Evening Republican, Volume 15, Number 5, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 6 January 1911 — A Comer in Ancestors [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

A Comer in Ancestors

By ELEANOR LEXINGTON

Belcher Family (Copyright by McClure Syndicate)

Belcher is perhaps the old French for bel chere—good company. Bon compagnon, or Goodfellow, would then be another form. Chaucer has It: “For cozynage and ekk for bele cheer.” Kingswood, Wiltshire, England, has been a seat of the Belcher family for centuries. One of the distinguished members was Sir Edward Belcher, explorer. Robert Belcher is the first of whom we have any record, and he was born no longer ago than the sixteenth century, at Kingswood. He had Thpmas of London, who married Anne, daughter of Andrew Solme, also of London. Their marriage took place in the month of roses, June, then as now

the ideal month for brides. The exact date was June 29, 1613. It was their son Andrew, who was one of the founders of the Belcher family in the United States. He came to New England, and was one of Sudbury’s original settlers. October 1, 1639, he married i Elizabeth, daughter of Nicholas Danforth of Cambridge, Mass. Over a dozen years later we find that he was licensed to keep “a house of publique entertainment at Cambridge.” This was

* ]■' Wrapt,.' ■ aSwßsl the first license for an Inn at Cambridge, and it was the original “Bins Anchor Tavern.” Its site was at the northeast corner of Brighton and Iftr Auburn streets. Andrew died 1673, and his wife. June 26, 1680. Their son Andrew, born January 11, 1647, married Sarah, daughter of Jonathan Gilbert, July j, 1670, and their son wav Gov. Jonathan Belcher, whose wife was Mary : Partridge. Gregory Belcher is another patriarch. He was born lh Braintree, England, and became one of the founders of Braintree, Mass., which was thus named after the old English town. He and his wife Catherine came over, 1632. Eight years later he was a freeman, and held Important local offices. He became a large land owner, and died 1674. -His son Samuel married Mary Billings of Dorchester. Their son Moses of Milton, Mass., was born 1672 and died at Preston, Conn., 1728. He was one of the pillars of the Preston church, a deacon, and ho was also a member of the general assembly of Connecticut, 1721. His wife was Hannah Lyon. Their son William, also of Preston, married Mehitable Stearns. Their son William was member of the general assembly, and therefore his record is worth looking up carefully. His wife was Desire Morgan. William was commissioned captain, and served his country In the Revolution. His son, also named William, kept up the fam’liy’s jnartial record, and shouldered 1 his musket In the war of 1812, with the rank df lieutenant-colonel. In 1828 he was member of the Massachusetts legislature and town clerk. Could any one ask for a better branch for a family tree? His wife was Sally Wilson of Preston. Their son, Nathan, also kept things going. He was congressman, senator, member of the legislature, and he was also brave enough to embark upon the matrimonial sea, taking to wife Ann, or Anne, daughter of Maj. Increase Wilson, who won bis laurels In the war of 1812, and was fifth in descent from Thomas Wilson, born In England, who was an immigrant of 1633. All who trace back to the pilgrim, Andrew Belcher, are entitled to the Illustrated coat-of-anos which is blazoned: Paly of six, or (gold), and gules (red), a chief vair. Crest, a greyhound’s head erased (1. e„ not “couped,” or cut off, but torn off), ermine. Motto, Loyal Au Mort—Loyal even to the death.