MARTHA BRASWELL VS GRAY

If Martha Gray was William Browne's widow and had married William Murphy by July of 1720, her "father", Richard Gray would identify her as Martha Murphy in his 1724 will. Richard Gray doesn't, but interestingly Martha Braswell's father, Richard Braswell the 1st does.

1703 - October 9, William Browne & wife MARTHA of Lower Parish sell to Richard Braswell Jr. 35 acres (part of 156 acre patent) on Main Blackwater, witnessed by Thomas Mandue, & William Braswell. (IOW CO VA DEED BOOK 1, 1688-1704, PAGE 401) NOTE: Martha Braswell's brother William Braswell died before Oct 1721 in Chowan Co., NC, before the Isle of Wight Co., VA wills of his parents, Richard & Sarah Braswell.

Immediately following the above instrument (pp. 401-402):

William & MARTHA BROWN to Thomas Brown (his brother) of Nansemond County, for "a certeyn sume", 50 acres of the same patent of 156 acres to William Brown that is mentioned above...Signed October 22, 1703 and witnessed by Richard Exum and Robert Guils (?). NOTE: Thomas Brown married Christian Maule and he was William's brother.

1706 - Richard Bracewell Jr and wife Eleanor to William Browne, 35 acres, witnessed by Robert West and Thomas Mandue. (DB 2 Pg 69)

1718 - December 15, William Browne's Will: Sons: John, Thomas, Jacob. Daughters: Ann, Martha, Mary, Sarah. Brother: William Boon. (sister's husband) Extrs: Wife and Thomas Mandue.

1719 - October 17, MARTHA BROWN of Albemarle Co, Widow and Extr. of William Brown decd. to Thomas Boone of the Province of NC. For 30 bbls of Pitch. 380 A. on the N side of Meherrin River part of 640 A granted to my husband William Brown 29 Nov 1716, the sd. land now in possession of Thomas Boon who was seized and possessed of the same by my husband in his lifetime. Wit: James Bate, Thomas Boon. signed Martha Brown, Thomas Mandew who is ---- with me in my decd. husband's will signed by John Dew attorney. (Chowan Deed Bk W#1 193)

1720 - July, William Murphy of Chowan Precinct and MARTHA My wife to Barnaby MacKinne of Albemarle Co. ...this __ July, 1720 ...L5 current money of England...640 acres more or less at the mouth of a Great Branch called the Cypress Gutt which cometh out of the River (Moratock) joining the plantation Arthur Davis did live on...being a parcel of land in Calledony Wood formerly granted to William Browne by patent 1 APR 1713 being the tract whereon the said Browne did live and is the land given by will of William Browne to his wife MARTHA and I, William Murphey married the RELICT OF WILLIAM BROWNE. Wit: William Lattimer, John Alston. Reg. Chowan Ct. the 3rd Tuesday in July, 1720.

1724 - July 28, Richard Bracewell of Isle of Wight names son Richard Braswell, son Robert Braswell, son Valentine Braswell, son Jacob Braswell, son John Braswell, DAUGHTER MARTHA MURFY, daughter Ann Strickland, daughter Jane Williams, granddaughter Susannah Braswell, wife and executrix Sarah Braswell, and wit: Edward Powers Sr. and Edward Powers. (IOW CO VA GB-174)

1724 - November 11, Gray, Richard: Leg. wife Rebecca; daughter Ann; daughter Rebecca; daughter Mourning; son John; DAUGHTER MARTHA BROWN her mother's chest; my wife and children I had by her, viz: James, Ann, Rebecca and Mourning. Exs., wife and son James. R. March 27, 1727. Wit: Thomas Applewhaite, Joseph Wiles. (Wills and Administrations of Isle of Wight County, Virginia, 1647-1800) NOTE: Notice he called her Martha Brown, 4 1/2 years after she was supposedly married to William Murphy.