Benjamin
B. Brashear Family
France,
England & Maryland
part of the Citizenship Application Letter for Benjamin Brashear
dated Dec 4, 1662
Benjamin Benois Brassieur
b. before 1620 France
d. 1662 Calvert CO., MD
m. Mary Richford abt 1646
b. ? probably England(Benois apparently paid her
passage as a teenager) [Brashear 23]
d. about 1667 Calvert Co., MD (will probated in 16680
her father:
?
mother: ?
her 2nd m. Thomas Sterling/Starling after 25 July 1663 before 2 August 1663
b.
d. abt
1685
his father: Robert Brasseur
his mother: unknown
| Children |
| Robert Brasseur/Brashear* |
b. 1646 MD |
d. 1712 Prince Georges Co., Maryland |
1m. ? (mother of his children)
2m. Mrs. Alice Jackson (widow Thomas Jackson) |
| Benjamin Brasseur/Brashear jr* |
b.1648 Nansemond Co., VA
|
d. Feb 1675 Calvert Co., MD
|
unmarried (left his estate to sister Martha |
| John Brasseur/Brashear* |
b. c1650 Nansemond Co., VA |
d.1696 Calvert Co., MD
|
m. Anne Dalrymple (no children) (dau. of Willam
Dalrymple Sr.)
|
| Ann Brasseur/Brashear* |
b. VA |
d . |
m. c1685 ?William Dalrymple JR. (son. of Willam
Dalrymple Sr.) |
| Susannah Brasseur/Brashear* |
b. 1650 Nansemond Co.,VA |
d. 1692 Anne Arundel Co., MD |
m. 1679 Mareen Duvall |
| Elizabeth Brasseur/Brashear* |
b. c1654 Nansemond Co.,VA |
d. 17 Jan 1728/29 Baltimore , MD |
m. John Sellman (lived in Anne Arundel Co., MD |
| Martha Brasseur/Brashear* |
b. after1658 Nansemond Co.,VA |
d. 1688 . |
m. (at age 16) Henry Kent Jr. |
| Mary Brasseur/Brashear* |
b. 1660 Calvert Co., MD |
d. 23 Jan 1702 Prince Georges Co., MD |
m. c1688 Christopher Ellis |
* children from the will of Mary Brassier, wife of Benjamin
"The given name of Benjamin's wife was Mary, but her maiden name
has not been established. It is possible, however, that she was
Mary Richford, whose passage to the new World is known to have
been paid by Benjamin." [Back p.3]
In reading material from "Seventeenth Century Colonial
Ancestors"said that he was Benjamin Brasseur, the emigrant from
the Isle of Thanet, Eng. Kent; but originally from France .
1637 - Benjamin arrived in the Colonies sometime before 1638 and
settled in the Upper Norfolk County which soon became Nansemond
County, Virginia. At the time of Benjamin's arrival with his
brother Robert, there were only few thousand persons in the
colonies. George Washington's great-grandfather observed his
fourth birthday, and the Declaration of Independence was not to be
signed for a hundred and thirty-nine years. [Back p.6]
24 Feb 1638- Robert Brasseur files a land-lease contract with
Peter Rey" for six hundred acres on "Warrisquick Creeke.. and
butting upon Nanzemund river" Robert is linked is several later
documents to Benjamin as his brother. [VA Land Patents, Book 1,
p.622]
1633, 12 Apr - A patent was issued for three hundred acres to
Benjamin Brashear. (origina patent apparently has not survived.)
1653, April 12 - Another patent was issued
to Robert for twelve hundred acres "in the County Nanzemond at
the head of the southern branch of Nanzemond river"
These patents were intended to reimburse
the colonist for the cost of the passage. Each person that paid
their own way or the passage of another was given fifty acres.
Robert's patent was for twenty-four persons including "Robert
Brasseur, Florence his wife, Mary Brasseur, Persid (undoubtedly
intended for the French feminine name "Perside") Brasseur,
Kathe. Brasseur, Bennet Brasseur." Along with these Brasseurs
were also "Marg. Stockwell, Geo. Juory,... W. Wroten, Tho.
Parker, Jno. Sutton, Jon. Stephens, Step Dordan, Jon. Loyd, Jon.
Bott., Symon Iron, Jon. Barefield, Eliz. Patemen, Geo. Daldye,
Wm. Ball, Nicho. Maroise (?), Tho. Pursell, Ra. Ellis, and Jon.
Abby."
[VA Land Patents, Book 3, p. 33]
1653, 14 April - A land claim is issued for "Benjamin Brafseure"
for three hundred acres on "or being at the head of a Creeke
called Indian Creeke being a branch of the western branch of
Nancemond river...joining the land of M. John Ganat." This grant
was made for paying the cost of transporting six persons into the
Colony. These transportation costs gave the person "headrights" to
fifty acres a person. Although the patent itself was dated as 12
April 1633 it wasn't registered until 14 April of 1653. Signed by
Edward Diggs Esq. [VA Land Patents, Book 3, p.33]
Including Richard Batemen, Charles Drurey, Hugh Edwards, Humphry
Evan, John Harris, Mary Richford, John Sutton.
on this same date - , for headrights "Robert Brasseur with Florence Brasseur his wife , and
Mary Brasseur. Persid (Preside) Brasseur, Kathe Brasseur and
Bennett Brasser" were given land patents for a total of
twelve hundred acres [VA Land Patents, Book 3, p.33]
Also on the list is John Abby, William Ball, William Ball(perhaps
Jr.), John Barefield, Peter Besairdier, Reeve Besairdier, John
Bott, Bennet Brasseur, George Daldye, Ra Ellis, George
Ivory, John Loyd, Nicholas Moroise, Thomas Parker, Elizabeth
Pateman, Thomas Pursell, John Stephens,
1658 - Probably due to Maryland's more liberal laws on religious
freedom Benjamin moves to Calvert County, Province of Maryland. He
may have moved up the Chesapeake Bay by boat to settle on 1150-
acres plantation known locally as "Upper Bennett." The plantation
had been surveyed in 1651, for Richard Bennett, a Virginia
merchant and a devout Puritan. This deed was one of several plots
that seem to have been reserved for Puritan believers under
Richard Bennett's guidance. [Back p.6]
1660 - Benjamin is called for jury duty. (this is the earliest
known remaining record of Benjamin in Maryland, most other records
were probably destroyed in one of several fires in Calvert Co.
Court House) [Maryland Archives, Vol 41, p.419]
1661- He is selected to be Justice of the Peace.
1662, Dec 4 - application for citizenship is filed.
CAELCILTUS, absolute Lord and proprietary of the Province of
Maryland & Avalon Lord Barron of Baltemore, &c,
TO ALL PERSONS to whome these presents shall come, GREETINGE in
our Lord God Everlasting:
WHEREAS, Benois Brasseuir,
late of Virginia and Subject of the Crowne of France, having transported himeselfe, his
wife, and children
into this Province here to inhabite, hath besought us to grant
hime, the said Benois Brasseuir, leave here to inhabite, and, as
a free dennizen, freedome land to hime and his heires to
purchase; KNOWE yee that wee, willing to give due encouragement
to other subjects of that Crowne, doe hereby declare them, the
said Benois Brasseuir, his wife and children, as well those
allready borne as those therafter to bee borne, to bee free
dennizens of this our Province of Maryland; and doe further for
us, our heires & successors straightly enjoyne, constitute,
ordeine and command the said Benois Brasseuir be in all things
held, treated reputed, and esteemed as one of the faythfull
people of us, our heires and successors, borne with this our
Province of Maryland, and likewise any lands, tenaments,
revenues, services, and other heriditam'ts whatsoever with our
said Province of Maryland, freely, quietly, and peaceably have
and possess, occupie, and enjoy as our faythfull people, borne
or to bee borne with our said Province of the Maryland , without
the lett, molestatione, vexacon, trouble, or grievance of us,
our heires, and successsors, any custome to the contrary hereof
of any wise not withstanding.
GIVEN at St. Marys, under the Greate Seale of our said Province
of Maryland, this fourth day of Decemb'r, in the one and
thirtyth yeare of our dominion over the said Province, Annoq
Domini one thowsand six hundred sixty-two.
WITNESS our deare son and heire, Charles Calvert, Esq'r, our
Leiuetenn't of our said Province of Maryland.
Charles Calvert
[Council Proceedings, Hall of Records of Maryland, Liber HH, ff.
157, 158]
1662 or early 1663 - Benjamin dies here in Calvert County, Maryland.
He left three sons and five daughter whose ages ranged from about
two years to seventeen years. At the time of his death the farm had
not actually been purchased and Mary quickly closed the deal .
[Maryland Archives, Vol 41, p.178]
The inventory of his goods included several silver pieces of
tankards, cups, spoons, chimes, whistles, a silver hatband and a
gold seal ring. He also had ninety pounds of gunpowder, some iron
bars along with two dozen peregrine falcons. He also owned
"eleven barrows and two boars (about 2 years old), twenty-seven hogg
sowes and barrows of about 2 years old apiece, twentlyfive piggs ans
shoats under a year old, twelve cowes and calves, six cowes more,
three stears of four years old, three stears of two years old, two
hogs of two years old, and eight servts". The "servts" were
valued as much as all the other livestock together. Even
though one negro came with the land, Sarah, came with the
property. Mary in her will promised each child a servant when
he/she came of age.[Inventories , Book 1E, p. 92, in Brashear, p.33]
Mary was left at about the age of 40 with eight children and sizable
inventory but no property. She rather quickly makes a
contract to purchase the "Upper Bennet".
"Knowe all men by these presents
that I, Richard Bennitt,
of Virginia, merchant, doe hereby alien, sell, and conveigh unto Mary Brasseur, widdow of the Cliffs,
in the Provence of Maryland, and to her heires forever, all my
right, title, and interest in that parcell of land on which she
now lives, being eleaven hundred and fifty acres more or lesse,
together with all stock of servents, cattle, hoggs, and whatever
else thereupon or thereunto any wayes belonging or appertayning
for and in consideracon of two hundred and twenty hoggsheads of
tobacco (about 110,000 pounds) to bee paid according to speciallty
und'r her hand and seale, bearing date with these presents, all
which land w'th the servenats, cattle, &c. aforesaid were
formerly treated and bargained to
bee sold unto Mr. Benois Brasseur, in his life time,
which became boid by reason of defect and dislike in relaçon to
the said land in point of quantity, and because hee, the said
Brasseur, never had any livery and seison thereof from mee, nor
never paid any thinge att all to mee for it, in which regard (I)
have now bargained, sold, and delivered the said estate of land,
&c. unto the aforesaid Mary Brasseur and her heires aforesaid,
and doe promise and bind myself, my heires, executors, and
administrators to make such further conveighance and assurance of
the premisses as is requisite and as it layes in my power to doe
whensoever the same shall be demanded or required.
The servants' names are
as followeth: Theo. Smith,
Geo. Davison, William Whitehead, Tho. Frost, and Sarah -- a negro woman.
I doe allso hereby give unto the
said widd'w Brasseur full, quiett pssession of the afforesaid
land, servants, cattle, hoggs, &c., with warantee ag'st all or
any person or persons whatsover clayming any right thereunto by,
from or under mee or my heires.
In witness whereof, I have hereunto sett
my hand & seale the 17th day of Aprill, 1663.
Richard Bennett
Sealed, subscribed and elivered in
pr'sence
of: Thomas
Sterling,
Robert Brasseur.
[Provincial
Court Proceedings, 1663-1664, Maryland (Bound
volume in DAR Library, Wash, DC, p. 178); Maryland Land
Patents, Book BB, p. 238; Maryland Archives, v. 41, p. 178.]
Mary makes a long detailed will before she marries Thomas
Sterling. Thomas Sterling filed a prenuptial contract that
gave up all claims that he might have to any part of Benjamin's
estate.
Will
of Mary Brasseur, widow
of The Cliffs:
She bequeths "two hundred acres of woodland to Robert, two hundred acres of
the like land to Benjamin,
and also two hundred acres of the like to John Brassures, my sons,"
... "when they shall accomplish the age of one and twenty
yeares;"..then the said land remaine and be to such daughter and
daughters to me". "To Benjamin" two cows, "to
John" one heifer, "to my son Robert" two hundred acres which is
next adjoining unto and on this side that parcell of land lately
sold unto my brother in law Robt. Brasseur; that Benjamin,
my son, shall have his two hundred on this side of my son Robert;
and that my son John shall have his next unto Benjamin's."
"... to my daughter Mary two heifers,...to my
daughter Ann two
heifers,.... to my daughter Susannah
two heifers,.... to my daughter Martha
three heifers,.... to my daughter Elizabeth three heifers,..."
" I give my five daughters each of them a
servant to be delivered them at the age of sixteene years or day
of marriage, which shall first happen."
"... And I nominate and constitute my
loveing friends, Thomas Sterling, and Robert Brasseur, my brother
in law, to be overseers of this, my last will and testament,
..." [MdHR Wills, Bk 1, pp. 187-89/ Brashear p35-37]
Thomas Sterling became through the head rights of this marriage one
of the largest land owners in Maryland. When he filed his will
24 Jan 1684, proved 27 Jun 1685 he names his wife as Christian [nee
Dalrymple] life interest in hme place of "Upper Bennett", his son
Thomas Sterling Jr. "Upper Bennett" , 500 acres "Major's Choice,"
550 acre Stirling's Chance," and 40 acres (unnamed)..
daughter, Elizabeth, 1000 acres .. brother Derumle 500 acre residue
of "Nova Scotia", " Thomas Sterling doesn't mention any
of the Brashear step-children in his will. [Brashear 39]
1668- Mary Brashear Sterling's will enters probate, meaning
that she had died before this date and also before "The 10,000
pounds of tobacco was the purchase price of the 320 acres" for
Robert Brashear "The Elder" could be paid due to his death in 1666.
[Brashear 38]
SOURCES:
Back, Troy L. & Brashear, Leon. Brashear Story: A Family
History, 1963, pp 5-45
Brashear, Charles and McCoy, Shirley Brasher. A Brashear(s)
Family History, Vol. 1, The First Two Hundred Years of
Brashears in America, (of eight proposed volumes)
Charles Brashear/Shirley McCoy 1998 email- brashear@mail.sdsu.edu
Council Proceedings, Hall of Records of Maryland, Liber HH, ff.
157, 158
Maryland Archives, Vol 41, pa.178
"Seventeenth Century Colonial Ancestors" that he was a Justice and
Landowner ,p 34 .
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