Edmund Branscomb, son of Thomas and Tabitha Branscomb
Following is the line of descent for Edmund Branscomb:
See also
The children of Edmund Branscomb, son of Thomas and Tabitha Branscomb
Three Edmund Branscombs are known to have originated in Brunswick or Greensville Counties, Va., roughly between 1769 and 1805: (1) this Edmund, son of Thomas and Tabitha; (2) Edmund’s son Edmond Jr. (b. approximately 1805); and (3) Edmund, b. ca. 1797, s/o John and Olive Branscomb, John being the brother of Thomas and thereby the uncle of the first Edmund.
Edmund Branscomb the son of Thomas and Tabitha was b. ca. 1769-1770 in Brunswick Co., Va., and d. in Greensville Co. between 3 February 1844(date of his will) and 5 August 1844 (date the will was proved in court). He md. (1) in Brunswick County on 6 October 1791 Joanna/Ann/Anney Ingram, d/o Joseph Ingram and surely the sister of the Elizabeth Ingram who md. Edmund’s brother Robert. Edmund md. (2) in Sussex Co. on 25 November 1818 Elizabeth May.
(In the handwritten records it is not always easy to distinguish between “Edmund” and Edward.” County clerks apparently had trouble distinguishing the names as well. In a number of the records for Edmund and for his son Edmond Jr. the given name is rendered as Edward. It is also difficult to distinguish between “Edmund” and Edmond” in some of the handwritten records. Except when transcribing a record which is unequivocally clear, I have made an arbitrary decision to render the name of Edmund Jr. as “Edmond,” as a way of distinguishing between father and son.)
For the years 1789 and 1790 the tax lists for Greensville County, Va., show a male age 16-21 in the household of Thomas Branscomb, and in 1791 Edmund is listed as a titheable male, over the age of 21 and therefore subject to poll tax. These data suggest strongly that Edmund had his 21st birthday in late 1790 or early 1791 and therefore was born in late 1769 or early 1770. The 1810 and 1820 censuses for Edmund are in agreement to the extent that they show a birth year between 1764 and 1775, and the 1840 census shows a birth year between 1770 and 1780. As stated above, Edmund died between February and August 1844.
When Edmund and Joanna married in 1791, they probably moved to a home on the land owned by Edmund’s father Thomas. In 1794 Thomas wrote in his will,
Item I give sons Isaac and Edmund Branscomb the tract of land whereon they both live containing one hundred and fifty two acres to be equally divided to them and their heirs forever.
In 1798 Edmund purchased from his brother Isaac the portion of the 153 acres which Isaac was due to inherit, even though Isaac would not receive title to the land until their father’s death. In any case, the deed is recorded in Greensville County Deed Book 2, pp. 554-555.
The tax rolls for Greensville County between 1792 and 1830 list Edmund as head of a household; the rolls have not yet been checked for years past 1830. Following is the list of Edmund’s taxable property through 1802 as shown by the tax rolls for Greensville County:
1792-1793: 1 white male >21; 1 horse
1794-1796: 1 white male >21, 1 slave >16, 2 horses
1797-1798: 1 white male >21; 2 slaves > 16, 2 horses
1799: 1 white male >21; 2 slaves >16 plus 3 horses
1800: 1 white male >21; 2 white males age 16-21; 2 slaves >16, 3 horses
1801: 1 white male >21; 2 white males age 16-21; 2 slaves >16, 4 horses
1802: 1 white male >21; 1 white male age 16-21; 2 slaves >16, 4 horses
Greensville County’s Deed Book Three shows that Edmund made two purchases of land. The first one was 145 acres from Edward and Elizabeth Forgusson, for which Edmund paid £100 (p. 137). I regret having neither a description of the tract nor the date of the deed. However, William Furgason (the surname has numerous variant spellings) was a neighbor who witnessed the will of Edmond’s grandfather Richard Branscomb, and the description of the tract in the deed by which Edmund’s uncle John Branscomb sold his (inherited) land in 1798 (Book 2, pp. 553-554) showed that it bordered upon Edmund’s property and also upon William Forgason’s spring branch. Edward or Edmund Forgusson was no doubt a member of William Forgason’s family.
The second deed was dated 5 December 1802 (p. 206): Henry and Susannah Williamson deeded 153 acres to Edmund Branscomb, for which Edmund paid another £100. The property description:
Beginning at a pine on the Run [this is Douglas’s Run; see the map in Branscomb land in Brunswick and Greensville Counties, Virginia]. Thence East to a corner pine on Mege’s line. Thence a North East course to a corner pine on Francis Forguson’s line, thence North along his line to the head of a branch, thence down the said branch to the Run. Thence up the said Run to the beginning.
The witnesses were David Walton, Gaskins Ingram and William Harris, the last two of whom married Branscombs. The witnesses proved the deed in the April court for 1803.
(Is this the land which Edmund’s father Thomas bequeathed in his will to his sons Isaac and Edmund jointly? The acreage [153] is the same.)
Continuing with the tax rolls for Edmund through 1810:
1803: 2 white males >21; 2 slaves >16, 4 horses. Francis Lewis is named as the other poll.
1804: 1 white male >21; 2 slaves >16; 2 horses
1805: 1 white male >21; 2 slaves >16; 3 horses
1806: 1 white male >21; 1 white male age 16-21; 2 slaves >16, 4 horses
1807: 1 white male >21; 2 slaves >16, 4 horses
1808: (no tax rolls are available for 1808.)
1809-1810: 1 white male >21; 1 white male age 16-21; 2 slaves >16, 5 horses
Following is the information for Edmund’s family as shown in the 1810 census for Greensville County (p. 445):
| |
Males |
Females |
Probable identities |
| persons age 26-45 |
1 |
1 |
Edmund and Joanna |
| persons age 16-26 |
1 |
0 |
Benjamin, age18 |
| persons age 10-16 |
1 |
1 |
Thomas, age ca. 14, and one female unknown |
| persons 0-10 |
2 |
1 |
Edmond Jr. and one unknown male; Eliza also three slaves |
Continuing with the tax rolls for Greensville County for 1811-1820:
1811: 1 white male >21; 1 white male age 16-21; 2 slaves >16; 4 horses.
1812: 1 white male >21; 1 white male age 16-21; 2 slaves >16; 1 Black age 10-16; 4 horses.
1813: 2 white males >16; 2 slaves >16; 2 slaves age 10-16; 5 horses. Benjamin Branscomb was named as the other male older than 16.
1814: 2 white males >16; 2 slaves >16; 1 slave 10-16; 4 horses. Thomas Branscomb was the other named male. Benjamin had entered military service.
1815: 2 white males >16, 3 slaves >12, 4 horses, 2 cattle, 1 taxable dog. Thos Branscomb was the other male. Tax: $4.00
1816: 2 white males >16; 3 slaves >12; 4 horses. Thos Branscomb was the other named male. Tax: $2.82.
1817: 2 white males >16; 3 slaves >16; 3 horses. Thos Branscomb was the other named male. Tax: $2.64
1818: 2 white males >16; 4 slaves >16; 3 horses. Thos Branscomb was the other named male. Tax: $3.34.
1819: 2 white males >16; 3 slaves >16; 3 horses. Thos Branscomb was the other named male. Tax: $1.76.
1820: 1 white male >16; 6 slaves >16; 1 slave age 12-16; 4 horses; 1 carriage valued at <$100. Tax: $6.12.
No information has been found concerning the death of Edmund’s wife Joanna. We can be reasonably certain that she was dead by 1818, because Edmund married (2) Elizabeth May on 25 November 1818 in neighboring Sussex County (Book 1817-1822, entry #1819-22). The certificate in the marriage book is revealing:
M. James C. Bailey, C.S.C. [=Clerk of Sussex Court]
Sir this is to Sertify that I am willing that you should grante Edmund Branscom Marage Licence given under my hand this 15th day of November --1819
Witness Polley Lloyd
(s) Elizabeth May
The last digit of the date looks like a 9 but is probably meant to be an 8; the minister’s return was #902 for 1818. Then the entry in the marriage book was the 22nd one for 1819, which confuses matters further, but a marriage in November 1819 would carry a much higher number. The minister, Nathl Chamless, named the groom as Edward Branescomb. Polley Lloyd was probably Elizabeth’s sister; the will of Edmund’s son Robert mentions Thomas P. Lloyd and a niece, Martha A. E. Loyd. (Brunswick Co. Wills, Book 15, p. 328)
The foregoing statement, signed by the bride, is evidence that she was of age. No security was required; Elizabeth was a widow. Years later Edmund’s son Benjamin sold property to William A. May, who was probably Elizabeth’s son, and even later Edmund bought it back (see below).
Edmund’s will names three children whom Elizabeth bore to him.
Following is the record for Edmund from the 1820 census for Greensville County:
| |
Whites |
|
Slaves |
| |
Males |
Females |
|
Males |
Females |
| Persons age 45 and older |
1 |
0 |
45 and older |
0 |
1 |
| Persons age 26 to 45 |
0 |
1 |
26-45 |
1 |
2 |
| Persons age 16-26 |
0 |
1 |
14-26 |
1 |
0 |
| Persons age 10-16 |
2 |
2 |
under 14 |
5 |
2 |
The white male over 45 was Edmund, and the white female age 26-46 was no doubt his second wife Elizabeth. One of the males age 10-16 was probably Edmond Jr., and the other was probably Elizabeth’s son William A. May. The female age 16-26 was probably Edmund’s daughter Eliza, and the two younger females could have been Elizabeth’s children by her previous marriage. (These identifications are speculative.)
Continuing with the Greensville Co. tax rolls through 1830:
1821: 1 white male >16; 6 slaves >16; 1 slave age 12-16; 4 horses; 1 carriage valued at <$100. Tax: $4.75.
1822: 2 white males >16; 7 slaves >16; 5 horses; 1 carriage valued at <$100. Tax: $1.88¼.
1823: 3 white males >16; 6 slaves >16; 4 horses; 1 two-wheeled carriage valued at < $100. Edm. Jr. was named as one of the white males; the other name was illegible. Perhaps William May? Tax: $3.81½.
1824: 3 white males >16, 7 slaves >16; 1 carriage valued at <$100. Tax: $4.27. The entry for names read “Edmund Branscomb & sons”.)
1825: 2 white males >16; 8 slaves >16; 4 horses; 1 “gigg” (the two-wheeled carriage). Tax: $.74. (The entry for names read “Edmond Branscomb & 2 sons.”)
1826: 2 white males >16; 8 slaves >16; 3 horses; 1 gigg. Tax: $4.62. The other named male was also Edmd. (= Edmond Jr.).
1827: 1 white male >16; 8 slaves >16; 3 horses; 1 gigg and harness. Tax: $4.62.
1828: 1 white male >16; 8 slaves >16; 1 slave age 12-16; 5 horses; 1 gigg and harness. Tax: $5.20. 1829: 1 white male >16; 8 slaves >16; 1 slave age 12-16; 4 horses; 1 gigg &c. Tax: $4.50
1830: 1 white male >16; 8 slaves >16; 1 slave age 12-16; 4 horses; 1 gigg &c. Tax: $3.97.
The extent of Edmund’s taxable property exceeded that of any other Branscomb in the area. His wife Joanna Ingram may have brought slaves or other resources with her when they married. (The earliest tax rolls for Brunswick County show a number of male Ingrams, and for several of them the rolls listed a sizable number of “taxables,” who were almost surely adult slaves. The 1785 tax rolls show Joseph Ingram with four Negroes, two horses and five cattle. The numbers vary somewhat over the years.) When Edmond married Elizabeth May in November 1818, (1819?) she, too, must have brought slaves with her; the tax rolls for Edmund show three slaves in 1819 and seven slaves in 1820. When he died in 1844, Edmund bequeathed twelve slaves to his heirs. The deed books and tax rolls show other resources as well. Regardless of how he acquired them initially, Edmund appears to have managed his resources well and to have caused them to multiply.
On 18 December 1828 Edmund Branscomb and his wife Elizabeth deeded 163 acres of land to Edmund’s eldest child Benjamin, “on which the said Benjamin currently resides” (Book 6, p. 323.) Although there is a difference of 10 acres in the size of the tract, the property description suggests strongly that it is the same tract that Edmund purchased from Henry Williamson in December1802. After his return from military service, and prior to his marriage to Tabitha Seward in December 1815, Benjamin probably erected a dwelling on the acreage. Soon after receiving the deed for this land from his father in 1828, Benjamin made plans to move to Jackson County, Ohio. In anticipation of the move, on 29 September 1829 he gave his father Power of Attorney concerning the disposition of his property (Deed Book 6, p. 398). Edmund was probably his son’s agent over several years when Benjamin pledged the land as security for his debts. Then in October 1834 Benjamin and Tabitha sold the land to William A. May (Book 7, p. 199). After William May moved to west Tennessee, Edmund repurchased the land from him (Book 8, p. 38). Then, as shown below, when Edmund made his will he bequeathed the tract to his son Edmond Jr. Additional information concerning these transactions appear in the sections for Edmund’s sons Benjamin and Edmond Jr.
The following records for Edmund and Joanna are from the marriage books:
- Edmund Branscomb was a witness when on 4 February 1793 William Harris married Edmund’s sister Frances Branscomb.
- Edward Branscomb was security, and Joanna Branscomb was a witness, when on 16 November 1795 Edmund’s brother Robert Branscomb married Joanna’s sister Elizabeth Ingram.
- Edmund Branscomb gave security when on 25 December 1795 Stephen Jackson married Polly Furguson.
- When on 6 November 1798 Zachariah Branscomb married Mazey Towns, Thomas and Edward Branscomb gave affidavits stating that the bride-to-be was [at least] 21 years of age and that her father did not live in Greensville County.
- Edmund Branscomb was a witness when on 6 or 8 January 1801 Douglas “Dugger” Burnett married Patsy Branscomb, d/o Richard Branscomb II.
- Edward Branscomb was security when on 12 January 1807 Isaac Walton Sr. married Polly Lanier.
- Edmund Branscomb gave security when on 11 November 1811 William Allen married Rebecca Ingram (William had given security for the marriage of Edmund and Joanna).
- Edmund Branscomb gave security when on 2 September 1822 Josiah I. Kelley married Sally E. Walton.
- Edmund Branscomb gave consent when on 16 January 1824 his daughter Eliza L. Branscomb married William B. Allen, presumably the one of that name who earlier had been married to Rebecca Ingram.
- E. Branscomb gave consent when on 15 February 1840 his son George L. Branscomb md. Mary A. D. Robinson (John Vogt.and T. William Kethley, Jr., Greensville County Marriages, 1781-1853. Athens, GA: Iberian Publishing Co.; p. 14)
In addition, Will Book One for Greensville County mentions Edmund. Examples: (1) On 20 November 1801 Edmund and his brother Robert were witnesses to the will of Elizabeth Rawlings (Will Book 1, pp. 446-447); (2) On 24 April 1805 Edmund Branscom was one of four appraisers of the estate of John Dillehay (p. 541); (3) On 23 January 1806 Edmund was one of the appraisers for the estate of Thomas Moss (p. 557, all as shown by Ray Sasser, Greensville County, Virginia, Abstracts of Wills: Will Book 1, 1787-1806, p. 100) Also, on 18 April 1803 Edmund was the witness for the will of Harmon Harrison, and after Harmon died Edmund proved the will at the April court 1810 (Will Book 2, p. 119).
I have not perused systematically the official records of Greensville County after 1800, and no doubt other mentions of Edmund await discovery in them. In March 1794 Edmund’s father Thomas appointed his sons Isaac and Edmund as joint executors of his will, and, given that ca. 1799 Isaac and his family moved approximately 160 miles further westward, it is likely that when Thomas died in late1814 or the first half of January 1815 Edmund served as the principal executor of his father’s estate. Also, Edmund’s brother Robert was to inherit the estate upon the death of their mother Tabitha, but before either of his parents died Robert had moved even further westward than Isaac had. In 1817 Robert conveyed a deed to Edmund (Greensville County Deed Book 4, p. 46); the deed has not been explored, but the most likely event is that Robert sold to his brother the land to which he was to become owner upon the death of their mother, just as their brother Isaac had done in 1798 or 1799 when he departed Greensville County. It is therefore likely that Edmund was also involved in settling Tabitha’s affairs after her death. The county records should provide the information.
Following is the record for Edmund and family from the 1830 census, p. 39:
| |
Males |
Females |
| persons age 40-50 |
1 |
0 |
| persons age 30-40 |
0 |
1 |
| persons age 20-30 |
1 |
2 |
| persons age 15-20 |
1 |
0 |
| persons age 0-5 |
2 |
1 |
| six male slaves, 6 female |
The two eldest family members were no doubt Edmund and Elizabeth, and the three youngest were probably the children whom Elizabeth bore to Edmund. The male age 20-30 could have been either young Edmond or William A. May. The two females age 20-30 conform to the two age 10-16 in the 1820 census and could have been Elizabeth’s daughters. (These identifications are speculative.) It appears that Elizabeth’s age was recorded incorrectly and that she was older than 40 in 1830; in the next decennial census her age was given as between 50 and 60.
Following is the record for Edmund’s family in the 1840 census for Greensville County:
| |
Male |
Female |
| persons age 60-70 |
1 |
0 |
| persons age 50-60 |
0 |
1 |
| persons age 30-40 |
0 |
1 |
| persons age 15-20 |
1 |
1 |
| persons age 10-15 |
1 |
0 |
| persons under 5 years |
0 |
1 |
Again, the two eldest family members would be Edmund and Elizabeth, and the youngest were probably Robert D. and Polly. Perhaps the two of age 15-20 are George L. and his bride Mary Robinson; see below. (These identifications are speculative.)
Edmund made his will on 3 February 1844. It was proved in Greensville County Court on 5 August 1844 (Will Book 6, p. 319; I am indebted to Betty Lawrence for a xerograph,). The will provides useful information concerning most of his children and the children of Elizabeth by her first husband.
I, Edmund Branscomb of Greensville County and state of Virginia, do make this my last Will and Testament in manner and form following, towit:
First, I give and bequeath unto my son Robert five negroes towit, Matty, Wiley, Ellick, Frances and Isabel, but should he die without lawful issue before he arrives to twenty one years of age, my will and desire is that the aforesaid negroes be equally divided among my surviving children, also two beds, half high stand and furniture which I give to him upon the same conditions and should the said Robert marry before he arrives to twenty one years of age my will and desire is that he shall take full possession of all of the above named property.
Secondly, I give and bequeath unto George L. Branscomb (infant son of George L. Branscomb decd) three negroes, towit: Ben, Sarah and Joshua, but should he die before he arrives to the age of twenty one years, my will and desire is that the aforesaid negroes be equally divided among my surviving children and my will and desire is that the above mentioned negroes shall remain in the hands of my trustee towit: William B. Allen whom I now appoint until he, the said George L. Branscomb arrives to the age of twenty one years, and my will and desire is that no guardian whom he may appoint or who may be appointed shall take the said negroes out of the hands of the said William B. Allen until the said George L. Branscomb arrives to the age above mentioned at which time he may take possession of said negroes
Thirdly, my will and desire is that at my decease my son Thomas Branscomb shall take possession of my negro man Dick and one bed and bedstead and furniture and at the same time take my daughter Polly to his hands and bring her up and support her decently during her life and at her decease, the said negroe man Dick and the said bed and furniture I grant to my son Thomas Branscomb and his heirs forever.
Fourthly, my will and desire is that at my decease William B. Allen shall take possession of my negro man Heartwell [? spelling in doubt] and at the same time take my grandson George L. Branscomb to his hands and his three negroes before mentioned and that he take care of, decently support and give the same George L. a tolerable education and that the said William B. Allen shall have the labour of the said George L. Branscomb’s three negroes until he arrives to twenty years of age at which time the above named Heartwell shall be the property of William B. Allen.
Fifthly, my will and desire is that at my decease my son Edmund shall have that tract of land adjoining the land of Mrs. Amy Ferguson, formerly that land owned by Benja Branscomb containing one hundred and sixty three acres and my will and desire is that all the rest of my lands on which my dwelling now stands together with all the stock of whatever kind, plantation, utensils, household & kitchen furniture except one bed and furniture which I give to George L. Branscomb my grandson and bed and furniture to Martha Ann Branscomb daughter of Edmund Branscomb, at my decease shall be the property of my son Robert upon the same terms as the five negroes named in the first item.
6th I give and bequeath to my wife Elizabeth during her life my negro man Davy (Brick mason) and negro woman Malinda for her use and support.
Lastly, I nominate and appoint William B. Allen & my son Thomas Branscomb Executors to this my last Will and testament, revoking all others hereinbefore made by me~and my will and desire is that they shall not be required to give security and that there shall be no inventory or appraisement of my estate but the said William B. Allen & Thomas Branscomb shall manage to the best advantage agreeably to this my desires~In witness whereof I hereunto set my hand and seal this 3rd day of February one Thousand Eight hundred and forty four.
Signed sealed and delivered
in presence of Edm Branscom (Seal)
John Furgason
Henry Allen
his
John L. X Ivey
mark
At a court held for the County of Greensville on Monday the 5th day of August 1844a writing purported to be the last will and testament of Edmund Branscum was produced in Court & offered for probate whereupon divers witnesses being sworn and examined and the said Will being offered by Thomas Branscom and Wm B. Allen, and the court having heard counsel as well on behalf of the will as against it, on consideration whereof the court is of opinion that the said Branscom at the time of making said writing was of sound and disposing mind & memory and under no undue influence. And the said will being proved by the oaths of Henry Allen and John Furgason and John L Ivey three of the witnesses thereto is ordered to be recorded as the last will and testament of Edmund Branscom deceased. Whereupon Thomas Branscom and Wm B. Allen the executors named in the said Will, appeared in court and refused to take upon themselves the burthen of the Execution thereof.
Teste Jno Turner C. C.
As stated above, William B. Allen, who was both an heir and coexecutor of Edmund’s estate, had married Edmund’s daughter Eliza in 1824.
(Note that throughout the will, until he came to the signature, county clerk John Turner transcribed the Branscomb surname with the final “b,” no doubt because it appeared that way in the original document. For the signature and subsequent renditions he wrote “Branscom.)
It is possible that the county records contain further entries to show why the will was contested and why the two heirs named as executors refused to serve (Robert’s will, as cited below, suggests some animosity between him and William Allen). Certainly the records should show the names of the court-appointed executor(s).
It seems unusual that Edmund’s will makes no provision for his wife Elizabeth except that she was to receive two slaves. It was not unusual for a widow who remarried to retain possession of the property which she inherited from her first husband, and perhaps that was the case here. Widows also had dower rights, so a portion of the land, or the proceeds from its sale, probably went to her. These assumptions need checking in the official records.
See also
The children of Edmund Branscomb, son of Thomas and Tabitha Branscomb