Family history

We have traced our Bracken family line back to William Bracken an Englishman who probably lived in Lancashire during the second half of the 16^th century. Most of the information we’ve uncovered on this surname begins four generations later with William Bracken’s great-grandson also a William.

This William Bracken, (1671-1749), is recognized as the ancestor who migrated to the New World. William was born 1671 in the village of Melling, Lancashire. The Bracken surname is prominent in the Lancashire region of England, especially in the villages of Chipping and Melling as well as the rural area known as the Forest of Bowland. Around the year 1699 William and his young family immigrated to America landing in Philadelphia aboard the "Brittannia" of Liverpool. The first known record of him in America is his purchase, in 1702, of one hundred acres of land in Delaware. While it is evident that William made his home in New Castle County, Delaware, he did acquire much land in Pennsylvania because he believed that Lancaster County was a desirable place for his children to settle. Our line continues on through William’s eldest son Thomas Bracken. Thomas was born in the county of Yorkshire in England and was christened on April 4, 1695 in the village of Clapham. Thomas evidently lived in Delaware for the first thirty years or more of his married life, but sometime previous to 1759 he moved to a part of York County, Pennsylvania that was to later become a part of Adams County in 1800. Thomas and his family were members of the Episcopal Church as shown by their relationship to Christ Church in Huntington Township, then located in York county, now in Adams County, Pennsylvania. He was one of the vestrymen of the church in 1760 and 1761.

Thomas’s daughter Hannah Bracken born about 1728 in New Castle County, Delaware is our 6^th great-grandmother. She married Nicholas Bishop II around 1750. Sometime around 1765-66 Hannah and her husband joined the throng of Pennsylvania Scots-Irish that migrated to the uplands of western South Carolina along the Catawba River. They settled in an area in the Camden District that would in 1785 become Chester County South Carolina. Hannah lived in this location until after 1800 when she moved, with her son James, to Hopkins County, Kentucky. She produced seven known children of which each of her five sons fought in the American Revolutionary War.

Origins of the surname

Research into the history of this Bracken family line indicates that the meaning and history of this surname is most likely linked to that area of Europe where the English* or Irish (Gaelic)**language is commonly spoken.

Meaning of the Name

*The English Bracken surname originated as a topographic name from Middle English braken ‘bracken’ (from Old English bræcen or Old Norse brakni), or a habitational name from a place named with this word, such as Bracken in East Yorkshire or Bracon Ash in Norfolk.

**The Irish form of Bracken was previously recorded as O' Bracken, the O' prefix meaning male descendant being largely lost in the 17th century, and descending from the original Gaelic name O' Breacain. The name means 'speckled' from the ancient word 'breac', and as such was apparently a nickname given to the first chief or nameholder who presumably had freckles.

History of the Name

The Irish Brackin descends from the clan O'Breacain, which was established in the area between Edenderry and Rathangan around what is now the border of County Offaly and County Kildare. The surname, invariably without the 'O' is now scattered in various parts of the country, but some Brackens

still survive in the neighborhood of their early territory, and particularly around Tullamore, County Offaly. Here it is said, the clan have been resident since at least medieval times. The Bracken clan were more prominent and more populous in past centuries, as like many Irish clans their number have decreased considerably, often

through emigration. The name is one of the earliest recorded in Ireland with Bendict O'Breacan being bishop of Achory in the years from 1286 to 1312. Other later examples include Patrick Breagan who was christened at St Michans Cathedral, Dublin, on April 14th 1683.

Early Immigrants to North America

During the 17^th, 18^th and 19^th centuries hundreds of thousands of Europeans made the perilous ocean voyage to America. For many it was an escape from economic hardship and religious persecution. For most it was an opportunity for to start over, own their own land, and make a better future for their descendents. Immigration records show a number of people bearing the name of Bracken, or one of its variants, as arriving in North America between the 17^th and 20^th centuries. Some of these immigrants were: Michael Bracken who arrived at Philadelphia from Liverpool in 1820 aboard the ship William Penn; Ann Bracken who arrived at Philadelphia aboard the ship Standard from Londonderry in 1826; and Hugh Bracken from Ireland, who landed at New York in 1850 aboard the ship Scargo.

*English Surname Meanings & Origins

Although the Domesday Book compiled by William the Conqueror required surnames, the use of them in the British Isles did not become fixed until the time period between 1250 and 1450. The broad range of ethnic and linguistic roots for British surnames reflects the history of Britain as an oft-invaded land. These roots include, but are not limited to, Old English, Middle English, Old French, Old Norse, Irish, Gaelic, Celtic, Pictish, Welsh, Gaulish, Germanic, Latin, Greek and Hebrew. Throughout the British Isles, there are basically five types of native surnames. Some surnames were derived from a man's occupation (Carpenter, Taylor, Brewer, Mason), a practice that was commonplace by the end of the 14th century. Place names reflected a location of residence and were also commonly used (Hill, Brook, Forrest, Dale) as a basis for the surname, for reasons that can be easily understood. Nicknames that stuck also became surnames. About one-third of all US surnames in the United States are Patronymic in origin, and identified the first bearer of the name by his father (or grandfather in the case of some Irish names). Acquired ornamental names were simply made up, and had no specific reflection on the first who bore the name. They simply sounded nice, or were made up as a means of identification, generally much later than most surnames were adopted. Source: http://www.obcgs.com/LASTNAMES.htm

** Irish Surname Meanings & Origins

Most if not quite all, Irish surnames, have a nickname origin, some being extremely robust in their modern interpretation, although any sensibility in this respect seems to have passed by the original name holders. When the sparse Irish population began to increase it became necessary to broaden the base of personal identification by moving from single names to a more definite nomenclature. The prefix MAC was given to the father's Christian name, or O to that of a grandfather or even earlier ancestor. In the latter part of the sixteenth century, an influx of settlers arrived in Ireland under the patronage of Elizabeth I of England, and colonized the country beyond the 'Pale', the area around Dublin that was the only part firmly under English control. At the same time, groups of Presbyterian settlers were encouraged to migrate from Scotland to Ulster, thus establishing the distinctively Scottish surnames of Ulster. During the long centuries of English domination, Irish surnames were crudely Anglicized either phonetically or by translation. Irish surnames are now very widely dispersed, and are common in England as well as in Ireland, the United States and Australia.

Variations of the surname

Throughout the centuries, surnames in every country have continued to unfold and expand often leading to an overwhelming number of variants. As such one can encounter great variation in the spelling of surnames because in early times, spelling in general and thus the spelling of names was not yet standardized. Later on spellings would change with the branching and movement of families. The spelling of the Bracken surname is not at all uniform in the early records. It would appear that the nationality and learning of the scribe might be responsible to some extent for this fact. In William Bracken’s 1749 will the name is spelled Brackon. In the record of Old Swede's Church (Wilmington) it is spelled Bracken, Brackin, Brakin, Braken, Brachen, and Brochon, while some of the records add to this Brakyn. The oldest son, Thomas, and most of his descendants, spelled the name Bracken, so too did John and some at least of his descendants while the descendants of the third son, Henry, after wavering for a time, finally settled down to Brackin. Bracken is the spelling for the name in Scotland, England and to some extent in Ireland. Brackin is quite generally an Irish spelling of the name.

Source: Surname Resources at ROOTSWEB

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Direct ancestors

Descendant Register

Generation 1

1. William Bracken-1 was born on Abt. 1555 in Lancashire, England. He died on 1602 in Lancashire, England.

2. i. William Bracken, B: Abt. 1580 in Lancashire, England, D: 1634 in Lancashire, England, M: 05 Feb 1599 in Clapham, Yorkshire, England.

Generation 2

2. William Bracken-2(William Bracken-1) was born on Abt. 1580 in Lancashire, England. He died on 1634 in Lancashire, England. He married Ellena Howson on 05 Feb 1599 in Clapham, Yorkshire, England. She was born on Abt. 1580 in Lancashire, England. She died on Abt. 1604 in Lancashire, England.

Child of William Bracken and Ellena Howson is:

3. i. Robert Bracken, B: 1602 in Lancashire, England, D: 1638 in Lancashire, England.

Generation 3

3. Robert Bracken-3(William Bracken-2, William Bracken-1) was born on 1602 in Lancashire, England. He died on 1638 in Lancashire, England. He married Margaret Bracken (Mdn. Mn. Unk.). She was born on 1599 in Yorkshire, England.

Children of Robert Bracken and Margaret Bracken (Mdn. Mn. Unk.) are:

i. Christopher Bracken, B: 1626 in Lancashire, England.

ii. William Bracken, B: 1628 in Lancashire, England.

4. iii. Thomas Bracken, B: 19 Oct 1638 in Salterforth, Lancashire, England, D: 06 Feb 1682 in Salterforth, Lancashire, England, M: 1662 in (Chipping Church), Lancashire, England.

Generation 4

4. Thomas Bracken-4(Robert Bracken-3, William Bracken-2, William Bracken-1) was born on 19 Oct 1638 in Salterforth, Lancashire, England. He died on 06 Feb 1682 in Salterforth, Lancashire, England. He married Margaret Bleasdale on 1662 in (Chipping Church), Lancashire, England, daughter of John Bleasdale and Margaret Bleasdale (Mdn. Nm. Unk.). She was born on Abt. 1632 in Lancashire, England. She died on Sep 1671 in Salterforth, Lancashire, England. He married Margaret Bleasdale on 11 Jun 1656 in Chipping Church, Lancashire, England. , daughter of John Bleasdale and Margaret Bleasdale (Mdn. Nm. Unk.). She was born on Abt. 1632 in Lancashire, England. She died on Sep 1671 in Salterforth, Lancashire, England.

Children of Thomas Bracken and Margaret Bleasdale are:

i. Elizabeth Bracken.

ii. Robert Bracken.

iii. Henry Bracken.

iv. William Bracken, B: 1671 in Salterforth, Lancashire, England, D: 28 Dec 1749 in Mill Creek Hundred, New Castle Co., Delaware, M: 26 Jan 1692 in Slaidburn, Yorkshire, England.

Generation 5

5. William Bracken-5(Thomas Bracken-4, Robert Bracken-3, William Bracken-2, William Bracken-1) was born on 1671 in Salterforth, Lancashire, England. He died on 28 Dec 1749 in Mill Creek Hundred, New Castle Co., Delaware. He married Hannah Booker on 26 Jan 1692 in Slaidburn, Yorkshire, England. She was born on 1677 in England. She died on 04 Apr 1749 in New Castle County, Delaware.

Children of William Bracken and Hannah Booker are:

6. i. Susannah Bracken.

ii. Henry Bracken.

7. iii. Hannah Bracken, B: Abt. 1701 in New Castle County, Delaware, D: 02 Feb 1722 in New Castle County, Delaware ?, M: 02 Feb 1722 in (Old Swedes Church)New Castle, Delaware.

iv. Margaret Bracken.

8. v. Thomas Bracken, B: 1695 in Clapham, Yorkshire, England, D: 1780 in Monaghan Township, York County, Pennsylvania, M: 21 Dec 1721 in New Castle County, Delaware.

9. vi. John Bracken, B: 1697 in Clapham, Yorkshire, England, D: 24 Apr 1777 in Orange County, North Carolina.

vii. Martha Bracken.

Generation 6

8. Thomas Bracken-6(William Bracken-5, Thomas Bracken-4, Robert Bracken-3, William Bracken-2, William Bracken-1) was born on 1695 in Clapham, Yorkshire, England. He died on 1780 in Monaghan Township, York County, Pennsylvania. He married Martha Green on 21 Dec 1721 in New Castle County, Delaware, daughter of Edward Green Jr. and Mrs. Edward Green. She was born in New Castle County, Delaware. She died in York County, Pennsylvania ?.

Children of Thomas Bracken and Martha Green are:

11. i. William Bracken, B: Delaware ?, D: Bef. 1794 in Westmoreland County, Pennsylvania, M: 03 Nov 1755 in Old Swede's Church, Wilmington, Delaware.

12. ii. James Bracken, B: New Castle County, Delaware, D: Sep 1778 in York County, Pennsylvania, M: 28 Aug 1765 in Carlisle, Cumberland Co., Pennsylvania.

iii. Mary Bracken, D: Aft. 1779.

iv. Margaret Bracken.

13. v. Jean Bracken, B: New Castle County, Delaware, D: Pennsylvania ?, M: Abt. 1745 in York County, Pennsylvania.

14. vi. Hannah Bracken, B: Abt. 1728 in New Castle County, Delaware, D: Hopkins County, Kentucky ?, M: Abt. 1750 in New Castle County, Delaware ?.

15. vii. Thomas Bracken, B: Abt. 1740 in New Castle County, Delaware, D: Feb 1803 in Canonsburg, Washington Co., Pennsylvania, M: Abt. 1764.

16. viii. John Bracken, B: Delaware ?, D: 1777, M: Abt. 1759.

17. ix. Martha Bracken.

Generation 7

14. Hannah Bracken-7(Thomas Bracken-6, William Bracken-5, Thomas Bracken-4, Robert Bracken-3, William Bracken-2, William Bracken-1) was born on Abt. 1728 in New Castle County, Delaware. She died in Hopkins County, Kentucky ?. She married Nicholas Bishop Jr. on Abt. 1750 in New Castle County, Delaware ?, son of Nicholas Bishop Sr. and Dorcas Bishop (Nee?). He was born on Abt. 1723 in New Castle County, Delaware ?. He died on 1787 in Camden District, Chester Co., South Carolina.

Children of Hannah Bracken and Nicholas Bishop Jr. are:

i. Henry Bishop, B: Abt. 1750 in Delaware, D: Dec 1780 in Mecklenburg County, North Carolina.

ii. William Bishop, B: 1755 in Pennsylvania, D: 1836 in Hopkins County, Kentucky.

iii. Dorcas Bishop, B: Abt. 1758.

iv. Nicholas Bishop III, B: 1760 in Pennsylvania, D: 18 Nov 1843 in Pendleton, Anderson Co., South Carolina, M: Abt. 1785 in Chester District, South Carolina.

v. James Bishop, B: Abt. 1762 in Pennsylvania, D: 1823 in Hopkins County, Kentucky.

vi. Hannah Bishop, B: Abt. 1763 in Pennsylvania.

vii. John Bishop, B: Abt. 1764 in Philadelphia County, Pennsylvania, D: 1852 in Chester County, South Carolina.

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Ancestral locations

Researching the locations where our ancestors lived has provided us with valuable evidence needed to fill-in the gaps in our family trees. It has also led us to many interesting facts that enhance the overall picture of each family group. The names of states and counties on the following list were derived from the known places where the persons in the “Direct Ancestors” list (see above) were born, married, and/or died.

COUNTRY

STATE

COUNTY / SUBDIVISION

UNITED KINGDOM

ENGLAND

Lancashire

Yorkshire

UNITED STATES

OF AMERICA

DELAWARE

New Castle

PENNSYLVANIA

York

KENTUCKY

Hopkins

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ANCESTRAL LOCATIONS

Source documents

The documents contained herein have been located during our research of this family, and used as evidence to prove many of the facts contained within the database of this family’s record.

Most of these documents can be considered as primary or secondary. Primary evidence is usually defined as the best available to prove the fact in question, usually in an original document or record. Secondary evidence is in essence all that evidence which is inferior in its origin to primary evidence. That does not mean secondary evidence is always in error, but there is a greater chance of error. Examples of this type of evidence would be a copy of an original record, or oral testimony of a record’s contents. Published genealogies and family histories are also secondary evidence.

Classifying evidence as either primary or secondary does not tell anything about its accuracy or ultimate value. This is especially true of secondary evidence. Thus it is always a good idea to ask the following questions: (1) How far removed from the original is it, (when it is a copy)?; (2) What was the reason for the creation of the source which contains this evidence?; and (3) Who was responsible for creating this secondary evidence and what interest did they have in its accuracy?

SOURCE: Greenwood, Val D., The Researcher’s Guide to American Genealogy, 2^nd edition, Genealogical Publishing Co., Baltimore, MD 21202, 1990, pgs. 62-63

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