William Alexander Bronson (1822 - 1914)

Born 1822 in South Carolina

Died 1914 at about age 92 in Screven County , Georgia, United States

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Biography

Who Was the Father of Mariah Jane Brunson Hillis?

Edgar Bronson? Despite the naming of Edgar Bronson and Liza Kane as the parents of Mariah Jane on her death certificate, many researchers have pointed to William Alexander Brunson as her parent. Jane Hillis died on January 4, 1932. Her death certificate gave her parents' names as Edgar Bronson and LIz Kane; her birthplace as Burke Co., Ga.^[1] Could the name of Edgar have been an error? No records for Edgar have been found at this point, besides the name on the death certificate.

William Alexander Brunson The other possible parent named by researchers is William Alexander Brunson. In 1850, Alexander Brunson, was 28 years old and living with his wife, Eliza, also 28, in Beaufort, South Carolina. Their youngest daughter was Mary, born in 1850. Other children in the household were: ^[2]

• William, 6
• Sarah, 5
• Robert , 3
• James, 2
• Mary, 0

In 1852, a William E. Brunson married Mary Buford in December of 1852 in Scriven County, Georgia. ^[3] This "E" on the marriage license adds to the confusion noted below in the discussion of William Alexander or Edgar.

In 1860, Alexander Bronson and Mary (aged 37 and 36, respectively) were living in Screven County, Georgia. ^[4]

• Sarah Bronson 15
• Robt Bronson 12
• James Bronson 10
• Elizabeth Bronson 9
• Jane Bronson 8
• Peter Bronson 4
• Henry Bronson 2
• Laura Bronson 8/12
• Rebecca Wood 55 (Domestic)

-->Please note that there is another William Brunson who lived in Charleston SC in 1860 and 1870; he also had a wife named Mary, and a daughter Sarah, although his Sarah was 15 in 1870. His other children's names did not correspond. In 1870, the SC William Brunson had 72 year-old Elizabeth Brunson living with him and his family. Perhaps a clue as to his mother?

In 1880, Alexander and his wife, Mary, were living in Screven, Georgia with their children:^[5]

• Alexander Brunson 57
• Mary Brunson 42
• Jamison V. Brunson 19
• John W. Brunson 17
• Florence Brunson 15
• Emma Brunson 12
• Zipporah Brunson 10
• George Brunson 7
• Edgar Brunson 4

In 1900, William A., 77, born in August of 1822 in South Carolina--as were his parents-- along with his wife Mary G., born 1835 in Georgia, are living with their son, Peter, born 1856 in Georgia. Also with them was their daughter Emma, aged 31, also born in Georgia.

William Alexander Brunson died in Screven County, Georgia in 1914.

Discusssion

Alexander's first wife's name, Eliza, certainly could be "Liza" on the death certificate but it would seem from the census record if this were Mariah Jane's parents, that Eliza would not have been the mother of Mariah Jane, as she was likely born after Alexander remarried.

It is interesting that the Brunsons named a child Edgar, but certainly not proof of relationship. That and the "E" on the marriage license does paint a confusing picture.

It seems that Alexander moved to Screven County and stayed there. Mariah Jane reported that she was born in adjoining Burke County; no records have been found there for either Edgar/Liza or Jane herself, until her marriage.

Sources

1. ↑ Georgia Department of Health and Vital Statistics; Atlanta, Georgia; viewed at https://www.ancestry.com/discoveryui-content/view/1087252:2562
2. ↑ 1850 US Federal Census; Record Group Number: 29; Series Number: M432; Residence Date: 1850; Home in 1850: Prince Williams Parish, Beaufort, South Carolina; Roll: 849; Page: 18b
3. ↑ Georgia Archives; Morrow, Georgia; County Marriage Records, 1828–1978; viewed at https://www.ancestry.com/imageviewer/collections/4766/images/40660_307939-00094?pId=554734
4. ↑ US Federal Census, 1860; viewed at https://https://www.ancestry.com/discoveryui-content/view/11663273:7667?tid=164269166&pid=122265487370&hid=1019613050596
5. ↑ US Federal Census, 1880; viewed at https://www.ancestry.com/discoveryui-content/view/8138406:6742?tid=164269166&pid=122265487370&hid=1019613050593