Person Page - 591

     Samuel Walter Brannen was the son of William Donaldson Brannen and Sarah Ann Fraser.
     Biography of Samuel Walter Brannen:
Never married.

     Sarah Ann E. Brannen was the daughter of Thomas Brannen and Nancy Donaldson.
     Biography of Sarah Ann E. Brannen:
Sarah Ann E. Brannen is believed to be the daughter of Thomas Brannan and Nancy Donaldson. Primary proof of that relationship has not been found. However a preponderance of evidence support that relationship and we have found no evidence that would refute it. Our rational for Sarah being the daughter of Thomas is as follows:

1. In the 1840 Census of Lowndes County, Georgia the family of Thomas Brannan has one female child age 10/15 (born between 1825 and 1830). Sarah Ann E. Brannen, is shown in the 1850 Census of Madison Co. Florida as Elizabeth Woods age 23 with Henry Woods. She is the only female that we have found in the area that matches the female age 10/15 shown in the 1840 Census. However, in looking at the 1830 Census of Lowndes Co. Georgia where the Thomas Brannan family is listed we cannot find a female child age
less than five listed. There is one female child age 5/10 (born between 1820 and 1825 and but no females as being less that 5. We are not sure what to make of this record but it seems likely that the female listed as being age 5/10 in the 1830 census could have been less that 5 and the wrong box was checked. That is the only explanation for these inconsistencies that is logical to us.

2. There is a marriage record of Henry Wood to Sarah Ann E. Brannan 18 September 1844 in Madison Co. FL. We are certain that Thomas Brannen and family moved into Madison County between 1842 and 1844. It seem logical that Sarah would marry in the county where she and her parents resided. The only other Brannen families that we have been able to find in the area do not have children of Sarah's age. Thus it is our conclusion that she is
the daughter of Thomas.

3. The 1850 Census of Madison County, Florida shows Henry and Elizabeth Woods as having two children, John and Sarah. This in itself is not significant. However, we have information that they had children named, Thomas and Nancy, who no doubt were named after Sarah Ann E. Brannen's parents , Thomas and Nancy Donaldson Brannen.

     Henry B. Woods was the son of Dempsey Woods.

     Mary Jane Brannen was the daughter of Thomas Brannen and Nancy Donaldson.
     Biography of Mary Jane Brannen:
Mary Jane Brannen, first wife of John Andrew Jackson Cruse is believed to be the oldest daughter of Thomas Brannen and his wife, Nancy Donaldson. Our basis for this relationship is as follows:

     An unidentified older daughter born 1815-1820 appears in the family of Thomas Brannen in the 1820 Bulloch Co. Georgia and the 1830 Census of Lowndes Co. Georgia. Thus two census show that a daughter of Mary Jane's age did exist in this family.

     In John A. J. Cruce's Indian War application he states his wife was Mary Jane Brannen and that he was married at "her Fathers Residence in the State of Ga. on the 16 day of March A. D. 1837; that my wife is now dead, having died on the 6 day of March, A. D. 1846 at Norton Creek in the State of Florida." (The year of death is in error. A later affidavit by Francis J. Brannan gives the date of death as March 1853. As she was listed in the 1850 Census of Madison Co. Florida the 1846 date is obviously in error) John A. J. Cruce states in other affidavits in his pension file that he was living in Lowndes Co. Georgia during the Indian Wars and moved into Madison County (now Taylor County) about 1842. The Thomas Brannen family was in Lowndes County between 1828 and 1843 and is the only Brannen family in that area to have daughters of marriageable age. This strongly suggests that Mary Ann Brannen is the daughter of Thomas Brannen. [Indian War Pension Files, John A. J. Cruce - National Archive, Washington, DC]

     Also in the John A. J. Cruce pension file is an 18 February 1895 affidavit by Francis J. Brannan, age 63 which states that "I was personally acquainted with the first wife of John A.J. Cruce (Mary Jane by Name ) I was present at the time of her death. She died in Taylor County Florida on or about the __ day of March AD 1853 and prior to his Marriage to his second wife Mahala. I don't remember the exact date, but I know that she is dead, as I was present in person." This affidavit was filed on the behalf of Susan Ann Cruce, third wife of John Andrew Jackson Cruce, who used it and other affidavits to prove that John A. J. Cruce's first and second wives were dead to support her pension claim. Francis J. Brannan is a son of Thomas Brannen and Nancy Donaldson. Who else, but a brother of Mary Jane Brannen would the widow, Sarah Ann Cruce turn to to prove Mary Jane had died? Unfortunately, Francis J. Brannan's affidavit does not state his relationship to Mary Jane, except that he was "personally acquainted" with her. This is additional evidence that suggests that Mary Jane Brannen is the daughter of Thomas Brannen. [Indian War Pension Files, John A. J. Cruce - National Archive, Washington, DC]

     We have determined that Thomas's mothers name was Mary. Who else would he name his first born daughter, except after his Mother? This supports Mary as being the first born daughter of Thomas. The mother of Nancy Donaldson, wife of Thomas Brannen, was named Peggy, which is a nickname for Margaret. Nancy and Thomas had a daughter named Margaret, born 1824, which is consistent with the naming pattern used by this family.

     In the 1850 Census of Madison County, Florida we find the Andrew J. Cruce family living in the next dwelling to the Thomas Brannen family. Their children are John, Nancy, Thomas, Mary J. James, Martha and William. Obviously, Nancy and Thomas are named after Mary Jane's parents. The names and living next door are additional evidence suggesting Mary Jane Brannen Cruce is the daughter of Thomas and Nancy Brannen.

     Martha Brannen was the daughter of Thomas Brannen and Nancy Donaldson.
     Biography of Martha Brannen:
We include Martha as one of the children of Thomas Brannan based on the following: A Martha Leach age 32 is living with the family of Robert H. Brannan in the 1850 Census of Columbia County, Florida. It is assumed that Martha is a sister of Robert as they are of similiar ages. Also Martha Leach clearly is not a sister of Robert's wife, Mary Boatright.

     Owen Brannen was the son of Thomas Brannen and Nancy Donaldson.
     Biography of Owen Brannen:
We have no evidence to support that Owen is the name of the fourth child of Thomas Brannan and Nancy Donaldson. However, we know a child of this age appears in the 1830 and 1840 census records. Some researchers have shown that an Owen was a child of this family and that he died young. We do know that Owen Williams, was the husband of Nancy's sister, Mary. The Owen William's family moved into Jackson Co. Florida in the early 1820's and thus lead the way for Thomas Brannan's migration south in the late 1820's to Lowndes County, Georgia. Thus Owen Brannen, if he existed could have been named after his Uncle.

     James Brannen was the son of Thomas Brannen and Nancy Donaldson.
     Biography of James Brannen:
A James Brannen age 22 born Georgia is found living as a laborer with the Samuel Hinton Family in the 1850 Census of Madison County, Florida. This family is in the same area as the Thomas Brannen family. We suspect that this James is the same person shown as a male living with the Thomas Brannen family and being born about 1825-1830 found in the 1830 and 1840 Census of Lowndes County, Georgia. We have included him in this family for that reason.

     John Woods was the son of Henry B. Woods and Sarah Ann E. Brannen.

     Sarah Woods was the daughter of Henry B. Woods and Sarah Ann E. Brannen.

     Andrew Sapp was the son of Darling Sapp and Elisabeth (--?--).

     Bennett Dempsey Sapp was the son of Andrew Sapp and Levinna Ann Brannen. He married Annie (--?--), circa 1891 at Madison, Florida, United States.

     Easen Sapp was the son of Andrew Sapp and Levinna Ann Brannen.

     Samuel Sapp was the son of Andrew Sapp and Levinna Ann Brannen.

     Sarah E. Sapp was the daughter of Andrew Sapp and Levinna Ann Brannen.

     Andrew J. Sapp was the son of Andrew Sapp and Levinna Ann Brannen.

     Laura Sapp was the daughter of Andrew Sapp and Levinna Ann Brannen.

     Mary Sapp was the daughter of Andrew Sapp and Levinna Ann Brannen.

     Pasco Sapp was the son of Andrew Sapp and Levinna Ann Brannen. He married Hattie (--?--), circa 1905 at Madison, Florida, United States.

     Minnie Sapp was the daughter of Andrew Sapp and Levinna Ann Brannen.

     Annie Lou Sapp was the daughter of Andrew Sapp and Levinna Ann Brannen.