Family Tree Maker's Genealogy Site: Genealogy Report: Descendants of John Brandon b.1662

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Descendants of John Brandon b.1662

Generation No. 3

7. WILLIAM³ BRANDON (THOMAS², JOHN¹) was born Abt. 1710 in Ireland?, and died Bef. 20 Jan 1751/52 in Walnut Bottom?, Cumberland Co, PA. He married ELINOR. She was born Abt. 1712, and died Abt. 1770 in Carlisle?, Cumberland Co, PA.

Notes for WILLIAM BRANDON:
A one paragraph administration bond notice survives for William's estate, with no children listed. Elinor makes a mark for her name and Walter Gregory witnesses with a mark.
(Walter Gregory paid an assessment alongside John Brandon (b.1715, later of Huntington Twp, York County) in 1738 in Brandywine Hundred, now-Delaware and was probably there earlier, but warranted land in Hanover Township, Lancaster County - the only one who did on the same day as those Brandons - in 1737. Gregory then settled in Allen Township, Cumberland County. From that final midpoint, this unusual - and illiterate! - man helps out with both Carlisle and Huntington Township, York County Brandon estates. Dr. Henry Cathey wonders if "Huntington John" and Mahly Cathey Brandon named their son Walter after him. Son James Gregory married Agnes Trindle, d/o William and Margaret Cathey Trindle of Trindle Springs. There's undoubtedly more to the early Gregory-Brandon relationship. Could his wife have been a sister to the elder Brandons or his sister a Brandon wife? Or was "Huntington John" Brandon's indenture served under or with Walter Gregory?)

More About WILLIAM BRANDON:
Probate: 20 Jan 1751/52, Cumberland Co, PA

Notes for ELINOR:
Variously written as Elinor and Eleanor, she shows up in the Cumberland County Court Records Writs and Pleadings 1752-1755. She is taxed in the town of Carlisle in 1758, 1768 and 1769. (The Cumberland County Historical Society notes that the source for the microfilmed tax records got it wrong in transcribing the 1758 tax as 1753. Their originals show that list to have been generated in 1758.)
The list of letters remaining at the Philadelphia Post Office, as published in The Pennsylvania Gazette of February 12, 1761 includes an "Elenora Brandon in Carlisle."
THESE CHILDREN ARE SPECULATION AT THIS TIME.
Eleanor Brandon is found in court on the 26 July 1752 trespass case of Robert Brandon v. Cornelius McCallee. Robert's name is crossed out and hers added on the flyleaf as she continues the case on 26 October 1752 v. "Neal McCall." Robert may have died at this time.
Most cases she's in she alleges or is accused of trespass. It is unclear if these were boundary disputes at some family homestead or town disputes and she was living in Carlisle. (Her brother-in-law James Brandon ran a tavern in Carlisle during this time.) She also sued for debts, including one owed by "Samuel McMurry yoeman and Indian trader."
James Brandon of "Newtown" township got releases from Elizabeth Brandon McKnight of Carlisle and John and Isabella Barker in 1783, in order to sell land of John Brandon deceased in Allen Twp at Trindle Springs. (The Trindle matriarch was Margaret Cathey.)
William Boyd of Trindle Springs witnessed the transfer for the John Brandon dec'd land to William Harkness via James Brandon - Boyd served with George McKnight in 1758.
The records leading me to this list of possible children include Cumberland County Writs and Pleadings, property left by a John Brandon dec'd 1783 in Trindle Springs to James Brandon of Newville, Elizabeth McKnight of Carlisle and John and Isabella Barker, a 1929 McKnight family letter (referencing even earlier letters) in the Cumberland Co. Historical Society's surname folder and a trespass case against John and Isabella Brandon Barker.

Children of WILLIAM BRANDON and ELINOR are:

ROBERT⁴ BRANDON, b. Cumberland Co, PA; d. Bef. 1783, Cumberland Co, PA.

Notes for ROBERT BRANDON:
Robert may have been at home with his widowed mother and siblings when he filed a trespass case against a Cornelius McCallee which came to court in July 1752. His name was crossed off and Eleanor continued the case in October of that year - so he may have died then.

ii.

JOHN BRANDON, b. Abt. 1737, Cumberland Co, PA; d. Abt. 1783, Allen Twp?, Cumberland Co, PA.

Notes for JOHN BRANDON:
Written "John Brannon" and said to be a 19-year old cooper born in Ireland on the 1756 muster roll of Major James Burd. Written "John Brandon" and noted as born in Pennsylvania on the 1757 Lt. Col. Burd muster roll. Upped to corporal in full-Colonel Burd's muster list for Aug-Oct. 1758, "Camp at Loyalhanning" (Ft. Ligonier).
A McKnight family letter c. late 1800s says a Capt. Brandon served with George McKnight under Gen. Braddock at Ft. Duquesne, later becoming wealthy and espousing the Tory cause during the revolution.
There is 1777 testimony of a "Captain John BRANDON, late of the Queen’s American Rangers" in the General Court Martial of Job Williams said to be recorded in Great Britain's Public Record Office, War Office, Class 71, Volume 83, pp 309-331. (But in 1775 a Bostonian named John Brandon was a 1st Lt. in the Loyal Irish Volunteers as well. Probably the John Brandon who evacuated Boston with the British in 1776 and relocated to Halifax, according to the Proceedings of the Massachusetts Historical Society, Vol. 18, page 266.)

iii.

ELIZABETH BRANDON, b. Cumberland Co, PA; d. Unknown, Carlisle?, Cumberland Co, PA; m. GEORGE MCKNIGHT, 09 Oct 1756, Carlisle, Cumberland Co, PA; d. Abt. 1759.

Notes for ELIZABETH BRANDON:
A 1929 letter in the Cumberland County Historical Society's McKnight surname folder contains earlier reminiscences of the McKnight family. The narrative states that George McKnight and a Capt. Brandon served together at Ft. Duquesne during Braddock's Defeat and that George married the Captain's sister.

Notes for GEORGE MCKNIGHT:
Lt. George McKnight was reported dead in the Pennsylvania Archives list of officers who served 1758-59 (Series 2, Vol. 2, p. 523). He was commissioned lt. under Capt. Samuel Jones May 5, 1759. (Series 5, Vol. 1, p. 296 and p. 300.)

Marriage Notes for ELIZABETH BRANDON and GEORGE MCKNIGHT:
Married by the Rev. Thomas Barton.
Dates I've seen for the children could be wrong or George McKnight may have had a first wife. Letters c. 1930 by Mrs. C.N. Welshans of Jacksonville, FL at the Historical Society of Pennsylvania and the Cumberland County Historical Society discuss but do not resolve Stella McKnight's reported date of birth and the record of Elizabeth Brandon and George McKnight's marriage.

iv.

JAMES BRANDON, b. 1740, Cumberland Co, PA; d. Unknown, Venango Co, PA; m. MARY ELLIOTT; b. Cumberland Co, PA; d. Unknown, Venango Co, PA.

Notes for JAMES BRANDON:
Member, Big Spring Presbyterian Church, Newville.
George Elliot witnesses the release by James Brandon on any of his wife's claim on her father's (unnamed) estate Feb 18 1772.
Hugh Smith renounces bonds extended to James Brandon as he did not fulfill "his bargain," Carlisle Gazette, September 14 and October 3, 1785.

ISABELLA BRANDON, b. Cumberland Co, PA; d. Unknown; m. JOHN BARKER; d. Unknown.

8. JOHN³ BRANDON (THOMAS², JOHN¹) was born Abt. 1712 in Ireland?, and died Abt. 1756 in Manor Twp, Lancaster Co, PA (Source: (1) Intestate records of Lancaster County, Pennsylvania., (2) Manor Twp tax list, Widow Brandon listed in 1756, John was listed in the earlier one done in 1754 and also in 1751.). He married MARGARET Abt. 1735. She was born 1714, and died Abt. 1768 in PA.

Notes for JOHN BRANDON:
Since John married the widow Orr about 1735, it seems to have happened on the Brandons' way up from their supposed entry point of New Castle, DE. His father Thomas must have proceeded to cross the Susquehanna, getting his Blunston license at Walnut Bottom in 1737.

Either that, or this entire family group needs re-examination.

If his name wasn't John I'd swear he was a son to James b.1693 of Huntington Township, York/Adams Co. Stepson Arthur Orr had many early dealings with the Huntington crew and after John and Margaret's deaths the grown kids moved over to York County rather than to Cumberland. But - James already has a son John.

Bottom line, I am not convinced this John is a son of Thomas. He may be another cousin from Ireland.

The February 5, 1745 edition of the Pennsylvania Gazette includes an ad by a Hempfield Township, Lancaster County John Brandon regarding runaway Irish servant William Hamilton. Manor Township was formed from Hempfield in 1759.

Notes for MARGARET:
Margaret (unknown maiden name) Orr was apparently just out of her teens and a widow with three babies when John Brandon married her.
Her children from her first marriage were Arthur, Margaret m. Robert Beaty and James (James Orr died leaving an estate inventory 3 December 1756 in Manor Township which references Margaret Brandon).
Arthur Orr and Robert Beaty administered her husband John Brandon's estate after his death.
The 27 March 1751 survey for James Brandon b.1693's Huntington Township, York County land shows Arthur Orr owning the land adjacent to the south. Orr is a Highway Supervisor there as early as 1757. It appears he kept residences in both York County and Manor Township, Lancaster County for a time. He is taxed in Manor Twp a very small amount in 1758 and 1759.
Arthur Orr (d. Washington Co, VA) also helped appraise the estates of several Brandons from the James b.1693 branch later, when he lived in Tyrone Township, York County.

Children of JOHN BRANDON and MARGARET are:

JANE⁴ BRANDON, b. 1736, PA; d. Unknown, York Co, PA/Rowan Co, NC?; m. SAMUEL NELSON; b. Abt. 1732, Manor Twp, Chester Co, PA; d. Unknown, York Co, PA/Rowan Co, NC?.

Notes for SAMUEL NELSON:
Interesting to note a marriage between one Robert Beaty and Isabella Nelson, 8 August 1759 in Lancaster County.
Despite notes that the Nelsons may have joined the Rowan County crew, I find a Samuel Nelson in Monaghan Twp, York County in 1768. (His land is referred to in the will of Robert Roseborough of Allen Township along with neighbors John Williams and Richard Peters.) This Samuel Nelson property is in the York County map collection by Neal Hively with a survey date of 1786, as is a Robert Beaty and George Brandon, his father-in-law's uncle. The Nelson property is shown straddling the Carroll and Monaghan townships line just south of the Yellow Breeches.
Actually, there appear to be three Samuel Nelsons in York County (Monaghan/Carroll addresses as well as Newberry Township) - at least one's family is already spoken for (Col. Samuel Nelson d.1802).

ii.

JOHN BRANDON, b. Abt. 1743, PA; d. Unknown.

Notes for JOHN BRANDON:
Lancaster Co, PA Orphan's Court, Part 3, March 1754-Sept. 1759, p. 94: Jan 25, 1758 - John Brandon orphan above 14 years of age, minor son of John Brandon deceased, chose Robert Beaty and Samuel Nelson as guardians. (His brothers-in-law.)
If this John Brandon relocated to York County with his half-brother Arthur Orr and his guardians, he may be the man who married Mary Sadler, a neighbor of his Huntington Township cousins.

9. JAMES³ BRANDON (WILLIAM², JOHN¹) was born 1704 in Ireland?, and died Unknown in Hanover Twp, Dauphin Co, PA?. He married ANNIE Abt. 1725. She was born Abt. 1704, and died Unknown.

Notes for JAMES BRANDON:
The Archibald Bennett book perpetuates what I believe to be the misconception that this branch migrated to Halifax Co, VA. The Halifax Brandons are related as proven by DNA but there is ample evidence their immigration was straight to Virginia.
This is probably the James Brandon referred to in Rev. John Roan's Account Book for 1756 - payment "to David Forguson for boarding three men at Ja.s Brandons." (Rev. John Roan's Account Book p. 61, the Historical Society of Dauphin County) Rev. Roan ministered to the Paxtang, Derry and Conewago congregations. From the context, it appears the Reverend is referring to members of the Derry guard.
James was to share his father's land with his brother William per the 1753 will - the Hanover assessment for 1782 taxed both a William Brandon and a James "Bradden", probably their sons and namesakes. William Brandon (Jr.) warranted the presumed tract on his own in 1785, so cousin James (Jr.) may have died or moved on with his heirs.

But then, James may be the "James Bannon" listed as one of the West Hanover Township residents driven from their farms by Indian troubles in 1756. That list is reported on the tax duplicate for 1766, at Lancaster, in which they are noted as having fled when the collector called.

See brother William for more loose ends.

Child of JAMES BRANDON and ANNIE is:

JAMES?⁴ BRANDON, d. Unknown.

Notes for JAMES? BRANDON:
THIS CHILD IS SPECULATION.
A James Brandon had his Paxtang Township land, "Brampton," warranted 22 April 1774 and surveyed (no neighbors) 7 September that year. I have no idea how early it was actually occupied. It was over Blue Mountain from the West Hanover Township Brandon families. Currently looking for what became of the parcel.
(A letter in the Lancaster County Historical Society's Brandon surname folder states a James Brandon who owned Brampton married Annie Petticrew. This - proposed - child's cousin, Anne Brandon married James Petticrew. There is the possibility this proposed child James married an aunt. Or the marriage refers to his father's and the land was called Brampton from the beginning.)
James "Bradden" was taxed in Hanover Township in 1782. In 1785, cousin William Brandon surveyed his inherited 100 acres for himself, so this speculated James may have died without heirs by then or moved on.

The list for the Hanover and Paxtang townships' company of Capt. Matthew Smith includes a private James Brandon "left sick at Cambridge" in 1776.

A possible sister? Mary Ann Brandon was married to William Grahams (Hanover Township family) April 4, 1765 by the Rev. J.C. Bucher.
But then, an apparently unrelated Timothy Brandon of "Paxton" Township m. Elizabeth Boid June 3 1761 by Rev. John Casper Stoever. (Timothy Brandon on militia list, "Brannon" on marriage list.)

10. WILLIAM³ BRANDON (WILLIAM², JOHN¹) was born Abt. 1720 in Ireland?, and died Bef. 19 Jun 1787 in Hanover Twp, Dauphin Co, PA. He married (1) AGNES WIGGINS, daughter of JOHN WIGGINS and ELIZABETH. She died Unknown in Hanover Township, Lancaster Co, PA. He married (2) SUSANNA STEWART. She was born Abt. 1724, and died Bef. 07 Oct 1807 in Hanover Twp, Dauphin Co, PA (Source: Administration of the estate of Susanna Brandon, dec'd on 7 Oct. 1807, Book 1C, 1804-1811, p. 195.).

Notes for WILLIAM BRANDON:
Guardians appointed for his minor children on 19 June 1787.
This William married Agnes Wiggins said to have been born about 1760 (must be much earlier, or Agnes was wife #2 and Susanna wife #3), leaving these children. (John Wiggins witnessed his father's will.)
He married widow Susanna Stewart Finney after he administered neighbor Thomas Finney's estate c.1783 and probably took in 6 of their 8 children.

A William Brandon appears as a private on the muster roll of Capt. Richard McC(Qu)own's company of militia of Col. Timothy Green's Battalion of Lancaster Co, destined for the camp in the Jerseys - Aug. 31, 1776. A younger man, obviously. Then a William Brandon who's ensign for the Fifth Company, Ninth Battalion under Capt. James McCreight in 1780 and 1782.
A Thomas and a William Brandon both appear in the 5th Co. 1st Bat. Dauphin County Militia under Lt. Col. John Rodgers in 1786 - both are privates so obviously younger men.

Could there have been another son William or he be a cousin via uncle James?
Could there be a missing generation in this family, or would possible children of James b.1704 fill the gap?
These dates are so spread out that I'm sure there's something wrong here. Currently studying the Petticrews, Wiggins and Barnetts to see if I can figure out what.

Children of WILLIAM BRANDON and AGNES WIGGINS are:

THOMAS⁴ BRANDON, b. Abt. 1765, West Hanover Twp, Lancaster Co, PA; d. Aft. 1788.

Notes for THOMAS BRANDON:
18 June 1788 Thomas Brandon promises to come up with the money to pay his father's widow and children and take over the family property. (Orphans Court Book 1 A, pp. 158-160.)
Did he die before his brother James? (James probably died on the homestead as he's buried a bachelor in the Old Hanover churchyard.) Sister Anne Brandon Petticrew and her husband moved to the Miami Valley of Ohio c.1792 - and there her daughter married a Brandon ggrandson off the Huntington Township, York County, PA branch.

ii.

JAMES BRANDON, b. 1771, West Hanover Twp, Lancaster Co, PA; d. 05 Sep 1804, West Hanover Twp, Dauphin Co, PA.

Notes for JAMES BRANDON:
I have visited the Old Hanover (Manada) Presbyterian Churchyard. The gravestone reads, "In memory of James Brandon who departed this life September 5th 1804 Aged 33 years." (Eighth row from the left.)
References to James Brandon's estate settlement are on the Dauphin County books but the records themselves are missing. The Orphans Court Docket for 1807 lists Doc. E, Pg. 5121 or maybe 514. Neither could be located at the courthouse as of 2005.

More About JAMES BRANDON:
Burial: 1804, Hanover Presbyterian Church, Grantville, Dauphin Co, PA

iii.

ANNE BRANDON, b. 07 Jun 1776, West Hanover Twp, Lancaster Co, PA; d. 23 Oct 1831, Miami Twp, Montgomery Co, OH; m. JAMES PETTICREW, 07 Mar 1797; b. 26 Apr 1761, Hanover Twp, Lancaster Co, PA; d. 29 Apr 1821, Washington Twp, Montgomery Co, OH.

Notes for ANNE BRANDON:
James and Anne Brandon Petticrew emigrated to the Miami Valley of Ohio sometime after 1791, possibly via Washington County, Pennsylvania where the elder widow Petticrew, her daughters and their husbands had settled between 1782 and 1785.
In Ohio, their daughter married a Brandon ggrandson off the Huntington Township, York County, PA branch.

More About ANNE BRANDON:
Burial: 1831, Springboro Cemetery, Warren Co, OH

More About JAMES PETTICREW:
Burial: 1821, Springboro Cemetery, Warren Co, OH

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