James Daniel WELCH is generally given as born 30 Sept 1811 in either the “Mississippi Territory” or Georgia. He was a son of John Edward WELCH and Betsey E. MOORE.

I don’t know the ultimate source for the Betsey E. Moore, but I think John Welch is certain as an elder John Welch resided in Washington Parish, Louisiana as well, and a nephew was named John Edward Welch indicating it may have been a family name.

29 April 1838, at about 27, James married Caroline BULLOCK. She has been given as born in GA or MS on 12 Jan 1816 (David Garard) and the daughter of David BULLOCK and Nancy CLARK who came to Pike County MS at “around the turn of the century” (Paul White, Genforum, Nov. 29 2001 Bullock Forum #1765).

In the 1850 Washington Parish LA census, James gives himself as 34, b. MS., which would place birth year about 1816. Caroline gives herself as a year older and born in GA. Children in the household were James, 6, b. abt. 1844, William, 4, b. about 1846, and Nancy, 2, born about 1848. A Lucinda MOORE was also in the household, 35, born in MS. Next door was a 30 year old Miles BULLOCK from GA.

BIG CLUES: Lucinda Moore and Miles Bullock were probably relations. Right? Of course.

In the 1870 Tangipahoa Parish census, James gives himself as 58 and born in MS. Caroline gives herself as 54 and born in GA. This places James’ birth year as abt. 1812 and Caroline’s as abt. 1815.

James and Caroline had 6 known children:

• James Pearson (Person) WELCH, b. 2 Jan 1844 at Franklinton, Washington Parish, LA, died 2 Dec 1889 at about 45. He married, 25 Nov 1868, Cynthia ALFORD, daughter of Warren Jackson ALFORD and Celia Ann LEWIS. Cynthia was born 15 Oct 1845 in MS and died 28 July 1937 in Pike County, MS. She is buried at the Alford Cemetery in Pike County MS. (SOURCE: FamilySearch.) Warren Jackson ALFORD’s parents were Edwin ALFORD and Martha “Patsie” Jane SMITH b. 1802 Lancaster SC. Martha Patricia SMITH had among her brothers a Calvin, born 22 Sept. 1812 in Pike County, MS, whose second marriage was to Beda BULLOCK b. 1800-1810.
  http://worldconnect.genealogy.rootsweb.com/cgi-bin/igm.cgi?op=GET&db=mpuckett&id=I3284.
• William Henry Harrison WELCH, b. 6 April 1846 at Franklinton, Washington Parish, LA, d. 24 Dec 1914 at about 68, married Mary s. LEA.
• Nancy Caroline WELCH b. 9 Feb. 1848 in Franklinton, Washington Parish, LA, m. James HENNESY.
• Edward E. WELCH b. 6 Dec. 1851 at Franklinton, Washington Parish, LA.
• Nicholas Edward WELCH b. 27 February or 28 October 1855, Franklinton, Washington Parish, LA., d. 14 Nov 1834 at about 80, married Nancy Ellen GRAHAM.
• George P. WELCH, b. 24 Feb 1858, d. 22 March 1860.

David Gerard writes:

John Edward Welch born 1788 married Betsey E. Moore born 1792. They had a son James Daniel Welch born 30 Sept.1811 in the Mississippi Territory.

John died 18 Nov 1858 in Washington Parish, LA. Betsey also died in Washington Parish.

James Daniel Welch married 29 April 1838 to Caroline Bullock born 12 Jan.1816 in Georgia. They had five children:

• James Pearson Welch born 2 Jan 1844 in Washington Parish LA. Married 26 Nov 1868 to Cynthia Alford died 2 Dec 1889.
• William Henry Harrison Welch born 6 April 1846 in Washington Parish, married 11 April 1867 to Mary S. Lea and then 24 Dec 1872 to Jemima J. Morris, died 25 Dec. 1914.
• Nancy Caroline Welch born 9 Feb. 1848 in Washington Parish, married 19 Mar 1868 to James Hennesy
• Edward E. Welch born 1851 in Washington Parish, married to Julia A. Pear
• Nicholas E. Welch born 27 Feb 1854 (28 Oct. 1855) in Washington Parish, married to Nancy E. _____. died 14 Nov. 1934.
• George P. Welch born 24 Feb 1858, died 22 March 1860.

Caroline Bullock died in 1887 in Washington Parish. James Daniel Welch died 18 May 1890 in Washington Parish.

The 1870 census shows James living in ward 2 of Tangipahoa Parish (which was carved out of Washington Parish) in house hold # 267. It shows that he was a farmer worth $1500.

I had much of this info before but I also was able to verify it thru a transcript of Nancy Hennesy’s Bible inscriptions. I found this at the Southeastern Louisiana University’s Zuma Magee Collection Box 16, Folder 11. The Bible was in possession of Mrs. Nettie Davis Wood (Mrs. Tom Wood).

Most everyone who was settling in this region at that time seemed to come from Georgia and vicinity. There were many “wagon trains” led by Sam Dale from Georgia to this area at that time.

David Garard

Ethel (Simmons) Hennesy wrote, “Nancy may have been part Indian, Cherokee.” I’ve not really looked for it but I’ve yet to find anything as we know so little about the Welch family.

Curiously, a John Edward Welch b. 1753 in South Carolina, died 1830 in NC or TN is given as having married multiple times, one of these to a Betsy “Quatsy” who was Cherokee (he’s not given as John Edward Welch on this interesting PDF, only John Welch, but he is elsewhere). He is given as being perhaps in the pre 1800 tax list of Burke Co. NC near an Elijah Moore. This John Edward Welch’s father was James Welch, b. 1720 in Ireland, who lived at Estatoe Village and whose wife was an unnamed Cherokee woman. The father of Betsy is given as John “Hembree”/Emory whose mother was a Mary (Moore) Ayers, granddaughter “probably” of Col. James Moore and a Keowee Cherokee woman. John Hembree/Emory had wife Jane or Nancy Elder, a mixed blood woman, and their daughter was the mentioned Elizabeth “Quatsy” Jane Hembree b. 1765 who married first John Edward Welch and then his brother William Welch.

Ethel Simmons Hennesy would have had no information on the above, only family lore, so it is curious to me that we have with this family a John Edward Welch line that may be Cherokee, and is married to a Moore. It makes me wonder if it’s possible if these people are from out of the same area as John and Quatsy and there is yet another unidentified Cherokee line in that Welch family.

The Nancy Hennesy bible gives the following information on the WELCH name:
James D. Welch and Caroline Bulloch md. April 29 AD, 1838
William H. H. Welch married Mary S. Lea April the 11th, 1867
James D. Welch born Sept. 30th, 1811
Caroline Welch, wife, January 12, 1816
James P. Welch, son Feb. 8, 1844
Wm. H. H. Welch, son, born April 6, 1846
Nancy C. Welch, Dtr. born Feb. 9, 1848
Edward E. Welch, born Dec. 6, 1851
Nicholas E. Welch born Feb. 27, 1854
George P. Welch Feb. 24, AD 1858
John Welch, father of J. D. Welch died Nov. 18th, 1858
George Pinkney Welch Departed this life 22 March 1860
James Pearson Welch died Dec. 2nd, 1889
James D. Welch departed this life May 18, 1890

The 1830 census shows a John Welsh in Washington Parish.

Source Citation: 1830 U S Census: , Washington, Louisiana, Page: 81; NARA Roll: M19-43; Family History Film: 0009686.

Henrietta Bankston / – – – – – – – – 1 (she is 60 to 70 years of age)
John Welsh – 1 1 1 – – 1 / 2 2 1 1 1 – 1

John shows no slaves but Henrietta has 1 male under 10, 2 males 24 to 34 and 1 female 24 to 36. Henrietta Bankston was the wife of John Bankston born 1754 June 1, died 1820 Dec 9 in Washington parish. Daughter Cecelia Bankston was married to a John Dyson b. 1797, died 1823. They had a son William who is living next to Henrietta in this census.

1840 and 1850 census shows not only James Daniel Welch but John Welsh, 70, b. SC who is perhaps the father.

Source Citation: Year: 1840; Census Place: , Washington, Louisiana; Roll 129; Page: 147; Image: 299; Family History Library Film: 0009690.
John WELCH – – – 2 1 – – 1 / – – 2 2 2 – – – – – 1 / 2 male slaves under the age of 10 and 1 female slave age 10 to 24
James WELCH – – – – 1 1 / – – – – 1

Note the presence of an 80 to 90 year old female in the John Welch household, probably the Henrietta Bankston who was living beside him in 1830.

The 1840 census shows slaves but the 1850 census does not.

1850 LOUISIANA WASHINGTON PARISH CENSUS
There are other Moores and Bullocks sprinkled about
pg. 439
17/17
J. THIGPEN 40 farmer Value: $2000 b. NC can’t read or write
Jane 41 b. AL can’t read or write
James 21 b. LA
Permelia 19 b. LA
Clement 9 or 4 b. LA
Clarissa 15 b. LA
Lemon 11 b. LA
18/18
N. PAGET
19/19
John THIGPEN 25 Farmer b. LA
Martha 25 b. MS
Mary E. 5/12 b. LA
Washington? 16 b. LA
Lucy 22 b. LA
20/20
William VARNADOE
21/21
John THIGPEN 84 b. NC can’t read or write
Sally 75 b. NC can’t read or write
Charlotte PIERCE 21 b. LA can’t read or write
22/22
J. STACKSKILL
23/23
Seth BORNE?
24/24 Alford MOORE 55 b. GA
25/25
James THIGPEN 81 farming $2500. b. NC
A. HARDY 32 b. NC
Cintha 27 b. GA
A. J. Hardy 2 b. LA
pg. 441
48/48
William ARD and Eliza
49/49
Mary C. ARD
50/50
James ARD and Margaret J.
57/57
Erastus THIGPEN
52/52
J. PEIRCE and Charlotte
53/53
John CALHOUN and Nancy
Sarah THIGPEN
54/54
Nathan BLACK and Mary
pg. 442
65/65
A. MORRIS b. NC and Sarah
W. BRANCH b. MS
66/66
W. KNIGHT 27 farm $100 b. LA
Mary 21 b. LA
Susan 2 b. LA
Polly 1 b. LA
67/67
Charles? 60 farm $100 b. VA
Susan 40 b. GA can’t read or write
James 20 laborer b. LA
Georgia 18 b. LA
Margaret 16 b. LA
Calvin 14 b. LA
Anne? 10 b. LA
James STAFFORD 20 b. LA
Stephen 1 b. LA
Sarah 2/12 b. LA
pg.443 81/81
W. RICHARDSON and Nancy
82/82
David THOMAS
83/83
Matthew THOMAS
84/84
Thomas BICKHAM 79 farm $6000 b. GA
Mary 61 b. SC
Thomas 22 farm b. LA
Jacob C. 35 b. LA
G. T. VICKERY? 24 b. MD
85/85
WHITINGTON
86/86
T. J. KING and Lucy
87/87
E. STEVENS and Nancy
88/88
Williy JONES 35 farm b. MS
Eliza 30 b. MS
Henry 8 b. MS
Alex 6 b. MS
Arena? 4 b. MS
Maranda 1 b. LA
Harriet 1 b. LA
pg. 444
89/89
T. WARNER and Kitty
90/90
T. C. WARNER and Jeremiah
91/91
T. C. BICKHAM 32 ? $2000 b. LA
Elizabeth 25
Martha E. 10
Sarah L. 8
Thomas A. 7
Elizabeth 5
Charles M. 4
Mary R. 8/12
B. YARBOROUGH 16
David W. 12
92/92
A. BICKHAM 24 farmer $1000 b. LA
Mary 24
Washington 25 labor
Elizabeth 22
Thomas 21 schoolteaching
Elizabeth 19
Marion 17 labor
93/93
John BROMFIELD?
94/94
N. GREAVES and Arcadia
95/95
T. MAGU and Zoe
Pg. 445
96/96
E. C. BICKHAM
Pg. 457
280/280
L B CON or COX and Nancy 42 and 28 MS and LA
281/281
WIlliam FENNY? 55 MS
John MITCHELL 17
Abner JENKINS
282/282 Isaac HENNESY 65 farming $100 b. GA
Nancy 65 b. GA
Isaac 18 laborer b. LA
James 15 b. LA
? 1 b. LA
283/283
R. MCLEAN 45 and Mary b. SC
284/284
T? LENEAR 28 and Clarisa 75 LA and SC
Pg. 458 B?
292/292
Leslie BANKSTON 45 farm b. GA
Elizabeth 65 b. SC
Henrietta 25 b. lA
Catherine 22
Franklin EDY 12
G. R. GRIFFITH 46 Taylor b. NY
293/293
J. D. WELSH 34 farm b. MS
Caroline 35 b. GA
James 6 b. LA
William 4
Nancy 2
Lucinda MOORE 35 b. MS
294/294
Miles BULLOCK 30 farm $100 b. GA
Camantha 32 b. LA
Lefore 10
Georgia 7
William 5
Francis 3 female
295/295
Jackson GRAHAM 23 farm b. LA
Malinda 2 b. MS
Pauline MULFORD 3 b. LA
296/296
Isom GRAHAM 40 farmer $100 b. LA
Elizabeth 36
and family
297/297
Cullen SANDY 37 b. LA and Nancy 298/298
John GRAHAM 25 and Cintha
299/299
Nancy PITMAN 42 b. MS and family
Pg. 459
300/300
Peyton BOND 45 b. GA and Harriet (eldest child, Gideon, 13, b. MS)
Elijah WELCH 30 . b. LA
301/301
May LU 32 b. SC
Pg. 459 B
310/310
Isaac HENNESY 55 farm $100 b. MS
Lada 50
Cintha 16
Isaac 17
James 14
John POUNDS 35
Mary 23
George 6
? 2
311/311
R. MCLEAN 55 b. SC and Elizabeth
pg. 464
381/381
Thomas PETTIT 30 b. NC and Sarah
382/382
James GILL 48 farmer b. GA
Nancy 44 b. GA
Franklin 15 b. LA
Emily 12
Amanda 10
Madison 5
Mary COOK 35
John MOORE 30 laborer b. GA
383/383 Lefore GILL 40 farmer b. GA
Lourena 35
James 18 b. MS William 16
Thomas 14
Lucy 12
Mahaley 10
John 9
Circey 6
Cintha 9
384/384
William PRINE? 50 b. GA and Harriet
385/385
Rufus GILL 34 farm b. MS
Catharine 24
Neal 2 b. LA
Mary 1 b. LA
? 25 (male) b. MS
Martha 21 b. MS
Pg. 386/386
John WELSH 70 farming $300 b. SC

I haven’t found the Welch family in the 1860 census. Here they are in 1870.

1870 LOUISIANA TANGIPAHOA PARISH CENSUS WARD 2
In this census we find James and Nancy living between Isaac HENNESY, James’ father, and James Daniel WELCH, Nancy Caroline’s father.
pg. 138 2 W. Tangipahoa (ancestry.com 128)
262/262
SINSEY William 45 (b) farmer b. VA and Millie and family
263/263
ELLIS Maria 40 (b) farming b. MS (and family)
264/264
PEAK Chapman 48 Farmer b. MS (and Eliza and family)
Patsy 16 (b) servant
Benton 9 (b) servant
265/265
HENNESSEY Isaac 65 b. GA
Judy 65 b. GA
266/266
HENNESSEY James 26 farming RE value $600 personal $640 b. MS
Nancy 22 b. LA
Hellan 2 b. LA
267/267
WELCH Jam. D. 58 farmer $1500 $1135 b. MS
Caroline 54 b. GA
William H. 24 b. LA
Edward E. 18
Nicholas 16
BURKHALTER M. (f) 20 (mulatto) b. LA
Rosa A. 2 (mulatto) b. LA
Charles? J. 2/12 (mulatto) b. LA
etc.
270/270
HOTTEN Andrew 65 farmer $6000 $665 b. NC
Mary 55 b. GA
Susan 5 b. LA

A Yvonne Moossy at Genform instead gives John Edward Welch as born 1780 in SC and in NC (posting 1526) in another posting, and gives James D. Welch (posting 1036) as born 30 Sept. 1811 in NC.

There may possibly be a photo or two of James Daniel Welch and Nancy Caroline Bullock floating around out there. If you have one and land here, please consider sharing it.

SOURCES:
David Garard
Curtis Hennesy
Jean Hennesy Kearns
Ethel Simmons Hennesy
Census data
Nancy Caroline Welch Hennesy’s bible