William Franklin Branson (1922 - 2010)

Born 13 Dec 1922 in Healdsburg, Sonoma, California, United States

Ancestors

Husband of Betty Jane (Cook) Branson — married 8 Aug 1945 in Portland, Multnomah, Oregon, United States

Descendants

Died 2 Apr 2010 at age 87 in Boring, Clackamas, Oregon, United States

Problems/Questions Profile manager: S. Branson [send private message]

Biography

William Franklin was born in 1922. He passed away in 2010. He was born in Healdsburg, Sonoma Co., CA. He was very loved by his family and had a wonderful sense of humor - always teasing, joking and making everyone laugh.

DNA

Please see the photo section for detailed autosomal analysis results - click VIEW ALL

AUTOSOMAL DNA COMPARISON WITH ELI BRANSON

AUTOSOMAL DNA COMPARISON ASA BRANSON

AUTOSOMAL DNA COMPARISON WITH FAWCETT-BRANSON

AUTOSOMAL DNA COMPARISON WITH STIPP

AUTOSOMAL DNA COMPARISON WITH BOND

The most significant revelation from the autosomal DNA analysis is the remarkable consistency of matching comparing various descendants of Thomas Branson Sr. and Elizabeth Day with William Franklin Branson. A descendant of Lionel Branson, a descendant of John Day Branson and a descendant of the Benjamin Borden in-laws were consistently equal to the centimorgan numbers for William Franklin Branson when all four were compared to allied families. This was determined after dozens of comparisons and William also scored high compared to these descendants of Lionel Branson, John Day Branson and the Benjamin Borden in-law.

William's autosomal DNA shows strong cousin relationships to families allied with Levi, John Day and Thomas Branson Jr. They include: descendants of Maynor, Fawcett-Branson, Cantrell, Eli Branson, Catherine Branson, Hough/Huff, Borden, Mendenhall, Haines, Piggott, Hadley, Brown, Shinn, Reece, Hadley, Mankin, Ridgway, Worthington and Harmon Cox's family. He is also a cousin to a descendant of John Andrew Branson who married Sarah Surratt and a cousin to descendants of the Greenwoods connected to the father of Larkin Branson.

His yDNA is a close match to other male Bransons who went to Gasconade and Maries, Missouri. It is also a close match to a male descendant of Andrew Jefferson Branson of Patrick, VA who went to Randolph, Indiana near descendants of Levi Branson.

His yDNA and autosomal DNA is a ZERO match to a probable descendant of the Maryland Bransons.

His or his DNA cousins' autosomal DNA shows 3rd-5th cousin relationships to others (or relatives of others) who knew or intermarried with the Bransons from New Jersey, including - Ridgway, Fristoe, Chrisman, Byrd, Critchfield, Tinsley, Greenwood, Reece, Piggott, Hadley, Hoggatt, Wickersham, Embree, Jobe, Worthington, Sharp, Thomas, Angel. Lippincott, Painter, Cassell, Mendenhall, Borden, Duckworth, Hutchins, Garwood. Haines, Mendenhall, Mayo and more.

William's autosomal DNA shows quite a few strong cousin matches with descendants of John Cock and Elizabeth Goad. I am quite sure William was a descendant of Jarrard / Jarred Branson and Sarah Cock. See the IMAGES section for ORIGINS details. Click VIEW ALL.

GEDMATCH KIT GC1830837

The goal of the following Q-matching is to show patterns of relationship with families from various regions who were related to Bransons. It is not intended to prove or show a line of descent. Focus on longest shared segments which are long enough to show a relationship.

Q-matching with a descendant of Martha Branson (daughter of John Day Branson) shows longest segment of 7.51 cM. Martha married Thomas Fawcett.

Q-matching with two descendants of Zilpha Haines and Anthony Moore of Crooked Run, Frederick, VA. Zilpha was a daughter of Bethany Haines whose son married a daughter of Jarred Branson. Bethany bought land near John Day and Thomas Branson - longest segment of 7.68 cM.

Q-matching with Rebecca Fawcett, the niece of Martha Branson. Martha was a daughter of John Day Branson. Longest segment of 8.67 cM.

Q-matching with a descendant of Benjamin Carr (Carr-8747) shows a longest shared cM of 8.4. The Carrs attended the same Quaker meetings as descendants of Thomas Branson. They were allied with Beals who were allied with the Bransons.

Q-matching with a descendant of Edward Bray and Sarah Maynor shows longest shared segment of 8.8 cM. Sarah was the sister-in-law of Levi Branson, Sr.

Q-matching with a descendant of Andrew Woods, the brother-in-law of Benjamin Borden, Jr. shows a longest shared segment of 7.5 cM.

Q-matching with a descendant of George Harlan of Chester,PA shows a longest segment 9.7 cM. The Harlans were friends of John Cock's family and allied with several families allied with the Brundsen/Branson family.

Q-matching with a descendant of Thomas Hankins of Crooked Run, Frederick, VA who witnessed the will of Thomas Branson, Sr. Longest shared segment 7.10 cM.

Q-matching with a descendant of Elizabeth Branson, daughter of Thomas Branson, Sr. Longest shared segment 7.34 cM.

Q-matching with a descendant of Clement Shinn shows longest shared segment of 7.49 cM. He was related to the Shinns allied with a daughter of John Day Branson.

Q-matching with a descendant of Thomas Allen and Catherine Branson shows longest shared segment of 7.25 cM. Catherine was descendant of Lionel Branson.

Q-matching with a descendant of Leonard Huff b. 1712 shows longest shared segment of 7.49 cM. Leonard's son married a granddaughter of John Day Branson.

Q-matching with a descendant of William Duckworth whose brother John married Mary Branson, daughter of John Day Branson. Longest shared segment 13.03 cM.

Q-matching with several descendants of Rycharde Edge and Alice Bushell. They were ancestors of Joseph Branson's wife. Longest segment 9.49 cM.

Q-matching with a descendant of Zebulon Hollingsworth b. 1696 shows longest shared segment of 7.31 cM. The Hollingsworths were allied with a relative of John Cock who married Elizabeth Goad, among others. They were acquainted with Thomas Branson, Jr. and some lived near him in NC.

Q-matching with a descendant of Alexander Ross b. 1682, the Quaker explorer of early Virginia who knew John and Thomas Branson and was in Quaker records with them - longest segment 7.31 cM.

Q-matching with five descendants of William Linville and Morgan Bryan of early Augusta, VA - shared segments included longest segments of 7.98, 9.75, 7.70, 10.87 and 7.17 cM. Some of these donors were related to the Linvilles who lived near the Bransons of Stokes, NC. Several are descendants of George Boone. Morgan Bryan was acquainted with John and Thomas Branson of then Orange, VA.

Q-matching with a descendant of Quaker Evan Thomas who was acquainted with John and Thomas Branson in Orange and Frederick, VA - longest segment of 7.15 cM.

Q-matching with a descendant of Abraham Reese and Mary Huff who was the sister-in-law of Eli Branson Sr. - longest segment of 7.55 cM. This donor was also a descendant of Rhodes Greenwood whose great granddaughter married Andrew Jefferson Branson of Patrick, VA. His descendant's yDNA is a close match to William Branson.

Q-matching with three descendants of Richard Beeson and Charity Grubb allied with Mordecai Mendenhall, Zachariah Moorman and Walter Thornburgh , Quakers who knew John and Thomas Branson - longest segments of 8.02, 8.14 and 7.08 cM.

Q-matching with a descendant of Rhodes Greenwood and Levi Reece. Rhodes was possibly the great grandfather of Elizabeth who married Andrew Jefferson Branson of Patrick, VA and Randolph, IN. Levi Reece's son married Matilda Greenwood and they also went to Randolph, IN - longest shared segment 7.55 cM

Q-matching with a descendant of William Biddle and Lydia Wardell of Burlington, NJ - their granddaughter married Restore Shinn related to the son-in-law of John Day Branson. Longest shared segment of 9.46 cM.

The following are non Q-matching: with descendants of --

John Borden, son of Benjamin Borden and Zeuriah Winter, longest shared segment of 11.37 cM.

Rachel Worthington, granddaughter of Benjamin Borden and Zeuriah Winter, lonest shared segment of 9.48 cM.

Benjamin Borden (father-in-law of Thomas Branson Jr) - 15.2 longest shared segment

James Borden b 1740 Monmouth, NJ related to the father-in-law of Thomas Branson Jr. Longest shared segment of 15.6 cM

Anders Nilsen Friend who married Annika Andersdotter, the daughter of Anders "the Finn" of New Castle, DE. Anders "the Finn" was the great grandfather of Johannis "John" Cock who married Elizabeth Goad. They were in-laws of Jarred Branson. Longest shared segment of 11.7 cM.

Leonard Huff b 1720 (his son married a granddaughter of John Day Branson) - 106 cM

Bethany Haines (allied with Jarred Branson's family and knew Thomas Branson) - Longest segment 28.5 cM

Thomas Shinn of Burlington, NJ, allied with the Bransons of New Jersey - Longest segment 9.01 cM.

Joshua Ballinger and Sarah Jones, parents of Caleb Ballinger who married Rebecca Branson, daughter of William Branson and Elizabeth Osmond of Stafford, VA. Longest shared segment of 7.14 cM.

John Hutchins and Alice Stanley who was related to Miriam Stanley, a gr-granddaughter of John Day Branson - longest shared segment 7.98 cM.

Benjamin Piggott and Mary Hadley (allied with Levi Branson's family) - Longest segment 116.2 cM with one descendant and 98 cM with another.

William Duckworth, grandfather of John Duckworth who married Mary Branson. Mary was a daughter of John Day Branson. Longest shared segment of 11.7 cM.

Benjamin Carr and Patience Beals (Patience was related to John Bowater Beals who married Lois Branson) - shared segments 124.4 cM.

Two descendants of Andrew Vance Sr.of Frederick, VA who lived near John Day Branson at Cedar Creek. Andrew's brother-in-law lived next to David Caile, the father-in-law of James Branson. One of Andrew's descendants married a descendant of Eli Branson. Longest shared segment of 8.05 and 7.62 cM,

John Beals and Sarah Bowater, their grandson John Bowater Beals married a granddaughter of John Day Branson - longest shared segment 9.49 cM.

John Linville b. 1796 of Stokes, NC, related to Lydia Linville who married William Branson of Belews Creek Stokes, NC. Belews Creek is where Emily Branson lived - she was a descendant of Levi Branson and Mary Maynor. Longest shared segment of 12 cM, total shared 36 cM.

A relative of Zachariah Lyon Branson of Stokes, NC shares 10.86 longest segment with a descendant of John Day Branson. William shares longest segment of 7.51 cM with that John Day Branson descendant. Levi Branson and Mary Maynor are likely the parents of Zachariah since his family lived at Belews Creek as did other descendants of Levi.

Andrew Byrd who lived next to Valentine Sevier at Smith Creek, Augusta, VA. Longest shared segment of 10.87 cM.

Isaac Perkins, an original member of the Quaker meeting called Hopewell, Frederick, VA with John and Thomas Branson. Longest shared segment of 12.68 cM.

Col. James Patton and Mary Borden, daughter of Benjamin Borden and Abigail Grover. Longest shared segment of 11.86 cM.

Rev. John Craig of Tinkling Springs Church, Augusta, VA who entered into a contract with Col James Patton, son-in-law of Benjamin Borden and Abigail Grover Longest shared segment of 7.94 cM.

James McKay, brother of Robert McKay who owned land next to Thomas Branson Jr. at Crooked Run, Orange, VA and whose relative married a yDNA relative of Johannis Cock (father-in-law of Jarred Branson). Longest shared segment of 7.74 cM.

Quaker minister Thomas Beals and Sarah Antrim (in-laws of Thomas Branson, son of John Day Branson) - shared segments - 124.4 cM

Valentine Hollingsworth and Ann Calvert, neighbors of the Brunsdens, Vestals and Cocks of New Castle, DE. Peter Renfro and Elizabeth Hollingsworth of Orange, VA. Longest shared segment of 11.72 cM.

Catherine Branson and Thomas Allen (desc. of Lionel Branson) - shared segment 71.8 cM

Eli Branson, son of Thomas Branson, Jr. - Longest segment 10.9 cM

Clement Shinn and Elizabeth Webb (Shinns were allied with a descendant of John Day Branson) - 90.7 cM

Peter Lehew (allied with Lionel Branson's family) - Longest segment 17.6 cM

Samuel Shinn Sr. b. 1696 whose son married a daughter of John Day Branson - Longest segment 10.9 cM

Richard Beeson - Longest segment 17.4 cM

Richard Harrold Sr. son of Jonathan Harrold and Catherine Hiatt whose family were members of Hopewell MM with John and Thomas Branson. The Harrolds lived at Belews Creek, Stokes, NC near a descendant of Thomas Branson Jr. Longest shared segment of 8.0 cM.

John Mendenhall (2nd gr-grandfather of Rachel who m. Levi Branson b. 1788) - Longest segment 14.9 cM

Benjamin Forman, in-law of Joseph Branson - Longest segment 15.9 cM

Andrew Bird who lived next to Valentine Sevier and near the Borden Tract at Smiths Creek, Augusta, VA. Andrew's wife's family was allied with the Rambos as were relatives of Johannis Cock. the father-in-law of Jarred Branson. Longest shared segment of 10.87 cM.

Hough/Huff - Longest segment 14.4 cM

John Piggott and Margery Brown (descendant allied with Maynor, in-laws of Levi Branson) - Longest segment 124.4 cM

Hannah Dubois (m. William Forman) - Longest segment 13.1 cM

John Rogers (grandfather of Lionel Branson's wife) - Longest segment - 13 cM

Robert Worthington (allied with Borden) - Longest shared segment 20

John Edge and Mary Smedley (related to wife of Joseph Branson) - Longest segment 12.7 cM

Rebecca Borden/Burden m. Thomas Branson Jr. - Longest segment 15.6 cM

Cantrell allied with Eli Branson's family - Longest segment 15.3 cM

Adam Stedham (grandfather of Johannis/John Cock who married Elizabeth Goad) - Longest segment 13.7 cM

Pancoast - Longest segment 20.8 cM

Jacob Chrisman next door neighbor to Lionel Branson - Longest segment 22.2 cM

Moses Grigsby m. Katherine Branson - Longest segment 15.9 cM

Bond-Surratt (Bond allied with Levi Branson's family) (Surratt allied with John Andrew Branson) - Longest segment 19.2 cM

Maynard/Maynor - Longest segment 20.7 cM

Mary Caile m. James Branson - Longest segment 17.9 cM

Baptist Rev. Aaron Bledsoe who served in the church with Elder John Branson (father of Larkin) of Essex, VA; Longest shared segment of 11.74 cM.

Frederick Stipp m. Catherine Branson - Longest segment 10.1 cM

Stanley/Hutchins - Longest segment 21.3 cM

Valentine Sevier - Shared segments 35, Longest segment 13.7 cM

Andrew Ramsey m. Martha Branson (sister of Larkin Branson) - Longest segment 17.2 cM

Johannis/John Cock and Elizabeth Goad - Longest segment 14.4 cM

John Ewing, a relative of William Ewing who lived at Crooked Run next to John Painter and John Branson and whose relative married a yDNA relative of Johannis Cock (m. Goad). Longest shared segment of 7.88 cM.

Robert Poage grandson of Elizabeth Preston whose family was allied with the Bordens, Also allied with Breckinridge and a descendant of Andrew Woods, the brother-in-law of Benjamin Borden III. Longest shared segment of 8.73 cM.

Robert Allen, father of Thomas Allen who married a sister of Rebecca Miller - the wife of Lionel Branson, Jr. Longest shared segment of 9.82 cM.

Isaac Van Meter son of Joost Van Meter and Sarah Dubois. Dubois was allied with a descendant of Lionel Branson. Longest shared segment of 7.54 cM.

Robert Wallace whose family was allied with Andrew Woods family. The Woods were in-laws of Benjamin Borden III. Longest shared segment of 13.9 cM. William is also a cousin of a descendant of this Woods family and that descendant shares a longest segment of 11.08 cM with the Wallace donor. This is evidence that the DNA did come from the same source. The Bordens were allied with Thomas Branson, Jr.

DOCUMENTS AND RECORDS

With DNA Q-matching, William shares 1218.33 centimorgans with a descendant of Aaron Harlan and Sarah Hollingsworth from New Castle, DE. Aaron Harlan lived on the Rocky River in Chatham, NC near Thomas Branson Jr. in 1756. I was not surprised to learn that because of what was discovered while researching the Cocks of New Castle., DE. They were well acquainted with the Hollingsworths. Sarah’s father was Valentine Hollingsworth, Jr. His father Valentine Sr. died 1710 in New Castle, DE. The Hollingsworths were also allied with a relative of Johannis Cock (The father-in-law of Jarred Branson).

Source: Annals of Augusta County - The first county court of Botetourt Co. was held Feb 14, 1770 to commission the Justices – Lewis, Breckinridge, Preston, Christian, Trimble, Bowyer, BENJAMIN HAWKINS, Fleming, Maxwell and Skillern. Richard Woods was appointed Sheriff. At the third meeting ANDREW WOODS was appointed Justice.

NOTE: Andrew Woods’ was the brother-in-law of Benjamin Borden, Jr. who was then deceased. Benjamin was the brother-in-law of Thomas Branson Jr. Benjamin Hawkins married Benjamin Borden Junior’s daughter. Benjamin’s sister Sarah Hawkins married John Sevier, nephew of Johannis Cock. Johannis Cock was the father-in-law of Jarred Branson and the 3rd great grandfather of William Franklin Branson.

ORANGE CO. NC TAX LIST - 1755 (partial) This is the first tax list for the county. http://www.rootsweb.com/~ncchatha/1755oran_tax.html McGown, James, Sr. 1 0 McGown, James, Jr. 1 0 Bumpas, Robert 1 0 Bumpas, Samuel 1 0 McMillan, Wm. 1 0 Sarratt, Samuel & sons 3 0 Dotson, Isaac 1 0 Kilgore, Robert & 2 sons 3 0 Branson, Thomas & Basindine, Charles & Leadon, Jacob 3 0 Summers, jacob 1 0 Dillard, James 1 0 Fruit, James & son 2 0 Hollingsworth, Valentine 2 0

Also, William shares 1228.71 centimorgans with a descendant of James Fruit who is on that tax list. Samuel Sarratt on the list was related to Sarah Surratt who married John Andrew Branson of Patrick/Carroll, VA.

William also shares 1005.33 centimorgans with a descendant of Edward Bray and Sarah Maynor -the sister-in-law of Levi Branson, Sr.

The following documents show that Justa Cock (uncle of Johannis “John” Cock) and Ericus Anderson were acquainted with Quaker John Richardson who attended a Friends meeting in New Castle, DE near White Clay Creek where Anders Cock (the father of Johannis) owned land. He was also acquainted with Quaker Valentine Hollingsworth who attended that meeting. These Quakers were also acquainted with Thomas and John Branson.

Philadelphia County, Pennsylvania, Will Index, 1682-1819 Name: Justa Cock Role: Witness Will Date: 25 Nov 1708 Will Proved Date: 15 Dec 1708 Comments: Bruer Sinexson of Newcastle Co. Jaman. November 25, 1708. Dorcas wife of son James and their eldest son Bruer. Friends Erricus Burcos and Erricus Anderson. Executors: Wife Sophia and son James. Page: C:146 Name Erricus Anderson Erricus Burcos Justa Cock John Richardson Biographical and genealogical history of the state of Delaware" https://archive.org/stream/biographicalgene01runk/biographicalgene01runk_djvu.txt

it is mentioned in Smith's History of Pennsylvania that "'a monthly meeting of Friends was held in a private house……and was composed of Friends living in the said town, and near Christiana and White Clay Creeks and the east of the Brandywine, and continued to be held at New Castle till the 1st month, when it was moved to Newark, and held at Valentine Hollingsworth, Cornelius Lupton, and .Morgan Derwitt's .. until the year 1704, at which time it was moved to the Centre, and held by turns at New Castle, Newark and Centre, and sometimes at the home of John Richardson; this continued until 1715."

Valentine Hollingsworth was on the 1755 Orange, NC Tax List with Thomas Branson, Jr.

GRANVILLE GRANTS https://www.chathamhistory.org/pdfs/GranvilleGrantListmodified16Apr09bydateofgrant.pdf

Henderson, Richard May 1755 Mar 1756 448 ac Rocky River adj Thomas Branson Vestal, William Apr 1756 Nov 1757 410 ac Rocky River and Poplar Branch Husbands, Herman Aug 1757 Aug 1758 640 ac Loves Cr waters of Rocky River Hollingsworth, Jesse Apr 1756 Jul 1760 225 ac Deep River Harlan, Aaron Apr 1756 Aug 1760 536 ac Harlands Cr waters of Rocky River

MILITARY

William was a Sergeant in the Army Air Corp during World War II. He served four years, three of which were in the South Pacific on the island of New Guinea. He was injured in the leg when an enemy soldier stabbed him with a bayonet after sneaking out of a hole in the ground. The enemy was immediately killed by other US soldiers who were accompanying William. He recovered on the island and went back to work.

PASSIONS

William was passionate about spending as much time as possible at his family's hunting ranch in the mountains between Healdsburg and the Pacific ocean in California. The 120-acre ranch was purchased in 1935 by his father Ira. During times of need, William and his family survived many a Winter on the meat of the deer and wild boar he hunted. When it no longer became necessary to do this for food, he stopped hunting and spent his time hiking and clearing the land. After his retirement from US Steel, he lived at the ranch for several years. He was a super active outdoorsman all of his life.

Sources

• S. Branson, his daughter