BRANSON Wills
Will of Thomas Branson
1744 Burlington Co NJ
In the name of God, Amen. I Thomas Branson of Springfield in the county of Burlington and Western Division of the province of New Jersey being sick and weak of body but of perfect and deposing mind and memory calling to mind the mortality of my body do make and ordain this my last will and testament in manner and form following: viz Principally and first of all to the lord my Soul I do recommend and to this Earth my body I do commit to be therein deacently interrd at the discretion of my Exc'rs herein after named, or in case of their absence, of Elizabeth my wife, and as touching such worldly estate wherewith it hath pleased god to bless me I do give demise and bequeath thereof as followeth: Imprimis I will that all my all my just debts oweing to any person or persons be well and truly contented & paid out of my Estate and also the charges of my funeral by my Executors hereinafter named. Item to Elizabeth my wife I do give and bequeath the sum of Five Pounds Proclamation Money yearly and every year she shall continue my widow to be paid her by my Executors after named. Item to my sons David Branson - Joseph Branson - Jonathan Branson - Lionell Branson - William Branson - Day Branson - and my Daughter Sarah Owin I do give and bequeath the sum of one shilling Proclamation Money Each to be paid to them by my Exc'rs after named.
Item to the children of Zachariah Robins and Mary his wife which are now living being my grand children I do give and bequeath the sum of twenty shillings Proclamation Money each to be paid to them by my Execs as they severally arrive to the age of one and twenty years. Item to the children of William Rogers and Elizabeth his wife which are now living being my grand children I do give and bequeath the sum of twenty shillings each excepting one of them viz Abigal Rogers, to whom I do give and bequeath the sum of five pounds. The aforesaid legacies to be paid to them my said grand children by my Execs as they do severally arrive at the age of one and twenty years, and in case any of the children of the aforesaid Zachariah Robins and Mary his wife now living should happen to die before the time herein limited for the receipt of their legacy herein given them I will that the portion of such deceased be equally divided between the survivors, the like to be done with respect to my other grand children, the children of William Rogers and Elizabeth his wife under the same circumstances.
Item to my two sons Thomas Branson and John Branson whom I do hereby nominate constitute and appoint whole sole & joint Exc'rs of this my last Will and Testament I do give demise and bequeath all the rest & residue of my Estate not herein willed & bequeathed whatsoever and whatever Personal & Real to them my said two sons their heirs and assigns forever to be between them equally divided as near as may be quantity & quality, and I do hereby revoke disanul disallow and make void all and every other and former Wills Testaments Legacies Bequests & Ex'rs by me in any wise before this time named willed or bequesthed, ratifying & confirming this and no other to be my Last Will & Testament In Witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal the eleventh day of October in the year of our Lord one thousand seven hundred & forty four 1744. Item to my grandson Thomas Branson son of John Branson I do give and bequeath that tract of land of mine lying on Shanandow River in Virginia, which I laid out for Thomas Alexander and one called Scotch Robin computed at two hundred acres be it more or less to him my said grandson his heirs and assigns for ever this paragraph was written before signing and sealing.
Thomas Branson [seal]
Signed Sealed Publish & Pronounced & Declared by the said Testator as his Last Will & Testament in the Presence of us James Antram, James Maclutche, John Osmond
A true copy from the original Will in the Proragative Court in Burlington compared & examined by Geo Murray Surrogate. Lewis Morris Esq. Captain - General and Governor in Chief in and over His Majesties Province of New Jersey, and Territories thereon depending in America, and Vice-Admiral in the same.
Burlington county
Be it remembered that on the twentyfirst day of November in the year of our Lord 1744 personally came before me George Murray duly authorized to prove wills James Antram and James Maclatche two of the witnesses in the within will ment'd who being of the people called Quakers did solemnly, sincerely and truely declare and affirm that they were present and saw Thomas Branson the Testator within named sign and seal the within Testament and heard him publish pronounce and declare the same to be his last Will and Testament and that at the doing thereof the said Testator was of sound mind and memory to the best of their knowledge, .... and that at the same time John Osmund the other witness within named was present and signed his name as a witness as also did each of those Affirmants as Witnesses thereof in presence of the said Testator. Affirmed before me Geo Murray
James Antram (mark), James Maclatche
The next entry is signed by John Branson before the same George Murray.
Previously I had typed here as much as I could make out from a poor photocopy of the text of the will recorded in New Jersey for Thomas Branson of Springfield, Burlington in 1744. Now, August 2000, I have typed from a Frederick Co VA courthouse photocopy.
Will of John Branson
Nov 1770 Frederick Co, VA
Be it known to all Persons whom it may concern that I John Branson of the county of Frederick & Colony of Virginia being under a sence of the mortality of my body do take this opportunity in weakness of body but of sound and perfect mind and memory to make and commit unto writing this my Last Will & Testament, Utterly Disannuling all others by me heretofore made do constitute publish and appoint this to be my Last Will & Testament. First it is my Will and I do order that all my just debts & funeral charges be paid our of my moveable estate also it is my will and I do order that my Beloved Wife Martha Branson shall have and keep easible Possession of the Plantation I now live on and all the moveable estate, paying the legacys hereunder mentioned Viz I Will and Bequeath to my beloved son Thomas Branson five pounds also my wearing apparel I have bestowed Thomas portion befours -- I Will & Bequeath to my beloved daughter Anna Shinn the sum of fifty pounds I give to Mary Duckworth the wife of John Duckworth the sum of five shillings sterling. I Give and Bequeath to my beloved Daughter Elizabeth Corder forty one acres of land I purchased of Joseph Baker and fifty nine acres of land adjoining the same it being part of a survey of land I obtained from the Proprietors Office to have the said lands their heirs or assigns forever.
Item I Will and Bequeath to my Beloved Daughter Martha Fawcett one half of the Plantation I now live on after the decease of my Beloved Wife adjoining my Daughter Elizabeth's land, also fifty acres of the remainder of the survey Elizabeth had fifty-nine acres from equally to be divided in quantity and to her and her heirs & assigns forever. Item I Will & Bequeath to my grandson John Branson the other half of the above Plantation I now live on after the decease of my beloved Wife to his Heirs and assigns forever it is my Will that if my executors sees it too difficult for them to divide the said land between my daughter Martha and my grandson John Branson I request and desire Hopwell Monthly Meeting to appoint three or more persons to assist my exers. whose judgment is to be final. By agreement with John Branson Sr. about a survey of land that did join to both he is to have one half by paying one half of cost of survey and the other half I give to my grandson John Branson and I do make ordain and constitute my Well Beloved Wife Martha Branson and my son in law Thomas Fawcett and John Lupton Executors of this my Last Will & Testament and I do hereby Disallow Revoke and Disannul all and and every Testament Will Executors by me before this time in any ways willed requested ratifying & confirming this and no other to by my Last Will and Testament In Witness whereof I have set my hand and Seal the first day of the ninth month 1769
Signed Sealed Published & Declared by the said John Branson as his Last Will and Testament in presence of Mary Ellis, Andrew McKay, John Branson
At a Court Held for Frederick County November 6th 1770 this Last Will & Testament of John Branson deceased was proved by the oaths of Mary Ellis and Andrew McKay Witnesses thereto and ordered to be recorded. John Lupton one of the Executors therein named having refused to take upon himself the burthen of the Execution Martha Branson and Thomas Faucett the other Executors made oath thereto & upon their motion Certificate is Granted them for obtaining a Probate thereof in due form they giving security whereupon they together with Andrew McKay and Richard Ridway their securities entered into & acknowledged a bond in the penalty of five hundred pounds conditioned for their due & faithful Administration of the said Estate.
By the Court, Jas Keith
John Day Branson's Land Records and Biographical Notes
I hope to find other Branson descendants who wish to cooperate in proving/disproving the descendancy of these Branson to Thomas who married Susan (?) McGow(a)n and moved to Missouri.
Will of Martha Branson
Written 12 April? 1805, Proved 2 Feb 1808 Frederick Co, VA
Be it known that I Martha Branson of the County of Frederick & State of Virginia do make and commit to writing this my last Will & Testament disannulling all others by me heretofore made and this (?) in manner following viz - First, I do will and desire that all my just debts and funeral charges be first paid. Secondly, I will and bequeath unto my beloved daughter Martha Fawcett wife of Thomas Fawcett the full half of all my estate after my just debts vz as before mentioned are fully paid, it being a consideration for their care of me in my old age - as also an equal share as is hereafter mentioned. Thirdly, I will and bequeath the remaining half of my estate except as hereafter excepted, to be equally divided between my daughters Eunice Painter, Martha Fawcett, the surviving children of my daughters Elizabeth Branson, Sarah Bailey and Amelia Sa? oriah that is to say that a mother's share be divided equally among my said grand children - Fourthly my will is that my wearing apparel shall not be appraised, but be given to my grand daughter Hannah Fearnley. Fifthly & lastly I appoint my son in law Thomas Fawcett & my grandson Abraham Branson to be the Executors of this my last Will & Testament and hereby revoking all other wills and testaments by me heretofore made and that this only be considered as my last Will and Testament. In witness whereof I have hereunto sett my hand & seal this 12th day of the 2nd month 1805. Signed sealed published & declared by the said Martha Branson as her last will and testament in presence of NB. the words except as is hereafter excepted was interlined before signing
Goldsmith Chandler
Joseph Woods
Martha Branson [her mark] {seal}
At a court continued & held for Frederick County the 2nd day of February 1808. This last will and testament of Martha Branson deceased was proved by the affirmations of Goldsmith Chandler and Joseph Wood witnesses thereto and ordered to be recorded. And on the motion of Thomas Fawcett one of the Executors therein named who made solemn affirmation according to law, cerificate is granted him for obtaining a probate thereof in due form giving security, whereupon he together with Goldsmith Chandler and Isaac Baker his securities entered into and acknowledged bond in the penalty of nine hundred dollars, conditioned as the law directs.
By the Court, Jas Keith, Co Clerk
Martha was the daughter of Sarah Zealy (sometimes found as Taley etc) and Thomas Antram. Her first husband, the father of daughters Elizabeth, Amelia and Eunice, was John Osmund. Secondly she married John (often referred to as John Day) Branson. John and Martha had daughters Ann and Martha; but Ann is mentioned only in John's will, not here, as you see, and Martha refers to a dau Sarah that John does not mention. Explanation, anyone?
Will of Sarah Branson
Written 16 August? 1829, Proved 5 Mar 1832 Frederick Co, VA
I Sarah Branson of the County of Frederick & State of Virginia being advanced in years and not knowing how soon it may please ... to take me from this world by death do make and declare this .. -ment of writing to be my last will and testament, revoking all other. 1st I desire that all my just debts, if any, may be paid. 2nd I will that Maria R. Branson of my step son Rees Branson de ... shall have a feather bed, bedding, a walnut bureau, a half a dozen silver tea spoons and a cow of her choice. 3rd I desire that my daughter Mary Fawcett shall have a half a dozen silver table spoons. 4th I will that my grand daughter Sarah Ann Branson of William, shall have a feather bed, bedding, and a half a dozen Liverpool tea cups and saucers, and a stand of walnut drawers. 5th I desire that my niece Sarah Sidwell daughter of Elizabeth Purviance (??) shall have ten dollars in cash. 6th I will that all the residue of my property shall be sold & the proceeds thereof be equally divided between my sons Isaac and Thomas Branson, all which bequests to be paid as soon as practicall after my death. 7th I hereby constitute and appoint my son Joseph Branson my Executor. In testimony wereof I have hereunto subscribed my name & fixed my seal this 16th day of sixth month AD 1829
Witness
Abel Walker, S ... W. Jackson
Sarah Branson ... {seal}
At a Court held for Frederick County the 5th day of March 1832 this Last Will and Testament of Sarah Branson dec'd was proved by the affirmations of Abel Walker and ?? W. Jackson witnesses thereto and ordered to be recorded. And upon the motion of Joseph Branson the executor therein named, who made oath according to law, certificate is granted him for obtaining a probate thereof in due form on his giving security: whereupon he together with Elisha Fawcett his security entered into and acknowledged bond in the penalty of five hundred dollars conditioned for his due & faithful administration of said decedants Estate.
By the Court
[sig illegible, looks like -- Tidball?]
The copy is cut off a bit on the right side of the first page, thus the ... above where text is missing, but it is only a matter of a few letters. The surname of Sarah Tidwell's mother is not missing, but I cannot read or recognize it yet.
Sarah was the daughter of Nathaniel and Mary White, and wife of Abraham D. Branson: the line that stayed in Frederick county, at Clear Brook. This Branson house yet stands, and although it is no longer held in the family, is beautifully maintained by the present owner.