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1720 Marco Polo Way
Burlingame, Ca 94010
29 December, 1980
During the Christmas holidays I have had the leisure to examine your excellent report on the Bracewell family. I would like to make the following contribution and comments:
(All references are to the “William and Mary College Quarterly,” Series 1, Vol. 7, 1899)
1. The word “clerk” is derived from the Latin “clericus” or priest. In modern usage we often say “cleric” or “clergyman”. “Clerk” therefore is synonymous with “minister” or “parson” and is so used in the volume referred to above. (pp 210-211)
2. I have concluded that Robert Bracewell, minister, and Rob’t Bracewell, Clk, are one and the same man, not father and son.
3. p. 229. Lists some deed records of Isle of Wight Co., mentions the two sons, Robert and Richard. “Richard Bracewell, son and heir of Robert Bracewell, Clk, and Sarah his wife &c. 28 June, 1673” (i.e., Richard married prior to date shown.)
4. p. 235. Will of Robert Bracewell, dat Feb. 1667; pr May 1, 1667. (in other words, pinpoints RB’s date of death.). On the following page, 236, the will states, “Sons Robert and Richard shall be putt to schoole until they cann both write and read.”
5. p. 220 Capt. John Upton’s will, dated 16 Jan, 1651, mentions Mr. Robert Bracew4ll having 300 acres of land. (This suggests that RB arrived in Virginia prior to the end of 1650.)
It is hazardous to base conclusions on a single source, as I have done here. Perhaps after I have seen the other references you mentioned, I will have to eat my words. But as of now I think you will have to drop either the first or second Robert from your chart and to revise page 1 of your notes.
For the past year or so I have been researching Grandma Bracewell’s forbears. She was orphaned young and the oral history of her family was lost to my mother’s generation. Fortunately, one of my uncles, long dead, had showed an aunt, still living, where the graves are, and the graves had headstones. From that slender thread for a beginning, I have followed the family back to 1737. E. L. Blair, in his “Early History of Grimes County” (1928) relied on the memories of descendants for his source. This led to errors, omissions and inaccuracies in his book. Unfortunately, other publications have used Blair as a source, so the errata is being perpetuated.
Please keep me on your mailing list.
(signed) Chas
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