William John Brandon (abt. 1773 - bef. 1850)

Born about 1773 in Cumberland, Pennsylvania

Ancestors

Descendants

Died before 1850 before about age 77 in Venango, Pennsylvania, United States

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Biography

William was born about 1771. He passed away about 1853.

William was born about 1773. He passed away before 1850. Lived in Sandycreek Twp, Venango County before 1801, then to Cranberry Twp where he was a noted hunter according to a history of Venango County. Served in the War of 1812 in the 132nd Regiment under Col. Samuel Dale (Babcock's Venango County history) and was a constable for many years. In the French Creek Twp, Venango Co census for 1830 as William "Brannon" (the 1820 census is a different family judging by the numbers), His son James is there separately, but in William and his wife's household there are extra children even accounting for son William and wife in the household. Even a different mix for the Cranberry census for 1840. Gone by 1850. Looks like this couple had one more son and several girls. Online trees ID William's wife as Rachel Tidbal. I do not know why. No one in the Venango families named a child Rachel after this supposed matriarch. A 75 year old Rachel Tidbal (NOT a Brandon) is in the household of this William's grandson William (s/o William Jr.) in the 1850 Rockland Twp. census. This William's own wife Rachel is put next door with a John Miller. Absent any information about why this family has been constructed this way by other genealogists, I speculate that Rachel Brandon belongs in William's household and the Rachel Tidball should be with Mr. Miller. Meanwhile, the partition of the property of a Robert Hays dec'd in Westmoreland County in 1815 is signed by heir Elizabeth Hays Brandon and her husband William Brandon. It is signed in Venango County. Her sister Margaret Hays Nicholson and husband Joseph Nicholson also sign there. This is the only place for a wife of William Brandon of that age to go. I suspect Elizabeth Hays is the matriarch here.

Sources

• As researched by Amy Schult
• https://www.ancestry.com/family-tree/person/tree/168205429/person/272188176844/facts
• https://www.genealogy.com/ftm/b/r/a/Sally-A-Brandon-MD/GENE7-0022.html#CHILD118
• “History of Venango County, Pennsylvania.” Google Books. Google. Accessed June 29, 2021. https://books.google.com/books?id=NOJEAQAAMAAJ&dq=%22James+Brandon%22+1801+pennsylvania&pg=PA588#v=onepage&q=%22James%20Brandon%22%201801%20pennsylvania&f=false. pg. 588