Brake Family History
Jacob BRAKE Land Records
Thanks to researchers Harriet and Jack Piper who have diligently searched the
court house records of Frederick Co., Virginia and Hardy and Hampshire Co., WV
and to David Armstrong of Elkins, WV who has assisted in this search. Below is
the Piper's documentation of Frederick County Jacob Brake Sr. Note that the
following six surveys mention Jacob Brake/Break and Jacob Brake
Junr.[1]
- Martin Crider/Grider, 18 Jan. 1749/50 - 28 Feb. 1749/50: 346 a. where he
lives on a br. of Ceader Crk; adj. Fry's pat. CC[2] Jacob Brake & Jacob Durkley. Surv. John
Baylis.[3]
- Michall Poker, assignee of Philip Harsey; 18 Jan. 1749/50 - Mar. 1750/51:
100 a. on Ceader Crk. where Harsey lives; adj. William Russell & "A Dutch
mans plantation." CC Jacob Break and Wm Dyer. Surv. William Baylis.[4]
- Jacob Cooper, no warrant, survd 4 Dec. 1751; 220 a including where he
lives on Pen Brook, a br. of Ceedar Crk. CC Jacob Brake, Junr & James
Sears. Marker - Philip Harker. surv. Robert Rutherford.[5]
- John Batchelder[6], no warrant,
survey dated 5 Dec. 1751; 250 a. including where he lives on Penbrook, a br. of
Ceeder Crk.; adj. Jacob Cooper. CC Jacob Brake, Junr & James Sears.
Marker; FredK Grytor. Surv. Robert Rutherford.[7]
- Rudolph White (on verso of survey, "should be Rodolph Whiteman"); 17 Feb.
1752 - 15 May 1753; 264 a. including where he lives on a br. of Cedar Crk.;
adj. Jacob Brake, Michel White, Angel Hockman[8] CC Joseph Disponite & Jacob Brake. Surv. Robt.
Rutherford.
- Isaac Zane in his own right & as assignee of John Potts and Jno
Lesher, all assignees of Majr Lewis Stephens; 10 Feb. 1762 - 28 May 1762; 3,195
a. on Cedar Crk. at Great Falls under North Mt.; adj. in wart - Henry Secrist,
Nicholas Princeler, Leonard Cooper, John Bacheler, Jacob Cooper, Sears, John
Richards, Angle Stockman, Nicholas Princeler, Henry Secrest on drs. of Back
Crk., John Frederick. CC Jacob Brake & Jacob Birkly. marker; Mr. Lewis
Stephens & Peter Stephens. Surv. Robert Rutherford.[9]
The White survey was the only survey which mentioned Brakes' adjacency.
This was not sufficient enough information for the Pipers to pin point the
exact location of the Brake property. However, they feel they were within a
one mile radius of his land. They note that within a 4 or 5 mile radius,
there are very few tillable mountain meadows. The White survey and the
surveys of a series of other adjacent properties are located approximately
½ mile NE of the present village of Mountain Falls, east of Rt.
#608, or about one mile north of the lowest dip of the southward bend of Cedar
Creek.
There is evidence that Jacob Brake Sr. and wife, Elizabeth were
still in Frederick Co., when Jacob Cooper executed his will on 7 Aug.
1758.[10] He stated his heirs were son, Jacob
Cooper and daus., Maglen and Elesebth. The will was filed on 6
Sept. 1758 by Magdalena Nisewanger and Elizabeth Brake. Jacob
Cooper made his mark in the presence of James Moore, Martin Grider, and Leonard
Kiffer, his brother.
[1]Joiner, Peggy Shomo, Abstracts of
Virginia's Northern Neck Warrants and Surveys, Frederick County, 1747-1780,
Vol. II, pp. 8, 37, 39, 124, 166, 172., spelling and punctuation as
writtern by Joiner. (Hereafter: Joiner).
[2]Chain carrier.
[3]Surveryor. Joiner, p. 39.
[4]Joiner, p. 124.
[5]Ibid: p. 37.
[6]Margaret Brake, sister of Jacob Brake Sr.
married a John Batchelder and lived on Cedar Creek.
[7]Ibid: p. 8.
[8]Stockman ?
[9]Joiner, p. 172, filed in oversized box.
[10]Frederick Co. VA Will Bk:2, p.
318-320.
Submitted by Linda Brake Meyers
Page maintained by Dan Hyde, hyde at bucknell.edu Last update
September 24, 1998