Susanna Brannen Line
THE SUSANNA BRANNEN LINE
Susanna Brannen (1811-1891)
Susanna was the sixth child of Archibald Brannen Sr (1777-1827) and Mary Atkinson (1788-??). She was born October 29 1811in Barrington Township. She was married to Moses Ross (1806-1880) on June 12 1829 by Rev. Asa McGray. They had seven children; it appears all but one lived to maturity.
They lived at Stoney Island. They purchased a lot in class 8 which ran from the ocean to the back line. They paid 13.6.8 pounds in 1832 for the unimproved lot and built a house on east side of the road. The house is still standing. They sold the property in 1879 to their youngest son Samuel. The A. F. Church map of 1870’s notes the name and location.
The 1861 census found a family of six, four males and 2 females. The 1867 Hutchinson Directory lists him as a fisherman. The 1871 census shows Susanna as age 59. A son Reuben age 19 was listed as living with them as well as Moses’ sister Sarah age 46.
The 1881 census shows her as a 70-year-old widow living with her son Samuel and his family in the house the son purchased from them. In the
The1891 census she was shown as age 78 living with her youngest daughter Emily and her husband Smith Brannen in Stoney Island.
Her exact date of death is not known but it was sometime after 1891. She is likely buried in the small private and overgrown Ross cemetery near the beach in Stoney Island.
THE THIRD GENERATION
THE CHILDREN ON SUSANNA BRANNEN (1811-1891)
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Reuben Brannen Ross (1831-1867)
Reuben was born on Cape Sable Island September 10 1831. He was the oldest child of Susanna Brannen (1811-1891) and Moses Ross (1806-1880). He was likely born in Stoney Island where the Ross family had settled. His date of birth is recorded in the Barrington Township Records.
I have not been able to identify Reuben’s wife.
There is a Reuben Ross in the 1861 census for Shelburne County showing a family of three, two males and one female. He appears as a fisherman on Cape Sable Island in the 1867 Hutchinson's Directory.
He was only 36 years old when he died November 21 1867. He is possibly buried in an unmarked grave in the private Ross Cemetery near the beach in Stoney Island.
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Sophia Ross (1833-1909)
Sophia was born on Cape Sable Island October 3 1833. Sophia's birth date is recorded in Sophia was the second child of Susanna Brannen (1811-1891) and Moses Ross (1806-1880). Sophia’s birth date appears in the History of Barrington Township.
She married John Colby McGray Jr. 1833-1893. He was a master mariner from Centreville. They had seven children.
The 1871 census shows her as age 36 married to John C. McGray a fisherman. They were living on Cape Island. There was one daughter Merilla age 13 living with them as well as Benjamin age ten, Eleanor age seven and James age two.
In 1881 the census showed her as age 47. Living with them was Benjamin age 20, Elenora age 18, James age 12 and Barak age 9. Also, with them was Mary Hunt a town Pauper.
In the 1891 census she was shown as age 57. Elenora, James, Barak and Winfred are shown at home. Barak and James were fisherman and Winfred was only age four.
Her husband died while on a voyage at Charlottetown PEI May 20 1893. He was buried in Centreville.
The Medford city directory for 1909 shows Sophia widow of Colby living with her son George Winfred at 56 Edward Street Medford MA.
It is believed she died December 18 1909 in Medford MA and was buried in Centreville with her husband.
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Benjamin Ross (1835-1836)
He was born on Cape Sable Island April 23 1835. He was the son of Susanna Brannen (1811-1891) and Moses Ross (1806-1880). He died as an infant November 1836. His date of birth and death is recorded in the Barrington Township Records.
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Benjamin S. Ross (1837-1897)
He was born on Cape Sable Island October 12 1837. He was the second son with that name of Susanna Brannen (1811-1891) and Moses Ross (1806-1880). He was likely born in Stoney Island where the Ross family had settled. His date of birth is recorded in the Barrington Township Records.
He married Sarah C. Cunningham (1840-??) April 29 1866. She was from West Head NS, the daughter of Daniel Vincent Cunningham and Mary Crowell. They had two children Daniel (1866-1881) and Maria (1868-1871).
In the 1871 census he appears as age 33 a fisherman, married to Sarah age 25. There is one child Daniel age five and Benjamin’s aunt Maria L Ross age 55 living with them.
It appears Sarah died sometime before 1880 as he married Zilpha Ross (1854-1909) the daughter of Arron Ross and Deborah Nickerson about 1880. The 1881 the Canadian census showed him married to Zilpha with a baby Effie born in April. They were living on Cape Sable Island. He was shown as a fisherman. A second child Chester Horatio 1881-1966 was born later that year.
He died about 1897 in Shag Harbour. Zilpha died November 15 1909 and is buried in the Atlantic cemetery in Stoney Island.
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Samuel Penney Ross (1843-1929)
He was born on Cape Sable Island October 5 1843. He was the son of Susanna Brannen (1811-1891) and Moses Ross (1806-1880). He was likely born in Stoney Island where the Ross family had settled.
He married Rebecca Ring Goodwin (1846-1937) January 27 1863 at West Head NS. They had twelve children.
He appears in the 1901 census as age 57 with Rebecca age 55. There were still three children at home. He was listed as a fisherman.
He died of cancer at West Head NS April 15 1929 and is buried at Stoney Island. Rebecca died of influenza April 15 1937 and is buried with Samuel in Stoney Island.
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Moses Ross (1840-????)
I have not been able to find any information about a child named Moses.
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Emily Ross 1848-1910
Emily was born on Cape Sable Island, likely in Stoney Island February 5 1848. She was the youngest child of Susanna Brannen (1811-C189) and Moses Ross (1806-1880).
Emily married Archibald Smith Brannen (1843-1908) the son of Robert Brannen and Martha Jane Crowell September 20 1868. They had seven children and lived in Stoney Island.
She appears in the census of 1871, 81, 91 as married to Archibald Smith Brannen. In the 1891 census there are 4 children as well as Arthur Hunt and Susana Ross, Emily`s mother, age 78 living with them.
In the 1901 census she is shown as age 53. There were two children at home Shurben L. age 18 and Elmsley age 14. Smith was a fisherman. There was also a ‘step son’ Oscar D. Quinlan (1890-1913) age 13.
Her husband died about 1808 and on December 8 1909 Emily Brannen, Shurben, Mary Bateman and husband John sold Part #4, 9th Class of the Second Division of Cape Sable Island previous owned by Archibald Smith Brannen deceased to Benjamin Brannen. The sale was registered January 5 1910.The price was $100. The property was shore frontage next to Davis Cunningham registered as BAR 502907069. On the about the same date the heirs to his estate also sold to his son Shurben for $400. part of the subdivision of the school lot.
She died November 11 1910 and is buried in Stoney Island.
THE FOURTH GENERATION
THE CHILDREN OF EMILY ROSS (1848-1910)
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Mary Brannen (1868-1869)
Mary was the first daughter of Emily Ross (1848-1910) and Archibald Smith Brannen (1843-1908).
She was born on Cape Sable Island about 1868. She died as an infant about 1869.
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Edgar Brannen (1869-1869)
Edgar was the first son of Emily Ross (1848-1910) and Archibald Smith Brannen (1843-1908). He was born on Cape Sable Island about 1869. He died as an infant likely in 1869.
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Edgar Brannen (1871-1887)
Edgar was the second child named Edgar of Emily Ross (1848-1910) and Archibald Smith Brannen (1843-1908). He was born on Cape Sable Island, likely at Stoney Island about 1871. He appears to have died at about age 16 in 1887.
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Mary Essa Brannen (1877-1945)
Mary Essa was the daughter of Emily Ross (1848-1910) and Archibald Smith Brannen (1843-1908). She was born on Cape Sable Island, likely at Stoney Island October 5, 1877. She appeared in the 1891 census as being age 13.
She married John Matthew Bateman (1875-1957) also from Cape Sable Island in Boston Jan 11, 1899. He was a carpenter age 24. She was a domestic age 22. Her address was 52 Bennington, Boston. Together they had eight children.
The 1901 census shows her age 22, a birth date of 5 October 1878. She was married to John. There were two daughters, Margaret B. (1899-1906) and Oneita Pearl (1900-1920), and his mother, Matilda Atkinson-Bateman (1850-??) living with them. In September 1904 they were living at 66 Saratoga Street in Boston.
The 1921 census found her living in Stoney Island. She was 43 years old. Living with them was six children plus another described as adopted daughter 11 months old. This was their granddaughter, Neta Bateman (1920-2007) the child of their recently deceased daughter Oneita Pearl Bateman who died at childbirth. Also, with them was his mother Matilda. John was described as a seaman with his own boat.
They acquired a home in Centreville just south of the lane to McGray’s wharf.
She died November 24 1945 in Centreville and is buried in Stoney Island with John. Her epitaph reads, ``A devoted wife and mother your memory will never fade``.
John married again to Eliza Ellen Penney (1875-1964). They had no children.
John died June 3 1957 and is buried with Mary Essa in the Atlantic cemetery in Stoney Island NS.
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Herbert Blanchard Brannen (1881-1897)
Herbert was the son of Emily Ross (1848-1910) and Archibald Smith Brannen (1843-1908). He was born on Cape Sable Island, at Stoney Island about 1881. He appears to have died at about age 16 in 1897.
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Shurben Lowell Brannen (1882-1957)
Shurben was the son of Emily Ross (1848-1910) and Archibald Smith Brannen (1843-1908). He was born at Stoney Island December 5 1882. He appears in the 1891 census as being nine years old
He is shown in the Seafarers of the Atlantic Provinces as owner of the sloop Thistle built in 1905.
He married Muriel Estelle Atkinson (1886-1953) November 4 1908 at Stoney Island. She was the daughter of Hibbert Atkinson and Mercy Bethel. They adopted a son, Clifford Atwood (1909-1996).
Shurben appeared in the 1921 census as age 39, married to Muriel living at Stoney Island. They had one child, Clifford, age 12 living at home.
He appears on the manifest of the ‘Boston boat’ January 1924 travelling to East Boston. He was a fisherman age 40.
Shurben died November 23 1957 at Stoney Island NS and is buried in the Atlantic cemetery there. Muriel died December 21 1953 and is buried with him.
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Enzley Brannen (1886-1939)
Enzley was the youngest son of Emily Ross (1848-1910) and Archibald Smith Brannen (1843-1908). He was born at Stoney Island September 30 1886. He appears in the 1891 census as being four years old. In the 1901 census he was age14 living on Cape Sable Island with his parents and siblings
He moved to the West Coast about 1912 when he was 26 years old.
He died in North Vancouver September 11 1939. His death record is listed as Emzley Brannon. He was 52 years old. He is buried in the North Vancouver cemetery. According to Margaret Messenger's notes he went there 27 years before his death to engage in the halibut business. He died of diabetes.
It appears he never married.
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THE FIFTH GENERATION
THE CHILDREN OF MARY ESSA BRANNEN (1877-1945)
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Margaret Bateman (1899-1906)
Margaret was born July 25, 1899, on Cape Sable Island to Mary Essa Brannen (1877-1945) and John Bateman (1875-1957).
She appeared in the 1901 census.
She died July 1906 in Shelburne NS and is buried in the Atlantic Cemetery in Stoney Island.
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Oneita Pearl Bateman (1900-1920)
Pearl was born about 1900 on Cape Sable Island to Mary Essa Brannen (1877-1945) and John Bateman (1875-1957).
She died at age 20, July 5, 1920, as a result of childbirth. Her child Neta Pearl Bateman (1920-2007) survived.
STORY:
My mother, my sister Barbara and I went to CSI in the early 2000s and I found lots of details of my mother's birth. Her mother Pearl Bateman was in late pregnancy without anyone knowing. The presumed father of her child was Judah Smith. Pearl went into labor at her employer's home and I guess no one could stop the postpartum bleeding and Pearl died. My gr. grandfather John Matthew Bateman took my mother to the family home and raised her as their own. He however vowed to hunt down and kill Judah, so Judah decided to move to Yarmouth. In her 80s my mother agreed to answer my questions. She said that she began to realize that John Bateman wasn't her father when some islanders told her to say "Hi" for them to her grandfather………An e-mail from Judy DeWitt 2013
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Lydia Catherine Bateman (1902-1991)
Lyd was born October 10, 1902, on Cape Sable Island to Mary Essa Brannen (1877-1945) and John Bateman (1875-1957).
She married Hugh (Hep) Chase (1895-1968) in May 1928. He was the son of Wilber Chase and Adria J. Cunningham. They had no children of their own but took in and raised a child of her sister Emily Bateman (1904-1981) and Arthur Rennehan (1898-1929) after his father was killed in 1929. The child was Arthur Rennehan Jr.
Lyd was a schoolteacher who taught in various Island schools throughout her career. She was noted for being “strict”.
Lyd and Hep lived in the house across the road to the lane to McGray’s wharf.
Hep died in 1968 and Lyd remarried in 1980. Her second husband was Claud Atkinson son of Moses Atkinson and Jane Cunningham.
She died November 26 19991 in Barrington Passage NS.
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Emily Jane Bateman (1904-1961)
Emily was born on March 14 1904 at Stoney Island, Cape Sable Island to Mary Essa Brannen (1877-1945) and John Bateman (1875-1957). She was married three times; her first marriage was to Arthur Grant Rennehan (1898-1929) on March 14, 1920, in Boston MA. He was the son of William Rennehan and Virginia Newell. They had two children, a daughter Mildred Eva (1925-2006), and Arthur Melvin Rennehan Jr.(1924-2000). Arthur Sr. was killed in work accident in the US in 1929. After Arthur Sr. died Emily's sister Lyd and her husband raised Arthur Jr. Her daughter Mildred was raised by Sherben Lowell Brannen (1882-1957) and his wife Muriel Atkinson. Emily may have had a third child out of wedlock who was given for adoption. Her second marriage was to Randall Lowell Atkinson (1904-1966) December 19 1932 at Centreville. He was the son of John R. Rennehan and Caroline Brown. On their marriage certificate she listed her name as Rennehan, age 28, a widow, and a domestic. Randall died September 17 1966.
Emily married two more times: Charles Waybrat (1898-1988) the son of William Waybrat and Carrie Atwood and to Timothy William Forman Ross (1910-1988).
Emily died March 24, 1981, on Cape Sable Island and is buried in River Head NS.
STORY:
Emily did have 2 children by her husband, her daughter Mildred and son Arthur Rennehan Emily was widowed young. Her husband was killed in an accident while working in the States. Sometime later she became pregnant by a local man and the boy baby was adopted. Aunt Emily also gave her son Arthur to Aunt Lyd to raise.
From an e-mail from Judy DeWitt August 2015
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Eula Mae Bateman (1905-1989)
Eula was born September 4, 1905, at Stoney Island, Cape Sable Island to Mary Essa Brannen (1877-1945) and John Bateman (1875-1957). She briefly taught school on the Island.
She married Cornelius F. Ross (1892-1937) on August 19, 1926. He was the son of Warren Ross and Frances Atkinson. He was a fisherman He died of a broken back when a boat fell over on him December 27, 1937. He is buried in Stoney Island.
Her second husband was Hartley William Atkinson (1915-1939). He was the son of Edgar V. Atkinson and Mariam Cunningham. He died of a heart attack at age 23 and is buried in Stoney Island.
She married for the third time to Albert R. (Darb) Nickerson (1913-1968) in about 1937. He was the son of Collins Nickerson and Anna E. McKinnon.
Darb died in January 1968 on Cape sable Island and is buried in Lower Clark’s Harbour.
She died December 22, 1989, in Armview NS and is buried in Evergreen cemetery Lower Clark’s Harbour NS.
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Margaret Delle Bateman (1906-1990)
Margaret was born about July 1906 on Cape Sable Island to Mary Essa Brannen (1877-1945) and John Bateman (1875-1957). She was given the name Margaret as her sister with that name had died shortly before her birth.
She married William (Willie) Hansen a native of Norway.
Margaret and her husband had no children of their own but took in a baby born to her sister Eva and raised him as their own. He was named Robert and went by the last name Hansen.
They lived in Stamford Connecticut in the mid 1950`s.
She died June 28, 1990, in Shelburne NS and is buried in the Atlantic Cemetery in Stoney Island.
STORY:
Margaret did marry a William Hansen and had no children of her own. She did take a baby born to her sister Eva and raised Robert as her own with "Willie" as he was known. They took in another unrelated young woman known to Willie, as a favor so she could go to school in Connecticut, USA.
When my sister Barbara and I returned to the states from CSI. We lived with Great Aunt Marg and Uncle Willie in Stamford for a school year while our parents relocated from Texas.
They were very kind and happy to help family in hard times. Willie was said to be from Norway originally, and jumped ship in the states where he met Margaret.
From an e-mail from Judy DeWitt August 2015
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Archibald Smith Bateman (1908-1996)
Smith was born on October 23 1908 at Stoney Island on Cape Sable Island to Mary Essa Brannen (1877-1945) and John Bateman (1875-1957).
He married Laura Matilda Brannen (1911-1961) the daughter of John H. Brannen (1865-1926) and Clissie Newell (1872-1962) on December 7, 1929. They had four children: -Janette Adaline (1930-), Mary Julia (1932-1998),-Lydia Prue (1934-), and -Sandra Dale (1939)
They later divorced. The four children were raised by Laura.
He married Estelle Marie Boissonneault (1912-2010) in Portsmouth NH Nov 28, 1942. He gave his address as Boston, no street address. It was his second marriage; he was age 34 divorced from Laura Brannen. He was listed as a seaman. Estelle was age 30. It was her second marriage. she was divorced from Shirley Jeremiah Brannen. (Laura’s brother) She gave her address as 10 Greenwich, Boston MA. Her parents were listed as Edward Boissonneault age 50 living in Roxbury and born in Lowell MA. Her mother was Alexandra Boucher deceased.
After his retirement they moved back to Nova Scotia and built a home there.
He died in 1996 and is buried in River Dale Cemetery at Oak Park NS. Estelle Died April 25, 2010, and is buried with him in River Head NS.
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Eva Lolo Bateman (1910-2000)
Eva was born on March 16 1911 on Cape Sable Island to Mary Essa Brannen (1877-1945) and John Bateman (1875-1957).
According to Judy DeWitt, Eva had a child out of wedlock. He was named Robert and taken by Eva’s older sister Margaret Delle Bateman-Hansen (1899-1990) and Willie Hansen. They raised him as their own.
Eva married John Lombardo in Massachusetts. He was a taxi driver Eva and John moved to Centreville and built a house on the north side of the McGray’s wharf lane in the early 1950s. He first ran a service station in North East Point and then became a school bus driver for many years.
She died in 2000.
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Donald Eugene Bateman (1913-1969)
Donald was born on September 13, 1913, at Stoney Island on Cape Sable Island to Mary Essa Brannen (1877-1945) and John Bateman (1875-1957).
He married Marie Alice Newell (1924-2006) September 24, 1955. She was the daughter of Harold Newell and Elizabeth Ross. They had one child Gladys born in 1956.
He lived in Centreville taking over his parent’s home when his father died in 1957.
He died June 19, 1969, on Cape Sable Island and is buried in the Centreville cemetery. Marie died in 2006.
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THE CHILDREN OF SHURBEN BRANNEN (1882-1957)
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Clifford Atwood-Brannen (1909-1996)
Clifford was adopted by Shurben Lowell Brannen (1882-1957) and Muriel Atkinson (1886-1953). His last name was originally Atwood.
He married Ruth G. Ross (1909-1982) October 19 1929. She was the daughter of Stillman and Sarah Ross. They had five children only three lived past infancy, Lowell, Ross and Janice.
He was in the Merchant Marine during WWII.
He appears in the 1949 and 1963 voter’s list as a fisherman at Stoney Island.
Ruth died in 1982 and is buried in the Atlantic cemetery at Stoney Island NS.
Clifford died February 4, 1996, in the Roseway Hospital at Sandy Point NS and is buried with Ruth.
STORY:
Brannen, Clifford Atwood
Canadian Merchant Army. Born 18 June 1909 in The Hawk, Cape Sable — Island, Shelburne County; died 4 February 1996 at Roseway Hospital, Sandy Point, Shelburne County. Adopted son of Shurben Lowell and Muriel Estelle (Atkinson) Brannen. Married on 14 October 1929 Genevieve "Ruth" Ross. They had two sons, Lowell and Ross, a daughter, Janice, and two daughters who died in infancy. Buried at Atlantic Cemetery, Stoney Island.
Veterans of Shelburne County V-2
OBITUARY:
BRANNEN, Clifford Atwood - 86, Stoney Island, Shelburne Co., died February 4, 1996, in Roseway Hospital, Sandy Point. Born at The Hawk, he was a son of the late Shurban and Muriel (Atkinson) Brannen. He was a veteran of the Second World War, serving in the merchant marine. Surviving are sons, Lowell, Stoney Island; Ross, Clam Point; daughter, Mrs. Janice Nickerson, Dartmouth; nine grandchildren; nine great-grandchildren. He was predeceased by his wife, the former Ruth Ross; two infant daughters; brother, Cecil Atwood; sister, Geneva Storey.
Burial in Atlantic Cemetery, Stoney Island. Donations to Atlantic Cemetery Club or Stoney Island United Baptist Church.
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