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PVT James Letcher Veteran

Birth
Virginia, USA
Death
24 Mar 1783 (aged 40–41)
South Carolina, USA
Burial
Burial Details Unknown Add to Map
Memorial ID
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James Letcher married Milly Key on Jan 6, 1771, in Amherst County Virginia. We only know of one child, Giles Letcher. James was born in VA, and it is said he was the son of Giles Letcher abt 1710 in Northern Ireland, and mother was Hannah Hughes. James wife Malinda "Milly - Millicent) Key, was born in Amherest Co VA.

James was a PVT in the SC Militia, from Edgefield County South Carolina, during the Revoluationary War. He was killed in action, near what was known as, Charles Town SC. Milly was paid for his services, Seven Pound Sterling. (Rcd: SC A.A.4532; T477)

He is said to have died in Edgefield Co SC, witnessed by his brother-in-laws and other family. A SAR (Sons of the American Revolution) document, recorded the following:

SAR Record:
"...His envolvement in the struggle for freedom is further confirmed by all of his brother-in-laws, service with the colonies as shown by the records set forth in Key and Allied Families by Mrs J. C. Lane and by the loyalties of other members of his family such as Colonel William Letcher, his brother who was killed by Tories in North Carolina; Robert Letcher, his Nephew a General and Subsequent Governor of KY, and provential Governor of the Northern Half of the Louisiana Purchase and others as shown in "Letcher Family of Virginia" Georgia General Records Commission, D.A.R. 1949-50 and "Our Pioneer Ancestors" by Riggs Library of Congress Cs-71-H 998. Although no records support such a premise, it is possible because his death occurred during his period of service of his State against Great Britain...."

Family lore has said he died in Battle near Charles Town SC, and was buried on the Battle field.

South Carolina Census of Letcher's
1779 Old 96th District Census
James Letcher
Henry Key

Known siblings of James were:
Stephen, Col William, John,
Sarah, Benjamin, Mary Letcher.

Things we know about James, Milly, and Giles Letcher,
Time line by the late Bob Campbell.
1. James Letcher was born abt. 1742 in VA.
2. Milinda (Milly) Key was born 11 Oct 1755 in VA. According to Henry Key's Bible.
3. They were married in VA on 6 Jan 1771 according to VA records. (Some say it is in ---Henry Key's Bible, but the abstract of it I have list's no marriages).
4. Henry Key started selling land in order to go to SC according to VA records.
5. Henry Key got a land grant from SC in Granville, 5 Jan 1773 and left for SC in Apr of ---1774 according to VA records. (These VA records were found on the Uof GA web site).I ---do not believe that James and Milly went to SC with her family, I am of the opinion ---that she may have been pregnant with Giles, and didn't get there until a few months ---later after his birth?
6. James Letcher got his land grant 23 Jun 1774, for 350 acres according to SC records, (I ----have a copy).
7. Henry Key made a Deed of Gifts to Milinda, wife of James Letcher, for 465 acres, on 4 ---Mar 1776. Deed Bk 9 pg 435-438 (Don't have).
8. Henry Key died Aug 1776 in Edgefield Co. of Old 96 Dist, SC. (According to Key & kin, in ----the Birmingham Library, Tutwiler Collection).
9. James Letcher and Henry Key were both on a early census done in 1779 and listed as ----being in Old 96 District with no township. (USGenweb).
10.James Joined the Militia after the fall of Charleston to the British on 12 May 1780, & -----fought in Col. Anderson's Unit until he was killed before March 1783. (James Audit -----File A-4532 of which I have a copy).
11. Milly Letcher got a L14,000 Citation on James Estate for Letters of Administration on 12. Mar 1783. (I got a copy of these while in Abbeville at the Court House).
-----Milly was awarded the Letters of Administration on 24 Mar 1783.
13. Conveyance Book 15 pgs. 163-167 of 1798 to 1799, Jiles Letcher to John Hardy of -----Lincoln County, GA, Deed 12 Mar 1798, $130, 159 ac in Edgefield County on Turkey -----Creek, part of 350 acres granted to James Letcher. (I don't have this but will order). -----(This deed never showed up on any of the searches I had done by the SC Archives, ------and I didn't find it while I was there).
14. Deed Bk. 10 pgs 24-26, 26 Jul 1790—Isaac Leaferer & Millinda, his wife of Wilks -----County, GA to John Tlbert, Edgefield County, SC for L25 & virtue of sale made for -----during Millinda Leferer's natural life sold 465 acres. (I have deed). This deed proves -----that Milly married Isaac Leferve between march 1783 and 26 Jul 1790.
15. I could find no deed or probate activity in Edgefield or Abbeville County from July -----1790 until 17 Jun 1803 when Giles sold land to Nicholas Griffis. Giles sold land in -----1803, 1806 and 1808. Giles sold land to John Talbert in 1806, the Leferve children all -----sold their land to John Talbert or Sterling Harrison (John Talbert's son-in-law) from -----to 3 Mar 1814, then Harrison sold his land to John Talbert Sep 1814. Deed Bk 32 pg. -----45, 23 Sep 1800, you may want to add 15a, part of tract originally granted to Henry -----Key, decd, thence conveyed to Milley Letcher by Deed of Gift, thence conveyed by -----heir Les Letcher to John Talbert. The first 2 letters Gi are lost in the binding, but it -----could only be Giles. A Transcript doesn't read that way but I have a copy of the deed.
16. December 1808 Giles Letcher and John Cheatham sold 300 acres to Jonathan -----Glanton, on this deed there is a relinquishment of dower rights signed by Agness ------Letcher wife of Giles Letcher, 31 Dec 1808. (Deed Bk. 29 pg. 295 - I have a copy).
17. Giles Letcher is on the 1810 Census for Edgefield with a wife, 3 boys and 2 girls -----(Ancestry.com, I have a copy of the census page., it shows 3 males under 10, 1 age
-----16 thru 25, & 1 age 26 thru 44, 1 fem. under 10, 2 age 10 thru 15 and 1 fem age
-----26 thru 44 & 3 slaves. wonder who the male 16 to 25 is? If we disregard the male
-----it means that Giles and Agnes married around 1794-95).
18.--Giles was in the War of 1812 and served in Col. Austin's Regiment.
------Com and I have nothing on it – I need to order the file).
19.--On 3 Feb 1817 Agnes Letcher bought $300 worht of land from Sterling Harrison and ------on 11 Nov 1818 she sold it for $400 to Martin Burress (I think I have the deeds).
20.--That is the last we hear of Agnes or Giles until 1834 when she got a Land Patent in ------Autauga County, AL, and another in 1837 in Dallas County, AL. (BLM on USGenweb).
21.--She is on the 1840 Census for Autauga County, AL.
22.--She died in 1856 in Coosa County, AL, and is buried at Old Union Baptist Church ------Cemetery. (Transcript of cemetery – I have).
James Letcher married Milly Key on Jan 6, 1771, in Amherst County Virginia. We only know of one child, Giles Letcher. James was born in VA, and it is said he was the son of Giles Letcher abt 1710 in Northern Ireland, and mother was Hannah Hughes. James wife Malinda "Milly - Millicent) Key, was born in Amherest Co VA.

James was a PVT in the SC Militia, from Edgefield County South Carolina, during the Revoluationary War. He was killed in action, near what was known as, Charles Town SC. Milly was paid for his services, Seven Pound Sterling. (Rcd: SC A.A.4532; T477)

He is said to have died in Edgefield Co SC, witnessed by his brother-in-laws and other family. A SAR (Sons of the American Revolution) document, recorded the following:

SAR Record:
"...His envolvement in the struggle for freedom is further confirmed by all of his brother-in-laws, service with the colonies as shown by the records set forth in Key and Allied Families by Mrs J. C. Lane and by the loyalties of other members of his family such as Colonel William Letcher, his brother who was killed by Tories in North Carolina; Robert Letcher, his Nephew a General and Subsequent Governor of KY, and provential Governor of the Northern Half of the Louisiana Purchase and others as shown in "Letcher Family of Virginia" Georgia General Records Commission, D.A.R. 1949-50 and "Our Pioneer Ancestors" by Riggs Library of Congress Cs-71-H 998. Although no records support such a premise, it is possible because his death occurred during his period of service of his State against Great Britain...."

Family lore has said he died in Battle near Charles Town SC, and was buried on the Battle field.

South Carolina Census of Letcher's
1779 Old 96th District Census
James Letcher
Henry Key

Known siblings of James were:
Stephen, Col William, John,
Sarah, Benjamin, Mary Letcher.

Things we know about James, Milly, and Giles Letcher,
Time line by the late Bob Campbell.
1. James Letcher was born abt. 1742 in VA.
2. Milinda (Milly) Key was born 11 Oct 1755 in VA. According to Henry Key's Bible.
3. They were married in VA on 6 Jan 1771 according to VA records. (Some say it is in ---Henry Key's Bible, but the abstract of it I have list's no marriages).
4. Henry Key started selling land in order to go to SC according to VA records.
5. Henry Key got a land grant from SC in Granville, 5 Jan 1773 and left for SC in Apr of ---1774 according to VA records. (These VA records were found on the Uof GA web site).I ---do not believe that James and Milly went to SC with her family, I am of the opinion ---that she may have been pregnant with Giles, and didn't get there until a few months ---later after his birth?
6. James Letcher got his land grant 23 Jun 1774, for 350 acres according to SC records, (I ----have a copy).
7. Henry Key made a Deed of Gifts to Milinda, wife of James Letcher, for 465 acres, on 4 ---Mar 1776. Deed Bk 9 pg 435-438 (Don't have).
8. Henry Key died Aug 1776 in Edgefield Co. of Old 96 Dist, SC. (According to Key & kin, in ----the Birmingham Library, Tutwiler Collection).
9. James Letcher and Henry Key were both on a early census done in 1779 and listed as ----being in Old 96 District with no township. (USGenweb).
10.James Joined the Militia after the fall of Charleston to the British on 12 May 1780, & -----fought in Col. Anderson's Unit until he was killed before March 1783. (James Audit -----File A-4532 of which I have a copy).
11. Milly Letcher got a L14,000 Citation on James Estate for Letters of Administration on 12. Mar 1783. (I got a copy of these while in Abbeville at the Court House).
-----Milly was awarded the Letters of Administration on 24 Mar 1783.
13. Conveyance Book 15 pgs. 163-167 of 1798 to 1799, Jiles Letcher to John Hardy of -----Lincoln County, GA, Deed 12 Mar 1798, $130, 159 ac in Edgefield County on Turkey -----Creek, part of 350 acres granted to James Letcher. (I don't have this but will order). -----(This deed never showed up on any of the searches I had done by the SC Archives, ------and I didn't find it while I was there).
14. Deed Bk. 10 pgs 24-26, 26 Jul 1790—Isaac Leaferer & Millinda, his wife of Wilks -----County, GA to John Tlbert, Edgefield County, SC for L25 & virtue of sale made for -----during Millinda Leferer's natural life sold 465 acres. (I have deed). This deed proves -----that Milly married Isaac Leferve between march 1783 and 26 Jul 1790.
15. I could find no deed or probate activity in Edgefield or Abbeville County from July -----1790 until 17 Jun 1803 when Giles sold land to Nicholas Griffis. Giles sold land in -----1803, 1806 and 1808. Giles sold land to John Talbert in 1806, the Leferve children all -----sold their land to John Talbert or Sterling Harrison (John Talbert's son-in-law) from -----to 3 Mar 1814, then Harrison sold his land to John Talbert Sep 1814. Deed Bk 32 pg. -----45, 23 Sep 1800, you may want to add 15a, part of tract originally granted to Henry -----Key, decd, thence conveyed to Milley Letcher by Deed of Gift, thence conveyed by -----heir Les Letcher to John Talbert. The first 2 letters Gi are lost in the binding, but it -----could only be Giles. A Transcript doesn't read that way but I have a copy of the deed.
16. December 1808 Giles Letcher and John Cheatham sold 300 acres to Jonathan -----Glanton, on this deed there is a relinquishment of dower rights signed by Agness ------Letcher wife of Giles Letcher, 31 Dec 1808. (Deed Bk. 29 pg. 295 - I have a copy).
17. Giles Letcher is on the 1810 Census for Edgefield with a wife, 3 boys and 2 girls -----(Ancestry.com, I have a copy of the census page., it shows 3 males under 10, 1 age
-----16 thru 25, & 1 age 26 thru 44, 1 fem. under 10, 2 age 10 thru 15 and 1 fem age
-----26 thru 44 & 3 slaves. wonder who the male 16 to 25 is? If we disregard the male
-----it means that Giles and Agnes married around 1794-95).
18.--Giles was in the War of 1812 and served in Col. Austin's Regiment.
------Com and I have nothing on it – I need to order the file).
19.--On 3 Feb 1817 Agnes Letcher bought $300 worht of land from Sterling Harrison and ------on 11 Nov 1818 she sold it for $400 to Martin Burress (I think I have the deeds).
20.--That is the last we hear of Agnes or Giles until 1834 when she got a Land Patent in ------Autauga County, AL, and another in 1837 in Dallas County, AL. (BLM on USGenweb).
21.--She is on the 1840 Census for Autauga County, AL.
22.--She died in 1856 in Coosa County, AL, and is buried at Old Union Baptist Church ------Cemetery. (Transcript of cemetery – I have).


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