Saturday, June 6, 2009

* Edith Braswell & Jeptha Freeman



1781
– August 21 ELIZABETH BRASSELL, widow of VALENTINE BRASWELL, Jr., married WILLIAM LYNN. Wake Co. Marriage Bond #02312. Bondsman: JAMES LYNN. Witness: THOMAS RICE


1784
- May Court VALENTINE BRASWELL, Jr., died intestate leaving EDY and SEDY BRASWELL.


1785 – May, Ordered that the following Justices be apptd to receive the list of taxable property for the present yuear: Capt Ridles Company – ELISHA CAIN. VOLENTINE BRASWELL decd orphans. (Chatham NC Court Minutes)


1787 - EDY and SEDY BRASWELL heirs of VALENTINE BRASWELL, Junr., deceased granted 640 acres on east side of Haw River beginning above mouth of Duck Creek. Appears to be land Valentine Braswell purchased from Hector McNeal on July 23, 1778. (Copy of Grant #795 from Carey Bracewell)


1790 - August 8, Inventory of personal property of VOLLENTINE BRASWELL,Decd. and accounting of money paid from the estate which included “To money pd VOLINTINE BRASSWELL, Sinr a witness in the Suit of WILLIAMS vs the Orphans 40 pounds” and “To traviling twice from Chatham County to the State of Gorgia & all expenses, 26 pounds” (Copy of original received from NC Archives)


1793 – October 18, ANDREW & SEDDY HARTSFIELD of Wake Co., NC to THOMAS STOKES, undivided part of four parcels E of Haw River, mouth of Duck Creek, Shaddocks Creek, Cabbins Creed, RUTHERFORD’s line, ISHAM DANIEL’s line, ANDREW HARTFIELD, JEPTHA FREEMAN, DAVID CAVENAH. Witness: W. Sane, Nilam Short (G:188) (Chatham Co. Stokes Land Deeds Deeds on USGenWeb by Judy Penrod Purcell)


1794 – February, JEPTHA & EDY FREEMAN to THOMAS STOKES 620 acres, ½ the land formerly VALENTINE BRAZELL’s. Witnesses: EDMUND BRANCH, JOSEPH JOHNSON, WM. WINTER (G:213) (Chatham Co. Deeds posted on USGenWeb by Judy Penrod Purcell)


1794 – February 14, To the Justices of Chatham County, the answer of STEPHEN FREEMAN and EDY his wife, ANDREW HARTSFIELD and SEDY his wife, heir of VALENTINE BRASWELL, dec’d. and the answer of THOMAS STOKES, Esqr. To petition of JOSEPH HARMAN of Chatham Co., planter, & ELIZABETH his wife late ELIZ. LINN and formerly ELIZ. BRASWELL widow – (copy of original received from NC State Archives)
NOTE: Valentine’s widow, Elizabeth, married William Lynn on August 24, 1781. He died before August 8, 1790. She then married Joseph Harman.


1800 - US Federal Census: JEPTHA FREEMAN, Hillsborough, Wake, North Carolina


1801 – November 10, EDITH TRUMAN, formerly BRASWELL, SIDEY HARTSFIELD, formerly BRASWELL, co-heirs of VALENTINE BRASWELL, dec’d. to THOMAS STOKES, 640 acres E of Haw River, DAVID CAVENAH, JOHN RAMSEY (L:317) (Chatham Co., NC, Stokes Land Records on USGenWeb by Judy Penrod Purcell)


1810 - US Federal Census Pendleton Co., South Carolina JEPHA FREEMAN


1820 - US Federal Census Pendleton Co., South Carolina JEPTHAH FREEMAN (Next door in 1820 is a Joseph Pitts)


1830 - US Federal Census Habersham Co., GA JEPTHA FREEMAN


Found online:


1839 - January 3, JEPTHA FREEMAN - Wife: EDITH, Extrx. Son: JOHN. Daughters: LYDIA HUNT, THENA ADAMS, ELIZABETH CATLETT. To: EDITH ADAMS, daughter of JAMES W. and THENA ADAMS. Exrs: EZEKIEL CATLETT, EZEKIEL McCRAVEY. Wit: WILLIAM NIX, Jr., WADSWORTH CLOUDY, J. J. NIX, J. B. CLOUDY, ROBERT HOOD. July 13, 1840 (Habersham Co. Ordinary Minutes and Wills, Book 4A p. 175, 1820 1850)


1840 - July 13, proved in Habersham Co., GA. JEPTHA's will gave wife EDITH 2 lots, son JOHN, equal with EDITH; 2 daughters, LYDIA HUNT, THENA (married to James W. Adams), and ELIZABETH CATLETT. Witnesses swore to his signature of "JEPTHA W. FREEMAN". (Minutes of the Court of the Ordinary, (1820-1850) Bk. 4A, D; pg. 175-176;)


1850 - US Federal Census Habersham Co., GA:

Name: EDITH FREEMAN
Age: 74
Estimated Birth Year: abt 1776
Birth Place: North Carolina
Gender: Female
Home in 1850: District 7, Habersham, Georgia
Household Members:
Name Age
E J Adams 21
F M Adams 12
JAS ADAMS 60
E B Catlett 39
EZEKIEL CATLETT 44
EDITH FREEMAN 74
JOHN W FREEMAN 45
Huldah Leyinch 21
J F Murdock 20
Nancy Murdock 20


1857 - White County created from Habersham.


1860 - US Federal Census White Co., GA:


Name: EDITH FREEMAN
Age in 1860: 83
Birth Year: abt 1777
Birthplace: North Carolina
Home in 1860: White, Georgia
Gender: Female
Post Office: Mount Yonah
Household Members:
Name Age
EDITH FREEMAN 83
JOHN FREEMAN 55
Lydia Grindle 21


Edith Braswell is the daughter of a Valentine Braswell Jr & Elizabeth Pitts and the grand daughter of John Pitts. Click on the link below to see his will:

Pitts, John, Chatham Co., NC 1780


Due to the fact that Valentine the 1st left no will, after careful analysis of all available records by expert descendants, Edith's proposed lineage is thusly:

1. Reverend Robert Bracewell & Unknown
2. Richard Bracewell & Sarah
3. Valentine Bracewell & Jane Pope
4. Henry Braswell Sr. & Unknown
5. Valentine Braswell Sr. & Unknown
6. Valentine Braswell Jr. & Elizabeth Pitts
7. Edith Braswell & Jeptha Freeman


Updated June 6, 2009

Documented Corrections Welcome