Braceys of Delaware

compiled by Edwin C. Dunn

Table of Contents

• Surname List
• First Generation
• Second Generation
• Third Generation
• Index

Atkins, Bracey

1. Robert¹ Bracey was born in England 1621.⁽¹⁾ In January 1671/2 his age was given as 50 years in the Accomack County, Virginia, court records. Robert died 1695.⁽²⁾

He married twice. He married Elizabeth.⁽³⁾ (Additional notes for Elizabeth⁽⁴⁾) He married Ann Douglas 30 July 1685 at the house of William Clark in Lewis, Sussex County, Delaware.⁽⁵⁾ She was a widow; he a widower. The witnesses to the wedding were: Wm Clark, James Huling, Henry Stracther, William Rodeney, Charles Haynes, John Stuckbury, Richard Harvey, ffrancis Williams, Hornor Clark, Elenor Stuckbury, Burkee B. Kiphaven, Sarah A. Williams, and Margaret Pendree.

Robert Bracey received a grant for land, 1661, in Accomack County, Virginia.⁽⁶⁾ The patent was to Robert Brace for 800 acres. Two years later he assigned the land to John West, giving the latter a total of 1,600 acres.

Robert appeared on the tax rolls in 1663-1666 in Accomack County, Virginia.⁽⁷⁾ He was listed as Robert Brace or Brase in 1663 and 1664 with three tithables. In 1665 and 1666 he was listed as Robert Brace with two tithables.

He served on a jury in 1667 -1669 in Accomack County, Virginia.⁽⁸⁾ On 24 October 1667 he was listed as Robt. Brace; on 16 & 17 December 1667 he was listed as Robt. Bracy; on 7 December 1668 and 17 May 1669 he was listed as Robt. Brace.

Robert Bracey was named in the court order books in Accomack County, Virginia in 1667.⁽⁹⁾ On 16 January 1666/67 Robert Brace accused John Devorax of stealing, but because of lack of evidence the case was dismissed. Mr. Southy Littleton and Mr. Phillip Smith were appointed to audit the accounts between Robert Brace and Henry Eldridge and reported that Eldridge owed Brace 913 lbs. of tobacco, which the court so ordered him to pay. On 24 October 1667 Lt. Col. William Waters moved on behalf of Mr. John Pitt, of Maryland, who had bought the time of service due to Robert Brace from his runaway servant, John Boyd. Pitt requested a "certificate of condemnation." At the testimony of Brace and Mr. Devorax Browne, the court determined that Boyd had arrived in Virginia as a servant to Browne for five years on 25 September 1662 and had run away for 22 months. The court ordered that Boyd serve Brace or Pitt for 44 months and pay costs.

Robert Bracey was named in the court order books in Accomack County, Virginia in 1667-1669.⁽¹⁰⁾ On 18 February 1667/8 it was noted that he had neglected to list himself or his tithables on the tax rolls. Edw. Smith, millwright, was ordered to pay 2121 lbs. tobacco to plaintiff Robt. Bracy. On 9 December 1668 John Rickards acknowledged owing Robert Brace 2130 lbs. tobacco and the court ordered him to pay the debt. On 17 May 1669 Robert Brace was ordered to pay to John Rickards a debt of 246 lbs. of tobacco. On 16 December 1669 James Taylor was ordered to pay a debt of 370 lbs. tobacco to Robert Brace,and on 26 January 1669/70 Robert Brace admitted that he owed 560 lbs. tobacco to Devorax Browne and was ordered to pay.

Robert was a plaintiff in a court case 25 October 1667 in Accomack County, Virginia.⁽¹¹⁾ He sued his recent servant, Elizabeth Leverit, seeking two years of service for her having a bastard. She was granted liberty until the next court to produce witnesses who would testify that Brace had discharged her from that service, but on 17 December 1667 the court ordered her to perform the service and pay court costs.

At the latter court on 18 February 1667/8 Elizabeth Leveret and Susan Johnson swore on oath to prove the oral will of Susan Cox. Elizabeth, aged about 35 years, said that Susan Cox on her deathbed had left everything to "my master William Chase," and the court left the estate to the care of William Chase.

Robert appeared on the tax rolls in 1668 and 1669 in Accomack County, Virginia.⁽¹²⁾ He was listed with one tithable.

Robert Bracey received a grant for land, 1672, in Accomack County, Virginia.⁽¹³⁾ Robert was granted 650 acres, Northampton County, on the south side of Messango Creek, adjoining Wm. Aldworth, on 9 October 1672, 300 acres of which were granted to William Blake 30 October 1671, who then sold it to Robert Brace, and 350 acres granted for transportation of seven persons. Certificate, dated 6 March 1671/2, was granted to Robert Bracy for three hundred and fifty acres for the following headrights: Robert Bracy Sr., Robert Bracy Jr., Elizabeth Bracy, John Smallee, Edward Smallee, Thomas Coningham, and Elizabeth Everett.

He bought property from William Aylworth 1672 in Accomack County, Virginia.⁽¹⁴⁾ This was 100 acres of a 400 acre parcel granted to Aylworth in 1666.

Robert appeared on the tax rolls in 1674-1676 in Accomack County, Virginia.⁽¹⁵⁾ In 1674 he was listed as Robert Brace with one tithable, and in 1675 and 1676 he was listed as Robt. Bracy with one tithable.

He sold property to John Prettiman Sr. 1677 in Accomack County, Virginia.⁽¹⁶⁾ It was 750 acres which included the 650 acres obtained by patent in 1669 and the 100 acres purchased from William Aylworth in 1666.

Having sold out in Virginia, Robert now moved up into Delaware, which had then passed from Dutch control to English control, and was first associated with New York and then more closely with Pennsylvania after 1682.

Robert was nominated for Magistrate at Whorekill, in Sussex County, Delaware, October 1678.⁽¹⁷⁾ Robert Bracey received a grant for land, 30 March 1681, in Sussex County, Delaware.⁽¹⁸⁾ The warrant from Deale, alias Whore Kill, Court laid out a parcel of land called Purchase Lott on the west side of Delaware Bay near Rehobah, adjoining Nathaniell Broadford, and containing 322 acres.

He served on a jury 8 & 9 November 1681, & 13 December 1681 in Sussex County, Delaware.⁽¹⁹⁾ Robert Bracey received another grant for land in Sussex County, Delaware.⁽²⁰⁾ The 800 acre tract, laid out for Robert Brasey, Senior, and called Robert Brasey his Pleasure, was in the woods near Rehoboth Bay. In a list of patents sent to Delaware, 21 November 1677, Robt. Brasey, Senior, owed eight bushels of wheat as quit rent, and his name was on a list of patents (800 acres) with Capt. Edmond Cantwell in October 1678.

Robert deeded 600 acres of this tract (later called Webley) to his son, Robert Bracey Junr., and on "25 day of 1st month, 1697" Robert Junr sold it to Wm Clark.

He was Assemblyman in Sussex County, Delaware 1682-83.⁽²¹⁾ At the Provincial Council at Philadelphia on 10 March 1682, Robt. Brasey was one of three commissioners appointed to determine the amount that plaintiff John Bellamy was to pay Luke Watson for improvements on his land at Prime Hook. This was a result of an appeal from the Sussex County Court.

Robert Bracey was named in the court minutes in Sussex County, Delaware 1682.⁽²²⁾ On 13 & 14 June he was witness in a court case, and on 12 & 13 September he was defendant in a case in which William Kening charged that Bracey had part of the plaintiff's land surveyed for his own use. The jury agreed and Bracey was ordered to pay one shilling damage and cost of the suit. On the same day Robert was ordered to pay William Clark "jurey fees" of the above case of 23 shillings and to pay 13 shillings to Alexander Moulston.

He was Justice of the Peace in Sussex County, Delaware 1684 and 1685.⁽²³⁾ Robert Bracey received a grant for 300 acres land, 1685, in Sussex County, Delaware.⁽²⁴⁾ Robert Bracey Sen. appeared on the tax rolls (county assessment) in 1693 in Sussex County, Delaware.⁽²⁵⁾ Robert Bracey was named in the court minutes in Sussex County, Delaware, 6 June 1694.⁽²⁶⁾ He acknowledged transfer of 200 acres to his son Robert, it being part of the land on which he then lived. He also indicated to the court that in event of his death, his son was to receive the other 400 acres of his home plantation, as well as 200 acres more that were "made over" to children Mary and Elizabeth; a total of 800 acres.

He transferred the land where he then lived, called Webbey or Webley to his son in a deed of gift dated 17 May 1694, he being "old and crazy", and with the provisons as stated above and witnessed by Nehemiah Field.

On 4 and 5 December 1694, Robert Bracee appeared in court to bind his daughter Elizabeth Bracee unto Richard Paynter Junr until she arrive at age 17, she then being age 6 (indenture dated 30 November 1694).

He made a will June 1694 in Sussex County, Delaware.⁽²⁷⁾ It was a nuncupative will in which the heirs were his son Robert Bracey, and his daughters Mary and Elizabeth Bracey. No executor was named. Witness was Nehemiah Field.

On 4 June 1695 Robert Bracee requested Letters of Administration on the estate of his father, Robert Bracee Sener, referring to the will made in open court on 6 June 1694. Roger Corbett appeared for the widow and produced a former written will made in 1688, claiming it took precedence over the nuncupative will. The case was continued to next court.

On 10 June 1695 a bond in the amount of £200 was issued binding Robert Bracee and Ann Bracee to the decision of Thomas Fisher and Jonathan Wynne regarding the controversies concerning the estate of Robert Bracy, dec'd. The Arbitration Award as determined by these two men stated that Ann was to have one-half of the clear ground on that side of the plantation next to the Indian River, two parts of the orchard, one-half of the housing, and one-half of the personal estate. She was to keep her part of the housing and fencing in good repair, to keep her part of the orchard well trimmed, and she was to pay one-half of the debts and "nott committ any waste on the plantation."

She was to "behave herself lovingly towards the said Robert Bracee", and upon her death her portion of the estate was to be returned to Robert.

Robert Bracey and Elizabeth had the following children:

2 i. Robert² Bracey Jr.. Robert died 1716.⁽²⁸⁾ Robert Bracey Jr. received a grant for land, in Sussex County, Delaware.⁽²⁹⁾ The patent for a 300 acre parcel was granted to Robert Brasey, Junyo, on Rehoboth Bay about ten miles from the Whore Kill, and adjoining the land of Richard Brasey. In 1677 on a list of patents sent to Delaware he was listed with three bushels of wheat due as quit rent, and his name was on a list of patents (300 acres) in possession of Capt. Edmond Cantwell at Newcastle in October 1678.

In Daniel Walker's will 21 January 1676 in Isle of Wight County, Virginia, Robert was named as an heir.⁽³⁰⁾ The legatees included Walker's wife, Abigail; his children, Mary and Sarah; with a reversion to Robert and Elizabeth Bressie, the children of Robert Bressie. The will was recorded 9 August 1678.

Robert Bracey Jr. was named in the court minutes in Sussex County, Delaware 1682.⁽³¹⁾ On 11 April and on 13 & 14 June he was a witness in a court case.

Robert Bracey Jr. was deeded 600 acres of land by his father (date not available), and subsequently sold the tract in 1697 to William Clark.⁽³²⁾

3 ii. Elizabeth Bracey.

4 iii. Mary Bracey.

Robert Bracey and Elizabeth Leveritt had the following child:

+ 5 iv. Richard Bracey.

5. Richard² Bracey (Robert¹) birth date unknown.⁽³³⁾ Elizabeth Leveritt named Richard as her son in her nuncupative will, but there is no conclusive evidence that Robert Bracey Sr. was the father. He charged Elizabeth, his servant, in court with "bastard bearing" in 1667. Elizabeth gave her son the Bracey surname, but Robert did not recognize Richard as a son in his nuncupative will in 1694.

Elizabeth Lendritt (sic) named as her heirs, her son Richard Bracey, and Richard Bundock. Administrator of her estate was C.T.A. Richard Bundock, and witnesses were Jeffrey Sumerford, Elizabeth Johnson, and witness to a codicil was Richard Gill. It was probated on 14 August 1683.

In court, on 4 April 1683, Jefrey Summerford, aged 43, and Elizabeth Johnson, aged 20, testified that they witnessed the oral will about 8 or 10 days before Elizabeth's death, in which she bequeathed all her estate to Richard Bundick except for one female calf to be delivered by Bundick to her son when he comes of age. Richard Gill, aged 42, said that 2 or 3 days before her death she willed unto Richard Bundick a mare in Robert Bracy's possession, for which the latter had paid a thousand pounds of tobacco out of her estate, and which he should repay.

Richard Bracey received a grant for land, in Sussex County, Delaware.⁽³⁴⁾ The parcel of land surveyed for Richard Brasie on Middle Creeke contained 300 acres. Middle Creek was a small tributary to Indian River in Sussex County. In a list of patents sent to Delaware in 1677 (Nov. 21, 1677) Richard Brasey was listed with three bushels of wheat due in quit rent. He was also in a list of patents (300 acres) in the hands of Capt. Edmond Cantwell at Newcastle in October 1678.

He was commissioner at court at Lewis in Sussex County, Delaware 4 April 1684.⁽³⁵⁾ He sold property to Joseph Ayliff 5 November 1690 in Sussex County, Delaware.⁽³⁶⁾ It consisted of 150 acres of land.

Richard appeared on the tax rolls (county assessment) in 1693 in Sussex County, Delaware.⁽³⁷⁾ He bought property from William Clark 8 September 1694 in Sussex County, Delaware.⁽³⁸⁾ The conveyance was for 486 acres of land called Bennifield. Richard later sold this tract to Stephen Worrington (Warrington).

He made a will 28 March 1741 in Sussex County, Delaware.⁽³⁹⁾ His heirs were his daughters, Sarah Christopher (wife of Wrixham) and Bridget Pratt. The executors were Charles and Bridget Pratt, and the witnesses were Robert Homes and Thomas Gragg. It was probated on 12 December 1741.

Richard Bracey had the following children:

6 i. Sarah³ Bracey. She married Wrixham Christopher.

+ 7 ii. Bridgett Bracey.

7. Bridgett³ Bracey (Richard², Robert¹) birth date unknown.

She married twice. She married Isaac Atkins St. George's Anglican Church in Sussex County, Delaware.⁽⁴⁰⁾ Isaac was born 1705.⁽⁴¹⁾ Isaac died about 1735.⁽⁴²⁾ His widow, Bridget, was administrator of his estate.

She married Charles Prat 1735 in Sussex County, Delaware.⁽⁴³⁾

Bridgett Bracey and Isaac Atkins had the following children:

8 i. Joseph⁴ Atkins was born 7 June 1731.⁽⁴⁴⁾

9 ii. Margery Atkins.

10 iii. Margaret Atkins.

11 iv. Ann Atkins.

Notes and References

1. William R.M. Houston & Jean M. Mihalyka, Colonial Residents of Virginia's Eastern Shore, Whose Ages Were Proved Before Court Officials of Accomack & Northampton Counties (Baltimore: Genealogical Publishing Co., Inc., 1985), page 13 (Accomack Co. Orders, Wills 1671-73, page 60) (hereafter cited as Houston & Mihalyka, Eastern Shore Residents).
2. Bruce A. Bendler, Colonial Delaware Assemblymen, 1682-1776 (Westminster, Maryland, 1989), page 10 (hereafter cited as Bendler, Del. Assemblymen).
3. Ralph T. Whitelaw, Virginia's Eastern Shore. A History of Northampton and Accomack Counties, 2 vols. (Gloucester, Mass., 1968 (originally published Richmond, 1951)), Vol. II, page 1208 (hereafter cited as Whitelaw, Va.'s Eastern Shore).
4. Ibid., Vol. II, page 1208.
5. Bendler, Del. Assemblymen, page 10; and C.H.B. Turner, comp., Some Records of Sussex County, Delaware (Philadelphia, 1909), page 136 (hereafter cited as Turner, Sussex Co. Records).
6. Whitelaw, Va.'s Eastern Shore, Vol. II, page 954.
7. Stratton Nottingham, comp., Accomack Tithables, 1663-1695 (Silver Spring, Maryland, 1987 (originally published Onancock, Virginia, 1931)), pages 1, 3-4 (hereafter cited as Nottingham, Accomack Tithables).
8. JoAnn Riley McKey, Accomack County, Virginia, Court Order Abstracts, 1666-1670, 2 vols. (Bowie, Maryland: Heritage Books Inc., 1996), Vol. 2, pages 57, 65, 69, 106, and 161 (hereafter cited as McKey, Accomack Court Orders).
9. Ibid., Vol. 2, pages 14, 17, 60.
10. Ibid., Vol. 2, pages 75, 83, 116, 163, 180, 186.
11. Ibid., Vol. 2, pages 62, 72, 82, 83.
12. Nottingham, Accomack Tithables, pages 6, 8.
13. Stratton Nottingham, comp., Certificates & Rights, Accomack County, Virginia, 1663-1709 (Baltimore, 1977), page 46 (Orders 1671-1673, page 69) (hereafter cited as Nottingham, Certificates & Rights); Nell Marion Nugent, Cavaliers & Pioneers. Abstracts of Virginia Land Patents and Grants, Vol. 2, 1666-1695 (Richmond: Virginia State Library, 1977), page 119 (Patent Book 6, page 432) (hereafter cited as Nugent II, Cavaliers & Pioneers); and Whitelaw, Va.'s Eastern Shore, Vol. II, page 1208.
14. Whitelaw, Va.'s Eastern Shore, Vol. II, page 1209.
15. Nottingham, Accomack Tithables, pages 13, 16, 18.
16. Whitelaw, Va.'s Eastern Shore, Vol. II, page 1208.
17. Charles T. Gehring., New York Historical Manuscripts: Dutch, Vols. XX-XXI. Delaware Papers (English Period) (Baltimore: Genealogical Publishing Co., Inc., 1977), page 206 (hereafter cited as Gehring, NY Hist. Manuscripts).
18. Original Land Titles in Delaware, Commonly Known as the Duke of York Record. 1646 to 1679 page 71 (hereafter cited as Duke of York Record, Delaware Land Titles).
19. Turner, Sussex Co. Records, pages 56, 59.
20. Duke of York Record, Delaware Land Titles, (fo. 71); Gehring, NY Hist. Manuscripts, pages 167, 209; and Elaine Hastings Mason & F. Edward Wright, Land Records of Sussex County, Delaware, 1782-1789. Deed Book N No. 13 (Westminster, Maryland, 1990), page 4 (hereafter cited as Mason & Wright, Sussex Co. Land Records).
21. Bendler, Del. Assemblymen, page 10; John B. Linn & William Henry Egle, eds., List of Officers of the Colonies on the Delaware and the Province of Pennsylvania, 1614-1776 (Baltimore: Genealogical Publishing Co., Inc., 1992 (originally published Harrisburg, Penn., 1880)), page 69 (hereafter cited as Linn & Egle, Del. Officers); Pennsylvania Colonial Records Series. Vol. 1 pages 48, 77, 83 (hereafter cited as Pennsylvania, Colonial Records); and Turner, Sussex Co. Records, page 22.
22. Turner, Sussex Co. Records, pages 75, 77, 80.
23. Bendler, Del. Assemblymen, page 10; Linn & Egle, Del. Officers, page 66; and Mary Marshall Brewer, Land Records of Sussex County, Delaware, 1681-1725 (Westminster, Maryland: Family Line Publications, 1998), pages 20, 21, 22, 32, 35, 36, 39, 40 (hereafter cited as Brewer, Sussex DE Records 1681-1725).
24. Bendler, Del. Assemblymen, page 10.
25. Ronald V. Jackson & Gary R. Teeples (eds.), Early Delaware Census Records 1665-1697 (1977), page 4 (hereafter cited as Jackson & Teeples, Early Del. Census).
26. Turner, Sussex Co. Records, pages 123-4, 125; and Brewer, Sussex DE Records 1681-1725, page 132.
27. Leon de Valinger, Jr., comp., Calendar of Sussex County, Delaware, Probate Records, 1680-1800 (Dover, 1964), page 15 (Sussex Co. Court 1680-1699, pp. 662, 695, 696) (hereafter cited as de Valinger, Sussex Co. Probate Rec); Turner, Sussex Co. Records, page 125; and Mary Marshall Brewer, Land Records of Sussex County, Delaware. Various Dates, 1693-1698, 1715-1717, 1782-1792, 1802-1805 (Westminster, Maryland: Family Line Publications, 1998), page 17 (hereafter cited as Brewer, Sussex Land Records (Various)).
28. Bendler, Del. Assemblymen, page 10.
29. Duke of York Record, Delaware Land Titles, page 180 (fo. 82); and Gehring, NY Hist. Manuscripts, pages 167, 209.
30. Blanche Adams Chapman, Wills and Administrations of Isle of Wight County, Virginia, 1647-1800 (Baltimore: Genealogical Publishing Co., Inc., 1975), (Will & Deed Book 2, page 164) (hereafter cited as Chapman, I of W Co. Wills).
31. Turner, Sussex Co. Records, pages 69, 74.
32. Mason & Wright, Sussex Co. Land Records, page 4.
33. de Valinger, Sussex Co. Probate Rec, page 7; and Turner, Sussex Co. Records, pages 102-3, 133.
34. Duke of York Record, Delaware Land Titles, page 169-70, (fo. 67); Henry Gannett, A Gazetteer of Maryland and Delaware (hereafter cited as Gannett, Gazetter of Md. & Del); and Gehring, NY Hist. Manuscripts, pages 167, 209.
35. Turner, Sussex Co. Records, page 114.
36. Brewer, Sussex DE Records 1681-1725, page 99.
37. Jackson & Teeples, Early Del. Census, page 4.
38. Brewer, Sussex DE Records 1681-1725, pages 137, 197.
39. Turner, Sussex Co. Records, page 47 (Arch. Vol. A69, p. 78; Reg. of Wills, Liber A, folios 329-330).
40. E-mail message, From: Carole Atkins Sherr, To: Edwin C. Dunn, 13 September 1997, Internet, carsherr@aol.com. (hereafter cited as Sherr to Dunn, e-mail, 9/13/1997).
41. Ibid.
42. Ibid.
43. Ibid.; and Sherr references the Sussex County, Deleware, Orphans Court, 1728-1744, p. 81 (LDS mcf. 0006688), September 1735.
44. Sherr to Dunn, e-mail, 9/13/1997.

Index

Atkins

Atkins, Ann (i6819)
Atkins, Isaac (marriage to Bridgett Bracey) (i6814), b.1705-d.1735
Atkins, Joseph (i6816), b.1731-
Atkins, Margaret (i6818)
Atkins, Margery (i6817)

Bracey

Bracey, Bridgett (i6812)
Bracey, Elizabeth (i6312)
Bracey, Mary (i6317)
Bracey, Richard (i6314)
Bracey, Robert (i6307), b.1621-d.1695
Bracey, Robert, Jr. (i6311), d.1716
Bracey, Sarah (i6811)

Christopher

Christopher, Wrixham (marriage to Sarah Bracey) (i6813)

Douglas

Douglas, Ann (marriage to Robert Bracey) (i6316)

(-----)

Elizabeth (marriage to Robert Bracey) (i6310)

Prat

Prat, Charles (marriage to Bridgett Bracey) (i6815)

© 2000 Edwin C. Dunn

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