At 12:47 PM 9/22/2004 +0000, you wrote:
This BRASSEUR connection is quite interesting -- particularly if there
is a connection to Robert Brasseur of Nansemond County, Virginia.
Cheers,
Spencer
What I have on Benois and Mary Brasseur:
85. Benois/Benjamin[10] Brasseur[60] (A528). Born, circa 1610 (?), in FR.
Died, circa 1663, in The Cliffs, Calvert Co., MD. Immigration: before 1653,
in Nansemond Co., VA. Occupation: farmer-justice.
Benois or Benoit Brassieur/Brassier came to Maryland from Virginia as is
shown from his Certificate of Denization from Cecil Lord Baltimore in 1662/3
(Maryland Hall of Records, Proceedings of the Provincial Council, L. HH, ff.
157-158). Unfortunately, Benois died shortly afterwards (1663) and he did not
leave a will. His wife did make a will prior to her marriage to Thomas Starling
and it is printed below. In Maryland, Benois Brasseur became Benjamin Brashears
and he was appointed a Justice of the Peace for Calvert Co.
Benois was probably related to the Brasseur family of Lower Norfolk and
Nansemond countiess, Virginia. A Bennet Brasseur is named as one of the persons
transported by Robert Brasseur in a patent of 1200 acres in "Nanzemond Co."
dated 12 April 1653 (Virginia Patent Book 3, p. 33 in Nugent, Cavaliers and
Pioneers, vol. 1, p. 244). At least 600 acres of this land escheated to the
Crown "by reason Rob. Braseur was an alien". At the time of the escheat, 19
November 1670, the 600 acres was in the possession of Rich. Staples, husband of
one of the daughters of Robert Brasseur to whom he willed the land
("Inquisitions on Escheated Lands", The Virginia Genealogist, vol. 20, p. 111).
The escheat of an additional 300 acres of the lands of Robert Brasseur is also
recorded ("Inquisitions on Escheated Lands", The Virginia Genealogist, vol. 20,
pp. 23-24). This land was granted, 7 June 1670, to "Mr. John Brasseur his
sonn".
Benois had a patent in Virginia for "300 acres at the head of Indian
Creek, a branch of the western branch of the Nansemond River", Virginia Patent
Book 3, p. 89, dated 12 April 1653, (Nugent, Cavaliers and Pioneers, vol. 1, p.
257). One of the persons claimed as a headright was Mary RICHFORD. This patent
was renewed 26 March 1656 (Virginia Patent Book 4, p. 26 (40) in Nugent,
Cavaliers and Pioneers, vol. 1, p. 329). A Benors Brasheire was granted 100
acres in "Nancimond Co.", by an inquisition of 23 February 1662. This land was
granted to Charles Drury 23 September 1663 (Virginia Patent Book 5, p. 450
(543) in Nugent, Cavaliers and Pioneers, vol. 1, pp. 539-540).
The home of Benois Brasseuir, "Upper Bennett", was in existence in 1957
and was located at "The Cliffs" in Calvert Co., Maryland.
He married Mary Richford? (86) (A529), circa 1645, in VA. Children:
i. Robert[9] Brashier.
ii. Martha Brassier. Born, circa 1658, in VA/MD. Died in MD.
Occupation: housewife. She married Henry Kent, 1674, in MD.
iii. Elizabeth Brassier. Born, circa 1660, in Calvert Co., MD.
iv. Susannah Brassier. Born, before 1663, in VA/MD. Occupation:
housewife. She married Mareen Duvall.
v. Ann Brassier. Born, before 1663, in VA/MD. Occupation:
housewife. She married William Dalrymple.
vi. Mary Brassier. Born, before 1663. Died, after 1669, in MD?.
Occupation: housewife. She married, first, Nathaniel Robbins, 7
May 1669, in MD. She married, second, Christopher Ellis, after
1670, in Pr. George's Co., MD.
vii. John Brassier. Born, before 1663, in VA/MD. Died, circa
1696, in
Calvert Co., MD. Prob of Est: 1696, in MD Hall Records,
Wills, L
7, f 225. He married Ann Sterling?, circa 1660 (?), in MD?.
viii. Benjamin Brassier. Born, before 1663, in VA/MD. Died, Feb
1675/6, in Calvert Co., MD. Prob of Est: 13 Mar 1675/6, in MD
Hall Records, Wills, L 2, f 402.
86. Mary[10] Richford/Richeford/Rickford? (A529). Born in FR/Eng. Died,
after 1663, in MD. Prob of Est: after 1663, in MD Hall Records, L 1, ff
187-189.
Occupation: housewife.
The surname of Mary Brasseur is believed to be Richford. This is
based solely on the importation of a Mary Richford by Benois Brasseur as
mentioned above.
After the death of Benois, Mary secured a deed to the land and the
house the family had from Richard Bennett (Maryland Archives, vol. 41, p.
178). She also made a will at this time. The will was probated after she
became the wife of Thomas Starling.
WILL of MARY BRASSEUR, Maryland Hall of Records, L. 1, ff. 187-189. In the
name of God, Amen. I, Mary Brasseur, widow of the Cliffs, in the Province
of Maryland, being of sound & perfect mind and memory, but knowing the
uncertainty of this life, do make and ordaine this my last will and
testament in manner and form following: Imprimis, for the natural love and
affection I bear to my children and for their future maintenance and
livelyhood, I give and bequeath to each of them as followeth; that is to
say, two hundred acres of woodland to Robert, two hundred acres of like
land to Benjamin, and also two hundred acres of the like to John Brassures,
my sons, the said lland to come to them and either of them, their heires &
assignes for ever, when they shall accomplish the age of one and twenty
yeares; and in case any or either of them shall depart this life before he
or they shall attaine to his or their respective ages of one and twenty
years, the land of him or them so dyeing shall remaine and be to the
surviving brother or brothers; and my will and desire is that no timber
trees shall be fallen for any use whatsoever on the said land untill the
said children shall come of age; but if they shall all depart this life
before they shall attaine to their respective ages, then the said land to
remaine and be to such daughter and daughters of me, the said Mary
Brasshear, as shall be then living, the said six hundred acres of land
being part of the land on which I now live, situate at the Cliffs, and
bought by mee of Mr. Richard Bennett, merchant. Ittem. I do also give and
bequeath unto each of my sons above-named one feather bed, with the rug,
blankets, curtains, and such like appurtenances to
the same belonging. Ittem. I give to each of my sons, when they shall
attain to their respective ages, one servant a peece. Ittem. I give to my
son Robert two cowes, called and known by the names of Cherry and Button.
Ittem. To Benjamin one cow, called the Wild Heifer, and another, called
Goate; to my son John one heifer called Dainty, and one heifer named Starr,
the said cowes and heifers, with their female increase, to be delivered to
them at such time and when they shall attaine their severall and respective
ages aforementioned; and if any or either of them shall depart this life
before they shall come of age, the said cattell, with their female
increase, to be equally divided between the surviving brothers; and my will
and desire is that the two hundred acres of land that I have bequeathed to
my son Robert shall be the two hundred acres which is next adjoining unto
my brother in law Robt. Brasseur; and that Benjamin, my son, shall have his
two hundred on this side of my son Robert; and that my son John shall have
his next unto Benjamin's. Ittem. I give and bequeath to my daughter Mary
two heifers, called and known by the names of Pascoll and Phillpaill, with
their female encrease, to be delivered to the said Mary when she shall
accomplish the age of sixteene yeares or day of marriage, which shall first
happen. Also, I give and bequeath to my daughter Ann two heifers, called
and known by the names of Ioneeasy and Sarah, with their female encrease,
to be delivered to her when she shall accomplish the age of sixteen years
or day of marriage, which shall first happen; also I give and bequeath to
my daughter Susannah two heifers, called and known by the names of Fancy
and Pye, with their female encrease, to be delivered unto her when she
shall accomplish the age of sixteene years or day of marriage, which shall
first happen; also I give and bequeath to my daughter Martha three heifers,
called and known by the names of Brouning, Primrose & Roase, with their
female encrease, to be delivered unto her at such time and when she shall
accomplish the age of sixteen years or day of marriage, which shall first
happen; also I give and bequeath to my daughter Elizabeth three heifers,
called and known by the names of Christmas, Cole and Nutt, with their
female encrease, to be delivered unto her at such time and when she shall
accomplish the age of sixteen years or day of marriage, which shall first
happen; and in case either of my said daughters shall depart this life
before they shall accomplish their severall and respective ages, then the
cattle, with their encrease, of her or them so dyeing to remaine and be and
equally to be divided amongst the surviving daughters. Ittem. I give my
five daughters each of them a servant to be delivered them at the age of
sixteene yeares or day of marriage, which shall first happen. As for that
part of my estate that I shall have at my decease and not herein and hereby
already given and bequeathed, I give and bequeath to my daughters, equally
to be divided between them, share and share alike, to be delivered them at
such time and when they shall accomplish their severall ages or days of
marriage, which shall first happen. And my will and desire is that if I
depart this life before my children come of age, the overseers of this, my
will, take care that my children shall peaceably and quietly enjoy the
plantacon I now live on, with all appurtenances whatsoever, without the
lett or molestation of any person or persons whatsoever untill they shall
accomplish their severall and respective ages or day of marriage, which
shall first happen. And I nominate and constitute my loveing friends,
Thomas Sterling, and Robert Brasseur, my brother-in-law, to be overseers of
this, my last will and testament, desireing them in all things to see it
carefully performed; and I publish and pronounce it to be the absolute
lastwill and testament of mee, Mary Brasseur. IN WITNESS whereof, I have
hereunto sett my hand and seale, May the five and twenty, one thousand six
hundred sixty and three. Signed and sealed as the last will and testament
of the said Mary Brasseur in the presence of: Theophilus Lewis, James
Pugslep. Mary MB Brasseur
Regards,
Steven C. Perkins