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Christopher Branch (branch201)

Father: Lionel Braunche (branch1E)
Mother: Valentia Sparkes

b. 1601 in London, England [bevan]

d. 1681 in Henrico County, Virginia [bevan]

m. licence September 2, 1619 in St. Peter's,Westcheap, London, England, Mary Addie, bap. August 16, 1593 in Darton, Yorkshire, England, d. 1630 in Virginia, Daughter of Francis Addie and Margaret Lee. [f2027]

Issue [bevan]

Thomas Branch, christened May 1620 in Jamestown, Virginia, d. buried April 21, 1695 in Varina Parish, Henrico County, Virginia

m. Elizabeth Gough
1622: Thomas was the only Virginia born to survive the Good Friday Indian Massacre

William Branch, b. 1625 in Henrico County, Virginia, d. 1676 in Henrico County, Virginia

m. Jane Hatcher

Christopher Branch, Jr. (branch1001), bc. 1627

Information:

March 1, 1601, proved, April 24, 1602:
Christopher's grandfather William Braunche (branch2E) wrote the following clause in his will: "To my unthrifty and disobedient sonne Honell (Lyonell?) by blacke gowne and best cloke and to his first borne sonne at eightene yeares of age then liveinge in money Five marks". It would appear that when Christopher turned 18 he collected his inheritance, got married and sailed for Virginia.

March 1619/20:
Christopher and his wife departed for America on the London Merchant, which was dispatched by the Virginia Company (also known as the London Company) from Tilburyhope in England with 200 passengers. [f2027]

1624/25:
The Henrico County, Virginia Muster of 1624/25 lists Christopher, his wife and their nine month old son Thomas, as living at "ye Colledg Land". 'College Land was a large tract of land in Henrico County which was to be used as a place were the Indians would learn the Christian religion. In the words of the colonists, the land was set aside "to erect and build a college in Virginia for the training and bringing up of infidel's children to the true knowledge of god and understanding of righteousness." This plan was abandoned in 1622 after the Good Friday Massacre of about 350 colonist by the Indians led by chief Opechancanough. [f2027]

1632:
Christopher returned to England, going to court, saying he had been cheated out of ownership of the Bull Inn at Abingdon by his Uncle Robert Payne. Christopher's case was that, by the terms of his great-uncle Thomas' will of 1565 the Bull Inn after descending to his grandfather William, and to his uncle, William's eldest son Thomas, should have descended to Christopher's father Lionel, as heir at law of the younger Thomas, and so to Christopher after Lionel's death. But Christopher lost his case and returned to Virginia and settled down to a planter's life. [Ranch]

1634:
The Land Office issued to Christopher Branch, Planter, of Arrowhattocks a 21 year lease on 100 acres on the north side of the James River. [bevan]

1635:
Christopher obtained a patent for 250 acres on the other side of the James River. 50 acres for his own and 200 for the transportation of four other persons. He renewed the patent wtice in 1638. [bevan]

1636-38:
Christopher had a patent for 100 acres of which he assigned 60 acres to James Place in return for 100 acres. He renewed the 1636 patent and got another 350 acres for seven more transports in 1638. [bevan]

1639:
Christopher was the Viewer of Tobacco. [bevan]

1639 thru 1641:
Christopher was a member of the House of Burgesses from Henrico County, Virginia. [bevan]

1656:
Christopher was a Justice of the Peace in Henrico County, Virginia. [bevan]

1665:
Christopher now obtained a patent on Kingsland as he now called his estate. The 1,380 acre plantation encompassed his earlier 250 and 450 acre patents, and added 50 acres from John Griffin and 630 acres for transporting thirteen persons. [bevan]

June 20, 1678, probated, February 20, 1681/82:
Christopher's will confirmed what he had already gifted to his son Thomas and the rest was itemized out to his grandchildren Christopher, Samuel, Benjamin, Sarah and Mary (wife of Thomas Jeffferson (jeff201). At his son Christopher's death (1665) the children had come to live with him and were raised at Kingsland.

April 13, 1682:
The inventory and appraisement of Christopher's estate was pounds 38:7:10 and the division of the estate was ordered. [bevan]

1691:
Christopher Branch III and his Uncle Thomas Branch were in heated dispute. Both lived on land that Christopher Branch I had owned and Thomas put a fence across an old cart path blocking Christopher's way to the creek. After Christopher several times tore down the fence, Thomas sued him. To help resolve the issue, Christopher's brothers, Samuel and Benjamin Branch were ordered to give depostions about where a cart path ran. Christopher III pointed to a clause in his grandfather's will - that the cart way be not stopped up nor altered that now is to go into the woods for timber or for firewood but to have a clear passage - and the court ordered Thomas to leave a path fifteen feet wide. [bevan]

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