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Archiver > BRADFORD > 1999-08 > 0935910414


From: Allison Wright <>
Subject: Re: [BRADFORD-L] Lafayette
Date: Sun, 29 Aug 1999 00:06:54 -0700


Not sure exactly what info you're looking for, but here is some information on
Gov. John Branch:

"grad of UNC in 1801 and trustee of UNC 27 years...after leaving school in
Chapel Hill, NC, he married Elizabeth Fort/Foort, called "an heiress" in some
sources....they moved to Enfield, NC....the politician ....State Senate 6
terms..Speaker of Senate 3 terms...2 terms as Governor of NC
1817-1819...elected to State Senate again 1822...elected 2 terms to U.S.
Senate...resigned from Senate to become Secy. Of Navy in Cabinet of Andrew
Jackson....held cabinet position until 1831 when he resigned and returned to
NC...elected 1831 to 22nd Congress...1834 elected to State Senate...1836 moved
to Florida where bought several thousands of acres of land about 3 miles from
Tallahassee...built large home, "Live Oak"...but did not give up his legal
residence in NC...Pres. Tyler appointed him acting Governor of FL...upon FL
becoming a state, he declined to run for for Gov of Fl, because he would not
give up NC residency...when wife Elizabeth died in 1851, he returned to
Enfield, NC to live...built new home to replace one destroyed by
fire...remarried the Widow Bond....John was an avid supporter of Confederate
States of America...died during the Civil War....Halifax Co., NC Will BK3, pg.
467...a co-executor of father's will....."

I am descendant of Martha's sister Susan and have additional information on the
Branch family if you're interested.

George McSwain wrote:

> RE: Lafayette
>
> In reference to Martha Lewis Henry Branch wife of Dr. Edward (Ned)
> Bradford:
>
> Daughter of Governor John Branch of Enfield, NC and Florida.
> According to family tradition, when her father was entertaining Lafayette,
> she played piano for him as a child of 14 while Thomas Jefferson's grandson
> (Francis Eppes) turned the music. Married her cousin at age eighteen.
>
> According to Charlton W. Tebeau "A History of Florida"(Coral Gables:Univ.
> of Miami Press, 1971)p.136, "The Lafayette Land Grant did much to advertise
> Middle Florida. The American people never forgot the generous support that
> they received from the Marquis de Lafayette in the American Revolution. In
> 1824, the grateful government of the United States granted him $200,000 and
> a township of land, which he selected near Talahassee, because of his
> friendship with Richard Keith Call. Hopes that the illustrious Frenchman
> might come to Florida and that he might himself develop the land never
> materialized, and he eventually sold it to Florida speculators. In 1850 two
> of his grandsons visited Florida and received a welcome that would have
> pleased their famous ancestor."
>
> Her father was Governor in 1844-45 and didn't come to Florida until the
> late 1830's since in 1834 he was a NC State Senator. In 1835 he served on
> the State Constitutional Convention. Lafayettes last visit to America was
> in 1824 and he died in 1834. I can't find where he visited North Carolina
> or Florida although cousin Capt. Henry Bradford Crowell was supposed to
> have entertained him at his Flint River, Crawford Co, GA plantation in
> 1825.
>
> Any comments?
>
> George McSwain
> 1219 62nd St. NW
> Bradenton, FL 34209
> e-mail:

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