John Braden, middle son of Joseph Braden and his wife, Sarah Wright, was born 25 January 1777, probably in Loudoun Co., Virginia. Family naming patterns suggest that he would be named for his maternal grandfather, but so far I have not been able to determine Sarah Wright's parents, so can't confirm this.
John appears with his father, Joseph, on the Loudoun tax lists starting in 1795, when he would have been about 17 or 18 years old. They are listed together on the tax lists in the First Battalion through 1805, when John was about 28 years old. The First Battalion was generally the north west part of the county and included the Waterford area.
On 7 January 1806, John married Mary Darnel Stephens, daughter of Thomas Darnel Stephens and his wife, Mary Eleanor Webster. Mary was the sister of John's brother Robert's wife, Elizabeth. They were married by the Rev. John Littlejohn. Their marriage is recorded in the Stephens family Bible, as is Mary's birth on 1 December 1774 in Prince George's County, Maryland.
 |
| Thomas Stephens Family Bible page showing Mary's birth |
 | |
| Thomas Stephens Family Bible page showing marriage of Mary to John Braden |
In 1806, John appears on the tax lists in the First Battalion apart from his father, so he had established his own household.
Their first child, Nimrod, was born 25 October 1806. He died just 15 months later on 31 January 1808. He is probably buried at Catoctin Free Church Cemetery near Waterford, but no stone has been found to confirm this.
Their next child, daughter Mary Eleanor, was born 4 October 1808. She was undoubtedly named for her maternal grandmother, Mary Eleanor (Webster) Stephens.
John appears on the 1810 tax list and on the federal 1810 census in Loudoun County. John was shown as head of a household containing: 1 white male 26-45 (born ca 1765-1784; probably John, himself); 1 white female 26-45 (born ca 1765-1784; probably wife Mary); 1 white female under 10 (born after 1800; probably daughter Mary Elleanor); 1 white female over 45 (born before 1765); 3 slaves.
John's father, Joseph Braden, made his will in February 1810 and John is named as one of his children. On 22 June 1810, at an estate sale of his father's personal property, John Braden bought: 1 spade, 2 weeding hoes, 1 mattock, 3 axes, swingletrees chains & old iron, 2 pliers & collars, 2 pair bridles & collars, 1 old wagon, 2 barrels, 1 hogshead, 10 bags, 1 trammel, 1 parcel of old pewter, 1 iron pot, 1 dutch oven, 1 tackle?, 1 watering pot, 5 more bags, 1 roan horse, 1 negro lad named Joseph, 1 cotton box, 1 diving [?] fork, 1 half bushel. John also signed as witness to the sale.
John served as a witness or participant in many land deeds, too many to note them all here. He seems to have been an active member of the Waterford area community.
On 12 October 1810, John, his brother Robert, and their father-in-law, Thomas D. Stephens, purchased 2 acres next to the property of their now-deceased father, Joseph Braden, to establish a "meeting house and burying ground." This became the cemetery we now call Catoctin Free Church Cemetery.
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. In addition, Joseph sold land to his other brother, John Braden. The deed includes this statement by John:
"Know all men by these presents that I, John Braden of Loudoun County and State of Virginia am held and firmly Bound unto Robert Braden of the same place in the Just sum of five Thousand dollars for which payment well and Truly to be made and done I bind myself, my heirs, Exr, and Adm'n firmly by these presents sealed with my seal and dated this 14th day of February eighteen hundred and eleven 1811
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 Right [sic], 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 19 March 1811, a son, Rodney Caesar Braden was born to Mary and John.
On 29 May 1813, their daughter, Caroline Stephens Braden, was born to Mary and John.
John and Mary's home was called "Bell Mont" and was the house built by John's father, Joseph. This was the family home owned by his father, Joseph, as early as 1803. The house was described as "brick dwelling house, two stories 24 by 28 feet covered with wood" with a side addition "one story built of stone 16 by 24 feet." This property was located between the junction of present-day Route 704 and State Route 9 and the Catoctin Creek, on the north side of Route 9. The land was located adjacent to "the land of Robert Braden North, that of Robert Braden South, that of Robert Braden East and that of Richard Conner West." In August 1815, John insured the house for $1,400. This house was still standing when we visited Loudoun Co. about 1995 and we were pleased to get a picture.
 |
| "Bell Mont" ca 1995 (identified by the late Loudoun historian, John Divine) |
Their youngest child, a son they named Oscar Stephens Braden, was born 9 August 1819.
John is found on the 1820 Loudoun Co. federal census. The census shows his household consisted of 1 white male under 10 (born after 1810); 2 white females under 10 (born after 1810); 1 white male 10-16 (born ca 1805-1809); 1 white female 10-16 (born ca 1805-1809); 1 white male 26-45 (born ca 1776-1793); 1 white female 26-45 (born ca 1776-1793); 2 white males over 45 (born before 1775); 1 white female over 45 (born before 1775); 4 persons engaged in agriculture; 5 slaves; 1 free person of color.
An unidentified Waterford merchant recorded several transactions with John Braden in his store's account book for 1823. On 7 April 1823, John paid $5 on his account. On 10 April 1823, John purchased "6 lb nails." On 15 April, he bought "4 lb nails." On 8 August, he paid $5 cash. On 25 August, was recorded "90 lb gudgeons, 54 lb iron." And on 29 August 1823, John bought "28 lb iron." On 12 June 1823, the same Waterford merchant recorded a transaction in his account book for "Joe (John Braden's):" "balance due on settlement $4.44."
In February 1824, John's friend and neighbor, Abiel Jenners, wrote his will and named him as the executor of his estate. Abiel died in September 1824. There are numerous records in the court documents showing John's work to settle Abiel's estate.
The following advertisement appeared on 4 October 1825 in the Leesburg, Virginia, newspaper, The Genius of Liberty.
"Fulling and Dying -- THE subscriber having been liberally encouraged in the Fulling Business, Returns his sincere thanks to his friends and the public, for their patronage; and informs them that he still continues the above business, in all its branches. His Mill is in complete order and ready for the reception of Cloth. Cloth will be received at the store of Thomas Sanders, Esq. Leesburg, and returned when finished. John Braden, Oct 4, 1825 - 30 4t-- Near Waterford."
After the death of his brother, Robert, in 1827 John acted as executor for the estate of their brother, Joseph.
The 1830 census lists John in Shelburne Parish, Loudoun County. In his household were listed the following: 1 male age 10-15; 1 male age 15-20; 1 male age 50-60; 1 female age 10-15; 1 female age 15-20; 1 female age 20-30; 1 female age 50-60.
Several news articles appeared in January and February 1830 about the freeing of a number of slaves and their leaving for Liberia. In those stories it states that John Braden freed five slaves to allow them to go to Liberia with family members. The slaves are not named. A letter from Jesse Lucas in Liberia to Albert Heaton dated February 1831, asks to be remembered to John Braden and his family.
In September 1831, John Braden (as Executor of the will of Abiel Jenners) was taken to court by Abiel's widow, Deborah Jenners, and her five youngest children (Sarah Jenners Bradfield, Mary D. Jenners Braden, Nancy Jenners, Alba Jenners & Saurin Jenners) and their spouses (Jonathan Bradfield & Burr Braden) in an attempt to get John to give Deborah the $1500-$2000 left in Abiel's estate after his debts had been paid. Deborah wanted the money to "invest" in Indiana where it would be more convenient for her to draw her interest. John did not want to release the money unless he had a bond that ensured she would refund it to him should more debts surface from Abiel's estate. Abiel's will specified that Deborah be given an allowance for life, and then the surplus of his estate was to be divided between his five youngest children after her death. There is not enough information in the papers to determine the outcome of the case, but it is likely that Deborah lost.
According to a comment in a letter from Burr Braden to their sister, Elizabeth, written 19 Apr 1833, "Uncle John ... states he had some idea of moving to this country; ... I should be glad to see [him] here..." however there is no indication that John ever left Loudoun County.
On 12 November 1833, daughter Mary Eleanor married Gabriel Vandevanter, son of Joseph Vandevanter and Elizabeth Mains. From the Genius of Liberty: "Married Capt. Gabriel Vandevanter to Mary Eleanor Braden, elder daughter of John Braden, Esq. on Tues. Nov. 12, 1833 by Rev. M. Hargrove." The marriage bond was issued Nov. 9, 1833 and John Braden was listed as father of the bride.
In a letter written 30 August 1834 by Joseph Braden to Fleming Hixon, Joseph wrote, "Mrs. Jenners wishes me to write you to tell Uncle John Braden that if Robert might come out here this fall to send her money by him." So Deborah was still trying to get her money from John.
On 10 February 1835, John and Mary's son, Rodney C., married Eliza Ann Vandevanter, a daughter of Joseph Vandevanter and Elizabeth Mains, and sister Gabriel Vandevanter, who had married his sister, Mary Eleanor. Eliza's brother, Gabriel, posted bond as her guardian. The marriage bond was posted Feb. 3, 1835.
John and Mary's daughter, Mary Eleanor (Braden) Vandevanter, died 30 April 1836. She is buried in the Leesburg Presbyterian Cemetery.
In September 1839, daughter, Caroline, married Isaac Vandevanter, son of Joseph Vandevanter and Elizabeth Mains and brother of Gabriel Vandevanter, who had married her sister, Mary Eleanor. The Genius of Liberty newspaper reported, "Married Tues., Sept 10, by Rev. Boyd: Isaac Vandevanter to Caroline Braden, daughter of Mr. John Braden, all of Loudoun." Caroline's father, John, posted bond. Loudoun Co. Clerk's Marriage Records show bond posted Sept. 9, 1839.
According to the 1840 census, John's household included 1 male 20-30, 1 male 60-70, 1 female 20-30, 1 female 60-70.
Daughter, Caroline Stephens (Braden) Vandevanter, died 1 July 1841 and is buried in Leesburg Presbyterian Cemetery.
On 11 April 1842, John and Mary's daughter, Cecilia Elizabeth, married Washington Vandevanter, another son of Joseph Vandevanter and Elizabeth Mains. The Genius of Liberty reported "Married by Rev. Wm Wicks: Washington Vandevanter to Cecelia E. Braden, both of Loudoun." Cecelia's brother, Oscar S. Braden, testified to both parties' ages.
On 15 October 1846, John Braden wrote his will. The text of it follows:
"I, John Braden of the County of Loudoun & State of Virginia do make this my last will and testament in manner and form following that is to say. First, I give to my beloved wife Mary the use during her life of any two rooms in my dwelling house which she may select. I also give her the sum of Five hundred dollars payable at my decease and Two hundred dollars worth of furniture to be taken at its appraised value. Secondly, I give to my son Rodney C Braden his heirs and assigns forever my woolen manufactory with all the looms machines etc appertaining thereto together with two acres of land embracing said Factory to be laid off by beginning at the mouth of the lane on the Waterford road and running thence so as to pass about Ten feet north of the dwelling house stable thence down to the branch & to the first station so as to contain Two acres of land also the full use & privilege of the water as it is now used at said Mill and the right to repair the races and dam without doing unnecessary injury to the land through which they pass or on which they are situated. The said Rodney C. Braden shall however pay to my wife Mary during her natural life the sum of One hundred Dollars per annum for the payment of which the said Land & factory are charged. Thirdly I give to my daughter Cecelia E. Vandevanter one thousand Dollars payable at my decease. I further direct that my Executor shall pay to the said Cecelia E Vandevanter during her natural life for her sole use and benefit uncontrolled by any person or persons whatsoever the interest on the sum of Five Thousand Dollars commencing at my decease and should she die leaving issue under twenty one years of age the said interest shall be paid over for the benefit of such issue during their minority and as they respectively arrive at twenty-one years of age shall receive his or her fair proportion of the said sum of Five thousand Dollars. But in case none of the children of the said Cecelia E should attain the age of Twenty one or have lawful issue then upon the death of the said Cecilia or upon the death of the last of her children who may survive her the said Five thousand Dollars shall be equally divided between my two sons Rodney C Braden & Oscar S. Braden. But it shall be competent for the said Cecilia to invest the said Five thousand Dollars in real estate and to permit her to receive the rents thereof in lieu of the interest and on her death and that of her issue the said real estate shall descend and pass in the same manner as is above directed in regard to the said sum of Five Thousand Dollars. Fourthly I give to my three children Rodney C. Braden, Oscar S. Braden & Cecelia Vandevanter all my slaves to be equally divided amongst them but with the express understanding that they the said slaves and their future increase shall be emancipated as they respectively arrive at the age of thirty two years and in the computation of their ages Adam shall be considered as being nineteen years old on the 25th day of December 1846 and two years intervening between each of his younger brothers and sisters. Fifthly, all the rest of my estate both real and personal of whatever nature or kind soever it may be not herein before particularly disposed of I give to my son Oscar S. Braden his heirs & assigns forever charging him however with the payment of the sum of one Hundred fifty Dollars per annum to my wife Mary during her natural life and farther charging the real estate hereby devised to him for the payment of the said Five thousand Dollars bequeathed to my daughter Cecelia as before mentioned. Sixthly and lastly, I do hereby nominate and appoint my two sons Rodney C Braden & Oscar S. Braden Executors of this my last will & testament hereby revoking all other wills by me heretofore made and having entire confidence in their integrity desire the Court to permit them to qualify as such without giving security. In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand and affixed my seal this 15th day of October 1846.
John Braden {seal}
Signed sealed published and declared by John Braden as and for his last will and testament in the presence & hearing of us who at his request and in his presence have subscribed our names
as witnesses. Noble S. Braden Stephen Gregg
At a court held for Loudoun County December 13th 1847 This paper purporting to be the last Will and Testament of John Braden decd was presented to the Court proved by the oaths of Noble S Braden and Stephen Gregg the subscribing witnesses thereto and ordered to be recorded. On the motion of Rodney C Braden & Oscar S. Braden the Executors therein named who made oath as such entered into and acknowledged a Bond in the penalty to $14,000 conditioned as the Law directs certificate is granted them for obtaining a probate thereof in due form. Teste Chs Eskridge Clk"
John Braden died on 26 November 1847 in Loudoun Co., Virginia. He was 70 years old. He is buried in Catoctin Free Church Cemetery, near his home. A death notice appeared in the Alexandria Gazette on 6 December 1847:
On 11 March 1848, Mary Darnel (Stephens) Braden died in Loudoun Co., Virginia. She is buried in Catoctin Free Church Cemetery.
Descendants of John Braden & Mary D. Stephens:
John Braden, b. 25 Jan 1777 at Loudoun Co., VA, d. 26 Nov 1847 at Loudoun Co.,
VA
+Mary Darnall Stephens, b. 1 Dec 1774 at St.
Johns Parish, Prince Georges Co., MD, m. 7 Jan 1806 at Loudoun Co., VA, d. 11
Mar 1848 at Loudoun Co., VA
├── Nimrod Braden, b. 25 Oct 1806 at Loudoun
Co., VA, d. 31 Jan 1808 at Loudoun Co., VA
├── Mary Eleanor Braden, b. 4 Oct 1808 at Loudoun
Co., VA, d. 30 Apr 1836 at Leesburg, Loudoun Co., VA
│
+Gabriel Vandevanter, b. 31 Mar 1804 at
Hamilton, Loudoun Co., VA, m. 12 Nov 1833 at Loudoun Co., VA, d. 2 Jun 1885 at
Hamilton, Loudoun Co., VA
│
└── Flavius Braden Vandevanter, b. circa 14 Oct 1834 at
Loudoun Co, VA, d. 18 Sep 1838 at Leesburg, Loudoun Co., VA
├── Rodney Caesar Braden, b. 19 Mar 1811 at Loudoun
Co., VA, d. 24 Apr 1864 at Loudoun Co., VA
│
+Eliza Ann Vandevanter, b. 11 Jan 1815 at Loudoun
Co., VA, m. 10 Feb 1835 at Loudoun Co., VA, d. 28 Dec 1878 at near Waterford,
Loudoun Co., VA
│
├── Mary Elizabeth Braden, b. 7 Jan 1836 at Loudoun
Co., VA, d. 7 Mar 1896 at Loudoun Co., VA
│
├── Gabriella Braden, b. 6 Jun 1837 at Loudoun
Co., VA, d. 16 Aug 1838 at Loudoun Co., VA
│
├── Camelia Ann Braden, b. 3 Aug 1838 at Loudoun
Co., VA, d. 29 Sep 1840 at Loudoun Co., VA
│
├── Caroline Eugenia Braden, b. 14 Feb 1840 at Loudoun
Co., VA, d. 15 Feb 1841 at Loudoun Co., VA
│
├── Gabriel Vandeventer Braden, b. 2 Sep 1841 at Loudoun
Co., VA, d. 1 Mar 1921 at Loudoun Co, VA
│
│
+Caroline Elizabeth Vandevanter, b. 6 Oct 1844 at Loudoun
Co, VA, m. 31 Oct 1877 at Loudoun Co., VA, d. 7 Jul 1880 at Loudoun Co, VA
│
│
+Sally Gill Furr, b. 5 Apr 1853 at Loudoun
Co., VA, m. 24 Oct 1888 at M. E. Church South, Bloomfield, VA, d. 28 Feb 1919
at Loudoun Co., VA
│
│
├── Robert Furr Braden, b. 4 May 1890, d. 15 Jun
1976
│
│
└── Mozelle Braden, b. 25 Mar 1897
│
│ +Leland Hunt
│
├── Ann Eliza Braden, b. 8 Mar 1843 at Loudoun
Co., VA, d. 5 Mar 1911 at her residence, Loudoun Co., VA
│
│
+William Henry Ball, b. 18 Sep 1841, m. 5 Nov
1867 at the residence of the bride's mother, Loudoun Co., VA, d. 19 Jul 1908 at
4 o'clock Sunday afternoon at his home at 132 32nd St., Newport News, VA
│
│
├── Nell Ball
│
│
├── Hector Ball
│
│
│
+Nannie Ball
│
│
├── Harry Ball
│
│
├── Rodney Ball
│
│
│
+Florence Lloyd, b. at Purcellville, VA
│
│
│
├── Lloyd Ball
│
│
│
└── Florence Ball
│
│
├── Genevieve Ball
│
│
└── Annie Ball
│
├── John Armstead Braden, b. 26 Sep 1844, d. 12 Aug
1860
│
├── Joseph Hector Braden, b. 4 Jun 1846 at Loudoun
Co., VA, d. 9 Mar 1864 at Locust Grove Plantation, near Clarke's Gap, Loudoun
Co., VA
│
├── Oscar Stevens Braden, b. 18 May 1848 at Loudoun
Co., VA, d. 12 Nov 1868 at Loudoun Co., VA
│
├── Robert W. Braden, b. 6 Apr 1851 at Loudoun
Co., VA
│
│
+Ella D. Wright, m. 10 Oct 1877 at IL
│
│
└── Robert Braden, b. after 10 Oct 1877
│
├── Cecilia Vandeventer Braden, b. 12 Jun 1855 at Loudoun
Co., VA, d. 7 Oct 1918
│
│
+Andrew G. Curry, b. 13 Feb 1845, m. 27 Oct
1880 at Loudoun Co., VA, d. 11 Feb 1932
│
│
├── Lillian Currey
│
│
├── Rodney Currey, d. 1904
│
│
└── John Currey
│
│ +Lola H. Wright, b. 1887, d. 1908
│
└── Rodney Walter Braden, b. 13 Sep 1858 at Loudoun
Co., VA, d. 23 Jun 1925 at Loudoun Co., VA
│ +Cecilia Decatur Heaton, b. 29 Nov 1857 at Loudoun Co., VA, m. 23 Dec 1880 at Loudoun Co.,
VA, d. 25 Apr 1924 at Loudoun Co, VA
│ ├── Townsend Heaton Braden, b. 26 Apr 1884 at Loudoun Co., VA, d. 11 Nov 1885 at Loudoun Co.,
VA
│ ├── Oscar Stevens Braden, b. 21 Apr 1886, d. 1966 at FL
│ │ +Mary Lynn Ball, b. 1886 at Hamilton, VA,
m. 31 Jul 1907, d. after 15 Sep 1941
│ ├── Dr. Albert Vandevanter Braden, b. 19 Feb 1888, d. 8 Nov 1919 at Ishpeming, MI
│ └── Walter Douglas Braden, b. 11 Sep 1891, d. 7 Oct 1918 at Loudoun Co., VA
├── Caroline Stephens Braden, b. 29 May 1813, d. 1 Jul
1841 at Loudoun Co., VA
│
+Isaac Vandevanter IV, b. 14 Dec 1807, m. 10 Sep
1839 at Loudoun Co., VA, d. 19 Jan 1893
├── Cecilia Elizabeth Braden, b. 22 Nov 1816 at Loudoun
Co., VA, d. 25 Aug 1853 at Loudoun Co., VA
│
+Washington Vandevanter, b. 1 Feb 1813, m. 11 Apr
1842 at Loudoun Co., VA, d. 19 Aug 1898 at Loudoun Co., VA
│
├── Mary Ellen Vandevanter, b. 13 Feb 1843, d. 19 Feb
1861
│
├── Caroline Elizabeth Vandevanter, b. 6 Oct 1844 at Loudoun
Co, VA, d. 7 Jul 1880 at Loudoun Co, VA
│
│
+Gabriel Vandeventer Braden, b. 2 Sep 1841 at Loudoun
Co., VA, m. 31 Oct 1877 at Loudoun Co., VA, d. 1 Mar 1921 at Loudoun Co, VA
│
├── Jane Cecelia Vandevanter, b. 22 Jul 1846, d. 5 Jun
1859
│
├── Charles Oscar Vandevanter, b. 10 Oct 1849, d. 14 Aug
1933
│
│
+Virginia Kilgour, b. circa 1848 at MD, d.
20 Oct 1878 at near Waterford, Loudoun Co., VA
│
│
└── Braden Vandevanter, b. 5 May 1878 at Loudoun
Co., VA, d. 28 Sep 1943
│
│ +Phelan Ruffin, m. 7 Oct 1920
│
│ ├── Braden Vandevanter, b. after 7 Oct 1920
│
│ └── Mary Vandevanter, b. after 7 Oct 1920
│
├── Gabriella Vandevanter, b. 31 Dec 1851, d. 1934
│
│
+(--?--) Wise
│
└── Eliza Braden Vandevanter, b. 23 Aug 1853
│ +Henry Vandevanter, b. 1 Nov 1849, m. 16 Feb 1875 at Loudoun Co., VA, d. 25 Jan 1905
└── Oscar Stevens Braden, b. 9 Aug 1819 at Loudoun
Co., VA, d. 4 Jan 1896 at the home of his nephew, Walter Braden, near
Waterford, Loudoun Co., VA
No comments:
Post a Comment