The Children of Archibald Brannen
Archibald Brannen Jr. (1802-?)
The first born, Archibald Jr. was the first child of Archibald Brannen (1777-1827) and Marry Atkinson (1788-??). He was born December 9th 1802 in Barrington Township, quite possibly at Stoney Island Where Mary’s parents lived. He is said to have moved away and was never heard from again. Other than his birth, no other public record of him seems to exist. END
Atkinson Brannen (1804-1813)
Atkinson was born June 25 1804 in Barrington Township He was the second child of. of Archibald Brannen (1777-1827) and Marry Atkinson (1788-??). He died young, at age nine May 21 1813. There are no public records other than his birth and death. END
Reuben Brannen (1805-1888)
Reuben was third son of Archibald Brannen (1777-1927) and Mary Atkinson (1786-??). He was born October 6th 1805 in Barrington Township NS. The first public record of him occurred when he was age 26 and he purchased property in Clam Point adjacent to or near where he grew up and where his mother still resided. He paid eleven pounds on November 15th 1831 for all of Lot 6, 11th Class, 2nd Division of Cape Sable Island. Based on the price this appears to have been an unimproved lot. In May 25th 1833 he bought his parents property at auction. It was described as land and house on Cape Island subject to widow’s dower and one lot of marsh. It was legally known as one and a half shares of land in class number eleven in the second division of land on Cape Sable Island. He paid 29.7.6 pounds. The was property sold by Thomas Geddes acting administrator of the estate. William Roberson was the auctioneer. Rev. Asa McGray married Rueben and Martha ‘Patty’ Nickerson (1815-1896), in 1834.She was the daughter of Phineas and Sarah Nickerson. He was age 29 at time of his marriage. Reuben was baptized in the Centreville Church in March 2 1837, she was baptized by Rev, McGray February 11, 1938. Their first child James Melvin was born June 1835. Their first two children James Melvin 1834 and Phineas 1837 were born at Clam Point, on Cape Sable Island. About 1843 he moved his family to Lower Woods Harbour. The rest of the children appear to have been born in Woods Harbour after the move. This is the first documented move of a Brannen from Cape Sable Island and the first Brannen to settle in Woods Harbour NS. About 1847 he purchased 100 acres and built a house on lot #9 in the General Grant of Woods Harbour next to what is now the Central Woods Harbour United Church. He was a fisherman and in 1848 he was registered part owner of a new two masted brigantine Bernice. In January 25 1854 his sixteen-year-old son Phineas (1837-1854) was drowned and was buried in the church yard. A stone marks his grave. In January 11th 1857 the Centreville Church records show he and Patty withdrawing from the Centreville church and uniting with another denomination. Since they had left their home on Cape Island fourteen years earlier this likely is a case of the church purging their rolls. The 1861 census showed a household of 8 people, six males and two females. In 1866, he along with James Brannen and others were registered as the owners of the two masted schooner Ottawa. The 1965 Hutchinson’s Nova Scotia directory showed him as a farmer. McAlpine’s Directories of 1867 and 9 show him as a fisherman in Woods Harbour. 9 He sold part of his property in September 5th 1868 to his son Smith and his wife Melinda for $600. In May of that year he also sold a parcel of land described as Lots 14 and 25 comprising of 45 acres to Barney Malone. The sale price not disclosed. He died May 11, 1888 in Woods Harbour and is buried in the Central Woods Harbour church cemetery in an unmarked grave, likely adjacent to son Phineas. Patty died February 5 1896 in Central Woods Harbour. She is likely buried with Reuben and son Phineas in the church yard. Reuben and Patty had six children, five survived to maturity. Several of their descendants still live on or near their original homesite in Woods Harbour.
William Brannen
William Brannen (1807-1897)
William was the son of Archibald Brannen Sr (1777-1827) and Mary Atkinson (1788-??) was born June 25 1807 in Barrington Township. He married Hannah Duncan (1811-1862) daughter of David Duncan (1768-1813) and Mary Perry (1892-1866), in 1829. Some on-line family trees ascribe the middle name ‘Henry’ to him. I have found no record of his second name. It appears that the use of Henry as a second name is result of confusion with his youngest brother named Henry. Several family trees attributed Henry’s date of death to William’s. It is unknown where William and Hannah lived from the time of their marriage until they settled in South Side. The 1838 census only records him as living on Cape Sable Island. At that time the family was made up of three males and four females. His occupation was recorded as “fisherman”. He purchased a large lot, number three in class one of the second division of the lands on Cape Sable Island on September 12th 1838 from Edward Hopkins for fourteen pounds and built a home and barn there. His house is clearly marked as the one nearest Centreville on the A.F. Church 1870’s map of Cape Sable Island. William described his lot as being north of the creek. The lot included water front on Bakers Flats and a small island and a significant portion of “savanna”. It is described as, “Commencing at the northern line near the said Burnt Woods Creek composing the one third part of the entire lot from Bakers Flats to the back line”. In January 1843, he was shown as a member of Asa McGray’s Centreville church. In March of that year he was baptized and became active in the congregation and was a delegate to quarterly meetings of the local churches. He and Hannah had 11 children all surviving to maturity. Where the first three were born is unknown, however the children born after 1838 were most likely born at South Side. The 1861 census showed the household consisted of nine people, four males and five females. All were listed as being older than age 15. This is inconsistent with the facts. There were clearly four children under 15 in 1861. Church records show that Hannah passed away in March 1862 leaving young children at home. Daughter Susan was 13, Horatio 12, and Samuel age nine. The 1871 census listed William as a widower age 62, Susan Jane as age 22 and Samuel as age 17. He remarried, March 14 1872, to Jemima Nickerson (1840-1917), daughter of Alexander Nickerson (1780-1867) and Abigail Nickerson (1786-1860). She was the widow of Prince William Nickerson (1836 1867). She had a young son William Edgar Nickerson (1867-1933) age five. William became his step father. The 1881 census listed William as age 73, a carpenter, Jemima age 45, and his step son William Nickerson age 14. William, Jemima and her son William Edgar Nickerson were shown as shareholders in the South Union Outfitting Company of Cape Island around 1885. This co-op operated a general/grocery store in the community of South Side NS. On the 25th March 1890 William signed a sale agreement for his land and buildings to his step son William Edgar Nickerson for $200. Although there was no provision for his continued residence, both he and Jemima continued to live on the property for the rest of their lives 10 The 1891 census listed him as an 84-year-old farmer. Jemima was age 56. Also living in the house was William Edgar age 24, his wife Waite Amelia (1870-1949) age 20 and their child Beatrice nine months old. In April 2 1892 he sold to his daughter Catherine Duncan, for one dollar, “a small island on the front of my land…being the largest wooded island joining my pasture” This appears to refer to an island in Baker’s Flats. His ability to sell a portion of his property after entering into an agreement for sale with William Edgar is perhaps a result of not registering the agreement. Jemima gave a quit claim of her interest in the property to Edgar Nickerson on the 13th February 1897. This was likely to extinguish her dower rights in the property. William died sometime before 1897 and is buried in an unmarked grave likely in the Centreville church cemetery. There appears to be no record of his death. All except one of the children settled in the area. Horatio was lost at sea at age 20 and Samuel became a master mariner and moved to San Francisco CA. On March 10 1900 his son Jeremiah and wife Eliza quit claimed their interest in William’s estate except for the shares in the South Union Outfitting Company for $5.00. Jeremiah Brannen (1810-?) Jeremiah the fifth child of Archibald Brannen Sr (1777-1827) and Mary Atkinson (1788-??). He was born January 29 1810 in Barrington Township. He left the island and no record of his life other than his date of birth has been found. END Susanna Brannen (1811-1891) Susanna, born October 29 1811, was the sixth child of Archibald Brannen Sr (1777-1827) and Mary Atkinson (1788-??). 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 6, 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 1891 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.
Abigail Brannen (1813-1855)
Abigail is listed in the Barrington Township Records as being the seventh child and second daughter of Archibald Brannen (1777-1827) and Mary Atkinson (1788-??). She was born September 3 1813 in Barrington Township. Church records for the Centreville church show her as being baptized March 2 1837 she is also shown as having later been baptized by Rev. Brown in either 1856 or 7. She married Archelaus Smith Swim (1809-1891) around 1839 when she was age 26. Archelaus Smith Swim was born in January 1809. He was married three times. His first wife, Jedidah Crowell, died in 1838. Smith had six children from this marriage. Abigail appears to have raised them as well as four from her and Smith’s marriage. They lived at Swim's Point where he was a successful ship owner and businessman. 11 She died at about age 42 around 1855. After her death, her sister Rebecca married Smith Swim, her widower. Abigail’s sons William, Peter and Benjamin were crew on their father's fishing and trading vessel and later became master mariners.
Robert Brannen (1815-1881)
Robert was the sixth son and eighth child of Archibald Brannen Sr (1777-1827) and Mary Atkinson (1788-??). He was born August 21 1815 just prior to Archibald’s purchase of his Clam Point lot. He was a fisherman and settled at Stoney Island. He married twice, first in about 1837 to Martha Jane Crowell (1816-c1858), and then in about 1858 to Abigail Jane Trott (1827-1889). He had three children with Martha Jane, Abigail (1839-1920), Archibald Smith (1843-1908) and Joseph (1846-1911). He had one child with Jane Trott, Andrew Lovitt, (1859-1904). He also raised his brother Joseph’s daughter Salome Brannen (1841-1916) after her father Joseph was lost at sea in 1845. He appears in the 1871 and 1881 census records. Robert died in December 15 1881 and is buried in the Centrevile cemetery with Jane Trott. December 10 1889, after the passing of his second wife Jane Trott, his children Smith, Joseph, Abigail and Andrew sold his land to Robert Hunt for $30.
Sophia Brannen (1817-1900)
Sophia the third daughter of Archibald Brannen (1777-1927) and Mary Atkinson (1786-??). She was born in October 27, 1817 in Barrington Township likely on Cape Sable Island. She was baptized March 2 1837. She married Eleazar C. Penney (1814-1871) in about 1839. He was the son of Daniel Penney (1789 1871). Eleazar was the grandson of Samuel Penney, the original Penney to settle on Cape Sable Island. He was her brother-in-law. He was a brother to her sister Rebecca's husband Samuel Penney. Eleazar and Sophia lived at South Side. It appears they had several children. The 1871 census shows the family living on Cape Island with two children at home, Lewis age 16 and James age nine. Later that year, October 9 1871, Eleazar died of “inflammation”. He was buried in the Old Town Cemetery in Swim’s Point. The 1881 census shows her as a 63-year-old widow. Living with her is son James C. Penney. In the 1891 census she is shown as age 73 living with son Clark Penney age 30 and his wife Eunice 24. James C. and Clarke are one the same. Sophia died in 1900 and is likely buried with Eleazar in the old town cemetery at Swims Point NS.
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 (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. 12 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.
Rebecca Brannen (1822-1904)
Rebecca was the eleventh child of Archibald Brannen Sr (1777-1827) and Mary Atkinson (188-??). She was born at Clam Point January 3 1822. Church records show she was baptized March 2, 1837. She wed twice. She married her first husband Samuel Penney (1813-1855?) in January 3, 1842. They lived at South Side. They had eight children who lived to maturity. All of them would have been under age 15 at the time of Samuel’s death. Her second husband was Archelaus Smith Swim (1809-1891) the widower of her older sister Abigail. They married around 1856 and appear to have had one child together, Jethro Crowell Swim (1858-1928). The 1871 census showed that three of her children, Laura, Abijah, and Samuel Jr. from her marriage to Samuel Penney were living with them as well as Jethro from her marriage to Smith. She inherited a portion of her husband’s substantial estate.Rebecca died about 1904 at Swim’s Point.
Henry Brannen (1824-1905)
Henry was born September 23 1824 at Clam Point NS. He was Archibald Brannen (1777-1927) and Mary Atkinson’s (1788-??) eighth son. Henry is listed in the Barrington Township Records as the youngest child of Archibald and Mary. January 28 1843 Henry Brannen is listed as a member of the Centreville church. September 26 1845 he fathered an illegitimate child by Eleanor Nickerson . The child was William Watson Brannen (1847-1924). He was raised by his grandparents Heman Nickerson. Henry and Eleanor did not marry. In 1845 Henry married Mary Huskins (1822-1905). Together they had ten children who all lived to maturity March 6 1847 the Centreville church records show he was received as a candidate for baptism. He was baptized March 7th. February 4th 1852 Henry and Mary sold the back part of lot 4 Class ten to Joseph K Smith for 5 pounds. The document was registered July 22 1853. Henry purchased a property from Robert Brown for 35 pounds. The property was described as 1/2 Lot 4 Class 10. The document was registered March 25 1853. October 1855 Henry and Mary sold the north east corner of lot 5 Class 1? (likely 10) to Robert Brown for 15 pounds. In 1855 he is shown as an owner in the Lady of the Forest a two masted schooner. There were 8 shares. February 27 1858 church records show him as removed from membership of the Centreville church. The 1861 census shows him head of a household of 9, 4 males and 5 females. The 1871 Lovells Directory showed him as a fisherman living in Baccaro, by 1871 he had moved to Baccaro and was a fisherman. In the 1881 census he was living in Port La Tour age 60 with wife Mary age 59 along with children William 31, George 19, Jessie 16 and Archibald 14. The ages of William and Susan vary from other records. Henry and Mary sold Part of Lot 4 to James Brown December 19 1881. The 1891 census has him living in Port LaTour. He was age 66 a fisherman married to Mary age 67. Living with them was their son Archibald a fisherman age 24, his wife Clara age 21 and a granddaughter to Henry, Leslie, age nine months The 1896 and 97 McAlpine Directories shows him a fisherman at Baccaro. The 1901 census indicates he was 77 and she was 78. They were living in Rockville with their daughter Martha. 13 Henry died in Rockville NS January 5 1905 while living with his daughter Martha. Mary died in May 1905 also in Rockville. There is a document selling his land at Baccaro for $225. registered August 22 1909. The document number is BAR 502906557 and is dated June 10 1903. It is signed by James R., Prince William, George, Archibald, Susan Smith, and Madora McLean (of Boston). The property was sold to John E. Christie and David Connell Henry was the second Brannen to leave Cape Sable Island and the first Brannen to settle in Baccaro NS.