Reuben & Orren Braswell

In a letter to Alice of February 13, 1908, William A. Evans stated:

"....Our grandfather was born in Culpepper County, Virginia. His mother was a Culpepper. I have heard they were quite a noted family and that the county took its name from that family

My grandfather's brothers were Abraham, who died in Nash County, Isaac also lived there and their children drifted into South Carolina, Georgia and Mississippi.

George Evans went to the Northwest and his family got over into Iowa.

My grandmother was Martha Maning. She was the mother of seven children, four girls and three boys. I will give them in the order of their ages. Phereda married Oran Braswell. Mourning married Amos Rose, next was Willoughby who died when about twnety years old. Appy who married Reubin Braswell, and Martha who married James Jackson. All of whom are dead.

My father Wm. Patrick Evans, a genial warm hearted, frolicksome Irishman he was, for we are of Irish descent. Then Uncle Alexander Evans. I never met him but once. Our great-grandfather was named John Evans. He in his day and time was a man of considerable means, and property, a man of some note. Our grandfather (Sherrod) Evans did not like the men whom the three oldest girls married. The Braswells were the sons of an old Tory - a sin Grandfather never forgave . They were drunkards too. So was Mr. Rose. Grandfather said in speaking of them, "If Hell was raked and scraped with a fine tooth comb there as trifling scamps could not be found." I think he might have included Jim Jackson. The two Harris's - Peyton and Jefferson were the only men (your father and Uncle) were the only sons 'in' law that he had that was any account. Reubin Braswell was honest and would work and trade, and accumulated property - become prosperous - he would then get off on a spree and swuander it all. I am proud of my Harris kin, but have a poor opinion of the Braswell descent. I have now given you about as much of the history of the family as I know.

Write me often, I love you and love to get your letters."

Source


Nov Court 1821
Sherrod Evans and Huldy Vaughan, bond with Orren Braswell, sec.

Source

James, Clay & Claude Braswell, Cookeville, Tennessee

1898 - April 7, A BLOODY DEED -- Giles Bradford, Jr., Killed at Ai, Last Sunday. -- James Braswell and Sons, Clay and Claude, Arrested. -- They Will Be Given a Preliminary Hearing Next Saturday at this Place -- Considerable Difficulty was Encountered in Getting at the Exact Facts -- Giles Bradford, Jr., was shot and stabbed to death at Ai last Sunday, by, report says, Clay and Claude Braswell. We learn that a difficulty arose between William Bradford (a nephew of the deceased) and Clay Braswell, when the deceased interferred to separate them. About this time a general fight ensued, several being mixed up in it. In the meantime, Giles Bradford was badly cut in the side and a stab in the back to the hollow, and shot through both lungs, from the effect of which he died in about four minutes. The jury of inquest reported as we are informed, that the deceased came to his death from a pistol shot fired by Claude Braswell, and bruises with brass knucks on the hand of James Braswell. Warrants for the arrest of Clay, Claude, and James Braswell were sworn out and placed in the hands of the Sheriff, who immediately went to the scene of the trouble and arrested James and Clay Braswell, but failed to find Claude. Clay was lodged in jail to await an examination, while James Braswell was out in charge of the Sheriff. We failed to find the report of the jury of inquest after search in the Clerk's office. The case was set for trial at the court house in Cookeville on last Tuesda, at which time Claude Braswell voluntarily came in and surrendered to the Sheriff. On application of the State the case was continued until next Saturday. James Braswell was allowed to give bond in the sum of $2000, but Clay and Claude were sent to jail. [Vol. XI, No. 25, Page 1]


1903 - November 18, Lewis Robinson was shot by Clay Braswell at Baxter Sunday evening about 5 o'clock, and died in a few minutes. According to reports the two men had a difficulty, in which Braswell was cut with a knife by Robinson, who followed Braswell home and attempted to renew the affair, with the above result. A shotgun loaded with small shot was the weapon used. [Vol. I, No. 41, Page 6]


THE COOKEVILLE PRESS

James Braswell, Smith Co., TN 1869-1872

SMITH COUNTY COURT RECORDS


6 Aug 1869

State of TN vs. James BRASWELL} Gaming

Grand Jury entered an indictment against the defendants for gaming. Court ordered that a capias be issued for each defendant.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

31 Mar 1870

State of TN vs. James BRASWELL} Gaming
Defendant was arrested for gaming. The Attorney General entered a writ of nolle prosequi on the condition that defendant pay the cost of this suit.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

31 Jul 1871

State of TN vs. D. C. PATTON} Attempting to Produce Abortion
Defendant was arrested for attempting to produce an abortion and released, pending trial, on a two hundred and fifty dollar bond posted by S. W. SWAN and James R. BRASWELL.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

5 Aug 1871

State of TN vs. James BRASWELL} Gaming
Grand Jury entered indictments against the defendants for gaming. Court ordered that a capias be issued for each defendant.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

30 Nov 1871

State of TN vs. J. H. SMITH} Gaming
Defendant was arrested for gaming and was released, pending trial, on a Two Hundred and Fifty Dollar bond posted by James BRASWELL and Thomas BALLENGER.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

30 Nov 1871

State of TN vs. J. H. SMITH} Gaming
State of TN vs. J. H. SMITH} Carrying a Pistol
Defendant was arrested on two counts of gaming and one count of carrying a pistol and was released, pending trial, on a Two Hundred and Fifty Dollar bond for each count. Bonds posted by James BRASWELL and Thomas BALLENGER.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

28 Mar 1871

State of TN vs. D. C. PATTON} Attempt to Produce Abortion
Defendant was arrested for an attempt to produce abortion. The Attorney General entered a writ of nolle prosequi on condition that the defendant pay One Half of the State's costs and all of his own costs. Bonds for One Half of the State's costs and all of the defendant's costs were posted by Silas GENTRY and James R. BRASWELL.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

29 Mar 1872

State of TN vs. James BRASWELL} Gaming
Defendant was arrested for gaming on Presentment No. 32. The Attorney General entered a writ of nolle prosequi on condition that the defendant pay the costs of this suit.

Divorce Records

DIVORCE of ROBIN BRASWELL & CALLEY POWELL NASH Co. NC

Legislative Papers 1798 North Carolina Archives, Raleigh, L.P. 157.

Included in this file but not copied: (1) 2nd copy of the petition, undated; (2) A bill to carry into effect the petition of Robin BRASWELL of Nash County, North Carolina by granting him a divorce from his wife Calley; and (3) Report of the Commission of Depositions & Grievances on the bill & petition.)

State of North Carolina
to the Honorable the General Assembly now sitting at Raleigh--

The Petition of Robin BRASSWELL Humbly sheweth that about thirteen years ago he intermarried with a certain Calley POWELL, and lived with her near fiyears, when the said Calley (for She does not deserve the name of wife) was brought to Bed of a Black child. In some few months after this she took herself off and stayed near eight years. During which time She has had three more Children of the Same Class, and has now returned home with her youngest Child, which your Petioner Humbly conceives to be a very unnecessary, and at the Same time an uncumfortable expence.--

And furthermore your Petitioner begs leave to observe that there is no tie
of friendship existing betwixt him and his said wife Calley, more than that of Matrimony in the first Instance She having had white Children; but none are now living-- And to the end, that your Petitioner may be relieved from the Vast load of inconveniences he humbly hopes that your Honble Body will take the hardship of his case, under your most Serious Consideration and pass a Law to Divorse him from the said wife Calley. And your petitioner as in Duty bound will ever pray &c--

Robin BRASSWELL
2nd December 1797

We certify that the facts as Stated in this Petition are Just & true to the best of our knowledge

John DRAKE Edmond BRIDGERS
James DRAKE Matthew GRIFFIN
Benjamin BOON Isom TATES (?) DRAKE
Wm BARKER William DRAKE Junr
Elias BOON James BATTLE
William POWELL John PARKER
Brittain DRAKE Jesse POWEL
John WILLIAMS William POWEL
Britain BRASSWELL
David EVINS
Demsey BRASWELL
Benja WHITFELD
William ARRINGTON

PUBLICATION
Whereas it is my intention to Petition the next general Assembly to be Divorced from my wife Calley, And to end that the matter may come fairly before that Honble Body, I hereby request att those whom it may concern & my said wife Calley in particular, to attend in consequence hereof. Given under my hand the 7th Octo. 1792 Robin BRASSWELL

Nash Courthouse
This may certify that Archd HUNTER Came before me & maid oath that some time in the month of Octr last he the said HUNTER saw Robin BRASSWEL Set up an advertisement in the same.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Divorce: Sarah BRASWELL of Nash Co., NC ; husband John 1809

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

* Benjamin Braswell Nash Co., NC 1827

In the name of God Amen I BENJAMIN BRASWELL of the County of Nash and State of North Carolina being in A low state of helth but blesed be God of perfect sound mind and memory Calling to mind the mortality of the body and knoing that it is appointed for all men to die do this 23thd day twenty third day of January in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and twenty Seven make publish and declare this my last will and testament in manner and form following to wit –

First Item { I lend to my beloved wife CLOY BRASWELL during her natural life the following Property towit one tract of land ling on the south side of tarriver Containing one hundred & eighty acres be the same more or less all within the bounds it being a tract of land that I purchased of WILLIAM BRASWELL adjoining the lands of SIMON WILLIAMS ALSTONs and others – Allso two negros by the name of BRISTER and AMKEY two horses of her own Choice fore Cows and Calves two feather beds and furniture all the hogs on the south side of the River belong to the said tract of land – Six head of Sheep of her choice a suffishant quanity of working tools to carry on her farm Allso one years Provision for her self and family & stock to be Judge of by my Exeters all of my setting chars two tables one chest & her riding saddle and a suffishant quanity of kitchen furniture for her are to be judge of my Exeters.

2nd Item { I give and bequeath to my beloved daughter MARY ROSS the following Property to wit five dollars in money to be paid her by my Exeters – to her and her heirs for ever.

3rd Item { I give to my beloved son OWEN D. BRASWELL five dollars to be paid him in money by my Exeters to him and his heirs forever.

4th Item { I give and bequeath to my beloved daughter MILLY MELTON five dollars to be Paid her in money by my Exeters to her and her heirs forever

5th Item { I give and bequeath to my beloved daughter BETSY FREEMAN five dollars to be Paid her by my Exeters in money to her and her heirs forever

6th Item } I give and bequeath to my beloved son WILLIAM BRASWELL five dollars to be Paid him likewise allso I lend to my said son WILLIAM BRASWELL A Certain tract or Parcel of land lying on the east side of turkey Creek cald the Passmore tract containing three hundred and seventy six acres & ½ be the same more or less all within the bounds the said WILLIAM is to have the use of said land untill his son NORFLET arives to the age of twenty-one then I gave the said land unto my said Grand Child NORFLET BRASWELL to him and his heirs forever.

7th Item } I give and bequeath unto my beloved son RUBEN BRASWELL the sum of five dollars to be Paid him in money by my Exeters to him and his heirs forever.

8th Item } I give and bequeath to my beloved daughter ELIZBETH THANEY STONE the sum of five dollars to be Paid her likewise to her and her heirs forever.

9th Item } I give and bequeath to my beloved daughter SUSAN LINCH BRASWELL & daughter ROEANEY & son DAWSON BRASWELL the valuation of the home tract of land containing eight hundred and eighty six acres more or less. My will is that the Said tract of land be leased or rented untill DAWSON arrives of lawfull age then the said tract of land to be sold on A Creadit of three years & when sold SUSAN & ROANEY draws the valuation of five hundred acres & DAWSON the balance of what the land is sold for the same way in the Renting or leasing my will is that when the land is sold that each one takes his own bond for the money arising from such sale.

Item} I give and bequeath unto my beloved daughter SUSAN LINCH BRASWELL one negro girl name SINDY one horse her Bridle & sadle one good feather bed and furniture three cows and Calves six head of Sheep

Item } I give and bequeath unto my belovd daughter ROEANEY BRASWELL one negro boy named SAM one horse her Bridle and Saddle one good feather bed and furniture three Cows and Calves Six head of Sheep

Item } I give and bequeath unto my beloved Son DAWSON BRASWELL two negros named ANDREW & POLDO his horse Bridle and Saddle one feather bed and furniture three Cows and Calves Six head of Sheep, My will and desire that if SUSAN ROEANEY or DAWSON should die not leaving a lawful begotten heir of their bodde living the property which I have
wild to them to decend to the surviving ones of three

Item } My will and desire is that all the Property or Parshneth of every description whatever real or personal that I have not disposed of in this will I leave to be sold by my Exetors on a twelve months Creadit and the money arising from such sale I dispose in the following manner viz to be equally divided among the whole of my Children ELIZABETH THANEY STONE Excepted her Part must Continue in the hands of DAWSON BRASWELL to be laid out for her support as she stands in need.

Item } the Property which I lent to my beloved wife the term of her life I dispose of in the following maner viz the whole to be sold at her death on A twelve Months Creadit and the money arising from such sale to be equally divided among all of my Children. ELIZABETH THANEY STONE Part Reserved as above named.

I do hereby appoint my worthy friends GIDEON BASS & ISAAC BASS Executers to this my last Will and testament Revoking all other wills here tofore by me maid ratifying and confirming this to be My last will and testament Signed Sealed and acknowledge in presance of us – Enter lined before assignd this the day and date above written

Test ---------- JP

THOMAS BRYANT )

SIMON WILLIAMS ) Jurat (signed) BENJAMIN BRASSEL (Seal)

State of North Carolina

Nash County Court Feby Term 1824

The foregoing last Will & Testament of BENJAMIN BRASWELL was duly proven in Open Court by the Oaths of THOMAS BRYANT, SIMON WILLIAMS Subscribing Witness thereto & on Motion ordered to be Recorded
Attest H. BLOUNT C.C.C.

And is Recorded H. BLOUNT (Seal) C.C.C.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

23 Jan 1827 - Feb Ct. 1827 BENJAMIN BRASWELL Wife CHLOE 180 A south side Tar R., purchased of WILLIAM BRASWELL, adjoining SIMON WILLIAMS. Sons: ORREN D. (ORRENDATUS); WILLIAM - land to hold until his son NORFLEET BRASWELL comes of age; REUBEN; DAWSON. Daughters: MARY BASS; BETSEY FREEMAN; MILLY MELTON; ELIZABETH THANEY STONE; SUSAN LINCH BRASWELL; ROEANY BRASWELL. 886 A. to DAWSON, SUSAN and ROEANY, to be rented until they come of age. Ex: GIDEON BASS, ISAAC BASS. Wit: THOMAS BRYANT, SIMON WILLIAMS. (Abstracts of WB I Nash Co., NC 1778-1868 by Ruth Smith Williams and Margarette Glenn Griffin)


Pg. 160 Benjamin BRASWELL inventory of money on hand and notes by Gideon BASS, exr., May 14, 1827. Sale held March 5, 1827 with Cloa BRASWELL, William BRASWELL, Roeny BRASWELL, and Susan BRASWELL buyers. Feb. Term 1829. Account current with Gideon BASS and Isaac BASS. According to the will, they paid accounts to William BRASWELL, Bolen MELTON, William BASS, Elizabeth FREEMAN, E. Thomas STAVES (?), and Reuben BRASWELL, May Term 1829. (Abstracts of Early Records of Nash Co., NC 1777-1859 by Joseph W. Watson 1975)

Pg. 160 Chloe BRASWELL inventory and sale by Bolen MELTON, admr., Dec. 6, 1843. William BRASWELL and Roeny BRASWELL mentioned. Account current, Aug. Term 1845. (Abstracts of Early Records of Nash Co., NC 1777-1859 by Joseph W. Watson 1975)

Pg. 307 Dawson BRASWELL. Bond 1828 by Simon WILLIAMS, gdn. (Abstracts of Early Records of Nash Co., NC 1777-1859 by Joseph W. Watson 1975)

Benjamin is the grandson of John & Alice through their son William who was in the care of Richard Williams in 1744 at the age of 14.

Updated with a copy of entire will July 22, 2009