Joseph Brannen Line
THE JOSEPH BRANNEN LINE
Joseph Brannen (1820-1845)
Joseph was born January 20 1820 at Clam Point. He was the seventh son Archibald Brannen (1777-1827) and Mary Atkinson’s (1786-??). He was fisherman. In about 1840 he married Letitia Spinney Cunningham (1821-1912). She was the daughter of David V. Cunningham (1792-1863) and Eunice Nickerson (1800-1851). Joseph and Letitia had three children, Archibald (1841-1866), Salome (1841-1916) and Letitia born (1843-1844). Letitia died as an infant.
Joseph was lost at sea August 1845 from the Leander when he was just 25 years old. He was drowned when he and several crewmen were sent ashore at Cole Harbour to dig clams for bait. Their boat capsized near the mouth of the harbour. It appears he was lost at sea and his body not recovered. He left a young wife and two children. His daughter Salome was raised by his brother Robert. It is not known who raised Archibald like his father was lost at sea at age 25.
Joseph’s wife Letitia remarried to Edmond Hunt. The 1861 census showed just the two of them in the family. The 1911 census showed her as living with her daughter Salome Brannen-Powell (1841-1916 and her husband Samuel Powell (1840-1919) in Centreville. Letita was age 90. She died October 9 1912 in Centreville and was buried in the Cemetery there.
THE THIRD GENERATION
THE CHILDREN OF JOSEPH BRANNEN (1820-1845)
7-3-1
Archibald Brannen (1840-1866)
Archibald was born about 1840. He was the first-born child of Joseph Brannen (1820-1845) and Letitia Spinney- Cunningham (1821-1912).
His father Joseph was lost at sea in August 1845 when Arch was only about six years old.
He was lost at sea with four others September 15 1866 when a gale swept thru the Grand Banks. He was only 25 years old. He had never married.
END
7-3-2
Salome Brannen (1841-1916)
Salome was born March 15 1841 on Cape Sable Island to of Joseph Brannen (1820-1845) and Letitia Spinney- Cunningham (1821-1912).
Her father, Joseph drown in 1845 when she was only about five years old. She was raised by her uncle Robert Brannen (1815-1881) and his wife Martha Jane Crowell (1816-1858).
She married Samuel Powell (1840-1919) January 3 1860 on Cape Sable Island. He was the son of John Powell and Eliza Shaw. Salome and Samuel had four children, William Horn Powell (1860-1937), James A. Powell (1861-??), Letitia Powell (1867-1870) and Julia Powell (1872-1932).
Salome is listed in the 1871 census as married to Samuel Powell also age 31. There were two children at home, William H. age ten and James A. age nine. They were residing on Cape Sable Island.
She appears again in the 1881 census as age 39 living with her husband Samuel a fisherman and two children, James age 18, a fisherman, and Julia age eight.
Salome appeared in the 1900 US census living at 92 Brooks Street in Boston, Ward 1, Suffolk, MA. She is shown as age 58 living with husband Samuel and Julia Ross age 27 their daughter. Samuel was a carpenter. His year of immigration was 1886. Salome’s date of birth as reported was April 1842. He became a naturalized US citizen Sept 26 1896.
She died September 20 1916 at North East Harbour and is buried in Centreville. Samuel died October 12 1919 and is also buried in Centreville.
7-3-3
Lititia Brannen 1843-1844
Lititia was born about 1843 on Cape Sable Island to of Joseph Brannen (1820-1845) and Letitia Spinney- Cunningham (1821-1912).
She died as an infant.
END
THE FOURTH GENERATION
THE CHILDREN OF SALOME BRANNEN (1841-1916)
7-4-1
William Horn Powell (1860-1937)
William was born November 14 1860 on Cape Sable Island. He was the oldest son of Salome Brannen (1841-1916) and Samuel Powell (1840-1919).
He married Deborah E. Ross (1859-1942) December 15 1880. She was the daughter of Arron Ross (1825-1877) and Deborah Nickerson (1831-1918). They had four children, William Ennis (1881-1973), Arthur Bradley (1882-1921), Ethel Mae (1890-1966) and Salome Edna (1893-1990). Ethel Mae married Claude Lester Ross Brannen. He was the son of Andrew Lovitt Brannen (1859-1904) and Salome Edna married Richard Cartwright Brannen (1891-1978). He was also the son of Andrew Lovitt Brannen (1859-1904).
William became a naturalized US citizen Sept 26 1896.
He died July 25 1937 on Cape Sable Island and is buried in the Atlantic cemetery in Stoney Island NS. Deborah died January 11 1942 in Stoney Island NS and is buried with her husband.
END
7-4-2
James Arthur Powell (1861-1908)
James was born April 19 1862 on Cape Sable Island. He was the son of Salome Brannen (1841-1916) and Samuel Powell (1840-1919).
The 1881 census shows him an 18-year-old fisherman living at home with his parents and sister Juliette age eight.
He married Clara Austin Nickerson (1867-1892) February 3 1887 in Clark’s Harbour NS. She was the daughter of Barry Nickerson (1828-1892 and Nancy Cunningham (1833-1901).
In the 1891 census he was shown as a fisherman age 29 married to Clara. There were no children listed.
Clara died about 1892
He married Evelena Ross (1870-1947) in about April 30 1892. They appear to have had four children: Edna Ross Powell (1894-1990), Grace Freda Powell (1896-1932), and Vivian Powell (1898-1965), and Charles McD. Powell (1904-1978).
He appears to have moved to the US prior to 1896 as their children, Freda and Vivian were born in Plymouth MA.
He died about 1908 on the B&R RR tracks in Cambridge MA. He was about age 47, a rail road employee in a work accident. He died of injuries to his head and neck. He is buried in the Woodland cemetery in Everett MA.
END
7-4-3
Letitia Powell (1867-1870)
Letitia was born July 8 1867 on Cape Sable Island. She was the daughter of Salome Brannen (1841-1916) and Samuel Powell (1840-1919).
She died December 19 1870 at about age three and is buried in the Centreville cemetery.
END
7-4-4
Julietta Powell (1872-1932)
Juliette was born October 28 8 1872 on Cape Sable Island. She was the daughter of Salome Brannen (1841-1916) and Samuel Powell (1840-1919).
Julietta appeared in the 1881 census as age eight.
She married William Alexander Ross (1866-1898) in Boston MA August 24 1891 when she was 18 years old. He was the son of Captain James Ross and Mary McCallum. He was a master mariner and died at sea in 1898.
In the 1900 census she was found living with her parents on Saratoga St in Boston. She was a widow age 27. She gave her birth date as March 1872.
She married George Lewis. Nickerson (1871-1951) March 26 1901 in Boston MA. George was shown as a 27-year-old carpenter. His parents were Ephraim D. Nickerson (1842-1906) and Janet Griffin (1849-1941).
I have not been able to identify any children from either marriage.
She died September 30 1932 of uterine cancer at North East Point NS and is buried in the Centreville cemetery. George died October 13 1951 at Barrington Passage NS. He is buried in Centreville with Julietta.
END
END OF THE LINE