Dodge County GaArchives Biographies.....Burch, Joseph unknown - March 3 1818
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Joy Fisher http://www.genrecords.net/emailregistry/vols/00001.html#0000031 December 28, 2004, 10:34 pm

Author: MRS. WILTON PHILIP COBB
The Burch Family.

  The Burch family is one of the largest families in this section, being
scattered over the counties of Dodge, Telfair and Laurens. This family is
descended from Joseph Burch, who came from England and settled first in Richmond
County, near Augusta, later moving to Montgomery County, thence to Telfair
County, which was Wilkinson at that time. He settled at China Hill, near the
Ocmulgee River. The Indians occupied the land across the river. Mr. Burch often
went across the river and mingled with the Indians, being on friendly terms with
them. It was on one of these occasions that he met his death at the hands of the
Indians. He and a son, Littleton, had gone across the river and were erecting a
camp house at the spot where Bowen's Mill is now located. On the night of March
3, 1818, they were fired upon by a band of Indians, Mr. Burch being killed
instantly. The son, Littleton, was wounded, and the Indians scalped him, leaving
him for dead. He revived, however, and swam across the river, going to the home
of Mr. John Willcox, near Temperance, where he was cared for until he was able
to get to his home. It was this brutal act of the Indians that precipitated a
skirmish between the whites and Indians. On March 9, 1818, 36 citizens of
Telfair County assembled and crossed over the river to seek redress. Some
distance from the river they discovered a party of 50 or 60 Indians advancing
within gunshot. Firing commenced by each party and was warmly kept up
three-fourths of an hour. A part of the detachment effected their retreat,
bringing off one badly wounded. Four white men were killed, among them being
Major Cathron, who was in command of the Telfair Militia. Four Indians were killed.

  Joseph Burch married a Miss Hargrove, of Richmond County, first, and after her
death married a Miss Gillie. He was the father of twelve children, but the
writer was not able to learn which wife was the mother of the children, neither
were we able to obtain the names of all the children. Hence we give only the
names of the ancestors of the families who came to this county. They are:
Alfred; Reuben F.; Benjamin.


Additional Comments:
From:

HISTORY
OF
DODGE COUNTY

COPYRIGHT    1932
By MRS. WILTON PHILIP COBB

Printed by
FOOTE & DAVIES CO., ATLANTA.





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