Source: Information from Ancestry.com

37. Middleton3 BRASHEAR {4057} (10.Basil2, 1.Samuel1) was born about 1735 to parents who, at the time, resided in St. Andrews Parish, Prince Georges, Maryland. He was the son of Basil BRASHEAR {9635} and Ann BELT {9667}. Middleton died after 1772 in Upper Enoree River, Spartenburg, South Carolina. He married Henrieta PRATHER {9764} about 1757 at the time residing in Haw River, Old Orange Co., North Carolina. She was born about 1735 in Of, Maryland. She was the daughter of Phillip PRATHER, Sr {10725} and Catherine BRASHEAR {10726}. Henrieta died at the time residing in Upper Enoree River, Dist 96, South Carolina.

He was listed as being on a prison ship in Charleston Harbor in the Revolutionary War.

Children thought to descend from Middleton BRASHEAR and Henrieta PRATHER are:

+ 102. m i. Basil BOSHEARS***, Sr. {14871}, born about 1765.

103. m ii. Henry Alexander BOSHEAR*** {25515}, born about 1769 in Guilford, North Carolina. (Note: See as descendant of JOHN BRASHIER b 1699 son of William and Elizabeth (CLAYTON) BRASHIER alias BEZER Compiled by GeorgeneHumphries).

104. m iii. John BOSHEAR*** {6573}, born 1767 in of, Orange or Guilford, North Carilina.


72. John Brashears, b. NC, 1767; d. before 1 Nov 1852, Lawrence Co, TN; m. in Pendleton Dist, SC, c1790, Mary Berry, b. SC, 1777, from a Guilford Co, NC family, d. Lawrence Co, TN, 1868.¸John's parentage has not yet been proven; he was a brother of Henry Breshears, of Lawrence Co, TN, b. 1769.¸ I believe (cannot prove-note by Charles Brashears ) that they and Basil Brashears, b. c1765, were sons of Middleton Brashears, s/o Basil Brashear and Ann Belt, of Prince George's Co, MD, Orange/Guilford Co, NC, and Spartanburg/Laurens Co, SC.¸They may have had two other brothers who died early, leaving men who (family traditions say) were nephews of Henry and John.

Among these possible brothers are the James Breshears, who m. Jane Turner (probably parents of Middleton Breshears the Younger, Nathan Turner Breshears, and Alexander Brashears) and possibly an Absalom Brashears/Boshears (possible parent of Berry Brashears/Boshears, b. 1790, and others-Charles Brashears note).

NORMAN PARKS THEORIZING AGAIN

¸¸¸¸Norman L. Parks, a descendant, says John followed his older half-brother, Samuel Robert Brashear, to the Pendleton District, SC; there he married and had two sons.¸Then he moved, about 1800, to Roane Co, TN and worked with/for Robert Samuel Brashears in Sugar Grove Valley.¸There his daughter Elizabeth was born.¸ From 1807 to 1811, John lived in Hawkins Co, TN, then moved to White Co, TN, where two sons were born.¸He lived in Lawrence Co, TN, from 1817 to 1819; then moved back to White Co, where the last of his children was born.¸In 1827, he moved permanently to Lawrence Co, TN, where he died before 1 Nov 1852, when the probate of his estate was opened.


¸¸¸¸In 1799 & 1801, A John Brashears signed petitions for creating Roane Co. (RSB's Isaac's son, John, was 15-17; so it couldn't be him).
¸¸¸¸John Brashears is on the Roane Co tax lists through 1806.
¸¸¸¸23 Jan 1806, John Brashears and Basil Brashears witnessed the deed of two slaves, Joanna and Ratliff ($450), from David Haley of Grainger Co, TN to Isaac Brashears of Roane Co. (Roane Co. Deeds Index, D:127).¸This Basil could be RSB's youngest son, age 25, or he could be a different Basil, brother of John; RSB's Isaac's son, John, was 20 years old--ineligible to be a legal witness?
¸¸¸¸John Brashears is in the 1810 Census, Hawkins Co, TN, and 1820 Census of White. 1820 Census of White County, TN (p.369): John Bashere, age 46+, b. bef. 1774, [age 83 in 1850 Lawrence, b. 1767]
¸¸¸¸wife, 26-45, b. 1775-1794 (in 1850, wife, Mary, is 73, b. 1777]
¸¸¸¸fem, 10-15, b. 1805-10.¸?
Elizabeth, b. 1806
¸¸¸¸fem, 10-15, b. 1805-10.¸? ¸¸¸¸male, 0-10, b. 1810-20.¸?
Berry, b. 1814
¸¸¸¸male, 0-10, b. 1810-20.¸?
John Henry, b. 1816 ¸¸¸¸fem. 0-10, b. 1810-20.¸ ?
¸¸¸¸John Brashears is listed in the 1830, 1840, and 1850 Censuses of Lawrence Co, TN.¸His 1850 listing (p.318) has him born in NC and 83 years old, therefore, b. c1767.¸His wife, Mary, (same census) was 73 years old, b. c1777, in SC.¸Mary Mathena Brashears, age 17, b. KY, was with them in the household.
¸¸¸¸Norman Parks says that Henry Breshears, John's ()brother, kept an elderly half-brother, Isaac, and his wife, Elizabeth, in his household until Henry's death, in 1827.¸Then John took Isaac and Elizabeth into his household.¸He received a county subsidy for several years: ¸¸¸¸Lawrence Co, TN Minutes Book, 1828-1834, p. 321: 3 Jan 1832: Ordered that Mrs. Mary Brashers be allowed the sum of $25 for nursing and attending to ______ Brashers and _____ Brashers, paupers of this county. (First names were left blank in the record.)¸Isaac Brashears, the elderly half-brother, died 1834, says NP.
¸¸¸¸Same reference, p.592: 7 Apr 1832: $40 to Mary Brashers for supporting Eliz. Brashears, pauper of the county, for the ensuing year.
¸¸¸¸Same reference, p.482: 1 Apr 1833: Mary Brashears, $35 for supporting and taking care of Elizabeth Brashers, a pauper, for the ensuing year or portion, if said Elizabeth should die. ¸¸¸¸Lawrence Co, TN Minutes Book, 1835-46, p.38: 6 Apr 1835, $20 to John Brashers for boarding, clothing and taking care of Eliz. Brashers, pauper.
¸¸¸¸Same reference, p.132: 3 May 1836, that John Brashers be allowed $20 for keeping Elizabeth Brashers for one year.
¸¸¸¸Same reference, p.189: 1 May 1837, Ordered that John Brashers, Sr., be allowed $20 for keeping Elizabeth Brashers a pauper of the county for 12 months.¸Norman Parks says Elizabeth died in 1837, but the record indicates she kept on living.
¸¸¸¸Same reference, p.239: 2 Jul 1838, John Brashers, Sr., allowed $40 for keeping Hannah Pitts a pauper for the next 12 months; Jno Brashers, Sr. be allowed $20 for keeping Elizabeth Brasher a pauper for the next 12 months.
¸¸¸¸Elizabeth kept living and living; she was still in John's household in the Census of 1840 -- and she was over 100 years old, born in the late 1730's. 1840 Census of Lawrence Co, TN p.121¸ John Brashers, Sr¸¸¸ 1000100001-1010100010001¸age 70-80, b. 1760-70; wife, 60-70; the elderly female in H/H is 100+, b. bef. 1740!

Lawrence County, Tenn Land Grants (from State Archives, Nashville) #9504¸ 10 ac.¸date?

¸¸¸¸¸¸to John Brashears (Book EE, p.524) #27966¸22 ac.¸15 Jul 1846¸¸ to John H. Brashears (Bk I, p.807) #27968¸50 ac.¸15 Jul 1846¸¸ to John Brashears (Bk I, p.809) #18755¸272 ac. 8 Apr 1848
¸¸¸to John Brashears (Bk III, p.462)
¸¸¸¸The last two grants are the ones specified in the division of John's estate, in 1856. 1850 Census, Lawrence Co, TN: John Brashears, 83, b. NC c1767
¸¸¸¸Mary Brashears, 73, b. SC c1777
¸¸¸¸Mary Mathena Brashears, 17, b. KY, c1833 Lawrence Co, TN Minutes Book, 1851-1858, p. 162:¸"Nov 1, 1852.¸John Brashears has died intestate.¸Robert Newton appt. Admr." Lawrence Co, TN Wills and Inventories, 1852-1856, p. 87:¸Dec. term 1852. Inv. and sale bill of estate of John Brashears, dec'd, Nov 20, 1852.¸Among buyers: Mary Brashears, Lawson Williams, William Inzer?, Elijah Alsup, Berry Brashears, John H. Johnston, J. M. Halcomb, D. J. White, Shadrick Chapman,J. J. Kelton, Wm. P. Halcomb, James Dial, Wm. Pryor, John Brashears.¸Robert Newton, Adm.¸The proceedings mention 400 ac. in Lewis Co. and 250 ac. in Lawrence Co.
¸¸¸¸Same reference, p. 95: Mary Brashears, widow of John, dec'd.¸Provision for 1 year allotted her.¸20 Nov 1852.
¸¸¸¸Same reference, p. 249: John Brashar, dec'd.¸Debts paid Dec 19, 1854. $144.90 left. ¸¸¸¸Mary Brashears, age 82, is #33-422, Lawrence Co, TN Census, 1860.¸She apparently died about 1868. Children of John and Mary Brashear/Boshear: (according to Norman Parks)
2.¸¸¸¸¸¸¸81. *Isaac Brashears, b. 1795, Pendleton Dist, SC; d. 1830
3.¸¸¸¸¸¸¸82. *Jacob Brashears/Boshears, b. 1800 Pendleton Dist, SC; d. 1864, Obion Co, TN 4.¸¸¸¸¸¸¸83. Elizabeth Brashears, b. 1806, Roane Co, TN; m. ?Brian Franklin
5.¸¸¸¸¸¸¸84. unknown dau, b. c1805-10, indicated by 1820 White Co, TN, census; no further info 6.¸¸¸¸¸¸¸85. *Berry Brashears, b. 1814, White Co, TN; m. 1836, Frances Pryor, in Lawrence Co, TN
7.¸¸¸¸¸¸¸86. *John Henry Brashears, b. 1816, White Co, TN; m. 1837, Rebecca _____
8.¸¸¸¸¸¸¸87. unknown dau, b. 1810-20, indicated by 1820 White Co, TN, census; no further info; Possibly the Martha Boshears, who m. 4 Sep 1847, Daniel J. Dunn, with Partick Dial as security.
9.¸¸¸¸¸¸¸88. Nancy "Polly" Brashears, b. 1824, White Co, TN, d. 1914; m. 8 Sep 1847, Patrick Dial (Tishomingo Co, MS Marr. 1842-1862; Surety: Daniel J. Dunn [who m. Martha Boshears, 4 Sep 1847, w/ Patrick Dial as Surety].

¸¸¸¸Norman Parks says that Nancy (Boshears) Dial, youngest child of John Brashears, lived in the Parks household when he was a little boy.¸"I knew her as a child," says Norman.¸"She remembered the aged Isaac and Elizabeth Brashear, living in her father's home, being 13 years old when Elizabeth died.¸She knew her father was born in old Orange County, NC, as son of Robert C. Brashear.¸She resolutely lived in the past, her memories reinforcing family traditions."¸Much of what we know, today, seems to derive from her reports. ¸¸¸¸There were six heirs who reached adulthood, as is indicated by a deed in Lawrence Co, TN, when Berry Brashears and Elizabeth Franklin sold their shares in 1856:


¸¸¸¸¸¸¸¸Heirs of John Brashears, dec'd, to Wm. E. Newton, 6 Mar 1856. Two tracts:Grant #18755 for 273 ac. and #27968 for 50 ac. in Lawrence Co, TN. ... Heirs: Berry Brashears, Elizabeth Franklin ... "Each heir owning 1/6 said tract, being on the water of Bluewater in range 4 & 5, Sec. 2." signed: Berry Brashears, Prien Masterly [X] Paier, Mary Brashears. (Lawrence Co, TN Deeds, Book M, p.593.¸Apparently, only two of the heirs are selling their undivided share.)
¸¸¸¸Another report on this transfer has Martha Matilda Prier signing.¸Martha Matilda Brashears married William Pryor, 20 Oct 1846.¸Elizabeth (?Mrs. Brion) Franklin has not been found anywhere else in the records.¸If Elizabeth gave Martha her power of attorney, it has apparently been lost.
¸¸¸¸The Mary Brashears that signed would be John's widow, who would have a 1/3 dower interest in the estate during her lifetime.¸She would have to sign (relinquish her dower) for any of the children to sell their shares of the estate.
¸¸¸¸¸¸¸¸Lawrence Co, TN Minutes Book, 1828-1834, p.188: 5 Jul 1830, records three transfers of a plat and certificate in the name of Erasmus Tippitt for 25 acres: first, from said Tippett to Berry Brashers, was produced and proven by the oath of Franklin Buchanan, witness; second, ?? by 2/3 by ?? [can anyone ungarble the reading?] from said Brashers to Elisha Franklin and [third,] from said Franklin to Alexander Brashers, was produced and proven by oaths of Nathan McClen? and Augusten W. Bumpass, witnesses.
¸¸¸¸Since this transfer was recorded in 1830 (probably happened some time earlier), this has to be the Berry, b. 1790; because Berry, b. 1814, is only 16 years old that year, quite ineligible to participate in such transfers, and Berry Jr is not yet born.¸Berry, b. 1790, had apparently left the county: he is #257 in the 1826 Tax List of Lawrence Co, TN, but he was in McNairy Co, TN for the 1830 Census.¸Descendants differ on where Berry Jr was born in 1832; some say in Tennessee, some say in Tishomingo Co, Mississippi, where Berry was in 1840.¸Berry was in Montgomery Co, Arkansas in 1850 and 1860. ¸¸¸¸However, this transfer, along with the sale of 1/6 of the estate, make it look to me like pretty positive evidence that Berry Brashears, b. 1814, was a son of John Brashears, b. 1767, and that Berry Brashears, b. 1790 was not.
¸¸¸¸Which is not to say that the families weren't close.¸William, s/o of Henry Breshears, Sr, b. 1769, was later in Arkansas and living next door to Berry, b. 1790.¸Isaac Beshear Jr (m. Siony Owl), who was a son of Isaac Brashear Sr, 1795-1830, s/o of John Brashear, b. 1767, was later in Owen Twp, Pulaski Co, AR, next door to Robert and Andrew Beshears, sons of Berry, b. 1790. ¸¸¸¸We used to think, also, that John Brashears, b. 1796, was a son of John and Mary.¸However, it's fairly clear that he is not the same John.¸He was a brother of Nancy Elizabeth (Brashear) Wilson, wife of Andrew Wilson.
¸¸¸¸Letters written from Comfort, TX, in 1895 by Robert Brashear Wilson, son of Andrew and Nancy Elizabeth (Brashear) Wilson, to Wm. Gouldsberry Brashears, youngest son of this John, were signed "your cousin," and thus indicate that John Brashears and Nancy Elizabeth (Brashears) Wilson were brother and sister.¸The letters were owned by a great-granddaughter of John, Josephine Collie, of Malvern, Arkansas, and are now among her estate papers in the Historical Society of Malvern.
¸¸¸¸John Brashears, b. 1796, was living in Lawrence County, Alabama, in 1827 when his oldest son was born; then lived about ten years in Tennessee; then migrated to Hot Springs County, Arkansas, about 1840.¸He is in the 1850 census there.¸He died intestate and his estate was probated in 1861 in Hot Springs Co, AR.¸He married first, Elizabeth "Betsy" Randall, b. 1800, and had nine children.¸He married second, a widow, Elizabeth (Baugh) Chambers, b. 1794, SC, and had one more child, Wm Gouldsberry Brashears
¸¸¸¸At the moment, we do not know the parents of Nancy Elizabeth Brashear, b. 1793, and John Brashears, b. 1796.¸But I'm suspecting that Berry Brashear, b. 1790, belongs with them; they were probably siblings, children of an unknown brother of John, b. 1767 and Henry, b. 1769.
¸ISAAC BRASHEARS/BESHEARS ¸¸¸¸We know almost nothing about 81. Isaac Brashears/Beshears, s/o John Brashears, b. 1767.¸Isaac was b. 1795, d. c1830, says Norman Parks.¸He married and had three children.