Edward Broughton's Children

Background about Francis Potter Neal from Arkansas Digital Archives ([https://digitalheritage.arkansas.gov/finding-aids/101/ retrieved 28 Jan 2024): Frances Potter was born in Strong, Union County, Arkansas, in 1905, to Finis and Lucy Richardson Potter. She began teaching in the El Dorado public schools in 1924, and married Karl Neal (1887-1963) in 1931. From 1941-1947, Mrs. Neal served as school librarian at Warren Elementary in Bradley County. During that time, she also completed requirements for a bachelor's degree at the University of Arkansas at Fayetteville in 1945. In 1947, she became circulation and reference librarian at the Arkansas Library Commission. In 1949, Neal was awarded a master's degree from the University of Denver; and, in 1952, she became executive secretary of the Arkansas Library Commission. She served in that capacity until her retirement in 1978. Frances Potter Neal died July 30, 1990. Her research papers are housed at the Arkansas Digital Archives, Identifier Francis Potter Neal papers, MS.000198

From Ancestry.com, posted by user gordonmatthews152 on 6 Dec 2007 (Note: I have added information in brackets [ ] ):

From documents provided by Francis Potter Neal, 108 Brown St., Little Rock, Ark, Dec. 1962 to Dawne Ramsey Matthews of Jonesboro, Arkansas. Francis is the daughter of Lucy Letitia Richardson, child of Henry Francis Richardson and Margaret Lorena Broughton.

The Broughton family came to South Carolina from England and settled on the banks of the Savannah River. There were three brothers – Thomas, Edward and Henry. One brother [John Henry Broughton] crossed the river and established his home in Georgia. A descendent of this brother [daughter, actually] was Epsie Elliot Broughton [born in Abbeville SC per her obituary below] December 5, 1815. Her mother was Margaret Wright. A descendant of the family remaining in South Carolina was Edward [N] Broughton, born June 24, 1816. He and Epsie were married [in Greene Co GA] and lived in South Carolina. They had three children – John Ragin, Letitia Billup, and Margaret Lorena. The father died December 24, 1847 two years after the birth of his third child. The mother went back to Greene County, Georgia to live at her father’s home. After his death she sold her interest in the estate to other heirs and came to Arkansas January 1858. Her elder daughter, Letitia and her husband James Larkin Richardson were married October 7 and came to Arkansas in 1858. Letitia was homesick and wrote often begging her mother to bring the younger children and come to Arkansas. Epsie brought a number of slaves with her. She came by boat from Savannah to New Orleans and from there to Camden, Arkansas. For a wedding present her father had given her a Negro couple, Charlotte and Abednego, with the stipulation that they never be sold but should have their freedom in the case of her death. On the boat from Savannah she was offered a handsome price for the couple but refused to sell them. As long as she lived at her father’s home after her husband’s death she had charge of the sewing, the health and spiritual welfare of the slaves. She said they were often a burden. She must go to the slave quarters and see about one who was seriously ill as it was a great financial loss if a valuable slave died. Clothes must be made for those who worked in the fields and the smarter girls were taught to cut and sew. She thought they should hear the Bible and be taught to read and write.

Her obituary from the Warren newspaper-

Mrs. Epsie E. Broughton passes away – Early Monday morning October 25, 1909 Mrs. Epsie Elliott Broughton died at the home of her daughter, Mrs. H.F. Richardson, of this city. She was born near Abbeville, S.C. December 5, 1815, and was likely the oldest person in the county. She was married to Edward N. Broughton and came to Arkansas in 1859, Funeral services were held at the Methodist Church Tuesday, conducted by Rev. A.M. Shaw and her remains were laid away in their last resting place in the New Cemetery. A life filled with years and kindly deeds has gone to its reward. She leaves a son J.R. Broughton of Jersey and a daughter, Mrs. H.F. Richardson of this city, who have the sympathy of the community in their bereavement.

From Broughton-Douglas Families of East Texas, Mary Douglas Barnes, 1990

Page 3: In a letter written by Sarah Broughton Branch, a daughter of John Henry Broughton, it is stated that she thought her grandfather's name had been "Nathaniel," that he served in the Revolution, and that his house was burned. Also, she believed that he married a Miss Izzard. Thus, in 1890, when this letter was written, it was thought there was a connection to Governor Thomas Broughton. One Broughton did marry a Mary Izzard (15).

Page 61: (15) Letter, Sarah Branch Broughton to granddaughter, Julia O'Keefe Nelson, copy courtesy of Virginia Horkan, Descendant.

This collection prepared by the DAR chapter was gleaned from local newspapers and published in a book.

Two things about this publication in 1902 are problematic:

1. The writer, Julia O'Keefe Nelson, has changed her grandmother Sarah (Broughton) Branch's statement in her 1890 letter that she "thought her grandfather's name had been 'Nathaniel'" to now definitely being named Nathaniel. However, no Nathaniel Broughton married an Izard. The only Izard marriage in the Broughton family of Charleston was Charlotte who married Henry Izard.

From Historical Collections of the Joseph Habersham Chapter, Daughters American Revolution, Vol 1, 1902, Showalter Co, Dalton GA

Page 207: BROUGHTON - Nathaniel Broughton served in the revolutionary war under General Marion. He was born and lived in South Carolina, his home at one time being burned by the tories. He had three sons--Nathaniel, John and Edward--and I think two daughters. The son Nathaniel moved to Alabama about the year 1815.

Edward lived and died in South Carolina. His wife's maiden name was Naomi. Two of his sons married their first cousins, the daughters of John Broughton, and his daughter, Mary Broughton, married John Broughton's son, Jacob.

John Broughton was born in South Carolina. His first wife's name was Sarah Dye, who lived one year. He then moved to Savannah, Ga., and married Mary Jerdine. She had four children--Ann, Edward, Mary and Elizabeth. He moved to Greene county, Georgia, in 1806. His wife died in 1807. Afterwards he married Margaret Wright, who had eight children. J.O.N. [Julia O'Keefe Nelson, granddaughter of Sarah Broughton Branch and great-granddaughter of John Henry Broughton]