Francis Welchel (Whelchel), Jr.
(1754-1816)
By Frances Asbury Huggins (Mrs. L.T.) Bugg

"Pennsylvanis German Pioneers", volume II by Strassburger, Hinke, lists a Frantz
Welchel as a passenger among others arriving in Philadelphia Harbor on "Snow
Betsie", August 27, 1739.  The Captain, in a sworn statement, said that the
passengers were from the Palatine States, the boat out of Rotterdam by way of
Deal, England.

  One family researcher is said to have traced this Francis Welchel to Bavaria,
Germany, but how authentic this information is, is not known.  However, the
older generations in America are said to have spoken guttural German.

  The earliest records are to be found in Virginia.  There were deed 
transactions in Spotsylvania Co., Va., and later in Albemarle Co. where Francis
Welchel was granted 312 acres by George the III of England in 1762.

  Here he married Anne Stockton in 1752 and they became the parents of eight
children, four sons and four daughters.

  Just when they went to South Carolina has not been established, as no deed of
sale of property in Albemarle Co., Va., has been located.  AN indented
certificate dated March 6, 1783, from Commissioners of the Treasury of South
Carolina to Francis Welchell, Junior, would indicate the family was here at this 
time.  Also the United States census for Union County taken in 1785 lists
Francis Welchel.

  From war correspondence papers, Francis Welchel, the immigrant, and his four
sons participated in skirmishes with the Indians and Revolutionary battles of
Cowpens, Kings Mountain, and others in that area.  Their enlistment periods were
for various lengths of time with John Welchel, according to records, serving for
the longest period.

  Francis Whelchel, Jr. was born September 16, 1754, in Virginia and died about
1816 in Union County, South Carolina.  He was married January 10, 1782, in Union
County, South Carolina.  He was married to Judith Davis of that area.  Nine
children were born to his union.  After Francis, Jr.'s death, the mother and
children moved to Hall County, Georgia where they married and reared families.

  Although Francis Welchel, Jr. probably served for the shortest duration of
time of any of the sons during the Revolution, many of his descendants have
become DAR members.

  (Members of the Jacob Flournoy Chapter, DAR, who are descended from Francis 
Whelchel, Jr., are Mrs. L.T. Bugg and Camille LaNelle Bugg (Mrs. Arthur) Roman.)