Virginia Sanders  Mylius

<gmylius@charter.net>   ·
Birmingham, AL    



Complete notes and sources available upon request.

BRONAUGH FAMILY

JOHN BRUNEAU  (Jean), lawyer to the bailiwick of Gien.  Oruneau returned in the lap of the Roman Church in 1578, with Pierre Fortet, general lieutenant of this city [Haag, III 47].  According to Lebeuf, it had composed a History of the arrived things to Gien, work tooth no not done catalog mention.  The two alone written ones of Bruneau that are quoted by the bibliographers are a Speech chres- yours of the antiquity of the constitutions, orders and vrayes mark Catholic Church (Paris, 1581, in-8), and a Èpitre containing the reasons of his meeting to the Catholic Church (Paris, 1584, in-8).  [forgive the rough French translation]

JOHN BRUNEAU (Jean) counsel to the présidial of la Rochelle in 1612 and lord of Gravai, left in manuscript an interesting history of the Corps et collège de La Rochelle (unfortunately mutilated manuscript, that exists to the biblioth. of this city).   serious conflict having erupted in 1613 between the city of The Rochelle and the bourgeois, Bruneau was chosen of a common agreement by the two parties to examine their titles.  The fight finished at the advantage of the bourgeois; his narrative forms the history of college of the Rochelle.  — This is probably it same John that one finds registersed, 2 January 1567, on the register of the baptisms of the reformed church of the city as son of Bert man Bruneau and of Mary de Bon ou de Bien; he then would have been 35 years old when he married, 5 Oct. 1602, Jeanne, daughter of John Bourdigalle sieur of the Chabois- sière, criminal magistrate's assistant to the présidial.   He became counsel to the same seat about 1607.  In 1622. after the assembly of The Rochelle had accepted peace, the bourgeois elected it to the number of the four of them. that they delegated towards the count of Soissons and they sent it the following year to the king to solicit the demolition of the strong Louis.  Bruneau no longer existed in 1635.

His son JOHN B RUNEAU, born 23 Nov. 1609, acquit in 1637 the important seigneurie of Hure near The Rochelle.  He went to sea in 1641 on a ship ordered by the M. of Brézé and  was captain of this vessel when it was ennobled by letters in 1667.  He married Mary Lecerclère, daughter or niece of the minister Louis Lecerclère sieur of the Chapellière; to the Revocation, he left France with his wife after they had done, 1681, the division of their goods between the three children that remained for them:  Paul, Anne, Mary.  A son named ARNAUD Bruneau, carried the titles of lord of Hure, The Chaboissière and Rivedoux and married Hélène Guibert, was alive in 1646 and dead in 1681, leaving a son, Henri.

ARNAUD BRUNEAU - sieur of the fief of Chabociere in Eure; ennobled in 1630.  [French quote:   "Arnaud Bruneau, sieur de la Chabociere fief dépendant de la terre de Eure ; anobli en 1630"  from La France Protestante, By Émile Haag, Eugène Haag].    Arneau Bruneau, the father of Paul and Henry, probably came to South Carolina with his sons, and died there soon after.   Arnaud’s will can apparently be seen in it’s entirety, with a translation, in Transactions of the Huguenot Society of South Carolina, but I have not seen the transcript yet.    "The South Carolina Huguenots"  offers glimpses about Arnaud:   “At least until the early 1700's, the Huguenots compensated the dual alienation of living in a transatlantic colony and in a foreign country by preserving old familiar and peer networks.   They migrated to Carolina together, settled near each other, intermarried with one another, witnessed each other's transactions, and appointed one another as testamentary executors.  ...  Lorri Glover's observation that "settling South Carolina was…a family affair" has all the more truth in the case of an alien minority such as the Huguenots.  Of the 347 migrants identified, more than 40 percent (152) emigrated with one or several family members other than their spouses and their children.  Nor nearly half of these (69), the relative was a sibling, and close to a third of these adult refugees arrived with at least one parent.  Examples of sibling migration are Gabriel and Pierre Manigault; Jacques, Jean and Gabriel Boyd; Alexandre Thesee and Henry Auguste Chasteigner; and Rene, Georges, Louis, and Elisabeth Juin.  Examples of intergenerational migrations are Judith Giton, her brothers Louis and Pierre, and their mother Madeleine Cottin; Jean Postel and his mother, Marie Brugnet Postel; and Henry Bruneau, his uncle Paul Bruneau, and his grandfather ARNAUD BRUNEAU, Sieur de la Chabociere...... "Fleeting references to real estate left behind in France mentioned in Huguenot wills also show that until the early years of the eighteenth century the first-generation refugees encouraged their descendants to return to Frances.  Unsurprisingly, this illusory hope was particularly strong among the landowning esquires, who had been unable to liquidate their assets before the flight.  In his 1692 will, Arnaud Bruneau de la Chabociere instructed his son Paul to do everything he could to recover the family estate in Aunis.”  In 1708, Paul in turn bequeathed the estate to his nephew Henry and encouraged him to return to France "if the Protestant religion were to be restored."   January 26, 1694:  Isaac LeGrand and Rene Ravenel appeared before J. Boyd and proved their inventory and appraisement of the estate of Arnaud Bruneau de la Chabociere.

PAUL BRUNEAU was born about 1624 in LaRochelle, France.  In History of the Huguenot Emigration to America, it states that "Among the members of the "noblesse" of Aunis that continued faithful to the Huguenot cause, in these days of augmenting persecution, were several who afterwards formed part of the emigration to South Carolina.  Paul Bruneau de Rivedoux, Écuyer, son of Arnaud Bruneau, sieur de la Chabossier, Henri Bruneau, écuyer, son of Henri Bruneau de la Chabossier; Henri Auguste Chastaignier, écuyer, seigneur de Cramahe, and Alexandre Thésée Châtaignier, écuyer, seigneur de l'Isle, were all born in La Rochelle.”   Paul and Henry Bruneau, and Henry Augustus Chastaigner de Cramahe, had already, while in England, obtained letters of naturalization, March 20, 1686, and April 15, 1687.     Traditionally the Bronaughs of Virginia are descendants of "Paul Bruneau, Sieur de la Chabrosier," who was born in la Rochelle and was a grandson of Jean Brunseau, counselor, and eminent citizen whose family obtained patents of nobility in the middle of the 17th century.  Paul Bruneau was accompanied in his flight to America by his nephew Henri Bruneau.  While in England they obtained letters of Naturalization on March 20, 1636, and changed the spelling of the name to Bronaugh.  Paul and Henry Bronaugh were instrumental in building the first Presbyterian Church in South Carolina.   The family settled in the Rappahannock country in the last years of the seventeenth century, where the first known ancestor of the family of interest here was born.    In January 1707 Paul Bruneau sold sixty acres to Andre Rambert.  The memorandum officializing this sale was drafted in French and signed by Rene Ravenel.    Will of Paul Bruneau was dated November 14, 1708, but I have not seen a transcript of it.      

DAVID BRONAUGH is named in  A History of the Bronaugh Family in America.    I have little information about David; further research is needed.    Two sons:  Jeremiah and William, are mentioned most frequently.     The original name was French - Bruneau. They were Hugenots naturalized (Bronaugh) in England in 1631.    David Bronaugh, Jeremiah's father, is recorded as having bought his 350-acre estate on Willow Creek in Old Rappahannock County on 24 Apr. 1671 (Old Rappahannock Co. Deed Book 1668-1672, p. 219-220).  Old Rappahannock County then encompassed both sides of the Rappahannock River to the ridges separating the watershed lines from the flanking river valleys. There is no doubt that Jeremiah Bronaugh Sr. later inherited part of this plantation.


JEREMIAH BRONAUGH was born about 1673.  A History of the Bronaugh Family states that Jeremiah lived in Stafford Co. had 3 sons: Jeremiah, David and Samuel.  Samuel's Will - Prince William Co. 3 Jun 1741 mentions his sons Thomas and Francis. Father Jeremiah and brothers Jeremiah and David were Executors.   To quote:   “ The Bronaughs were middling-level landed gentry, prosperous enough to be recorded in numerous county transactions throughout the changing jurisdictions of the Northern Neck. The Bronaugh plantation undoubtedly used numerous slaves, indentured servants, and other white employees to work the farm, some as overseers, and others as tradesmen (smiths, carpenters, etc.). Probably William Burges was one of these laborers, or he may have leased fifty or a hundred acres of land from Bronaugh or one of his neighbors. Certainly he thought highly enough of Jeremiah Bronaugh to make him the guardian of his children (lest we make too much of William's will, however, it should be noted that Jeremiah Bronaugh is recorded several times in county records with similar "adoptions").   Nonetheless, it seems reasonable to infer that William Burges knew Jeremiah Bronaugh and lived somewhere nearby. He probably extracted a promise from Bronaugh that William's daughters would be honorably married off and that his son would be trained in the art and science of farming, and given a chance to buy his own plot at some future date, in exchange, of course, for their free labor over a certain number of years. It was a common bargain and a fair one, for the times. Since such duties would normally be assumed by surviving relatives on either side of the family, one may also presume that none were close at hand, or (less likely) that they were too poor to assume financial responsibility for the children.”

From King George Co., Virginia Will Book 1749/50 Pg. 228-230:

WILL OF JEREMIAH BRONAUGH

In the Name of God Amen. I Jeremiah Bronough of the County of King George in the Parish of Brunswick being in perfect healt and memory, thanks be to God, therefore but calling to mind the shortness of life and certainty of death, do make this my last Will and Testament in manner and form following.

Impris: First, I bequeath my soul to God who gave it and my body to Christian burial at the discretion of my Executor hereafter mentioned.
Item: To my daughter Elizabeth Wright I give four ewes and no more because she has had her full share of my estate already.  
Item: To my daughter Ann Chadwell I give the feather bed and furniture that stands in the room where I lodge myself and eight hundred pounds of Tobacco to be paid by my Unknown David Bronaugh the first year after my death.
Item: To my daughter Rosamond Steward I give the feather bed and bolster which was last fild (sic) with a rugg and blankets.
Item: To my daughter Margaret Grant I give two thousand pounds of Tobacco to be paid to my (son) David Bronaugh the second year after my death.
Item: To my son Samuel Bronaugh I give my Negro woman named Cate and all her increase to him and his heirs of assigns forever.
Item: To my son Jere: Bronaugh I give my Negro woman named Jude and all her increase to him and his heirs or assigns forever.
Item: To my son David Bronaugh I give my Negro woman named Jean and all her increase to him and his heirs or assigns forever. I also give and devise unto my son David Bronaugh my land and plantation whereon I now live being by estimation one hundred and fifty one acres to him his heirs or assigns forever. I also give my Negro Caffe and all my other estate not before given to my son David Bronaugh, he to pay of (f) the legacies before mentioned and my debts.
And my Will and Desire is that my Estate shall not be appraised nor inventoried because my debts are few and of small value. I do ordain constitute and appoint my loving Unknown David Bronaugh Executor of this my last Will and Testament. In Witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seale this 14th day of April in the year of our Lord 1836.
Jeremiah Bronaugh (seal)
Signed Sealed and Published
to be his Last Will & Testament in Presence of us...
John Coburn
William Stringfellow
John Glendining

CODICIL:

Know all men that these presents that I Jeremiah Bronaugh of the Parish of Brunswick in the County of King George having formerly given to my son Jeremiah Bronaugh my Negro woman named Judee and her increase as in my will above and he being dead without making any will, I do now by this present writing revoke that clause of my will and I do now give and demise the said Negro woman named Judee and all her increase to his two children Kathren Bronaugh and Benjamin Bronaugh and their heirs forever, to be equally divided
between them when the said Kathren Bronaugh shall be married or come to the age of twenty one years and I do order and appoint my Executor, David Bronaugh above mentioned, to see this clause &c: schedule to my will duly executed.

In Witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal this 29th day of February in the year of our Lord 1747/8.
Jeremiah Bronaugh (seal)
Signed Sealed & Published
to be his act and deed in Presence of
us ......
John Champe
Wm. Rowley
Anderson Doniphan

A court held for King George County on Friday, Jan. 5, 1749, the Last Will and Testament of Jeremiah Bronaugh, deceaded, has presented into Court by David Bronaugh his Executor who mad ______thereto and the same was proved by the oaths of John Champs, Gent., and Anderson Doniphan and admitted to record.

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WILLIAM BRONAUGH, son of David, was born in 1671. He married Anne E. He died in 1718 at Richmond Co., VA. Will on 3 Sep 1717.     I have little other information about William, and would appreciate hearing from others about him.   

Children of William Bronaugh and Anne E. were as follows:

i.   Agnes Bronaugh died in 1747 at Fairfax Co.

 ii.   William Bronaugh died in 1751 at Fairfax Co.

 iii.   John Bronaugh died in 1745 at Fairfax Co.

 iv.  Col. Jeremiah Bronaugh was born on 25 Feb 1701/2. He married Simpha Rosa Ann Field Mason, daughter of  Col. George Mason II and Mary Fowke.

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The Children of JEREMIAH BRONAUGH (son of David) - Wife’s Name Unknown:

I would love to hear from other descendants of Jeremiah Bronaugh.   I have made no concerted effort to research the other children of Jeremiah.    Our descent is through his daughter Elizabeth.    


ELIZABETH BRONAUGH, daughter of Jeremiah Bronaugh, was born about 1710 in Prince William County, VA.      My notes about Elizabeth state:  “The second great figure in the study of this Wright family is Anne Reed Ritchie, whose three publications (1973, 1979, and 1982) greatly amplified our knowledge of the Wright descendants. One of Mrs. Ritchie’s greatest contributions, however, was to identify the wife of  John Wright (ca 1705-1792) as Elizabeth Bronaugh, (ca 1705-1789), widow of Waugh Darnall (and not Darnall’s daughter, as Hoppin had misstated.)  Mrs. Ritchie’s research is all the more remarkable, since she worked from her home in a small town in Oregon with only the most limited access to the genealogical literature, to libraries and record repositories.”   Elizabeth died about 1789.     LDS Ancestrial file has her death in Hamilton Parish, Fauquier Co., Virginia.; but I have also seen that she died in Prince William Co.    

Elizabeth married JOHN WRIGHT (II) - born about 1706/1707 in Copel Parrish, Lower Machodoc, Westmoreland Co., VA.    John was the son of Maj. John Wright & Dorothy.      "The Washington-Wright Connection" by Charles Arthur Hoppin, 1923, tells us about the Wright family of Virginia.     

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