Geographic Movements

The immigrant Edward Brantley, father of most American Brantleys, first settled in Isle of Wight County Virginia in 1638. The only records of Brantleys known to this researcher, and many others, before 1700 dealt with Edward or his children, John, Phillip, Edward and Mary. They were mentioned in his will in 1688 and in various deed transactions within Isle of Wight County. We have tracked the movements of our Brantley kindred in America via the US census and various tax, deed and Court records found over many years of research. Most, of course, came from the census reports. We know that most of the 1790, 1800, and 1810 census, was destroyed by fire. Our census of Brantley persons for these years has been reconstructed to a great degree by an in-depth analysis of other records and study of later census data. Most of the North Carolina census was saved. For Brantley researchers, that is indeed a blessing, for most of the Brantleys of the United States were in that state in 1790. According to available records, it was in the mid 1700s before the Brantleys began their migration into North Carolina, but by 1790 most of the Brantley population had migrated there. The Virginia State census of 1782, shows 6 Brantley families in Virginia. Both the 1810 and 1820 federal census recorded only 6 Brantley families in Virginia. From North Carolina the family moved slowly into Tennessee, South Carolina and Georgia. The first known Brantleys into Georgia are assumed to be James, John, Thomas, and Joseph, who made land transactions there in Burke county in the 1760s. Most of the Brantley movement into Georgia, was after the revolution in the 1790s and early 1800s. We know of several Brantley families in Wilkes and Green Counties by 1790. We will see from the statistics below that the greatest population of Brantleys shifted from North Carolina in 1790, to Georgia by 1820. Georgia borders held that distinction through 1900 and, we will assume, even today. By 1830 families were also in Alabama, Kentucky, Tennessee, and Illinois. By 1840 Mississippi, Arkansas, Louisiana, Missouri, and even Texas had become home States for Brantleys. It is, as expected, almost always shown that the migration was southward, or westward. The movement back eastward or northward was indeed unusual, through 1870.

The following population 1740 - 1810 is based on a limited census collection and a life time of study of the Brantley family in America. It cannot however, be considered conclusive. Many lived and died who never appeared in a record that has survived to our day. This is only a thumbnail sketch.

Year 1740

In 1740, all our Brantleys, we believe, were still in the State of Virginia. It was not until 1749 when Southampton County was created from Isle of Wight; therefore all known Brantleys where in that County

1740

Virginia

15 Brantley Families in America

15 Brantley Families

All in Virginia

1760

29 Brantley Families in America

11 Brantley Families	Virginia
18 Brantley Families	North Carolina

1790

51 Brantley Families in America

29 Brantley Families	North Carolina	57%
13 Brantley Families	Georgia
8 Brantley Families	Virginia
1 Brantley Family	South Carolina

1800 View map.

68 Brantley Families in America

37 Brantley Families	North Carolina	54%
21 Brantley Families	Georgia	31%
6 Brantley Families	Virginia
2 Brantley Families	South Carolina
2 Brantley Families	Tennessee

1810 View Map

75 Brantley Families in America

30 Brantley Families	North Carolina	40%
29 Brantley Families	Georgia	39%
6 Brantley Families	Virginia
5 Brantley families	South Carolina
5 Brantley Families	Tennessee

Note: The families reflected from 1820 and beyond are based almost solely on census data.

1820 View Map

92 Brantley Families in America.

38 Brantley families	Georgia	42%
34 Brantley families	North Carolina.	37%
6 Brantley families	South Carolina
6 Brantley Families	Virginia
5 Brantley Families	Alabama
4 Brantley Families	Tennessee

1830 View Map

121 Brantley Families in America.

39 Brantley Families	Georgia.	33.6%
27 Brantley Families	North Carolina.	23%
20 Brantley Families	Alabama.	18.7%
16 Brantley Families	Tennessee	13.8%
6 Brantley Families	South Carolina	5.2%
4 Brantley Families	Kentucky
3 Brantley Families	Virginia
3 Brantley Families	Illinois
2 Brantley Families	Florida
1 Brantley Families	Ohio

1840 View Map

160 Brantley families in America

59 Brantley Families	Georgia	36%
23 Brantley Families	North Carolina.	14%
21 Brantley Families	Tennessee	13%
18 Brantley Families	Alabama	11%
8 Brantley Families	Mississippi.
6 Brantley Families	Kentucky
5 Brantley Families	Virginia
5 Brantley Families	Louisiana
5 Brantley Families	Texas
4 Brantley Families	South Carolina
2 Brantley Families	Missouri
2 Brantley Families	Texas
1 Brantley Families	Arkansas
1 Brantley Families	Indiana
1 Brantley Families	Illinois
1 Brantley Families	Ohio.

1850 View Map

290 households with 1 or more Brantley persons

98 households	Georgia.	34%
45 households	North Carolina	15.5%
31 households	Alabama	10.5%
26 households	Tennessee	9%
19 households	Mississippi	6.5%
17 households	Arkansas	6%
13 households	Kentucky
11 households	Louisiana
8 households	Texas
7 households	Florida
5 households	Missouri
4 households	Virginia
2 households	Wisconsin
1 household	Ohio
1 household	Indiana
1 household	New Mexico
1 household	California

1860 View Map

371 Households with 1 or more Brantley persons

123 households	Georgia	33%
53 households	North Carolina	14%
29 households	Alabama	8%
26 households	Tennessee	7%
24 households	Arkansas	6.5%
21 households	Mississippi	6%
20 households	Texas	5.5%
18 households	Louisiana	5%
16 households	Kentucky
12 households	Florida
10 households	Missouri
5 households	Virginia
5 households	South Carolina
1 household	California
1 household	Pennsylvania
1 household	Kansas
1 household	Indiana
1 household	Illinois
1 household	Michigan
3 households	Other States	estimate

1870

370 Households with 1 or more Brantley persons

Note: Because of the many soldiers who died in the Civil War, the increase in families from 1860 is not seen. Although we have added a factor to our computations, it still may not reflect a larger number because many southern citizens did not want to contribute census data to the U.S. Government. Further, there are several northern States who have not published a census index for the year 1870. (+) Reflects added factor from actual records

110 households	Georgia	+7 30%
50 households	North Carolina	+3 13.5%
40 households	Alabama	+3 11%
25 households	Texas	+2 7%
23 households	Tennessee	+2 6%
23 households	Arkansas	+2 6%
17 households	Mississippi	+1
17 households	Kentucky	+2
16 households	Louisiana	+1
12 households	Florida	+1
12 households	Missouri	+1
8 households	Virginia	+1
3 households	South Carolina
1 household	Idaho
1 household	New Jersey
1 household	New Mexico
20 households	Other States	See Remarks

Other Facts From the Census

It is worthy to note that, by far, the most Brantley populated County in America in the 1800s, was Washington County, Georgia. It was the cradle for many Brantley clans throughout the U.S. The largest Brantley family in Alabama in the mid 1800s were descendants of Green and Mary (Solomon) Brantley of Conecuh County. Green married Mary in Washington County, Georgia on January 5, 1817. The 1840 U.S. census, shows that nearly 20% of the entire Brantley population was in Washington County, or a neighboring County formed from Washington county.

According to the 1850 and 1860 federal census, there were, more Brantleys born in the State of Georgia than in any other 2 States combine.

All Brantleys in the United States in 1850 were living in the south except as noted below.

(1) William Brantley age 45, and family, was living in Morgan County, Indiana. This William was born in North Carolina.

(2) Eli Brantley age 30, and family, was living in Clark county, Ohio. Eli was born in Virginia.

(3) Joab Brantley age 35, and with wife and child was living in Warren County, Ohio. Joab was a black man, probably a free slave, was born in NC.

(4) John Brantley age 40 and single, was living in Winnebago County, Wisconsin. His place of birth is listed as "unknown".

(5) James Brantley age 60, and apparent son James 35, are living in the household of James Rocha in Columbia county, Wisconsin. The place of births are shown as "Ireland". There were no other Brantleys in this household.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

According to 1850 census records, except for the two above, and the following, all other Brantleys in the United States living in 1850, were born in the south.

(1) Moores Brantley age 25, soldier and living in Bernalillo County, New Mexico says he was born in Penn. The only Brantley family shown in the census to have lived in Penn prior to the 1860s, was the Rev. William Theophilus Brantley, who lived in Philadelphia, Penn in 1830. He was born in Chatham County, North Carolina. We do not have all the children of Dr. Brantley and believe that Moores was on of his children..

(2) J. F. Brantley, a miner, age 21. The record says he was born in Delaware. The compiler does not believe this Brantley to be born in Delaware. There is no census record ever, indicating that Brantleys once resided in Delaware. Two things must be considered. (1) Frequently these miners did not want their whereabouts known, and 2, J. F. was living with several other gold miners, none that had the same last name as another. The census taker, unless he caught all the miners at home at one time would have to rely on their fellow boarders, or the landlord, to provide requested information to the census taker. While their were other miners living here shown as being born in Delaware, their were also 2 shown as being born in North Carolina. They were Bob Bachelor and Spencer Pittman. Both Pittman and Bachelor families were closely associated with our North Carolina Brantleys.