Christopher Branch is not of the George Branch ancestral line. The reason for including him in Branchscapes is that this Branch and his descendants are often confused with George Branch’s descendants. At the risk of boring you or repeating the info on numerous websites, we will review and contrast a short summary of Christopher Branch’s genealogy.
Branch Family in England
Christopher Branch was born in London in 1598 to Lionel Branch of London and previously Abingdon, Berkshire and Valentia Sparkes. Lionel, a graduate of Oxford, had enraged his father, William Branch, and as the “blacksheep” of the family was disinherited. Abingdon in Berkshire, England was an important village for Branch history but make no mistake there are thousands of Branch’s in English history since 1066 and William the Conquerer. Ralph de Branch is said to be the first to land with the Conqueror . In 1067 William de Warenne was one of 4 prominent Normans appointed to govern England during William the Conqueror’s absence in Normandy. The French de Branch family served at de Warrene estates in Norfolk near Castle Acre and are found in the Norfolk area for centuries. This written history is extensive but spotty and without a continuous written narrative researching the Branch family in England is difficult. Thus Abingdon’s Branch family is, while well documented, overides many locations and Branch family histories. Six centuries later by 1600 there are thousands of threads, baptisms, marriages, and roles in English history to follow the Branch family in Great Britain. Much needs to be researched to provide a complete history on how the family seems to have originated in Norfolk and spread south, west, and north throughout all of the British Isles.
Christopher Boards the London Merchant
Christopher was apparent raised in London by his father Lionel and Valencia but we have little detail. In 1619 Christopher married Mary Addie in London and shortly afterwards boarded the London Merchant for the Virginia Colony. First they lived at Arrowhattocks (north side of James River); finally settled at Kingsland on south side of river, almost opposite Arrowhattocks, then in Henrico, now the present Chesterfield Co. The present day historic site, Henrico City, is very near this plantation site called Spring Hill Plantation. Otherwise it is a disappointing site today due being surrounded by a vast complex of the modern day heavy industrial sites that access the James River. However, this area east of Richmond Virginia, as well as Richmond and Petersburg is the location is where some of the most prominent and wealthy Branch men and women lived in the 19th and 20th centuries as descendants of Christopher Branch.
Christopher was of gentleman and high status in the Jamestown colony. He and his wife Mary, and young son Thomas survived the Indian massacre of May 1622. He apparently did quite well as a tobacco merchant and redeemed his Abingdon England family by prospering in the Virginia Colony. Christopher and Mary’s family included three sons: Thomas (1623-1694), named for his maternal grandfather; William (1625-1676),named for his paternal grandfather; and Christopher Jr. (1627-1665). Only Thomas Branch lived longer than his father.
Christopher Branch, a father of Virginia
Christopher Branch wrote his will in Henrico County, Virginia, in 1678 and died in 1682 at age 84. In the will, he named his surviving son, Thomas, and grandchildren, Christopher, Samuel, and Benjamin, sons of his son Christopher. Note that some online family trees include a George Branch in this lineage and that supposition is absolutely NOT TRUE. George Branch lived in Isle of Wight county directly across the James River from Jamestown and near present day Smithfield VA. George seemed to have no connections with Christopher Branch as he was from a lower economic and social class and likely did not know him. George’s family stays in Isle of Wight, part of which becomes Southampton County, and later in early to mid 1700’s many of his descendants migrated to parts of North Carolina.
The Christopher Branch family was prominent in Virginia history thru the ages of the colony and commonwealth. Examining the three sons of Christopher Branch, Thomas Branch is somewhat labeled with the headship of the family because of his numerous descendants. William Branch had no prominent male line to carry the family name. The third son, Christopher Branch Jr., also has prominent Virginia descendants that carry the family name. Note that most of the legacy of Christopher Branch Sr.’s family remained and built up the Colony of Virginia. Migration to other areas of early America seemed to be confined to descendants after 1800.
(Note that image of house is Spring Hill Plantation. Taken from rrchaelogical report about the site. Dated to 1767 and built by one of Christopher Branch’s descendants, Benjamin Branch.)
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