Note: The majority of this data came from the FGS researched by David Armstrong, Elkins, WV. His name appears as a reference on several of the children in the Brake and Jackson families. His research was done as a process of elimination while trying to determine the parentage of Elizabeth Brake Moneypenny of whom he descends.
ELIZABETH JACKSON b. ca 1762-1767 pr. Howard's Lick, Hampshire/now Hardy Co., (W)V: [1] d. ca 1862 Green Co., OH; prob. bur. in the now Osborn Cem., Fairborn, OH;[2] m. ca 1784 ABRAHAM BRAKE b. ca 1763[3] pr. Hampshire/now Hardy Co., (W)V, s/o Jacob and Elizabeth Cooper Brake; d. 20 Aug. 1842 Harrison Co., (W)V; bur. Jackson Historical Park, Clarksburg, Harrison Co., WV.
In 1820 this family was living on Brushy Fork of Elk near Quiet Dell, Harrison Co., WV.[4] Abraham was listed in Hardy Co., in 1800 and in Harrison Co. tax list for 1801. He was one of the appraisers of the John Powers estate in the 1820's.
Abraham applied for a pension for service in the Rev. War, stating that he lived near Moorefield, VA, was drafted into the service, but did not know the year, stating he marched under Capt. Bernian to Catfish on the Ohio River, thence to Morgantown, (W)V, back to Moorefield and was dismissed. The pension was not allowed as there was insufficient proof of such service as requested by the department of pensions.
1. SOPHIA/RACHEL ?? BRAKE b. ca 1784 VA. There is a female in this age bracket listed 1810 and 1820 census for Harrison Co., but is not there in 1830.
2. GEORGE WASHINGTON BRAKE b. 15 Feb. 1788 Harrison Co., (W)V; d. 18 Aug. 1864 Green Co., OH; bur. Osborn Cem. nr. Fairfield, OH; m. 9 Mar. 1833 Cincinnati, OH JANE MCCLURE b. 1782 KY; d. 19 Jul. 1855, OH. George owned land which is now a part of the Wright/Patterson Air Field. The Osborn Cem. is on the Air Field. Birth data is from census', Stembel's "Runner, Beaver & Brake" and Todd's "God's Infinite Variety". George signed a petition in Harrison Co., (W)V in 1803. By 1816 he was in Green Co., OH. Marriage data from a letter from Montgomery Co., OH clerk citing Bk:A: 35.
3. JOHN B. BRAKE b. Oct. 1791 Hardy Co., (W)V; d. 16 Nov. 1856, Oxford, Benton Co., IN; bur. West Cem., Oxford Benton Co., IN; m. 1830 Highland Co., OH, JANE MCCLURE b. 14 Jul. 1799, Cumberland Co., PA, d/o Thomas and Elizabeth McClure; d. 27 Nov. 1870 Oxford, Benton co., IN, bur. West Cem. John's birth data from Stembel's "Runner, Beaver & Brake" and Todd's "God's Infinite Variety". John was on the Highland Co., OH, tax list of 1831, was in Fayette Co, OH, in 1850 and had land in Petersburg, OH. He was the father of Charlotte Brake Runner.
4. SARAH `SALLY' BRAKE b. 1784-94, VA; m. 20 Aug. 1820 Harrison Co., (W)V, by Rev. J. Chevront, William Hagle signed bond, JOHN MORRIS. Sally's birth data is from censuses and Stembel's "Runner, Beaver & Brake". The marriage bond was signed by William Hagle.
5. ELIZABETH BRAKE b. 1798 VA; m. 22 Sept 1822 Harrison Co., (W)V, by Rev. John Davis, Jesse Jarvis signed the bond, JOSHUA MINER. [5] Elizabeth's birth data is from censuses, Stembel's "Runner, Beaver & Brake" and Todd's "God's Infinite Variety". She was in Springfield, OH in 1850 and in Greene Co., OH in 1860. Known children: Elizabeth b. ca 1831 OH and Thomas b. 1834 OH; wf. Mary b. ca 1837 and dau. Nelly b. 1859. (1860 Green Co., OH census).
6. EDWARD BRAKE b. 1800 VA; m.7 Apr. 1825 Highland Co., OH, ELIZABETH WHITE b. 1805 NJ; Edward's birth data is from censuses and Stembel's "Runner, Beaver & Brake" and Todd's "God's Infinite Variety". He was in the Harrison Co., VA tax list of 1823 and in Ross Co., OH in 1850, was age 49, farmer and the value of his property was $900. In this census he had 4 sons and 4 daughters.
7. JACOB CUMMINS BRAKE b. 1802-04 VA; m. 10 Apr. 1823 MARY SIGLEY by Rev. Jos. Morris, Jacob Sigley, bond. (She may be the daughter of George Sigley - unconfirmed). Jacob died May-Sept. 1841. [6] In 1830 Harrison Co. (W)V census, 1840 residence on the Buckhannon River. [7]This family was in Meigs Co., Columbia Twp., OH in 1850 census, with Mary, age 49 head of the household.[8] His birth data is from the census, Stembel's "Runner, Beaver & Brake" and Todd's "God's Infinite Variety". Lewis Co., WV Chancery file, Hasleton vs. Brake; DB G2/843, H/167, 275; M/258. Mary Brake was living in Barbour Co., (W)V in 1845. Children all born VA: Edward b. 1826, David J. b. 1831, Silas B. b. 1833, William b. 1836, Rebecca b. 1838, Emory b. 1838, Perry b. 1840.
8. THOMAS JEFFERSON BRAKE b. 1804-10; d. 1842 Wells Co., IN; m. 25 Jul. 1835 Miami Co., OH EMMELINE ABEL HALL b. 23 Mar. 1817 Botetourt Co., VA, d/o Henry Abel and Sara Ann Franklin; d. 10 Aug. 1860 IN; Thomas moved to Miami Co., OH in 1833, to Jay Co., IN in 1838 and settled in Wells Co., IN. Sued Tower in 1824. Accepted deed for father in 1826. [9] He was on the tax list in Harrison Co., VA in 1826. [10]
9. MARY BRAKE b. 1804-10; m. 10 Apr. 1838 Harrison Co., (W)V, by Rev. Elias Brvin; JAMES S. CARPENTER. Her birth data is from census, Stembel's "Runner, Beaver & Brake" and Todd's "God's Infinite Variety", Harrison Co., VA Chancery File 88/2, Deed Bk:26/491, Deed Bk:33/170.
10. WILLIAM W. BRAKE b. 1808[11] d. 20 Oct. 1861; m. 3 Jan. 1836 Lewis Co., (W)V, by Rev. John Talbot, NANCY C. NORRIS "Ann" b. Freeman's Creek ca 1813 d/o Samuel and Catherine Norris.[12] One source has William's wife as Ann Pierson. This is in error, as ANN was probably a nickname for Nancy. In 1842, Harrison Co. (W)V Deed Book 31/70, William Brake and Ann relinquish land to Abraham Brake. In 1845 William was living in Lewis Co., 1856 in Lewis Co., Deed - wife Nancy; 1860 William Brake & wf. Nancy C. living in Lewis County, (W)V. William was jailed in Frederick Co., VA for counterfeiting in 1843. This case proves him the son of Abraham. William was murdered by William Pierson, bushwhacker, during the Civil War. He was a hotelkeeper in Jacksonville, Lewis Co., (W)V. No issue.
11. ABRAHAM BRAKE JR b. 1804-1810 VA; d. bef. Oct 1841;[13] m. 22 Apr. 1837, Harrison Co., (W)V, Bk:3/108 by James G. Sampson. MARY CARPENTER; b. ca 1817; d. 23 May 1895 Harrison Co., age 77yrs. 7mos. b. Pleasant Grove Cem. Child: David C. J. Brake b. 4 Mar. 1839; d. 29 Jun. 1905 bur. Salem IOOF Cemetery. This child age 2y 4m was bound out to Samuel S. Carpenter after death of father. This is possibly father or brother of Mary. David was a PVT in Co. H. 12 Reg. WV Inf. Vol. Enlisted at age 25. Adj. Gen. Report 1864 Index, Colson Hall, WVU. He is listed in the 1890 WV Veterans census, Ten Mile District Harrison Co. He m. Mrs. Elizabeth Bailey Jenkins b. 23 Mar. 1836; d. 3 Mar. 1920; bur. Salem IOOF Cemetery. They had an infant son b. & d. 2 Sept. 1875, bur., Cherry Camp, Pleasant Grove, and a daughter, Myrtle V. Brake, b. ca 1868 m. George G. Hinds of Marion Co., OH on 27 Dec. 1893 Bk:7/192 by Jas. A. Hammond at the Bride's residence. David raised Elizabeth's daughter, Lucetta b. ca 1860 .
Note: Stembel's "Runner, Beaver & Brake", research of Edith Brake of Oakland, CA, Elizabeth and Abraham Brake had other children: Isaac, Courtland and Jackson.
[2] This is near the present day Wright/Patterson Airfield, which was at one time part of George Brake's land.
[3] Pension record, tombstone in Jackson Cem. gives him d. `1842 in 84th year of age'.
[4] Refer to Harrison Co. Deeds 1/183, 2/458, 3/264, 6/13, 7/148, 12/143
[5] Harrison Co., Minute Bk: Apr 1820, Joshua Minor bound to John T. Young to learn trade of clothier above 16 years of age. John Young signed his marriage bond.
[6] Lewis County Chancery 1831/271; Cummins Brake vs. David J. Brake, Plaintiff dead as of Sept. 1842.
[7] Property records Lewis Co. WV Bk: H/275-1841; Jacob C. and Mary deeded 45 a. to Isaac Dix. Property records Lewis Co., WV 1845: Mary Brake deeded tract on Buckhannon River to Jonas Martin - Jacob's name not on this record - assumed d. before 1845
[8] Jack & Harriet Piper research.
[9] Lewis Co., Deed Bk C/450 (Jefferson)
[10] His birth data is from census, Stembel's "Runner, Beaver & Brake" and Todd's "God's Infinite Variety", Lewis Co., Deed Book p. 450, and Harrison Co. Minutes 1823-25, pg. 212.
[11] Stembel's "Runner, Beaver & Brake" and Todd's "God's Infinite Variety".
[12] Lewis Co. Death Records: Samuel Norris d/ 5/28/1854, age 81, b. Pittsylvania, VA; report by S-I-L William Brake; Catherine Norris d. 4/5/1854, age 70, b. Eastern, VA; report S-I-L William Brake.
[13] Harrison Co., Record Book 1841/43 p. 86.
Compiled by Linda B. Meyers.