Person Page - 126

     Waylonza Penn Brannen was the son of Samuel B. Brannen and Nancy Ann C. Woods.

     William was born circa 1745 at Ireland.¹ He was the son of "Progenitor" Brannen. He married Elizabeth (--?--), , circa 1786. William died circa 1840 at Bulloch Co., Georgia.² His body was buried at Lower Lotts Creek Church, Bulloch Co., Georgia.
     
Biography of William Brannen:

We believe William Brannen was born in Ireland. This is based on the 1880 Census record of his daughter Cyrene Brannen (1802-1881) who is the only one of his children that lived until 1880 and that we were able to forward trace to 1880. In that Census record Cyrene clearly indicates her father was born in Ireland and her mother was born in North Carolina. [1880 Elmore Co. AL U. S. Federal Census - Five Points Beat 12, ED. 71, page 7 (84D), family 37, Family of Christopher Powell]

     The earliest record we have found of William Brannen is a headright granting William Brannon 100 acres in Burke County, Georgia in 1790. [Lucas - Index to Headright and Bounty Grants of Georgia 1756-1909 Revised Ed. p. 63]. This suggests that William was in present day Screven County by 1789. There are about half a dozen deeds involving William Brannen, buying or selling land in Screven County between 1794 and 1805.

     An interesting deed is one dated 17 October 1796 where in William Brannen sold to Hardy Everette for $450, 450 acres, part of 950 acres on Little Ogeechee, bounded s. by vacant Stewart land, w. by vacant land, n. by vacant Temples and Fulgham, e. by Tumblin land, originally granted to Philip Dell, conveyed to William Black, to Robert Black, then to William Brannen. The deed was signed by William Brannen and wife, Elizabeth Brannen. Recorded 30 March 1808. [Screven Co. GA DB A-471] This deed suggests that William Brannen owned land in the area around the Little Ogeechee River in present day Hancock and Washington Counties, probably not too distant from present day Hamburg State Park. It is not clear when or even if he lived on that land. We did find where Phillip Dell was granted 500 acres in two lots in St. George Parish in 1770. This may well be part of that land although technically that area was west of the Ogeechee River and not in St. George Parish. The area around the Little Ogeechee River was Indian land until it became the original Washington County in 1784. One wonders when William acquired that land and under what circumstances he would be involved in an area so far removed from Screven County.

     It appears that William Brannen and family lived in Screven County from the earlly 1790's until 1814. William and Elizabeth Brannen's name first appear in Bulloch County as members of the Nevils Creek Baptist Church as recorded in the 1814 minutes. They also appear in the 1815 minutes but are not listed in the 1817 minutes. [Register - Bulloch County, Georgia Genealogical Source Material, p. 419] William also is a witness to a Stanford to Hodges Deed on 10 Sep 1814. [Register - Bulloch County, Georgia Genealogical Source Material, p. 51]

     William Brannen, his wife and young children appear to have moved to Jasper County Georgia in the early 1820's. William's last deeds in Bulloch County are dated 1818 and his daughter, Mary marries John Allen on 6 April 1819 in Jasper Co. Georgia. William and his family are enumerated in the 1820 Census of Bulloch Co. Georgia as follows:

     William Brannen is listed as Head of Family age 45+. There is 1male age 16-45 (John) 2 males age 10-15 (Hugh & Edmund) 4 males age <10. (possible grandchildren), 1 female age 16-45 (Elizabeth) 3 females 10-16 (Lucretia, Cyrene, Rhoda) (1820 U. S. Federal Census for Bulloch Co. GA. p. 15). Sons Solomon, William and Thomas Alexander and families are enumerated nearby. There are no foreigners not naturalized indicated and no slave or free colored enumerated. This suggests that Elizabeth, wife of William, was born around 1775. (1820 U. S. Federal Census for Bulloch Co. GA. p. 15).

     William and Elizabeth are no doubt in Jasper Co. Georgia from before 1825 to after 1831 as daughters Cyrene and Lucretia marry there in 1825 and 1827. Son Hugh C. Brannen also marries there in August of 1831. On 1 Dec 1829 William executed the following instrument in Jasper County, Georgia:

     "Know all men by these presents that for the love and affection which I have towards my beloved daughter, Rhodah Brannen, I have this day given to my said daughter, Rhodah the land whereon I am living containing 100 acres. All my household furniture, stock of any kind with all dues and demands which may be owing, all the above property to ge given in fee simple, at the death of myself and my lawful wife, Elizabeth Brannen." Signed: William Brannen Wit: Judith Hancock, William Hancock, Recd.: 1 Dec 1829. [Jasper Co. GA DB B-246]

     The 1830 Jasper Co. Georgia Census shows a William Braner as head of household as follows: Wm. Braner HH 1male 80-90 (William), 1 male 20-30 (Hugh C.), 1 female 20-30 (unknown), 1 female 50-60 (Elizabeth) [1830 Census of Jasper Co. Georgia, p. 378] This Wm. Braner is clearly William Brannen and his wife, Elizabeth, unmarried son Hugh C. and an unknown female, age 20-30. By 1830 all his four younger daughters who would be age 20-30 in 1830, Mary, Lucrecia, Cyrene, and Rhoda are all married and enumerated in the 1830 Census. Mary is living in Bulloch Co. Georgia with her husband, John Allen. Lucrecia, Cyrene and Rhoda are living near William and Elizabeth in Jasper County with their husbands, Henry Smith, C. W. Powell and William Moore respectively. Hugh is unmarried in 1830 and is likely the male age 20-30 in the 1830 census. It is possible that the unknown female age 20-30 is Rhoda as in 1829, William deeded his land to Rhoda. She may have been enumerated twice that year. Once with her husband and once with her parents on land that she technically owned. This clearly suggests that William was born between 1740 and 1750. Based on this census record we show his date of birth as circa 1745.

     
     In the Lower Lotts Creek Church in Bulloch County, Georgia minutes for March 1833 William Brannen is listed as a Male Member with the notation "dismissed by letter". William Brannen Jr. and Solomon Brannen are also listed in these minutes with the same notations. John and Edmund Brannen names are on the list also, however, without notation. [Register - Bulloch County, Georgia Genealogical Source Material, p. 422-3] This suggests that William Brannen returned to Bulloch County before 1833. The minutes from Lower Lotts Creek Church also show William Brannen as "Recieved by letter; Deceased" and Elizabeth Brannen as "Dismissed by letter" and "Deceased". It is not clear when these entries were made but they appear to have been made between March 1833 and February 1841. The William noted as deceased is very likely William Brannen (1745) as his son, William Brannen (1795) did not die until May 1841, after this notation would have been made. Thus these deceased entries in the Church minutes very likely refer to William Brannen (1745) and his wife Elizabeth. Other researchers indicate he did return to Bulloch County and lived with his son John until he died about 1840 and that he and his wife are buried at Lower Lotts Creek Church Cemetery, although there is no grave marker.
     

     William was born circa 1842 at Lowndes Co., Georgia.¹ He was the son of James Brannen and Mary E. Tucker.

     William was born circa 1795 at Screven Co., Georgia.¹ He was the son of Thomas Brannen and Jane Humphreys. He married Susan (--?--), .²

     William was born on 17 May 1795 at Screven Co., Georgia.¹ He was the son of William Brannen and Elizabeth (--?--). He married Nancy Ann Hodges, , on 28 September 1815 at Bulloch Co., Georgia.² William died on 19 May 1841 at Bulloch Co., Georgia, at age 46.

     William Donaldson Brannen was the son of Thomas Brannen and Nancy Donaldson.
     
Biography of William Donaldson Brannen:

      William Donaldson Brannen was an individual of outstanding character. He served in the Florida Indian Wars as a young man growing up in Lowndes Co. Georgia. He moved back to Bulloch Co. Georgia, the place of his birth about 1847 where he married a young widow, Susan Fraser Hall, raised a family and remained for the rest of his life.

     William enlisted in the Florida Indian Wars three times serving a total of 11 months, 14 days. He served in Capt. John Hill's Company of E. Florida Mtd. Volunteers as a Pvt, enrolling June 16, 1837 at San Pedro and discharged December 18, 1837 at Fort Gilliland, Florida. He served in Capt. Richard B. Turner's Company of Florida Mounted Volunteers as a Pvt. enrolling Sept. 1, 1838 at Tallahassee and discharged November 17, 1838 at Camp Taylor. Opposite his name on the roll is written "Taken into service by order of Gen. Taylor, an now mustered in and out." He served in Capt. Thomas Langford's Company of Florida Volunteers, enrolling Sept. 4, 1839 at Camp Collins and discharged January 31, 1840. He was joined in each of these services by his father, Thomas, brother Robert and brother-in-law John A. J. Cruse. He also obtained Bounty Land Warrant No. 15803 for 160 acres in October 1850. He reportedly transferred this land to his half brothers Sam and Houston Brannen. (Indian War Pension File No. 8312 of Sarah A. Brannan, Widow of Wm. D. Brannen, National Archives, Washington, D. C.]

     In 1847 William D. Brannen moved from Madison County, Florida to Bulloch Co. Georgia and married the Widow Sarah Hall. He remained in Bulloch Co., Georgia until his death in 1886.

     "During the Civil War, W. D. Brannen became a Captain in the militia. It was at his place near the future location of Brooklet that the Bulloch Troop, organized six months earlier, assembled on October 6, 1861, and left for Savannah the next day to join the Confederate Army. Captain Brannen was not a member of the troop, but his stepson, W. N. Hall, was third captain." [Brannen, Life in Old Bulloch p. 80]

     In 1877 W. D. Brannan was a member of the Constitution Convention meeting Atlanta to frame a new constitution for Georgia. [Brannen, Life in Old Bulloch p. 80]

     William F. Brannen was the son of Francis J. "Frank" Brannen and Welthey E. Sheffield.

     Willie Brannen was the son of John O. Brannen and Sarah B. Gunter.

     Annie was born on 20 July 1896 at Suwannee Co., Florida. She was the daughter of John Brannon and Ardelia Roxanne Ross. She married James Oliver Smith, son of James Smith and Elizabeth W. (--?--), on 3 March 1915.¹ Annie died on 17 July 1984 at Suwannee Co., Florida, at age 87.

     Bessie was born on 22 September 1898 at Suwannee Co., Florida. She was the daughter of John Brannon and Ardelia Roxanne Ross.