EDWARD BRANTLEY OF VIRGINIA

The only thing that can be said of Edward Brantley of Virginia is that the vast majority of his and his family’s connections were originally of the vicinity of Bristol, England, as this account shows. There is a fair case to be made for him to have been of the Evesham (Worcestershire) Brantleys, thus, to be a kinsman of the Tandy family of that place. This would perfectly explain his connection to a number of families that formed a very closely connected kinship group, underpinned by joint ventures in the Bristol/Virginia tobacco trade.

It is possible to expand on these notes, taking in the Watson connection, and the very close intertwining of the Harris family herein briefly noted, but, in that most people cling to beliefs as to a lifeboat, such would be an exercise for a small audience.

HENRY TANDY OF VIRGINIA

1. …
2. John Tandy, schoolmaster of the free grammar school, Evesham, 1n 1610.
2. Robert Tandy, burgess of Evesham, in 1618.
2. Henry Tandy, b. ca. 1574, Bretforton, 4 mls east of Evesham.
3. John Tandy, b. 1599 in Bretforton, a tenant of John Watson (d. 1648), whose eldest son, William (br. of Thomas), held it thereafter. John Watson was the son of “William Watson, Gentleman of Bretforton, Worcestershire”; his will dated August 29, 1590. John Watson was enfeoffed in Bretforton in 1595 (Birmingham Arch., MS 3061/Acc 1901-003/167622), suggesting a d.o.b. of ca. 1574.

The family of Watson had a ‘lesser branch’ of yeoman farmers: Recognizance before John Charlett by George Barre, Labourer, Thomas Watson, and Robert Watson Yeomen all of Bratforton for the appearance of the said George Barre at Sessions and for his keeping the peace towards John Lyggon son of Edward Lyggon of Bratforton Yeoman. July 9, 1628. (Worcestershire Arch., 1/1/53/60).

Thomas Watson, younger br. of William, is evidenced here: Knottisford v Bearcroft. (Barcroft). Plaintiffs: Charles Knottisford and others. Defendants: John Bearcroft the elder, esq, John Bearcroft the younger, gent, Thomas Watson the elder, gent, Thomas Watson the younger, gent and others. Subject: property in Feckenham (12 ml fr. Evesham), Worcestershire. (C 5/512/74). Any connecrion between the Barcrofts (Bearcrofts, as they were named) of Chard, Somerset, and the Bearcrofts of Feckenham, Worcestershire is not known, but, if so, the common ancestor may have been Thomas Bearcroft of Mere Place, Worcestershire (fl. 1542), father of John Bearcroft the elder, esq., father of John Bearcroft the younger, gent.

4. John Tandy, arrested at a Quaker meeting at Evesham, Jan. 16, 1660. Will of John Tandy, Sadler of Evesham, Sept. 20, 1673.3. Joseph Tandy, also arrested at same meeting.
3. Robert Tandy.
3. Henry Tandy, bapt. July 18, 1602 in Bretforton, m. Elizabeth Yoxson, on Feb. 10, 1627 in Bretforton, dau. of Eustace Yokson, of Evesham.
4. Henry Tandy, bapt. April 12, 1628, South Littleton (2 mls north of Bretforton}, d. 1691, Rappahannock, Virginia, m. Rebecca …
5. Henry Tandy, m. Priscilla …*, last relict of John Watson, thus, stepfather of Mary Watson, who m. (in 1685) Matthew Tomlin, Jr. (see B. 2, p. 243); br. of Mary (wife of John Turner, Sr., of Isle of Wight), mother of Mary, wife of Edward Harris, son of Thomas Harris, d. 1688. The Will of Sarah Watson (who m. (1) John Luke, (2) Nicholas West (3) John Watson), rec. Aug. 9, 1672, named dau. Katherine Luke, to be placed in the custody of William Yarret (the Quaker) and his wife; if said dau. dies without heirs her estate to William Yarret Jr. and my brother in England, in Solembareth (refering to Bath, 12 mls east of Bristol), Gloucestershire. (per. Barrett). Philip Thomas (creditor of the estate of Nicholas West in 1668; his Will prob. Feb. 9, 1702 (witnessed by Judith Edwards Harris), named children: John, who m. Susan, dau. of John Portis; William, who m. Sarah Hill, dau. of Sylvestra Bennett and (her husband) Col. Nicholas Hill; she being a cousin of Thomas Harris, d. 1672, her husband, a witness to his Will, concerning which Edward Brantley gave security. Inv. of estate of John Watson, Oct. 14, 1673 taken by Richard Sharpe, the probable br.-in-law of Thomas Harris, d. 1688. Judith Edwards Harris was the wife of Thomas Harris, son of Thomas Harris, d. 1672.

*Rappahannock County Court, Oct. 2, 1684. Judgment is granted to Prisilla Watson, Executrix of her deced Husband, John Watson, against the Estate of Jno. Motlin deced, for five hundred pounds of toba and caske due by Bill to be paid with costs of suite als Exec. Rappahannock County Court, August 5, 1685. Judgement is granted between Capt. George Purvis, Plt., and Mr. Henry Tandy as marrying the relict of John Watson, deft., till the sd Capt. Purvis next arrivall into this Colony.

5. Ann Tandy, m. William Holman, son of Nicholas Holman.
6. Tandy Holman, m. a dau. of Basil Wagstaff, Jr. and Mary, dau. of Richard Albritton and Mary, dau. of Thomas Wooten.
7. Mary Holman, m. Charles Rice, of New Kent, d. Nov. 22, 1785, in Goochland Co., son of of Edward Rice, son of Thomas Rice, of Bristol. “Thomas came to America aboard the Bristol Merchant in 1679/80, assigned as an apprentice to John Stephens”. He was transported by one George Alves/Alvis who was granted “1014 acs. New Kent Co. in St. Peters Par: on both sides of Totpotomous Cr. April 24, 1700, “for the transport of 21 persons”, including Thomas Rice. He is first found in records when the baptism of his son James was recorded April 4, 1686 in the records of St. Peter’s Parish, April 29, 1693, a patent from Sir Edmond Andros, Kt., “to Thomas Rice for land lying in Kingston Parish, in Gloucester county, said land being due unto said Thomas Rice by and for the importation of one person into this colony”. Tho. Rice is listed on the Virginia Quit Rent Rolls of 1704, in New Kent County, with 300 acres.

3. Ann Tandy, m. John Brantly: Boswood v Horne. Plaintiffs: John Boswood. Defendants: John Horne, Elizabeth Horne his wife, Robert Francklyn,* John Brantly and Edward Field. Subject: personal estate of the deceased Robert Tandy, of Worcestershire. 1657. (N.A., C 6/137/7). Will of Robert Tandy, Glover of Evesham, Worcestershire, PROB 11/263/499, April 29, 1657. Ann (Tandy) Brantley was arrested at a Quaker meeting at Evesham, Jan. 20, 1660, with a Robert Tandy. *He m. Ann Brantley, John Brantley’s sister, March 19, 1632, in Offenham, 2 mls fr. Evesham.

BRANTLEY

1. William Brantley, bailiff of Evesham.
1.1. Thomas Brantley, m. Christian Burley, in 1587; perhaps of the family of Bristol merchants. A Francis Burly was the headright of Robert Pitt, in IOW, in 1638.
1.1.1. Edward Brantley, d. inf.
1.1.2. John Brantley, m. Ann Tandy.
1.1.3. Robert Brantley.
1.2. Robert Brantley, m. Joan Goodrich, Oct. 16, 1589, in St. Mary, Cheltenham, 15 mls fr. Evesham. Robert Brantley had evidently m. into the Goodrich family of Ham, a parcel of the manor of Cheltenham, and was granted to Robert Goodrich by 1574. Cheltenham. Court baron, William Norwood, farmer of the king, held there in January 1609 a suit of court by John Stubbs, deputy to Henry Norwood Esq., chief steward. Manorial records for 1610 mention Michael Goodriche and Edmund Gooderich; and, on Sept. 8, 1610, before Henry Norwood, a record was made if the death of “Elianor Gooderich relict of Walter Gooderich late tenant in base tenure of 2 messuages with appurtenances lying in Ham in Charlton Kings has died since the last court”.
1.2.1. Edward Brantley. Tickeridge v Staples. Plaintiffs: Thomas Tickeridge, younger son of Thomas Tickeridge, son and executor of Nicholas Tickeridge, gent. Defendants: Alexander Staples, gent, William Byddell, yeoman, William Byddell, his son, and Robert Brantly, yeoman, Edward Brantly, his son, and Edward Bickerson, his servant. Subject: Forcible entry and damage at Evesham by colour of a sham Chancery injunction. 1607. (STAC 8/283/22).
1.2.1.1. Edward Brantley. (Cousin of Henry Tandy, of Rappahannock; hence connections to the Harris family). It was almost invariably the case that people married within their kinship group, which leaves a large space of conjecture as to Edward Brantley’s wife.

(1. William Norwood.
1.1. Henry Norwood.
1.2. Richard Norwood.
1.2.1. William Norwood.
1.2.1.1. Richard Norwood – appraisal by Edward Brantley, Oct. 25, 1731).

KINSHIP GROUP

1. …
1.1. George Moore, of Bristol, b. 1632, m. Jane Barcroft, dau. of Charles Barcroft (Bearcroft), whose family held land in Chard, Somerset.
1.1.1. Ann Moore, m. Thomas White. Their estate was appraised between March 22, 1741 and July 26, 1742 by Thomas Day, John Goodrich Jr., and Edward Brantley. (Chapman, Wills, p. 142). John Goodrich Jr’s estate was appraised by Robert Kae, of Bristol, who also witnessed the Will of George Bechinoe, of Bristol (son of Edward Bechinoe (d. June 9, 1679), who appraised the estate of Edward Harris, d. 1677). George Moore administered the estate of George Bechinoe, in 1700. George Bechinoe’s sister Anne Bechinoe, d. 1712, m. (1) Robert Kæ, (2) John Goodrich Jr.
1.1.1.1. Avis White, m. John Harris, son of Robert Harris, son of Thomas Harris, d. 1688.
1.1.2. Eleanor Moore, m. Richard Piland, the son of James Piland, bapt. on Aug. 30, 1604, in St Mary’s Le Porte, Bristol, headright of Francis England, in 1642.
1.2.2.1. James Piland witnessed the will of Robert Lancaster, on April 28, 1720, and appraised the estate of John Brantley, on April 26, 1725.
1.2.2.1.1. James Piland, m. Elizabeth Brantley, dau. of Phillip Brantley (son of Edward Brantley Sr.) and Joyce Lewis; dau. of Rebecca George (dau. of John) and Thomas Lewis. John and Nicholas George of Virginia were very probably of the Georges of Portbury, Somerset, a junior line of those of Wraxall. Nicholas George was the probable father-in-law of Thomas Harris, d. 1672, whose estate was appraised by Edward Brantley Sr.
1.2. Katherine Moore, m. (1) …
1.2.1. Joyce …, m. (1) Francis England, (2) George Cripps.
1.3. Thomas Moore. June 21, 1665. Samuel Elbridge, merchant of Bristol. Dying intestate, adm. requested by Thomas Moore who m. the relict. Security: George Moore (br. of Thomas) and (Edward) Brantlie, p. 10. Samuel Elbridge was a partner of Robert Flake Sr., the second husband of Katherine Moore, aforsaid, by whom he had issue: (1) Mary Flake, who m. bef. Oct. 25, 1670, John Clarke, who had m. (May 7, 1666) Katherine Gwaltney (having issue: Katherine Clarke, who m. Henry King). (2) Katherine Flake, wife of William Evans (1689), Thomas Pierce (1691).

Boddie, p. 606: Robert Flake, aged 70, said that Wm. Evans on his death bed said that Mr. James Benn* should have a deed of 400 ac. out of his 500 acres on Kinsale as Mr. Benn has paid for it. 10 Aug 1692. Katherine Pierce, exrs of Wm. Evans, aged 25, said that her former husband Wm. Evans said that 400 ac. belonged to James Benn. Thomas Moore said that he wrote Wm. Evan’s will and that he gave his remaining land at Kinsale to his son Thomas Evans. Thomas Pierce and Katherine, his wife, deed the said 400 ac. to James Benn. John Giles, James Tullaugh, Hen. Applewhaite, Jas. Day. On Aug. 20, 1650, Robert Blake and Samuel Eldridge patented 560 ac.; the former being the likely br.-in-law of Thomas Harris, d. 1672 (who m. Judith Blake, November 20, 1623, in Wivelscombe), the second-cousin of Anne Bennett, b. 1641, who m. (1) Theodorick Bland of Westover; their son, Theodorick Bland (born 1663) m. Margaret Mann, probably a dau. of Thomas Mann, who, with his wife, Elizabeth, sold 150 ac. on Blackwater to Theophilus Joyner, adjoining property owned by William Mayo (his brother-in-law), and Bridgeman Joyner. (B. 1., p. 603). Thomas Man of Isle of Wight sells to Henry Hearne of Nansemond 100 ac. on Corowaugh Swamp adj. James Johnson. Wit., James Bryan, Bridgeman Joyner, and *James Benn. Thomas Harris, Will recorded Oct. 9, 1688: “Son William to live with Bridgman Joyner”. (B.2, p.286)

March 13, 1654, Samuel Eldridge to Humphrey Clark, 280 ac. on Blackwater pat. by Eldridge and Robert Flake. Wit. Peter Bedford, Thomas Walter, p. 524.
Sept. 2, 1665, Henry King exchanged 100 ac. with Frances England. Wit. Robert Flake, Thomas Woodward (the Tandy connection).
June 4, 1666, Robert Flake gives to his son-in-law, John Proctor, son to Ambrose Proctor Sr. Wit. Henry King, p. 544.
June 1669, Robert Flake gives his stepdaughter, Sussannah Atkinson, 300 ac. on Blackwater, p. 558. Sussannah m. Thomas Atkinson, br. of John Atkinson. husband of Ann Holman, dau. of Christopher Holman, and sister of William Holman, husband of Ann Tandy, great-niece of her namesake, wife of John Brantley, cousin of Edward Brantley, likely father of Edward Brantley Sr., of Virginia.
April 9, 1671, Robert Flake appt atty to collect debts due Wm. Bressie, of Bristol.
April 14,1672, John Harper of Bristol linen draper appts Robert Flake his atty to collect from Morris Rose for a certain mill near Ward’s Creek in Martin Brandon.
Aug. 7 1672, John Seward of Bristol merchant (son of John Seward, whose headright was Edward Branley), sells to William Bressie of VA merchant, now of Bristol, some land in Va, appointing Robert Flake as atty.

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