Brief Life History of Mary "Polly"
When Mary "Polly" Belcher was born on 9 February 1821, in Monroe, Kentucky, United States, her father, John Belcher, was 33 and her mother, Permelia Biggers, was 36. She married David Nelson Ryherd Or Richard on 5 July 1842, in Monroe, Kentucky, United States. They were the parents of at least 10 daughters. She died on 9 June 1907, in Monroe, Kentucky, United States, at the age of 86, and was buried in Burr, Rockcastle, Kentucky, United States.
Photos and Memories (1)
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Family Time Line
Sources (11)
- Mary Richard in household of D N Richard, "United States Census, 1860"
- Mary Belcher in entry for Janie Light, "Kentucky Death Records, 1911-1965"
- Mary Ryherd in household of David N Ryherd, "United States Census, 1850"
Spouse and Children
1823–1862 Male
1821–1907 Female
Children (10)
1843–1886 Female
1845–1918 Female
1846– Female
1847– Female
1848–1920 Female
+5 More Children
Parents and Siblings
1788–1869 Male
1785–1877 Female
Siblings (8)
1814–1881 Male
1819–1892 Male
1821–1907 Female
1824–1906 Female
1828–1872 Female
+3 More Children
World Events (8)
1825 · The Crimes Act
Age 4
1835
Age 14
1846
Age 25
Name Meaning
English (of Norman origin):
from Old French bel ch(i)ere or beu ch(i)ere (Old French beu, bel ‘fair, lovely’ + ch(i)ere ‘face, countenance’), which had various senses, including ‘fair face or looks, fine manners, good company, good cheer, food and drink, hospitality’. Although ch(i)ere originally meant ‘face’, the word later came to mean also ‘demeanor, disposition’ (hence English cheer), and the nickname may thus also have denoted a person of pleasant, cheerful disposition.
from Old French bel, beu + sire ‘fair sir’, a term of address. From at least the 15th century this name was probably confused with the name above, owing to the pronunciation of Middle English beu sire and bel sire as ‘bewcher’ and ‘belsher’.
Dictionary of American Family Names © Patrick Hanks 2003, 2006.
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