Major John Welsh
John Welsh was born about 1605 in England. By 1670, he married widowed Anne Grosse. Two children were born
to them, Sylvester and John Welsh, Jr. She died before 1675, when Major Welsh married Mary Wyatt. Mary was the daughter of Damaris Wyatt, second wife of Nicholas Wyatt, of Virginia. John and Mary had several children, one of them being Damaris Welsh who married, secondly, Thomas Stockett in 1700. The Stocketts became the parents of Mary, who married Joseph Brewer in 1736.
Major Welsh arrived in Maryland prior to 1668, when he was a "Gentleman Justice" of Anne Arundel County. He was Commissioner of the County Court in 1667. He was Commissioned Justice for several years and was a member of the Quorum in 1676. In 1677 or 1678, he was appointed High Sheriff of Anne
Arundel County. He was considered the most important official in the county, responsible only to the "Proprietor". In 1678, there was a period of Indian warfare, the "Nanticoke War". Major Welsh was responsible to suppress any Indian uprisings. As recognition for his military valor, he was granted 1000 acres which was named "Three Sisters". This was a great honor to have bestowed upon him.
In 1681, a new Indian warfare outbreak
occurred. Indians killed one of Welsh's servants and two Englishmen on his plantation. The Indians also attempted to enter the home of some of the other settlers. It appears that Major Welsh had gained the reputation of an Indian fighter. He was held in high esteem for his leadership abilities and his character.
In 1682, Major Welsh was chosen as one of twenty four commissioners, "men of the highest importance, the civil and military officers of the counties", to represent Anne Arundel County in the initiation of the "Act for the Advancement of Trade". Major Welsh was the fifth name on the list. He died the following
year in 1683. He was considered one of the "worthies in American history who helped to lay the foundation of our nation as it is today."
picture: Leone, Frank & Evelyn Knapp