(See Journey to Carolina Province Part 1 for the preceding story.)
The Story of William Branch Sr. and Francis Branch of Edenton Chowan NC and their families.
1697 Marriage of William Branch Sr. and Margaret Thomas in North Carolina. This pair likely married soon after the father George’s death. And that meshes with the approximate dates of births for Issachar and William. No records exist for this marriage in the year 1697 to when he marries Margaret Thomas since he appears to be about 21. The children of William Sr. and Margaret after this date are:
- William Branch (Jr.) – Edenton, dies young.
- Issachar Branch – Carpenter, later in Perquimans County.
- Solomon Branch – Unknown, no further appearance in records.
- Elizabeth Branch (II) – Acquitted of murder; marries Humphry Robinson. About 1700-1762.
- Martha Branch—unmarried as of 1721.
- Unnamed infant of 1721.
William Sr. dies in 1721 seventeen years after his estimated marriage. Note that Issachar Branch, a carpenter, inherits some of his uncle Francis Branch’s estate. Also William Branch Jr. apparently dies young and his children, Francis & Elizabeth, are subjected to a court case over their estate with step father, Robert Kingham. This Elizabeth Branch (the third) is the one that marries John Green.
1698 William Branch Jr. of William Sr.: William Jr. is the eldest son of William Sr and Margaret, and he was likely born at least two years prior to Issachar. So, William Branch Jr. born in 1698 and is a juryman as young as age 31 in 1729. Marries Elizabeth Howcutt and after his 1747 death she marries Robert Kingham. Dies young and his children, Elizabeth and Frances III are left as orphaned children under the care of their stepfather; Robert Kingham is sued for mismanagement of their estate by William Arkill and Humphrey Robinson.
1702 Issachar Branch Sr. of William: Issachar seems to be born in 1702 as after his father’s death in 1721 he receives land from his mother, Margaret Thomas Branch Arkill. He is likely age 21. Issachar is recognized in his adult years as a master carpenter similar to his father. He wills his tools to a son. Marries Sarah Steward. Lives about 1702-1743.
1704 William Branch Sr. court: Perquimans Precinct. William Branch serves on a jury July 11, 1704 for two trials.
1704 William Branch Sr land: John Dennis, and wife Mary, to Will Branch. 50 acres land at year head Mattacomack Creek, adjoining Nicholas Phillbyed; 4 July 1704. Likely William was about 25 born in 1679.
DUPLICATE DEED TRANSCRIPTION: John Davis, and wife Mary, to Wm. Branch. 50 acres at the head of Mattacomack Creek, part of the land where I now lived, bounded by land of John Wheatley; 4 July 1704. Test, Nath’l Chesin, James Flemans. (Duplicate or transcription error) Note that John Wheatley was the father-in-law of William’s brother, Francis.
1707 Francis Branch family: I will assign this year to when he marries Ann Wheatley since he appears to be about 21. His children after this date are only daughters: one married to Maquire and Sarah Donovan. Francis dies in 1739 twenty-two years later. His daughters appear to marry the Luten brothers. Note: that while a transcribed will cites “sons” William & Issachar, the original cites – Issachar son of William, his brother. Therefore Issachar Branch Sr. is his nephew and inherits some of the estate.
1707 Francis Branch land: Jeremiah Exum, and wife Ann, of the Isle of Wight Co. Va. to Francis Branch, conveyed by Thomas Luten attorney. 138 acres at the mouth of Mattacomack Creek, bound on the southwest by land of Nicholas Crisp, and on the northwest by land of Nathaniel Chevin, as may appear by an assignment of Dower from Thomas Cull: May 23d, 1687. Power of attorney dated Sept 22d, 1707. Deed dated January 6, 1707- ‘8. Test, Nath. Chevin. (Likely Francis Branch was 21, born 1686. Age 10 when dad died in 1696. This appears to be his first land purchase.) We know that they are married by 1712 because most of his land transactions note “and wife Ann”.
1712 Province of North Carolina is founded and a town established at the site of Edenton.
1712 Francis Branch land: Richard Lewis, to Francis Branch. 166 acres land lying at the Barrowhole; July 14, 1712. Test, Thomas Luten, Thos. Luten, Jr.
1717 William Branch Sr. land: William Branch. Book VIIII, page 150, April 23, 1717: 292 acres on Mattacomack Creek and Bonner’s Cove Creek.
1716 – 1719 COURT SESSIONS at William Branch’s Tavern, Edenton:
1716: At a court held for the said Precinct, at the house of Wm. Branch; 17 July 1716…
1716: At a court held for the said Precinct, at the house of Wm. Branch; September 16, 1716…
1717: At a court held for the said Precinct, 16 July 1717, at the house of Wm. Branch; …
1718: At a court, held for Chowan Precinct, 21 July 1718 at the house of Wm. Branch; …
1718: At a court, held for Chowan Precinct, 21st October 1718, at the house of Wm. Branch…
1719: At a court, held for Chowan Precinct, at the house of Wm. Branch, 20 July, continuing to the 22nd, 1719.; …
1719: At a court, held for Chowan Precinct, 21 September 1719, at the house of Wm. Branch, …
1718-1719 Dendrochronology of Lane house in Edenton, NC built by William Branch Sr. In 2013, Michael Worthington, dendrochronologist with Oxford Tree-Ring Laboratory, announced that “the felling date for the primary timbers used in this building is Winter 1718/19.” This house was recently discovered as the oldest residential structure in North Carolina. It is now located at 304 East Queen Street, Edenton, NC. It was located in William Branch’s time closer to the waterfront and east of the Courthouse site. It is a very small dwelling that also served as a local tavern. When records cite that the court meets at William Branch’s house, this is the structure that they are likely referring to as Edenton was a small and meager frontier outpost in the wilderness of early colonial North Carolina.
(This house is the featured photo for this post. Please note that the structure is dated to 1718 and various features have changed in the intervening years. The structure was also moved.)
1719 Francis Branch Sr. land: Francis Branch brother of William. Book 1, page 251, August 6, 1719; 230 acres at the northwest side of Mattacorac Creek. Francis Branch. Book 1, page 281, August 6, 1719; 124 acres at the head of Mattacorac Creek. (Total of 511 acres)
1720 Elizabeth Branch, daughter of George Branch. Elizabeth Branch is charged and acquitted of the murder of Elizabeth Harris in Edenton Chowan NC. She stabbed her in the thigh with a fork and Miss Harris died soon after. (Elizabeth is too old to be the daughter of William or Francis and is thus the daughter of George listed on his headright of 1694.) She is termed a “Spinster” but seems to marry Edward Howcott who, perhaps not coincidentally was on the jury in this case. I speculate that this incident could have taken place in the tavern that William Branch operated in Edenton.
Several women named Elizabeth are in the Chowan County Branch family:
- Elizabeth Branch of George Jr., sister of William Sr. & Issachar. (about 1686 to ??)
- Elizabeth Branch Robinson, daughter of William Sr. & Margaret Branch. (1700-1762)
- Elizabeth Howcutt Branch Kingham, wife of William Jr. (about 1712-1747)
- Elizabeth Branch (II) Underhill Green daughter of William Jr. of Edenton Tea Party.(about 1737 – after1780)
1721 William Branch Sr. dies: William Branch, of Chowan. November 20, 1721; January 20, 1722; wife Margaret, brother Francis Branch, Executor son William, Henry Bonner, William Bonner, and Paul Palmer, son Issachar, son Solomon, daughter Elizabeth and an infant.
1721 Margaret Branch Arkill and son Issachar Branch: Wm. Arkill, and wife Margaret, to Issachar Branch, the son of Wm. Branch and his wife Margaret, now my wife. Lot “B” Deed of gift, in case of his death to his sister Martha Branch. for lot in Edenton; 30 June 1721. Wm. Branch to Wm Douers. Test. Robert Hicks, Henry Lysle. (Likely Isaachar turned 21, born about 1700.)
1723 Francis Branch Sr: Under a List of Jurymen in Edenton is Francis Branch on a list of 142 names.
1724 Margaret Thomas Branch Arkill. Margaret Branch, executrix of the estate of William Branch, sued John Molton through her attorney for “fourty five pounds Sterling.” The case began in the General Court in March 1724. “Women’s Civil Actions in the NC Higher Courts, 1670-1730” Donna Spindle.
1724-5 Margaret Branch Arkill and daughter Elizabeth Robertson: Wm. Arkill, and wife Margaret, to Elizabeth Robertson, Deed of gift, for lot in the new plan of Town of Edenton; 18 February, 1724-5. Test, Robert Hicks, Francis Branch (uncle).
1724-5 Margaret Branch Arkill and daughter Martha Branch (unmarried): WM. Arkill, to Martha Branch, daughter of Wm. Branch and Margaret his wife. Deed of gift, for lot in Edenton; 18 February, 1724-5.
1729 William Branch Jr. Court term in Chowan. March 25, 1729 – April 3, 1729. William Branch is listed on a list of Jurymen.
1735 Francis Branch and nephew William Branch Jr.: Quit Rents for Chowan Precinct July 12, 1735 – Sept 29, 1735, Vol 22, page 255. William Arkils – 50 acres; Francis Branch, 1314 acres. William Branch (Jr.), 175 acres.
1737 Margaret Branch Arkill and son Issachar Branch: Will Arkill, and wife Margaret, and Isaachar Branch to James Kelly, Lot B, old plan; March 14, 1737. Test, Peter Payne, Edward Howcott. (Howcott was his uncle by marriage)
1737 Elizabeth Branch (III) born: She is Elizabeth Branch Underhill Green. Born about 1737 and dies after 1774 living to at least the age of 37 and likely dies much older. William Branch Jr & Elizabeth Howcott are her parents.
1739 Francis Branch will and death: Francis Branch, of Chowan. November 14, 1739; probated December 4, 1739.
Francis & Ann had four daughters Mary, Ann, Elizabeth & Sarah. Apparently, Ann Maguire and Sarah Donnavan Lewis survived. There were NO SONS. Francis left items out of his wealthy estate to William Branch’s (brother) son Issachar Branch.
WRONG TRANSCRIPTION: Phillip Maquire, land in Rockyhock Neck, 100 acres, Son William , Son Issachar,
CORRECT TRANSCRIPTION: Francis Branch, of Chowan. November 14,1739; probated Dec 4, 1739; Phillip Maguire, land in Rockyhock Neck 100 acres, William Branch’s son Issachar, daughter Sarah Donnovan , wife Ann Branch; Will Arkill and Wm. Luten Executors.
1743 Issachar Branch Sr death: There is evidence of master carpenter Issachar’s death in 1743 (at around age 43). His wife, Sarah Branch, is referred to as a widow in a land transaction in Perquimans County to the east of Chowan. The headship of the family was now thru sons Issachar Branch Jr. and Job Branch in Perquimans County, NC since William Jr. died in 1745 and his son Francis was not documented after 1751.
1744 Francis Branch (III) born. William Branch Jr & Elizabeth Howcott are parents again. Francis Branch is born; older sister Elizabeth (III). We don’t know of his fate after the court actions of 1751.
1745 William Branch Jr. death: Tragically at around age 47, William Branch Jr. dies: He leaves orphans Elizabeth (9) and Francis (II) age 2. Family of William Branch Jr & Elizabeth Howcott is documented. Both parents died young; widow was briefly married to Robert Kingham and the two children are under his guardianship. Other relatives challenged in court in 1751 that Kingham was wasting the estate of Elizabeth 14 & Francis age 7.
1755 Elizabeth Branch Underhill Green of the Edenton Tea Party: This Elizabeth was born in 1737 and at age 18 marries attorney Edward Underhill April 9, 1755. He dies not long after and she represents his estate interests to collect debts in court. One publication noted that she was one of the earliest women acting as attorneys in colonial NC. But note her grandmother Margaret sought unpaid debts due to William Branch in 1722 and Elizabeth herself witnessed her uncles in court trying to get stepfather Robert Kingham removed as her guardian due to mismanagement of her late father’s assets. It is thought that this Elizabeth Branch Underhill then married John Green, master carpenter. And, it is thought, not yet proven, that she is the Elizabeth Green of the women’s Edenton Tea Party of October 1774. Not proven. Yet.
1755 Branch family in Albemarle region: The headship of the Branch family was now through William Branch’s sons Issachar Branch Jr. and Job Branch in Perquimans County. In particular, Issachar Branch III who lived from 1783-1858 and his son George Branch 1809-1851. This group did not really migrate to any other part of North Carolina between arrival in 1683 and the antebellum period.
This timeline was compiled from a variety of primary sources. It ONLY concerns the Chowan Branch family group. Many times, facts or truths are revealed when using a timeline to direct your research. This blog will be updated from time to time with new dates as they are discovered or corrected. March 3, 2025.
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