William Branch and Francis Branch, sons of George Jr., are the future in the Albemarle region.
I was so excited when I found this scan. There is George Branch’s signature from over 300 years ago.
George has moved from Isle of Wight, Virginia, to the Albemarle/Chowan region of North Carolina and is claiming land for his family. In court, George Branch is claiming “headrights” for his eight person group: George Jr. and Susannah: “himself and his wife”; William Georg (torn area) Elizabeth & Phillis Branch, Margaret Thomas….. certifyed.
Note a few items: First is it “Margaret” and “Thomas” or “Margaret Thomas”. Before that name “Branch” seems to bracket off family members. For a time, I thought that a “Thomas” was the eighth person and so did some transcribers. However, I am firm in my conviction now that it is “Margaret Thomas” William’s future wife. For future reference, Margaret outlives William as he, the son of George, dies about 1719. She is Margaret Thomas Branch Arkill.
Secondly, note that the scan starts off with “Eight rights”. These headrights are 50 acres for each person brought to the new colonial territory. So this court document was to yield 400 acres for George Branch’s “transportation” of these people – mostly his family. However, there is no evidence YET that he, in fact, got the land that he was due. Perhaps he died too soon as he did die two years later in February1696. Perhaps just the paperwork is missing. However we have little evidence of the land of George; no transaction or tax list records his headright land. His sons, William and Francis, later in 1704 buy land in Chowan as young men so those transactions alone are indicative that George never got his land and he had little land for his sons to inherit.
So lets look at all eight people:
1 George Branch, Jr. — We don’t have a death date after 1694. George was old enough to defend the Virginia governor Berkeley in 1677 so I would estimate his birthdate at maybe 1657 give or take a few years. Interestingly, in 1680 IOW he, as a child, receives a bequest of a cow from a Captain Thomas Larimore and is noted as “George Branch the Younger” . So receiving his 1694 land, he was approximately 37 years old. However he was a carpenter so that line of work may have had pitfalls or literal falls that cut his life in the Chowan frontier short. George’s will probate lands in the Virginia archives as he dies before Feb 2, 1696.
2 His wife — That is presumably Susannah Robinson Corker Branch although George Sr. could have had a second wife. Again her name, like that of George, does not appear in NC records. However she does survive him and testifies that his inventory at death was true in 1696.
3 William (Branch) — George’s first son is named after William Corker, the father of Susannah. William marries Margaret perhaps just prior to 1704. He builds houses, runs a tavern, hosts the Colonial government. I am estimating his birthdate at 1680 or so and was therefore 14 when the family arrives in 1694 Chowan NC. 1704 is a pivotal year as he serves as a juror and purchases 50 acres of land. He appears to have been about 16 at his father’s death and about 24 at his purchase of land.
4 Georg (Branch) — We have no information on this person.
5 Elizabeth (Branch) later marries Humphrey Robinson.
6 Phyllis (Branch) no information
7 Margaret Thomas – becomes the wife of William Branch.
8. Who is the 8th person? Well the paper is torn just where Francis Branch’s name would be. So my money is on Francis. Francis is very much William’s partner in the Chowan region. Francis does not die until 20 years after his brother in 1739.