1. RICHARD1 BRANSCOME was born Abt. 1725. He married SARAH - BRANSCOME.
Notes for RICHARD BRANSCOME:
"BRANSCOMBE is an ancient place half as old as time." One explanation of the name is, "the Celtic equivalent of "The Place of the Branching Combes"- - -"an apt description of the enchanting valleys which run north and south to merge in the major valley of BRANSCOMBE ITSELF. These are the western most chalk valleys in England."
The village of BRANSCOMBE, a parish in the union of Hiniton, hundred of Cloyton, Honition, and south divisions of Devon, four and three fourths miles east of Sidmouth, is listed on the guide book as a place with thatched roofed cottages where the scenery is beautiful and romantic.
The village of BRANSCOMBE rests in a long valley which runs to thesea. The coast is beautiful with a stream flowing down the valley to the coast. There are elevated cliffs on each side of the valley along the sea. The roads are very narrow and still follow the ancient way.
Bran may have been an ancient people. Comb is derived from an old English world meaning valley. One interpretation of BRANSCOMBE is Bran's Valley or Bran's Combe.
"A rectilinear comp by O.E. Cumb, masculine, "Small Valley, hollow" occurs in charters, in descriptions of lowal boundries in the south of England; also in numberous place names which still exist, as Bantancumb, Batacombe, Brancescumb, Branscombe. . .
Oxford English Dictionary. Vol. II. part 2, page 962.
"A rectilinear camp by Barry Farm my have been garrisoned by the Roman Legionairs who marched to it by the road they made on northern boundary of the parish." A Roman bridge still stands between Exter and Branscombe.
"Recorded history begins for Branscombe with King Alfred (872-900) but it is known that the land or manor of Branscombe, were royal property in 857."
Before 1258 Branscombe id service at the Hundred Court of Cloyton by sending 21 men but their service was reduced to the attendance of 5 men on three law days.
The parish church of BRANSCOMBE was dedicated to Saint Winfred of the sixth century. "Viewed from the south side of the churchyard, or better still from the cliffs, the building takes on a sweet grace, a rare beauty and this effect is enchanced when one pauses within. Here a gracious light falls on the ancient honey-colored walls, and the eye is charmed by the receding ersective of nave, tower, and chancel away to the great east window through which the green furzecladheights of Stockham's Hill are seen rising above the sea. None can enter here and remain unimpressed by its homely grandeur."
Over more than a thousand years the parish church of Branscombe has been repaired. Recently restoration of parts have been made and others are to be made in order to keep the ancient building in use and a monument to the great church over the centuries.
"Edge Barton, (Denoting a place on a steep Hillside) hiddeen away in its wild valley, has been tenanted from the Norman Conquest. Here lived the Branscombes for nearly three centuries until the reign of Edward III, a family of great distinction who gave three sheriffs to the county of Devon, and one of the greatest of our medevial bishops, Walter Branscombe, Bishop of Exter from March 1258 to his death in 1280. It was he who build the Lady Chapel of Exter Cathedrial and its adjoining chapels and conceived the mighty project which he left to Bishop Quivil, his successor, to fulfill of joining his Lady Chapel to the Norman have under one roof. His inspiration as a great builder is seen also in the eastern part of the glorious church of Ottery Saint Mary and here in the church of his native place. His tomb in the Lady Chapel is one of the greatest glories of the Exter Cathedrial - - - indeed in the country."
In 1003 the Danes destroyed the church of Dexter, England. In 1019 King Cnut rebuilt the church. Additions were made in the twelfth century. "For upwards of seventy years after the completion of the Norman Church it remained unaltered, at any rate as regards to the main structure, though towards the later part of the interval Bishop Walter Branscomb (1258-1280) was doubtless beginning those parts of his eastward extension that did not interfere with the Norman Church as it stood." Copied from the history, "THE BUILDING OF EXTER CATHEDRIAL", published in 1922. Thus the conception and the beginning of the Cathedrial is again attributes to Bishop Walter Branscombe.
The above quotations are from the Booklet History of Branscombe and the related events published in 1953 by F.C. Sutters, England.
Over the many centuries the many families of Branscombes have spelledtheir name differently and probably those that recorded the name spelled the name according to the way the individual called the sound. Over the past centuries few people could read and write. Those few who kept the records wrote the name as the individual spoke the name. No doubt somehad speech defects and others had personal, individual pronunciations. At present many intonations exist among the Englis speaking people andLikely there were much greater difference during the past centuries.
These are some of the spelling s listed in the Branscombe records: Bromescombe, Brankyscombe, Brankescombe, Braunkscombe, Braunchcombe, Grantescombe, Brauncescombe, Brancescombe, and Branscombe.
Some times De is used before the name indicating that the member is from Branscombe. Sometimes the records show that the same person has his name spelled more than one way.
Below are a list of some of the Branscombes who lived in the centuries of recorded history. Many of the names are bibical. There is evidence that the Devonshire area is the center of the origin of the Branscombe family. The members moved to other areas of England and of the world.
An Earl Branscombe was mentioned in the records at Dexter, Devon County as of 1050-1072.
Juanita Branscombe as of 1219.
Walter Branscombe lived at Edge Barton before he become Bishop at Exter in 1258.
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Richard Branscome came to Virginia about 1750. He made a will in 1775 recorded in Brunswick County. The data below will give documented information.
In his will Richard Branscome assigned 100 acres to his son, Thomas, 200 acres to his son, Richard, 200 acres to his son, John, and much of his household property to his daughter, Sarah. He left the rest to his wife during her lifetime.
The Branscome land section became a part of Greenville County in 1781.
Children of RICHARD BRANSCOME and SARAH BRANSCOME are:
2.
i.
THOMAS2 BRANSCOME, b. Abt. 1750, Greensville County - Virginia.
