____________________
~~ ABSOLOM BRANSON ~~
________________________
BRANSON MOTTO:
"While I Have Breath, I Hope."
________________________
ABSOLOM BRANSON was born in 1740 @ St. Mary's Co., MD. He died in 1798 @ Buncombe Co., NC.
________________________
BRANSON LINEAGE :
ABSOLOM'S GRANDPARENTS :
~ "Thomas Branson" (1635 England--1684 MD)
& "Amy Morris". They were married in 1662 @ St. Mary's Co., MD.
There are 3 Amy's or Ann's that have been thought to be Thomas'wife.
1. Amy Barber...because their son John had Edward Barber for his godfather & mentor.
2. Ann Hilton...because John Hilton signed documents along with Thomas Branson.
3. "AMY MORRIS"...because in 1662 it is recorded that Amy & Thomas Branson were living in the household of John Morris. I think this is very telling...a father or a brother would help his daughter & son-in-law or his sister & brother-in-law who were newly married in 1662.
Thomas & Amy had 4 Children.
~ Gerrard/Garrott/Garrett Branson
~ Mary Branson
~ Michael Branson
~ John Branson.
"Thomas Branson" died in May 1684 @ St. Mary's Co., MD.
Several years before, Amy had been accosted/molested (where she worked on a plantation) by a Joseph Peters. Peters appeared in court because charges were brought by Amy's employer regarding Peters' actions against her.
After Thomas Branson died, Amy married the same Joseph Peters. She had 4 Branson children when she married Peters. He was supposed to be their guardian; but the older son, Gerrard/Garrott/Garrett Branson, went to court on behalf of his minor siblings because stepfather/guardian Peters was squandering their inheritance. (Michael Branson was 4 when his dad died.) John Branson had his godfather, Edward Barber, who mentored him.
------------------------------------
ABSOLOM'S PARENTS :
~ "Michael Branson" (1680 MD--after 1744 MD) &
"Rebecca ? Yates ?". They married in 1729 MD.
Yates is a probable maiden name for Rebecca. Yates men "often" signed or witnessed documents for Michael. (Borden was a maiden name that I could not clearly link to Rebecca.)
Michael was listed as a tobacco planter. He signed land deeds in May 1744. After that, I could not find a record for him or wife Rebecca. So, it is assumed that he died after 1744.
Absolom was young when his dad died. (This may be where the descendant Gaius wrote that Absolom lost his father & that an uncle finished raising him.) This was probably John Branson. He was active in 1764 @ St. Mary's Co., MD & in 1768-1782 @ Amelia Co., VA. John had also lost his father (Thomas) @ a young age so he could empathize with Absolom's loss of his father (Michael).
☆ Absolom was proven through DNA to be the son of Michael Branson of St. Mary's Co., MD while legal records of marriage, death, & custody of minor children show Michael to be the son of Thomas Branson of St. Mary's Co., MD. ☆
♡ Absolom took the Oath of Allegiance in 1777 to renounce King George III of England & to swear allegiance to the Commonwealth of VA @ Pittsylvania Co., VA @ Chatham. He is listed under Abraham Shelton's List. ♡
_________________________
A book was written in 1823 by "Samuel David Branson" (1814-1890), son of "David A. Branson & Susanna Boulton Branson"; they were Alive when he wrote it! It was called "History of the Branson's". He wrote that his Grandfather Absolom was born in America; that he was born in Marlborough MD; that he married Jemima Lorton in VA; that he moved to Buncombe Co., NC where he died; & Grandma Jemima went onto Rutledge, Grainger Co., TN (Cracker's Neck Valley).
* This was written only 25 years after Absolom died; his son David supervised the book's creation as this author/son was 9 when he wrote this history. *
________________________
ABSOLOM BRANSON lived in MD & VA; he married "Jemima Lorton" in 1764 @ Pittsylvania Co., VA, & had 8 Children.
________________________
JEMIMA LORTON (1744 VA--1800 TN ).
________________________
LORTON LINEAGE :
JEMIMA'S GRANDPARENTS :
~ "Israel Lorton, Sr." (1701 England--1752 VA)
& "Rebecca ?" (abt 1695--?). They married in 1723 VA.
THEIR 4 CHILDREN :
~ "Thomas Lorton, Sr." (1724 VA--?)
~ "Israel Lorton, Jr." (1727 VA--1808 IN)
~ "Jacob Lorton" (1728 VA--?)
~ "Sarah Lorton" (1732 VA--1802).
------------------------------------
In an old notation, "Absolom Branson" was said to have travelled from MD to VA in the 1760's with "Cousins, Thomas & John". These were Jemima's cousins' names. Jemima's Uncle Thomas Lorton, Sr. had 3 sons named Thomas Lorton, Jr. & John Lorton (& Robert Lorton by his 2nd young wife). Their father, old Thomas, Sr., married in his advanced years to a young widow, Elizabeth Moss. "Before" this 2nd. marriage, old Thomas had promised to leave his land to his son John & his bride-to-be...because John's future father-in-law was against the marriage Until the promise of inheritance was offered. Old Thomas recanted this inheritance promise to son John after his 2nd. mariage to young widow Eliz. Moss in 1745. This was noted in court. Old Thomas' 2 sons, Thomas Jr. & John, were also held accountable for a debt left by their father when old Thomas left a county in VA.
While a young boy, "Absolom Branson" lost his father Michael. A descendant of his, Gaius Branson, wrote in 1890 that after Absolom's parents died that an uncle finished raising him. (This part of Gaius' story is accurate.) That could have been his paternal Uncle John Branson or his paternal Uncle Gerrard/Garrott/Garrett Branson = his father Michael's 2 brothers. Absolom's Uncle Gerrard Branson filed court proceedings against his step-father, Joseph Peters, on behalf of his under-age siblings that their inheritance was being squandered. John Branson had a godfather named Edward Barber who appeared to mentor & care-for him. John was listed at an estate sale in 1764 @ St. Mary's Co., MD but was shown in 1768 @ Amelia Co., VA.
So, Absolom Branson could have gone to VA with his Uncle John Branson & his sons (Absolom's Cousins) OR with (Jemima's Cousins), Thomas Lorton Jr. & John Lorton.
_______________________
JEMIMA'S PARENTS :
~ "Israel Lorton, Jr." (1727 VA--1808 IN)
& "Sarah ?". They married in 1743 VA.
------------------------------------
Israel JR. & Sarah Lorton had 4 Children.
JEMIMA'S SIBLINGS :
~ "Jemima Lorton m: Branson"
~ Robert Lorton
~ Rebecca Lorton m: Col. Crockett
~ Lydia Lorton.
------------------------------------
Israel JR. & Sarah lived in Augusta Co. VA & Pittsylvania Co. VA where they raised their children. In 1746 Israel Jr. was an agent of Wood's River Co. (who built roads).
------------------------------------
☆ REV. WAR SOLDIER
Lt. ISRAEL LORTON, JR. served under Captain Daniel Triggs Co. 31 of the Militia of Montgomery Co., VA.
(Information source = Fincastle & Montgomery Counties, VA Rev. War Records.) ☆
His brother Jacob Lorton also served in this company of VA Militia.
------------------------------------
Jemima is Not listed in her Father's Will of 1808 because she died in 1800.
JEMIMA died in 1800 @ Grainger Co., TN...where so many of her children then lived (as stated below). (After Absolom died in 1798 @ Buncombe Co., NC, JEMIMA traveled 100 miles NW to Rutledge in the Cracker's Neck Valley of Grainger Co., TN where she died 2 years later.)
________________________
JEMIMA LORTON "married" ABSOLOM BRANSON in 1764 @ Pittsylvania Co., VA.
His wife, Jemima Lorton Branson, died in 1800 @ "Grainger Co., TN" where "6 of her 8 children lived at-that-time" =
~Hezekiah, Sr., following his father's death in 1798 in NC, arrived by 1799 in TN.
~Michael, Sr. died in 1809 in TN;
~Lemuel married in 1806 in TN;
~Jonathan married & died in 1807 in TN;
~David A. married in 1806 in TN; &
~Nathaniel married in 1812 in TN.
Exceptions: Their only daughter, Rebecca Branson Pruett, married in VA in 1793 & moved to IN where she died in 1830. Son, John Branson who married Jane ‘Jennie' Norton, was born, married, & died all @ Pittsylvania Co., VA (although his own children moved to TN & IN except for 1 daughter who remained in VA).
Absolom died in 1798 @ Buncombe Co., NC.
_______________________
8 CHILDREN of "Absolom & Jemima Lorton Branson" were ALL born @ Pittsylvania Co., VA.
~ HEZEKIAH BRANSON, Sr. (1765-1828); moved to TN by 1799;
m: 1789 @ Pittsylvania Co., VA to "Agnes Pready" (1768-1829);
12 Children.
He & his wife both died @ Tazewell, Claiborne Co., TN.
~ MICHAEL BRANSON, Sr. (1766-1809); moved to Grainger Co., TN;
m: 10-19-1790 @ Pittsylvania Co., VA to "Mary Hammock" (1762-?);
9 Children.
~After his death in 1809, Mary married William Gray in 1810.
Note: Branson Brothers, Michael, Sr. & Jonathan (below), married Hammock Sisters, Mary & Elizabeth.
~ LEMUEL BRANSON, Sr. (1768-1838); moved to Grainger Co., TN;
m: 5-20-1806 @ Grainger Co., TN to "Jane Watson" (1782-1859);
6 Children.
They moved to Parke Co., IN where his sister, Betsy Branson Pruett, & her family already lived; & this is where Lemuel died.
~ REBECCA (Betsy) BRANSON (1770-1830); moved to Parke Co., IN;
m : 2-11-1793 @ Pittsylvania Co., VA to "Abraham Pruett (Prewitt)" (1774-1831);
9 Children.
She & her husband died @ Parke Co., IN.
Regarding the next 2 Children: why these parents named 2 sons, John & Jonathan, is beyond-me! But, other parents did the exact same thing! These 2 sons were separate people. One lived a long life to about 80 & had 6 children while the other died @ 31 without having any children. The 2 sons are "often" confused with the children of one son being attributed to the other.
~ JOHN BRANSON (1772—1851-55); stayed @ Chatham, Pittsylvania Co., VA;
m: 2-17-1800 @ Pittsylvania Co., VA to "Jane (Jennie) Norton" (1773—about 1849);
8 Children but Only 6 Lived-to-Birth.
~ JONATHAN BRANSON (1776-1807); moved to TN;
m: 5-18-1807 to "Elizabeth Hammock"
He died the same year he married Elizabeth in TN.
No Children.
~Elizabeth Hammock had 3 marriages. In 1805, she married John Boulton [who was a brother to Susanna Boulton (below) who married David A. Branson]. In 1807, Elizabeth married Jonathan Branson who died that same year. In 1811, she married Moses Gray. (This last husband of Elizabeth's was a brother to the man that her sister, Mary Hammock, married after Michael Branson, Sr. died).
So, these 2 Hammock Girls married 2 Branson Brothers who both died; then, they married 2 Gray Brothers!
~ DAVID A. BRANSON (1781-1830); moved to TN;
m: 9-22-1806 @ Grainger Co., TN to "Susanna Boulton" (1779-1860).
8 Children.
David died in 1830 @ Union Co., TN where Susanna died 30 yrs. later.
~Susanna was a sister to John Boulton; Elizabeth Hammock (above) married him prior to her marriage to Jonathan Branson.
~ NATHANIEL BRANSON (1787-1858); moved to TN;
m: 1-14-1812 @ Grainger Co., TN to "Mary Pauline Dalton" (1787-1857);
7 Children.
________________________
~~Lynda, 4-great's-granddaughter to Absolom.
________________________
~~ ABSOLOM BRANSON ~~
________________________
BRANSON MOTTO:
"While I Have Breath, I Hope."
________________________
ABSOLOM BRANSON was born in 1740 @ St. Mary's Co., MD. He died in 1798 @ Buncombe Co., NC.
________________________
BRANSON LINEAGE :
ABSOLOM'S GRANDPARENTS :
~ "Thomas Branson" (1635 England--1684 MD)
& "Amy Morris". They were married in 1662 @ St. Mary's Co., MD.
There are 3 Amy's or Ann's that have been thought to be Thomas'wife.
1. Amy Barber...because their son John had Edward Barber for his godfather & mentor.
2. Ann Hilton...because John Hilton signed documents along with Thomas Branson.
3. "AMY MORRIS"...because in 1662 it is recorded that Amy & Thomas Branson were living in the household of John Morris. I think this is very telling...a father or a brother would help his daughter & son-in-law or his sister & brother-in-law who were newly married in 1662.
Thomas & Amy had 4 Children.
~ Gerrard/Garrott/Garrett Branson
~ Mary Branson
~ Michael Branson
~ John Branson.
"Thomas Branson" died in May 1684 @ St. Mary's Co., MD.
Several years before, Amy had been accosted/molested (where she worked on a plantation) by a Joseph Peters. Peters appeared in court because charges were brought by Amy's employer regarding Peters' actions against her.
After Thomas Branson died, Amy married the same Joseph Peters. She had 4 Branson children when she married Peters. He was supposed to be their guardian; but the older son, Gerrard/Garrott/Garrett Branson, went to court on behalf of his minor siblings because stepfather/guardian Peters was squandering their inheritance. (Michael Branson was 4 when his dad died.) John Branson had his godfather, Edward Barber, who mentored him.
------------------------------------
ABSOLOM'S PARENTS :
~ "Michael Branson" (1680 MD--after 1744 MD) &
"Rebecca ? Yates ?". They married in 1729 MD.
Yates is a probable maiden name for Rebecca. Yates men "often" signed or witnessed documents for Michael. (Borden was a maiden name that I could not clearly link to Rebecca.)
Michael was listed as a tobacco planter. He signed land deeds in May 1744. After that, I could not find a record for him or wife Rebecca. So, it is assumed that he died after 1744.
Absolom was young when his dad died. (This may be where the descendant Gaius wrote that Absolom lost his father & that an uncle finished raising him.) This was probably John Branson. He was active in 1764 @ St. Mary's Co., MD & in 1768-1782 @ Amelia Co., VA. John had also lost his father (Thomas) @ a young age so he could empathize with Absolom's loss of his father (Michael).
☆ Absolom was proven through DNA to be the son of Michael Branson of St. Mary's Co., MD while legal records of marriage, death, & custody of minor children show Michael to be the son of Thomas Branson of St. Mary's Co., MD. ☆
♡ Absolom took the Oath of Allegiance in 1777 to renounce King George III of England & to swear allegiance to the Commonwealth of VA @ Pittsylvania Co., VA @ Chatham. He is listed under Abraham Shelton's List. ♡
_________________________
A book was written in 1823 by "Samuel David Branson" (1814-1890), son of "David A. Branson & Susanna Boulton Branson"; they were Alive when he wrote it! It was called "History of the Branson's". He wrote that his Grandfather Absolom was born in America; that he was born in Marlborough MD; that he married Jemima Lorton in VA; that he moved to Buncombe Co., NC where he died; & Grandma Jemima went onto Rutledge, Grainger Co., TN (Cracker's Neck Valley).
* This was written only 25 years after Absolom died; his son David supervised the book's creation as this author/son was 9 when he wrote this history. *
________________________
ABSOLOM BRANSON lived in MD & VA; he married "Jemima Lorton" in 1764 @ Pittsylvania Co., VA, & had 8 Children.
________________________
JEMIMA LORTON (1744 VA--1800 TN ).
________________________
LORTON LINEAGE :
JEMIMA'S GRANDPARENTS :
~ "Israel Lorton, Sr." (1701 England--1752 VA)
& "Rebecca ?" (abt 1695--?). They married in 1723 VA.
THEIR 4 CHILDREN :
~ "Thomas Lorton, Sr." (1724 VA--?)
~ "Israel Lorton, Jr." (1727 VA--1808 IN)
~ "Jacob Lorton" (1728 VA--?)
~ "Sarah Lorton" (1732 VA--1802).
------------------------------------
In an old notation, "Absolom Branson" was said to have travelled from MD to VA in the 1760's with "Cousins, Thomas & John". These were Jemima's cousins' names. Jemima's Uncle Thomas Lorton, Sr. had 3 sons named Thomas Lorton, Jr. & John Lorton (& Robert Lorton by his 2nd young wife). Their father, old Thomas, Sr., married in his advanced years to a young widow, Elizabeth Moss. "Before" this 2nd. marriage, old Thomas had promised to leave his land to his son John & his bride-to-be...because John's future father-in-law was against the marriage Until the promise of inheritance was offered. Old Thomas recanted this inheritance promise to son John after his 2nd. mariage to young widow Eliz. Moss in 1745. This was noted in court. Old Thomas' 2 sons, Thomas Jr. & John, were also held accountable for a debt left by their father when old Thomas left a county in VA.
While a young boy, "Absolom Branson" lost his father Michael. A descendant of his, Gaius Branson, wrote in 1890 that after Absolom's parents died that an uncle finished raising him. (This part of Gaius' story is accurate.) That could have been his paternal Uncle John Branson or his paternal Uncle Gerrard/Garrott/Garrett Branson = his father Michael's 2 brothers. Absolom's Uncle Gerrard Branson filed court proceedings against his step-father, Joseph Peters, on behalf of his under-age siblings that their inheritance was being squandered. John Branson had a godfather named Edward Barber who appeared to mentor & care-for him. John was listed at an estate sale in 1764 @ St. Mary's Co., MD but was shown in 1768 @ Amelia Co., VA.
So, Absolom Branson could have gone to VA with his Uncle John Branson & his sons (Absolom's Cousins) OR with (Jemima's Cousins), Thomas Lorton Jr. & John Lorton.
_______________________
JEMIMA'S PARENTS :
~ "Israel Lorton, Jr." (1727 VA--1808 IN)
& "Sarah ?". They married in 1743 VA.
------------------------------------
Israel JR. & Sarah Lorton had 4 Children.
JEMIMA'S SIBLINGS :
~ "Jemima Lorton m: Branson"
~ Robert Lorton
~ Rebecca Lorton m: Col. Crockett
~ Lydia Lorton.
------------------------------------
Israel JR. & Sarah lived in Augusta Co. VA & Pittsylvania Co. VA where they raised their children. In 1746 Israel Jr. was an agent of Wood's River Co. (who built roads).
------------------------------------
☆ REV. WAR SOLDIER
Lt. ISRAEL LORTON, JR. served under Captain Daniel Triggs Co. 31 of the Militia of Montgomery Co., VA.
(Information source = Fincastle & Montgomery Counties, VA Rev. War Records.) ☆
His brother Jacob Lorton also served in this company of VA Militia.
------------------------------------
Jemima is Not listed in her Father's Will of 1808 because she died in 1800.
JEMIMA died in 1800 @ Grainger Co., TN...where so many of her children then lived (as stated below). (After Absolom died in 1798 @ Buncombe Co., NC, JEMIMA traveled 100 miles NW to Rutledge in the Cracker's Neck Valley of Grainger Co., TN where she died 2 years later.)
________________________
JEMIMA LORTON "married" ABSOLOM BRANSON in 1764 @ Pittsylvania Co., VA.
His wife, Jemima Lorton Branson, died in 1800 @ "Grainger Co., TN" where "6 of her 8 children lived at-that-time" =
~Hezekiah, Sr., following his father's death in 1798 in NC, arrived by 1799 in TN.
~Michael, Sr. died in 1809 in TN;
~Lemuel married in 1806 in TN;
~Jonathan married & died in 1807 in TN;
~David A. married in 1806 in TN; &
~Nathaniel married in 1812 in TN.
Exceptions: Their only daughter, Rebecca Branson Pruett, married in VA in 1793 & moved to IN where she died in 1830. Son, John Branson who married Jane ‘Jennie' Norton, was born, married, & died all @ Pittsylvania Co., VA (although his own children moved to TN & IN except for 1 daughter who remained in VA).
Absolom died in 1798 @ Buncombe Co., NC.
_______________________
8 CHILDREN of "Absolom & Jemima Lorton Branson" were ALL born @ Pittsylvania Co., VA.
~ HEZEKIAH BRANSON, Sr. (1765-1828); moved to TN by 1799;
m: 1789 @ Pittsylvania Co., VA to "Agnes Pready" (1768-1829);
12 Children.
He & his wife both died @ Tazewell, Claiborne Co., TN.
~ MICHAEL BRANSON, Sr. (1766-1809); moved to Grainger Co., TN;
m: 10-19-1790 @ Pittsylvania Co., VA to "Mary Hammock" (1762-?);
9 Children.
~After his death in 1809, Mary married William Gray in 1810.
Note: Branson Brothers, Michael, Sr. & Jonathan (below), married Hammock Sisters, Mary & Elizabeth.
~ LEMUEL BRANSON, Sr. (1768-1838); moved to Grainger Co., TN;
m: 5-20-1806 @ Grainger Co., TN to "Jane Watson" (1782-1859);
6 Children.
They moved to Parke Co., IN where his sister, Betsy Branson Pruett, & her family already lived; & this is where Lemuel died.
~ REBECCA (Betsy) BRANSON (1770-1830); moved to Parke Co., IN;
m : 2-11-1793 @ Pittsylvania Co., VA to "Abraham Pruett (Prewitt)" (1774-1831);
9 Children.
She & her husband died @ Parke Co., IN.
Regarding the next 2 Children: why these parents named 2 sons, John & Jonathan, is beyond-me! But, other parents did the exact same thing! These 2 sons were separate people. One lived a long life to about 80 & had 6 children while the other died @ 31 without having any children. The 2 sons are "often" confused with the children of one son being attributed to the other.
~ JOHN BRANSON (1772—1851-55); stayed @ Chatham, Pittsylvania Co., VA;
m: 2-17-1800 @ Pittsylvania Co., VA to "Jane (Jennie) Norton" (1773—about 1849);
8 Children but Only 6 Lived-to-Birth.
~ JONATHAN BRANSON (1776-1807); moved to TN;
m: 5-18-1807 to "Elizabeth Hammock"
He died the same year he married Elizabeth in TN.
No Children.
~Elizabeth Hammock had 3 marriages. In 1805, she married John Boulton [who was a brother to Susanna Boulton (below) who married David A. Branson]. In 1807, Elizabeth married Jonathan Branson who died that same year. In 1811, she married Moses Gray. (This last husband of Elizabeth's was a brother to the man that her sister, Mary Hammock, married after Michael Branson, Sr. died).
So, these 2 Hammock Girls married 2 Branson Brothers who both died; then, they married 2 Gray Brothers!
~ DAVID A. BRANSON (1781-1830); moved to TN;
m: 9-22-1806 @ Grainger Co., TN to "Susanna Boulton" (1779-1860).
8 Children.
David died in 1830 @ Union Co., TN where Susanna died 30 yrs. later.
~Susanna was a sister to John Boulton; Elizabeth Hammock (above) married him prior to her marriage to Jonathan Branson.
~ NATHANIEL BRANSON (1787-1858); moved to TN;
m: 1-14-1812 @ Grainger Co., TN to "Mary Pauline Dalton" (1787-1857);
7 Children.
________________________
~~Lynda, 4-great's-granddaughter to Absolom.
________________________
____________________
~~ ABSOLOM BRANSON ~~
________________________
BRANSON MOTTO:
"While I Have Breath, I Hope."
________________________
ABSOLOM BRANSON was born in 1740 @ St. Mary's Co., MD. He died in 1798 @ Buncombe Co., NC.
________________________
BRANSON LINEAGE :
ABSOLOM'S GRANDPARENTS :
~ "Thomas Branson" (1635 England--1684 MD)
& "Amy Morris". They were married in 1662 @ St. Mary's Co., MD.
There are 3 Amy's or Ann's that have been thought to be Thomas'wife.
1. Amy Barber...because their son John had Edward Barber for his godfather & mentor.
2. Ann Hilton...because John Hilton signed documents along with Thomas Branson.
3. "AMY MORRIS"...because in 1662 it is recorded that Amy & Thomas Branson were living in the household of John Morris. I think this is very telling...a father or a brother would help his daughter & son-in-law or his sister & brother-in-law who were newly married in 1662.
Thomas & Amy had 4 Children.
~ Gerrard/Garrott/Garrett Branson
~ Mary Branson
~ Michael Branson
~ John Branson.
"Thomas Branson" died in May 1684 @ St. Mary's Co., MD.
Several years before, Amy had been accosted/molested (where she worked on a plantation) by a Joseph Peters. Peters appeared in court because charges were brought by Amy's employer regarding Peters' actions against her.
After Thomas Branson died, Amy married the same Joseph Peters. She had 4 Branson children when she married Peters. He was supposed to be their guardian; but the older son, Gerrard/Garrott/Garrett Branson, went to court on behalf of his minor siblings because stepfather/guardian Peters was squandering their inheritance. (Michael Branson was 4 when his dad died.) John Branson had his godfather, Edward Barber, who mentored him.
------------------------------------
ABSOLOM'S PARENTS :
~ "Michael Branson" (1680 MD--after 1744 MD) &
"Rebecca ? Yates ?". They married in 1729 MD.
Yates is a probable maiden name for Rebecca. Yates men "often" signed or witnessed documents for Michael. (Borden was a maiden name that I could not clearly link to Rebecca.)
Michael was listed as a tobacco planter. He signed land deeds in May 1744. After that, I could not find a record for him or wife Rebecca. So, it is assumed that he died after 1744.
Absolom was young when his dad died. (This may be where the descendant Gaius wrote that Absolom lost his father & that an uncle finished raising him.) This was probably John Branson. He was active in 1764 @ St. Mary's Co., MD & in 1768-1782 @ Amelia Co., VA. John had also lost his father (Thomas) @ a young age so he could empathize with Absolom's loss of his father (Michael).
☆ Absolom was proven through DNA to be the son of Michael Branson of St. Mary's Co., MD while legal records of marriage, death, & custody of minor children show Michael to be the son of Thomas Branson of St. Mary's Co., MD. ☆
♡ Absolom took the Oath of Allegiance in 1777 to renounce King George III of England & to swear allegiance to the Commonwealth of VA @ Pittsylvania Co., VA @ Chatham. He is listed under Abraham Shelton's List. ♡
_________________________
A book was written in 1823 by "Samuel David Branson" (1814-1890), son of "David A. Branson & Susanna Boulton Branson"; they were Alive when he wrote it! It was called "History of the Branson's". He wrote that his Grandfather Absolom was born in America; that he was born in Marlborough MD; that he married Jemima Lorton in VA; that he moved to Buncombe Co., NC where he died; & Grandma Jemima went onto Rutledge, Grainger Co., TN (Cracker's Neck Valley).
* This was written only 25 years after Absolom died; his son David supervised the book's creation as this author/son was 9 when he wrote this history. *
________________________
ABSOLOM BRANSON lived in MD & VA; he married "Jemima Lorton" in 1764 @ Pittsylvania Co., VA, & had 8 Children.
________________________
JEMIMA LORTON (1744 VA--1800 TN ).
________________________
LORTON LINEAGE :
JEMIMA'S GRANDPARENTS :
~ "Israel Lorton, Sr." (1701 England--1752 VA)
& "Rebecca ?" (abt 1695--?). They married in 1723 VA.
THEIR 4 CHILDREN :
~ "Thomas Lorton, Sr." (1724 VA--?)
~ "Israel Lorton, Jr." (1727 VA--1808 IN)
~ "Jacob Lorton" (1728 VA--?)
~ "Sarah Lorton" (1732 VA--1802).
------------------------------------
In an old notation, "Absolom Branson" was said to have travelled from MD to VA in the 1760's with "Cousins, Thomas & John". These were Jemima's cousins' names. Jemima's Uncle Thomas Lorton, Sr. had 3 sons named Thomas Lorton, Jr. & John Lorton (& Robert Lorton by his 2nd young wife). Their father, old Thomas, Sr., married in his advanced years to a young widow, Elizabeth Moss. "Before" this 2nd. marriage, old Thomas had promised to leave his land to his son John & his bride-to-be...because John's future father-in-law was against the marriage Until the promise of inheritance was offered. Old Thomas recanted this inheritance promise to son John after his 2nd. mariage to young widow Eliz. Moss in 1745. This was noted in court. Old Thomas' 2 sons, Thomas Jr. & John, were also held accountable for a debt left by their father when old Thomas left a county in VA.
While a young boy, "Absolom Branson" lost his father Michael. A descendant of his, Gaius Branson, wrote in 1890 that after Absolom's parents died that an uncle finished raising him. (This part of Gaius' story is accurate.) That could have been his paternal Uncle John Branson or his paternal Uncle Gerrard/Garrott/Garrett Branson = his father Michael's 2 brothers. Absolom's Uncle Gerrard Branson filed court proceedings against his step-father, Joseph Peters, on behalf of his under-age siblings that their inheritance was being squandered. John Branson had a godfather named Edward Barber who appeared to mentor & care-for him. John was listed at an estate sale in 1764 @ St. Mary's Co., MD but was shown in 1768 @ Amelia Co., VA.
So, Absolom Branson could have gone to VA with his Uncle John Branson & his sons (Absolom's Cousins) OR with (Jemima's Cousins), Thomas Lorton Jr. & John Lorton.
_______________________
JEMIMA'S PARENTS :
~ "Israel Lorton, Jr." (1727 VA--1808 IN)
& "Sarah ?". They married in 1743 VA.
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Israel JR. & Sarah Lorton had 4 Children.
JEMIMA'S SIBLINGS :
~ "Jemima Lorton m: Branson"
~ Robert Lorton
~ Rebecca Lorton m: Col. Crockett
~ Lydia Lorton.
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Israel JR. & Sarah lived in Augusta Co. VA & Pittsylvania Co. VA where they raised their children. In 1746 Israel Jr. was an agent of Wood's River Co. (who built roads).
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☆ REV. WAR SOLDIER
Lt. ISRAEL LORTON, JR. served under Captain Daniel Triggs Co. 31 of the Militia of Montgomery Co., VA.
(Information source = Fincastle & Montgomery Counties, VA Rev. War Records.) ☆
His brother Jacob Lorton also served in this company of VA Militia.
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Jemima is Not listed in her Father's Will of 1808 because she died in 1800.
JEMIMA died in 1800 @ Grainger Co., TN...where so many of her children then lived (as stated below). (After Absolom died in 1798 @ Buncombe Co., NC, JEMIMA traveled 100 miles NW to Rutledge in the Cracker's Neck Valley of Grainger Co., TN where she died 2 years later.)
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JEMIMA LORTON "married" ABSOLOM BRANSON in 1764 @ Pittsylvania Co., VA.
His wife, Jemima Lorton Branson, died in 1800 @ "Grainger Co., TN" where "6 of her 8 children lived at-that-time" =
~Hezekiah, Sr., following his father's death in 1798 in NC, arrived by 1799 in TN.
~Michael, Sr. died in 1809 in TN;
~Lemuel married in 1806 in TN;
~Jonathan married & died in 1807 in TN;
~David A. married in 1806 in TN; &
~Nathaniel married in 1812 in TN.
Exceptions: Their only daughter, Rebecca Branson Pruett, married in VA in 1793 & moved to IN where she died in 1830. Son, John Branson who married Jane ‘Jennie' Norton, was born, married, & died all @ Pittsylvania Co., VA (although his own children moved to TN & IN except for 1 daughter who remained in VA).
Absolom died in 1798 @ Buncombe Co., NC.
_______________________
8 CHILDREN of "Absolom & Jemima Lorton Branson" were ALL born @ Pittsylvania Co., VA.
~ HEZEKIAH BRANSON, Sr. (1765-1828); moved to TN by 1799;
m: 1789 @ Pittsylvania Co., VA to "Agnes Pready" (1768-1829);
12 Children.
He & his wife both died @ Tazewell, Claiborne Co., TN.
~ MICHAEL BRANSON, Sr. (1766-1809); moved to Grainger Co., TN;
m: 10-19-1790 @ Pittsylvania Co., VA to "Mary Hammock" (1762-?);
9 Children.
~After his death in 1809, Mary married William Gray in 1810.
Note: Branson Brothers, Michael, Sr. & Jonathan (below), married Hammock Sisters, Mary & Elizabeth.
~ LEMUEL BRANSON, Sr. (1768-1838); moved to Grainger Co., TN;
m: 5-20-1806 @ Grainger Co., TN to "Jane Watson" (1782-1859);
6 Children.
They moved to Parke Co., IN where his sister, Betsy Branson Pruett, & her family already lived; & this is where Lemuel died.
~ REBECCA (Betsy) BRANSON (1770-1830); moved to Parke Co., IN;
m : 2-11-1793 @ Pittsylvania Co., VA to "Abraham Pruett (Prewitt)" (1774-1831);
9 Children.
She & her husband died @ Parke Co., IN.
Regarding the next 2 Children: why these parents named 2 sons, John & Jonathan, is beyond-me! But, other parents did the exact same thing! These 2 sons were separate people. One lived a long life to about 80 & had 6 children while the other died @ 31 without having any children. The 2 sons are "often" confused with the children of one son being attributed to the other.
~ JOHN BRANSON (1772—1851-55); stayed @ Chatham, Pittsylvania Co., VA;
m: 2-17-1800 @ Pittsylvania Co., VA to "Jane (Jennie) Norton" (1773—about 1849);
8 Children but Only 6 Lived-to-Birth.
~ JONATHAN BRANSON (1776-1807); moved to TN;
m: 5-18-1807 to "Elizabeth Hammock"
He died the same year he married Elizabeth in TN.
No Children.
~Elizabeth Hammock had 3 marriages. In 1805, she married John Boulton [who was a brother to Susanna Boulton (below) who married David A. Branson]. In 1807, Elizabeth married Jonathan Branson who died that same year. In 1811, she married Moses Gray. (This last husband of Elizabeth's was a brother to the man that her sister, Mary Hammock, married after Michael Branson, Sr. died).
So, these 2 Hammock Girls married 2 Branson Brothers who both died; then, they married 2 Gray Brothers!
~ DAVID A. BRANSON (1781-1830); moved to TN;
m: 9-22-1806 @ Grainger Co., TN to "Susanna Boulton" (1779-1860).
8 Children.
David died in 1830 @ Union Co., TN where Susanna died 30 yrs. later.
~Susanna was a sister to John Boulton; Elizabeth Hammock (above) married him prior to her marriage to Jonathan Branson.
~ NATHANIEL BRANSON (1787-1858); moved to TN;
m: 1-14-1812 @ Grainger Co., TN to "Mary Pauline Dalton" (1787-1857);
7 Children.
________________________
~~Lynda, 4-great's-granddaughter to Absolom.
________________________
~~ ABSOLOM BRANSON ~~
________________________
BRANSON MOTTO:
"While I Have Breath, I Hope."
________________________
ABSOLOM BRANSON was born in 1740 @ St. Mary's Co., MD. He died in 1798 @ Buncombe Co., NC.
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BRANSON LINEAGE :
ABSOLOM'S GRANDPARENTS :
~ "Thomas Branson" (1635 England--1684 MD)
& "Amy Morris". They were married in 1662 @ St. Mary's Co., MD.
There are 3 Amy's or Ann's that have been thought to be Thomas'wife.
1. Amy Barber...because their son John had Edward Barber for his godfather & mentor.
2. Ann Hilton...because John Hilton signed documents along with Thomas Branson.
3. "AMY MORRIS"...because in 1662 it is recorded that Amy & Thomas Branson were living in the household of John Morris. I think this is very telling...a father or a brother would help his daughter & son-in-law or his sister & brother-in-law who were newly married in 1662.
Thomas & Amy had 4 Children.
~ Gerrard/Garrott/Garrett Branson
~ Mary Branson
~ Michael Branson
~ John Branson.
"Thomas Branson" died in May 1684 @ St. Mary's Co., MD.
Several years before, Amy had been accosted/molested (where she worked on a plantation) by a Joseph Peters. Peters appeared in court because charges were brought by Amy's employer regarding Peters' actions against her.
After Thomas Branson died, Amy married the same Joseph Peters. She had 4 Branson children when she married Peters. He was supposed to be their guardian; but the older son, Gerrard/Garrott/Garrett Branson, went to court on behalf of his minor siblings because stepfather/guardian Peters was squandering their inheritance. (Michael Branson was 4 when his dad died.) John Branson had his godfather, Edward Barber, who mentored him.
------------------------------------
ABSOLOM'S PARENTS :
~ "Michael Branson" (1680 MD--after 1744 MD) &
"Rebecca ? Yates ?". They married in 1729 MD.
Yates is a probable maiden name for Rebecca. Yates men "often" signed or witnessed documents for Michael. (Borden was a maiden name that I could not clearly link to Rebecca.)
Michael was listed as a tobacco planter. He signed land deeds in May 1744. After that, I could not find a record for him or wife Rebecca. So, it is assumed that he died after 1744.
Absolom was young when his dad died. (This may be where the descendant Gaius wrote that Absolom lost his father & that an uncle finished raising him.) This was probably John Branson. He was active in 1764 @ St. Mary's Co., MD & in 1768-1782 @ Amelia Co., VA. John had also lost his father (Thomas) @ a young age so he could empathize with Absolom's loss of his father (Michael).
☆ Absolom was proven through DNA to be the son of Michael Branson of St. Mary's Co., MD while legal records of marriage, death, & custody of minor children show Michael to be the son of Thomas Branson of St. Mary's Co., MD. ☆
♡ Absolom took the Oath of Allegiance in 1777 to renounce King George III of England & to swear allegiance to the Commonwealth of VA @ Pittsylvania Co., VA @ Chatham. He is listed under Abraham Shelton's List. ♡
_________________________
A book was written in 1823 by "Samuel David Branson" (1814-1890), son of "David A. Branson & Susanna Boulton Branson"; they were Alive when he wrote it! It was called "History of the Branson's". He wrote that his Grandfather Absolom was born in America; that he was born in Marlborough MD; that he married Jemima Lorton in VA; that he moved to Buncombe Co., NC where he died; & Grandma Jemima went onto Rutledge, Grainger Co., TN (Cracker's Neck Valley).
* This was written only 25 years after Absolom died; his son David supervised the book's creation as this author/son was 9 when he wrote this history. *
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ABSOLOM BRANSON lived in MD & VA; he married "Jemima Lorton" in 1764 @ Pittsylvania Co., VA, & had 8 Children.
________________________
JEMIMA LORTON (1744 VA--1800 TN ).
________________________
LORTON LINEAGE :
JEMIMA'S GRANDPARENTS :
~ "Israel Lorton, Sr." (1701 England--1752 VA)
& "Rebecca ?" (abt 1695--?). They married in 1723 VA.
THEIR 4 CHILDREN :
~ "Thomas Lorton, Sr." (1724 VA--?)
~ "Israel Lorton, Jr." (1727 VA--1808 IN)
~ "Jacob Lorton" (1728 VA--?)
~ "Sarah Lorton" (1732 VA--1802).
------------------------------------
In an old notation, "Absolom Branson" was said to have travelled from MD to VA in the 1760's with "Cousins, Thomas & John". These were Jemima's cousins' names. Jemima's Uncle Thomas Lorton, Sr. had 3 sons named Thomas Lorton, Jr. & John Lorton (& Robert Lorton by his 2nd young wife). Their father, old Thomas, Sr., married in his advanced years to a young widow, Elizabeth Moss. "Before" this 2nd. marriage, old Thomas had promised to leave his land to his son John & his bride-to-be...because John's future father-in-law was against the marriage Until the promise of inheritance was offered. Old Thomas recanted this inheritance promise to son John after his 2nd. mariage to young widow Eliz. Moss in 1745. This was noted in court. Old Thomas' 2 sons, Thomas Jr. & John, were also held accountable for a debt left by their father when old Thomas left a county in VA.
While a young boy, "Absolom Branson" lost his father Michael. A descendant of his, Gaius Branson, wrote in 1890 that after Absolom's parents died that an uncle finished raising him. (This part of Gaius' story is accurate.) That could have been his paternal Uncle John Branson or his paternal Uncle Gerrard/Garrott/Garrett Branson = his father Michael's 2 brothers. Absolom's Uncle Gerrard Branson filed court proceedings against his step-father, Joseph Peters, on behalf of his under-age siblings that their inheritance was being squandered. John Branson had a godfather named Edward Barber who appeared to mentor & care-for him. John was listed at an estate sale in 1764 @ St. Mary's Co., MD but was shown in 1768 @ Amelia Co., VA.
So, Absolom Branson could have gone to VA with his Uncle John Branson & his sons (Absolom's Cousins) OR with (Jemima's Cousins), Thomas Lorton Jr. & John Lorton.
_______________________
JEMIMA'S PARENTS :
~ "Israel Lorton, Jr." (1727 VA--1808 IN)
& "Sarah ?". They married in 1743 VA.
------------------------------------
Israel JR. & Sarah Lorton had 4 Children.
JEMIMA'S SIBLINGS :
~ "Jemima Lorton m: Branson"
~ Robert Lorton
~ Rebecca Lorton m: Col. Crockett
~ Lydia Lorton.
------------------------------------
Israel JR. & Sarah lived in Augusta Co. VA & Pittsylvania Co. VA where they raised their children. In 1746 Israel Jr. was an agent of Wood's River Co. (who built roads).
------------------------------------
☆ REV. WAR SOLDIER
Lt. ISRAEL LORTON, JR. served under Captain Daniel Triggs Co. 31 of the Militia of Montgomery Co., VA.
(Information source = Fincastle & Montgomery Counties, VA Rev. War Records.) ☆
His brother Jacob Lorton also served in this company of VA Militia.
------------------------------------
Jemima is Not listed in her Father's Will of 1808 because she died in 1800.
JEMIMA died in 1800 @ Grainger Co., TN...where so many of her children then lived (as stated below). (After Absolom died in 1798 @ Buncombe Co., NC, JEMIMA traveled 100 miles NW to Rutledge in the Cracker's Neck Valley of Grainger Co., TN where she died 2 years later.)
________________________
JEMIMA LORTON "married" ABSOLOM BRANSON in 1764 @ Pittsylvania Co., VA.
His wife, Jemima Lorton Branson, died in 1800 @ "Grainger Co., TN" where "6 of her 8 children lived at-that-time" =
~Hezekiah, Sr., following his father's death in 1798 in NC, arrived by 1799 in TN.
~Michael, Sr. died in 1809 in TN;
~Lemuel married in 1806 in TN;
~Jonathan married & died in 1807 in TN;
~David A. married in 1806 in TN; &
~Nathaniel married in 1812 in TN.
Exceptions: Their only daughter, Rebecca Branson Pruett, married in VA in 1793 & moved to IN where she died in 1830. Son, John Branson who married Jane ‘Jennie' Norton, was born, married, & died all @ Pittsylvania Co., VA (although his own children moved to TN & IN except for 1 daughter who remained in VA).
Absolom died in 1798 @ Buncombe Co., NC.
_______________________
8 CHILDREN of "Absolom & Jemima Lorton Branson" were ALL born @ Pittsylvania Co., VA.
~ HEZEKIAH BRANSON, Sr. (1765-1828); moved to TN by 1799;
m: 1789 @ Pittsylvania Co., VA to "Agnes Pready" (1768-1829);
12 Children.
He & his wife both died @ Tazewell, Claiborne Co., TN.
~ MICHAEL BRANSON, Sr. (1766-1809); moved to Grainger Co., TN;
m: 10-19-1790 @ Pittsylvania Co., VA to "Mary Hammock" (1762-?);
9 Children.
~After his death in 1809, Mary married William Gray in 1810.
Note: Branson Brothers, Michael, Sr. & Jonathan (below), married Hammock Sisters, Mary & Elizabeth.
~ LEMUEL BRANSON, Sr. (1768-1838); moved to Grainger Co., TN;
m: 5-20-1806 @ Grainger Co., TN to "Jane Watson" (1782-1859);
6 Children.
They moved to Parke Co., IN where his sister, Betsy Branson Pruett, & her family already lived; & this is where Lemuel died.
~ REBECCA (Betsy) BRANSON (1770-1830); moved to Parke Co., IN;
m : 2-11-1793 @ Pittsylvania Co., VA to "Abraham Pruett (Prewitt)" (1774-1831);
9 Children.
She & her husband died @ Parke Co., IN.
Regarding the next 2 Children: why these parents named 2 sons, John & Jonathan, is beyond-me! But, other parents did the exact same thing! These 2 sons were separate people. One lived a long life to about 80 & had 6 children while the other died @ 31 without having any children. The 2 sons are "often" confused with the children of one son being attributed to the other.
~ JOHN BRANSON (1772—1851-55); stayed @ Chatham, Pittsylvania Co., VA;
m: 2-17-1800 @ Pittsylvania Co., VA to "Jane (Jennie) Norton" (1773—about 1849);
8 Children but Only 6 Lived-to-Birth.
~ JONATHAN BRANSON (1776-1807); moved to TN;
m: 5-18-1807 to "Elizabeth Hammock"
He died the same year he married Elizabeth in TN.
No Children.
~Elizabeth Hammock had 3 marriages. In 1805, she married John Boulton [who was a brother to Susanna Boulton (below) who married David A. Branson]. In 1807, Elizabeth married Jonathan Branson who died that same year. In 1811, she married Moses Gray. (This last husband of Elizabeth's was a brother to the man that her sister, Mary Hammock, married after Michael Branson, Sr. died).
So, these 2 Hammock Girls married 2 Branson Brothers who both died; then, they married 2 Gray Brothers!
~ DAVID A. BRANSON (1781-1830); moved to TN;
m: 9-22-1806 @ Grainger Co., TN to "Susanna Boulton" (1779-1860).
8 Children.
David died in 1830 @ Union Co., TN where Susanna died 30 yrs. later.
~Susanna was a sister to John Boulton; Elizabeth Hammock (above) married him prior to her marriage to Jonathan Branson.
~ NATHANIEL BRANSON (1787-1858); moved to TN;
m: 1-14-1812 @ Grainger Co., TN to "Mary Pauline Dalton" (1787-1857);
7 Children.
________________________
~~Lynda, 4-great's-granddaughter to Absolom.
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