Person:Robert Burchfield (1)

Robert apparently moved to Fredrick County early and became a fairly large land owner. In 1742, 50 acres was patented to him. It was called Robett's Purchase. He probably had already been living on this land. It usually took several years to get land patents settled. Seven years later another 50 acres was patented to Robert. It was called Crooked Piece. In 1759, Robert was patented more land. This time it was 190 acres named Robert's Care. The last piece of land known to belong to Robert was 51 acres named Long Meadow.

On March 3, 1769, Robert sold to Charles Wells the 51 acre parcel known as Long Meadow with the consent of his second wife.

Robert probably moved to North Carolina in the summer of 1772. On May 19, 1772, Robert sold all of their interests in land holdings in Fredrick County, Maryland to Jacob Crumbacker for 500 Pounds current money. In those days it was a considerable fortune. Robert moved his entire family into Burke County, NC where he took up quite a bit of land. The first grant, on March 17, 1778, was for 350 acres on Issac Creek of south side of Catawba River 1/2 mile from main river including improvements already there. A few months later on August 28, 1778, he obtained 290 acres joining his earlier acquired track. This second parvel extended on up Issac Creek. In the Burke County land records there is also a note on page 366 between entries #1113 and #1114 for 150 acres of land on Earnest branch. There is not date or any other information recorded about this parcel of land. One of his neighboring land owners was Joshua Sherrell. His neighbor on the opposite side of the Catawba River was John Forsith.

Revolutionary War applications for pensions of both Robert Jr. and Meshack state that their father, Robert Sr., was killed by Indians in Burke County, North Carolina, early in 1783. The next mention of Robert Sr., is when his son, Robert Jr. sells the 350 acre track to Frances Cuningham, July 12, 1784. By that time the area where the land was located had changed over from burke County to Lincoln County. The last mention of Robert Sr. in surviving Bourke County records is in the July 1802 Court Minutes of Wills, Estates and Orphans where Nicholas Trosper was appointed administrator to settle the estate of Robert and Elizabeth (both) deceased.