Family of Artist Lloyd Branson by Retha Shiplet, taken from Tennessee Ancestors, Vol. 10 #1 April 1994, pg. 24 Editor's Notes: Lloyd Branson (1854-1925), an internationally known artist, was a native of Union County, Tennessee. As a young man, he was "discovered" and encouraged by Dr. John M. Boyd of Knoxville. Branson moved to Knoxville and studied at the University Of Tennessee, the National Academy of Design in New York, and several European art centers. His paintings now hang in such diverse places as the McClung Historical Collection, the University of Tennessee, the Tennessee State Museum, Government buildings in Washington, D. C. and private homes. Mollie Wilson Branson, who died near Knoxville in 1957, has been incorrectly identified as Lloyd's widow. Mollie's husband was William Lloyd Branson; the artist Lloyd Branson never married. A memorial with a pictures of him has been placed on <A HREF="www.findagrave.com">www.findagrave.com</A> for anyone that wants to place a Virtual Flower and/or leave a message. He is listed under famous New Listings on the left side. Taken from Tennessee Ancestors, Vol. 10 #1 April 1994, pg. 25 Family of Artist Lloyd Branson In 1882, Samuel David (S.D.) Branson, son of David and Susannah Bolton Branson, wrote a history of his Branson/Bolton family. He wrote the Absolom Branson was born in American. He stated that Absolom married Jemima Lorton at Marlborough in the state of Maryland, then went to Old Virginia, then to Buncom Co., NC, there is where Absolom died. Then Jemima Lorton Branson moved to Tennessee where S.D. was born, which was six miles northwest of Rutledge, Grainger Co., TN, in what is known as, Cracker's Neck Valley, three miles west of where he lives now (Puncheon Camp). He says that his grandparents on his mother side were Thomas and Jemima Hammack Bolton. They were English. Jemima was from Virginia. In 1800, they moved to Claiborne Co., TN, settling on Long Bottom on the Clinch River. They later moved to Grainger Co., TN, on Hog Skin Creek in Raccoon Valley, where Thomas died. Jemima Bolton later moved to Union Co., TN, where she died after the 1840 Census. She is buried at the Miller's Chapel Cemetery in Union Co., TN. In 1929, Charles Branson, grandson of S.D., wrote the Absolom, who was born about 1740 and came to American when he was 16 years old. Benjamin Branson, also a grandson of Absolom (son of Nathaniel Branson), gave a history of the Bransons and noted that Absolom married a Jemima Pruitt. He also related that Absolom was an orphan whose parents died when he was quite young. He said that he was born in Wales but lived with an Uncle in England. When he was about 16 years of age, he ran away from home and arranged to come to America. The Uncle tried to catch the runaway boy but came to the dock just as the ship was leaving. Since he could not capture his nephew, the Uncle took out his purse and tossed it to the boy as a good-bye. S.D. said that this boy was actually the father of Absolom (name unknown). Absolom and Jemima Lorton Branson had nine known children: Michael, who married Mollie Hammock; Hezekiah, who married Aggie Pritty; Lemuel, who married Jane Watson; John; Jonathan, who married Betsie Hammock; James; Rebecca, who married Abraham Privitt; David, who married Susannah Bolton; and Nathaniel, who married Mary Dalton. Absolom and Jemima Lorton Branson's son, David, married Thomas and Jemima Hammock Bolton's daughter, Susannah, September 22, 1806, in Grainger Co., TN. David was born November 4, 1781, in North Carolina. He was a soldier in the War of 1812. He died of Lung disease May 28, 1830, and was buried in the Carr Cemetery at Maynardville, Tennessee. Susannah Bolton was born October 10, 1779, in Virginia. She died of erysipelas February 1, 1860, and was buried Millers Chapel Cemetery in Union Co., TN. She was buried next to her mother, Jemima Bolton, and her son, Soloman Branson. David and Susannah Bolton Branson had eight children: 1. Soloman Branson born-c1807 Married-Mary Salling died-December 17, 1848, Knox Co., TN Buried-Millers Chapel Cemetery, Union Co., TN. Charles Branson says that Soloman owned the land that the Cemetery is on. 2. Rebecca Branson died when she was about three years old of smoke inhalation, when her clothes caught on fire. 3. Elizabeth Branson born-September 12, 1812 Tennessee, married Henry Salling October 22, 1828, died-August 7, 1829, Union Co., TN, buried-Carr Cemetery, Maynardville, TN. 4. Samuel David (S.D.) Branson, born c1814, Granger Co., TN, married-Lucinda Moser August 17, 1836, Anderson Co., TN died-August 19, 1890 Puncheon Camp, Grainger Co., TN, buried-Kitts Cemetery, Grainger Co., TN. Lucinda Moser (February 25, 1813-July 23, 1887) was the daughter of John Moser, Sr.,1787-1850) and Susan Stephens (March 1, 1812-?) 5. Thomas Lorton Branson, born-February 24, 1816, Tennessee, married-Esther/Easter, February 7, 1842, Grainger Co., TN, died-December 5, 1899, Union Co., TN, buried-Carr Cemetery, Maynardville, Tennessee 6. Susannah "Susan" J. Branson, born-February 1, 1818, Tennessee, married-Anderson Armstrong Baker, March 28, 1841, Knox Co., TN. Anderson A. Baker (August 21, 1813-April 24, 1891) was the son of Christopher Columbus Baker and Sarah Kelly. 7. Jemima Branson, born-?, married Hayman Condra, settled in Jackson Co., MO 8. Enoch Branson, born-c1821, married-Altamirah Gentry, April 24, 1842, Knox Co., TN, died-?, buried-possibly old Gray Cemetery, Knoxville, Knox Co., TN. Altamirah Gentry, daughter of Isaac (1799-1866) and Elizabeth Lewis Gentry )1799-1880), was born c1824. Next to son Lloyd's tombstone in old Gray Cemetery is a stone engraved "Mira Branson," with no dates. Helen L. Smith Hoke (I chase dead people) Researching Smith, Dossett, Kincaid, Carey/Cary, Jordan, Wheeler, Wiggins, Hicks, Daniel, Jones, Morse/Moss, Royster, McHenry, Alexander, Hill, Koger, Cain, Deakins, Hollingsworth, Stinnett from Campbell/Claiborne, TN, Marion Co., TN, Granville/Warren/Vance Co., NC, and Hanover Co., VA