Andersons of Colonial N. Carolina

…as usual, click the blue filename under the graphic for a better view

map highlighting Anthony Lewis and 1724 patent of Philip Brantley

I have convinced myself the above Anthony Lewis was the son of the wife of John Browne of Kinston, IOW or Nansemond. She was Bridgett Lewis who was associated with Joyce Lewis the wife of Philip Brantley. Anthony Lewis bought property from William Brown, the son of John Browne.

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…Update

My interest in the Brantleys has been reignited and I am convinced that this Philip Brantley, of what will become Southampton, is the son of the Immigrant Edward Brantley d.1688 in Newport Parish IOW. I have determined that he and his wife Joyce (Lewis) died in 1727.

The event is noted in the Vestry Book of Newport Parish:

I was intrigued at the mention of the John Davis who was attributed with “keeping phillip Brantly” for 9 months att 100 pr m: …amounting to 900 lbs tobacco. Speculating, it seems to me that he died after 9 months. Likewise the unfortunate Joyce only lasted 3 weeks (in line with the going rate of 100 pr mo.). Considering my notes below, Mr. Davis was the man who bought Philip’s inherited property in Isle of Wight … indicating they knew each other for years… one Court Minute’s mention even has them suing one another, which seems to have been a lively pastime that the Colonists enjoyed at every opportunity.

I considered the possibility that John Davis may have later relocated to Halifax, NC as I think this Brantley line seems to do. But it seems likely he (Davis) died in Southampton (per the speculative genealogy timeline). So my next question was: Who was the Edward Brantley who cared for the aged Joyce Brantley noted in the Vestry Book? In the Will of Edward Brantley Sr d. 1688, he mentions his son Edward and his son, James; son Philip and his son, Edward. My assumption is that the son of Joyce stepped up to care for his mother (the date of 1727). But, alternatively, this John Davis had the property he bought of Philip Brantley in 1716 until he sold it in 1732. All of which means he may have cared for the aged Philip near the original land of the Immigrant Edward… so this means that Joyce may have been cared for by the brother of Philip (Edward Jr).

Note that I have accounted for the whereabouts of Edward Jr. (son of the Immigrant) and his son Edward and James… they remained on the original property of Edward Brantley Sr. in Isle of Wight, near Lawnes Creek. The Benjamin noted in the deeds below may be another son or grandson of Edward Jr. (II)…I do not know as of this writing.

All of which is pretty much “smoking gun” proof to me that the Edward Brantley family that settled near the Meherrin River west of the Nottoway River was the son of Philip Brantley.

I found what appears to be a very credible transcription, and nicely presented version of Edward Brantley Sr’s Will of 1688 online:

credit: Laura M. Cooper, Arlington, Texas https://brazoriaroots/p4047.htm

…a Sidetrack

I’ve compiled some notes concerning the area where Edward Brantley Jr. (son of Philip) settled near the Meherrin River. The problem was those pesky Indegenes who were in the area…

NoTall, my trusty and tireless Research Assistant, aided in this Study.

I dissected the original Patent that Edward received in 1717… I currently suspect this was his first appearance in the area as a settler. Which leads me to suspect he may have been an Indian Trader at some point in his younger years. Note that Spotswood and the usual cadre of Castletrash surrounding him, had cooked up the idea of Fort Christanna about 1714… so Edward may have involved himself with getting in on the Gig sometime around then. By 1717 it was probably a faite accompli and he was rewarded with the patent for his part. His father Philip received a Patent some miles to the East and across the Nottoway River in 1724. So Edward may have struck off on his own around 1714 while brother Philip Jr stayed with Philip Sr… works for me, currently, as a theory.

…downshifting a bit and backing up (a little hot-rod lingo there… as Rush Limbaugh used to say), I have identified another son of Philip Brantley and Joyce (Lewis) Brantley d.1727:

If you take the time to read the handwritten notes in the above Vestry entries, you will note the descriptions of various tasks meted out to the members of the Vestry in the neighborhood of the area west of the Blackwater and extending to the Meherrin River… this is in what will become “Nottoway Parish” in 1734… Philip Brantley was granted a Patent in 1724 here, and in 1717 his son Edward was granted a Patent near the Meherrin River, specifically at the former “Indian Fort”. Sad that kids are not even taught “cursive” in schools today, is it not?

some Brantleys who settled for a bit near Louisburg in present Franklin County (formerly Edgecombe Precinct and then Granville)…

This is the John Brantley shown in map above…

An Edward Brantley shows up in Halifax county in 1751 and buys 290 acres of land from Mathew McKinnie. This land was from an original Patent to Edward Simmons in 1735. I did two “Studies” of the division of that 1735 Patent which are detailed below… sorry, but this is not an easy read.

Further study of the Simmons patent division…

This puts me a bit closer to rooting out the dirty rotten Brantley dog what knocked up my GGGGGGranny Elizabeth (Anderson) Pitman.