The Branch family of the early Virginia Colonies had many ties to the Osborne's. Their land joined as did their families. Below is an excerpt of a book written in the early 1900's by James Branch Cabell that contains a wealth of information and was a valuable source in validating the Osborne genealogy used in this research. Mr. Cabell's spelling and grammar were indicative of the time and I have left it unedited.

Benjamin Branch of Henrico married, about 1695, Tabitha Osborne, the oldest child and daughter of Edward Osborne of Henrico. Tabitha Osborne was born about 1677, and had by her first husband, apparently, but one child, Benjamin Branch of Chesterfield ; and after the death of Benjamin Branch of Henrico, she remarried, in 1711, taking for her second husband Thomas Cheatham of Henrico, by whom it is not recorded that she left any issue.

Tabitha Osborne was a descendant of Captain Thomas Osborne of Coxendale, in Henrico. This county, it is necessary to repeat, then comprised all the land west of Charles City between the Chickahominy and the Appomattox.

Thomas Osborne was born in England, about the year 1590, but left England for the Colony of Virginia in 1619, sailing in "the Bona Nova, of 200 tons, sent August, 1619, with 120 persons"; as the records of the company have it, "in the beginning of August last, in the Bona Nova, were sent 100 persons for public service, chosen with great care and extraordinarily furnished," — all of these persons being future colonists, "fifty for the Company's land and fifty for the College Land."

The voyage was leisurely but prosperous; and the Muster of 16th February, 1623-4, mentions Thomas Osborne as living at the College Land. And, again, the Muster of January, 1624-5, enumerates among the inhabitants of the College Land:" Lietenfit Thomas Osborne, arrived in the Bona Nova, 1619.  

SERVANTS

" Daniell Sherley, aged 30 yeres, came in the Bona Nova, 1619 

" Peeter Jordan, aged 22, in the London Merchant, 1620.

" Richard Davis, aged 16 yeres, in the Jonathan, 1620."

The title of lieutenant, acquired one knows not how in  England, was more lately exchanged for a captaincy, on 4th July, 1627, by virtue of a commission granted by Sir  George Yeardley, then Governor of Virginia. For, as a retaliatory measure, the Governor at this time "thought it fit that we should draw out partyes from all our plantations & goes upon the Indians & cut down their corne ;"  and in consequence, upon the date aforementioned, "Leftenant Thomas Osborne" was appointed by the Governor to lead the settlers of "the necke of land and the College Land" against the tribes of the Saax Powhattans.

History does not detail the results of this expedition, but it was thereby that Thomas Osborne acquired the title  of captain, which he retained for the remainder of his long life.

Meantime, Thomas Osborne had settled, in the year 1625, at "Coxendale," on the south side of James River, in the extreme northeast of the present Chesterfield County, and corresponding to the present "Cox's Dale."

Christopher Branch's plantation of " Kingsland,"— which he patented, as recorded, in 1635,— lay immediately north of "Coxendale," being separated from it by Proctor's Creek; and it is not unnatural that this close proximity in a sparsely settled country should have resulted in many marriages between the families of Branch and Osborne.

Christopher Branch of " Kingsland " and Captain Thomas Osborne of "Coxendale" were near neighbors for some thirtyodd years, and presumably — if one allows for the slight disparity in their ages — on terms of considerable intimacy ; they grew from obscurity to affluence and prominence together, and year by year, as the one patented land to the north of Proctor's Creek the other would patent land to the south of it, till presently the twin plantations of " Kingsland " and "Coxendale" had grown to rank among the largest in all southern Henrico.

Captain Thomas Osborne held in his day many positions of honor. In the year 1629 he represented Henrico (with Christopher Branch of "Kingsland") in the Virginia House of Burgesses; and (again with Christopher Branch of " Kingsland ") was one of the viewers of tobacco "from the World's End to Henrico" in 1639. Always the two men are somehow bracketed together.

In addition, Captain Thomas Osborne was "commissioner for the upper parts of Henrico" in 1631, and a member of the Virginia House of Burgesses for the years 1630-31-32-33.

The last attested act of Captain Thomas Osborne was to take out yet another patent of land on Proctor's Creek in 1637; but it is known that he survived until, at least, 5th November, 1667, at which date Captain Thomas Osborne of "Coxendale" assigned to Thomas Lockett of Henrico all rights for the transportation of Alexander Wood to this country — which would have entitled Captain Thomas Osborne to some fifty acres of land.

The will of Captain Thomas Osborne of "Coxendale" is not recorded at Henrico Courthouse. A will he indisputably left, apportioning his estate between his two grandsons, and inasmuch as the county records of Henrico previous to the year 1677 have perished, and from that year exist in tolerable fullness, the fact is pretty clearly established that Captain Thomas Osborne of "Coxendale" died before 1678; and, as has been previously shown, later than the November of 1667.

He had issue, so far as known, only one child, a son, whom he survived.  This only son of Captain Thomas Osborne of "Coxendale" was, perhaps, the Thomas Osborne of "Pasbeheighes," referred to in the " Muster of the Inhabitants of Pasbehays, belonging to the corporation of James City, and in the maine," taken 30th January, 1624-5.

This mentions among "The men of the Governor's Men at Pasbehaighs" one "Thomas Osborn, aged 18 (came to Virginia), in the Francis Bonaventiire."

And a word of explanation is here necessary : The thrifty Virginia Company of London had hit upon the scheme of providing for the Governor of Virginia's salary, "so as to ease the Company henceforward of all charge in maintaining him," by assigning to the Governor some 3,000 acres, which cost the company nothing, and pro curing tenants (at a rate of six pounds each to the company, which was the cost of their transportation), to farm these assigned acres, with the understanding that one half the revenue of these tenants was to go to the Governor.

Eighty of these "Governor's men" were sent to Virginia in 1620, the Bonaventure transporting some of them, and it is possible that Thomas Osborne of "Coxendale" embraced this opportunity of securing free transportation for his heir, and that his son and this Thomas Osborne of " Pasbehaighes" were one and the same person.

This is possible, but no more ; for, upon the other hand, it appears unlikely that any one in the comfortable circumstances which Captain Thomas Osborne beyond doubt already boasted should have bound over his only son to a quasislaveryhood ; and the probabilities are rather in favor of this son of Captain Thomas Osborne having been the Edward Osborne of Henrico who patented (2nd June, 1636) some 400 acres of land in Henrico County — "ad joining a swamp called the great swamp, and the river" — fifty acres of the same being due for his personal adventure, and 350 acres for the transportation of seven persons.

 This is the sole mention that now exists of this Edward Osborne, and his will, if it was ever probated, has perished with the earlier records of Henrico.

The son of Captain Thomas Osborne of "Coxendale," whatever may have been his Christian name, died in Virginia about the year 1650 — certainly not earlier than 1646 — having had issue:

I. Thomas Osborne of "Coxendale," born 1641, with

whom we shall hereafter have to do.

II. Edward Osborne of Henrico.

Edward Osborne of Henrico, the younger son of the foregoing, was born in 1646.

At the death of Captain Thomas Osborne of "Coxendale," his estate was divided between his two grandsons— both of whom had survived their father— in what proportion it is impossible to say, although it is apparent that to Edward Osborne's share fell the northern part of the plantation.

He appears to have farmed it prosperously, and to have increased its dimensions ; and the last act recorded of Edward Osborne is that within the last year of his life, on 1st of June, 1696, he purchased some 200 acres of the southern portion of "Coxendale," which his elder brother, now dead, had inherited, and had long ago deeded to his own eldest son.

It is not recorded that Edward Osborne of Henrico ever held any political office or took any part in public life. He died about the beginning of the year 1697, and it is to be regretted that the ambiguous wording of his will prevents estimation of what lands he then possessed, since he was undoubtedly welltodo in the world.

Edward Osborne of Henrico married, prior to 1676, Tabitha Piatt, the daughter of Gilbert Piatt of " Fauldinge," in Virginia, whom he survived.

By Tabitha Piatt, Edward Osborne of Henrico had issue:

I. Tabitha Osborne, who, as previously recorded, married Benjamin Branch of Henrico.

II. Edward Osborne of Henrico, born post 1677, and died in 1732, leaving issue.

III. Martha Osborne.

The will of Edward Osborne of Henrico County, in the Parish of Varina, is recorded at Henrico Courthouse. It is dated 6th of January, 1696, and was recorded 1st of April, 1697.

To the testator's son, Edward Osborne, is bequeathed "all my lands in generall," which is an unhappily ambiguous wording as concerns the genealogist.

To this only son is also bequeathed a bewildering enumeration of miscellaneous chattels:

One negro woman named Moll, with her increase (excepting the first child she bringeth, which I give to my daughter, Martha Osborne), and one negro boy named Tom, and three cows, not above six years old, and two feather beds, and their furniture, and one square musled gun with a French lock, and my little gunn, and two young sows, with pigg, and one pott of four or five gallons, and one small pott of two and a half gallons (both iron potts with hooks), and one pair of Running Iron Racks, and my best chest with lock and key, and two horses, one of seven years and the other of three years, and three large and two small puter dishes, and ten plates of pewter, and four Ewes, and two new Calfskin Cheirs, and one brass skimmer and ladle, and one Collerharness and Cart saddle."

All of this is to be delivered to the younger Edward Osborne when he reaches the age of nineteen.

To the testator's daughter, Martha Osborne, is bequeathed in similar fashion.

" Two cowes and a heifer of two years, and one steer of four years, and two Ewes, and three deep puter dishes, and one Feether bed, and an old Rugg, and blankets half worn, and one great chest with lock and key, and my small new chest with lock and key." All this is to be delivered to Martha Osborne when she reaches the age of sixteen, or if she marry earlier, upon her weddingday. This stipulation shows very vividly how Oriental was the age of marriage among our early Virginians.

The testator's daughter, Tabitha Osborne Branch, now married to Benjamin Branch of Henrico, is not mentioned in the will, and it is deducible that the testator had pre viously provided for her; but the testator appoints his son-in-law, Benjamin Branch, to be his executor, to him "committing the tuishion of Edward Osborne and Martha Osborne" until the boy shail be nineteen and the girl six teen, or until either of them shall marry.

The witnesses of this will are Samuel Branch (the brother of Benjamin Branch of Henrico), and Martha Osborne (the widow of the testator's older brother), and Joseph Tanner (the halfbrother of the testator's wife).

About 1675, Edward Osborne of Henrico married, as previously recorded, Tabitha Piatt, the daughter of Gilbert Piatt of "Fauldinge." Tabitha Platt Osborne was born about 1660, and died between the years 1692 and 1695, being survived by her husband.

To him, as recorded, she had borne two daughters and a son.

This Tabitha Platt was the daughter of Gilbert Platt of " Fauldinge," who was born in England about 1620.

The first mention of Gilbert Platt occurs 12th of February, 1635, when Elizabeth Parker, a widow, patented 200 acres at Varina within the County of Henrico. Of this land one hundred acres were due to her "in right of her first husband, William Sharpe, who was an ancient planter in the time of Sir Thomas Dale," and the remaining hundred for "the importation of two servants, Gilbert Platt and John Newman."

Gilbert Platt thus came to Virginia in an exceedingly humble capacity; and concerning the first forty years of his stay in the Colony no record exists.

But about 1660, at latest, he had risen somewhat in the world, and had married a woman welltodo in her own right — Mary Tanner, the widow of Joseph Tanner of Henrico — and was appointed, 20th of August, 1677, the   legal guardian of her four children, Joseph, Edward, Mary and Martha Tanner.

Yet Piatt himself appears always .to have been a person of small means ; even the plantation of " Fauldinge" (or "Bauldings," as is written with equal frequency) which Gilbert Piatt hereafter farmed, was but a portion of the estate left by his wife's first husband, and held by Gilbert Piatt in trust for the Tanner children during their im maturity; and the records of Henrico strikingly attest that his domestic life during this period was far from tranquil.

He first appears at variance with his wife over a portion of Gilbert Piatt's own estate, which by a deed dated 1st of June, 1680, Gilbert Piatt had made over to her. The nature of their dispute is now undeterminable, but the affair, which was aired in the Henrico courts, and some how settled there, was presumably the origin of yet fur ther hearthside trouble for Gilbert Piatt of " Fauldinge." For his wife's son by her former marriage — her elder son, one Joseph Tanner— was by this a fullgrown man ; and by the August of the same year Joseph Tanner and his stepfather had come to physical violence. There are pages of depositions by those who witnessed the difficulty, but of these that of "John Seawood, aged about twenty four," is perhaps the most complete and curious. Here follows an abridgement of the same.

 It appears that as Gilbert Piatt came home one evening Joseph Tanner, son to Mrs. Piatt, who was splitting kindling wood somewhere near the door of the house — for some unexplained cause, and perhaps merely in fun — threw three or four pieces of lightwood at his stepfather; and that the latter passed on into the house, and there complained to his wife of the treatment he had received, and for his pains was promptly called a liar, since, as Mrs. Piatt ex plained, she had reared her children so carefully that in common reason none of them would ever have been guilty of such outrageous conduct. Upon the heels of this, young Joseph Tanner came into the room, and accused his stepfather of having slandered him at a certain Mrs. Farrar's.

What followed is here cited in full :

"And Mr. Piatt said:

1 'Come, lett us have a box or two,' and the said Joseph replyed :

" 'Noe, but let me get a tobo: sticke (a tobacco stick), and then I will box with you,' and told he said Piatt that he had nothing to doe with the house.

"And Mr. Piatt said:

“’I built the house, and I paid for it' ; and Joseph said : 'Well, what if you have? you shan't come into the house,' and Mr. Piatt said:

" 'And you shall see I have something to doe with the house, for I will goe and pull down one of the puncheons before your face,' and Joseph told him that when he had done splitting of lightwood he would follow him, and when he had done he catcht up a stake, and followed him, and strucke at him with the stake, and he fell downe, and lay a good while, and Joseph said:

 " 'Noe, you have nothing to doe with it ; you thinke to scare me with your bullbeggers (bugbears?) ; goe, and tell them, if you will; here's adoe (here's an ado?) with an old cockatrice !' "

There is some ambiguity as to how this affair was set tled ; but the evidence plainly points to strained relations among the members of Gilbert Piatt's domicile, in which Gilbert Piatt evidently got the worst of it; for on the twentyeighth of the following March, according to a deed by him acknowledged in court, on the 1st of April, 1681, "Gilbert Piatt resigns to Joseph, Edward, Mary and Martha, orphans of Joseph Tanner, deceased, all his rights to their plantation at ' Bauldings,' and engages never to trouble them for any thirds or any part thereof."

Plainly, the older Joseph Tanner had died intestate ; and should Mary Piatt die before her second husband he would" be entitled to some share in her widow's third ; and it is into an explicit renunciation of this right that Mary Piatt and her children have hectored him.

Gilbert Piatt deserted them very shortly. He was discharged of his trusteeship of " Fauldinge" 1st of October, 1683, and Joseph Tanner was appointed in his place; and Gilbert Piatt appears to have spent the last years of his life, being then in very ill health, with his soninlaw, Edward Osborne of Henrico.

It was at the residence of Edward Osborne that Gilbert Piatt died in the spring of 1692.

The will of Gilbert Piatt aforetime of " Fauldinge," in Henrico County, is recorded at Henrico Courthouse; it is dated 10th April, 1691, and was recorded 1st June, 1692; and it is a laconic document.

The testator bequeaths to his wife, Mary Piatt, precisely one shilling. The legacy is eloquent.

To the testator's daughter, Tabitha Osborne, is bequeathed " my bed and what is belonging to it."

By his disastrous marriage with Mary (Brown?) Tanner, Gilbert Piatt of " Fauldinge" had issue :

I. Tabitha Platt, who, as previously recorded, married Edward Osborne of Henrico.

The wife of Gilbert Piatt of Henrico, as previously recorded, was by her first marriage the widow of Joseph Tanner of Henrico, and it is probable that her maiden name was Mary Brown, inasmuch as William and Mary College, in 1699, brought its aforementioned suit against Benjamin Branch of Henrico, "as the executor of Edward Osborne, who married the executor of John Brown." This same John Brown was presumably the father of Gilbert Piatt's wife; and she had at least one sister, Martha (Brown?) Stratton, who was the second wife of Edward Stratton of Henrico, and died in 1696.

 The will of this Martha Stratton, who survived her husband, is dated 24th of July, 1692, and was recorded at Henrico Courthouse 1st April, 1696; it mentions the testator's "Sister (Mary) Piatt," and "her daughter, (Mary) Liggon," and appoints the former to be the executrix of the estate — which was not large.

To Mary Piatt is left "the best pair of Bodices except one that I have, and my pedicoats w'ch I spun, and my specticles, and my yellow waistcoats."

On 30th April, 1687 (the deed being recorded on 1st June of the same year), Mary Piatt signed a release claim upon such portion of her first husband's estate as had been willed to her second son, Edward Tanner of Henrico. It is not presumable that Edward Tanner had just come of age; but, in any event, he has inherited from his father's estate "some 200 and odde acres"; and in consideration of his mother's relinquishing all claim to the property he is to pay her "twenty shillings a year in money, or in tobacco, at a penny a pound, for seven years, or till Mary Piatt's death."

Mary (Brown?) Piatt, the wife of Gilbert Piatt of "Fauldinge," was (according to her sworn statement on qualifying as her sister Martha Stratton's executrix), born in 1638. She died in 1699, having survived two husbands.

Mary (Brown?) married first, as has been said, Joseph Tanner of Henrico, who died about 1659, and by him had issue:

I. Joseph Tanner, who married the widow of Mat

thew Turpin, and died ante 1699.

II. Edward Tanner, who survived his mother.

III. Mary Tanner, who married Joseph Liggon of

Henrico, and by him left issue.

IV. Martha Tanner, who married, first, Thomas

Jones of Bermuda Hundreds, and, second, Haskins; and by her first marriage left issue.

Mary (Brown?), by her second and not overhappy marriage with Gilbert Piatt of " Fauldinge," had issue only one child:

I. Tabitha Platt, who, as previously recorded, married Edward Osborne of Henrico.

The widow of Gilbert Platt survived her second husband by some eight years, dying in 1699.

The will of Mary Platt is dated 18th of March, 1699, and was recorded at Henrico Courthouse 1st of February, 1699-1700.

It bequeaths to the testator's son, Edward Tanner, all cattle belonging to the testator which he has in his possession, and, in addition, twelve pounds in current money ; and to the testator's grandson, Joseph Liggon, some 200 acres of land in Henrico County, on Swift Creek.

The other legacies are inconsiderable ; and the document is chiefly valuable as mentioning the testator's daughters Martha Haskins and Mary Liggon — who is named as executrix—and the testator's grandchildren, Thomas Jones (the son of Martha Haskins by her first marriage), and Joseph Liggon, Phcebe Liggon, and Lucretia Liggon, who were the children of Mary Tanner Liggon, the testator's oldest daughter.

  Benjamin Branch of Chesterfield married, prior to the year 1727, his second cousin, Martha Osborne, the daughter of Thomas Osborne of Henrico. She was born about 1710, and died before the year 1760. This Martha Osborne was a descendant of Captain Thomas Osborne of "Coxendale," who, as previously recorded, had issue:

I. (Edward?) Osborne of Henrico. (Edward?) Osborne of Henrico, as previously recorded, had issue:

I. Thomas Osborne of "Coxendale."

II. Edward Osborne of Henrico.

Thomas Osborne of "Coxendale" was the older son of his father, (Edward?) Osborne of Henrico, and was born in the year 1641.

To his share fell the lower portion of his grandfather's estate, which portion was presumably the larger of the two, and in consequence, retained the name of "Coxendale."

This Thomas Osborne, though he took no prominent   part in public affairs, was, whether it were by inheritance or acquisition, at his death, in 1692, a man of substance ; his landholdings were by inheritance extensive, and he had added to them continuously ; and his last act, so far as is known, was, in 1690, to patent an additional ninety five acres.

The furnishings of his house and farm were valued at 208 pounds, fifteen shillings and eleven pence — which approximated to a present day value of some $10,000 ; and, in addition, there is an item in his inventory which hints at a distinct literary taste rather unusual for his neighborhood and period:

"A parcel of old books, viz., 1 large Q'rto Bible, Josephus in folio, and 5 or 6 or do valued at one pound, six pence."

For the time and locality this is the collection of a bibliomaniac.

Thomas Osborne of "Coxendale " at his death left

issue:

I. Thomas Osborne of the Parish and County of Henrico.

II. John Osborne, born post 1674.

The will of Thomas Osborne of "Coxendale" is recorded at Henrico Courthouse. It is dated 2d of October, 1691, and was recorded 1st June, 1692.

It is evident from a perusal of the document that the testator has already given his older son and namesake such lands and personal property as he intends that son to have ; of the latter it is impossible to swear to more than four silver spoons, but one may reasonably imagine that the gift was somewhat larger ; and the lands assigned the younger Thomas Osborne, as was latterly attested by a deed which this Thomas Osborne gave in 1696, lay to the north of his father's possessions, and adjoined those of the testator's brother, Edward Osborne of Henrico.

To the testator's second son, John Osborne, is bequeathed 200 acres of "my plantation called 'Fearing,' alias 'Coxendale,' on condition that a hundred of these acres adjoin "the land where my son, Thomas Osborne, now liveth," and that the other hundred be laid out so as to adjoin both "the land where Philip Turpin lives" and be "conjoined to the land I lately patented, where William Bass lives," which land contained, by estimation, some ninetyfive acres ; and this land also is bequeathed to John Osborne.

To the testator's older son is bequeathed "one negro, unless I give it to him during my lifetime," and two silver spoons, "of ye same sort whereof he hath had four already." And it is rendered apparent that a part at least of the younger Thomas Osborne's lands have been merely loaned him, for he is to retain his present home merely during the lifetime of the testator's wife; yet there is no provision for its subsequent disposal after that event. Indeed, the entire document has a haphazard air, and a rearrangement of its several clauses is necessary to render it even partially intelligible.

To the testator's wife, Martha Osborne, is bequeathed "the house where I now live, and my orchard," and the testator's wife is appointed his executrix.

The remainder of the estate— lands, slaves and chattels—is to be divided between John Osborne and Martha Osborne equally; and if John Osborne chance to die before reaching the age of eighteen, two thirds of the estate is to go to Martha Osborne, and one third to the testator's elder son, Thomas Osborne of Henrico, "or his heir, if a male, and not else." And at eighteen John Osborne is by the testator authorized to make a will and to dispose of the property assigned him as he may elect.

No provision is made for the event of Thomas Osborne's having only female children, nor for Martha Osborne's dying before John Osborne reaches eighteen, nor for Thomas Osborne's dying before Martha Osborne ; everywhere one scents an abysmal unpractically which renders it the more astounding that Thomas Osborne of "Coxendale" ended his life, as he unquestionably did, a far wealthier man than he began it ; and that the will did not result in a lawsuit must be imputed to the direct intervention of blind chance.

The witnesses of the document are Thomas Jefferson (who married the granddaughter of Christopher Branch of " Kingsland "), and Philip Turpin, and Samuel Branch (the grandson of Christopher Branch of " Kingsland "), and Samuel Hickman.

By an inventory, taken 1st of October, 1692, the chattels of Thomas Osborne of "Coxendale," as previously recorded, were valued at 208 pounds, fifteen shillings and eleven pence. Thomas Osborne of "Coxendale" had, as previously recorded, married Martha , who survived her husband, and married Thomas Edwards of Henrico within a year of Thomas Osborne's death— before 20th August, 1692, when she and Thomas Osborne of Henrico asked the court to appoint an appraiser for the estate of Thomas Osborne of "Coxendale," deceased.

This was done 1st of September, 1692, the appraisers being Captain William Randolph, Captain Francis Epes, Captain William Farrar and Henry Randolph.

Thomas Osborne of the Parish and County of Henrico, the older son of Thomas Osborne of "Coxendale" and jy[ ar tha , as evidenced by his father's will, was a man grown and managing his own plantation in 1691; and must in consequence have been born about the year 1670. He had acquired from his father, as previously recorded, the northern portion of the latter's lands ; as is proven by a deed given by this younger Thomas Osborne, 1st June, 1696, in which he conveys to his uncle, Edward Osborne of Henrico, the father of Tabitha Osborne Branch, some 200 acres of his inherited lands.

For therein, in consideration of twenty five pounds, Thomas Osborne conveys to Edward Osborne "one part   of my plantation— beginning at the mouth of Garden Creek, and running up the creek on the east side of the creek to the bridge, and there crossing the bridge made by Edward Osborne to Edward Osborne's plantation, and thence running along Edward Osborne's line to Matthew Turpin's line, and along Matthew Turpin's line to the river, and down the river to where it began— being by estimacon 200 acres."

This property and the clause is of importance— is conveyed with all rights, "in as large and ample manner to all intents and purposes as the same was granted to my great grandfather, Captain Thomas Osborne, by patent."

For this deed is chiefly valuable as showing that, in effect, Thomas Osborne of Henrico was not disinherited by his father, as a casual inspection of the latter's will would undoubtedly suggest: the original plantation of "Coxendale" had been divided, as previously recorded, between Edward Osborne of Henrico and Thomas Osborne of "Coxendale," the former acquiring the northern portion ; the latter certainly bequeaths not an ell of land to his oldest son, and yet some four years later here is the younger Thomas Osborne disposing of land which was a part of the original "Coxendale," and which adjoins the line of Edward Osborne.

Hence the deduction is obvious that again the father has provided for the oldest son in his own lifetime, and has at some earlier period deeded to him, in this instance, the northern portion of the older Thomas Osborne's share of "Coxendale."

  This is further demonstrated by a less venerable transfer of land, when, on 2d of August, 1697, Thomas Osborne of Henrico sells to Philip Turpin, for thirty pounds, one hundred acres of land, "more or less," which tract is bounded thus: "to begin at a run called the Red Water at the maine Roade, thence down the said Roade to a pine marked four wayes, thence along a line of marked trees to a Chestnut standing by the Red Water, then crossing the Red Water to a line belonging to the Antient Patent of 'Coxendale,' thence up that line to a Chestnut, marked four wayes, on the line of the land of Henry Hatcher (called 'Proctor's'), then down to the Red Water, and so following the Red Water to the place where it first be gan."

From this time on, the landholdings of Thomas Osborne of Henrico were bounded on the north by Garden Creek, and on the east by James River, and on the south by the lands of his younger brother, John Osborne, who had by this come to maturity and had inherited his share of their father's property according to the terms of their father's will as previously recorded.

This is attested by a deed mutually given by Thomas Osborne and his oldest son — yet another Thomas Osborne — on 5th of January, 1732, in which they convey to Thomas Friend, for fifty pounds, some fifty acres of "Coxendale" — which fifty acres on the south adjoin "the line of John Osborne." Clearly, Thomas Osborne of Henrico had retained for himself only the central portion of the land given him by his father; yet it is equitable to   add that he had, somehow, acquired a tidy property on Dry Creek, then in Henrico County, but now in Chester field.

Thomas Osborne of Henrico died in the earlier half of 1733 He had married, before the year 1691 — if a strict construction be placed upon the wording of his father's will, — and presumably before 1689, Martha Branch, the widow of John Branch of Henrico (the son of William Branch, and the grandson of Christopher Branch of " Kingsland"), and the daughter of Thomas Jones of Bermuda Hundreds.

By this Martha Jones, Thomas Osborne of Henrico had issue:

I. Thomas Osborne of Henrico.

II. Edward Osborne of Henrico.

III. Mary Osborne, who, as previously recorded, married Benjamin Branch of Chesterfield.

IV. Elizabeth Osborne, who died unmarried before the year 1730.

V. Cicely Osborne.

The will of Thomas Osborne, Senior, of the Parish and County of Henrico, is recorded at Henrico Courthouse ; it is dated 27th of February, 1730, and was recorded in the June of 1733.

To the testator's daughter, Cicely Osborne, is bequeathed "all her mother's clothes" and various household goods.

The will also mentions the testator's daughter, Elizabeth Osborne, now deceased.

To the testator's daughter, Mary Osborne Branch, the wife of Benjamin Branch of Chesterfield, is bequeathed :

"One Negro Woman Named Amy to her the Said Mary Branch and to her Heirs forever, and in case she have any Issue my Will is her Daughter, Mary Branch, shall have the first child, and her Daughter Martha the Second Child, to be given them and their Heirs forevere, and my Will is further that my Daughter Mary shall pay Yearly 20 shillings a Year towards the maintaining of her Sister Sissly, or forfeit the Said Negro Amy to her Brother, Thomas Osborne. ... I give to my Daughter Mary also a Chest of Drawers, a Looking Glass and a Still."

The executors are Thomas Osborne and Edward Osborne, the two sons of the testator.

Thomas Osborne of Henrico married, before 1691, and presumably before 20th August, 1689 — at which date Thomas Osborne of "Coxendale" was appointed guardian to the children of John Branch, deceased, — the widow of John Branch of Henrico, the youngest son of William  

Branch of Henrico, and the grandson of Christopher Branch of " Kingsland."

She died, to all appearances, before 1730, within which year, as previously recorded, her second husband drew up his will, and made of her no mention.

The maiden name of this Martha Branch was Martha Jones.

By her marriage with John Branch, Martha Jones had previously had issue :

I. Priscilla Branch, who married, first, Edward Skerme of Henrico, and, second, Joseph Wilkinson.

II. Obedience Branch, who married, first, John Cocke of Henrico, and, second, Thomas Turpin of Henrico.

These were the children whose guardianship Thomas Osborne of "Coxendale" assumed in 1689.

The children of Martha Jones Branch by her second marriage, with Thomas Osborne of Henrico, have been previously enumerated.

Martha Jones was a descendant of Thomas Jones of "Pasbehaighes" and Bermuda Hundreds.

This Thomas Jones, with his wife, Margrett Jones, came to Virginia in the same ship that transported Christopher Branch of " Kingsland " and his wife, Mary Branch, that is, the London Merchant, leaving England in the March of 1619-20.

Thomas Jones settled at " Pasbehaighes," but more lately removed to Bermuda Hundreds, where he spent the remainder of his life.

He had issue:

I. Thomas Jones of Bermuda Hundreds.

This Thomas Jones, the only child, so far as is recorded, of Thomas Jones of Pasbehaighes," married Mary , and died ante 1679.

Thomas Jones of Bermuda Hundreds had issue :

I. Thomas Jones, Second, of Bermuda Hundreds, died 1689, who married Martha Tanner, the daughter of Gilbert Piatt's wife by her first marriage, with Joseph Tanner, and left issue.

II. Repps Jones of Henrico, who died unmarried in 1689.

III. (Elizabeth?) Jones, who married Philip Turpin of Henrico.

IV. Martha Jones, who, as previously recorded, married", first, John Branch of Henrico, and, second, Thomas Osborne of Henrico.

The widow of Thomas Jones of Bermuda Hundreds re married very shortly after her husband's death, her second choice being Edward Skerme of Henrico.

This second marriage took place presumably about 1679, and in anv event before 9th of August, 1684, at which" date there was a general settling up of the estate of Mary Skerme's first husband ; and upon this occasion Thomas Jones, Second, of Bermuda Hundreds, conveyed to his brother, Repps Jones, one hundred acres of land, as "part of the dividend left by my father, Thomas Jones, de ceased," and divided with " Mary Skirm, his mother," certain tracts at Bermuda Hundreds, — a part of the same estate, — which presumably constituted the customary widow's third.

By her second marriage, Mary Skerme had issue :

I. Edward Skerme of Henrico, who married Priscilla Branch, the daughter of John Branch, and died in 1699, without issue.

II. Mary Skerme, who married Broadnecks of Henrico.

The will of Mary Skerme, the elder, is dated 16th of November, 1707, and was recorded at Henrico Courthouse 1st September, 1710.

It mentions the testator's grandchildren, Matthew Turpin, Philip Turpin, Martha Turpin, and Elizabeth Turpin,— all the children of Elizabeth Jones Turpin ; the testator's grandchildren, Thomas Osborne, Martha Osborne and Mary Osborne,— the children of Martha Jones Osborne; the testator's daughters, Martha Osborne and Mary Broadnecks; and the testator's soninlaw, Philip Turpin.

  The witnesses are the testator's soninlaw, Thomas Osborne of Henrico, and Thomas Cheatham, Senior (the same Thomas Cheatham who married Tabitha Osborne Branch, the widow of Benjamin Branch of Henrico).

Tradition asserts that Captain Benjamin Branch of "Willow Hill " married a member of the wellknown Goode family of Chesterfield County, in which event her maiden name would have been Mary Goode; but no authoritative record exists as to who were her parents.

Yet, in passing, the tradition is substantially supported by the fact that one of the executors of Captain Benjamin Branch's will is a Francis Goode of Chesterfield, whom the testator explicitly calls "my kinsman," and that this kinship cannot be accounted for except by supposing this Francis Goode to have been a relative of Captain Benjamin Branch's wife.

 It should be borne in mind, also, that a Robert Goode is one of the executors of the will of Captain Benjamin Branch's father, Benjamin Branch of Chesterfield, and is in that document coupled with the testator's sons, Thomas Branch and Edward Branch — which circumstance hints at a close alliance already existent in 1760 between the families of Branch and Goode ; and the obvious hypothesis is that this Robert Goode was the father of the Mary Goode who married Captain Benjamin Branch of "Willow Hill," as well as the father of that   Francis Goode who, in 1760, was "a kinsman" of Captain Benjamin Branch and one of his executors.

The assumption is a hypothesis that undoubtedly ex plains a nebulous point in the family line, but it is a hypothesis and nothing more.

All that is positively known concerning the wife of Captain Benjamin Branch of " Willow Hill " is : that her Christian name was Mary ; that he married her prior to the year 1762, at the very latest, — since she had borne him four children by 1767, — and presumably about 1755 ; that she bore him five children, if not more than five, and that in all likelihood she survived her husband, or, in any event, did not die before the year 1782.

The facts are meagre, but every known fact tends to buttress the supposition that the wife of Captain Benjamin Branch was Mary Goode, the daughter of Robert Goode of Chesterfield.

Thomas Branch of " Willow Hill," as previously recorded, at the age of twenty and in the year 1787, married Mary Patteson, the daughter of Colonel David Patteson of Chesterfield.

She was some three years her husband's junior, having been born 28th of September, 1770.

Mary Patteson Branch bore to Thomas Branch of "Willow Hill " the goodly number of fourteen children and died 20th of August, 1825.

In tracing the descent of Mary Patteson the genealogist is again hampered by the vexatious paucity of the Charles City records, since it was in that county that the first Patteson to emigrate to Virginia made his home.

He was a descendant of the Patteson family of Scot land, and bore as arms: — Argent, guttee de poix, a lion rampant sable; on a chief of the last, three escallops or. Crest: — a pelican in her piety, all proper.

Here as in the Branch crest, is an obvious pun, the play upon words being in this case derived from the Latin patior, I suffer.

David Patteson was living in Charles City County prior to 1700. He was, as has been said, presumably the first member of his family to emigrate to Virginia, though it is barely possible that this David Patteson was a son of the Thomas "Pattison" who died in Charles City County on the Whitsunday of 1725.

In any event, this was beyond any reasonable doubt the same David Patteson who in 1714 received a grant of land in southern Henrico County, which then embraced the County of Chesterfield.

He continued personally to reside in Charles City, and in that county one finds little save the baptismal records to assist in filling out the lists of his offspring.

Yet, in accordance with their testimony, this David Patteson had issue :

I. Sarah Patteson, who was baptized 24th of March, 1700.

II. Anne Patteson, baptized 2d of November, 1701.

III. David Patteson, baptized 14th of October, 1703.

IV. Thomas Patteson (and his Christian name is perhaps noteworthy, as hinting at a relationship with the aforementioned Thomas "Pattison"), baptized 13th of December, 1708.

V. Charles Patteson, baptized 6th of May, 1711.

VI. Jonathan Patteson, baptized 6th of June, 1713, who emigrated to Lunenburg and left issue.

VII. Obediah Patteson, baptized 10th of February, 1717.

VIII. Gideon Patteson, baptized 17th of July, 1720.

It should be borne in mind that these dates are merely those of the children's baptisms — which then almost in variably took place two days after the child's birth, — and that there was perhaps a child born between David Patteson and Thomas Patteson.

David Patteson of Charles City, third child and oldest son of the foregoing, was born, as previously recorded, in the October of 1703.

To him, as the oldest son, his father presumably bequeathed the lands he had patented, in 1714, in Henrico County.

This David Patteson had married ante 1722. The maiden name of his wife is unknown.

David Patteson, Second, of Charles City County, had issue :

I. James Patteson, baptized 10th of February, 1723, who had, with other issue, James A. Patteson.

II. Colonel David Patteson, born in 1724.

III. Anne Patteson, baptized 19th of March, 1725.

IV. Another daughter, baptized in 1728.

Colonel David Patteson of Chesterfield, the second child and son of the foregoing, was born in 1724.

Though not the oldest son, he appears to have inherited his father's lands in Henrico, which Colonel David Patteson unquestionably possessed during the Revolution and after, though they were by this a part of Chesterfield,— to which county he permanently removed about 1755.

Colonel David Patteson, though he seems to have inherited no great wealth originally, was in his latter days one of the most distinguished men of his time and neighborhood.

He served against the British during the War of the Revolution, and at the cessation of hostilities occupied the honorable position of Colonel Commandant of Chester field ; he was a member of the Virginia House of Delegates for the years 1786-1789; and he represented Chesterfield (with Stephen Pankey, Junior,) in the Virginia Federal Convention of 1788, which met at Richmond in the June of that year and ratified in the name and behalf of the people of Virginia, the present Federal Constitution.

In passing, Colonel David Patteson was one of the narrow majority of ten which decided that the State accept the Constitution.

Colonel David Patteson married, ante 1752, Mary Anderson, who was, according to tradition, a sister of the Claiborne Anderson of Chesterfield whose will was recorded at Chesterfield Courthouse in 1771.

By this Mary Anderson, Colonel David Patteson of Chesterfield had issue:

I. Anne Patteson, baptized 18th of June, 1754.

II. Samuel Patteson, who married Elizabeth Darracott.

HI. Lucy Patteson, who married J. W. Winfree.

IV. Frances Patteson, who married Robert Gilliam.

V. Martha Patteson, who married her cousin, James A. Patteson.

VI. Mary Patteson, who,, as previously recorded, married Thomas Branch of " Willow Hill."

Thomas Branch of Petersburg and Richmond first married, in Amelia County, on 19th of October, 1825, as previously recorded, Sarah Pride Read.

Sarah Pride Read was born 8th of August, 1808, and died 3d May, 1855.

She was the second daughter of John Blythe Read of Wales and of Chesterfield

County, in Virginia.

John Blythe Read was born in Wales, 3d of June, 1776. No record has been preserved concerning his ancestry, but he bore as arms :— Argent, three butterchurns or ; which in every detail corresponds to that of the well known Welsh family of Read.

By his first marriage with his cousin, Martha Blythe (born 24th of December, 1776, died 5th of May, 1804), John Blythe Read had issue:

I. John Fownes Read, born 5th of January, 1803, and died nth of June, 1804.

By his second marriage with Susanna Pride, the daughter of John Pride of Chesterfield, John Blythe Read had issue :

I. Frances Priscilla Read, born 28th of September, 1806, died 28th of November, 1807.

II. Sarah Pride Read, born 8th of August, 1808, who married Thomas Branch of Petersburg and Richmond.

III. Elizabeth Rosin a Read, born 16th of August, 1810, died 2d of July, 181 1.

IV. John Pride Read, born 3d of June, 1812, died 4th July, 1813.

V. Emily Susan Read, born 20th of November, 1814, died 25th of October, 1820.

VI. James Blythe Read, born 10th of March, 1817.

John Blythe Read of Wales and Chesterfield, died 15th of January, 1818.

Susanna Pride Read, the second wife of the foregoing, was born 21st of January, 1787, and died 16th of April, 1817.

The inscription upon the tomb of Susanna Pride Read, in Old Blandford Churchyard, near Petersburg, in Virginia, may here be fitly cited as not entirely lacking in interest. Follows a verbatim copy:

Sleep soft in dust await the Almighty will, Then rise unchanged and be an angel still.

Beneath this stone Eepose the remains of The virtuous affectionate wife of Daughter of John and Priscilla Pride of Chesterfield County Born on the 21st of January 1787 And departed this life The 16th of April Anno domini 1817 Could blameless manners or affection warm Could the mild virtues still to memory dear Or innocence the rage of death disarm An early victim had not rested here Nor had a husband mournd his doom severe Nor infant sorrows streamd around the grave Nor weeping relatives mixed the falling tear Such was her worth could worth exception crave Earth's dreary cell would ne'er that form beloved enslave.

On her left lie her three children

Jfranceg $ri*ciUa &eab

Born 28th Sept 1806 died 28th Nov ISO'.

€li>abetf) ftosrtna &eab

Born 16th August 1810 died 2n July 1811

Joim $rtbe &eab

Born 3n June and died 3n July 1813

Sacred to their memory This tomb is dedicated by her husband And their father.

Close beside this monument stand the tombs of John Blythe Read and of Emily Susan Read, the daughter of John Blythe Read and of Susanna Pride.

Susanna Pride Read was the daughter of John Pride of Chesterfield, as previously recorded; and in consequence, a descendant of William Pride of Henrico.

Of this William Pride, presumably born about 1630, and died ante 1677, we have no record save a mere mention of his name in a deed given by his son in the year 1732, wherein the latter assigns certain properties inherited from his father. This, however, was presumably the original emigrant to America and the founder of the Pride family in Virginia.

William Pride of Henrico had issue :

I. William Pride, Second, of Henrico, born about 1650.

This William Pride, born about 1650, the only son, so far as known, of the foregoing, makes his first appearance in the county records, 10th December, 1677, deep in litigation with one William Bevin, concerning a tobacco crop they had raised on shares — the two families (for the evidence shows that William Pride was already a married man, though he appears as yet to have had no children)   being by the original agreement, to share Bevin's house during the raisinr of this crop, as some protection against the neigKboring and hostile Indians.

And by the original agreement, William Pride was to have had onethird of the proceeds ; but history does not detail the final decision of the court. William Pride of Henrico appears to have started life as a tobacco farmer on a small scale and gradually to have amassed a competence.