Notes for Benois "Bennet" Brasseur

Notes for Benois "Bennet" Brasseur

He settled in Prince George Co., MD in 1658. Settled in Calvert Co. MD on "The Clifts." In a summons, 1660, his name was anglicized to BENJAMIN BRASHEERS. His widow leaving a will dated 25 May 1663, in which she was called "widow of the Clifts," and names children: ROBERT, BENJAMIN, and JOHN (not yet 21). Son Benjamin died 1675. Daughters: Mary, Anne, Susanna, Martha and Elizabeth.

!Birth place based on Benjamin's citizenship paper where he declares he is "a subject of the Crowne of France" and assumption that both Robert and Benjamin were here before 1637 based upon the book "Brashear Story: A Family History" by Troy L. Back & Leon Brashear, 1963, pages 5-45

!Maryland Calendar of Wills, page 25, 975.2 B1934 (Baldwin)

!Charles Brashear book A BRASHEAR FAMILY: Had many different spellings for his name - Benois (Benoit, Bennet, Benjamin) Brasseur (Brashieur, Brashears, Brashear). Was born in France, probably about 1620 and was transported (as a child) to Virginia. The first records found that mention him are in Virginia, 12 April 1853, when he appears as a headright on Robert's land grant and at the same time he received a grant for 300 acres on Indian Creek for transporting 6 persons. If born in 1620, he was about 33 years old. In 1658, Benjamin (Benoit) contracted to buy a large tract of land from Richard Bennett. He moved his family from Virginia to Calvert Co., Maryland and settled on the land called "Upper Bennett" which overlooks Chesapeake Bay in an area know as "The Clifts" just South of present day Chesapeak Beach. Lord Baltimore, in order to encourage people to settle in Maryland, offered 50 acres to anyone who moved or transported a person there. These rights were separate from the headrights of Virginia and therefore allowed a person who had already claimed headrights in Virginia to move to Maryland and claim another 50 acres.

!"Belt BRASHEAR & Amelia DUVALL" by Sydney M. Kirkpatrick #927.273 B736k: Covers much of the materials on Benjamin (Benois or Bennet) BRASSEUR and his son Robert. Also on Robert's sons Benjamin (b. 1666) and Samuel (b. 1673). Also on Benjamin (b. 1666) daughter Elizabeth (b. 30 Mar. 1701) and on Samuel's (b. 1673) son Samuel (b. 1696). These two married 17 Dec. 1717. It covers their children Jeremiah (b. 15 Nov. 1731) and Ignatius (b. 17 Apr. 1734). It also covers Belt child of Jeremiah who married Amelia DUVALL and of Ann daughter of Ignatius. It cites references of Maryland Archives (genealogy magazine); Virginia Land Records, MD Hall of Records - Wills and Testamentary Proceedings. It list many other sources as proof of the dates and names.

!A Brashear(s) Family History, Vol. 2 Robert C. Brashear of North Carolina and Some Descendants of Tn, Ky, Mo, Tx, etc.; pg 13: Quoted from the book - "Benjamin died (suddenly?) soon after his Naturalization, at about the age of 42, if we take 1620 as his birthdate. We have found no will. In the Hall of Records, Annapolis, Maryland, is "An Inventory of the goods and chattalls of Benjamin Brassear, gent., late of Calvert Co., and appraised by us James Thomas and John Cobreath, this 24th day of February, 1663/4." (Inventories, Book 1E, p. 92.)
Soon after Benjamin died, Mary m.2. about 1 Aug 1663, Thomas Sterling. She died soon after, for her will entered probate in 1668."