One of my recent research focuses has been to try and flesh out the lives of the three Braden brothers who moved from Loudoun Co., Virginia to Florida in the early 1800s: Hector Wright Braden, William Fenton Braden, and Dr. Joseph Addison Braden. These men were not direct ancestors; they are my husband's 3rd great-grand-uncles, brothers of his 3rd great-grandfather, Burr Braden.
A quick search online will bring up numerous hits on Joseph and a few on Hector, and most all will refer to their sugar plantation on the Manatee River, the failure of the Union Bank in Tallahassee, and Joseph's house now called "Braden Castle," which is a well-known ruin in Bradenton, Florida. I will try to fill in their biographies and highlight some of the mysteries that I still have not solved.
The brothers were among the 10 children born in Loudoun Co., Virginia to Robert (died 1827) and Elizabeth (died 1831) (Stevens) Braden. Hector Wright Braden (born 2 January 1798) was their second child and eldest son. William Fenton Braden was born 24 August 1806. Joseph Addison Braden was born 8 May 1811 and had a twin sister, Sarah Elleanor.
There does not seem to be much movement from Loudoun Co. until around the time that their father, Robert, died in November 1827. All three were named as heirs in their father's will, but it was Burr and another son, Noble Stevens Braden, who were named executors. A few records indicate that Hector was probably in Florida by sometime in 1826. William seems to have moved there in 1827. Joseph did not follow until about 1835.
Of the three, Joseph was the only one to have married or to have children (as far as we know), but there is no evidence to date that any of his children married or had children.
None of them lived long. William died in 1832. Hector in 1846. Joseph in 1859.
I will do separate posts on each of the brothers. Check them for more details.
Copyright 2015 Sue Beach.
Feel free to email me directly sdbeach22 at gmail
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