BRASHEAR SURNAME DISTRIBUTION IN THE U.S. (Provided by Hamrick Software)
The following is believed to be our Brashear/Brasseur ancestry from France to MD to PA to KY :
1 Benjamin Benois Brasseur b: 1626 in France d: 1663 in Maryland
. +Mary Unknown m: Bef. 1645
........2 Robert Brashears b: 1646 d: 1712
..................3 Samuel (Sr.) Brashears b: 1673 d: 1740
.......................4 Benjamin (Sr.) Brashear b: 1696 d: 1773 in Prince George Co., Maryland
............................+Mary Jones
.............................5 William (possibly) Brashears b: Abt. 1730 in Maryland
....................................+Sarah Wallingsford
.....................................6 Sarah Brashears b: 1760 in PA? d: 1850 in Kentucky (Pendleton, County)
...........................................+James McGill b: 1755 in Scotland d: September 20, 1834 in Pendleton Co., KY
m: Dec. 20, 1775 in Washington County, PA
.....................................6 Thomas Brashears b: Bef. 1757
...........................................+Hannah Owens
...2 Benjamin Brashears
...2 John Brashears
...2 Mary Brashears
...2 Ann Brashears
...2 Susanna Brashears
...2 Martha Brashears
...2 Elizabeth Brashears
The following information on this early Brashear line was written and provided by: Charles Brashear (brashear@mail.sdsu.edu) of San Diego, CA - Thank you Charles for sharing with us!!!
THOMAS BROSHEARS and HANNAH OWENS
Thomas Broshears, b. surely before 1757 to be old enough to serve in the Militia of Westmoreland Co, PA, in 1775, lived in Bracken Co, KY, and Scott Co, IN, and appears in the pension papers of Sarah, widow of James McGill, as a brother-in-law of James McGill. Sarah Broshears, b. 1760, sister of Thomas, m. in 1775 James McGill in Washington Co, (actually Westmoreland Co. until 1781), PA. Pvt. Thomas Brashears served in the Pennsylvania rangers during the Revolution; he is listed in the records alongside Zachariah Brashears (who first cleared the land where William and Anne (Ray) Brashear lived in PA), also listed as Pvt. Zacharias Boshears. (re: Westmoreland County in the American Revolution, by Paul W. Myers, 1988, pp. 29, 102, 201, 217-18.)
In her Rev. War widows pension application, Sarah mentioned "other brothers," one of whom is believed to be Lieutenant William Broshears. The only Lt. William Brashear we know of is the one who m. Anne Ray and was killed by Indians in 1781. This branch of the family, says Ted McGill, used the spelling Broshears.
Thomas Broshears moved to present-day Augusta, Kentucky, about 1790 (then called Mason Co, VA). Thomas
appears in the Mason County, KY, tax records from 1792 to 1833. In 1797, Thomas was authorized by the court
to keep an Ordinary [an Inn for travelers] in his house. This tavern still stands at Augusta as part of the house owned
[1991] by Mr. and Mrs. Thomas Cline.
Thomas Broshiers was an early town trustee. The third meeting of the town trustees was held at his dwelling
place at Augusta in June 1798. He was a member of the Kentucky Militia as early as 1790. His wife was
Hannah Owens, d. bef 14 Feb 1822, Bracken Co, KY, d/o a Seneca woman and "Indian Trader" John Owens
Sr, of the Ten Mile Country [along Ten Mile Creek, in SW PA].
Bracken County KY tax records list Delilah Brashears/ Brashers/ Broshears from 1810 to 1817. She owned taxable property, had seven children, and seems to have been a widow. On 28 Sep 1819, Delilah Brashears married Mordecai McKinsey in Bracken County ("by Rev. Joseph Carter," Marriage Records of Bracken Co).
The McGills removed to Scott Co, IN, in the mid-1820's, but most of them returned to Kentucky after the cholera epidemic in the early 1830s. Several of the children of Thomas and Hannah Broshears seem to have joined their cousins there. It is not known where or when the couple died.
Family of Thomas Broshears and Hannah Owens:
1. Sarah "Sally" Broshears, m. 4 May 1803, Bracken Co, KY, James Owens, b. 1770-80,
Washington Co, PA, d. Apr 1835, Bracken Co, KY, s/o John Owens, d. 1781, Washington Co, PA, and
Susannah _______, d. 26 Jan 1790, Washington Co, PA. James Owens, m. 31 Jul 1802/3 Sally Brashears
at the Presbyterian Church, White Oak Congregation (The Draper Collection, Kentucky Papers, Calender series
, v.2). In 1799, Thomas Broshears of Bracken Co, KY, gave his power of attorney to James Owens of Jessamine
Co, KY, to demand, sue for, recover, and receive anything which “may be due ... from the estate of James Owens,
late of the state of PA, deceased.” (re: Wanda Pangburn, Louisville, KY ) x. David R. Owens, b. 12 May 1808
, KY, d. 8 Dec 1877, Jackson Co, IN; m. 16 Oct 1828, Sarah "Sallie" Blount, b. 4 Jun 1809, IN, d. 27 Jul 1868
, Jackson Co, IN (data from Carole A. Spencer, Cedar Falls, IA) y. David Luther Owens, b. 3 Jan 1849,
Crothersville, Jackson Co, IN, d. 7 Feb 1894, same; m. 5 May 1878, same place, Araminta Hall,
2. William Broshears, b. 8 Oct 1797, Bracken Co, KY, d. 23 Feb 1868, Scott Co, IN; m. 17 May 1831,
Scott Co, IN, Mahala Spurgeon, d. 1894, Little York, Washington Co, IN. William served as a Private in the War
of 1812 in the Kentucky Militia under Capt. James Armstrong. He enlisted 29 Aug 1813, was discharged
3 Nov 1813. He was at the Battle of the Thames in the War of 1812 [Thames River in Ontario, Canada, east of
Detroit, where Tecumseh was finally defeated.] He was a resident in 1851 of Clark Co, IN; resident 1855, Scott
Co, IN, where he d. in 1868. The widow was in Little York, Washington Co, IN, in 1878, and died there 1894.
1. Eliza Broshears,
2. Sarah Broshears,
3. James T. Broshears, b. 1832, d. 1902, Little York, Washington Co, IN, descendants extant.
4. Irene Broshears, d. young
5. Bert Broshears,
6. George Broshears,
7. Elisha Broshears,
8. ________ Broshears, m. ________ DeWitt
3. Judith Broshears, m. 18 Apr 1822, Bracken Co, KY, Clement Bradshaw,
4. Rosey Broshears, m. 22 Feb 1818, Bracken Co, KY, Alesander Garrison,
5. George Washington Broshears, m. 4 Mar 1829, Scott Co, IN, Susanna Craig, possible children:
1. Sarah Broshears,
2. Stewart Broshears,
3. Joseph Broshears,
6. Elizabeth Broshears, m. John Meranda,
7. Nancy Broshears, m. Joseph Lord,
8. Owens Broshears, d. 1872, Scott Co, IN; licensed 10 Jul 1830 in Scott Co,
IN, to m. Cynthia Ann Keith. (Children, from 1870 Scott Co, IN):
1. Joseph W. Broshears,
2. Nancy Jane Broshears,
3. ?Stewart Broshears,
4. Emily A. Broshears,
5. Hannah Broshears, m. ________ Reynolds,
6. Sarah E. Broshears,
7. James S. Broshears,
8. Anny H. Broshears, m. ________ Brun,
9. ________ Broshears, m. ________ Mitchell,
9. ?Thomas Broshears, m. 11 Feb Feb 1835, Bracken Co, KY, Sarah Harmon,
Probably a granddaughter: Martha Broshears, b. c1847 (age 29 at marriage), resident of Bracken Co, KY
(father b. KY, mother b. KY); m. 4 Aug 1876, in Bracken Co, KY, Richard Wadkins, resident of Campbell Co, KY,
age 39, b. c1837. He was a Carpenter, b. OH, father b. KY, mother b. KY. It was his second marriage, her first.
(re: Bracken Co Marriages, reported by Eileen Workman, in BFB #120, p.11).
Carol Nichols Udell, Little York, IN , was admitted to the DAR 17 Apr 1985 (#691926) on the basis of Thomas Broshear's service as a private in John Dean's company of frontier rangers, Westmoreland Co, PA, citing Pennsylvania Archives, Third Series, Vol 23, p.228, 321. She gives children of Thomas and Hannah: Sarah, m. James Owens; William, m. Mahala Spurgeon; Nancy, m. Joseph Lord; Elizabeth, m. John Meranda; Washington; Judith; and Owens. She gives a son of William, Zephaniah, whom Ted does not give.
Carol's Line of descent:
1. Thomas Broshears, b. c1752, prob. PA, d. bet. 23 Jul 1808-14 Feb 1822, prob. Bracken Co, KY; m. Hannah Owens, d. bef. 14 Feb 1822 (Bracken Co, KY Deeds, Book C, p.489; Bracken Co, KY Deeds, Book F, p.405-6; PA Archives, Vol 23 (3rd Series), p.228)
2. William Broshears, b. c1793 (age 57 in 1850, Scott Co, IN), d. 1850, Scott Co, IN, s/o Thomas and Hannah (Owens) Broshears; m. 16 Mar 1831 (Scott Co, IN), Mahala Spurgeon, b. c1813 (37 in 1850), d. c1850. (Scott Co. Road Lists; Scott Co. Marriages; Washington Co, IN Death Records, 1882-1922, v.1, p.152)
3. Zephaniah Broshears, b. 12 Jan 1835, (prob.) Scott Co, IN, d. 4 May 1904, bur. Little York, Washington Co, IN, s/o William and Mahala (Spurgeon) Broshears; m. 5 Mar 1857 (Washington Co, IN), Louisa Marian Franklin, b. 1 Aug 1939, d. 26 Dec 1900, bur. Little York (Washington Co. Census, 1880; Marriage License).
4. Sarah Caroline Broshears, b. c1862, Washington Co, IN, d. 1888, bur. Little York, Washington Co, IN; m. 15 Jul 1883 (Washington Co, IN), George Thomas Blunt, b. 6 Mar 1862, Wash. Co, IN, d. 11 Jan 1918, bur. Little York, IN.
5. Goldie Blunt, b. 31 Dec 1886, Wash. Co, IN, d. 24 Aug 1942, Wash. Co, IN; m. 9 Jun 1906 (Scott Co, IN), Walter Henry Craig, b. 1 Oct 1885, Scott Co, IN, d. 4 Feb 1957, Jefferson Co, IN.
JAMES WILLIAM McGILL & SARAH BROSHEARS (MY ANCESTORS...)
James William McGILL, b. c1752-55, Scotland, d. 20 Sep 1834, Pendleton Co, KY; m. 20 Dec 1775, Sarah Broshears, b. c1759-60, d. c1850, Pendleton Co, KY, whose parentage has not yet been established, but is believed to be d/o “the Elder William Brashear”. Sarah was a girl of 15, when James McGill, a soldier, promised her that if she would have him, he would quit the service. They were married in Westmoreland (now Washington) Co, PA, 20 Dec 1775, by a Mr. Parker, JP. In her pension application, 1838, she identified herself as a sister of Thomas Broshears, who m. Hannah Owens, and said that she had other brothers, possibly including Lt. William Brashears, who m. Anne Ray. James McGill did not "quit the service" as promised, but entered the Continental Army in July 1776. He fought in the battes of Boundbrook (Middlebrook), New Jersey; Brandywine, PA, where he was wounded in the arm by a British musket ball; the massacre at Paoli; Germantown and Edge Hill. For several generations, a powder horn which had been presented to James McGill by Gen. George Washington, was passed down from son to son. It was lost (as was the family Bible) in a house fire in the 1940s.
James William McGill's pension papers in 1818 (Rev War #3659) state he re-enlisted under Col. Josiah Harmar and Capt. David Zeigler about 1790 and served one year to eighteen months in the Indian Campaigns in "Western Waters," i.e. in Ohio and Indiana, then the Northwest Territory. He was present at St. Clair's inglorious defeat on 4 Nov 1791. He served again in the War of 1812, where he lost an eye. The pension application says that he and Sarah had 12 children, but only the names of 8 are known. They moved to KY before 1790, for James Jr was born that month in then Mason (now Bracken) Co, KY; they lived in Bracken Co, KY, in 1818; in Pendleton Co, KY, in 1828; and he died in Washington Co, IN, 20 Sep 1834, bur Livonia Cem, (Grave 3, Row 7, Lot 6, Sec 1). He was a farmer. Sarah applied for a widow's pension on 29 Jan 1838, in Pendleton Co, KY; she was age 79. She stated that her husband drew a pension in Bracken Co, KY, and later lived in Pendleton, Co, KY, till 1828 "When he removed from said Pendleton Co, KY, to the State of Indiana and settled in Jefferson County, IN. And while he lived in IN he drew his pension at Coradon (Corydon Agency) in that state until shortly before his death, and after his death she removed back from the state of In to Pendleton County, KY, in order to live with son, Thomas McGill and that she now resides in Pendleton Co, KY..." In 1850, she was living with her son, Israel. Sarah lived to be well over 90 years old. The last paper in her pension file is dated 1854, but the exact date of her death is not known. (Refs: Rev. Soldiers Bur in IN, by Margaret R. Waters, 1949, 1954, 1970, p.69; Pens W.8428, PA; 1835 Pension List, v.3, p.20, Jefferson Co, IN. I.A.R #7773; Am Leg; "Pa. Arch" Ser.3, v.23, p.595).
Children of Sarah Broshears and James McGill:
1. Daniel McGill, b. c1782-3, PA.
2. dau McGill, b. c1784-94, indicated by 1810 census; may have been m. or d. by 1818.
3. James McGill Jr, b. 19 Oct 1790, Mason Co, VA (now Bracken Co, KY), d. 16 or 27 Apr 1881, Village twp, Van Buren Co, IA; m. 31 Aug 1819, in Jefferson Co, IN, Hannah Stephens, b. c1800, d. 3 Mar 1886, both bur Mt. Moriah Cem, Village twp, Van Buren Co, IA. James lived in Scott Twp, Henry Co, IA, in 1850. At age 73, he served in the "Greybeard Regiment" in the Civil War.
4. Sarah Ann McGill, b. c1791, Bracken Co, KY, d. after 1880, Jasper, IN; m.1. 8 Jan 1818, Bracken Co, KY, William Earles, d. bef. 1836, s/o John and Margaret Earles; m.2. 19 Jul 1841, William DeCamp, m.3. 1853-1860, John Dillon.
5. dau McGill, b. 1794-1800, indicated by 1810 Census; may have m. or d. before 1818. ?Same as Sarah Ann?
6. Thomas Broshears McGill, b. c1797, Bracken Co, KY, d. Mar 1886, Pendleton Co, Ky; m.1. 19 Oct 1820, Bracken Co, KY, Zilpha Utter, b. PA, d. prob. c1831-2 in Scott Co, IN; m.2. 10 Jul 1834, Jane Carney, d. c1836 (no ch); m.3. 29 Aug 1855, Eliza Peters, b. c1840 (15 in 1855), d/o John Peters. 4. Joseph Broshears McGill, b. 1827, IN (g-gf/o Ted McGill).
This is my line. I am a descendant through Thomas B. McGill through his 3rd wife Eliza Peters, who had a son named Charles Albert McGill (1872-1968), my great-grandfather.
7. Samuel Asaell McGill, b. c1803, Bracken Co, KY, d. Nov 1861; m. 12 Jun 1823, in Pendleton Co, KY, Elizabeth Earles, b. c1804, d/o John and Margaret Earles.
8. William McGill, b. c1808, d. after 1841; m. 31 Dec 1829, in Jefferson Co, IN, Mary Stephen, prob. a sister to Hannah who m. his brother, James.
9. Anthony Wayne McGill, b. 15 Sep 1810, Bracken Co, KY, d. 20 Jan 1890, tombstone at Lenoxburg; m. 3 May 1832, Bracken Co,KY, Mary Jane Baxter, b. 16 Dec 1815, d. 28 Apr 1892, d/o John Baxter.
10. Israel S. McGill, b. c1812-13, d. 1873; m.1. 16 or 18 Sep 1836, in Harrison So, KY, Lorinda Baxter, prob sister of Mary Jane Baxter; m.2. 27 Dec 1839, Pendelton Co, KY, America Sharp, b. 1811, Clark Co, KY, d. 18 Sep 18564, d/o Elias Sharp; m.3 27 Mar 1857, Pendleton Co, KY, Sarah Miller.
11. unknown
12. unknown
E-mail to Laura... (laurawg@gmail.com)
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