General Notes

[basham.ged]
Robert Bracewll Junior was the elder son of Reverend Robert and Rebec
ca B racewell of the Isle of Wight County, Virginia. He was born about 1
65 0. He married Susannah Burgess - daughter of John and Mary Burgess ("So
uth side Virginia Families" by Boddie). This is further affirmed by one J
oy ce Cripps, who in her will referred to "Susannah Bracewell", my sister
's d aughter. (Deed and Will Book 2, Page 202).
Beginning 3 February 1674, six years after the death of his fath
er - t he Reverend Robert Bracewell, Junior sold 500 acres of land in thr
ee separ ate lists. The 300 acres where his father had lived he sold to h
is sist er Ann and her husband James Bagnall 31 March 1674. On 9 March 168
0, Jam es Bagnall escheated (forfeited) the 300 acres and a mill, once t
he proper ty of the Reverend Robert Bracewell.
(Deed Book 1, page 457) When one - Robert Toole - made his will 5 Nove
mb er 1692, he named the three youngest children of Susannah Bracewel
l, i. e. Richard, William, and Elizabeth, each to receive one-thi
rd of an esta te of land at the age of seventeen years. (Book 2, page 323
). Toole's wi ll is evidence that the four eldest children of Robert and S
usannah Burge ss Bracewell were born before 1692, which helps to establi
sh the approxima te dates of their births. On 27 March 1696, Robert Bracew
ell Junior appoin ted his loving wife - Susannah Bracewell - to act as h
is attorney. Wheth er this was due to his failing health or for business r
easons is not know n.
(Deed Book I, page 627). The last time Robert Bracewell's name app
ea rs in the Isle of Wight records was 9 April 1702, when he witness
ed a de ed for Owen Bourn. (Deed Book 1, page 351). No will was record
ed in his na me and there is no record of his death. Susannah Bracewell mu
st have outli ved her husband, Robert, by many years. She made her wi
ll on 22 October 17 14, but it was not probated until 26 June 1732. She le
ft the home plantati on to her son Richard, whom she named as her executo
r. to her son Willia m, she gave the old plantation house with forty acr
es of land and vario us household items. Susannah Burgess Bracewell rememb
ered her daughter An n, her granddaughter Elizabeth Bracewell, and her gra
ndson, John Riggs, wi th small bequests; and left the remainder of her est
ate to her eldest so n, James Bracewell.
This same James later moved to Edgecomb County, North Carolina and be
ca me the direct ancestor of the late James Craig Braswell, well-known cit
iz en of Rocky Mount, North Carolina.
(Will Book 3, page 304). The daughter of Ann mentioned in Susannah's w
il l, and the Elizabeth mentioned in the will of the Roger Tolle, mig
ht ha ve been the same person or Elizabeth might have been deceased at t
he ti me Susannah's will was made. The children of Robert, Junior and Susa
nnah B urgess Braswell were: 1. James 2. Richard 3. William 4. Ann Bracewe
ll Rig gs 5. Elizabeth "Following the Braswells in America 1600-1983
"; Dr R B Bra swell, page 8-9