Jane Bracewell, Daughter of the Reverend Robert Bracewell

BRASWELL BRANCHES - Nona Williams - Volume I, Issue 1 - Winter 1991/92

It seems likely that the daughters were older than the sons, because the boys were placed under guardianship and the daughters were all married women in 1667/68 when Robert drafted his will. The order of their births is uncertain, but Jane may be the first born since she was mentioned first in the will. She had married Robert STOKES and they already had children in 1667/68. I've estimated that she was born before 1651. Her first husband, Robert STOKES,was captured during Bacon's Rebellion by Governor BERKELEY and was hanged. His estate was inventoried for sale in October 1677. Boddie states that they were married for more than 10 years (Southside Virginia Families, Vol. 1).


Jane married second to Robert ELEY ca. 1677 (Boddie), but they were only married for about three years. She was married to her third husband, John ROBERTS, by 1680. He died by 4 Oct. 1706 when their son, John ROBERTS of Lower Parish, deeded 400 acres on the western branch of Nansemond to his brother, Thomas ROBERTS. It was part of 1450 acres granted to John ROBERTS, deceased. This land transaction was witnessed by Robert SCOTT, Jr., Elizabeth SCOTT and Robert SCOTT (Boddie).


Jane made a will on 25 June 1711 which was proved 14 Aug.1713. In it she named six children. Robert ELEY received 100 acres which was part of a patent of 1450 acres granted to John and Jane ROBERTS on 20 July 1680. This was land on the lower side of thebranch called Long Branch on the south side of Beaver Dam Swamp. The following each received 100 acres on the west side of Beaver Dam Swamp: Grandson, Robert SCOTT, daughter, Mary PARKER (widow of William PARKER), and granddaughter, Martha SANDERS. Thomas JONES (no relationship mentioned) was bequeathed "the land he now lives on according to the boundaries that he bought of my brother, Richard BRASWELL." Daughter, Rebecca BRINKLEY, received five shillings; and daughter, Jane SCOTT, only 1 shilling. Sons, John and Thomas ROBERTS, were appointed executors.


Jane's daughter, Mary, married William PARKER of Nansemond County. He died before 26 June 1711 when Jane BRASWELL ROBERTS mentioned him in her will as the deceased husband of her daughter, Mary. Mary was in North Carolina by Dec. of 1738 when she deeded her inheritance to Robert ELEY. The record reads, "Mary PARKER, Precinct of North Carolina, deeded Robert ELEY part of a patent to Jane STOKES, widow, Isle of Wight Co., land on Nansemond Indian Creek, 100 acres, July 20,1680, part patented by John ROBERTS and his wife granted by Sir Henry CHICHELEY 1450 acres, and was given to Mary PARKER by Jane ROBERTS, deceased, Aug. 24, 1713, on the west side of Beaver Dam Swamp....down the line to Mr. Edmund GODWIN's,etc...and boundary of former deed made to John ROBERTS and his wife." (Isle of Wight Deed Book 5, p. 310.)


Mary PARKER died in Edgecombe Co., NC; her will was probated in Aug. of 1754. She left all to her grandson, Edmund GODWIN.


Rebecca, daughter of Jane BRASWELL, married an unknown man named BRINKLEY of Nansemond Co. It isn't clear which of Jane's three husbands was the father of Rebecca.


Jane BRASWELL and Robert ELEY had a son named after his father. Robert ELEY, Jr., born ca. 1679, married Martha DAUGHTIE, and died ca. 1707. His will mentioned land he had inherited from his grandfather, Robert ELEY. Robert's wife, Martha, was identified as follows: "Martha ELEY of the Upper Parish of Nansemond appoints her father, James DAUGHTIE, attorney, to surrender her dower rights to Colonel BAKER (DeedBook 2, p. 56).


In his will, Robert ELEY, gave his son, Robert (Robert Eley the fourth) "100 acres on Long Branch, adjoining John ROBERTS to Henry SAUNDERS' line to White Oak in Little Poquoson and down to Main Swamp adjoining John LEAR." His son, James ELEY,received "150 acres along John ROBERTS' line and Long Branch between Jeremiah EXUM and myself." Son, Edward ELEY, was bequeathed 80 acres "lying in what was formerly called Samuel WATSON's to the Main Swamp." Michael ELEY, son, was given the home plantation and daughters, Christian and Mourning ELEYwere to live there until they married. Also mentioned were a son, William ELEY, a daughter Martha WILLIAMS, granddaughter Martha ELEY, son Eley, daughter Rebecca WILLIAMS; and daughter Mourning ELEY. Michael and Robert ELEY were the executors. The will, dated 5 Apr. 1738, was probated 23 July 1739 and witnessed by Joseph WHITE, William DENSON, and George ARMSTRONG.


Robert ELEY, the fourth, (who purchased land on Beaver Dam Swamp from Mary PARKER) married Alice GALE; Martha married an unknown man named WILLIAMS; Rebecca married William WILLIAMS; Edward married Ann LAWRENCE; Ann married 2nd to William JOYNER; and William married Elizabeth DENSON.


Jane ROBERTS, daughter of Jane BRASWELL and John ROBERTS, married Robert SCOTT who died by 24 Aug. 1711. In his will be mentioned his son, Robert SCOTT, a cousin Catherine SCOTT, and wife Jane. He appointed his cousin, William SCOTT,and his brother-in-law, John ROBERTS, executors. The will was witnessed by Thos. GALE and John DENSON.


An unknown daughter of Jane BRASWELL married a Mr. SANDERS. (Jane mentioned a granddaughter, Martha SANDERS,in her will).