This Joseph has been of interest to me as I try to sort out the Loudoun County Braden families and also as we attempt to take this line back further to earlier generations. Some of what follows is my own research and other parts are courtesy of David Negus, who has given me permission to incorporate his work into this post.
If our theories are correct, then this Joseph is a cousin of the Joseph who married Sarah. There are still a lot of unanswered questions, but we have pieced some things together in a way that seems to fit.
Joseph Breden was the eldest son of James Breden who died in 1769 in Upper Dublin Township, Philadelphia Co. (now Montgomery), Pennsylvania. We estimate that he was born about 1740, probably in Philadelphia Co. The 1769 Philadelphia Co. tax list shows James Breaden as the head of the household and Joseph is listed with him, but is not taxed.
On 4 November 1769, Joseph Braden, eldest son of James Braden, deceased, of Upper Dublin Twp., filed bond to be administrator of his father's estate. The probate file includes an accounting and inventory. Some of the deceased's property was at Abraham Charlesworth's (husband of James' daughter Rebecca). There were payments made to an Arthur Braden, Abraham Charlesworth, Elizabeth Braden, Arch. McClean, and many others.
On 29 March 1770, Joseph Breden married Phoebe Bartleson at Abington Presbyterian Church, Philadelphia Co., Pennsylvania. Phoebe was the daughter of Bartle Bartleson and Elizabeth Knight. Phoebe's sister, Mary Bartleson, married James Fox, the father of William Fox who was the husband of Mary Braden, and of Bartleson Fox who was the husband of Elizabeth Braden. Mary and Elizabeth were daughters of the Joseph Braden who married Sarah Wright. Confused yet? Here is a sketch:
We believe that there is a good chance that either Robert or Fanny Braden/Breden shown in the above sketch is a sibling of James Breden, which would make the two Joseph's cousins. This has not been proven, however.
Anyway, Joseph and Phoebe had a daughter, Jane, who was baptized at Abington Presbyterian Church on 27 April 1771. They next had a son, James, who was baptized at Abington on 24 October 1772. Two other children are known: Ezra born about 1776 and Bartleson (or Bartlett or Bartle) born about 1784. I believe, but have not confirmed, that the Rebecca Braden who married Henry Long and the Mary Braden who married Stephen Ball (both in Loudoun Co., Virginia) are probably daughters of Joseph and Phoebe.
The following appeared in the Pennsylvania Gazette, No. 2214, dated May 30, 1771: "Sussex County West New Jersey, May 10, 1771. Five Pounds Reward. Whereas some time ago, I became security for one Andrew M'Calla, that he should answer to an action of Bastardy, at our Court of Quarter Sessions. And since the said M'Calla has run away, and as it is like to prove very detrimental to myself and family, it is to be hoped that all lovers of honesty and Justice will use their endeavors to apprehend him. He is a person about 5 feet 9 or 10 inches high, 25 or 26 years old, thin-faced, assumes the character of a kind of a schoolmaster, but is no great scholar; he has been heard of on Long Island, and passes by the name of Steward, and it is very probable he may make towards Philadelphia, as he has a mother resides there, who keeps a dram-shop (as he says) and goes by the name of Rosanna Henderson. Any person taking up and securing him in any of his Majesty's goals on the continent, and giving notice thereof to Samuel Adams, of Philadelphia, or Joseph Braden, of Upper Dublin, or to me the subscriber, shall have the above reward, paid by Robert Braden."
This ad is interesting because it links the Robert Braden who was the father of Joseph (who married Sarah) to the Joseph of Upper Dublin, PA (who married Phoebe). The Samuel Adams mentioned is probably the son of William Adams and his wife Sarah Breden, who married at Abington Presbyterian in 1733, and who is probably also a relative of the two Josephs.
On 8 March 1773, a petition was filed on behalf of James and John Braden to settle the estate of their father. The probate documents list the children of James Breden as Joseph the eldest; Rebecca, married to Abraham Charlesworth; Elizabeth; Margaret married to James Fletcher of Philadelphia, plasterer; James and John.
In June 1774, Joseph Braden purchased land in Bedminster Twp., Bucks Co., Pennsylvania, from Jacob Myers and Henry Adams.
During his time in Bedminster Twp., Joseph was a tavern keeper or innkeeper. On 26 July 1775, Joseph Braden of Bedminster was mentioned in the Pennsylvania Gazette (20:65). David Simpson's watch was stolen at Joseph's tavern. The notice reads: "Stolen from the subscriber, at the tavern of Joseph Braden, on Durham road, in Bedminster, in Bucks county, a SILVER WATCH, with a china face, steel chain, No. 9101, the maker's name Rogers, London; a grey surtout (?), with broad needle wrought buttons, about half worn; a new fine hat; a pair of shoes, half worn, with round yellow metal buckles. The thief is supposed to be a person who calls himself Thomas Boyd, says he came from the Forks of Delaware, a thick well set fellow, about 5 feet 7 or 8 inches high, has black hair, about 25 or 26 years of age; had on a striped cotton jacket, a white coarse shirt and trowsers, with a striped red and white silk handkerchief. Whoever apprehends the said thief, and secures him, so that the owner may get the goods again, and the thief be brought to justice, shall receive Six Pounds reward, and for the goods alone Three Pounds, and reasonable charges, paid by DAVID SIMPSON. July 17, 1775. The thief is supposed to be gone towards Reading or Lancaster."
During August 1775, Joseph is listed as an ensign in the militia for Bedminster Twp.
The following appeared in the Pennsylvania Gazette on 30 August 1775 and mentions Joseph: " Whereas there is a rider proposes to go from Philadelphia to Allen's-town, in Northampton county, once a week, to leave Philadelphia every Wednesday, for the conveyance of news-papers, letters, etc., to go by the way of Germantown, Bussel-town, Four-lane-end, Newtown, Durham, Easton and Bethlehem, all ladies and gentlemen who are pleased, at this alarming crisis, to encourage an undertaking of so great utility, are requested to leave their names with the following gentlemen, viz., Mr. Joseph Vandegrift, at the Cross Keys,Philadelphia; Messieurs Alexander Edwards, and Joseph Addis, Esquires, inn-keepers, at Bussel-town; Messieurs Jacob Comley and James Vansants, Manor of Moreland; William Buckham, Esq., Newtown; Mr. William Bennett, inn-keeper, at Wright's-town;Messieurs William M'Calla and Alexander Robinson, Plumstead; Mr. Joseph Braden, at Bedminster; Mr. James Smith, merchant, at Tinicum; Mr. George Oberbeck, at Noxanixon; George Taylor, Esq., at Durham; Mr. James Clapham at Springfield; Mr.James M'Allister, at Williamton; Messieurs Isaac Stedman and Adam Yoes at Easton; Mr. Jacob Aible, at Greenwich, in Sussex county, New Jersey; Mr. Jacob Lival, between Easton and Bethlehem; Mr. John Francis Oberlin and Mr. Juste Johnston, at Bethlehem; Mr. Peter Rhoads and Mr. Michael Strader, at Allen's-town, shall be thank fully received and punctually obeyed by ladies and gentlemen, your most obedient servant. THE RIDER."
In the will of Elizabeth Bartleson, written 8 April 1783, Elizabeth names her sisters, Phoebe Braden and Mary Fox.
Joseph Braden is shown on the tax lists in Bedminster Twp., Bucks Co., Pennsylvania until 1785. In 1784, however, he starts appearing on the tax lists for Loudoun Co., Virginia. It appears from the tax rolls and from the Bucks Co. deeds, that Joseph and his family sold out and moved to Loudoun Co., Virginia about 1784.
On 8 June 1784, a deed was made in which Joseph sold his land in Bucks Co. to George Piper.
On 27 May 1785, Phoebe Braden waived her right to dower on land her husband, Joseph, sold to George Piper.
On 9 August 1786 George Piper published a notice in the Pennsylvania Gazette regarding a bond from Joseph Braden: "Whereas I, the subscriber, purchased a plantation and tract of land, situated in Bedminster township, Bucks county, of a certain Joseph Braden, who executed a deed to me for the same in the spring of the year 1785; and at the time of the signing said deed the subscriber and William Hart executed a bond to said Joseph Braden, for one hundred pounds in part payment for the aforesaid tract of land, payable the first day of May, in the year 1787, but the subscriber having discovered that before executing the deed for said land, there was entered up and consessed (?) a judgement against the said Joseph Braden, at the suit of Mr. John Johnston, in the Court of Common Pleas for Bucks county, for a sum nearly amounting to what is due to said Braden; these are therefore to forewarn all persons from taking an assignment on said bond, or any specialty due from me to said Braden, as I am determined not to pay the same until said judgement be satisfied, unless compelled by law. July 4, 1786. George Piper."
The Loudoun Co. tax lists show Joseph in the Third Battalion (district) during the years 1787, 1788, 1790 (with William Jamison), 1791 (with Bartlett Fox), 1792 (with Ezra Braden), 1793 (with Ezra Braden), 1794 (with Ezra Braden), 1796 (with Ezra Braden), 1797, 1798 (with Ezra Braden), 1799 (with David Blaker), 1800 (with Bartleson Braden), 1801 (with Bartlett Braden), 1802 (with Bartlett Braden), 1803 (with Bartlett Braden), and 1804.
Sometime before 24 August 1788, daughter Jane, married John Hough in Loudoun Co., Virginia. It was on this date that John Hough was disowned by the Fairfax Monthly Meeting for marrying "out of unity."
According to Order Book Q, 10 Sep 1794 [p. 27], Clendennen, Scatterday & Co. brought suit against Joseph Braden (living near Goose Creek Meeting house). Joseph failed to appear, so the court ruled for the plaintiff with interest from 3 June 1793 and costs. The Goose Creek Meeting House was in Lincoln, Virginia.
The 1804 tax list is the last record we have found for this Joseph Braden. There are two court cases filed in Loudoun Co. in the summer of 1804, that are probably related to this Joseph and for which he failed to appear in court. There is no probate for him in Loudoun, so we believe he and Phoebe moved out of the county, but we have not yet found them.
On 16 May 1831, daughter Jane (Braden) Hough made her will and left an annual $10 legacy to her mother (not named). Jane died before 13 June 1831, when her will was probated. A $10 payment of her legacy to Phoebe Braden is shown in the accounting of the estate filed 11 February 1833.
Phoebe (Bartleson) Braden probably died sometime after the 1833 legacy payment. The date and place of her death is not yet known. The death date and place for her husband, Joseph, is not known.
The 1810 census for Fayette Co., Kentucky lists a Bartleson Braden who could be the son of Joseph and Phoebe. And on the 1820 census for Little York, Harding Co., Kentucky, a Bartleson Braden appears.
So there is a lot more research to do to discover what happened to Joseph and Phoebe and their children. As new information comes to light, I will update this bio.
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