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| Tombstone of Joseph Braden in Catoctin Cemetery (photo taken 1994) |
We know from the tax lists that there was at least one other Joseph Braden in Loudoun Co. at this time besides this Joseph and his father. The other Joseph seems to have left Loudoun by about 1804 or so, but because of there is at least one other Joseph Braden, it is sometimes difficult to know which Joseph is involved in particular court records and deeds. Before I realized there was this third Joseph Braden, I assumed any reference to Joseph Braden, Jr. meant THIS Joseph (d 1816). I now know I can't assume that. So in this biography, I will only include items that I am fairly confident relate to THIS Joseph. I may not always be correct, however. For example, a Joseph Braden, Jr. witnessed the will of Daniel McCluskey on 23 May 1806. I am not sure which Joseph this is.
On 22 March 1806, Joseph Braden married Mary Neal (or Neale), daughter of Fielding Neal and Catherine Beasley, in St. Thomas Parish (Episcopal), Orange Co., Virginia. The marriage license was issued 18 March 1806 in Orange Co., Virginia. Witnesses were James Beazley (bride's uncle and guardian) and James Archer. James Archer was bondsman. George Bingham was the minister. Another marriage register seems to indicate that the marriage took place on March 22, 1808, but given the license date, I suspect 1806 is correct.
Confirming Mary's maiden name was an interesting challenge. While some unsourced research gives her name as Mary Neal and cites the marriage to Joseph in Orange Co., I wondered why Joseph was in Orange Co. when all my knowledge of him shows him in Loudoun Co. And Joseph's will mentions his wife's sisters, Elizabeth, Mildred and Sarah. Their surnames were very difficult to read on both copies of the will that I had, but it certainly is not "Neal". I asked some of the Loudoun researchers I know what they thought the name was. Pat Duncan (Thank You, Pat!) thought it looked like "Poll" or "Paul." Then she found this tidbit from the Loudoun Minute Book #7: "11 October 1813 [p. 53] Elizabeth PAUL & Mildred PAUL orphans of Jacob PAUL dec'd made choice of Joseph BRADEN for their Guardian & Court appointed said BRADEN Guardian to Sarah PAUL orphan of said Jacob PAUL dec’d Bond & security given."
So the surname of Mary's sisters was "Paul" and they were daughters of Jacob Paul. A little more research showed that Mary's father, Fielding Neal, died in July 1792. In August 1793, his widow (Mary's mother), Catherine Neal, married Jacob Paul. Catherine (Beaseley) Neal Paul died in 1810. Jacob Paul died sometime before 1813, when his three daughters were made wards of their half-sister, Mary's, husband, Joseph Braden.
The unsourced research I've mentioned, says that Joseph Braden was a physician. I have not verified this, but I do know that there were other physicians in the Braden family in the next generation, so this could be true. This is something I need to research further.
In 1809, Joseph Braden, Jr. is listed on the tax lists in Loudoun Co., in the First Battalion. On 13 December 1809, he witnessed the will of William Fox, husband of his sister, Mary (Braden) Fox.
Joseph was named in his father's will written 27 February 1810 and probated 11 June 1810. On the tax lists of 1810, he is shown as Joseph Braden in the First Battalion.
On 22 June 1810, Joseph attended a sale of the personal property of his deceased father held in Loudoun Co. He purchased 1 spade, 1 bed & furniture. On 4 August 1810, he witnessed a deed regarding the sale of land by his sister, Fanny, and her husband, Isaac Hough, to their brother, Robert Braden. And in the 1810 Census of Loudoun Co., (taken on August 6), Joseph is shown residing in Hillsborough with two females. One was probably his wife, Mary, and the other may have been one of her sisters mentioned above.
Sometime after the census was taken in August 1810, Mary and Joseph's son, Flavius J. Braden, was born. His age at death suggests a birth date in late 1810, but his exact birth date has not yet been found.
In January 1811, Joseph purchased 239 acres "in Piedmont" and bordering land owned by his brother, Robert, from John and Jane Cummins.
In the 11 February 1811 estate inventory of his deceased brother-in-law, William Fox, Joseph is listed as owing the estate $420. Several deeds were executed by John, Joseph and Robert Braden in early February 1811. On 14 February 1811, Joseph Braden and his wife Mary, sold to Robert Braden, 1/2 of the mill and 2 1/4 acres of land left to Joseph by their father, Joseph. He also sold 20 acres to his brother, John. This was all land that had been left to him by their father. Regarding these transactions, John Braden stated,
"The conditions of the above obligation is such that Whereas Joseph Braden Dec'd did by his last will and Testament give and devise to his son Joseph Braden one undivided Moiety of a Mill and two and a quarter acres of Land together with twenty acres of Land a part of the plantation whereon he resided and the remainder of said land he devised to his son, John Braden party to these presents and the said Joseph Braden having sold and conveyed to the said Robert Braden all his Interest in said Mill and two and a quarter acres of Land - And Whereas the said John Braden being fully satisfied that it was the intention of the afs'd Joseph Braden Dec'd to Devise and convey the right privilege and advantage of the Water as well as the said Mill to his son Joseph Braden but as no Mention was particular [sic] made thereof in said will, the said John Braden hath thought proper in order to prevent any Misunderstanding respecting the premises from taking place hereafter to Grant and convey to the said Robert Braden for Value rec'd and he doth hereby Grant and Convey to the said Robert Braden his heirs and assigns all the right, title, Interest Claim or Demand whatsoever he has to the said Water and doth hereby Bind himself his heirs Ex'rs, admn., and assigns not to Interrupt remove or Molest the water out of its present course along the Mill Dam and race to said Mill as it now passes - and that the said Robert Braden, his heirs and assigns may at any time and at all times have liberty to Widen or repair the race or Dam, him the said Braden Not Injuring the land of the said John Braden more than is bearly [sic] sufficient to repair the same and that to be taken from the most convenient part adjoining thereto but no Stone nor timber to be taken for that purpose. In Witness whereof the said John Braden hath hereunto set his hand and seal the day and year first above written. John Braden"
On 11 April 1814, Joseph Braden is listed on the poll list.
And on 25 May 1814, Joseph made his will. A transcription of the will follows:
Joseph Braden seal
signed sealed & Acknowledged in the presence of
John Williams
Samuel Hough
Amassa Hough
Joseph Eaches
At a Court held for Loudoun County the 11th Day of Nov [several words (lines?) cut off by poor photocopying] Braden decd. was presented to [several lines cut off by poor photocopying] Braden & John Braden two of the [?] herein named came unto Court & took the oath prescribed by Law & together with David Lacey & Robert Wade their Securities entered into & acknowledged their bond in the penalty of $10,000 conditioned as the Law Directs Certificate is granted them of obtaining a probate of the said will in due and at another Court held for said County the 13th Day of January 1817 the said last will & testament of Joseph Braden dec.d was fully proved by the affirmation of John Williams & ordered to be recorded. C Binns clk"
On 8 April 1815, Joseph Braden purchased a house in Waterford, Virginia from James and Phoebe Moore. At that time, James Moore sold lots nine and ten in Janney's new addition to Waterford to Joseph Braden for $1,500. This is the house in Waterford now called the James Moore House.
On 12 October 1816, Joseph Braden died in Waterford, Virginia. His age at death was 27 years, 9 months, 12 days. I have not yet found information on the cause of his death. He was buried in Catoctin Free Church Cemetery outside Waterford. Robert Braden, executor of Joseph's estate, paid Dr. McCabe $30 and William Knettle $11 for a coffin, shortly after Joseph's death.
Joseph's widow, Mary, was 29 and their son, Flavius, was only about 5 years old.
On 30 December 1816, Joseph's estate was inventoried and appraised. The inventory of Joseph's personal estate lists almost only slaves. They were: Essex (about 44 years of age) valued at $300; James (about 25 yrs of age) valued at $400; Moses (about 22 yrs of age) valued at $600; Achilles (about 13 yrs old) valued at $350; Beverly (about 10 yrs old) valued at $350; James (about 3 yrs old) valued at $200; Milly (about 50 yrs old) valued at $100; Katy (about 50 yrs old) valued at $100; Milly (about 27 yrs old) valued at $350; Jude (about 25 yrs old) valued at $350; Matilda (about 11 yrs old) valued at $250; Cordelia (about 10 yrs old) valued at $250; Emily (about 8 yrs old) valued at $200; Mahala (about 5 yrs old) valued at $150; Melia (about 6 yrs old) valued at $200; Kitty (18 months old) valued at $100; Diadama (3 months old) valued at $75. See my posting on Individuals Held as Slaves for more information on these people.
Mary Braden was granted her widow's dower per the will of her deceased first husband, Joseph Braden, Jr. Her dower consisted of the following slaves: Moses, his wife Judea, three of their children: James, Kitty and Jeremiah Moses; and the girl Matilda.
Robert Braden (Flavius Braden's uncle and the executor of Joseph Braden Jr's will) paid tuition for Flavius to a Mr. Pasmore and Ann Ball in 1816.
In January 1817, Robert Braden, executor of his brother, Joseph's, estate, paid Jacob Mendenhall for tuition for his nephew, Flavius Braden, and he paid Mary Ball Braden for clothing and boarding her son, Flavius. In May 1818, Robert Braden paid Mary her widow's allowance and also for boarding and clothing her son, Flavius. Robert Braden paid Jacob Mendenhall for tuition for Flavius Braden.
On 30 June 1818, Joseph's widow, Mary, remarried to Isaac Vandevanter in Waterford. According to the "Genius of Liberty" for July 7, 1818, they were married "In Waterford on Tuesday the 30th ult. by Rev. John Mines, Capt. Isaac Van Deventer to Mrs. Mary Braden, widow of the late Doct. Braden."
On 1 January 1819, Robert Braden, executor of the estate of Joseph Braden, paid Joseph's widow, Mary, her share of the "hire of slaves for 1818" ($200). Robert also paid Jacob Mendenhall for tuition for Flavius Braden, and he also paid for clothing for "Flavius & the negroes."
Mary (Neal) Braden Vandevanter had the following children with Isaac Vandevanter: Albert (born 1820), Mary Elizabeth (born 1821), Sarah F. (born 1825), James Hamilton (born 1826) and Cornelius (born 1829).
On 1 January 1821, Robert Braden, acting as executor of the will of his brother, Joseph Braden, paid Isaac Vandevanter, second husband of Joseph's widow, Mary, for her share of the hire of Joseph's slaves for 1819. Robert also recorded payments to William Adams for tuition for Flavius Braden; an additional payment to Abram Adams for Flavius' tuition; a payment to Mary Fox of $125 for 18 months boarding of Flavius; another tuition payment went to Jacob Mendenhall; another expense listed as "clothing of Flavius and the negroes"; and William Pidgeon was paid for boarding Flavius. William Pidgeon was probably the husband of Mildred Paul, Mary (Neal) Braden Vandevanter's half-sister and Flavius's aunt.
On 1 January 1822, payments were made by Robert Braden, executor of Joseph Braden's estate, to Jacob Mendenhall for Flavius Braden's tuition; to William Pidgeon for 14 1/2 months board of Flavius; to Lewis Elgy for 1 year's tuition for Flavius; for clothing for Flavius & "the negroes." In addition, the executor received $305 for "rent of house & hire of slaves for 1821."
Robert Braden, as executor of the estate of Joseph Braden, Jr., filed an accounting with the court in Loudoun Co., Virginia on 1 January 1823. In this accounting, Robert noted expenses for renting a house for "Milly & Children" because he had not been able "to hire her out;" Millie was one of Joseph Braden's slaves. This accounting also mentions payments made for "boarding, washing &c for Flavius for 1 year"; to George Nelson for "1 year tuition and Books for Flavius"; for clothing furnished "Flavius & Negroes this year"; for "boarding, medicine & attendant 5 weeks while sick, Beverly & Lewis" (slaves); to Caty (slave) for nursing & boarding "Negro man Essex (slave) during his sickness;" as well as payments for a coffin, grave digging, and funeral expenses for Essex (slave).
During 1825, 1826, and 1827, Robert Braden, the executor of Joseph Braden Jr's estate, filed accountings that outlined numerous expenditures for Flavius for clothing, schooling, etc. Flavius was boarding during at least part of that time with a Mrs. Aisquith. On 26 December 1825, Robert Braden, executor of Joseph Braden's estate, paid Edward Hughs $25 for 3 quarters' tuition for Flavius Braden. Flavius was apparently ill during early 1827 since his uncle Robert Braden, paid $60 on 20 February 1827 for Flavius' "board, medicine & attendance whilst sick."
On 21 February 1827, the executor of Joseph Braden's estate paid $6.50 to "convey" Flavius to Winchester. Flavius was going there to study and the executor also paid J. Bruce $16.50 for tuition in advance. On 22 September 1827, the executors of Joseph Braden's estate paid $16 for 2 months board for Flavius and furnished him with $45 to pay tuition, etc. In December 1827, John Braden, current executor of Joseph Braden Jr's will, paid Flavius for his expenses to travel to Winchester. The former executor, Flavius's other uncle Robert, had died.
In 1828, Flavius was boarding with Bushrod Taylor in Winchester, Virginia, where he was a member of Judge H.S.G. Tucker's Law Class. In January 1828, John Braden, executor of Flavius's father's estate, paid Flavius for his room and board in Winchester, where he was studying. In October 1828, John Braden provided Flavius with $100 to pay for his attendance at Tucker's Lectures. John Braden provided Flavius with expense money, clothing, room and board money, etc. throughout 1829. From July to October 1829, Flavius Braden boarded with his aunt, Elizabeth Braden, widow of Robert. John Braden paid Elizabeth Braden $21.87 1/2 for boarding and wash for Flavius Braden from July to Oct. 1829.
In 1830, John Braden, executor of the will of Flavius' father (Joseph Braden), provided Flavius with clothing, books, and money for school throughout the year. On the 1830 census, Flavius appears as head of a household in Waterford, Virginia, consisting of himself and four 4 slaves and gives his age as between 15 and 20.
By 1832, Flavius has moved to Natchez, Mississippi. In September 1832, Flavius (who was listed as a resident of Natchez, Miss.) sold a slave, James Mitchell, about 46 years old, dark complexion, 5ft 9in for $200 to William Burchett. Noble Braden was a witness to the bill of sale filed in Loudoun Co., Virginia.
On 4 September 1832, Noble S. Braden, as executor of Robert Braden's estate, filed an accounting with the court in Loudoun Co., Virginia for the period from 4 March 1832 to 4 June 1834. This accounting mentions a payment on 4 September 1832 to F. J. Braden of the balance due him from the estate of his father, Joseph Braden ($963.99). Noble Braden, acting for his father Robert Braden, deceased, who had been executor of Joseph Braden's estate, filed an accounting of the estate for the period from 1816-1832. The accounting is followed by a statement from Flavius Braden indicating that he has settled the account with Noble:
"I have this day settled with Noble S. Braden, Exor. of Robert Braden Dec'd who was Ex. Of My Father Joseph Braden dec'd and I find a balance due me of Nine Hundred and sixty three Dollars & ninety nine cents as per pages. It is to be understood that altho John Braden & Robert Braden were executors yet that John Braden never acted as such even after the death of Robert Braden but the account was continued at my request by Noble S. Braden acting as executor using the name of the John Braden surviving Exr. It is further understood that altho it appears in the a/c thus continued that John Braden rec'd various sums of money on a/c of the Estate yet in fact he did not except such as were passed over by him to Noble S. Braden Exr of Robert Braden all of which have been accounted for by N. S. Braden and included in the above amount of Nine Hundred & Sixty Three dollars 99 cents which is admitted by me as the correct balance due from the Estate of Robert Braden dec'd to the Estate of Joseph Braden at this date. The receipts of which I acknowledge in full payment made me this day by the said N. S. Braden Exr of Robert Braden dec'd of all demands against said Estate. Witness my hand this 4th day of September 1832.
Acknowledged before Fla. J. Braden
I admit the above to be correct. N. S. Braden Exr of Ro. Braden decd.
At a Court held for Loudoun County the 11th day Sept. 1832. This Estate a/c of Robert Braden decd was returned and continued for exceptions until the next Court and at another Court held for said County the 8th October 1832 there being no exceptions filed. Thereto the same is ordered to be recorded. Teste C. Binns C.L.C. "
On 10 September 1832, Flavius J. Braden sold the home and lot in Waterford, Virginia that had been willed to him by his father, Joseph Braden. The property had been in the family 18 years. He sold it to Elizabeth Sullivan. Flavius was listed as a resident of Natches, Mississippi.
On 13 October 1832, Flavius J. Braden died of cholera on a ship traveling down the Ohio River. He was about 22 years old and apparently never married. Since he had just been in Waterford conducting business and his residence was Natchez, Mississippi, it can be surmised that he died while traveling home. A notice appeared in the Vicksburg, Mississippi Advocate & Register: "Died - On the 13th inst. of Cholera, on his passage down the Ohio river, FLAVIUS J. BRADEN, in the 22d year of his age, a native of Loudoun county, Virginia, and late a resident of Natchez, Mis."
On 20 January 1833, Nancy Jenners wrote in a letter to Elizabeth Braden (Flavius's cousin): "We were all truly sorry to hear of the deaths of Fenton and Flavius." (Fenton was Elizabeth's brother, William Fenton Braden.)
On 11 June 1834, Isaac Vandevanter, husband of Mary (Neal) Braden Vandevanter and step-father of Flavius Braden, wrote his will. The will mentions Isaac's six children by his first wife, his four children by his current wife, and his step-son, Flavius Braden, who is deceased. Isaac seems to have died shortly after making his will in June 1834. He is buried in Leesburg Presbyterian Church Cemetery, Leesburg, Virginia.
An accounting of Flavius' estate was filed in Loudoun Co. Virginia Circuit Court on 29 September 1835 by Thomas Rogers, who served as administrator. Flavius died intestate and no heirs are listed. I have not yet found a grave site for Flavius.
In 1837, Mary Vandevanter paid for the following from the estate of Flavius Braden: medical attendance on servant Henry, coffin and burial of said Henry, medical attendance on Martha Jane, medical attendance of Diadama, board & nursing Martha Jane when confined with her child and afterward sick for 6 weeks, and items for servant Amanda, income from hire of Lewis, Beverly, Charles, Diadama, Amanda, Amelia and Martha Jane.
Mary made her will on 19 September 1838. In it, she named James H. Vandevanter, Son; Milly Pidgeon, Half sister; Cornelius Vandevander, Son; Isaac Vandevanter, Executor; Sarah Paul, half-sister. Her slaves were to be hired out for two years after her death and then they could earn their freedom. She named Isaac Vandevanter executor; this was probably her nephew, Isaac (1807-1893), son of Joseph Vandevanter.
Mary (Neal) Braden Vandevanter died in Loudoun Co., Virginia on 29 July 1846. She was 59 years old. She is buried in Leesburg Presbyterian Church Cemetery, Leesburg, Virginia.
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