Flora Brantley, Knightdale, NC
Annie Pearl Brantley, Spring Hope, NC
William T. Brantley, Augusta, GA
cc: All Brantley Association Members
June 6th, 2000
rev June 15th
Dear Researchers,
I started this study about May 12, 2000. At that time, I was
just going to update you. However, since then and after an extensive
search of our records collection and comparison of data, I have
reached a conclusion as to the origin and ancestry of John Brantley
who died in 1785 in Nash county. We first discussed him, I believe,
about 30 years ago. He has always been a mystery. His unknown ancestry
has plagued me for years because he was a key progenitor of the 1700s.
He is the ancestor to countless Americans today. As I have explained
before, the Nash County Brantley family was second in size only to our
Washington County, Georgia family in the mid 1800s.
Ironically, I will show that these two large families were very
closely tied. This may be one of my final quests, but I think I have
about finally unraveled the mystery after all these years. We can give
much credit to the automation age in which we live. Since I was able
to gather so many Virginia records, deeds grants, census, wills &
administrations, and enter them into a word processing program, I have
been able to do a much deeper analysis. By searching names of
witnesses, adjoining land owners, creeks, branches, and rivers, I have
been able to see ties that I would never have seen otherwise. I feel
particularly appreciative and want to give credit to the many authors
who have abstracted records, indexed them and put them in book form
for our study. Having done some of these myself, I know that they
never make money from this. It is their love of this work and service
to others that inspires them. We owe them a true debt of gratitude. I
particularly want to recognize Flo Brantley, Annie Pearl Brantley,
William T. Brantley, the late Gene Brantley and the some 430
association membership families throughout the nation who have paid
dues and purchased items so that I could justify the reconstruction of
some 60 wills, several early letters, a video documentary and the
publication of some 2500 pages of genealogy data and history on the
Brantley family in America.
Below is my research work accompanied by nearly 40 exhibits. The
findings may not be easy to explain to the novice researcher or, to
one not well acquainted with the early movements of this family. To
you and other professional researchers and those somewhat aware of our
kindred's movement in the 18th century from Virginia to North
Carolina, I think you will find that there is a preponderance of
evidence that establishes John's lineage back to Edward, who I still
maintain, perhaps more than ever before, is the progenitor of most of
the white Brantleys in America. With this study, we can now claim a
direct line back to Edward for at least 60% of the white surname
Brantleys in America today.
I believe that John was the son of James Brantley who died in
Nottoway Parish in 1741 and it was he (John) who is first seen there
in 1762, again there with wife, Elizabeth, in 1764 (sold land), and
Halifax County, NC the same year (purchased land) and 1771 (sold the
land) and 1772 in Edgecombe Co [later Nash], (he bought land) and last
when he died there in 1785. {See Exhibits 1,
2, 3, and 24}
My leading hypothesis became more and more clear as I continued the
study, that is; that John, Edward, Phillip, James, William and, likely
Brittain, were all sons of James Brantley who died in Nottoway Parish
in 1741. Remember, we have Brittain tied to him in an earlier study.
As far as I am concerned, Brittain even if not their son, descended
from James and Ruth. I have shown reluctance to declare him as James'
son. He would have been an unusually old solider (38) to be
fighting in the Revolution. That did happened sometimes: some men like
warring. I personally believe that he was another son and was a
professional soldier. We saw him re-enlist repeatedly during the
war period. As you know, Brittain is tied to Nash County also. Some
have suggested that he was a son of John. In fact, one researcher
believed, at one time, that there were two Brittains. I do not
think so, but do not completely rule either of these out. In any case
we will show that, John is still tied to the earlier James (d1741) via
records of Brittain and others. Let us see the tie of these,
first, to each other.
We see James Brantley witnesses the deed to John Brantley when he
bought the land in Edgecomb county in 1772 {Exb
2b} and that a James and Brittain Brantley of Nash County, are
witnesses to a deed in 1775 on the south side of the Sapony Swamp {Exb
4}. John Brantley's will (1785) identifies his land on the south
side of the of the Sapony Creek. {Exb 3}.
Don't forget Nash came from Edgecombe Co in 1777. Further, Brittain
and Jacob Brantley (son of John) are found together on another
document in 1775. {Exb 9}
Edward Brantley was shown as a small tie to John in a deed of 1751
in what was then Edgecombe Co., where John Renfroe had lands
adjoining him, and a greater one in his own will where John Brantley
signed as a witness in 1765.{Exb 5} Edward,
William and James are tied together by entries with the Renfroe Good,
and Lamon families and a joint record of 1762. {See exhibits 5,6,7
& 29}. Edward and Phillip are tied by
their grants both dated Dec 10, 1760 in Halifax Co and both joining
Thomas Good. {See Exhibits 10 & 11}
See also the tie of William to John in {Exb 2a}.
Now, thus far in our study, all we have done is establish that
these men; Edward, Phillip, James, John, William and Brittian were
very close kindred and came from Nottoway Parish, Virginia. This is
good, but we must realize that no one has ever established the exact
area of Nottoway Parish. It may have included much of SoHampton
County. There were several lines of Edward in the Parish by the mid
and late 1700s. What we need to do, is to tie them to a specific
point in the Parish.
If this claim by the author of this record below {Exb 18}is
true, the Phillip of Nottoway Parish is the same Phillip of Halifax
County, NC. This seems probable, as neither are seen in transactions
after the death of Phillip in Halifax Co in 1775. It is somewhat
confusing that he was of Nottoway Parish, VA and of
Halifax County, NC at the same time. It would seem that he is the
same Phillip, but is seen in repeated land transactions in both places
and identified as "of" these places in the mid 1700s.
Other records show Brittain engaging in transactions in Edgecombe/Nash
Counties one month then back on the Meherrine River in Va the next.
The same was seen of Edward, Phillip and John. This has been a unusual
and almost crippling effect on our research. The properties may be
much closer together than we think, but that being true or not, it is
the same men who owned land and continue to deal in both states.
Perhaps the tie to their mother, who may have remarried a neighbor and
remained in VA, and the final inheritance of the lands once owned by
their father and left to her are key elements here.
One of our leading researchers of our early Brantley family for the
last 35 years is William T. (Tim) Brantley of Augusta, Georgia. It was
the work of Tim and his brother, Gene Brantley, which inspired the
establishment of the association in 1987. Tim has said for years, that
he kept seeing connections to these in Halifax County to our kindred
from Chatham County, N.C. We saw, after their movement to Georgia for
example, several associations among descendants of both lines. One
example being the deeds in Hancock County, Ga between Amos Brantley
& Thomas Gay. {Exb. 31} and Jeffrey
Barksdale and Thomas Gay. Jeffery's wife was Pheby Brantley, proven
daughter of John Brantley of Chatham County, NC., yet a close neighbor
to Amos. Other similar records in Hancock County involving Malachi
formerly of Halifax County and Thomas Brantley formerly of Chatham
County were also seen. There were many others.
So let us look, and see if we can make the tie. If they were all
that closely tied, it would be hard to explain a connection beyond the
generation of Edward Brantley {died 1736}.
First we must understand the movements of the sons of this Edward.
He mentioned in his will of 1736, his four sons: James, Lewis,
Joseph and John Brantley {Exb 20}.
We know from the extensive work of Tim and Gene, that three of these
sons; Lewis, Joseph and John, went in 1745-1751
to what would later become Chatham County, N.C. Lewis and Joseph both
died there (then Orange Co) in 1760 & 1761 respectively and John,
the youngest, died there in 1782. It is clear after decades of
research that all the Brantleys seen in Chatham County for generations
were all descendants of these three men You may want to refer to my
study of John & Hannah in my 15th report. It clearly identified
this line through this Edward of the Nottoway Parish who resided along
the Meherrine River.
We now turn to son, James Brantley, who with brother, Lewis, was
executor of Edward's estate. This James clearly died abt 1741.
His estate was not completely settled until 1756 {See Exb 21
& 22} James, we assume, was the
oldest child of Edward, being (1) named first in his father's will and
(2) as executor, which usually is reserved for the eldest. His
youngest brother, John, we know had sons born in the early 1730s.
We would think James should have had children born in the early
1720's. What happened to his children and where exactly did the family
reside in the Nottoway Parish. To that we look first at the grant to
Edward Brantley in 1717 to lands in then Isle of Wight County, along
the Meherrine River {Exb 32}. He may not
have kept these particular tracts, but it is clear that he did in fact
reside there along the river as will be shown. {Exb 34}
While there are many Brantleys tied to the Nottoway Parish, there
are few tied also to the Meherrine River. With this study we now
have no have no record of any Brantley along the Meherrine River that
we cannot seemingly tie to Edward's sons or that of his apparent
grandsons through his son James. We should now review again the tie of
Brittain to James. His unusual name has been helpful in bringing
this study together. There is not one piece of evidence alone
that ties Brittain to James, but a collection of evidence. It surely
cannot be disputed that James is the son of Edward and brothers to
Lewis, Joseph and John Brantley. {Exbs 20
& 21} The first big clue of the
connection of Brittain to James, came when we learned that Brittain
named his son James and his daughter Ruth or Rutha {Exb 17}.
While James is common enough, nowhere had we seen the name Ruth before
or, in fact for several decades afterward, except as the wife of
James. It should be noted at this point that among the first
Ruths to be seen after the death of the younger Ruth was Ruth Brantley
born 1854, granddaughter of Sherwood Brantley. Further, we learned
from the letter of Brittain in 1777, to his wife Elizabeth, that her
maiden name was Bass {Exb 19}. We
observed that in the will of Edward Brantley (1736) that not one, but
two witnesses were surnamed Bass. (See Exb 20).
What is added now, is a record that I just found recently. That is one
that shows Ruth in 1756 as living the Meherrine River along and
adjoining Joshua Claud. Joshua Claud was another witness to
Edward Brantley's will (Exb 20). Note
also a record of a transaction involving both Joshua Claud and
Brittain Brantley in SoHampton County VA in 1775. {Exb 19a}.
Because of the sight of Brittian in Nash County before this date, it
has made us wonder if there were two Brittains. What is now
obvious is that several of these men were seen back and forth in their
first homes in Va and their new homes in NC. Again, this is supported
even by previous book authors unrelated to our Brantley kinsmen.
{See again Exb 18}
So now we have Brittain tied to the Bass family, to Ruth
(wdo of
James) and to Joshua Claud and above all, the Meherrine River. {Exbs 19,20,
22 & 23} If
you look at this, it is overwhelming evidence that at least Brittain
was a descendant of Edward. He, of course was not a son, being
too young. He could not have been a son of James' brothers
Lewis, Joseph, or John, since they all left Virginia (1749-1751) when
Brittain was but a young man. What else do we need here.
Now, this is not all. While I was in Raleigh recently, I
discovered other entries that support and even add to our recent
study. We have Ruth as the widow of James, tied by our study to
Brittain and now tied herself to the Meherrine River and to Joshua
Claud. Further, through two other deeds {Exb 24
& 25}, we have a younger James and John
Brantley tied to her. Review these related exhibits closely. I have no
reservation at all in declaring this John mentioned in this record
here in 1762 as the John Brantley who sold his land there in 1764, the
same year he bought in Halifax Co, NC., who left there in 1771 and
went into what would become, Nash County, dying there in 1785. Even
more has come at this very writing. We have tied also, Edward and
Phillip to the Meherrine River before their move to Halifax County
{Exb22a}. We have now Ruth, wdo of
James, John, James Jr, Edward, Phillip and Brittain who were
clearly, not only once residents of SoHampton County, Virginia, and
the Nottoway Parish, but as residents and property owners along the
Meherrine River. (See also the three deeds mentioning Harberts/Herberts
branch. {Exb 23/23a,
30 &34}). All
these would later reside in Halifax Co., NC. Since these are all
closely tied to William and now to a Thomas, also once of the Nottoway
Parish, we have established that they too are almost certain to be
descendants and likely grandsons of Edward of 1736.
One other fact has become clear in this study: that is, that the
apparent brother William is almost certain, to be he who was the
father of Amos, Malachi, Benjamin, Marmaduke and perhaps John
and James. All these were in Edgecombe County and all, except
Marmaduke, later went to Hancock County, GA. This William had repeated
dealings with the Gay family {Exb 26,27,
& 28}. Amos' daughter we learned
recently, married Thomas Gay. One thing that I believe has
confused us in years past, is that there seem to be two early William
Brantleys, one in Halifax County and the other in Edgecombe. Surely
one was the reported father of these men, but which one. What is now
somewhat evident, is that William may have owned land in Edgecombe
County which by the creation of Halifax in 1754 actually split his
properties, leaving part in Halifax and the other in Edgecombe County.
Thus we see why the same man could have land dealings in both
counties. This explains why Amos Brantley said in his revolutionary
war pension application that he "was raised in Halifax
County", but is seen with his brothers in Edgecombe throughout
the1780s.
There are other records involving Bakers Branch, Herberts Branch,
the name Francis Exum {See Exbs 22, 24
& 30}, the Vick family {were later seen
all around our John in Nash Co.} {Exb 22a
& 33} These and the name Simmons and
others will support my study. I will nevertheless stop here. There is
already overwhelming evidence to a tie of these men to James Brantley,
son of Edward. No other Brantleys were ever seen in this area of
Nottaway Parish. Again with this study, we have no record of any
Brantley persons residing along the Meherrine River that we cannot now
seemingly tie to Edward’s sons or that of his apparent grandsons
through his son James. James is the only one who did not live to go to
Chatham County, NC. He died there on the Meherrine, intestate. It
would be nice if we could find one single record some day that spelled
it all out in one entry. I would give a fortune for his bible which he
mentioned in his will of 1736. No doubt there are still valuable
records from early Va which are undiscovered. One Association member
became totally disillusioned with us because we were not aware of many
unpublished records pertinent to our early Va Brantleys. In this case
it took sifting through volumes of records, comparing and weighing
them to others and to the land boundaries present during different
transactions. Perhaps most of the problem was because James died
fairly young. Most, if not all his children, were likely under age at
his death. They stayed with the mother who would have had guardianship
of all his property, until their exodus to Edgecombe/later Halifax
county in North Carolina.
In conclusion, I do not assure anyone that every piece of this
study is exact and every exhibit is what it seemingly now represents.
It could be possible, for example, that one or more of these here were
actually grandsons of James. Further, I have not been able, so far, to
identify the Thomas Brantley also mentioned in exhibit 29 who is
obviously tied to them. He, apparently disappearing from Halifax
county after 1765, could have been a son of James or perhaps a
grandson. We must realize too, that some of James descendants may have
remained in SoHampton County. A future discovery of their transactions
could bring about more questions. Whether or not, I am certain that
the basic hypothesis is correct, that the John of Nash county was the
son of James Brantley, and these others are also his descendants and
most too were his sons. One of the factors that led me away from any
connection to Phillip was the absence from his line of the given name
"Lewis". It has been usually found in the different lines of
Phillip Brantley and his wife Joyce Lewis. In this case there may have
indeed been a Lewis, perhaps a son of John who manage to defile his
name in some way. In those days an interracial or mulatto marriage
could have done it.
I want you to review this and comment. I do not need your
supporting endorsement to make the declaration but, I am hopeful that
you will see this clearly now as I do. This discovery is the most
significant find since I established the association in 1987. It has a
far reaching effect on future research. I said many years ago, if we
could ever unravel the Halifax family ties, we could go much further
in tying our first Edward to his progeny. It has happened and big
things lie ahead. It is like a puzzle, as you get toward the end of
the project it becomes easier, since you have fewer pieces to look at
for placement. So it is here. We are now able to separate these from
other "unidentified" kinsmen, so we can expect an
acceleration in the work in the coming years. Having eliminated these
from other relatives in Virginia, I am already seeing things in
connection with the descendants of John, son of Edward, and the other
children of his brother Phillip that now, for the first time, make
sense. We have come a long way in this discovery.
Sincerely,
Kenneth Brantley
Copyright 2000 Brantley Association. No part of this
study may be electronically transmitted or reproduced without the
written consent of the author.
EXHIBITS
{Exb 1} Jun 10 1764 _
JOHN BRANTLEY & wife ELIZABETH, sell to Wm Williams, all of
plantation or tract of land whereon the said John Brantley now lives
in the Parish of Nottaway and County of Southampton, containing
by estimate 370 acres, formerly granted to by divers deeds and
conveyances transferred to the said Brantley.
{Exb 2} [date
omitted]1764. JACOB RENTFROE of Dobbs Co. to JOHN
BRANTLEY of Halifax Co. 40 pounds proclamation money. 100
acres which was part of a patent to EDWARD SIMMONS 17 Oct 1735,
joining JOSEPH LANE, Bakers Branch. JACOB RENTFROW (x),
PRISCILLA RENTFROW (x). Wit: WILLIAM HOOD, WILLIAM PHILLIPS (x),
REUBEN HAY. Apr Ct. 1764 CC: Jos. Montfort
{He buys}
{Exb 2a} 11 Jan 1771.JOHN
BRANTLEY and ELIZABETH his wife of Halifax Co. to WM. BRANTLEY
of same. 60 pounds proclamation money. 100 acres which was part
of a patent to EDWARD SIMMONS 17 Oct 1735 and given by him to his
daughter TAMZIE(?) wife of WILLIAM REGION, and by them to JACOB
RENTFROE 1764, and from JACOB RENTFROE and PRISCILLA his
wife to JOHN BRANTLEY 1764, joining JOS. LANE, Baker Branch(or
BAKER BRANCH?). JOHN BRANTLEY(X), ELIZABETH BRANTLEY(x). Wit:
SAML. PITTMAN, JESSE HAYNES. Feb Ct 1771. Examined by Wm. Branch
Esq, ELIZA. BRANTLEY relinquished her right of dower. CC: Jos.
Montfort
{He sells}
{Exb 2 b} 5, May
1772 _ JOHN BRANTLEY buys land in Edgecombe/Nash County_
JAMES BRANTLEY is witness (Entry from researcher Scarlet
Wilkerson)
{Exb 3} JOHN BRANTLEY, Will
_ Nash County June 18, 1785 _ May Ct. 1786. Wife: ELIZABETH.
Sons: JACOB _ 112 A. on south side SAPONY CREEK.
Remainder estate divided among "all my children." Ex:
Son JACOB BRANTLEY, WILLIAM LONGBOTTOMS. Wit: JESSE
JOINER, JOHN JOINER.
{Exb 4} March 15, 1775
WILLIAM LEWIS of Edgecombe Co. to THOMAS LEWIS of same,
for 30 pds. Virginia money, a tract of 150 acres on the south bank
of Sapony Swamp at the mouth of the Great Branch, it being part of
a tract that said Lewis bought from Thomas Lewis. Wit: James
Brantley, Brittian Brantley.
{Exb 5} MATHEW
MCKINNIE of Edge, Co. to EDWARD BRANTLEY of Edgecombe, Co. 22
Apr. 1751 for a valuable consideration 290 acres more or less,
joining NATHANIEL HOLLY, JOHN RENFRO, COL. WHITEHEAD and land
formerly belonging to JOHN HOOD Wit: JOSEPH LANE, JOHN LAMON
Reg. Edge. Co. May Ct. 1751 Benjamin Wynns C. Ct.
{Exb 5b} Will #136 EDWARD
BRANTLEY Sr. 2 June 1765 May ct. 1768 son Edward
Brantley, son Benjamin Brantley, son Lewis Brantley,
son William Brantley, wife Martha Brantley, 3 daughters:
Mary Brantley, Patty Brantley and Anna Brantley Wit.: Samuel
Pitman, John Brantley X his mark
Extrs.: wife Martha Brantley and my 2 sons
Robert and James Brantley
{Exb 6} GRANT to Richard
Gay 5 Aug 1761 693 acres in Edgecombe Co on W. side of
Words run on a small Marsh OR: /s/ (mark) Wits: Dun Lamon, Geo
Brown, surveyed 31 Oct 1760 SCC: Abraham Bagedge, WILLIAM BRANTLY,
W Haywood Surveyor
{Exb 6b} DUNCAN LAMONof
Nash Co to WILLIAM BRANTLEYof HALIFAX Co. 3 Aug
1779. 60 pds proc money, 137 acres which was part of land
acquired by THOMAS GOOD 20 Feb 1761, on No side of Bakers Branch (also
called Plant Batch Branch) Wit: ARCHD LAMON, NATHAN ATKINSON.
Aug Ct 1779. CC Nem McCullugh {We realize this could be a
younger William}
{Exb 7} JAMES BRANTLEY and
his wifeBETHETHLAM to Duncan Lamon ofEdgecombe Co
20 Jun 1774. 40 pounds proclamation money. 137 acres which
was part of land acquired by Thomas Good, on north side of
Beach Swamp, joining Baker's Branch, Plant Patch Branch. Wit: Archibald
Laman, Wilson Taylor. Reg. 30 Apr 1793 by N. Long. {This
could be a younger James}
{Exb 9}_ In 1775 Brittain
Brantley and Jacob Brantleysigned the petition for the dividing of
Edgecombe Co into 2 counties to create a new, Nash County.
Research from records of Annie Pearl Brantley.
(Note) Nash County was in the
Halifax Military Dist and Corp Brittain Brantley of Bakers Co enlisted
July 1778 and served 9 months. John Brantley's record is
identical, except he was not a Corp.
{Exb 10} EDWARD
BRANTLEY: of Halifax County., planter 10 Dec. 1760 630 acres
joining other lands of Edward Brantley Henning Tembte, William
Whitehead, John Evans and Thomas Good Wit: Wm. Lucas, Jos.
Montfort Reg. Hal. Co., June Ct. 1761 Joseph Montfort C. Ct.
{Exb 11} PHILLIP
BRANTLEY: of Halifax Co., planter 10 Dec. 1760 640 acres joining
Thomas Good, Elias Fort and Nathan Pitman.
{Exb 17} Revolution War
Record on File Claim 6686 _ James Brantley, (and Rutha
Mason formerly Rutha Brantley and who are the only surviving
children and heirs of Britain Brantley, decd.) Pvt
3 years
{Exb 18 }Mar or May 15
1775 _Phillip Brantly of Parish of Nottoway, to John Brantly
for 32 pounds, 15 shillings, current money of Va, the land where
Phillip now lives, which he bought of John Lewis in 1752, containing
100 acres___ (Writer's remarks _ Phillip left will in Halifax County,
NC 1775, wife Mary and sons Lewis and William) (My remarks
reference sons _ No, he said them two brothers they were likely sons
of Edward
{Exb 19} March 1778
_ letter to wife Elizabeth. …."Before when your brother,
Thomas Bass"……… signed Brittain Brantley
{Exb 19a}Transaction of Joshua
Claud, dated Saturday Nov. 4, 1775, witnessed by John Pierce, Britain
Brantley and John Blake. R. Dec. 22, 1775.
Will &Adm I of W Co VA Page
141.
{Exb 20}Edward Brantley,
of Nottoway Parish. Leg._wife Elizabeth; son James; son Lewis; son
Joseph; son John. Exs., sons Lewis and James
Brantley D.
January 26, 1736
R. April 25, 1737
Wit. Joseph Claud, James
Bass, William Spence, Charles Bass.
{Exb 21} James
Brantley,. SoHampton County, Account estate, examined by H.
Edmonds, John Person and David Edmonds. Among items, to Lewis
Brantley, judgement recovered by Francis Myrick against them as
surviving executors of Edward Brantley, decd.. R.
December 2, 1756 Page 180/244
{Exb 22} Apr 1 1742
James Brantley _ Est appraised by Francis Exum, Simon
Turner, Thomas Clark. Signed by Ruth Brantley. Ordered,
rec Jul 1 1756.
Page 178
{Exb 22a} Feb 27 1745_
Edward Brantley to Simon Vickboth of Isle of Wight 100
Acres for 10 pounds
Tract on the Northside of Meherine River on the
eastside of the Stoney Branch part of a patent granted to Samual Davis
by his Honorable Wm Gooch bering date of March 1 1743
Beginning at a pine by the Stoney Branch and along a
of line marked trees to a red oak and thence along marked trees to a
white oak thence to the Stoney Branch and up the course of the run of
the Branch to the beginning." Witness: Issac Vick, Phillip
Brantley, William Vick
{Exb 23} Mar 24. 1725_
EDWARD BRANTLEY, 140 acs. (N.L.), Is. of Wight Co; on N. side
of the Flatt Sw; cor. of Anthony Frankoes land; on a Mill pond by the
gr Reedy Br., just above mouth of Herbert's Br; p. 467. 15
Shill.
{Exb 23a} Aug 16, 1756
_ Nathaniel Morrell, 200 acres Sohampton County on the N side of Meherrin
River down Herberts Branch & Down it's SW fork, up the
Pasture Br; adj Joshua Claud, Ruth Brantley,
John Thomas, & Valentine White.
{Exb 24} Jul 12 1762 _
Jesse Harris and his wife and James Womack and his wife 255
acres Sohampton Co on the N side Meherrin River adj John
Brantley, John Mundall, James Ramsey, Francis Exum, & James
Brantley p, 1023
{Exb 25} Jul 12 1762 _ James
Womack and his wife and Jesse Harris and his wife 100 acres
Sohampton Co on the N side Meherrin River adj Joseph Franks,
John Gladis, Joshua Claud, Thomas Harris, & James
Brantley p, 1025
{Exb 26} GRANT to
WILLIAM BRANTLEY 4 August 1761 520 acres in Edgecombe County,
joining Words run Richard Gay OR: /s/ (mark) Wits: Thos
Cavvenah, John Spendlow, surveyed 1 Nov 1760 SCC: Richd Gay, Henry
Gay, W Haywood
{Exb 27} GRANT to Richard
Gay 5 Aug 1761 693 acres in Edgecombe Co on W. side of Words run
on a small Marsh OR: /s/ (mark) Wits: Dun Lamon, Geo Brown, surveyed
31 Oct 1760 SCC: Abraham Bagedge, William Brantly, W Haywood
Surveyor {Same as 6}
{Exb 28} William
Brantley of Edgecombe Co to Jacob Dunn of same Dec 21 1765 520
acres lying at the head of Ward's Swamp adjoining Richard Gay.
Wit Cornelius Autery, Isom Autery
{Exb 29} TOBIAS
WHITEHEAD of Halifax Co. to THOMAS BRANTLEY of Southampton
Co. Virginia. 3 Dec 1762. 9 pounds 6 shillings 8 pence
proclamation money. 305 acres which was the remainder of the
land where GEORGE HOOPER lived and which had contained 640 acres
deeded to d TOBIAS WHITEHEAD 10 Dec 1760, on north side of Deep Creek,
joining ELIAS FORT. TOBIAS WHITEHEAD. Wt: EDWARD BRANTLEY(x),
WILLIAM BRANTLEY, LEWIS BRANTLEY. Apr Ct 1763. CC: Jos. Montfort
{Exb 29a} Jan 18 1759 _
Robert Williams and wife Sarah to Thomas Brantley of _____
County in Virginia 190 acres on the So_side of the Meheron River
adjoining the Cyprus Swamp; land now in possession of said Thomas
Brantley DOC on File.
{Exb 30} At court Isle of
Wright Co, James Brantley petitioned court for an acre of land
belonging to John Brantley for the building a Water Grist Mill he
having land on one side of Harbert's Branch.
March 28 1743 Pursuant to order 1 acre of John
Brantley's granted to James Brantley
Joshua Claud Francis Exum
[Note: This dispute is seemingly between the sons of Edward.]
This does not necessarily imply that this James is alive. It
stated "pursuant to order." The application for this
order may have been made before. Even if this is not the James, son of
Edward, it is not discrediting to our hypothesis.
{Exb 31} 1820
Hancock Co, Ga Deed Amos Brantley
to Thomas Gay
pp 286
{Exb 31a} 1820
Hancock Co, Ga Deed Jeffrey
Barksdale fr
Thomas Gay pp 287
{Exb 32} Mar 18 1717
Grant to EDWARD BRANTLEY of Isle of Wight County _ 400 acres
_new settlement for the saponie Indains _ on the south side of the
Meherrene River and being part of that tract of Land whereon the said
Indians lately dwelt T & C Beg.g on the rivers bank
Patent 10 Page 372
{Exb 33} Sep 21 1744...
Samuel Davis to Edward Brantley.. 100 acres (being the northern
most part of 200 acres granted to said Samuel Davis on Mar 1 1743).
Wit: Richard Vick Jr., and William Pope. REC:
Sep 24 1744
{Exb 34} 24 Mar 1725 _
Thomas Harris, 290 acres (N.L.) Isle of Wight County; north side of
Meherin River, & on both sides of Herbert's Branch;
adjacent Edward Brantley; & William Simmons' line;.
pg 440 30 schillings.
Update 2006
DNA testing shows that John
Brantley of Nash County, is not a descendant of Edward Brantley of
1638 through a consistent male line. That is, he
does not descend from him from father to son, to son, etc as we
would expect. Often grandfathers will adopt the children of a
deceased daughter and rear them with their own name. Since the
Y-chromosome is handed down from father to son ONLY, it would not
follow through the daughter. It is likely that John is a
descendant of Edward, but DNA testing seemingly assures us that he
did not descend through the generations from father to son. Since
he was no doubt tied either by adoption, if not by blood, to the
Brantley family, his descendants are considered of the lineage of
Edward. The best news of this discovery, is that now we can
identify his descendants by the distinct DNA profile as shown in
others of his known descendants. It has already shown that some
proposed as his descendants were, in fact not, and others
previously unknown in his lineage have now been identified as his
descendants. There are many more discoveries that will be made in
the coming years as we find others among his many descendants
throughout America through DNA testing
