I have spent numerous years figuring out the very interesting history of Eli Branson - since I descend from his second marriage --- Here is a time line that I have developed. The simple truth is that he married twice, had a second family, and then returned to his first wife when his second wife died. Nothing is new under the sun. Must have been quite a guy! But why would a good Quaker father let his young daughter marry a 50 year old Tory with no prospects of wealth? Unless she lost a first baby she was not pregnant. Jan Van Doren 1734 - Eli Branson born Burlington, NJ -- (an IGI entry says Eli Branson of Nottingham England, son of Thomas Branson born about 1734???) 1763 - approx. Eli married “Keziah” maybe Keziah Huff, born 1744-45 1767 - Eli Branson of disowned by Cane Creek NC Quakers -- listed in family record Thomas and Rebecca Borden (Eli son of Rebecca Borden and Thomas Branson Jr.) 1771 - March - Battle of Alamance (Regulators) 37 yr. old Eli takes part. 1772 - Eli and Levi Branson taxed in Orange Co. 1774 - Raised 5 men and served ?? 1776 - February - Battle of Moore’s Creek - Capt. Eli Branson there 1777 - Cornwallis in NJ and PA - evidence that Capt. Eli Branson joined him and went north. 1778 - May have returned to NC and gone into hiding?? 1781 - Cornwallis surrenders at Yorktown - Eli Branson captain in milita and joined Cornwallus there. Taken prisoner at Yorktown. 1783 - 24 Feb - Capt. Eli Branson, listed as prisoner on parole, NC. Independent Co. under command of Lt. Col. Turnbull in New York (supposed to have served 4 years with Co.) 1783 - 25 Aug - 24 Oct. - Capt. Eli Branson listed on muster roll of the North Carolina Volunteers (NC Indpendent Co.) attached to the New York Volunteers 1784 - 14 Aug - Capt Eli Branson -- registration of grant in Nova Scotia - later to become St. John, New Brunswick - grant NB - 1785/01/02 - from "The Loyalists of New Brunswick, Esther C. Wright 1784 -- approx. Eli Branson, Capt., NC or VA, turns down lot in Parrtown (now St. John, NB) -- turned it down, went to England. 1784 - or later, signed petition of “Memoralists” petitioning for land in Bahamas 1784 - Eli Branson land sold for delinquent tax 150 acres Chatham Co. NC 1784 - 12 Aug - 150 acres of Eli Branson land sold by sheriff for taxes. E-mail from: Buck-passthe buck48@hotmail.com: It is said Eli Branson, b. c1734 married first to Keziah...married second in England. 1784 - Oct.14. Eli Branson marries Jane Rankin, Westminster, St. Anne Soho, London, England (Mormon IGI record)(Confirmed-Jane a minor and daughter of William Rankin. Robinson Bible data says Jane went to England in 1785-err??) 1785 - Jan 2 - Eli Branson registers grant for land in New Brunswick, Parrtown Conflicting data -- Robinson info from Etter-Brown states that Anna Branson was born July 20, 1785. That would be just nine months exactly after the wedding. 1786 - Jul 20. Anna Branson born to Eli and Elizabeth Jane Rankin Branson in Chester, PA (Mormon IGI record) (Mary Jane, Macomb, says Anna born in England.) 1788 - 1 Sept - Charles C. (Cornwallis) Branson born -- perhaps to Eli and Jane Rankin Branson-all census in later years say he was born in Canada. Would be inconsistant with Anna born in PA. 1788 - 26 Nov -- attorney for claim says “Capt. Eli Branson is now in Canada.” Eli Branson receives 450# of 750# requested for goods to English. Lawyer for petition says he has gone to CA. Claim made on 28 Mar 1788. 1789-1793 - An Eli Branson in tax lists for Deptford Township, Gloucester Co. NJs 1791 - Eli Branson in Montreal serving on land board (Troxler) 1791 - Keziah Huff supposed wife of Eli Branson named in father’s will. Probated 1793. 1797 - Eli Branson dies Abbeville Dist., SC. Will proved March 1797, signed 30 May 1796, leaves wife Keziah a slave. Will dated May 1796 Will states "was one of his Majesty's subjects of the King of Great Britain, now resident of Abbyville. 1802 - 1810 - Ann or Anna Branson (16-24 years) witnesses several marriages (Radnor MM records.) Also from 1794 to at least 1802 numerous Rankin names appear in Radnor MM records 1802 - A Charles Branon (14 yrs) witness to a marriage. Could be our Charles Branson 1810 - 3rd month, 21 -- Anna Branson(24) and Charles Branson (22) both witnesses at marriage of Mary Rankin to Isaac Walker (Radnor MM records) 1811 - Jan 23. Thomas Robinson marries Anna Branson, dau. of Eli and Jane Branson, both deceased - at Radnor PA MM Chester Co PA. Witnesses included Charles Branson. 1816 - June 20 - Charles Cornwallis Branson marries Ellen Horner (Ellen could have been Ellen Harner, married previously had son Wm. born 1 Jan 1815, Wm. died 1822.) And the rest is history -- I descend from Charles Cornwallis ----