Written by David W. Branson to James L. Branson Clearbrook, Frederick county, Virginia December 1, 1897 James L. Branson, Langhorn, Bucks, county,Penn. Dear Cousin: Thy letter of 28 ult.. at hand in due time. I am much obliged for the information as far as it goes. I t makes the connecting link in our families, but I think thy grandfather had several children besides thy father. I saw a daughter of his in 1854 when in Ohio, and I also think thee had several brothers and sisters whom I saw in 1854, when at thy father's house in Indiana (near Richmond). I seem to remember one sister of thine parents particularly, her name was Rebecca, but I fear it will be out of my power to get hold of all the names of the descendants of William and Elizabeth Branson, of Stafford County, VA, who were our great grandparents, but I would like to get back to their parents and grandparents if possible, and come on down to my grandfather, Abraham Branson , oldest son of William and Elizabeth. He was born October 12, 1754. Joined the Friends April 1, 1776. At the same meeting, his mother requested for her minor children, William, Rachel, Isaac, Charity,Martha, Jacob (thy grandfather, Elizabeth and Mary. John,as spoken of in thy letter could not have been born then, as he is not in the minutes made and that time but his death which occurred on March 2, 1815 is recorded in our minutes of Hopewell Monthly meeting as a brother of Abraham. I am able to trace the descendants of Abraham down to the present time but of the others I know but a little; would like to know a great deal more. those of Abraham run at this time up to several hundred. I have not gotten them formulated. Abraham's first wife was Catherine Rees, daughter of Henry and Martha Thomas Rees. They were married at Hopewell, Frederick county, Virginia on October 22, 1779. They had one son Rees Branson who married Ruth Downing, daughter of William and Phebe on March 10, 1802. Their children(Rees and Ruth) were Abraham, Maria(Mariah), Eliza, and William. William is the only one now living. He lives at West Branch, Cedar county, Iowa, is 85 years old.