DOCUMENTATION
INDEX
i. Rev. Robert Bracewell, Robert, Jr. and Susannah Burgess Bracewell
ii. Richard Braswell, son of Susannah Burgess Bracewell, founder of S/H DNA Haplogroup
iii. James Braswell, son of Susannah Burgess Bracewell, founder of K/L DNA Haplogroup
iv. Boardvine Braswell Descendants' Riggs DNA
v. Richard Bracewell (c.1652-1725)
vi. Richard Bracewell, Jr. (c.1672-1758)
vi(a). Robert Braswell (c.1674-1736)
vii. William Bracewell (c.1676-1720/21)
vii(a). David Eugene Braswell's Lineage
viii. Valentine Bracewell (c.1680-Aft 1728): His Grandson, Richard Braswell (c.1732-1799)
ix. Valentine Braswell (c.1775-1832) of South Carolina and Georgia
x. Joseph Bracewell, born 1751 in Colne, Lancashire
xi. Rev. Jim Braswell of Macon, Georgia
xii. Breazeale Family Origin
xiii. Newfoundland 'Brazil' Breazeales
xiv. Some Male Lines of Descent from Henry Breazeale (c.1681-1769)
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Rev. Robert Bracewell, Robert, Jr. and Susannah Burgess Bracewell
(i) ROBERT BRACEWELL, JR (c.1650-aft 1696), identified along with RICHARD as a son and heir of Rev. ROBERT BRACEWELL, (IW Will Book 2, p. 52, dated 15 Feb 1667/68) had no known legitimate issue. His legal wife, SUSANNAH, had five Braswell-named children by a WILLIAM TOWLE and at least one other man. In all, SUSANNAH had ANN, JAMES, WILLIAM, RICHARD, and ELIZABETH 'BRASWELL'(per TOWLE's 1692 will, naming the three youngest (IW Will & Deed Book 1, Vol. 2, p. 323) and SUSANNAH's 1714 will, naming the other two (IW Will Book 3, p. 304). DNA evidence proves that SUSANNAH's son, JAMES, had a different father than RICHARD. (See S/H Braswell and K/L Braswell haplotype groups.)
RICHARD BRASWELL, SON OF SUSANNAH BURGESS BRACEWELL, FOUNDER OF S/H DNA HAPLGROUP
ii. Documentary evidence to confirm the origin
of the S/H Braswell Haplotype as the union of SUSANNAH BURGESS BRACEWELL and
RICHARD TOWLE in seventeenth century Isle of WIght County, Virginia.
DATA
An examination of the current database for the Braswell DNA
Project at
FamilyTreeDNA, Houston (http://carey-dna.com) reveals a main
Braswell haplotype containing over 40 individuals and a smaller haplotype
containing 9 individuals dubbed the Steve/Henry (S/H) Haplotype after the
first matching pair found to be carrying their unique genetic signature.
The S/H haplotype is unrelated to the main haplotype group
who are
documented descendants of the Rev. Robert Bracewell (1611-1668) of Isle of
Wight County through diverse lines of descent. The S/H haplotype belongs
to
the "I" human haplogroup (aka"Viking") whereas the main
group is generic West
European R1b1c. No close matches to other tested Americans have been found
to date in any public databases for any S/H haplotype members. Given that
program participants were self-selected at random, that nearly one fourth of
participants named Braswell carry this unique signature suggests an early
colonial origin.
ABSTRACT
Confusion over which Braswell lineages derived from which
founder--Rev.
Bracewell or Richard Towle--was aggravated by the presence of different
John Braswells in that part of Isle of Wight County that became Southampton
County in 1749.
While several of the S/H Braswells were seated in the Three Creek area on
Nottoway River in the northwest part of Southampton,
Virginia, some members of that group were also found at times in the
vicinity of the main haplogroup family of RICHARD BRACEWELL (c.1652-1725)
who lived on Beaverdam Swamp in the southeastern part of the county near
present Franklin, Virginia.
The central document separating the two John Braswells is a
deed dated
14 July 1733 in which John and ALICE Braswell sold William Wood a tract on
Beaverdam Swamp bounded in part by "the Meadow that SARAH BRASWELL now
lives upon". (IW DB 4, pp. 385-386). {Cf. IW Will Book 4, p.
64, Will of Sarah
Braswell, widow of Rev. Bracewell's son Richard, dated 20 Mar 1734 in which
she names as executors her son John Braswell and grandson John Braswell, Jr.}
A second John Braswell married JANE Lewis, widow of Zebulon
Lewis, and
was a grandson of Richard Towle and Susannah Burgess Bracewell as proven by
the following chain of evidence=
+ Richard Braswell was named as one of "...my three youngest
children of Susanna Braswell" in Richard Towle's will signed 5 Nov 1692 (IW
Will & Deed Book B-1, Vol. 2, p. 323.) Susannah Bracewell also
mentions son Richard Braswell in
her will dated 22 Oct 1714. (IW
Will Book 3, p. 304)
+ Proof that Richard moved from Newport Parish to the Three Creek area
is found in the Isle of Wight deed dated 22 Jun 1736 in which Moses
Faircloth sold Richard a 100-acre tract on Nottoway Swamp. Witnesses= JOHN and
William Braswell. (IW DB5,
1736-1741, pp.36-39)
+ Proof that JOHN, William, and Joseph Braswell were sons of this
Richard Braswell is found in Richard's will dated 21 Apr 1744 in which they
were so identified. Witnessed byBENJAMIN JOHNSON, JR. and Arthur EDWARDS (IW
WB4, p. 540)
Joseph and William Braswell then sold the Faircloth
tract as part of their legacy from their late father to Richard Vick on 22 Mar
1746 (IW DB 7, 1744-1747, Part 2, pp. 445-448).
+Evidence showing that JOHN Braswell married JANE LEWIS, widow of
Zebulon Lewis begins with the inventory of Lewis' estate 6 Apr 1739,
signed by JOHN BRASSELL and the ‘administratrix,’ JANE LEWIS (IW Will
&
Accounts, Vol. 4, 1735-1745, p. 129). That their marriage took place
within
the next two years is indicated by the Lewis estate settlement dated 23 Nov
1741 signed by JOHN and JANE BRASSELL. (Ibid., p. 398).
Further evidence linking JOHN to the widow Lewis is
found in two 1753
deeds, the first dated 8 February in which JOHN and WIFE Jane Braswell sold
BENJAMIN LEWIS a tract on the south side of Nottoway River on the lower side of
Three Creeks (Southampton Deed Book 1, 1749-1753, pp.458-460) and the second
dated 6 August in which NATHAN LEWIS sold BENJAMIN LEWIS the tract on Three
Creek "where said Benjamin now lives given to said Nathan by his father
Zebulon Lewis in his will" and witnessed by JOHN Braswell (Ibid., pp.
500-502).
Nathan and Benjamin were identified as his sons in Zebulon Lewis' will dated
6 Aug 1739 (IW Wills and Accounts, Vol. 4, 1733-1745, pp.215-216).
A royal grant dated 15 Jul 1760 to Joseph Larke
for a 400-acre tract
on the south side of Three Creeks was bounded by JOHN BRASSWELL, John
THORPE, and WILLIAM JOHNSON--brother of BENJAMIN JOHNSON, JR., one of the
witnesses to RICHARD BRASWELL's 1744 will.
+Three participants in the Braswell DNA project—kits numbered
7168,
7197, and 7563-- trace their paternal lineage to this JOHN and JANE
BRASWELL Everyone agrees that Professor Ray Sasser in his 2001 book “The
Braswells of Brunswick County, Virginia, being the Descendants and Ancestors of
Jesse Braswell, Sr. (ca.1741-1827)” did a masterful job of documenting this
JOHN’s immediate descendants. Where he failed was in identifying this JOHN
BRASWELL with that other JOHN BRASWELL, husband of ALICE, who lived on Beaverdam
Swamp in the southeastern part of the county.
Participant 7168 descends from JOHN and JANE LEWIS BRASWELL’s son JESSE
(1741-1827) of neighboring Brunswick County, Virginia.
During the chaos of the Revolutionary War period, JOHN's sons JESSE and JACOB
left Southampton County for greener pastures, JESSE going to nearby Brunswick
County, Virginia, and JACOB to Johnston County, North Carolina.
Several documents tie JESSE to his next home, Brunswick
County, including two 1791 deeds= On 22 Feb 1791 JESSE BRASWELL and
WILLIAM EDWARDS witnessed SEALIA FORT's sale of a 261-acre tract in Brunswick
County, part
of a grant to JOSEPH THORPE dated 26 Jun 1755. "SEALIA"--Mary
Celia Thorpe,
was born about 1733 to JOSEPH THORPE (c.1710-c.1780) who settled on Three
Creek around the time of her birth. A Southampton marriage bond was issued
for her and JOSHUA FORT dated 17 Feb 1758. JOSHUA died in 1781.
CELIA's
sister, OLIVE, as widow of JOHN FORT (d.1791), sold JESSE BRASWELL a tract in
Brunswick County on 22 Sep 1791.
+JESSE's brother JACOB was in North Carolina by 1778 but before he
left, he, GEORGE GURLEY and THOMAS EDWARDS witnessed the will of JOHN BEAL dated
13 Sep 1777(Southampton Wills & Administrations, WB 3, 1772-1782, pp.
197-198.) BEAL's father-in-law was BENJAMIN JOHNSON, Sr, father of
BENJAMIN JOHNSON, Jr, one of the witnesses to RICHARD BRASWELL's 1744 will.
CONCLUSION
American families named ‘Braswell’ or some variant thereof who are shown to
carry the S/H Braswell haplotype descend from Susannah Burgess Bracewell and
Richard Towle of colonial Isle of Wight County, Virginia.
iii. JAMES BRASWELL, SON OF SUSANNAH BURGESS BRACEWELL AND FOUNDER OF THE K/L HAPLOGROUP
PREMISE
DNA Participants Keith Braswell and the late Lolan Brazell, the first identified
members of the
K/L Haplogroup, descend from JAMES BRASWELL, son of SUSANNAH BURGESS
BRACEWELL, who died in Edgecombe County
,North Carolina, in late 1760 or early 1761. Keith descends
from JAMES, Jr and Lolan from his brother SIMON.
I.
EVIDENCE: JAMES BRASWELL AS SON OF SUSANNAH
A number of
According to a leading researcher, "The EDMUND SPENCER will is the
single most compelling record which points toward JAMES BRASWELL
being the son of SUSANNAH. It connects Susannah's sons James & Richard
to
the same people”:
Abstract of Spencer's will= EDMUND
SPENCER Of the Parish of St. Luke mentions land
bought of ARTHUR VICK; son-in-law
DREWRY BEAL; daughter ELIZABETH SPENCER. Executors: friend GEORGE GURLEY and
son-in-law DREWRY BEAL. Witness: JOHN BEAL. Signed
DRURY BEAL was the son of witness
JOHN BEAL, the brother
in law of BENJAMIN JOHNSTON JR. who witnessed the 1744 Isle of Wight County,
Virginia will of RICHARD BRASWELL,
SUSANNAH'S son.
On 13 Dec 1787, ELIZABETH
SPENCER married WILLIAM FIERS in Southampton County
,
In 1786, the extended family appeared on The
JAMES CANE
JAMES BRASWELL 0-5-4
DREW BRASWELL
(skip one, then)
HERMON STRICKLAND,SR 0-1-2
(*white males 21-60, white males under 21 or over 60,
white females, slaves}
HERMON STRICKLAND, SR., father-in-law to JAMES BRASWELL, Jr., signed his will in Halifax County on 13 Sep 1796 naming among others his daughter MARY BRASWELL, PHEREBE ALSOBROOK and grandson DAVID RANDOLPH. (Halifax Will Book 3, p. 276. Abstracted by Margaret Hoffman in "Halifax County, NC Abstract of Wills, 1758-1824")
On 20 Feb 1797 DREWRY BRASWELL (son of JAMES, Jr.) and wife LYDIA sold their 1/3 interest in a 50-acre Halifax tract that was formerly the property of (DREW's uncle) MARMADUKE STRICTLAND, deceased. The deed was witnessed by HAL ALSOBROOK.
Three decades later (1832), the estate of DAVID RANDOLPH, grandson of HERMON STRICKLAND, Sr., was settled, naming JAMES and DAVID BRASWELL, BENJAMIN and CORDY ALSOBROOK, and BOLING and SALLY BRASWELL "children of MARMADUKE BRASWELL, deceased" among his heirs. (Halifax DB 20, pp. 500-502)
Finally, at the May, 1844 session of the Halifax County Court of Pleas and Quarter Sessions, the estate division for JAMES BRASWELL, deceased, mentioned heirs at law the "Heirs of MARMADUKE BRASWELL and heirs of DREW BRASWELL--WHITMEL, POLLY, and DREW BRASWELL--and the children of ELIJAH BRASWELL, heirs of DREW BRASWELL, deceased."
ELIJAH BRASWELL, who married the daughter of WILLIAM and ELIZABETH SPENCER FIERS as noted above, was formerly participant Keith Braswell's oldest known ancestor.
II. EVIDENCE LINKING JAMES, JR. to KEITH BRASWELL
By about 1740, JAMES' family had moved down the Roanoke River into Halifax (later Edgecombe) County, North Carolina . {Edgecombe Deed Book 5, p.51} On 8 June 1742 JAMES and JOSEPH BRASWELL served on an inquest jury inquiring into the death of Constantine Devotion, a hatter--unintentionally proving they were both born by 1721.
On 16 Oct 1743 JAMES, JR bought land in Edgecombe with a deed of sale witnessed by JOSEPH CAIN. {Edge DB 3, p. 38 in Halifax CDC} As "JAMES BRASWELL, JR', he sold the tract the following 20 Aug 1754 (Ibid., DB2, p. 66)
JAMES, son of SUSANNAH BRACEWELL, signed his will in Edgecombe County 20 Sep 1760 (Probated in January, 1761= Edgecombe Will Book A, p.142) naming daughters OLIVE STINSON and SARAH CAIN and sons JAMES, JOSEPH, BENJAMIN and SIMON with SIMON also named his executor.
A leading Braswell researcher summarized the connection in a 2007 blog=
"Update regarding the K/L DNA group with 3 tested descendants:
HALIFAX Co., NC = Elijah Braswell son of Drew who in 1786 lived next door to
*James Braswell Jr* who was in records with Benjamin, Simon & Joseph
Braswell.
SCREVEN Co., GA = John Braswell. *Simon Braswell's* administrator lived on
Brier Creek, as did David Emanuel Jr who appears to have been the guardian
of John Braswell
after his father James died.
COLLETON/BARNWELL Co., SC = Henry Carter, *Joseph Braswell's*
administrator,
was on the same waterway, Salkehatchie River/Swamp as Henry Carter's father in
law, Abraham Hiers.
What do James Jr, Simon & Joseph have in common other than DNA? James
Braswell Sr, their father,
who appears to be the son of Susannah Burgess Braswell. James Sr lived
adjacent to Susannah's cousin,
Samuel Atkinson, and on a nearby creek lived William Cain Sr whose son
William Jr married Sarah Braswell,
daughter of James Braswell Sr."
III.
EVIDENCE: SIMON to LOLAN
(a) The will of JAMES BRASWELL, , son of SUSANNAH was probated
in
Edgecombe County, NC in January, 1761 naming sons
BENJAMIN, JOSEPH, SIMON, JAMES, JR..and daughter SARAH CAIN.
{Edgecombe WB A-142}
(b) SIMON married MARY TURNER in Edgecombe on
BRASWELL, bondsman. Bond 42966 Rec #01-.024 @ Ancestry.com}JAMES, his brother,
married MARY STRICKLAND, daughter of MARMADUKE STRICKLAND, and sired ELIJAH
BRASWELL.
(c) In March, 1766. EDWARD BOYKIN, whose family came from the same area in Southampton County, Virginia, as SUSANNAH BRACEWELL's sons RICHARD and JAMES, petitioned for land on Briar Creek in Screvens County, Georgia. Colonial Records of the State of Georgia. pp.485-486.
(d) 19 Feb. 1784. EDWARD BOYKIN, administrator for the
estate of SIMON 'BRASWEL'. ("Georgia Gazette" notice)
(e) SIMON's son JAMES married
TURNER, moved to Screven County, Georgia.
(f) 16 Feb 1799. JAMES BRASEL had surveyed for him 200 acres in Screven County (Book A, p. 192. Georgia Archives EEEEE)
(g) 1807. JOHN BRASWELL, "orphan of JAMES BRASWELL", received Lot 254 in District 10, Screven County, in the 1807 Georgia Lottery. DAVID EMANUEL was appointed to be guardian to JOHN BRASWELL (Index to Book I, "Screven County Court of Ordinary Minutes, 1811-1823")
(h) 2 Feb 1820. TURNER BRASWELL (son or grandson of SIMON and MARY TURNER BRASWELL?), married MARY HAY in Screven County ( Marriage Book A, 1821-1833. p. 105)
(i) 25 Jul 1825. JOHN BRASWELL married ELIZABETH BURTON in Screven County (Ibid.)
(j) 1850 Federal Census of Tattnall County, Georgia=
JOHN BRAZELL, 49, "born in Screven County, Georgia"
(k) JAMES' son JOHN moved toTattnall County,
CONCLUSION
The unique DNA signature shared by the families of Keith Braswell and
Lolan Brazell indicate that SUSANNAH BURGESS BRACEWELL's son JAMES was sired by
a
different father than her son RICHARD. The above trail of evidence links JAMES
to participants Keith Braswell, Lolan Brazell, and John W, Brazel.
(iv) BOARDVINE BRASWELL DESCENDANTS' RIGGS DNA
Mr. Alvy Smith has produced a study of the RIGGS family in America which shows JOE DEAN BRASWELL is a 34/37 match to the haplogroup founded by an "EDWARD RIGGS of Roxbury" or as Mr. Smith styles it, "The Edwardian Standard." JOE DEAN differs from the RIGGS haplotype by only one step at highly volatile markers DYS 449, 570, and CDYa. Researchers are reminded that SUSANNAH BURGESS BRACEWELL left a legacy to her grandson, JOHN RIGGS, JR.
(v) RICHARD BRACEWELL (c.1652-1725)
RICHARD BRACEWELL's 1725 will (IW The Great Book, p. 174) named five sons--RICHARD (c 1672-1758), ROBERT (c.1674-c.1736), VALENTINE (b.ca 1680), JACOB (c.1684-c.1720), and JOHN (b. ca 1688). By virtue of his close association with the other five, it is generally accepted that a sixth son, WILLIAM (c.1676-1721) predeceased his father and thus was not mentioned in his father's will.
(vi) RICHARD BRACEWELL, JR. (c.1672-1758) T
The late Bill Fields of Fayetteville, NC is the acknowledged expert on the family of RICHARD BRASWELL (c.1672-1758) in North Carolina. About 1970, Bill shared a timeline of his research. Here are some of his cogent findings and conclusions:
"1714/1715- ANN CARVER granted letters of administration on estate of her father, WILLIAM CARVER, deceased. (Chowan Co. Court Minutes, January 1714/15. RICHd BRASSWELL proved an account against the estate of WILLIAM CARVER (Ibid., April, 1715)
1720 - "We now know that Richard II had set up housekeeping with Ann Carver by 1720, perhaps earlier"
1728- RICHARD BRACEWELL JUNr sold 640 acres to 'my father RICHd BRACEWELL.' (Bertie DB C, p.19)
1731/32 - Will of THOMAS WIMBERLY witnessed by ELINOR BRASSWELL, proved by her Feb. 1732 (Bertie Wills) THOMAS WIMBERLY was living on Fishing Creek and had he lived a few months longer would have died in Edgecombe. One of his bequests was as follows: 150 acres to daughter SARAH WIMBERLY...'and my desire is for JACOB BRASWELL & young RICH BRASWELL for to Devide it amongst them.' No doubt 'young RICH BRASWELL' was RICHARD JUNr, so called to distinguish him from his father....Another mystery is what the connection was between the WIMBERLYs and BRASWELLs. It seems evident that it was a close one but no amount of speculation will reveal the truth and there is absolutely no hint in any record I've found thus far. At any rate the bequest to 'young RICH' provides evidence that ELINOR was the wife of RICHARD SENr. This is her last appearance in any known record.
1747 - RICHARD BRASWELL SENr made deeds of gift to his four children: WILLIAM 'born of the body of ANNE CARVER commonly called by the name of WILLIAM BRASWELL'; ROBERT, 'commonly called ROBERT BRASWELL,'; DAVID BRASWELL; and SARAH BRASWELL. (Halifax DB 3m pp. 177-180)
1758 - Letters of Administration granted to BENJn WILLIS on estate of DAVID BRASWELL revoked. Letters ad colligend to issue to ANN BRASWELL alias CARVER on said estate.... Ordered that depositions be taken at next Supreme Court at Enfield touching on the legitimacy of said DAVID BRASWELL.... .Ordered that consideration of the caveat entered against letters of administration being issued to RICHd BRASWELL son of RICHd BRASWELL dec'd be deferred until said depositions are returned and that letters ad colligend issue to ANN BRASWELL alias CARVER. (Governor's Office, Council Journal, 1755-1764, pp. 130-131; also printed in Colonial Records of North Carolina, Vol. V, pp. 994-995. {Litigation was over 18 slaves from the estate of RICHARD BRASWELL, Sr--CB} 2 December 1758-Bond of ANNE BRASSWELL 'of Bladen County widow' for 200 pounds as administratrix of the estate of DAVID BRASSWELL dec'd. Securities ROBERT CARVER and WILLIAM CARVER (Secretary of State, Administrators' Bonds, 1716-1774)
1759 - Suit of BENJa WILLIS Admr vs RICHd BRACEWELL abated by defendant's death. February Term of Court. Note in margin indicates suit was filed 30 September 1758, Bladen County. (Execution Docket, Wilmington District Court, 1756-1759)
1767-1772 - Will of RICHARD BRASWELL of Edgecombe County {naming sons SAMPSON, SOLOMON, RICHARD, JAMES, and WILLIAM}
The foregoing records comprise practically all that are known that pertain to RICHARD BRASWELLs in the counties designated { Isle of Wight,Chowan, Bertie, & Edgecombe} and it is my belief that they refer to two men, father and son. RICHARD SENr (described in the Isle of Wight deeds of 1703 & 1706 as JUNr to distinguish him from his father) was, unquestionably, son of RICHARD of Isle of Wight, will 1725, and his wife SARAH. He was probably born ca. 1680 and moved to N.C. ca. 1710. His wife, ELINOR, is a valuable clue to his identity as she figures in a number of his deeds between 1706 and 1729.
RICHARD JUNr must have been born very early in the century, probably ca. 1705. The earliest reference to him so designated is in 1725, when he patented land. He need not have attained his majority to accomplish that but it is probable that he was nearly 21 anyway, if not a little older. Deeds indicate that by about 1730 he had moved on into what was to become Edgecombe and it would appear that his mother, ELINOR BRASWELL, was with him as she witnessed the will of THOMAS WIMBERLY, who was living nearby. RICHARD SENr was described as 'of Bertie' in a 1735 deed but, according to the deed by which ROBERT CARVER sold his Edgecombe land, had patented that land in 1728. In the {1747} deed of gift RICHARD described it as 'the plantation whereon I now dwell', giving the location as west of Fishing Creek and on Crooked Branch, that being in the eastern part of the county near the Halifax line about 10 or 12 miles above the town of Tarboro. His other land was in the same general area: White Oak Swamp, Maple Swamp. RICHARD JUNr was in the same area but last lived on the south side of Tar River near Hatcher's Swamp, where most of his sons settled also. This is about 5 miles west of Tarboro.
The CARVER children of RICHARD BRASWELL SENr were born in the 1720's at latest. The suit of BENJAMIN WILLIS vs RICHARD BRASWELL indicates that DAVID BRASWELL-CARVER had died before 30 Sept. 1758 and that RICHARD BRASWELL, SENr died after that date but by 29 November 1758, when the Council granted letters ad colligend to ANN. WCF"
(vi-a) ROBERT BRACEWELL (c.1674-1736)
The Bertie County will of this grandson of the Immigrant, Rev. Robert Bracewell, was witnessed by JOSHUA DAUGHTREY-- his son-in-law, husband to ROBERT's daughter SARAH, and brother to BRYANT DAUGHTREY.
A number of records show ROBERT BRASWELL, JR and his brother KINDRED closely associated with their Daughtrey cousins as they migrated to South Carolina and later, Georgia. For example, an 1808 record from Tattnall County, Georgia mentions ROBERT BRASWELL,. BRYANT DAUGHTREY, and a "young Mrs. Daughtrey".
According to researcher Ann Braswell, "Due to the presence of Bryant, Joshua, and other Daughtreys near Kindred and Robert Braswell in Georgia, it is believed that Robert Braswell above was the son of Robert Braswell who died in 1736 Bertie County, North Carolina."
(vii) WILLIAM BRACEWELL (C.1676-1720/21)
A clear papertrail connects WILLIAM BRACEWELL with his brothers. In 1702 he patented two tracts on Blackwater in Virginia, one with RICHARD BRACEWELL (Louis de Cognets. English Duplicates, p. 73). In 1703, he witnessed his brother-in-law WILLIAM BROWN's assignment of a patent on Blackwater to 'RICHARD BRACEWELL JUNr' (IW DB 1, 1688-1704, p. 401) This was in the Beaverdam Swamp community in Blackwater Basin in present Southhampton County (VA) where RICHARD SENr and family settled around 1694 (Ibid., p.103).
WILLIAM pioneered North Carolina for the rest of his brothers. He patented land on Yourahaw Swamp (near present Rich Square, Northampton County) in 1706. (Mary Best Bell. BertieCounty North Carolina Deed Books A-H. Book D, p. 149.) This area became the center of activity for the RICHARD BRACEWELL, SR. clan throughout the next generation.
The connection between WILLIAM Sr & WILLIAM Jr is likewise well-documented= In a deed dated 13 Aug 1728, in which WILLIAM BRACEWELL and wife MARGARET sold 200 acres on 'Yohohaw Swamp', WILLIAM is styled as "WILLIAM BRACEWELL son and heir of WILLIAM BRACEWELL dec'd" (Bertie DB C, p.5). In another deed dated 1729 MOSES GINN and wife MARY sold WILLIAM BRACEWELL some property in which WILLIAM was described as "WILLIAM BRACEWELL son of WILLIAM BRACEWELL and MARY BRACEWELL alias GINN." (Ibid., p. 119).
Ever the pioneer's son, WILLIAM, JR. had moved to Edgecombe by 1734 when, as "WILLIAM BRASSWELL of Edgecombe Precint" he sold Rev. JOHN BOYD a portion of a tract that had been granted WILLIAM BRASSWELL {Sr) on 1 April 1714, which tract being "where John Boyd doth now live...on the south side of Yarawhaw Swamp...adjancent ROBERT BRASSWELL on Poplar Branch" (Ibid., Book D, p.150)
In 1742/1743, WILLIAM patented 1,000 acres in the central part of present Nash County, NC (Patent Book 5, p. 132, 157). He made his will in Nash County 4 March 1785, probated the following May Court (C.R. 069.801.2, State Archives, Raleigh). In it he named wife MARGARET and sons JACOB, ARTHUR, and SAMUEL. A wealth of documentation (including wills) exists to verify each of the lines of their participating descendants.
(vii-a) DAVID EUGENE BRASWELL'S LINEAGE
E-mail from Ann Braswell, David's Sponsor, dated 18 Dec 2008:
"As you know, my Braswell line is not provable, and circumstantial
evidence has been hard to come by due to the fact that my Nash County
NC Samuel Braswell (born 1799 in South Carolina) was in Robertson
County Tennessee with no other Braswells other than his children, so I
have no proof of how he got there, although I suspect it may have been
with David Woodard.
At this point the will of James Woodard and a POA seem to be my only
documentation to any Braswells, which leads to Micajah, who was named
as a son of Samuel Braswell in his will which is recorded in Nash Co.
NC 1795.
Micajah's estate records in 1804 Nash Co. NC consist of a bond which
named John Massingale as administrator, and an inventory. Apparently
the record naming the heirs has been lost. As a result, I have not
been able to rule out Micajah and my best evidence keeps him on the
top of the list.
David and I will be claiming Micajah Braswell as our 4th Great
Grandfather who was on the NC/SC border in 1800 with his uncle Arthur
and cousins David, Henry & Nathan after his father Samuel died.
"Henry Braswell's land was situated on the North Carolina line in
Marion District, South Carolina, near Robeson County, North Carolina
(Marion County, S.C. Deed Book 1, p. 415.)" From Edward Craig.
Interesting points:
1. Strong evidence suggests Mary Woodard married Micajah Braswell.
2. Elizabeth Woodard married Daniel Holland who died in Robertson Co TN
3. David Woodard married Elizabeth Braswell, Micajah's sister.
4. David Woodard is on 1850 census close to Vincent Braswell, Robertson Co TN
5. Keziah Woodard married John Massingale, adm. of Micajah Braswell's estate.
6. Is James Woodard's EXTR James Williams, father of Vincent Williams POA?
7. Was Vincent Braswell named after Vincent Williams?
8. Is David Woodard's grandson Bennett Woodard, cousin of Bennett Braswell?
9. Who is Bennett S. Holland that married Elizabeth Mason?
In the name of God Amen
I JAMES WOODARD of the County of Nash and State of North Carolina,
being of sound disposing mind & memory (blessed be God) do make and
ordain this my last Will and testament (hereby revoking all others) in
manner & form following to wit.
Imprimes, I lend to my beloved wife MARY WOODARD during her natural
life all my land & plantation & at the expiration thereof I give &
bequeath the same to my grandson COLEMAN WOODARD (son of AARON
WOODARD) to him & his heirs for ever. Also I lend to my wife MARY one
negro man by the name of Robin & at her death I give & bequeath the sd
negro Robin to my son AARON WOODARD to him and his heirs forever I
lend also to my wife MARY WOODARD during her life two feather beds and
furniture, one chest one Table & all my Kitchen furniture, one Sorrel
Horse, two cows and calves, one sow & pigs (& give her as many fat
Hoggs as will be sufficient to support her and family one year) one
Cart & wheels, one plow well fixed for service, with good gear, And at
the expiration of her life my will and desire is that the aforesaid
property be divided in the following manner (viz) three fifth parts be
equally divided between my three children namely AARON WOODARD,
ELIZABETH HOLLAND & KIZIAH MASINGALE, & two fifths between the
children of my two daughters, SARAH DANCE & MOURNING JACKSON.
Item, I give and bequeath to my grandson HENRY WOODARD (son of DAVID
WOODARD) one feather bed without furniture to him and his heirs
forever.
Item, I give and bequeath to my son DAVID WOODARD one Dollar and no more.
Item, I give and bequeath to my son DANIEL WOODARD one Dollar and no more.
Item, I give and bequeath to my Daughter MARY HUNT BRASWELL nineteen
Dollars which I have already paid & have to pay for her.
Item, I give and bequeath to the children of my son DAVID WOODARD each
of them forty shillings Virginia Currency a piece to be put out on
Interest till they arrive to the age of twenty one years.
And after my just debts being paid, my will and desire is that the
rest and residue of my Estate (including my Mill) be divided in the
following manner, viz., my three children, namely AARON WOODARD,
ELIZABETH HOLLAND & KEZIAH MASINGALE to have three fifths parts, equal
in division and the other two fifths to be equally divided between the
children of my two Daughters, SARAH DANCE & MOURNING JACKSON, except
one cow and yearling now in his possession which I give to my sd
Daughter MOURNING & no more & one Dollar also which I give to my sd
Daughter SARAH DANCE & no more.
And I hereby make and ordain my friend JAMES WILLIAMS & my son AARON
WOODARD Executors to this my last will and testament In witness
whereof I have to this my last will and testament set my hand and seal
this 13th of February 1808. Interlined before signed}
Sign'd Seal'd publish his
And declared in the JAMES X WOODARD (Seal)
Presence of us mark
WM. BODDIE X
his
BOURELL X WOODARD
Mark
His
DAVID X WOODARD
Mark
This my Codisel I here unto Ennox unto my Will
Item, I give unto KEZEKIAH MASINGALE one Bed and furniture To her and
her heirs forever.
Item I give and Bequeath unto my grand Son JAMES DANCE one Bed and
furniture to him and his heirs for Ever.
Signed in presence of us; his
JAMES X WOODARD (Seal)
WM BODDIE X mark
This Eighteenth Day
His February 1808
SARAH X DANCE
Mark
Nash County } The foregoing will and codicil was duly proven in open
Court & ordered to be recorded by the oath of WM. BODDIE a subscribing
Witness to each & on Motion ordered to be Record
Attest Wm. Hall, CC
And is Registered in obedience to the above order
Attest Wm. Hall CC
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
"Know all men by these presents that we Drucilla Woodard, Cordy
Holland and wife Mary Holland formerly Mary Woodard, Noah Woodard,
Martha Woodard Heirs of David Woodard all of the County of Robertson
and State of Tennessee do by these presents constitute nominate and
appoint our friend Vicnet Williams of the County and State aforesaid
our true and lawful attorney in fact for us and in our names And on
our behalf to ask demand sue for recover and receive of Aaron Woodard
Excet. of James Woodard Decesed In the County of Nash and State of
North Carolina The legacy due said heirs by heirship fo their
grandfather James Woodard and to make Settlement with sd. Executor and
on Receiving such legecy recept them for the same in our names and on
recovering and receiving such Legacy due to us and we do hereby vest
full power and athority in our said attorney should it become
necessary to sue and be sued prosecute and defend any or all suits
necessary to compleat our business and all recepts Necessary for our
Attorney to assign shall be as good and Valied as tho we was
personally present to Assign and Acknowledge the same ourselves;
hereby ratifying and confirming all my said attorney may lawfully do
in And about the premises in testimony whereof we Have herunto set our
hands and Seals this 17th Day of May 1828.
Drucella (her mark) Woodard (seal)
Corday Holland (seal)
Mary (her mark) Holand (seal)
Noah Woodard (seal)
Martha (her mark) Woodard (seal)
State of Tennessee Robertson County
We William Pope, Richard Benson Two fot he acting Justices of the
peace in and for said County do hereby certify that Drucilla Woodard,
Cordy Holland and wife Mary Holland formily Mary Woodard, Noah
Woodard, Martha Woodard came personally before us and acknowledged
that foregoing power of Attorney to Vincent Williams for the purpose
therein Contained in testimony whereof we have here unto set our
hands and seals this 17th day of May 1828.
William Pope (seal)
Richard Benson Jr (seal)
State of Tennessee Robertson County
I William Seal Clerk of Court of Please and Quarter Sessions for said
County do hereby certify that William Pope and Richard Benson Esquires
whose names stand assigned to the foregoing certificate of
acknowledgement are acting Justices of the peace and for said County
duly commissioned and qualified as such and that full faith and credit
is and ought to be due to their official acts as such.
In Testimoney whereof I have hereunto set my hand and affixed the seal
of said Court at office in Springfield this 17th day of May 1828 and
52nd year of our Independence
Wm Seal Clerk of Robertson County Courth
State of North Carolina
Nash County Court August Term 1828
The foregoing Power of atty. was offered for Probate and Rect. and it
appearing to the Satisfaction of the Court that the same had been duly
acknowleded before Richard Benson and Wm Pope two of the Justices of
the Peace for said County of Robertson Tennessee as certified by Wm.
Seal Clerk of the County Court of said Rovertson under his seal of
office and by John Hutchinson presiding Magistrate of said Court as to
the Clerkship of said Wm. Sela, it is therefore ordered to be
recorded.
And is Registered in obedience thereto
Attest H. Blount C.C.C.
Attest Jesse H. Drake J.P."
Source: Nash County, N.C. Power of Attorney, 1788-1913 (Broken
Series). C.R.069.928.6.
Submitted by Grace Turner. Copied as closely as possible from original."
(viii) VALENTINE BRACEWELL (c.1680-Aft 1728): HIS GRANDSON RICHARD BRASWELL (c.1732-1799)
Evidence for RICHARD (c.1732-1799)'s descent through VALENTINE is circumstantial since neither grandfather, father, nor son left wills or other documents providing positive identification.
( a) A landless VALENTINE BRASWELL, thought to be VALENTINE, Sr., was living on land in Edgecombe County owed by his cousin, SAMPSON WILLIAMS, in 1744 when WILLIAMS sold the tract to another kinsman, SAMUEL WILLIAMS (Edge DB5, p. 462). The tract was located on Cypress Creek in the western part of that county, near the Fall Line Road leading down to Bladen (later Orange) County where VALENTINE appeared two years later (1746), buying land at the Deep-Haw rivers confluence from JOSHUA GINN, yet another presumed cousin.
( b) A number of records connect VALENTINE with his son RICHARD, including a 1753 Granville grant in which 'VOLENTINE BRASSWELL SENIER' and RICHARD BRASSWELL Son of VOLENTINE' both enter for tracts in Orange County. (SS 435, Secretary of State, Land Entries, 1747-1905)
(c) RICHARD BRASWELL, son of VALENTINE's settlement on Deep River in an area dotted with Quaker meetinghouses plus the early appearance of a HENRY BRASWELL (believed to have been named for HENRY POPE, VALENTINE's father-in-law) provides strong circumstantial evidence for the connection. Moreover, since many of the first converts to the then-new Southern Baptist religion were former Quakers, RICHARD, JR's early association with the Deep River Baptist Church founded in the mid-1750's yields further evidence.
(d) ) RICHARD (c.1732-1799) is identified as that RICHARD BRASWELL who first appeared in Anson (now Montgomery) County, NC in 1769 through his association with certain individuals there who are known to have formerly lived in Orange County, namely RANDAL CHEEK, ISAAC COOPER, WILLIAM LUCAS, and WILLIAM USSERY. Subsequent generations from RICHARD are well documented.
(ix) VALENTINE BRASWELL (c.1775-1834) OF SOUTH CAROLINA AND GEORGIA
VALENTINE BRASWELL (c1770-1834) is thought to belong to the Orange/Chatham branch founded by VALENTINE, son of RICHARD BRACEWELL (1725 Va. will)= (1) the given name Valentine was not seen in the older coastal plain counties (Edgecombe, Nash, etc.) after the disappearance of the original VALENTINE BRACEWELL in the 1730's. After that the name 'Valentine' only shows up on the Piedmont; first in the Johnston/Orange/Chatham area (2) the presence of the younger VALENTINE in the South Carolina Outback at roughly the same time as the RICHARD & OBEDIENCE BRASWELL family--who have known ties to the Orange/Chatham Braswells.
Documentation proving DARRELL BRAZELL's connection to VALENTINE BRASWELL ( c.1775 -1830's ) has not been produced. Rev. Carl Braswell offers the following evidence:
"The record I have of Derril shows he married Mary Porterfield in NewtonCounty, GA about the same time Wesley (census record) lived there, and then appears later in the same places other Braswells of Valentine's family family appears, then in Paulding County, GA in 1850 where Henry Braswell had migrated just a short time before and a little time later is followed by my g grandfather along with his son Jacob Valentine. Also, on all the census records where Derril is found his wife is always named Mary, even in Arkansas. I think that strong evidence of Derril being the son of Valentine Braswell. Then again there is the matter of name pattern." {2005 E-Mail)
(x) JOSEPH BRACEWELL, BORN 1751 IN COLNE, LANCASHIRE
JOSEPH BRACEWELL lived in Colne, Lancashire, about 7 miles from Bracewell, Yorkshire (now a part of Lancashire).. His American descendant, Gary Bracewell, closely matches the main Braswell Haplotype (23/25, including only a minor one step difference at highly volatile DYS464d). Rev. ROBERT BRACEWELL's family were in Grantham, Lincolnshire, by c. 1500. Thus the two lineages diverged no later than the 1400's.
(xi) REV. JIM BRASWELL OF MACON, GEORGIA
Participant Rev. James Carl "Jim" Braswell of Macon, Georgia, is the grandson of LUTHER CLEVELAND BRASWELL of Birmingham, Alabama, and great-grandson of ROBERT and CARI BRASWELL. Jim's father was born in Laurel, Mississippi, in 1915.
(xii) BREAZEALE FAMILY ORIGIN
According to Mary Latham Norton, author of Campbell, Houston, Lathan, & Witt Genealogy,
'....the home of the Brezals' is in Bretagne, France. There is supposed to be a 'Chateau de Brezal' (Brezeale, Breazeale) and Church of Pont-Christ located there.'
(xiii) NEWFOUNDLAND 'BRAZIL' BREAZEALES
According to Deborah Jeans, an experienced genealogist, "The first JOHN BRAZIL was born in 1691 and immigrated to Newfoundland from Bristol in 1711." (E-mail, Jeans to Bracewell, 27 Feb 2004)
(xiv) SOME MALE LINES OF DESCENT FROM HENRY BREAZEALE (c.1681-1769)
as reported in Lois Davis Plotts' Breazeale Kin (1961) and by Taney Breazeal in her quarterly, "Breazeale Notes" =
HENRY 'BRASSAL' (c.1620's-c.1662) Huguenot-English immigrant to Virginia
HENRY "BRAZEEL" (c.1651-c.1720) Married a DRURY?
1 DRURY--Stayed in Virginia
1 WILLIAM - Stayed in Virginia
1 JAMES - d. in SC after 1782. Came with brother (?) HENRY to Long Cane Creek area by 1763
2(?) - JAMES (1778-1854) Lived in Roane County, TN
1 HENRY (c.1681-1769) "The Planter" {neighbor to the Calhouns, Pickens, and other prominent planter families}
2 JOHN (1711-1776?) 1st of five children by SARAH? WILLIS
2 ELIJAH (1715- m. PATTY
3 WILLIAM
3 HENRY m. ELIZABETH?
4 WOOD
4 Dr WILLIS m. SARAH WOOD BREAZEALE
4 HENRY m. MARY
2 WILLIAM (1717- )
2 WILLIS (1719-1794) m. SARAH WOOD went to Tennessee
3 ELISHA (1766-1833) went to MS
3 DRURY WOOD (1768-1834) m. RHODA
3 WILLIS, JR. (1770-1833)
3 ELIJAH (1774-1830's) m. ___ DAVIS
3 BENJAMIN F. (1777-c.1850) m. MARTHA MILLER
3 ARCHIBALD (1784/8-1859) m. DORCAS (1793- ) went to Jackson County, AR
4 BENJAMIN F.
4 GEORGE W.
4 WILLIAM (1830- ) born in TN
4 JACKSON
4 ARCHIBALD (1825- ) born TN
4 JAMES M.
4 THOMAS (1838- ) born TN
3 KINSMAN (1786- )
2 DRURY (1720's- )
3 DRURY, JR (1760-1822)
4 JOHN BLOCKER (1780's-1839) m. SARAH McMILLEN 1818 Went to Dallas County, AL
4 DRURY III (1770's-1846)
5 ELIJAH BUSHALOO (1808-1888)
6 WILLIAM W. (1831- )
6 JAMES PINCKNEY (1839-1913)
6 JOHN W. (1842-1928)
2 ENOCH (1749-1826) m. RUTHA First son by 2nd wife, SARAH KENNON?
2 JOEL (1751-1829) m. REBECCA GRIFFIN 1778
3 WILLIAM (1790's- )
3 JOEL M. (1800's- )
2 KENNON (1753-1857) m. HASKEY GRIFFIN 1788
3 ENOCH (1788-1850) m. NANCY GAMBRELL (1794-1867)
4 GRIFFIN m. MARY BARTON
3 WILLIAMSON (1801-1861) m. PENELOPE HALLOWAY
3 AIKEN (1790-1859) m. PEGGY McMILLEN (d.1845)
4 NEWTON (1818-c.1858)
4 ABNER McMILLAN (1820- )
4 JAMES KENNON (1831- )
3 GRIFFIN (1796-1874) m. SARAH RICHARDSON
4 WILLIAM G. (1827- )
4 ENOCH (1837- )
4 JOHN HARRISON (1844-1895)
4 ROBERT ALLEN (1851- )
3 MATTHEW (1813-1885) m. DORCUS BARTON (1829-1910)
3 DAVID KENNON (1804-1869) m. UTINEY HALLOWAY (1810-1843)
: