Person:Joseph Burch (24)

    Joseph Burch was born about 1758, in Georgia.  Edward Burch (born about 1764, in Georgia or South Carolina) and his brother Charles Burch (born about 1753, in Georgia)  were reported as cousins of Joseph Burch, but were most likely brothers.  Edward (and presumably his brothers Charles and Joseph) lived in Georgia or South Carolina, prior to the American Revolutionary War.  During the Revolutionary War, Edward Burch served with General Francis Marion’s Brigade, in South Carolina, which opposed the British forces.  In 1782, Edward Burch and Charles Burch served in the Burke County Militia, in Georgia.  Joseph Burch’s first wife was Eda (or Edith) Hargrove (born in Georgia) and their first child was Charles Burch, born about 1778, in South Carolina.

 In February 1788, Joseph obtained a head right grant for 150 acres of land, and another head right grant for 100 acres of land, in Richmond County, Georgia.  “On his [Joseph Burch] own and wifes head rights to be laid out on the waters of McBean” was recorded on the head right grant for 150 acres of land, dated February 4?, 1788.  This land was located next to property owned by Charles Burch.  Joseph Burch and Charles Burch were cousins.  The Richmond County land records document a June 8, 1792 deed, selling 100 acres of land to Charles Burch, from Joseph and Eda Burch.
 
   In 1792, Joseph Burch served in Captain James Harris’ company of the Richmond County Militia.

   On February 6, 1792, Joseph obtained a head right grant for 250 acres of land in Richmond County.  These land grants were in addition to other land Joseph bought and sold in Richmond County.  In 1795, Joseph resided in Captain Knowland’s District, in Richmond County.  At the time, Joseph owned 200 acres of pine land, valued at 10 pounds.  The tax paid on this land was 7 pence.  Eda (Hargrove) Burch died in 1796.  Joseph then married ? Gillie or ? Wilcox.  The last recorded land deed in Richmond County for Joseph Burch was on December 29, 1801, between himself and John Kelly.  On November 2, 1801, Joseph obtained a head right grant for 1,000 acres of land in Montgomery County, Georgia.  The 1805 and 1806 tax records of the 51st District of Montgomery County record that Joseph owned 1,260 acres of land.  This land included 100 acres of swamp land, and 1,160 acres of pine land.  In modern times, the 51st District is part of Toombs County, Georgia, in the vicinity of Vidalia.

   In 1805, he drew two lots for the Georgia land lottery, but drew blanks.  Since only a certain number of land lots were available, blank draws were added to accommodate the actual number of persons drawing for lots.  In the 1807 Georgia land lottery, Joseph successfully drew lot 69, for 202 acres, in District 11,in then Baldwin County (present-day Jones County), Georgia.  The land was granted on January 1, 1808.  This was Joseph Burch’s only land lottery grant, since one win was allowed per person.  He was not eligible for any other Georgia land lotteries.  On March 25, 1811, Joseph sold land lot 69 to James Rushing, for $500.   
   On December 14, 1811, Joseph Burch bought land lot 242, 202 acres of land, from Esau Bass for $400.  Joseph Burch and Esau Bass both resided in Montgomery County, Georgia.  This land was located in Laurens County (originally the 1st District of Wilkinson County), Georgia.  On July 15, 1813, Joseph sold land lot 242 to Amos Love for $600.  On the same day, Joseph  bought 240 acres of land, from Amos Love for $600.  This land was located in Laurens County (originally the 2nd District of Wilkinson County).  This property included 200 acres of land lot 118, except for the site of Poplar Springs Church which contained 2 ½ acres.  Also included was 40 acres of land lot 113.  On March 16, 1815, Joseph sold this property to Leavin Adams for $600.    
   On July 10, 1813, Joseph Burch and his wife became members of Poplar Springs Church (now called Poplar Springs North Baptist Church).  They were accepted as members by letter.  Poplar Springs Church was founded in 1807, and is located between the fork of the Oconee River and Turkey Creek, in northern Laurens County, Georgia. Joseph and his wife were members until they requested letters of dismissal in December 1814.

On October 15, 1816, a jury in Laurens County, Georgia, ruled that Joseph Burch owed $29.50 to the estate of John Price. Joseph Burch could not write. He used an mark “IB” as his signature.

    Joseph Burch was killed by Creek Indians on March 3, 1818, near present-day Oscewichee Springs, in Wilcox County, Georgia.

1. ↑ 1880 United States Census, Georgia, Laurens County, enumeration district 64, page 542B.

   In the 1880 United States Census, Georgia, Laurens County, enumeration district 64, page 542B, Alfred Burch (1811-1894), a son of Joseph Burch (1758-1818) and his (2nd) wife Gilley Wilcox, identified “Georgia”, as the birthplace of his parents.