| _ HENRY BRANSON _ |
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| Henry Branson, the son of Leonard and Polly Gay Branson and brother of Hezekiah, b. ca 1790 in Maryland. d. in 1849 in Harlan County, Ky. bur. near Harlan, m. Elizabeth Hogarg of Virginia. b. in 1797, daughter of James Hogarg (1) (sometimes spelled Hoggarg). Henry married her in Scott County, VA, then moved to Harlan County. (2) In reports in Perry County and elsewhere, Branson also is spelled Bronson. This could be the whim of the writer, an error in spelling or a changed name, as in the case some Harlan County Bransons. Henry served in the 54th Regiment of War of 1812, according to the records in Knox County, Ky. Like Hezekiah, he came to Kentucky early, and is on the 1811 Knox County tax list. He received several land grants on Clover Lick Creek in Harlan County, where he settled and started his family. In 1812, he sold land to Thomas Creech near a mill on Clover Lick. (3) The 1850 Harlan County census shows Elizabeth at 52 as the head of a household with two children living at home, Hezekiah Jr., 22, and Abigail, 14. At the January term of Harlan Court, 1851, Roland Everole , Henry J. Creech and William Campbell were appointed to " lay off to Elizabeth Branson, widow of Henry Branson deceased....her dower...in the land of the said Henry Branson. They reported back to the court in March, 1851. (4) At least one of Henry'a sons, Leonard Jr., received land grants in the 1850s totaling more than 200 acres on Rockhouse Creek in nearby Letcher County. Land grants were claimed in the 1880s by Elizabeth Branson, possibly Leonard Jr.'s widow. This land was on Rockhouse Creek, pratt Branch and Dota Creek in Letcher County. (5) In 1882 Leonard Jr.'s nephew, Green B. Branson, son of James, received a 200- acre land grant on Big Black Mountain and later moved to Mason's Creek in Perry County. (6) In 1887-1888, Leonard Jr.'s son Hezekiah B. Branson received two 100-acre land grants in Letcher County, one on Pratt Branch, the other on the North Fork, Kentucky River. |
| I do have photo copies of Tombstones of Leonard Branson and his son Hezekiah B. Branson, Blackey, Kentucky But they are to faint to put on here. The writing is not able to be seen on Henry Bransons stone at all. You can just about make out who the stone belongs to on Hezekiak B. Bransons stone. |
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| Two of Henry's sons met violent deaths in the only real battle of the Civil War fought in Letcher County. It was fought at the Branson cabin on Crase's Branch, one and a half miles from the mouth of Rockhouse Creek. (7) The cabin, with only one door and one chimney, was built in 1849 in a big flat about one fourth mile up the branch. It was in rough mountain terrain near the present Post Office of Letcher, KY, which is not far from Blackey. The Rebles, who had taken refuge there, were prepared to fight to the end. Leonard Jr. and James Branson died in the ensuing fight. As long as the cabin remained standing, bullet holes could be seen around the window and the door. The cabin is now gone. Aubrey G. Branson, a descendant of James Branson who grew up about 30 miles from Blackey, said that he had seen balls and bullets dug from the logs of the Branson cabin. Many times, he said, he has heard how the farm of James, his great-grandfather, was raided during the Civil War. " James hid his sons Green B. and Wilkerson (Wix ) in the attic during the gunfight." Later, as grown men, these two Bransons lived on Mason's Creek near Viper, KY and a branch on Mason's Creek was named Wix. Leonard Jr. is buried in a cemetery at Blackey. His headstone reads " Leonard Branson. Killed by the enemy Sept., 1862. Age about 33 years." The cemetery at Balckey contains other Branson graves. Among them are children of Hezekiah B. and Sarah Branson: William H., b. Mar. 18, 1884. d. Apr. 20, 1884. Alta, b. Apr. 2, 1899, d. Apr. 15, 1899. Jerry Profit Branson is buried beside Sarah Branson. " Gunner's mate, 3d class. U.S. Navy, July 16, 1924." Others; James William (Bill Jack) Adams, 1926-1972, son of Lida Branson and James Monroe Adams; Robert Branson, 1893-1968. Joe C. Branson, 1897-1965, shares a double stone with Susan W. Branson, 1895-1987; Onas Branson, 1920-1922; Cleveland Branson, 1885- 1963; Vivian Branson, 1910- 1984; Stephen B. Branson, 1889-1962. James' widow and family moved to Mason's Creek in Perry County, KY. James and his wife are buried up Crase's Branch near the site of the log cabin. Children of Henry and Elizabeth Hogarg Branson: (8) 1. Hannh. b. 1814. m. John Smith. d. 1859. 2. Chloe. b. 1815. m. Ezekiel Hall, P. W..'s cousin. 3. Leonard Jr.. b. 1820. Killed on Crase's Branch in Letcher County, Ky. in 1862 by a band of " Tories" during the Civil War. m. Elizabeth Brashear. b. June 2, 1824. d. May 26, 1897. bur. beside her husband. Son: Hezekiah B. b. Apr. 11, 1857. d. Jan. 17,1949. bur. Branson Cemetery, Blackey, Letcher County, KY. m. Sarah. b. June 15, 1862. d. Apr. 27, 1899. bur. beside her husband. 4. Elizabeth. b. Oct. 18, 1823. d. Jan. 28, 1892. m. Sept. 3, 1846 to Philip Whisman (P.W.) Hall. b. May 27, 1823. d. April 4, 1914. Both bur. P.W. Hall family cemetery on Mason's Creek near Viper, Perry County, KY. Philip W. Hall b. in Lee County Virginia . He moved to Kentucky from Turkey Cove, VA and settled on the head of Middle Fork of Mason's Creek. He became a leader in Perry County as a surveyor and lawyer and dealt in large tracts of land and timber. (9) He was of English descent, the grandson of John Hall Sr., who was born aboard a ship bound for America. John Sr.'s son John Hall Jr., b. July 15, 1776, lived in Ashe County, NC, then moved to Lee County, VA. Page # 3 Contuied on Page # 4 |
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