Note
Francis Brandom was born in 1738 and died in 1804, in Culpeper County, Virginia around the age of 66.
He married Mary Asher ca. 1765. She was the daughter of John and Nellie Asher. She was born in Culpeper County, Virginia and died in 1839 in Madison County, Virginia.
According to one descendant, Kate Brandom, a sister of Susan Brandom Hope, a DAR member identified below, Francis' stepmother kidnapped Francis from England and brought him to this country.
There is proof that he served in the Revolutionary War at least in the months of August, September, and October 1777 in Captain James Hook's Company of the 13th Virginia regiment, commanded by Colonel William Russell. According to the National Archives files, his name was spelled Francis Brannan on the Aug 1777 company muster roll and Francis Brandon on the Sep 1777 company muster roll. His rank was shown as "pvt." on both muster rolls, with his term of enlistment shown as "D war," apparently meaning for the duration of the war. In the remarks section of the Aug muster roll, "Pittsburg" is annotated. In the remarks section of the Sep muster roll, "At Pitsburg" is annotated. "F. Brandon Sergeant" signed the company payroll for the month of Oct 1777.
Francis Brandum is also listed in Class 59 of A List of the Classes in Culpeper County for January 1781, for Recruiting this State's Quota of Troops to Serve in the Continental Army. The "Culpeper Classes" were lists of men and boys from age 16 to 50 who were selected by the officers to fill the state request for aid to the Continental Army. (Blankenbaker, John, Chadds Ford, PA: 1999, p. 19)
Descendants of Francis Brandom who claim his ancestry for membership in the Daughters of the American Revolution include Susan Brandom Hope in 1934, membership number 194426, Josephine Brandom Bodine in 1943, membership number 338679, and Jeannette Goodson Atwood in 1952, membership number 387398, all descended through Francis Brandom's son Francis. Carole Moncrief Spencer, 626494, was approved for membership in 1992. She was descended from Francis' daughter Lucy.
One member of the Sons of The American Revolution who claims Francis Brandom for membership is Larry Patrick Cornwell, membership number 138085.
According to the Virginia Northern Neck Land Grants, Vol III, page 119, Francis Brandom was granted a Treasury Warrant for 172 acres in Culpeper County, "near Strother on Ivory Rg. 29 June 1782 (23 Mar 1790)."
According to the Culpeper County, Virginia Deed Book M, pages 52-54, dated Nov 17, 1783, "Robert Miller and Mary Miller his wife to Frances Brandom 140 acres for 300 pounds of crop Tabacco. Robert Miller bought the land from John Wallace. Situated in Culpeper County, Bounded as follows: Beginning at three chesnut oaks on the North side of the Bever Dam Run, north west to three Chesnut oaks on the North branch of the Haz-- on the side of the Bever Dam Mountain North east to four chesnut Oaks on the North side of the North Mountain near Thornton's pass thence south east crossing the Bever Dam Run to a Large Chesnut and a Small Chesnut oak on the south side of the Bever Dam Run and thence south west crossing the said Run again to the Beginning."
Francis Branham's name appears on the 1783 tax list of Culpeper County with two polls and no slaves. (August B. Fothergill and John Mark Naugle, Virginia Tax Payers 1782-1787, Baltimore, MD: Genealogical Publishing Company, Inc., 1986, p. 14)
According to the Virginia Northern Neck Land Grants, Vol III, page 119, "Grant to Francis Brandom, 232 acres in Culpeper County adjacent said Brandom. Mrs. Cotess. N. Mt. 29 Sep 1785 (23 Mar 1790)."
According to Culpeper County Virginia Deed Book V, pages 230-232, dated Sep 6, 1800, "Francis Brandum and Mary his wife to Ezekiel Brandum 239 acres for twenty five pounds in Culpeper County bounded as follows Beginning at a large red oak on the south side of the Oven top Mountain a corner to Henry Field and thence North east to three red oaks on an arm of the said Mountain thence south east to a locust chesnut oak and chesnut on a Clift of Rooks thence south east to three chesnut oaks thence south west to a gum and Chesnut oak in the above named Field's line thence along that line North west to the beginning."
Francis and Mary Brandom are belieed to have been members of the Baptist Church at F. T. Lewis Conner, who was one of the executors of Francis' estate, was minister of the F. T. Baptish Church athe time Francis' will was written. But Lewis Conner also served at the Thornton Gap church which was geographically closer to the Brandom home.
Francis Brandom wrote his will on Jan 21, 1799, and it was proved on Sep 17, 1804. It was recorded in Culpeper Will Book E, p 53. It stated:
"In the name of God amen, I Francis Brandom of Cullpeper County and State of Virginia, farmer, being afflicted but perfect in mind and memory, thanks be unto allmighty God for the same, but Calling unto mind this mortality of my frail body, the uncertainty of life but the Certainty of death, knowing that death is appointed by God for all men once to die, do make and ordain this my last Will and Testament.
"That is to say, principally and first of all, I give and renounce my Soul into the hands of allmighty God that gave it and my body which is dust I recommend unto dust from whence it came to be interred at the discretion of my Executors. and touching my worldly estate which it hath pleased allmighty God to give unto me and bless me with in this life, I give, devise, and dispose of in the following manner and form, Viz
"First of all I desire, do will and ordain, that all my Just and lawfull debts shall Justly be paid and the balance of my estate I give and bequeath as followeth unto my eldest Son William the Tract of land on which he now lives. also a Colt, ewe and lamb, sow and pigs.
"unto my second Son John a tract of Land known by the name of the oven top tract. allso a Cow, ewe and lamb, sow and pigs.
"unto my third son Ezekiel the Tract of Land on which he now lives. allso a Colt.
"and unto my fourth and last son Francis a Tract of Land known by the name of the buck yard. allso a Colt and if the estate affords no Colt, a Cow and Calf.
"allso a ewe and lamb and sow and pigs which is the whole of each of their portion to be giving them from my estate.
"allso I give unto my daughters Lucy, Rachel, Molly and Eloner an equal of all my moveable estate. only this reserve, to wit,
"I give and ordain unto my dear and loveing Wife Mary Brandom a full third of my moveable estate to be at her desposall. allso a bed and beding and a Certain Tract of Land know by the name of esoms Hallow. allso at her disposial during her life and after death what she my loving wife leaves behind her to be fairly sold and equally divided among my above named Daughters or theire heirs forever.
"and I do appoint Mr Lewis Conner & Mr. Thos. Broadus my executors of this my last Will and Testament revoking all other Wills and Testaments whatsoever.
"in Wittness whereof I have hereunto set my hand and Seale this twenty first day of Jany. anno. Domi 1799.
"Sealed in the presence of Samuel Young, Bemj. Partlow,
John Skinner. Francis Brandon (hs)"
"At a Court held for Culpeper County the 17th day of September 1804
"This last Will and Testament of Francis Brandom deceased was exhibited to the, and proved by the, Oaths of Samuel Young and Bemjamin Partlow to of the witnesses thereto and ordered to be Accorded and at a Court Continued and held for said County the 16th day of October 1804 Lewis Connor and Thomas Broadus the executors therein named came into Court and qualifeid thereto and gave bond and Security according to Law. Teste John Jameson Clk
"F. Brandom Inventory (Culpeper County, Virginia, Will Book F, Pages 90-91)
"Inventory of the Estate of Francis Brandom dec'd made this 26th day of October 1804 by Anthony Hughes, Samuel Young, Benjamin Partlow [?] and Charles Asher being first duly sworn for that purpose. Numbers are pounds, shillings, and pence.
1 Pied Cow and Calf 4 10 "
1 Brindle Cow and Calf 4 " "
1 Red Heifer 3 " 12, 1 Red Steer 3, 1 Red Cow 4 " 10 11 2 "
1 Red Yearling 1 " 8, 1 Pied Heifer 1 " 4, 1 Pied Heifer 1 " 8 4 " "
12 Sheep 4 16, 10 Hogs 9, 1 do 1 " 4, 2 pigs 15 8 "
1 Black Mare 7, 1 Bay Colt 10 " 10, 1 Sorrel Mare 15 " 10 33 " "
1 Black Mare 12, 1 Barisham plough 1 " 4 13 4 "
Sundry Tools 18/ Sundry Do. 2 " 7, Kettle & hooks 3 17 "
2 Lots of Gin 2, 3 Bills of Cotton 13/-, 1 wedg 1/6 2 19 6
1 Orin and Led 10/ 1 Do. & Do. 7/6, 1 pot 7/6 1 12 6
1 Bake Iron 6/ 1 coffee mill, coffee pot and Croway ware 14/6 1 " 6
1 Cotton wheel 10/ 1 Small do. 3/ 3 Do Do. 2 " 5 2 8 "
1 pewter dish, eight plates 1"0"6, 1 dish and 6 plates 1 2 0 6
1 pewter dish and Linc plates 10/ six Basins 1"13 2 19 "
1 dish, 6 earthen plates, eight spoons 13/6 " 13 6
6 knives & forks 5/ 6 do, do 4/, 1 Table 2/6 1 Loom 18/ 1 9 0
6 chairs 15/ 6 do. do. 18/ 1 Iron and heater 2/ 3 parlors 7/ 2 2 "
1 old hogshead 1/ 1 frying pan 7/6 2 chests 2 " 8 2 16 6
1 table 8/ 1 bed furniture and bedstead 6 " "
1 bed furniture and bedstead 75 2 counterpanes 1 " 16 8 16 "
Sundry old hogsheads 10/ " 18 "
2 bedsteads 10/ 1 sythe & reap hooks 4/6 " 14 0
1 grind stone 9/ " 9 "
45 Barrels Corn @13/ 29 5 "
1 Wedge " 3 "
1 Wheat fan 2 " "
1 Dutch Oven 4 " "
1 Slay 5 " "
1 Culling knife and bow 8 " "
Anthony Hughes, Samuel Young, Benjamin Partlow [?], Charles Asher
"At a Court held for Culpeper County the 19th March 1810.
"This Inventory of the Estate of Francis Brandom dec'd was returned unto
Court and ordered to be recorded.
Teste
John Jameson, HCo."
The children of Francis Brandom and Mary Asher were:
i William, b. ca. 1766, m. Elizabeth Yates on Dec 19, 1784
ii John, b. ca. 1768, m. Sarah Ann Boswell on Feb 19, 1789
iii Lucinda (Lucy), b. Jun 9, 1770, m. Henry Boswell on Apr 25, 1793, d. Sep 9, 1843
*iv Rachel, b. ca. 1771, m. William Jenkins, d. 1859
v Ezekiel, b. ca. 1772, m. 1st, Nancy -- ca. 1796; 2nd, Sarah Ann -- in 1798, d. ca. 1843/4
vi Mary (Mollie), b. 1777, m. Daniel Grubbs on May 31, 1802, d. 1855
vii Eleanor (Nelly), b. ca 1782, m. Steed Skinner on Jul 25, 1802
viii Francis, b. ca. 1788, m. Elizabeth -- in 1808, d. ca. 1860.