William Bracken (bef. 1671 - bef. 1749)

Born before 9 Sep 1671 in Melling Parish, Lancashire, England

Ancestors

Husband of Hannah (Booker) Bracken — married 26 Jan 1692 in Slaidburn, Yorkshire, England

Descendants

Died before 28 Dec 1749 at about age 78 in Mill Creek, New Castle County, Delaware

Problems/Questions Profile managers: Nancy Snow [send private message] and Michael Porter [send private message]

Biography

William was born before 9 September 1671. He was baptized on 09 Sep 1671 in Melling Parish, Lancashire, England ^[1] and he was the son of Thomas Bracken. ^[2]

William Bracken or Brackin married Hannah Booker on 26 Jan 1691/92 at Slaidburn Church in Yorkshire, England ^{[2] [3] [4] [5]} and their children included ...

1. Thomas Bracken, b: circa 1695 in England; d: 14 Nov 1780 PA; m: 21 Dec 1721 Martha GREEN.
2. John Bracken, b: 1697; d: 24 Apr 1777; m: Catherine ADAMS
3. Henry Bracken, b: 1699 DE; d: 26 May 1779 DE; m: 14 Sep 1739 Susannah ???
4. Hannah Bracken, b: 02 Feb 1701 DE; d: 02 Feb 1772; m: James JORDAN
5. Susan(nah) Bracken, d: 04 Apr 1749; m: John GILLIHAM
6. Martha Bracken, m: John BALL, Jr. d: bef.1750
7. Margaret Bracken, m: Alexander MOORE

In 1699 he emigrated from Liverpool, England on the Quaker ship "The Britannia" ^{[2] [6]} with commander Richard Nicholes. Many of the passengers were from Yorkshire and Lancashire and there was much illness. While still on this ship, William Bracken witnessed the last Will of George Goodsell on 25 July 1699. Some researchers believe that his wife and two children were on the same ship. The passengers on the ship Britannia arrived at Philadelphia, Pennsylvania on 25 Aug 1699 and on the same day, the Quakers Monthly Meeting of Friends in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania appointed a committee "to assist the sick and weak passengers from Liverpool".

He appeared to have been affiliated with the Society of Friends at the time of his arrival in America and was loaned 30-shillings by the Friends.^[7]

On 14 July 1702 he made application for a land grant of 100 acres near Red Clay Creek, New Castle County, Delaware for the price of 12 pounds, 12 shillings. ^{[2] [8]}

In 1703 he resided near the present town of Brackenville, Delaware. ^[2]

At a Friends meeting on 29 Aug 1714 it was resolved "whereas 30 shillings were lent to William Bracken, he being now able to repay, therefore Anthony Morris and William Hudson are appointed to write to him so he might return the money again for the use of other poor Friends".

Later he and his wife were associated with Lutheran and Anglican congregations, including that of Holy Trinity (Old Swedes Church) in Wilmington, Delaware, a Swedish Lutheran congregation.

During this time, the boundary between Delaware and Pennsylvania was in shift.

In 1749 he was on a list of inhabitants fit to discharge public office.

William Bracken's Last Will was written on 8 April 1749 in New Castle Delaware and was probated on 28 December 1749. ^[2] His Last Will named his children and his daughters' spouses ^[9]

William Bracken or Brackin died prior to the probate date in 1749 New Castle County, Delaware and it is presumed he was buried at Hockessin Friends Cemetery, Hockessin, New Castle County, Delaware. ^[10]

Research Notes

Birth and Marriage:
It still has not be proven that this William Bracken is the same one baptized on 9 September 1671 in Melling Parish, Lancashire, England or that he was the one that married Hannah Booker on 26 Jan 1691/92 at Slaidburn Church in Yorkshire, England.

Sources

1. ↑ Lancashire, England: Parish and Probate Records on ancestry.com citing Melling Parish Register 1625-1752 for baptism of Gulielmus William, son of Thomae Bracken de Salter 09 Sep 1671.
2. ↑ ^{2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 2.5} "The Roses: The Nuckolls Family, the Lyman Family and One Hundred Fifty Immigrants Who Helped Shape America" p397-399 by Charles R. Nuckolls & iUniverse Inc. of Bloomington, Indiana in 2010 call#929.107207 NUC.
3. ↑ William Brackin m: 26 Jan 1692 Hannah Booker. "England Marriages, 1538–1973 ," database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:NLDL-2PD : 10 February 2018), William Brackin and Hannah Booker, 26 Jan 1692; citing Slaidburn,York,England, reference , index based upon data collected by the Genealogical Society of Utah, Salt Lake City; FHL microfilm 98,540.
4. ↑ Marriage Index: District of Columbia, Delaware, Maryland, & Virginia 1740-1920 FHL#0006416.
5. ↑ Family group sheet, FGSE, source#8820.227; listed as parents.
6. ↑ Pennsylvania Archives - Quaker records
7. ↑ Minutes of the Philadelphia, Pennsylvania Monthly Meeting (Society of Friends)
8. ↑ "William Bracken of New Castle County Delaware and His Descendants" by Henry M. Bracken, M.D. of Claremont, California in 1901.
9. ↑ "Calendar of Delaware Wills", New Castle County 1682-1800 p46 compiled by Frederick H. Hitchcock of New York, NY in 1911; on ancestry.com citing Will of William Bracken, written=08 April 1749, probate=28 Dec 1749, G. 359
10. ↑ Find A Grave: Memorial #74080343 for William Bracken b: 09 Sep 1671 Lancashire, England; d: 1749 Mill Creek, New Castle County, Delaware; buried: Hockessin Friends Cemetery, Hockessin, New Castle County, Delaware, USA.

See also:

• Haverford College; Haverford, Pennsylvania; Minutes 1682-1714; Collection: Philadelphia Yearly Meeting Minutes (26 Jan 1699, 26 XI 1699) on ancestry.com (William Bracken's 30-shilling debt for relief provided to him upon his arrival from Liverpool, England).

• Church records of Olde Swedes Church in Wilmington, Delaware for this family to 1790.

• North America, Family Histories 1500-2000 on ancestry.com citing "William Bracken of New Castle County, Delaware and his descendants".

• Rootsweb Family Tree descendancy

• "Brackin Family in the Southeastern United States" by Henry B. Brackin Jr., M.D. of Nashville, Tennessee in 1979.

• International Genealogical Index by Family Search v5 British Isles 1631-1754 batch#M012151, source#0098540 for William Brackin