John Weldon

The following information is from the Weldon Notebook by Margaret Jean Benefield.

After fighting in the Revolutionary War, he made his way to Kentucky by way of Tennessee. He spent the last eight or ten years of his life in Kentucky.

John Weldon is listed in the Georgia Roster of the Revolution, page 432, a "Georgia soldier of the line." No information on any pension to him or his widow. In the book "Index to Headrights of Georgia" he is listed as being granted 287 1/2 acres of land in Washington County, year 1788. This could have been a grant for bounty-land, but not sure. Lands in the older sections of the state were granted in varying amounts of acreage under a system usually called the Headrights system. Part of this included the Bounty-land awarded the Revolutionary soldiers. Bounty-land was even awarded to settlers who did not fight -- but only stayed on their land and kept it in good shape (instead of running away). In 1805 the lottery system was started.

Senate documents Vol 16 #219 pp 369-393 (1900-1901) 56th Congress. Miss Margaret Harvey's list of Georgia Rev. Soldiers of all ranks and types. Published as Appendix F in the 3rd annual report of the Nat. D.A.R. to the Smithsonian. Shows both John and Andrew Weldon.

When his father, Jacob, died in about 1783, John inherited "300 acres where John Boller formerly lived," apparently in Richmond County. At one time John owned over 500 acres of land in Georgia. He must of disposed of it before he moved away, but the only found record of sale is found in the Georgia Genealogy Magazine, Greene County, GA, Deed Book 1, page 410-411, 18 Aug 1788. John Weldon of Richmond County, GA to William Stark of same for 100 acres, pd., etc. signed John Weldon, witnessed by Isaac Weldon.

There are two deeds still in existence which show that John Weldon bought 75 acres of land in Knox County, TN on Sep 4, 1799 (for $40) from "Jarrel Willingham;" then 10 days later, Sep 14, 1799, sold the same 75 acres to William Owin Madelen for $100. Jarrett Willingham may have been related in some way, may have gone on to TN before John did. He may in turn have gone to KY before John did. There is also a John Willingham, probably Nancy Willingham's brother. There was also a young man named Isaac Willingham who may have been John Weldon's nephew. He drew money from John Weldon's account at the store (Horsley Starling's).

John was a Baptist preacher. Two of three churches where he preached wrote recommendations or church letters for him. One even wrote a song in his honor (possibly when he died). These churches included the Grave Creek Baptist Church on Barren Church Road and Grave Creek in the southern part of Henderson County, KY. This church, organized in 1803 with 50 members is generally considered to be the parent church of the Baptist churches of the counties. At first it met in the homes of the members and included both whites and blacks until the Civil War.

Song: (On a badly worn two pages, tightly folded and showed signs of being carried about for many years. The first two lines are illegible and partly gone. It resembles a song found in some old Baptist hymnals and that may be what it is based on.) "Your thundring language ne'er can tell. The grandure of Immanuel. Ye worlds on worlds with all your throng(?), Thro every Clime extend the song. A guilty world preserved from Hell, By Christ the King Immanuel. Behold him leave his fathers throne, behold him blead and hear him grone, Death iron chains would fail to tell the Strength of King Immanuel." (The second page continues:) "Ten Thousand thousand in the throng, Ten thousand thousand join the song, He saved us from a gaping hell, All glory to Immanuel. Hark how the herald angels try In heavnly notes Each to utcrie. They tune their harps each to excel, In praise of Immanuel. My soul transported with those charmes, I long to ly in Jesus armes My loving brethren all farewell, I go to meet Immanuel. etc."

Members from the Grave Creek Baptist Church helped to organized Bethel Baptist Church in 1811. For several years they met in the homes of members, some of whom lived in Warwick County, Indiana, and members crossed the river for church attendance. It was 1818 before a meeting house of brick was built on the Henderson-Owensboro Road. Another church, the Salem Church of Christ in Henderson Co., Ky wrote a recommendation for John Weldon. It states that "his residence (is) not --- in the bounds of our church, but (is) a member to a Sister Church which is convenient to us. They recommended him as their pastor and and elder "worthy of honor and our full fellowship."

We have no record of when the John Weldon family, possibly with grandchildren by that time, left TN. The 1810 TN Census was destroyed. However, there is a John Weldon listed in Lincoln Co., KY in 1810 -- maybe on his way.

1810 Census, Lincoln County, Kentucky (This county was very large at this time)

pg. 136 John Weldon

2 m. under 10 1 m. 16-26 1 m. 26-45 2 f. under 10 2 f. 10-16 1 f. 26-45