Christopher Branch
Encyclopedia
Christopher Branch was an early English settler in North America. He was born in Kent County, England. He married at the age of 17, shortly before leaving England.
Christopher and Mary Branch sailed to Virginia on the "London Merchant" in 1620, and eventually settled at Kingsland Plantation on the south side of the James River
in Henrico
(now Chesterfield
) County, probably at Henricus
. The census of January 1625 listed Christopher Branch, his wife Mary, and son Thomas. Christopher was a member of the House of Burgesses
from Henrico County in 1629.
On October 20, 1634, Christopher Branch patented 100 acre (0.404686 km²) of land on the south side of the Appomattox River
. In September 1636, he patented land in the same section as the first patent, and on December 18, 1636, he patented 250 acres (1 km²) known as Kingsland Plantation. Branch dealt with many matters from the early American tobacco
industry.
Remnants of Kingsland Plantation can be seen from Kingsland Road, which runs from Highway 5 across old Kingsland plantation to the James.
Christopher Branch has thousands of living descendants today from coast to coast. Many famous Richmonders from the Branch
family are related to Christopher Branch. His grand-daughter Mary became the great-grandmother of President Thomas Jefferson
. The Branch House
is one such name that lingers.
Christopher and Mary Branch sailed to Virginia on the "London Merchant" in 1620, and eventually settled at Kingsland Plantation on the south side of the James River
James River (Virginia)
The James River is a river in the U.S. state of Virginia. It is long, extending to if one includes the Jackson River, the longer of its two source tributaries. The James River drains a catchment comprising . The watershed includes about 4% open water and an area with a population of 2.5 million...
in Henrico
Henrico County, Virginia
Henrico is a county located in the Commonwealth of Virginia, a state of the United States. As of 2010, Henrico was home to 306,935 people. It is located in the Richmond-Petersburg region and is a portion of the Richmond Metropolitan Statistical Area...
(now Chesterfield
Chesterfield County, Virginia
Chesterfield County is a county located in the Commonwealth of Virginia, a state of the United States. In 2010, its population was estimated to be 316,236. Chesterfield County is now the fourth-largest municipality in Virginia . Its county seat is Chesterfield...
) County, probably at Henricus
Henricus
The "Citie of Henricus" — also known as Henricopolis or Henrico Town or Henrico — was a settlement founded by Sir Thomas Dale in 1611 as an alternative to the swampy and dangerous area around the original English settlement at Jamestown, Virginia...
. The census of January 1625 listed Christopher Branch, his wife Mary, and son Thomas. Christopher was a member of the House of Burgesses
House of Burgesses
The House of Burgesses was the first assembly of elected representatives of English colonists in North America. The House was established by the Virginia Company, who created the body as part of an effort to encourage English craftsmen to settle in North America...
from Henrico County in 1629.
On October 20, 1634, Christopher Branch patented 100 acre (0.404686 km²) of land on the south side of the Appomattox River
Appomattox River
The Appomattox River is a tributary of the James River, approximately long, in central and eastern Virginia in the United States, named for the Appomattocs Indian tribe who lived along its lower banks in the 17th century...
. In September 1636, he patented land in the same section as the first patent, and on December 18, 1636, he patented 250 acres (1 km²) known as Kingsland Plantation. Branch dealt with many matters from the early American tobacco
Tobacco
Tobacco is an agricultural product processed from the leaves of plants in the genus Nicotiana. It can be consumed, used as a pesticide and, in the form of nicotine tartrate, used in some medicines...
industry.
Remnants of Kingsland Plantation can be seen from Kingsland Road, which runs from Highway 5 across old Kingsland plantation to the James.
Christopher Branch has thousands of living descendants today from coast to coast. Many famous Richmonders from the Branch
Branch
A branch or tree branch is a woody structural member connected to but not part of the central trunk of a tree...
family are related to Christopher Branch. His grand-daughter Mary became the great-grandmother of President Thomas Jefferson
Thomas Jefferson
Thomas Jefferson was the principal author of the United States Declaration of Independence and the Statute of Virginia for Religious Freedom , the third President of the United States and founder of the University of Virginia...
. The Branch House
Branch House
Branch House is a mansion in Richmond, Virginia designed by John Russell Pope for John Kerr Branch in 1916. It is now the home of Virginia Center for Architecture, one of the few architectural museums in the United States. In addition, it houses the Virginia Society AIA...
is one such name that lingers.