog/en/…, viewed online at https://www.familysearch.org/tree/person/details/G6WH-L1P
[S16] 1830 United States Federal Census, online at www.ancestry.com, household of Joseph Belcher, Year: 1830; Census Place: Crawford, Illinois; Series: M19; Roll: 23; Page: 18; Family History Library Film: 0007648. Hereinafter cited as 1830 United States Federal Census.
[S748] Find a Grave website, online at www.findagrave.com, Berry Belcher, Memorial# 34936541.
[S17] 1850 United States Federal Census, online at www.ancestry.com, household of Berry and Mary Belcher, Year: 1850; Census Place: Patoka, Crawford, Indiana; Roll: 139; Page: 18b, image# 20 of 23.
[S2283] Indiana, U.S., Compiled Marriages, 1802-1892, online at www.ancestry.com, marriage on 14 December 1826 in Orange County, Indiana, USA, of John Belcher and Eunice Pitman, referencing FHL Film# 1316696. Hereinafter cited as Indiana, U.S., Compiled Marriages, 1802-1892.
[S16] 1830 United States Federal Census, online at www.ancestry.com, household of John Belcher, Junior, Year: 1830; Census Place: Orange, Indiana; Series: M19; Roll: 31; Page: 34; Family History Library Film: 0007720.
[S2294] Will of Lewis Pitman dated 20 March 1849 in Macoupin County, Illinois, submitted for probate on 7 April 1849; transcription originally shared on 28 December 2012 by WLawrence2182, and attached to an Ancestry Tree; viewed on 27 April 2022, online at https://www.ancestry.com/mediaui-viewer/tree/85867149/…. Hereinafter cited as Will of Lewis Pitman.
[S17] 1850 United States Federal Census, online at www.ancestry.com, household of Jesse and Sarah Belcher, Year: 1850; Census Place: Patoka, Crawford, Indiana; Roll: 139; Page: 13a, image# 9 of 23.
[S17] 1850 United States Federal Census, online at www.ancestry.com, household of Marcum Hollen, Year: 1850; Census Place: Patoka, Crawford, Indiana; Roll: 139; Page: 16b, image# 16 of 23.
[S17] 1850 United States Federal Census, online at www.ancestry.com, household of Nathan and Martha Jane Hollen, Year: 1850; Census Place: Patoka, Crawford, Indiana; Roll: 139; Page: 16b, image# 16 of 23.
[S487] 1840 United States Federal Census, online at www.ancestry.com, household of Joseph Belcher, Year: 1840; Census Place: Jersey, Illinois; Roll: 61; Page: 339; Family History Library Film: 0007642. Hereinafter cited as 1840 United States Federal Census.
[S17] 1850 United States Federal Census, online at www.ancestry.com, household of Joseph and Ruth Belcher, Year: 1850; Census Place: Point, Calhoun, Illinois; Roll: 99; Page: 335a.
[S1571] Indiana, U.S., Death Certificates, 1899-2017, online at www.ancestry.com, death on 20 November 1904 in Taswell, Crawford, Indiana, USA, of Catharine Trusty, transcribed by Ancestry as "Tensty", age 66, married to Lee Trusty, born 24 September 1838 to Arthur Belcher and ______ Pigg in Crawford Co, referencing Indiana Archives and Records Administration; Indianapolis, IN, USA; Death Certificates; Year: 1904; Roll: 03.
[S487] 1840 United States Federal Census, online at www.ancestry.com, household of Arthur Belcher, Year: 1840; Census Place: Jackson, Orange, Indiana; Roll: 89; Page: 29; Family History Library Film: 0007728.
[S16] 1830 United States Federal Census, online at www.ancestry.com, household of Arthur Belcher, his name spelled "Arter" by the census taker and transcribed as "Aster" by Ancestry, Year: 1830; Census Place: Orange, Indiana; Series: M19; Roll: 31; Page: 36; Family History Library Film: 0007720.
[S468] 1820 United States Federal Census, online at www.ancestry.com, household of Arthur Belcher, 1820 U S Census; Census Place: Warren, Tennessee; Page: 310; NARA Roll: M33_122; Image: 274. Hereinafter cited as 1820 United States Federal Census.
[S468] 1820 United States Federal Census, online at www.ancestry.com, household of William Belcher, 1820 U S Census; Census Place: Warren, Tennessee; Page: 310; NARA Roll: M33_122; Image: 274.
[S1585] Bureau of Land Management General Land Office Records (U.S. Department of the Interior), online at https://glorecords.blm.gov/search/default.aspx, land patent for 40 acres in Crawford County, Indiana, purchased by Arthur Belcher of Orange County, Indiana, on 1 August 1839 from the Land Office of the United States at Vincennes, Indiana; viewed 22 April 2022, online at https://glorecords.blm.gov/details/patent/default.aspx. Hereinafter cited as Bureau of Land Management General Land Office Records.
[S1585] Bureau of Land Management General Land Office Records, online at https://glorecords.blm.gov/search/default.aspx, land patent for 80 acres in Orange County, Indiana, purchased by John Belcher of Orange County, Indiana, on 5 August 1837 from the Land Office of the United States at Vincennes, Indiana; viewed 25 April 2022, online at https://glorecords.blm.gov/details/patent/default.aspx
[S1585] Bureau of Land Management General Land Office Records, online at https://glorecords.blm.gov/search/default.aspx, land patent for 40 acres in Orange County, Indiana, purchased by Berry Belcher of Orange County, Indiana, on 1 September 1838 from the Land Office of the United States at Vincennes, Indiana; viewed 25 April 2022, online at https://glorecords.blm.gov/details/patent/default.aspx
[S1585] Bureau of Land Management General Land Office Records, online at https://glorecords.blm.gov/search/default.aspx, land patent for 40 acres in Orange County, Indiana, purchased by John Belcher of Orange County, Indiana, on 1 August 1839 from the Land Office of the United States at Vincennes, Indiana; viewed 25 April 2022, online at https://glorecords.blm.gov/details/patent/default.aspx
[S748] Find a Grave website, online at www.findagrave.com, Catharine (Belcher) Trusty, Memorial# 204517313.
[S1501] Indiana Marriages, 1811-2019, database with images, online at www.familysearch.org. Digital collection of microfilmed records located at the Wayne County Courthouse, Richmond, Indiana. Includes surname indexes, marriage licenses were issued on 11 November 1851 by the Circuit Court in Paoli, Orange County for Harral Moore to marry Julia Ann Belcher and for Almarine Moore to marry Mary Ann Belcher, viewed online at https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:33S7-9TMC-9X9F. Hereinafter cited as Indiana Marriages, 1811-2019.
[S1501] Indiana Marriages, 1811-2019, online at www.familysearch.org, marriage on 12 November 1851 in Orange County of Almarine Moore and Mary Ann Belcher and also of Harral Moore and Julia Ann Belcher, viewed online at https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:33S7-9TMC-9X9F
[S1444] Indiana, U.S., Marriage Index, 1800-1941, online at www.ancestry.com, marriage on 12 November 1851 in Orange County of Mary Ann Belcher and Almarine Moore, referencing Orange County, Indiana, original record located in the County Clerk's Office in Paoli, Indiana; Book: C- 3; Page: 389. Hereinafter cited as Indiana, U.S., Marriage Index, 1800-1941.
[S1501] Indiana Marriages, 1811-2019, online at www.familysearch.org, marriage on 12 November 1851 in Orange County of Harral Moore and Julia Ann Belcher and also of Almarine Moore and Mary Ann Belcher, viewed online at https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:33S7-9TMC-9X9F
[S1444] Indiana, U.S., Marriage Index, 1800-1941, online at www.ancestry.com, marriage on 12 November 1851 in Orange County of Julia Ann Belcher and Harral Moore, referencing Orange County, Indiana, original record located in the County Clerk's Office in Paoli, Indiana; Book: C- 3; Page: 389.
[S1501] Indiana Marriages, 1811-2019, online at www.familysearch.org, marriage on 8 January 1852 in Crawford County of Jesse Belcher and Mary Ann Moore, certifier's name: C. W. Kindle; officiator's name: J. H. McMickle, viewed online at https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:DV77-GZ6Z
[S1444] Indiana, U.S., Marriage Index, 1800-1941, online at www.ancestry.com, marriage on 8 January 1852 in Crawford County of Mary Ann Moore and Jesse Belcher, his given name transcribed as "Isaac" by Ancestry, referencing Crawford County Indiana Marriages, 1818 - 1880, Books A - D, contents: Part I, Index of Grooms, Part II, Index of Brides, Compiled by Ruth M Slevin; Book: B; Page: 148.
[S748] Find a Grave website, online at www.findagrave.com, Mary Ann (Moore) Belcher, Memorial# 232116375.
[S37] 1870 United States Federal Census, online at www.ancestry.com, household of Harold and Julia Moore, Year: 1870; Census Place: Madison, Pike, Indiana; Roll: M593_350; Page: 502B. Hereinafter cited as 1870 United States Federal Census.
[S2244] Family Search Ancestry Discovery Blog, online at https://www.familysearch.org/blog/en/…, viewed online at https://www.familysearch.org/tree/person/details/KGCK-1WC
[S2244] Family Search Ancestry Discovery Blog, online at https://www.familysearch.org/blog/en/…, viewed online at https://www.familysearch.org/tree/person/details/KP3F-CTV
[S2244] Family Search Ancestry Discovery Blog, online at https://www.familysearch.org/blog/en/…, viewed online at https://www.familysearch.org/tree/person/details/KP3F-C5V
[S2244] Family Search Ancestry Discovery Blog, online at https://www.familysearch.org/blog/en/…, viewed online at https://www.familysearch.org/tree/person/details/KP3F-CC1
[S1444] Indiana, U.S., Marriage Index, 1800-1941, online at www.ancestry.com, marriage on 2 October 1853 in Orange County, of Markham Holland and Minerva Belcher, referencing Orange County, Indiana.
[S1501] Indiana Marriages, 1811-2019, online at www.familysearch.org, marriage license issued, and marriage performed by William C. Walls, Justice of the Peace, on 3 August 1835 in Orange County between Arthur Hollen and Polly Belcher; viewed online at https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:33S7-9TMC-96HZ
[S1501] Indiana Marriages, 1811-2019, online at www.familysearch.org, marriage license with written consent issued, and marriage performed by William C. Walls, Justice of the Peace, on 15 August 1836 in Orange County between Mitchell Hollen and Elizabeth Belcher; viewed online at https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:33SQ-GTMC-9867
[S1501] Indiana Marriages, 1811-2019, online at www.familysearch.org, marriage license issued, and marriage performed by William C. Walls, Justice of the Peace, on 9 July 1835 in Orange County between Moses Belcher, his father's consent verbally given, and Eliza Belcher, consent in writing; viewed online at https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:33S7-9TMC-96HZ
[S17] 1850 United States Federal Census, online at www.ancestry.com, household of Jesse and Sarah Belcher, Year: 1850; Census Place: Patoka, Crawford, Indiana; Roll: 139; Page: 13a.
[S2283] Indiana, U.S., Compiled Marriages, 1802-1892, online at www.ancestry.com, marriage on 12 August 1819 in Crawford County, Indiana, USA, of Sarah Kellems and Jesse Belcher, referencing FHL Film# 1377775.
[S17] 1850 United States Federal Census, online at www.ancestry.com, household of Marcum Hollen, Year: 1850; Census Place: Patoka, Crawford, Indiana; Roll: 139; Page: 16b.
[S18] 1860 United States Federal Census, online at www.ancestry.com, household of Jesse and Sarah Belcher, Year: 1860; Census Place: Harrison, Daviess, Indiana; Roll: M653_251; Page: 602; Family History Library Film: 803251. Hereinafter cited as 1860 United States Federal Census.
[S748] Find a Grave website, online at www.findagrave.com, Minerva (Belcher) Hollen, Memorial# 181337511.

Jesse Belcher¹

b. June 1830, d. 1908

Family

Father*

Berry Belcher^2,3 b. 22 Sep 1803, d. 9 Mar 1885

Mother*

Jane Trimble^2,3 d. 1837

(2nd Son) Census US 1830

1830

Jesse was probably enumerated with his mother and siblings on the 1830 census in the household of his father in Lawrence County, Illinois. He would have been recorded as the one male under the age of 5 years.⁴

Birth*

June 1830

Jesse Belcher was born in June 1830 in Orange County, Indiana.¹

(Son) Death

1837

He was less than 7 years old when his mother died about 1837, leaving Jesse's father with five young children.²

(Son) Marriage

8 February 1838

He was age 7 when his father married a second time to Mary Trusty on 8 February 1838.^5,6,2

(2nd Son) Census US 1840

1840

Jesse was probably enumerated on the 1840 census in the household of his father and stepmother in Jackson Township, Orange County, Indiana. He would have been recorded as the one male between the ages of 10 thru 14, and was likely employed in agriculture with his father and brother.⁷

(Brother-in-Law) Census US 1850

26 August 1850

Jesse was enumerated on the 1850 census taken on 26 August 1850 in the household of his sister and brother-in-law, Martha Jane and Nathan Hollen, in Patoka, Crawford County, Indiana. Jesse was 19 years old and worked as a farmer.³

Marriage*

8 January 1852

He married first Mary Ann Moore, daughter of Jeremiah Moore, on 8 January 1852 in Crawford County, Indiana. Jesse was 21 years of age and Mary Ann was about age 17.^8,9,10

(Husband) Death

before 1874

Jesse became a widower when Mary Ann (Moore) Belcher died before 1874.^1,8

Marriage*

1874

He married second, as her first husband, Matilda Frances Parke, daughter of Levi Parke and Emaline Brown, about 1874.^1,11

Death*

1908

He died about 1908 in Crawford County, Indiana, at about age 78¹

Burial*

and was buried in Highfill Chapel Cemetery, Taswell, Crawford County.¹

Family 1

Mary Ann Moore b. 1835, d. b 1874

Family 2

Matilda Frances Parke b. 17 Dec 1854, d. 20 Sep 1929

Citations

[S748] Find a Grave website, which often provides cemetery and tombstone photos, and sometimes personal biographies, that may be obtained from the site, online at www.findagrave.com, Jesse Belcher, Memorial# 192893029. Hereinafter cited as Find a Grave website.
[S748] Find a Grave website, online at www.findagrave.com, Berry Belcher, Memorial# 34936541.
[S17] 1850 United States Federal Census, online at www.ancestry.com, household of Nathan and Martha Jane Hollen, Year: 1850; Census Place: Patoka, Crawford, Indiana; Roll: 139; Page: 16b. Hereinafter cited as 1850 United States Federal Census.
[S16] 1830 United States Federal Census, online at www.ancestry.com, household of Berry Belcher, transcribed by Ancestry as "Benj Burke", Year: 1830; Census Place: Lawrence, Illinois; Series: M19; Roll: 25; Page: 267; Family History Library Film: 0007650. Hereinafter cited as 1830 United States Federal Census.
[S1444] Indiana, U.S., Marriage Index, 1800-1941, online at www.ancestry.com, marriage on 8 February 1838 in Orange County of Berry Belcher and Mary Trusty, referencing Orange County, Indiana, original record located in the County Clerk's Office in Paoli, Indiana, Book C-2, page 84. Hereinafter cited as Indiana, U.S., Marriage Index, 1800-1941.
[S748] Find a Grave website, online at www.findagrave.com, Mary Ann (Trusty) Belcher, Memorial# 93495742.
[S487] 1840 United States Federal Census, online at www.ancestry.com, household of Berry Belcher, Year: 1840; Census Place: Jackson, Orange, Indiana; Roll: 89; Page: 29; Family History Library Film: 0007728. Hereinafter cited as 1840 United States Federal Census.
[S748] Find a Grave website, online at www.findagrave.com, Mary Ann (Moore) Belcher, Memorial# 232116375.
[S1501] Indiana Marriages, 1811-2019, database with images, online at www.familysearch.org. Digital collection of microfilmed records located at the Wayne County Courthouse, Richmond, Indiana. Includes surname indexes, marriage on 8 January 1852 in Crawford County of Jesse Belcher and Mary Ann Moore, certifier's name: C. W. Kindle; officiator's name: J. H. McMickle, viewed online at https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:DV77-GZ6Z. Hereinafter cited as Indiana Marriages, 1811-2019.
[S1444] Indiana, U.S., Marriage Index, 1800-1941, online at www.ancestry.com, marriage on 8 January 1852 in Crawford County of Mary Ann Moore and Jesse Belcher, his given name transcribed as "Isaac" by Ancestry, referencing Crawford County Indiana Marriages, 1818 - 1880, Books A - D, contents: Part I, Index of Grooms, Part II, Index of Brides, Compiled by Ruth M Slevin; Book: B; Page: 148.
[S748] Find a Grave website, online at www.findagrave.com, Matilda Frances (Parke) Trusty, Memorial# 176608335.

Jesse F. Belcher^1,2,3

b. 1846

Family

Father*

Berry Belcher^1,3 b. 22 Sep 1803, d. 9 Mar 1885

Mother*

Mary Ann Trusty^1,2 b. 1 Feb 1819, d. 9 Jan 1892

Birth*

1846

Jesse F. Belcher was born about 1846 in Crawford County, Indiana.¹

(Son) Census US 1850

27 August 1850

Jesse was enumerated on the 1850 census taken on 27 August 1850 in the household of his parents in Patoka Township, Crawford County, Indiana. He was 4 years old.¹

Citations

[S17] 1850 United States Federal Census, online at www.ancestry.com, household of Berry and Mary Belcher, Year: 1850; Census Place: Patoka, Crawford, Indiana; Roll: 139; Page: 18b. Hereinafter cited as 1850 United States Federal Census.
[S748] Find a Grave website, which often provides cemetery and tombstone photos, and sometimes personal biographies, that may be obtained from the site, online at www.findagrave.com, Mary Ann (Trusty) Belcher, Memorial# 93495742. Hereinafter cited as Find a Grave website.
[S748] Find a Grave website, online at www.findagrave.com, Berry Belcher, Memorial# 34936541.

John Belcher¹

b. 1838

Family

Father*

Jesse Belcher¹ b. 1798

Mother*

Sarah Kellems¹ b. 1802

Birth*

1838

John Belcher was born in 1838 in Orange County, Indiana.¹

(Son) Census US 1850

21 August 1850

John was enumerated on the 1850 census taken on 21 August 1850 in the household of his parents in Patoka, Crawford County, Indiana. He was 12 years old.^1,2

(Son) Census US 1860

14 June 1860

John was enumerated on the 1860 census taken on 14 June 1860 in the household of his parents near the Hudsonville Post Office, Harrison, Daviess County, Indiana. He was 21 years of age and unable to read or write.³

Citations

[S17] 1850 United States Federal Census, online at www.ancestry.com, household of Jesse and Sarah Belcher, Year: 1850; Census Place: Patoka, Crawford, Indiana; Roll: 139; Page: 13a. Hereinafter cited as 1850 United States Federal Census.
[S17] 1850 United States Federal Census, online at www.ancestry.com, household of Marcum Hollen, Year: 1850; Census Place: Patoka, Crawford, Indiana; Roll: 139; Page: 16b.
[S18] 1860 United States Federal Census, online at www.ancestry.com, household of Jesse and Sarah Belcher, Year: 1860; Census Place: Harrison, Daviess, Indiana; Roll: M653_251; Page: 602; Family History Library Film: 803251. Hereinafter cited as 1860 United States Federal Census.

John Belcher¹

b. 26 October 1819, d. 8 March 1901

Family

Father*

James Belcher¹ b. 1796, d. May 1842

Mother*

Nancy Bolling¹ b. 1802

Birth*

26 October 1819

John Belcher was born on 26 October 1819 in Crawford County, Indiana.^1,2

Marriage*

26 April 1838

He married Abigail Sinclair, daughter of George Washington Sinclair and Rachel Elizabeth Sharp, on 26 April 1838 in Orange County, Indiana.^3,2

(Husband) Death

28 January 1891

John became a widower when Abigail (Sinclair) Belcher died on 28 January 1891 at age 69.³

Death*

8 March 1901

He died on 8 March 1901 in Patoka, Crawford County, Indiana, at age 81^1,2

Burial*

and was buried with his wife in Section 1, Row 10, of Highfill Chapel Cemetery, Taswell, Crawford County.^2,3

Family

Abigail Sinclair b. 7 Feb 1821, d. 28 Jan 1891

Citations

[S1571] Indiana, U.S., Death Certificates, 1899-2017, online at www.ancestry.com, death on 8 March 1901 in Patoka, Crawford County, Indiana, USA, of John Belcher, age 81, 4 months and 10 days, widow, farmer, born about 1820 to James Belcher and Nancy Bowling in Crawford County, referencing Indiana Archives and Records Administration; Indianapolis, IN, USA; Death Certificates; Year: 1901; Roll: 03. Hereinafter cited as Indiana, U.S., Death Certificates, 1899-2017.
[S748] Find a Grave website, which often provides cemetery and tombstone photos, and sometimes personal biographies, that may be obtained from the site, online at www.findagrave.com, John Belcher, Memorial# 34874627. Hereinafter cited as Find a Grave website.
[S748] Find a Grave website, online at www.findagrave.com, Abigail (Sinclair) Belcher, Memorial# 34874833.