Richard Branch

Notes:

Richard Branch was a master woolen draper. He was the grandson of John Branch, the Master Carpenter who may have designed the Hammer Beam ceiling of the chapel of All Soul's College at Oxford University. The following is from The Abingdon Archaelogical and Historical Society:

"Their grandson Richard (about 1503−1544), who prospered as a woollen draper, was a master of the Guild. At the time of Amyce’s survey in 1554, Richard’s widow Elizabeth (about 1507−1556) was living in the Bury near the end of Lombard Street and deriving income from three adjoining properties in East St Helen Street, two of which, the present Nos. 55 and 51, still exist."

Source: Abingdon Archaelogical and Historical Society, "The Braunche Family", http://www.abingdon.gov.uk/history/people/braunche-family

Richard Braunch
Gender: Male
Birth: circa 1500 Abingdon, Oxfordshire, England
Death: 11 Sep 1544 (40-48) Abingdon, Oxfordshire, England
Burial: 16 Sep 1544 center Jesus aisle, St. Helen's Church, Abingdon, Oxfordshire, England
Immediate Family:
Son of John Braunche, III and Margaret Braunche
Husband of Elizabeth Braunche; Margaret Braunche and Juliana Braunch
Father of William Braunche, Sr.; Thomas Branch; Amy Branch; John Branch; Mary Branch/Braunche
Brother of Thomas Braunche and William Braunche

Will of Richard Branch:
In the name off god Amen the 27 daye of August yn the yere off our lorde god 1544 and in the yere of our soveren and most drade lorde Henry the viij by the grace of god of England fraunce & Irelande kinge of the faithe defensor and in the erthe next under god of the church of England & Ireland supreme hede the xxxvjy Richarde Branche of Abendon in the dyocese of Sarum wollen draper being hole of mynde and perfyt of memorye (thankes be unto Jhesu) never the lesse sycke in bodye do ordeyne and make this to be my last will and testament as hereafter foloweth that is to saye I bequethe my solle unto almighty god my only Saviour and redemer desirynge my soll to be assosiat and in cumpenye withe the virgyn marye and all thelect people of god and my bodye to be buryede in Saynct Elens churche of Abendon in Saynct Kateryns yle nyghe unto the bodyes of my late wyves Julyan and Margrett.
Item y bequeth unto the highe awlter in Saynct Elens Churche ijs to be prayed for.
Item y bequeth unto Thomas Branche my eldest sonne a federbed a bolster a coverynge with a myter upon it and a peyre off scheetes and xs [ten shillings] in moneye.
Item y bequethe unto my sonne William Branche my gowne that hadde off Mastre Wodwarde and xs in moneye.
Item y bequethe unto Thomas Branche my yongest sonne xxs in moneye.
Item y bequethe unto my sunne John Branche a black gown lyned with saynct Thomas wolsted and xs in moneye.
Item y bequethe unto Mergerye my dowghter a gyrdell with a dymycent of sylver and gyelt a sylverne spone withall her graunfathers bequest unto her a great brasse pott a platter a pottenger and a sawcer of the new fassyon a bell candlestycke & xxs in moneye.
Item y bequethe unto Maryon my dowghter a great brasse potte a brasse pan a peyre of Jett bedis with sylver gandes a sylverne spone besydes the spone that Wodwarde gave unto her a platter a potenger a sawcer of the new facyon a bell candlestycke & xxs in moneye.
And yff it shall cum to passe by godes provysyon that anye off my fore named chyldern shall departe this transitorye lyeff before they cum unto yeris of dyscretion then y will that his or their partes of the bequestes above mentioned so discessed shalbe indifferently distrybuted amongst my chyldern that then shalbe on lyve.
Item the residew of all mye goodes unbequethed (my detes payed my funeralls dishcarged and my legaces fulfylled) I geve and bequethe unto Elysabeth Braunche my wyffe she to pay all the dettes that ye owe and to receve all such dettes as be owinge unto me whom also y make my full and sole executrice she to cause my soll to be prayed for as god shall put her in mynd.
Item y do make Humffrey Bostocke and Thomas Erle the overseers of this my last will and testament to be performed in whome y putt my full trust above all other mortall men to se unto the gydynge of my wyffe and my childern untyll the tyme that god provyde for them unto whome also y do geve for the paynes takynge vjs viijd equallye betwyxt them to be devydyd.
Witnesses hereunto Sir William Druet brotherhed preist Richard Mayot Humffreye Bostocke and Thomas Erle with other moe."

John Braunch's second son, Richard, born before 1521, had two early marriages, Juliana and Margaret by neither of whom did he have children and both of them must have died early. In 1523 he married Elizabeth Beauforest, daughter of Thomas Beauforest of Cornwall and Margaret Bassett. Elizabeth was born about 1506/07 in Abdingdon, Berkshire Co., England, died 20 June 1556 and on the same day was buried in St. Helen's Church. Children of Richard and Elizabeth follow:
(1) Thomas (of London) b. about 1529 m. Elizabeth North No issue. Will proved 20 Oct.,1565 in Perogative Ct., of Canterbury
(2) William of Abdingdon b. After 1524 in Abdingdon Married Katherine Jennings, date unknown and d. Feb., 1601/02. Was buried in St Helen's Church & Feb 1601/02. Katherine b. About 1524, d. 25 Aug., 1587,and buried 25 Aug., 1587 in St. Helen's Church
(3) John (of Kent)
(4) Margery b. 1539 d, 1545/46 Buried 16 Mar., 1545/46
(5) Marion b. about 1541 d. March 1545/46
(6) Amy d. May have died before Sept 1544 as she is not in her father's will
(7) Thomas, fourth son d. 1545/46

Richard was a Woolen draper like his father before him; and was associated to Fraternity of the Holy Cross, Master of Fraternity. He was married three times with no children by his first two wives. All his children were by his third wife, Elizabeth Beauforest of Dorchester, dau. of Thomas Beauforest, of Dorchester, Oxfordshire, and Margaret Bassett, and by her had seven possibly eight children. He was of greater prominence in the town's affairs than his father or grandfather before him; but was to be surpassed in prominence and importance by his second son William in due time. Continuing his family's connection with the Fraternity of the Holy Cross, Richard became one of the Masters of the Fraternity and so remained to his death in 1544. Another pointer to Richard's position is afforded by the Grant on October 17, 1537 to Richard, Gilbert Freman, and John Marlow of the right of next presentation to the parish church of Marcham near Abingdon by Thomas Pentecost, last Abbot of Abingdon. The living had not fallen vacant by the time the Abbey was suppressed in 1538 and the three grantees appeared before the newly-formed Court of Augmentations, created by Henry VIII to control and dispose of the vast wealth of monastic lands fallen into royal hands after the Dissolution, in defence of their valuable privilege. On November 26, 1538, the Chancellor and Council of the Court confirmed the three men in the enjoyment of their privilege, which they doubtless soon exercised although no record of this has been found.

Richard's widow, Elizabeth, survived him by twelve years, being buried near her husband on June 20, 1556, in St. Helen's church. In October 1554, a detailed survey of all houses and land in Abingdon was made which shows that he left his estate to his widow. Richard bequeathed to Elizabeth three houses lying side by side on the west side of East St. Helen's Street. She lived in a house in the street called The Bury, the modern High Street, which she rented from James Braybrooke, and in which she probably died.

Family/Spouse: Elizabeth Beauforest. Elizabeth was born in 1507 in Dorchester, Oxfordshire, England; died on 20 Jun 1556 in Abingdon, Berkshire, England. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Family/Spouse: Katherine Barbara Jennings, (Magna Charta line). Katherine (daughter of Sir William Jennnings and Joan Bostock) was born in 1524 in Abingdon, Berkshire, England; died on 25 Aug 1597 in Abingdon, Berkshire, England. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Other Events and Attributes:

• Residence: 1585, Oxford, Oxfordshire, England

Notes:

Lionel Branch

Birth: Aug. 18, 1556
Berkshire, England
Death: 1605 London Greater London, England

Lionel Branch was born at Abingdon-on-Thames in Berkshire which claims to be Britain's oldest continuously occupied town, with people having lived there for at least 6,000 years. He was the third son of William and Catherine (Jennings) Branch. On 02 Jul 1585, he matriculated Magdalen College of Oxford University as a commoner, and graduated 11 Feb 1590.

Lionel Branch and his wife, Valentina Sparke, were married 08 July 1596 at St. Martin, Ludgate, in the city of London ("Leonell Branch of London gent. and Valentia Sparke of St. Martin Ludgate said city, spinster, daughter of "____ " Sparke late of said city, draper, deceased, gen. lic., 7 Jul 1596."). Their only child was Christopher Branch (b. Abt. 1602 Greater London, Middlesex, England, d. 1680 Henrico VA). Valentina Sparke was born circa 1575 in London, Middlesex, England and died circa 1610 of unspecified causes.

After his marriage, he and his wife returned to Abingdon and all trace of him was lost. He died intestate.

From all accounts, Lionel was the "black sheep" of the family. Called "my unthrifty and disobedient son" in his father's (William Branch) will and bequeathed merely "my black gown". Obviously, no love was lost between Lionel and his older brother, Thomas, either. Thus when Thomas made his will in 1603 he bequeathed nothing to Lionel and willed the valuable Bull Inn property of Abingdon to his brother-in-law, Robert Payne. William Branch, the younger brother of Lionel still at Oxford, felt that the natural male heirs of William Branch should inherit the Bull Inn and accordingly brought suit to upset the will, the cause being decided in favor of Robert Payne in February of 1603-4.

Christopher Branch, the only son of Lionel Branch, returned briefly from his home in Henrico, Co., VA to Abingdon in 1632 with the same goal of having the ownership of the Bull Inn of Abingdon invalidated by a court suit. He was also unsuccessful.

LIONEL BRANCH (WILLIAM4, RICHARD3, JOHN2, JOHN1) was born 18 August 1566 in St. Helens Church Abington, Berkshire, England1, and died 1605 in London, England. He married VALENTIA SPARK/E/S 08 July 1596 in Ludgate, London, England2, daughter of LUDGATE SPARKS. She was born Abt. 1576, and died in England.

Notes for LIONEL BRANCH:
Lionel Branch was born in 1566 in London and died 1605 in England. He married Valentia Sparkes July 7, 1596 in St. Martins, Ludgate, London, England.

Lionel Branch was baptized at St. Helen Church on August 18, 1566. That he was something of a black sheep or, more charitable, a prodigal son, is evident from the terms of his father's will, in which he is castigated as "my unthrifty and disobedient sonne," to whom only a black gown and his father's best cloak was left.

Lionel entered Magdalen College, Oxford, in 1585, as a commoner, matriculating on July 2 in that year, proceeded to his B.A. on February 11, 1590/1, and was a demy of Magdalen between 1585 and 1593, after which he must have gone to London. Lionel must have prospered, for on July 8, 1596, at St Martin, Ludgate, in the City of London, distinguished by the status of "gentleman," he married Valentia Sparkes, the daughter of ______ Sparkes, deceased, formerly a draper, of the City of London. By her, apparently, he had only one son, Christopher, who was provided for in his grandfather's will by a bequest of five marks on his attaining eighteen years of age. Lionel appears never to have returned to his native town and after his marriage, all trace of him is lost. Neither record of his burial nor of his will have been found.

(Branch of Abingdon: A Revision by Peter Walne, Genealogies of Virginia Families -From the Virginia Magazine of History and Biography, Vol. 1, p. 219)
Child of LIONEL BRANCH and VALENTIA SPARK/E/S is:
2. i. CHRISTOPHER6 BRANCH, b. 02 September 1602, Kent Co. England; d. Bef. 20 February 1681/82, Henrico Co., VA.



Leonell Branch (Braunch), of Berks, pleb. Magdalen Coll.., matric. 2 July 1585, aged 17; demy 1585-93; B.A. II Feb, 1590-1

Oxford University Alumni 1500-1886

Wills of William and Thomas Branch and Bull Inn.

Thomas Branch bought the Bull Inn from Robert Forman at some date between 1554 and 1565 based upon the Amyce survey of 1554. However, the title deeds are not now extant.

Under the terms of an agreement made on the same day as his will, Thomas' father granted all his property and posessions (except for those bequeathed by his will to others) to Thomas. By virtue of this deed and the terms of the will of his namesake uncle, Thomas, he obtained posession of the Bull Inn, which, in his will dated January 22, 1602/3 and proved April 22, 1603, he bequeathed to his brother-in-law, Robert Payne, husband of his sister, Martha. His will also discloses that Thomas held certain copyhold land in the neighboring parish of Drayton, upon which an encumbrance of 80 pounds, due to the Lord of the Manor, Sir Francis Stonor, was laid, which encumberance he doubted his wife would properly discharge.

After his death, his will was the subject of litigation in the Prerogative Court of Canterbury, when his brother, William, brought an action against Robert Payne, Thomas' brother-in-law and executor, to test the validity of the will. On February 13, 1603/4, the Court declared a definistive sentence, upholding its validity in favor of the executor. This decision confirmed Payne in his ownership of the Bull Inn.

This account was written by Peter Walne, author of "Branch of Abingdon," appearing in the Virginia Magazine of History and Biography, Vol 67, 1959. page 92

On page 95, Walne picks up the story of the Bull Inn with regards to Christopher William Branch (1602-1681), William's grandson. "In his written pleadings in the case in Chancery over the ownership of the Bull Inn in 1632, Christopher says his father (Lionel) had died 27 years previously (i.e., in 1605), at which time he himself was but 2 or 3 years old, placing his birth in 1602 or 1603. In 1632, (Christopher) returned briefly to England (from his new home in the Virginia colony) for the purpose, amongst other things no doubt, of trying to gain posession of the Bull Inn, which he claimed ought, by rights, to be his, but of which he had been cheated by his uncle Robert Payne." See Public Record Office, Chancery Proceedings, Charles I, Bundle B 21, no. 34. The validity of Christopher's claim rested solely on the interpretation of the wording of the relevant section of the will.

Christopher's case was that, by the terms of his great-uncle Thomas' will of 1565, the Bull Inn after descending to his grandfather, William, and to his uncle, William's eldest son, Thomas, should have descended to Christopher's father, Lionel, as heir at law of the younger Thomas, and so to Christopher on Lionel's death. The devise of the Bull Inn by the younger Thomas to his brother-in-law, Robert Payne, was, according to Christopher, unlawful. Whilst no decree of the court has been found, Christopher's plea was successfully resisted by Richard Payne, Robert's son, to whom the property was conveyed in 1624 as part of the settlement on his marriage. Shortly after the hearing of this case, Richard Payne must have conveyed the Bull Inn to Christ's Hospital, for numerous leases by the Hospital dating from 1644 to 1856 exist amongst the Hospital muniments.

Note that the Hospital sold the Bull Inn (then called the Black Bull) in 1905 hence the absence of any title deeds other than these leases, in the Hospital's own archives.

Birth: Aug. 18, 1556
Berkshire, England
Death: 1605
London
Greater London, England

Lionel Branch was born at Abingdon-on-Thames in Berkshire which claims to be Britain's oldest continuously occupied town, with people having lived there for at least 6,000 years. He was the third son of William and Catherine (Jennings) Branch. On 02 Jul 1585, he matriculated Magdalen College of Oxford University as a commoner, and graduated 11 Feb 1590.

Lionel Branch and his wife, Valentina Sparke, were married 08 July 1596 at St. Martin, Ludgate, in the city of London ("Leonell Branch of London gent. and Valentia Sparke of St. Martin Ludgate said city, spinster, daughter of "____ " Sparke late of said city, draper, deceased, gen. lic., 7 Jul 1596."). Their only child was Christopher Branch (b. Abt. 1602 Greater London, Middlesex, England, d. 1680 Henrico VA). Valentina Sparke was born circa 1575 in London, Middlesex, England and died circa 1610 of unspecified causes.

After his marriage, he and his wife returned to Abingdon and all trace of him was lost. He died intestate.

From all accounts, Lionel was the "black sheep" of the family. Called "my unthrifty and disobedient son" in his father's (William Branch) will and bequeathed merely "my black gown". Obviously, no love was lost between Lionel and his older brother, Thomas, either. Thus when Thomas made his will in 1603 he bequeathed nothing to Lionel and willed the valuable Bull Inn property of Abingdon to his brother-in-law, Robert Payne. William Branch, the younger brother of Lionel still at Oxford, felt that the natural male heirs of William Branch should inherit the Bull Inn and accordingly brought suit to upset the will, the cause being decided in favor of Robert Payne in February of 1603-4.

Christopher Branch, the only son of Lionel Branch, returned briefly from his home in Henrico, Co., VA to Abingdon in 1632 with the same goal of having the ownership of the Bull Inn of Abingdon invalidated by a court suit. He was also unsuccessful.

Lionel Branch's parents:

Father: William Branch b. Aft. 1524 at Abingdon, Berkshire, d. Bef. 24 Apr 1602. Served as Mayor of Abingdon.

Mother: Catherine Jennings b. c1532, bur. 25 Aug 1597 at St. Helen's Church, Abingdon. Her lineage is proven to Charlemagne through King William I (the Conqueror).

Family links:
Parents:
William Braunch (1524 - 1601)
Katherine Jennings Braunch (1524 - 1587)

Children:
Christopher Branch (1598 - 1682)*

*Calculated relationship

Burial:
Unknown

Created by: Gresham Farrar

Lionel married Valentia Sparkes on 8 Jul 1596 in St Martin, Ludgate, London, England. Valentia (daughter of Sir William Sparrowhawk Sparkes and Lady Elizabeth Ann Martin Wayne Sparke) was born on 18 Aug 1566 in St Martin, Ludgate, London, England; died on 4 October 1605 in London, London, England. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Other Events and Attributes:

• Arrival: 1619, , , Virginia, USA
• Residence: 1624, , , Virginia, USA

Notes:

Christopher Branch
Father: Lionel Braunche
Mother: Valentia Sparkes
b. 1601 in London, England
d. 1681 in Henrico County, Virginia
m. licence September 2, 1619 in St. Peter's,Westcheap, London, England, Mary Addie, bap. August 16, 1593 in Darton, Yorkshire, England, d. 1630 in Virginia, Daughter of Francis Addie and Margaret Lee.

Issue
Thomas Branch, christened May 1620 in Jamestown, Virginia, d. buried April 21, 1695 in Varina Parish, Henrico County, Virginia m. Elizabeth Gough. In 1622 Thomas was the only Virginia born to survive the Good Friday Indian Massacre.

William Branch, b. 1625 in Henrico County, Virginia, d. 1676 in Henrico County, Virginia m. Jane Hatcher

Christopher Branch, Jr., bc. 1627

Information:

March 1, 1601, proved, April 24, 1602:
Christopher's grandfather William Braunche (branch2E) wrote the following clause in his will: "To my unthrifty and disobedient sonne Honell (Lyonell?) by blacke gowne and best cloke and to his first borne sonne at eightene yeares of age then liveinge in money Five marks". It would appear that when Christopher turned 18 he collected his inheritance, got married and sailed for Virginia.

March 1619/20:
Christopher and his wife departed for America on the London Merchant, which was dispatched by the Virginia Company (also known as the London Company) from Tilburyhope in England with 200 passengers.

1624/25:
The Henrico County, Virginia Muster of 1624/25 lists Christopher, his wife and their nine month old son Thomas, as living at "ye Colledg Land". 'College Land was a large tract of land in Henrico County which was to be used as a place were the Indians would learn the Christian religion. In the words of the colonists, the land was set aside "to erect and build a college in Virginia for the training and bringing up of infidel's children to the true knowledge of god and understanding of righteousness." This plan was abandoned in 1622 after the Good Friday Massacre of about 350 colonist by the Indians led by chief Opechancanough.

1632:
Christopher returned to England, going to court, saying he had been cheated out of ownership of the Bull Inn at Abingdon by his Uncle Robert Payne. Christopher's case was that, by the terms of his great-uncle Thomas' will of 1565 the Bull Inn after descending to his grandfather William, and to his uncle, William's eldest son Thomas, should have descended to Christopher's father Lionel, as heir at law of the younger Thomas, and so to Christopher after Lionel's death. But Christopher lost his case and returned to Virginia and settled down to a planter's life.

1634:
The Land Office issued to Christopher Branch, Planter, of Arrowhattocks a 21 year lease on 100 acres on the north side of the James River.

1635:
Christopher obtained a patent for 250 acres on the other side of the James River. 50 acres for his own and 200 for the transportation of four other persons. He renewed the patent wtice in 1638.

1636-38:
Christopher had a patent for 100 acres of which he assigned 60 acres to James Place in return for 100 acres. He renewed the 1636 patent and got another 350 acres for seven more transports in 1638.

1639:
Christopher was the Viewer of Tobacco.

1639 thru 1641:
Christopher was a member of the House of Burgesses from Henrico County, Virginia.

1656:
Christopher was a Justice of the Peace in Henrico County, Virginia.

1665:
Christopher now obtained a patent on Kingsland as he now called his estate. The 1,380 acre plantation encompassed his earlier 250 and 450 acre patents, and added 50 acres from John Griffin and 630 acres for transporting thirteen persons.

June 20, 1678, probated, February 20, 1681/82:
Christopher's will confirmed what he had already gifted to his son Thomas and the rest was itemized out to his grandchildren Christopher, Samuel, Benjamin, Sarah and Mary (wife of Thomas Jeffferson (jeff201). At his son Christopher's death (1665) the children had come to live with him and were raised at Kingsland.

April 13, 1682:
The inventory and appraisement of Christopher's estate was pounds 38:7:10 and the division of the estate was ordered.

1691:
Christopher Branch III and his Uncle Thomas Branch were in heated dispute. Both lived on land that Christopher Branch I had owned and Thomas put a fence across an old cart path blocking Christopher's way to the creek. After Christopher several times tore down the fence, Thomas sued him. To help resolve the issue, Christopher's brothers, Samuel and Benjamin Branch were ordered to give depostions about where a cart path ran. Christopher III pointed to a clause in his grandfather's will - that the cart way be not stopped up nor altered that now is to go into the woods for timber or for firewood but to have a clear passage - and the court ordered Thomas to leave a path fifteen feet wide.

Will of Christopher Branch
20 June 1678 In the name of God Amen. The twentieth of June 1678. I Christopher Branch, of Kingsland, in the County of Henrico being in years and memory, praised be to God, do make this my Last Will and Testament as follows: Item. I give my body unto the Earth from whence it came and my Soul unto my Savior Jesus Christ, who has bought it with his most precious blood. Item. I give unto my son Thomas Branch my great copper kettle and a book called Ursinis Catucis and I do confirm the two hundred and forty acres of land that I have given him by deed gift formerly. Item. I give unto my grandson Christopher Branch all the land between the river and the long slash, beginning at Proctors Creek mouth, and run upward on the river to the pine tree that parts my land and my son Thomas, and from Proctors Creek at the lower end of long slash on the inside of the slash running upward to my son Thomas’ land unto him and his heirs male forever, provided that he shall help to build for his brother, Samuel Branch a house [with] four lengths of board every length to be five foot with help of the Negro and Job. If they live until Samuel be of ability to help and to seat it, and to help him to clear a cornfield sufficiently fenced to keep out hogs and cattle. Item. I give unto my grandson Samuel Branch all the land that lies between the long slash and the bottom called by the name Jacks Bottom, beginning at Proctors Creek and running upwards to my son Thomas’ land to him and his heirs male forever provided that he, with the help of Christopher and the Negro and Job, if it pleased God they live, do build Benjamin one house of four lengths of board every length of board to be five foot long, clear and fence him a cornfield so much as they do for Samuel, with his help when he shall be able to seat it. Item. I give unto my grandson Benjamin Branch all the land that lies between Jacks Bottom and Proctors Creek beginning at Proctors Creek and running upwards to my son Thomas’ land to him and his heirs male forever. It is my will that Christopher do give unto Samuel and Benjamin six locust posts and two elm posts a piece when they shall build them their dwelling houses if they can find none on their own ground. It is my will that any of these—Christopher, Samuel, or Benjamin—do die before they come to the age of one and twenty years then their land shall return to the next brother and the goods that they shall have out of my estate after my decease. It is my will that after my decease, my son Thomas shall pay unto Christopher the rent that shall be due unto his Majesty yearly for his two hundred and forty acres of land when it shall be demanded. Likewise, Mr. Gower, Samuel, and Benjamin when they shall seat their land. Item. It is my will that neither Samuel nor Benjamin go off the plantation but to live with Christopher and to have housing and ground and to work together until they be able to seat their own land unless they be willing to go off themselves. It is my will that my part of my Job’s labor, so long as he has to serve, shall go to maintain Samuel, Benjamin, and Sarah, and the half of the Negro’s labor go to maintain them. Item. It is my will that the cart way be not stopped up nor altered that now is to go into the woods for timber or for firewood but to have a clear passage. It is my will that William and John Branch shall have liberty to fish or fowl in the creeks or swamp. If Christopher shall refuse to help to build and clear for Samuel and Benjamin as I have set down in this my will, then he shall pay to Benjamin six hundred pounds of tobacco. Item: I give unto Thomas Jefferson one hogshead of tobacco of four hundred pounds weight whom I make with my grandson Christopher Branch my full and sole executors of this my last will and testament and I desire them to see my will truly performed, my debts and legacies being paid and burial discharged, all the rest of my estate I give unto my grandson Christopher Branch and Samuel and Benjamin and Sarah and Mary Branch, the wife of Thomas Jefferson to be equally divided among them. Witness my hand and seal the day and year above written. Christopher Branch Witnessed:
Abel Gower
Richard Ward

Christopher married Mary Francis Addie on 2 Sep 1619 in St Peter, London, England. Mary (daughter of Francis Addie Addy, Sir Knight and Lady Mary Standing) was born on 30 Nov 1599 in Darton, Yorkshire, England; died in 1630 in , Henrico, Virginia, USA; was buried in , Henrico, Virginia, USA. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]