Lieutenant Colonel John Branch
Lieutenant Colonel John Branch,
American Patriot and Gentleman
After a four and half month transatlantic voyage, the English ship the London Merchant with 200 passengers on board docked in Jamestowne in August of 1620. Amongst the passengers was a young couple, Christopher Branch, Gentleman and his wife Mary Branch, née Addie. Although they were considered “residents” of Jamestowne, the young family eventually established their home at what was to become known as Kingsland Plantation – beautifully set in the tidewater area just up the James River from the Jamestowne settlement.
It is also recorded that the Branch family survived the “Massacre of 1622” – the Good Friday Powhatan Indian attack during which 347 colonists were killed. During the Muster of 1624 it was noted that Christopher, his wife Mary and their 9-month old son Thomas were identified as Inhabitants of the Colledge Land, Virginia. Christopher, politically active became a member of the Virginia House of Burgesses.
Christopher’s father Lionel Branch graduated from Magdalen College, Oxford in 1588. He was known as the ‘black sheep” of the family, lost any inheritance and passed away at the age of 32 – perhaps that is why Christopher and his young bride decided to depart England and establish a new life in the Colonies. Christopher’s grandfather was William Branch, Mayor of Abingdon, Member of Parliament and Master of the Fraternity of the Holy Cross. A deeper look into Christopher’s ancestors will be done in a later post.
Since we just concluded celebrating our Independence Day, I thought I would carry on with the Patriot Trails by continuing to honor those who gave so much to us… the Founding Generation. My intent is not just to focus on the celebrated names of the Revolution… Washington, Jefferson, Madison, Mason, Adams and other notable Founding Fathers but to recognize those who perhaps have less notoriety but stood shoulder to shoulder with their friends and family to serve the cause of liberty. Like their more famous “brothers” if the Revolution had failed, they would have also faced the hangman’s noose. As the author’s of Signing Their Lives Away, The Fame and Misfortune of the Men who Signed the Declaration of Independence cogently stated, “they were men who drew upon the best within themselves in the face of horrifyingly difficult circumstances.”[1] I would like to honor them by briefly telling their stories as well.
Christopher’s granddaughter Mary Branch wed a gentleman from the neighboring farm, Thomas Jefferson… the great grandparents of Thomas Jefferson, the 3rd President of the United States.
As the Virginia Colony grew in population, descendants of prominent families such as Jefferson, Randolph, Branch, Eppes and Bradford began their migration south towards Bedford County and then in the early 1750s different lines of those families crossed the Roanoke River and began to settle in Halifax County, North Carolina. This account is the story of one of those lines.
In an effort to maintain President Kennedy's belief that “we dare not to forget”, I am including a short biography of an American Patriot, Lieutenant Colonel John Branch.
Lieutenant Colonel John Branch, Halifax County, North Carolina
1750-1806
Lieutenant Colonel John Branch was born circa 1750 in Halifax County, North Carolina to John Richard Branch and Martha Louise Henry. He was married to Rebecca Bradford who was born on 25 December 1752 to Colonel John Bradford and Patience Reed. Christopher Branch, resident of Jamestowne (1620) was the G3 Grandfather of Lieutenant Colonel Branch. Christopher Branch was also Thomas Jefferson’s G3 Grandfather and is noted as being the “earliest American ancestor of record” of the 3rd President of the United States.[2]
Lieutenant Colonel Branch served as the High Sheriff of the County of Halifax at the beginning of the American Revolution and in performing duties in that capacity, it is stated that he was a “terror” for the Tories.[3] He also served as Justice of the Court of Pleas and Quarter Sessions and between the years of 1776 and 1780, he was Commissioned Lieutenant Colonel in the Halifax Regiment of the North Carolina Militia and it is stated that he also had service in the army of General Nathanael Greene. Following his time as a Commissioned Officer of the Halifax Regiment, Colonel Branch served in numerous positions: State Auditor for the Halifax District; Member of the House of Commons during two sessions in 1781 and 1782 and then again in 1788. Colonel Branch also served as a Delegate to the Convention of North Carolina in 1788 where among many actions, due to the lack of a Bill of Rights, the Convention voted to reject ratification of the proposed 1788 US Constitution. He closed out his public life serving as a member of the Council of State during the Governor Richard Spaight Administration. As a member of the Royal White Hart Lodge, No. 2, Colonel Branch belonged to the Masonic Fraternity[4]
Lieutenant Colonel Branch’s son, Governor John Branch served three terms as Governor of North Carolina, a State Senator, a Member of the US House of Representatives, a US Senator and the first Secretary of the Navy during the Administration of President Andrew Jackson and finally served as the last Territorial Governor of Florida shepherding the territory into statehood. Lieutenant Colonel Branch was the Grandfather of Lawrence O’Bryan Branch, US Congressman and Brigadier General, CSA.
As a final tribute to his significant role in the American Revolution, the Marquis de Lafayette was invited to tour all 24 States during the period 1824-1825. During his journey through North Carolina, the Branch Family hosted General de Lafayette at the “Cellar” in Enfield, North Carolina, which was the property of the late Lieutenant Colonel John Branch. His son, Governor John Branch who was serving as a US Senator from North Carolina at the time, owned the house in Enfield in which Lafayette was received. It was reported that following refreshments, General de Lafayette “made a speech from the porch of the Branch family home to the assembled throng.”[5]
Lieutenant Colonel John Branch passed away in 1806 at Elk Marsh Plantation in Halifax County, NC. Colonel Branch was married twice:
- His first wife, already mentioned was Rebecca Bradford and left by her the following children: James Branch, Martha Branch, John Branch Jr. (Governor), Joseph Branch, and Patience W. Branch.
- His second wife was Elizabeth Norwood, daughter and by her he left three children: William Joseph Branch, Washington Lenoir Branch and Elizabeth Ann Branch.
The newspaper announcement stated:
“Departed this life on the 14th of March, 1806, at Elk Marsh, in Halifax County, NC Col. John Branch, a soldier of the Revolution. Of this good man, the voice of panegyric is wont to sound praises exalted strain. As a man, he was brave, open and ingenious; as a citizen, active and useful; as a husband, father and master, he was kind, tender and affectionate. The child of sorrow found in him a protector; the man of worth, a sincere friend; the poor and needy sought shelter beneath his hospitable roof, and a numerous circle of acquaintances will partake of his glad cheer no more forever. His morning sun was fair and unclouded; its meridian, bright and effulgent; and its descending rays insured him a glorious immortality.”[6]
Honoring Those Who Came Before Us
[1] Denise Kiernen and Joseph D’Agnese, Signing Their Lives Away, The Fame and Misfortune of the Men Who Signed the Declaration of Independence, Introduction, Quirk Books, Phil. PA., 2009
[2] John Frederick Dorman, Adventurers of Purse and Person Virginia 1607-1624/5, Fourth Edition, Vol. One Families A-F, page 366, Genealogical Publishing Co., Inc.
[3] Marshall de Lancey Haywood, John Branch 1782-1863 Governor of North Carolina, United States Senator, Secretary of the Navy, Member of Congress, Governor of Florida, etc. page 2, Reprinted from the North Carolina Booklet October, 1915
[4] Marshall de Lancey Haywood… page 2
[5] W.C. Allen, Superintendent Weldon Public Schools, History of Halifax County, pages 74-75Copyright 1918, The Cornhill Company, Boston MA.
[6] Marshall de Lancey Haywood… pages 2-3