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~~ NATHANIEL BRANSON ~~
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BRANSON MOTTO:
"While I have breath, I hope."
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“Nathaniel Branson” was born on 3-3-1787 @ Pittsylvania Co., VA. He died in 1858 @ Grainger Co., TN.

He was the youngest child of:
~ "Absolom Branson" (1740 MD—1798 NC) &
~ "Jemima Lorton" (1744 VA—1800 TN).
They married in 1764 @ Pittsylvania Co., VA.
This is where their 8 children were all born.
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Nathaniel’s Father:
~ “Absolom Branson”
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 lived in MD for a while & married Jemima Lorton in VA where he lived for many years; that he moved to Buncombe Co., NC where he died; & Grandma Jemima went onto Rutledge, Grainger Co., TN (Cracker's Neck Valley).

* Legal records say "our Absolom" was from an established Branson family in St. Mary's Co., MD; & DNA says "our Absolom" was the son of Michael who was by records the son of Thomas Branson (1635 England--1684 MD). *
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“Absolom Branson” was born in MD & lived in VA, married "Jemima Lorton" in 1764 @ Pittsylvania Co., VA, & had 8 children. His wife did die in 1800 in "Grainger Co., TN" where 6 of her 8 children lived "at-that-time". Son Hezekiah, Sr. arrived there in 1799 (following his father's death in 1798); Michael, Sr. died there in 1809; Lemuel married there in 1806; Jonathan married & died there in 1807; David A. married there in 1806; & Nathaniel married there in 1812.
* Exceptions: The only daughter, Rebecca Branson Pruett, married in VA in 1793 & moved to IN where she died while son John was born, married in 1800, & died in Chatham, Pittsylvania Co., VA (although his children moved to TN & IN). Absolom died in 1798 in Buncombe Co., NC. *
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The Branson Lineage is posted as a photo for Nathaniel Branson. It gives the lineage from Thomas to Nathaniel. If you want more in-depth information regarding Absolom’s dad & grandpa, it can be found on Absolom’s memorial page.
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Nathaniel’s Mother:
~ "Jemima Lorton" (1744 VA--1800 TN). She was born in Augusta Co., VA.

Jemima’s Grandparents:
~ "Israel Lorton, Sr." (1701 England--1752 VA) &
~"Rebecca ?" (about 1695--?).
m: 1723 VA.

Jemima’s Parents:
~ "Israel Lorton, Jr." (1727 VA--1808 IN) &
~"Sarah ?" (not Givens = on his memorial page it states why.)
m: 1743 VA.
* REV. WAR SOLDIER = “Israel Lorton, Jr.” served in the VA Militia from Montgomery Co., VA where he served as a Lt. under Capt. Daniel Triggs Co. 31. *

(Jemima was not in her father's will of 1808 because she died 8 years earlier!)

After Absolom died in 1798 @ Buncombe Co., NC, Jemima & many of the family traveled 100 miles NW to Rutledge in Cracker's Neck Valley, Grainger Co., TN where she died 2 years later in 1800.
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Absolom & Jemima’s 8 Children:

~ Hezekiah Branson, Sr. (1765 VA--1828 TN)
~ Michael Branson, Sr. (1766 VA--1809 TN)
~ Lemuel Branson, Sr. (1768 VA--1838 IN)
~ Rebecca Branson m: Pruett (1770 VA--1830 IN)
~ John Branson (1772 VA--1851-55 VA)
~ Jonathan Branson (1776 VA--1807 TN)
~ David A. Branson (1781 VA--1830 TN)
~ Nathaniel Branson (1787 VA--1858 TN).

1 child stayed where he was born & died there in Virginia; 5 died in Tennessee; & 2 died in Indiana.
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When his father died in 1798, Nathaniel was 11; when his mother died in 1800, he was 13. He stayed in Grainger Co., TN where his brother, David A. Branson, lived & raised his family. David & Nathaniel were the 2 youngest of Absolom & Jemima's children with only 6 years separating their ages. At the time of David's death in 1830, Nathaniel had enjoyed 30 years with him @ Grainger Co. TN. This is where their families grew-up together. Nathaniel had outlived all of his siblings. In the Census of 1850, Nathaniel Branson was the oldest Branson in Grainger Co., TN @ age 63. He was 71 when he died there.
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“Nathaniel Branson” married “Mary Dalton” on 1-14-1812 @ Grainger Co., TN.

“Mary Dalton” was the daughter of:
~ "Enos Benjamin Dalton" (1772 VA--1850 TN) &
~ "Rebecca Williams" (1773 VA--1850 TN).
They married in 1793 @ Grayson Co., VA.
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Mary's family lived in Bedford Co., Grayson Co., & Pittsylvania Co., VA. They moved to TN by 1801.

Mary's father Enos was a farmer who settled in Grainger Co., TN @ a place called Copper Ridge. He lived near his parents, "Reuben Sr. & Elizabeth Dalton".

Mary's mother, Rebecca Williams, was actually written about in records as being the most beautiful woman in all of VA. Rebecca was the daughter of "William Williams" who had land joining Reuben, Sr. in VA.

Enos & Rebecca married in 1793 @ Grayson Co., VA. They arrived by 1801 in TN. They both died @ Grainger Co., TN in 1850.
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* Mary’s Paternal Grandpa:
"Reuben J. Dalton, Sr." (1752 VA--1822 VA) =
REV. WAR SOLDIER who served in the Militia of VA from Montgomery Co. under Capt. William Bobbitt & under the "Joint Return of Strength of Jonathan Isham's Company". Reuben was listed as an ensign. *
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Mary Dalton Branson named her first child "Benjamin" which was her dad's middle name (Enos 'Benjamin' Dalton).

Nathaniel & Mary’s 7 Children:

~ "Benjamin Branson" (1814 TN--1888TN)
m: Anna Acuff on 1-11-1836 TN.

~ "David Branson" (1821 TN--1901 TN)
m: Mary Clark on 4-28-1840 TN.

~ "Agnes Branson" (1818 TN--1880 TN)
m: John Morgan (1824-1880) on 11-25-1834 TN.

~ "James Branson"
m: Flora Watson on 7-18-1835 TN;
m: Olly Qualls on 6-18-1847 TN.

~ "Elizabeth Branson"
m: Barnett Chadwell on 6-25-1849 TN.

~ "Louise Branson"

~ "Nancy Branson"
m: ? Harris.

Their 7 Children were all raised @ Grainger Co., TN. It is also where Mary (1857) & Nathaniel (1858) both died.
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~~ Lynda, kin to Nathaniel’s brother John.
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