General Notes

See this address for more information: http://hometown.aol.com/vafdking/brass.htm

The connection to Robert's father is uncertain and subject to dispute

Robert Brasseur, a French Hugenot , was born in Avignon and his wife’s name was Florence. He is reported to have given the land on which the Capitol of Maryland was built.

In April 12, 1653 he patented 1200 acres of land in Nansemond County at the head of the Southern branch of the Nansemond River for transporting himself, his wife Florence, children Mary, Persid and Kathe, Bennett Brasseur and nine others.

His daughter Margrett (Margaret) was not named in the patent although she was born in 1642. At the age of sixteen, or about three years after the family arrived in Nansemond, she joined the Society of Friends, the Quakers. She married Thomas Jordan, a prominent Quaker of Isle of Wight, Virginia.

Below are two recorded instances of the sheriff’s persecution of Margaret Brasseur Jordan:

Nansemond, 1701: Margaret Jordan the Elder, widow, on the 25th day of the first month had a hundred and twenty lb. of tobacco taken by distress from her upon account of the priest’s dues by George Noseworthy, High Sheriff.
April the 10th: 1702: Then seized one hogshead of tobacco weighing gross 830: tare 75 of Mis Margaret Jordan, senior, for priest’s dues and Church Rates in full […] seized by me, John King

A memorial tribute to Margrett, written by her son, reads as follows:

Margaret Jordan, the daughter of Robert Brasseur, was born the 7th month in the year 1642 and was convinced of the Truth about 16 years of age, from which time she served an exemplary life in all her conversation until the day of her death and was a sufferer with my father both by confinement and the spoiling of their goods by the Adversaries of the Truth. She was a good wife and also a kind neighbor. About 63 years of age she was taken with a disposition of the body which continued near three years in which time she was much weakened. A little before her death some friends came to see her to whom she signified her content and spake much of the goodness of God to her. At 6 o’clock at night she died in remarkable quietness the seventh of the tenth month in the year 1708 having lived about 66 years and survived my father about 9 years lacking 18 hours and was buried the 11th day of the aforesaid month.

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The Brasseur family were French Huguenots, dissidents against the Catholic Church, searching for freedom from religious persecution by immigration to Holland, England, then America before 1635. They settled in CalvertCo, Maryland. The surname has been spelled Brasher, Brashear(s), Boshears, Brashier, Brasier, Brazier, Basher, Bashier and even Bradshaw. The original is thought to have come from the French word "Bras" meaning arm (a part of the body) and "Seuir" meaning Lord or Knight. Most Brashers and variants of the name come from Benois' sons Robert, Benjamin and John, however, there appears to be another branch that entered the American Colonies through the New England area.

There are generally two versions of the background of Benois Brasseur before coming to America. The Brasseur Family history has been most thoroughly researched in recent times and published by Charles Brashear in two volumes titled A Brashear(s) Family History. The origin and background of earlier versions of the origin of Benois Brasseur is thorougly discussed in the new work as "The deBrassier NONSENSE". Individuals from the deBrassier family of Carpentras, France are listed here, but not linked to Benois Brasseur.

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Here is another proposed father

Robert BRASSEUR (Mr.)
BIRTH: BEF 1600, of Isle of Thane,Kent Co.,England
DEATH: 1665, Calvert Co.,MD.,With "Will"
TITLE: Mr.
Father: Robert BOURCHIER