Johan Jacob BRAKE, Jr.2 (Johann Jacob1) (also referred to as John, the Baron)
"John BRAKE, who during the Revolution resided about fifteen miles from Moorefield [Virginia now Hardy County, WVA] on the Wappatomaka, was a German nobleman, a baron, who migrated from Germany several years prior to the breaking out of the American Revolution. He was the first of the Brake family in Virginia.""The German element in the Colonies in general espoused the cause of freedom, but the baron remained loyal to King George and during the latter years of the war, became noted for his zeal and energy in the Tory cause. There is a tradition that the baron received from King George a royal grant for a tract of land lying along the Wappatomaka where he lived, and that this, coupled with his love for royalty, was the main or real reason for his loyalty to the British Crown. It will be remembered that King George was of German descent, and would naturally feel well-disposed towards this German nobleman [1]."
"There is a tradition which says that sometime after the suppression of the Brake-Claypole uprising, the baron, smarting from the humiliating indignities which he had suffered at the hands of his enemies, defiantly raised a large British flag over his castle-like residence. He was ordered by the Continental troops to haul it down, but with the tenacity of purpose which has made the German race famous, he refused. The troops tore it down and destroyed it. Another version is, that when the baron refused to haul the colors down, the troops destroyed his buildings and laid his fine estate in ruins. However, this may be, the episode of the flag did occur, and with the sequel, that the baron soon afterwards went back to his native country, never to return to America [2]."
Johan Jacob BRAKE (b. c 1725/1730 Germany; d. c1808/1809 Moorefield, Hardy Co. WVA) married (1) c1750 Maria Elizabeth KIEFFER/COOPER (b. 6 Oct 1730 Oberacker, Karlsruhe, Germany; d. c1763/1765 Hampshire Co., VA now Hardy Co., WVA, killed by Indians), dau. of Hans Jacob and Anna Maria (Dellinger) KIEFFER. M. (2) before 1779 Catherine STUMP (b. c1742; d. 31 Mar 1815/1816), dau. of Michael and Anna Catherine (Neff) STUMP.[3] [Note: Many German immigrants changed their names to reflect the translated word in English, e. g., a kieffer in German means a cooper, a maker of barrels.]
Hans Jacob KIEFFER's father was Frederick KIEFFER/COOPER of Washington Co., PA
Johan Jacob BRAKE and Maria Elizabeth KIEFFER/COOPER had six children:[3]
1. Mary Magdalin BRAKE (b. c 1750 Frederick Co., VA; d. Muskingum Co. Ohio) m. (1) John STUMP. M. (2) John REGER.
2. Jacob BRAKE, the captive (b. c 1753/1754 Frederick Co. VA; d. 1831 Lewis now Upshur Co., WVA) m. Mary SLAUGHTER. Jacob was captured by the Indians on the Wappatomaka when eleven years old, and remained in captivity ten years and ten months [4].
3. John BRAKE (b. 15 Jun 1754 Frederick Co. VA; d. 4 Nov 1838 Jackson's Mill, Lewis Co., WVA) m. (1) Elizabeth WETHERHOLT had one daughter Elizabeth who married Col. Edward JACKSON (grandfather of Stonewall JACKSON); m. (2) c1784 Catherine SHOOK.
4. Elizabeth BRAKE (b. 22 Feb 1757, d. 22 Mar 1812) m. 13 Nov 1776 Captain George JACKSON (b. 9 Jan 1757 Cecil Co., MD, d. 17 May 1831 Zaneville, OH), the oldest son of John JACKSON and Elizabeth CUMMINS.
5. Isaac BRAKE (b. c 1760/1764 Hampshire now Hardy Co., WVA; d. c 1833/1834 Union Co., Ohio) m. c 1789 Roseanna ALMON (d. c 1826 Union Co., Ohio).
6. Abraham BRAKE (b. Aug 1763 Hampshire now Hardy Co., WVA; d. 20 Aug 1842 Harrison Co., WVA) m. c1784 Elizabeth JACKSON, dau. of John and Elizabeth JACKSON.
The only known child of Johan Jacob BRAKE and Catherine STUMP was:
1. Michael BRAKE b. c 1776-1779 Hampshire now Hardy Co., WVA; d. 21 Jan 1861 Hardy Co. WVA m. 22 May 1803 Elizabeth DASHER, dau. of Christian DASHER, Jr. Lived at Brake, Hardy Co., (W)V. More on Michael Brake. David Armstrong found a Chancery file with depositions in it, at Moorefield, WV, "Brake vs. See" which gives insight into the life of Michael Brake. He had only three children: Leonard, Magdalen and Elizabeth in that order.Leonard Brake (b. 1804; d.) In this Chancery file, it is recorded that Michael's son Leonard Brake had 3 children who died in infancy or early childhood. They are probably buried in the Brake cemetery, Brake, Hardy County, WV.
Jacob BRAKE, Sr.'s estate sale (1809).
Catherine (STUMP) BRAKE's Will
Johan Jacob BRAKE's role in the Brake/Claypool Rebellion
Johan Jacob BRAKE's Notice of run away slaves.
Compiled by Nancy A. Jackson, Linda Brake Meyers and Dan Hyde.
Notes
2. McWhorter, page 312.
3. McWhorter, page 309.
4. McWhorter, page 309.
5. Colonel Edward Jackson 1759-1828 Revolutionary Soldier, by Nancy Ann Jackson and Linda Brake Meyers, Genealogy Publishing Service, Franklin, NC, 1995, page 54.
6. Colonel Edward Jackson 1759-1828 Revolutionary Soldier, by Nancy Ann Jackson and Linda Brake Meyers, Genealogy Publishing Service, Franklin, NC, 1995, page 39.