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SOME BAPTISTS IN VA &NC - SOME OF WHOM MIGRATED FROM PA & DEPreface: The Finnish Cockswere members of Old Swedes Church in New Castle, DEEzekiel Harlan’s father-in-law,Richard Buffington, owned land with William Vestal of Brandywine, Chester, PA William Vestal m. Quaker AliceBrunsden, widow of John Sr, and she became a Baptist in 1697 w/RichardBuffington, both former QuakersRichard Buffington was amember of Brandywine Baptist Church in 1697 along with Rev David Thomas andAlice Brunsden Vestal, her daughter Hannah and Judith Calvert the sister-in-lawof Val. Hollingsworth of New CastleAnn Calvert was also anearly Baptist with Buffington - Alice had a son JohnBrunsden born c1681 – he also used the name Branson – he was at Brandywineuntil at least 1707Silas Pryor was an Indiantrader and interpreter with Ezekiel Harlan whose father George lived very nearAlice and Wm Vestal on Naaman;s Creek at BrandywineSilas Pryor m. a daughterof Samuel Hall of New Castle and Old Swedes Church.- he knew the Finn CocksSilas Pryor bought land inNew Castle from Peter Hall, Samuel’s brotherA possible relative ofthese Halls (Rebecca) married Valentine Bratson 1747 at Old Swedes Church NewCastle; Jared Branson married into the Cock (a Finn)-Goad family and named ason ValentineWilliam Vestal’s son Johnran a ferry across the Potomac into VA at a gap in the Blue Ridge – Vestal’sGap, starting approximately 1736 – it was on an old Indian trail runningthrough Loudoun to Winchester, FrederickSilas Pryor and RichardBuffington had desc in Loudoun, VA – possibly also Samuel HallWilliam Vestal went to Loudounand then Frederick, VA by 1734 A Deborah Brunson ofChester, PA went to Loudoun, VA – could be a desc of Alice BrunsdenDeborah Brunson was aQuaker and married John Pyatt who was taxed in Loudoun, VAThe Pyatt’s son wasmarried at Old Swedes Church, New Castle, DEA John Brunston was taxedin Frederick, VA 1759 – could be related to DeborahA John Branson was taxedin Loudoun, VA 1768-1774 – he was assoc with Broad Run Baptist Church where RevDavid Thomas preached. David may be relatedto Baptist Rev Owen Thomas who was bequeathed land in 1748 by RichardBuffington for the Baptist church. Therewas a younger Owen Thomas in Loudoun when David Thomas was there.John Branson of Loudounwas listed near James Branson in 1760sThomas Dodson Jr was a foundingmember of Broad Run Church near Loudoun. In 1766 he was dismissed to Halifax/Pittsylvania to establish a newchurch – Birch Creek Baptist Church. Hisfirst cousin John married Elizabeth GOAD b. 1705. In the early 1780s Thomas Dodson Jr was taxedin Pittsylvania as was James Branson from Loudoun.A David Thomas andOnan/Owen Thomas attended the Quaker marriage of Hannah McKay at Hopewell MM 1734A John Branson signed atleast 3 religious petitions in VA in the 1770s – different counties – also GreenwoodA John Branson was aBaptist minister in Essex, VA in 1770s-80s - served with Rev. James GreenwoodFour Greenwoods were taxedin Loudoun, VA when John Branson was thereA John Branson b. c1734died in Essex, VA 1792 – father of LarkinA John Branson bought landgiven to his presumed son John located in Surry>Stokes, NC in 1771 – Rev DavidThomas moved next to this land and nearby was Anthony Hampton of Loudoun whoseson John had been a messenger for Broad Run Baptist Church.Baptist Rev WilliamFristoe ordained Rev. David Thomas. Fristoe was pastor at Occaquan Baptist Church in Stafford, VA.
The Fristoes were alliedwith a Quaker Branson descendant who became a Baptist. Her Branson family was well acquainted withthe McKays and Jobes. This Fristoefamily came from N Farnham Parish, Richmond, VA where the Goads and Dodsonswere from – they were all mentioned in Richmond County records in 1707-1724. The Fristoes were probably instrumental ingetting the Dodsons to join the Baptist church. It is not known if any Goads/Goodes joined. However, after some of the Loudoun/Fauquier Baptistfolks went to the Townfolk settlement in Surry/Stokes, NC a prominent person intheir community was Major Richard Goode (Goad). Also found in records ofTownfork (near the location of an early Baptist Church called Forks Church) wasthe son of Baptist Rev. John Alderson from N Farnham Parish, Richmond, VA. His son Benedict Alderson lived near JohnBranson in Townfork. I think many ofthese folks from Loudoun/Fauquier went to Surry/Stokes to establish newchurches in NC.
Rev. Alderson helpedestablish Linville - Smiths Creek Baptist Church in Augusta, VA. This was near the land of Valentine Sevierand his brother-in-law Johnnis/John Cock. There are likely similarstories for those who joined other churchs. We often wonder how some of our ancestors met each other, being fromdifferent areas. The spreading of thechurches is an important clue. Sandy