Henrico County, Virginia was originally explored by Captain John Smith and his fellow adventurers representing the Virginia Company in 1607... They found friendly Indians, Arrohattoc, living in the area. Before they left its shores, they claimed this land for God and England. Henrico, a better location than the swamp of Jamestown, grew rapidly. John Rolfe, Pocahontas's future husband, began planting a version of Spanish tobacco on Bermuda Hundred Island. By 1622, there were even plans to establish a university in the city. However, the Indians seeing the growth and expansion of the white man, attacked the settlement, killed the colonists, and burned the town down. Henrico wasn't reestablished until 1634.

John's parents, Robert George Belcher, and his mother, Phoebe Isham, married in Henrico, Virginia, in 1669.

Many of the records we have on John Belcher, their son, comes to us in the form of land records and bills, or levies, owed. John had acquired 229 acres in Henrico in 1735 We know he grew tobacco, as did his father. The other John Belchers mentioned in later Henrico's records, probably indicate his children,John and Richard, as having land in Skinquarter (Chesterfield) Note: Chesterfield County was formed from parts of Henrico.

It is said that John Sr. married Mary Elizabeth Frogley. There is some contention that may never be solved; this Ms. Frogley was married in England. Did our John leave Virginia to marry her? The records that could solved this mystery and that of his children's births, etc., were likely burned up in 2 fires. One in the 1700's and the other in 1865, during the Civil War

Their children (their could be others):

. John (Jr.) Belcher (bet. 1690 to 1698 - 1780)
. Elizabeth Anne Belcher (abt. 1691 - ?)
. James Belcher (1694-?)
. Robert Belcher (1700 to 1710 -1770)
. William Belcher (1707 - 1781)
. Richard Belcher (1710-1763)
. George Belcher (1712-?)
. Isaac Belcher (1714-?)