After taking a few years off, lately I have been back attacking the roots of Jared E. Branson born circa 1750. I've come to the same conclusion I came to when I took time off from this project - I can find no evidence that he was from the Huntington, NJ John Day, etc group. The first records I can find are 1782 - in Montgomery and Washington Co, VA. He appears with a Thomas. He has land, the Thomas does not. Then in 1793 in the Wythe County Personal Property tax list (a land list which has been partially lost) he appears in the 2nd Section (which became Grayson that year) with a James. Listed as "Jerard" and both as Branston. If anyone can show me definitive proof of this man's connection with the NJ group - that would be great - but I have never seen it. On the other hand, in 1706 a John Green owed a Garratt Branson money in St Mary's County, Maryland. In St. Mary's was a Thomas Branson died 1684 who married an Amy Barber. They had 3 children: Michael, Thomas Jr. and John. I have been working on this family. They had land in both St. Mary's and Charles county, MD which is across the river from Fairfax. John Branson born 1687-1770 - was the son of either the Michael or the John. He had 9 children. His son, Jonathan listed as born abt 1716, had a son Briscoe David born 12/5/1769. Briscoe had a son Leonard. Leonard named his son, Jerrod. Also in St. Mary's was Ann Compton, daughter of James Compton who married a Branson. In 1733, she was listed as a witness to a will with John Branson. I believe she may be the wife of the John Branson born 1687. Based on generations, she would have been born around 1690. A brother of James Compton was named Gerard. There is another Branson marriage in St. Mary's. Edward Barber (aka Barbier), died 1693. He was the brother of Amy who married Thomas Branson, Sr and he was a godfather to a John Branson. Edward had a child Mary who married a Branson. Among her children were Rebecca and Abraham Branson. Mary was born around late 1680's/early 1690's. The offspring of this Maryland group traveled by 1800 to Surry, Forsyth and Stokes, NC. 1810 Washington, VA and by 1840 some headed west - like to Jefferson Co, IL and Shelby, IN. So far I have found Jared listed as Jarret, Garrett, Gerrard, Jarrott, Jarrett and Jerard. In Grayson, VA in the 1794 PP Tax is a listing for "Jan A. Branson". Can no longer find a Thomas or James but in the area is a "Meraday Shockley". Branson as Branston, Brinson, Brunson, Bunson and Brandston among others. Question - has anyone else dug into the Maryland Branson records and have this figured out? Thanks, Sharon