Bransons

The Book of the Branson Family, located in the Congressional Library, states that a Thomas Branson came from England in about 1700 and that he had two sons, Eli and Levi. As Thomas Branson, the son of Thomas L. Branson and the father of Eli and Levi, was born in the United States, I presume that this statement of arrival from England is actually for the father, Thomas L. Branson.

Thomas L. Branson seems to have settled first in Burlington County, New Jersey, as records show on March of 1702 (or 1703) Thomas Branson, a husbandman, petitioned to Thomas Ridgway, a yeoman (both of Springfield township, Burlington County) for 100 acres.

Records show on November 16, 1714, Thomas Branson (along with, Michael Newbould and Thomas Douglasse) inventoried the estate of William Mills of Springfield, Burlington County. Also, on May 10, 1731, Thomas Lewis of Hanover, Burlington County, a Schoolmaster, died intestate with debts due from Thomas Branson (he was probably sending children to school). Finally, on January 15, 1731 (or 1732), John Scholey of Springfield, Burlington, mentions "meadow adjacent Thomas Branson." These entries simply show that Thomas continued to reside in Burlington as late as 1732.

By 1734 Thomas apparently had moved on to Warren County, Virginia, as the following story relates the visit of Lord Fairfax to his home. "John Dyer ... deposeth and saith that many years ago when Lord Fairfax entered a Caveat in the Secretary's office against granting lands to the Westward of the Blue Ridge, his Lordship came over the ledge of mountains to visit the country on this side of the Blue Ridge to the house of one Thomas Branson. That some time after his Lordship came into the house, Branson made application to his Lordship to know in what manner people should act to secure their Rights, and that he made answer it would make no difference, that it would only be changing of landlords, paying the Quitrents to him instead of the King in case that he would succeed in his suit and that he wanted to have the Country settled and further that he would not have any poor man quit the place for want of land and upon being asked by Branson how Mr. Hite would come off, who had an order of Council for a very large tract of land, his Lordship made answer that he would be very well, for he was desirous of having the Land settled and further the Deponent saith not." This statement was made in 1762.

On November 12, 1735, Thomas Branson enters 850 acres in Frederick County, Virginia, "Beginning at Joist Hite's corner, at the head of a small stream or branch of the Opeckon River.

Sometime after this date, Thomas and Elizabeth returned to New Jersey, where they later died.

Sources:
Ancestors of Ronald Owen Branson
http://www.familytreemaker.com/users/b/r/a/Ronald-Owen-Branson-Indiana/GENE1-0022.html