Virginia A. Ward Braden and her daughters, Ann and Mary Virginia, are good examples of "Mystery Women.”
As I have researched the Florida Bradens, I have been struck by just how little information I can find about these women. Here is what I know so far:
Virginia A. Ward (middle name unknown, but I suspect it is “Ann”) was born in Virginia (some sources say Fredericksburg, but I have not confirmed that) sometime between 1814 and 1817 ( I have not found any sources with her exact birth date. Her birth year fluctuates based on the source document.) Her parents were George Washington Ward (1781-1855) and Anne Alexander (Hooe) Ward (?-1841). Her siblings were George Taliaferro Ward (1810-1862), William Seymour Ward (1815-1836), Georgianna S. Ward (1817-1841), and Mary Elizabeth Ward (ca1820-1873).
The family probably came to Florida about 1825 when their father, George W. Ward, was named Territorial Land Registrar. They settled near Tallahassee at their plantation called “Southwood.”
Several sources refer to Virginia as “a belle of Tallahassee” but except for that, I’ve found nothing about her before her marriage to Joseph Addison Braden on 17 April 1837 at St. John’s Episcopal Church in Tallahassee.
A year later, in April 1838, Joseph’s brother Hector mentioned Virginia in a letter to his friend, Fleming Hixon: "I am sorry Add & his wife will not be able to visit Virginia this summer. He wrote you a few days ago and I suppose told you so. His wife will not be in traveling trim. I am very sorry for it. I wished Elizabeth to see her." I suspect that not being in “traveling trim” meant Virginia was pregnant.
Their first child, daughter Ann S. (“Anny”), was born ca 1840 (based on her age of 10 on the 1850 census), but her exact birth date is not yet known.
On 23 June 1841, Virginia’s mother, Anne (Hooe) Ward, died of yellow fever. Her sister, Georgiana, died of yellow fever on 23 July 1841. Both are buried at the Southwood Plantation Cemetery in Leon Co., Florida. See my post “More Fleming Hixon plus Georgianna & Mrs. Ward & Hector Braden” for Hector’s account of these deaths.
From Hector’s letter of August 1841, it seems that Joseph and his family were at Southwood Plantation. It is not known if they lived there usually during this period or if they lived elsewhere.
In December 1841, Virginia gave birth to their second child, Robert. His exact birth date is not known. I will do a separate post on Robert at some point.
By early 1843, Virginia, Joseph, and their two children were in the Manatee River area (now the site of Bradenton). Their third child, Mary Virginia (“Jennie”) was born there about 1845. Their original home was a typical pioneer log cabin, but between 1850 and 1852, their large house (now called “Braden Castle”) was built.
The 1850 census of the Manatee Settlement, Hillsborough Co., Florida lists the Braden family as: "Braden, Joseph A., age 39, male, planter & MD, 36,000 real estate value, born Virginia; Braden, Virginia A., age 35, female, born Virginia; Braden, Anny S., age 10, female, born Florida; Braden, Robert, age 8, male, born Florida; Braden, Mary Virginia, age 5, female, born Florida; Ward, Mary E., age 27, female, born Kentucky." The Mary E. Ward listed was Virginia’s sister.
In March 1856, the Braden’s home was attacked by Indians. Numerous accounts can be found of this, so I will not repeat them here.
But what is clear is that by 1857, the family’s fortunes had changed for the worse. Sometime after the Indian attack in March 1856 and before June 1858, the Bradens left the Manatee settlement.
The next records I find for them are in LaGrange, Troup Co., Georgia.
Another son, William, was born during this time, though his birthdate has not been found. It is not clear whether he was born in Florida or Georgia. He was probably born sometime in 1858.
During the 1857-1858 school year, Anna Braden and Jennie Braden are listed in the student director for LaGrange Female College in LaGrange, Georgia. Anna was a Junior and listed as a resident of Tampa, Florida. Jenny was a Freshman in 1857-58 and listed as a resident of Tampa, Florida.
During the 1858-1859 school year, Anna Braden and Virginia "Jennie" Braden are listed in the student directory for LaGrange Female College in LaGrange, Georgia. Anna was a resident of La Grange, Georgia and an 'Irregular" whose "patron" was listed as Mrs. T. Braden. It is probable that this should be Mrs. J(oseph) Braden. Virginia is listed as a member of the Sophomore Class, from Tampa, Fla., who's Patron is Dr. J. A. Braden. Another student is Annie Ward of Tallahassee, Fla. who's patron is Maj. Geo. T. Ward. Clearly, the Braden girls were going to school in LaGrange.
On 7 February 1859 (some sources say 9 Feb.), Virginia’s husband, Joseph, died of dysentery in LaGrange. He was 47 years old. Virginia was about 44.
A few months later, in June 1859, Virginia’s infant son, William, also died. He is buried at Southwood Plantation, leading to speculation that Virginia returned to Southwood after Joseph’s death.
By June 1860, however, Virginia, Robert, Anny, and Jennie, were in Galveston, Texas. A family that is probably them is found on the 1860 census in Galveston and the 1860 Slave Schedule of the census shows Virginia “Breeden” living in Galveston and owning 28 slaves. The census gives Anny’s age as 19, Robert’s as 17, and Mary’s as 15. The 1860 census is the last record I have found that shows Anna.
Jennie is again found at LaGrange Female College in 1860. She was listed as living in Galveston, Texas, with guardian Mrs. V. Braden. She was a Junior. This is the last record I find for Mary Virginia.
In 1861, Virginia is found on the Galveston Co., Texas tax roll as owning 32 slaves. Her son, Robert, is listed with her. Robert is found again on the Galveston tax roll in 1862.
Between the 1861 Galveston tax list and her death in 1867, I have found nothing on Virginia. Her son, Robert, joined the Confederate Army from Galveston in 1862 for “three months”, and enlisted again from Lake City, Florida for the duration of the war in January 1864.
Virginia died 4 January 1867, in Jacksonville, Florida. She was about 53 years old. Two obituaries have been found so far:
"Departed this life, in Jacksonville, on the 4th instant, Mrs. Virginia A.Braden, widow of Dr. James (should read "Joseph") A. Braden; formerly of Tallahassee, and sister of the late Colonel George T. Ward, of Florida.
Gentle and refined by nature and education, her early life was spent in the gay circles of Tallahassee, where she will long be remembered and loved.
A faithful and devoted wife and mother, she soon renounced the allurements of the world, the better to fulfill the duties which these relationships imposed upon her, and became a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church, in which communion she continued up to the time of her death. Her latter years were not unmarked by sorrows and trials, which, while they had no power over her faith and kind maternal heart, yet wasted her strength and health and finally opened to her pure spirit the portals of a blissful eternity.
The last year of her life was spent in this city, devoting herself entirely to her son, the last surviving child, of the many with which she had been blessed. Caring little for no [sic] society, she was known to but few; and though living and dying among strangers, she was....'By strangers honored, And by strangers mourned.' FLORIDA UNION - THE SEMI- WEEKLY FLORIDIAN, 13 January 1867"
And:
“Mrs. Virginia A. Braden, widow of Dr. James (sic) A. Braden, was born near Fredericksburg, Va., and died in Jacksonville, Fla., Jan. 4th, 1867, in the 53d year of her age. She was the sister of the late lamented Col. George T. Ward of Virginia, who settled near Tallahassee when she was quite young... About 1846, she was confirmed in the Episcopal Church, of which she continued a consistent and exemplary member for about eight years. On 5th of March [1854] she and her husband joined the M. E. Church, South... F. A. Branch." The Southern Christian Advocate, 8 February 1867.
The Mysteries:
All this, and yet, so little. What did these women enjoy? What was important to them? Are there photographs or portraits of them?
What was it like to go from being a "belle of Tallahassee" to living on the Florida frontier in a log cabin?
Left a widow at 44, Virginia then lost her baby son, and apparently, between 1860 and 1866, she lost her two daughters. I have not yet found any information on Anny and Mary Virginia after the 1860 census. Where did they die? Did either of them marry? Where are they buried?
Galveston was not a pretty place to be during the Civil War. It was a city under siege. In addition, there was an epidemic of yellow fever during those years. Did the family stay after Robert enlisted? Did they go back to Florida or Georgia? Did the girls die of the fever?
Where was Virginia during the war years while her son was in the Confederate Army? Did she go back to Southwood or one of the other homes owned by the Ward family?
Her obituaries indicate that her daughters were dead by the time she arrived in Jacksonville in 1866. Son, Robert, was apparently either there before her or came with her. His military service ended in May 1865. Most of her property by the time the war broke out consisted of slaves, so it is likely she lost most of her wealth when the slaves were freed. Robert lived the rest of his life in Jacksonville, boarding with the family of his employer.
Where is Virginia buried? It has been suggested that she is buried in the Old City Cemetery, Jacksonville, but so far I have not been able to confirm this.
I will continue looking for information on Virginia, Anny and Jennie to try and fill out their lives.
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