John Braddy, died Washington County, GA 1855
Although not my ancestor, folks working on John Braddy who died in Washington County in 1855 might be interested in the following. In order to minimize space, I have left out information on his children.
Attention therefore turns to James Braddy who was living later in the 1700s in Pitt County, North Carolina. On February 18, 1780, James Brady entered a 50-acre tract of land on the north side of the Tar River in Pitt County, North Carolina.
This James Braddy was possibly the same man who on November 5, 1807 deeded tracts of land in Pitt County to his sons named in the deed. Elisha Braddy was to receive 160 acres where he lived, this land to be divided between Elisha, Benjamin and Nathan Braddy. The lot where the home of James stood was to be divided among John, Amos and William Braddy. This author believes there is evidence that this John Braddy is likely the one who moved to Washington County, Georgia.
A few years later in Pitt County, several deeds confirm the relationship between members of this Braddy family, including John Braddy.
• On July 2, 1814, William Braddy sold 54 acres to Henry Wamble, Jr., a deed witnessed by John Braddy. Henry Wamble’s name appears in a subsequent discussion of John Braddy in Washington County.
• John Braddy also witnessed the sale of land by Nathan Braddy to Amos Braddy on October 8, 1815. On the same date, John witnessed the sale of land by Lydia Braddy to Amos Braddy. Both deeds indicate that the land in question was left by William Braddy, brother to Nathan and Lydia.
• Nancy Braddy on December 12, 1816 sold land that she acquired from her brother William Braddy to Amos Braddy. This sale was witnessed by Elisha Braddy and Benjamin Braddy.
• On August 9, 1817, John Braddy sold 55.5 acres to John Teal for $400.
• Finally, on August 15, 1817, John Braddy sold land left to him by his brother William, the purchaser being Amos Braddy.
The John Braddy who is found later in Washington County, Georgia was born in North Carolina about 1773.
Another possible relative who arrived very early in Washington County, Georgia was William Braddy, for whom a tract of 287 acres was surveyed on May 17, 1786.
On February 7, 1809, land in Pitt County, North Carolina owned by the deceased Alan Mays was to be divided with 32 acres going to each of his heirs, specifically daughter Marianne May Braddy, her husband John Braddy and daughters Tabitha and Delilah May.
The most compelling evidence that links the John Braddy of interest to Pitt County is a deed recorded in Pitt County in 1883. Although only a synopsis of that deed has been reviewed, it seems to indicate that Oliver B. Braddy, Andrew J. Braddy, James S. Braddy, Martha A. Braddy, Arsenia Heath, Alafair Raines and Sarah Raines of Georgia had an interest in land in Pitt County that was “drawn” by May (Marianne or Mary) Braddy, wife of John Braddy, in the division of land originally owned by Allen May, father of John’s first wife May. This land had been conveyed by John Braddy to Howell Thomas in 1835. The first three names recorded on this deed are the sons of the John Braddy of interest, sons by John’s first wife.
John was not recorded by the 1800 census in Pitt County as head of household. Elisha Braddy and James Braddy were enumerated, the latter man having three sons between the ages of 10 and 16, too young apparently for one to be John. Of course, John might have resided that year with his father-in-law or someone else.
The 1810 Census in Pitt County recorded the households of four Braddy men, Elisha, John, Nathan and William, all probably sons of James Braddy. John Braddy’s household consisted of one man between 26 and 45 years of age and a young girl under age 10. Next door were the families of Elisha, Nathan and William Braddy, the first two roughly the same age as John. This author wonders if the young under 10 with John in 1810 might have been his daughter Sarah, the same female who in 1860 at age 51 was Sarah Hall.
The birth of son Oliver in 1816 in North Carolina, given that his father John Braddy was in Washington County, Georgia by 1820, yields a four year time frame when John moved south into Georgia.
The first census recording of John Braddy in Washington County was in 1820. His family that year included one male under 10 (Oliver) and one over 45 (John). There were three females, one under 10, one between 10 and 16 and one between 16 and 26. Not far from John was the small family of Drucilla Braddy, possibly a relative. Drucilla was between 16 and 16 years of age with two young children.
On August 28, 1821, a local paper published an announcement by the sheriff that on the first Tuesday in November, certain property belonging to John “Brady” would be sold to satisfy a debt to Joseph Sessions. John’s property to be sold consisted of one bay mare, seven head of cattle, 19 hogs and two feather beds.
The 1825 Washington County tax list includes an entry for John Braddy, owner of land in both Washington (300 acres) and Twiggs (202 acres) counties. Exhibit No. 4 shows the recording of John on this tax list.
A Washington County estate record dated July 3, 1829 named John Brady as one of several persons entitled to a share in the estate of Thomas Robison, said to be a native of Pitt County, North Carolina. The fourteen other heirs included Moses Robison, Isaac Robison, Enoch Robison, Joshua Robison, Robert Robison, Lucy Robison, Henry Wamble and Agnes Bolton. Each heir received $77.64. Note above that in 1814, John Braddy of Pitt County, North Carolina witnessed the sale of land to Henry Wamble.
For the 1830 Census in Washington County, the family of John Braddy consisted of males – two under 5, one between 5 and 10 (Daniel), one between 10 and 15, one between 15 and 20 and one between 50 and 60 (John). Females were two between 5 and 10 and one between 30 and 40 (Sarah). John did not own slaves.
One researcher of this family states that on May 1, 1831, John Braddy married Sarah Hall Burns in Jones County, Georgia. Sarah was born in 1806, a daughter of James Burns and Penelope Pharr. Sarah might have been married to a Mr. Hall before marrying John Braddy. As noted above, other persons interested in this family claim that the second or possibly a third wife of John Braddy was Sarah Hoffner.
John appeared on an 1836 tax list for Washington County.
John was still farming for the 1840 Census in Washington County. His household consisted of males – two under 5, two between 10 and 15, two between 15 and 20 (Daniel) and one between 60 and 70 (John). Females were two between 5 and 10, two between 15 and 20 and one between 30 and 40 (Sarah). Three doors off was the family of John Page (see below). John Braddy did not own slaves.
John’s estate papers indicate that he lived on the Big Ohoopee River.
A man named John Braddy, in addition to Jordan Outlaw and others, was a trustee of the Cedar Creek Church when it was incorporated in 1849. This church later was in Emanuel County.
The 1850 Census taken in Washington County enumerated John Braddy (76) and Sarah (45). The order in which the children in this household were listed is possibly of considerable significance: Daniel (23), Jordan (16), Franklin (12), Elizabeth (8), Elafair (19) and Martha (17). John was a planter, and his farm was valued at $1,500. This census recorded all members as having been born in North Carolina. John did not own slaves. Next door was the family of son A. J. Braddy (28 and born in Georgia). Just down the road was John’s son Oliver Braddy and the family of John and Olive Page.
The practice of census takers beginning in 1850 was to record a family’s children in order of descending age. A review of dozens of households recorded by Mr. Jones, the man who recorded John Braddy’s household in 1850, confirms that he followed that practice. Accordingly, the listing of Elefair and Martha out of order and at the end of the Braddy household suggests to this author that they were step-children, probably children of John’s wife by a former marriage.
Sarah reportedly died in Washington County on October 7, 1853, although Sarah Hall (50), probably formerly married to John Braddy, was living with John’s sonJames S. Braddy in 1860.
John died on January 20, 1855, reportedly in Hancock County, Georgia, just across the county line from Washington. However, an announcement of his death in a local paper on February 1, 1855 read:
“Died. In this county, on the 20th of January, 1855, Mr. John Braddy, in the 82d year of his age. He leaves 11 children and 30 grandchildren to mourn his loss.”
Although a minor point, this news account states that John’s death was in Washington County.
A will dated December 6, 1854 that was filed for probate in Washington County indicates the large amount of land that John owned. John gave his son Oliver B. Braddy 100 acres that adjoined land owned by the Outlaws, Watson and others. Sons James L. and David R. received 200 acres adjacent to Henry Walker and others. Son Andrew I. Braddy inherited 140 acres along the Big Ohoopee River. Sons Jordan and Franklin Braddy were to get 300 acres where John lived on the Big Ohoopee River. John’s four daughters, Louisa, wife of Jonathan Smith, Elafair, Martha Ann and Sarah were to receive 500 acres in Emanuel County. The estate was to be administered by Oliver Braddy. Witnesses were Jordan Outlaw, Harry Eason, John Crawford and William Hill. The absence of any reference to John’s wife is consistent with her prior death.
A local paper printed on November 6, 1856 reported that J. B. Braddy had filed to sell the property of John Braddy, deceased.
Their son Daniel R. Braddy married Mary Page in Washington County, Georgia on March 26, 1855. The ceremony was performed by William Norris, M. G.
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Re: John Braddy, died Washington County, GA 1855
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