Benjamin Franklin Belcher

  General Notes:

The 1850 Federal Census for Franklin Co., Virginia, page 180B, dated Dec. 5, 1850 records Benjamin F. Belcher (sic) (30 - VA) living with his father, Francis Belcher (sic) (68 - VA). Also in the h ousehold is Eliza A. Belcher (sic) (11 - VA). Francis is a farmer with real estate valued at $300.

The 1860 Federal Census for South Western District, Franklin Co., Virginia, page 154, dated September 17, 1860 records Benj. F. Belcher (41 - VA) with his wife Jane Belcher (33 - VA) and children Chas. F. (10), Wm A. (7), Virginia A. (6), and Thos. J. (1). Benjamin is a farmer with real estate valued at $800 and a personal estate valued at $2,960 including 4 slaves. The 1860 Federal Census, Slave Schedule, for Franklin County, lists Benjamin F. Belcher as having 4 slaves, 2 under the age of 15 on his farm valued at $2,960.

U.S., Civil War Soldier Records and Profiles, 1861-1865
Name: Benjamin Franklin Belcher
Residence: Snow Creek, Virginia, Virginia
Occupation: Farmer
Age at Enlistment: 43
Enlistment Date: 20 Mar 1862
Rank at enlistment: Private
Enlistment Place: Snow Creek, Virginia
State Served: Virginia
Survived the War?: Yes
Service Record: Enlisted in Company C, Virginia 10th Cavalry Regiment on 20 Mar 1862.
Birth Date: 13 Sep 1817
Death Date: 15 Apr 1888
Sources: The Virginia Regimental Histories Series

The 1870 Federal Census, Franklin County, Snow Creek, page 451B records Benjamin F. (51) and Jane (42) Belcher with children Charles (20), William (17), Virginia (15), Thomas (10), Benjamin (3), and Sallie (3). It is of interest to note that there are 5 Benjamin Belchers listed in Snow Creek for the 1870 Federal Census. Year of birth for each: 1819, 1837, 1840, 1859, 1867. Also, the family is living next door to Benjamin and Julie Pinkard ... Julia and Jane are sisters.

The 1880 Federal Census, Franklin County, Snow Creek, District 189, page 192B records Benjamin F. (61) and Jane (56) Belcher with children Thomas J. (19), Benjamin (12), and Sally (12).

By 1910, Benjamin ("The Old Man") has passed away. His wife is recorded as a widow in the 1910 census (see notes on wife Janie Hunt Belcher).

The Belcher Home Place is located just south of Snow Creek on Rte 619 (on the west side of the road looking right heading south). [There is a long driveway and the grave yard in is the front of the house just over the hill from Rte 619.]

Benjamin married Janie "Jencie" Hunt, daughter of Charles T. Hunt and Margaret Craig, on 2 Apr 1849. (Janie "Jencie" Hunt was born on 26 Apr 1827 in Franklin Co., Virginia, died on 25 Jan 1916 in Snow Creek, Franklin Co., VA. and was buried in Belcher Cemetery, Snow Creek, Franklin Co., Va..)