[Records provided by Carey Bracewell]
SUSANNAH BURGESS BRACEWELL
(c.1652-c.1714)
SUSANNAH BRACEWELL, wife of ROBERT BRACEWELL, Jr., is the most controversial
person in the early Bracewell family. A Richard Towle made a will on 5
Nov., 1692 in which he gave his estate "unto my three
youngest Children of SUSANNA BRASWELL, RICHARD, WILLIAM AND ELIZABETH BRASWELL." At
that time, Robert Jr. is still alive and on March 27, 1696, appointed
"my Loving wife SUSANNA BRASWELL to be my lawfull
attorney."
The controversial question lies in the interpretation of Richard Towle's will.
Is the father of the 3 named children Richard Towle or Robert Bracewell, Jr.?
[Librarian's note: Divorce didn't exist in the colonial south until 1857.
The only means of obtaining a divorce was to induce the legislature to pass a
private bill granting a divorce, something that rarely occurred. The only
other practical options available to an unhappy couple were adultery or
desertion.]
SUSANNAH's lineage, starting with her grandmother is shown below. The name
of her grandfather is unknown.
Katherine Unknown
(2m) Robert Flake
(1m) Unidentified (father of Joyce/Mary and Susannah)
│
│
┌──────────────────┼─────────────────┐
│
│
│
Joyce Mary
Susannah
(1m) Francis England
(1m) John Burgess
Thomas Atkinson
(2m) George Cripps
(2m) Richard Skinner
(3m) John Collins, Sr.
│
│
Susannah Burgess
Robert Bracewell, Jr.
(Richard Towle)
│
│
┌─────────┬─────────┼────────────┬───────────┐
│
│
│
│
│
James Bracewell Ann Bracewell Richard
Bracewell William Bracewell
Elizabeth Bracewell
b. 1671
b. abt. 1672 b. aft. 1673
b. abt. 1680
b. abt. 1685
d. bef. Jan 1765 m. John Riggs 
d. aft. 26 Jun 1732 m. Richard Washington
(Link to children)
TIME LINE
| DATE |
INDIVIDUAL |
EVENT |
LOCATION |
REMARKS |
| about 1650 |
Robert Bracewell, Jr. |
Birth |
IOWC, VA |
|
| about 1652 |
Susannah Burgess |
Birth |
Surry Co, VA |
|
| 1688 - 11 May |
Rev. Robert Bracewell |
Estate appraised |
IOWC, VA |
|
| 1671-1685 |
5 Children |
Born |
IOWC, VA |
|
| 1692-5 Nov |
Richard Towle |
Will written |
IOWC, VA |
|
| 1692/3 10 Feb |
Richard Towle |
Estate appraised |
IOWC, VA |
13£ - 05s - 00p |
| 1696-27 Mar |
Robert Bracewell, Jr. |
Power of Attorney |
For IOWC |
Given to wife Susannah |
| after 1696 |
Robert Bracewell, Jr. |
Death. No known will |
Unknown |
|
| 1714-22 Oct |
Susannah Bracewell |
Will written |
IOWC, VA |
|
| 1732-26 Jun |
Susannah Bracewell |
Will proved |
IOWC, VA |
18 years later |
SUSANNAH was born in Surry County, Virginia, about 1652 to MARY and JOHN
BURGESS, members of the wealthy planter class. Proof of her identity begins with
that April 20, 1669 Surry deed ( Surry DB I, p. 332) in which MARY SKINNER, wife
of RICHARD SKINNER, acknowledged receipt of all the estate that her late
first husband, JOHN BURGESS gave to their daughter, SUSANNAH BURGESS. A
second confirming Surry document, bearing date of May 15, 1672 (Surry DB 2, p.
14) contains the testimony of RICHARD SKINNER, aged 46, and MARY SKINNER, 40,
mentioning the orphan of JOHN BURGESS. [Docments will be inserted
when obtained]
RICHARD SKINNER died in Isle
of Wight County in 1677, as administration was granted his relict (widow) MARY SKINNER
on April 9, 1677 (Chapman’s Wills and Administrations, Vol. l, p. 104).
[Documents will be inserted when obtained.]
MARY
SKINNER was married to JOHN COLLINS, Sr., by June 8, 1680, for on that
date, GEORGE CRIPPS, widower of JOYCE CRIPPS {MARY’s sister} made an agreement
with MARY SKINNER, widow, now wife of JOHN COLLINS regarding MARY’s inheritance
in 1300 acres of land from her sister, JOYCE CRIPPS (I of W Deeds and Wills,
1662-1715, Vol. l, pp. 439-444).
MARY also had a sister, SUSANNAH, wife of
THOMAS ATKINSON. Various Isle of
Wight records prove that SUSANNAH BURGESS's mother, MARY, and MARY's sisters JOYCE and
SUSANNAH were all daughters of KATHERINE FLAKE, then wife of ROBERT FLAKE, from an
unidentified previous marriage of KATHERINE’s.
The interpretation of the November 5, 1692 will of Richard Towle, Susannah's
neighbor, has generated controversy among Braswell researchers.
Appraisal of Richard Towle's Estate - 20 Feb 1692/93
The value of the estate was 13£-05s-00p.
The final Isle of Wight record made by ROBERT BRACEWELL, Jr. after
he left the county in 1674, is the following power of attorney. The reader may
draw his or her own conclusions about its significance:
The final mystery surrounding the life of SUSANNAH BURGESS BRACEWELL is why her
will was not probated until 18 years after she signed it. Her poor
heirs probably probated her will as soon as she died. Is it possible she came
near to dying when she wrote the will in 1714, rallied, and then lived another
18 years? Why did Susannah cut off her daughter ANN BRASWELL RIGGS and her
grandson, JOHN RIGGS, JR. with only a shilling in this will?
At a Court held for Isle of Wight County June 26: 1732
THE last Will & Testament of SUSANNAH BRASWELL deceased was presented in Court
by WILLIAM BRASWELL Executor therein named who made Oath thereto and being
likewise proved by the Oaths of WILLIAM ALLEN & RICHARD JORDAN two of the
Witnesses thereto It is admitted to Record.
Teste. James Ingles Clk Curt
Vera Recordatur Test: Ja:s Ingles Cl Curt
Will Book 3, page 304
FOY BRASWELL - A claim has been
made that the words " my three youngest Children of SUSANNA BRASWELL,
RICHARD, WILLIAM and ELIZABETH BRASWELL" are smudged and unreadable on the
original will of Richard Towle. Carey Bracewell and others have seen the original
documents and state that there are no smudges. Walt and Maxine Gabbinnesch
have sent me a copy of the will and the words are not smudged. A
copy of the will will be added to this document.