View source for Christopher Branch

This article written and copyright 2008 by Will Johnson, [mailto:wjhonson@aol.com wjhonson@aol.com], Professional Genealogist

Christopher Branch was born 2 Sep 1602 possibly in London where his father Lionel Branch was living in 1596.  Lionel Branch and his wife Valentia Sparke have a marriage license dated 7 Jul 1596 for a marriage to be performed at at St Martin, Ludgate, London.  Lionel Branch died in 1605 in London ([http://books.google.com/books?id=c-gwBUy5fgQC&pg=PA29&dq=Elizabeth+Bostock+Branch "Branch Family History", pg 29]).

A marriage license dated 2 Sep 1619 seeks permission for Christopher to marry Mary Addie at St Peter's, Westcheap, London.  

Christopher's birth year is in conflict between two sources. His marriage license dated Sep 1619, states that he is "22 or thereabouts", while his bride Mary Addie is "23 or thereabouts".  However in a sworn deposition in Abingdon in 1632, he states that he is 30.  Mary's father is stated to be Francis Addie of Darton husbandman (farmer), and it is her brother Thomas Addie, a miller, who states that the father gives permission for the marriage.  It's curious that if she is 23 that the question would even be raised.  Christopher states, that both of his parents are dead and that he is acting "on his own" so we know by this that Valentia must be dead already.

Christopher Branch and Mary left within a few months on Mar 1620 on the "London Merchant" ship.  Settling at Henrico County, Virginia their eldest son [[Thomas Branch]] was born there either March or April of 1624.  Their next son Christopher Branch was born there about 1627.

Mary died in Henrico County in 1630, Christopher would outlive her by more than forty years.  He died sometime between 20 Jun 1678 and 20 Feb 1682