HISTORY OF PHILADELPHIA … COUSINS …
On Nov. 21, 1747, a number of inhabitants met in Walton's school-room, and resolved to form an association for military purposes. A committee was appointed to draft a plan of an association, which was submitted to a subsequent assemblage, which met at Roberts' Coffee-House, in Front Street. The next day the articles were signed.
All this marks the definitive and final break-up of the Quaker non-resistance policy in Philadelphia. Several times afterwards its Friends rallied, but their prestige was gone, and they were never able to resume their ancient control of affairs in the city. The epoch of William Penn's empire ceased with Nov. 21, 1747.
Benjamin Franklin and the party of defense were determined to give their defeated opponents no time to recover. They at once projected a lottery to raise the three thousand pounds necessary for the erection of a battery. The price of tickets was forty shillings each. There were 2,842 prizes and 7,158 blanks. William Allen, Joshua Maddox, William Masters, Samuel McCall, Sr., Edward Shippen, Thomas Leech, Charles Willing, John Kearsley, William Clymer, Sr., Thomas Lawrence, Jr., William Coleman and Thomas Hopkinson were managers.
They, together with William Wallace, John Stamper, Samuel Hazzard, Phillip Syng, John Mifflin, James Coultas, William BRANSON, Rees Meredith, Thomas Lloyd, and Benjamin Franklin, or a majority of them, were to have authority to appropriate the proceeds for the benefit and advantage of the province.
On Nov. 21, 1747, a number of inhabitants met in Walton's school-room, and resolved to form an association for military purposes. A committee was appointed to draft a plan of an association, which was submitted to a subsequent assemblage, which met at Roberts' Coffee-House, in Front Street. The next day the articles were signed.
All this marks the definitive and final break-up of the Quaker non-resistance policy in Philadelphia. Several times afterwards its Friends rallied, but their prestige was gone, and they were never able to resume their ancient control of affairs in the city. The epoch of William Penn's empire ceased with Nov. 21, 1747.
Benjamin Franklin and the party of defense were determined to give their defeated opponents no time to recover. They at once projected a lottery to raise the three thousand pounds necessary for the erection of a battery. The price of tickets was forty shillings each. There were 2,842 prizes and 7,158 blanks. William Allen, Joshua Maddox, William Masters, Samuel McCall, Sr., Edward Shippen, Thomas Leech, Charles Willing, John Kearsley, William Clymer, Sr., Thomas Lawrence, Jr., William Coleman and Thomas Hopkinson were managers.
They, together with William Wallace, John Stamper, Samuel Hazzard, Phillip Syng, John Mifflin, James Coultas, William BRANSON, Rees Meredith, Thomas Lloyd, and Benjamin Franklin, or a majority of them, were to have authority to appropriate the proceeds for the benefit and advantage of the province.
COUSIN WILLIAM AND HIS GIRLS IN PHILADELPHIA
In 1683, Nathaniel Branson II purchased 1250 acres of land in the "new province" from William Penn for 25 pounds. The elder Branson never came to American but conveyed the property to his son William on August 28, 1707.
The next year, a young 24-year-old William Branson came to Philadelphia on the ship "Golden Lion" to seek his fortune.
The tract of land deeded him by his father made up the north central portion of what later became East and West Brandywine townships.
Branson was first listed as a "joiner" (carpenter). He must have followed this trade for at least ten years, for he is listed as a Freeman in the Minutes of the Common Council, having purchased his license to operate as an individual tradesman on May 20, 1717.
Later he was called a "shopkeeper" and by 1726, a "merchant." As "William Branson, Trader," he was part of a meeting in Philadelphia in 1729 called to fix the value of European currency used in the colony. In 1744, he was designated "William Branson, Gentleman."
Through the years, Branson purchased considerable property in Philadelphia and Chester County. His holdings in Coventry and Nantmeal townships had rich iron deposits.
He bought the site of Reading Furnace by deed dated Feb. 28, 1723 and was the partner of Samuel Nutt and Mordicai Lincoln--the great-grandfather of Abraham Lincoln. Branson bought out Lincoln in 1725 becoming the principal owner.
William Branson's Daughters: THE GIRL COUSINS
In 1709, Branson lived in Philadelphia on the east side of Second Street, which remained his home all the rest of his life. [See illustration.] He married Mary Tate of Philadelphia, daughter of Robert Tate, probably well before 1715. In 1723, William Branson shed his Quaker faith; his daughters were reared as Baptists.
Three sons died in infancy. Four daughters lived into adulthood:
Mary - who married Dr. Bernardhus Van Leer. Five sons were living when William Branson died in 1760: George, Branson, Benjamin, William, and Samuel.
Rebecca - married Samuel Flowers, who was a justice of the peace and sea aptain. They had three children: Mary wife of Gerardus Clarkson, Hannah wife of Thomas Assheton, and Samuel Branson, a physician.
Hannah - married Richard Hockley, agent for the Penns, Receiver General in 1753. They had 2 children: William, and Mary who married John Wilcocks.
Elizabeth - married Lynford Lardner, brother-in-law of Richard Penn, son of William Penn, the founder of the Penn Colony; he was Receiver General from 1742-1752. Their children were John, Frances, Hannah, William, and James.
William Branson died in 1760, having survived all of his children except Elizabeth. His property was divided among the 15 grandchildren.
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