Children of Joshua Brasure

15 Sep 1858: Mary Ann Birch was born in Worcester County, MD, the daughter of John E. and Elizabeth Birch.

16 Jun 1881: Elijah and Mary Ann were married on Chincoteague Island. The groom, aged 22, gave his profession as oysterman. The ceremony was performed by O. S. Walton.[1]

1900 Census, Accomack County, VA (The Islands District): Sea captain born in Nov 1859, DE DE DE, married for 19 years; Mary A. born Sep 1858, MD MD DE; Lula F. born Jul 1886; Cinda C. born Mar 1888; Joshua E. born Oct 1892; Elijah born May 1894. They were enumerated close to Jacob A. Brasure, born in 1868, DE DE DE.[2] This Jacob was undoubtedly the son of James A. Brasure, probably by his first wife.

30 Apr 1910 Census, Chincoteague, Accomack County, VA: Elijah D. Brasure 50, DE DE DE, captain of a "freight vessel", married for 29 years; Mary A. 50; MD MD DE, mother of 5 children, 4 living Joshua E. 17, VA DE MD, a sailor; Elijah D. Junior 15, VA DE MD, also a sailor. They were residing on the "Main County Road Up Neck", close to the Jacob A. Brasure family.[3] Jacob was Elijah's first cousin, the son of James Alfred Brasure.

20 Jan 1920 Census, Accomack County, VA (Iland District): Joshua E. Brasure 27, VA VA VA; Lula M. 23, VA VA VA; Virginia A. 6; Joshua E. 5; Catherine L. 3 7/12; father Elijah D. 64.[4]

21 Apr 1930 Census, Accomack County, VA (Chincoteague Magisterial District): Elijah D. Brasure 70, DE DE DE , married for the first time at age 22; the owner of a home valued at $1,200, with no profession listed; Hester I. age 66, MD MD MD, age 30 at first marriage. They were listed close by Jake A. Brasure and Clarence J. Brasure. The Green children, his nephews, remember that Uncle Lij's" wife was named Lydia. Could she have been Hester Lydia? Or was Lydia the wife of Elijah Junior?

Mary Ann became involved with the Holy Sanctified Church of Christ, consequently leaving Elijah because he was "unsanctified". "Her children, who were all grown, went and brought her home. She asked for a divorce, but Elijah wouldn't give her one."[5] See "What was this organized band?", and/or The New York Times, "Lynch's Sanctified Band".

All of the Green children remember "Uncle Lij", who often visited Lucinda Brasure Bishop Stokes in Birmingham, AL with his second wife Lydia. Milton Green recalls that "Uncle Lij gave me a cigar when I was eight, made me sick". That incident would have been c. 1929 when Elijah Senior was 71 and Elijah Junior was 36. But Betty Gitchel remembers that "Uncle Lige" was younger than Ethel Bishop Denty, so "Uncle Lige" was probably Elijah Junior.[6]

According to Catherine Brasure Lewis, Elijah "bought a schooner and hauled 'stuff' to CT. Then he got a regular job working on a 'one-quarter lightship' . . . He worked on it for years and years . . . He would go out on the ship and stay for two months, then be home for a month. He passed the time on the lightship making cedar chests, carved toys."[7] Elijah Brasure was listed as Mate on Lightship #91 of the U.S. Coast Guard in 1920. This may have been Elijah Junior as Elijah Senior was 64 in 1920.

5 Jun 1917: Joshua Edward Brasure, age 24, born 8 Oct 1893 on Chincoteague Island, registered for the draft. A fisherman employed by the Chincoteague Fish Company, he had a wife and three children. Tall, slender, with light brown hair and blue eyes, he was described as having lost his right foot.

20 Jan 1920 Census, Accomack County, VA (Island District): Joshua E. Brasure 27, VA VA VA; Lula M. 23, VA VA VA; Virginia A. 6; Joshua E. 5; Catherine L. 3 7/12; father Elijah D. 64.[8]

"Worked on the water . . . Lost a leg on the water and had to quit. He then did other things, among them running a service station."[9]

5 Jun 1917: Elijah David Brasure, age 23, born 17 May 1894 on Chincoteague Island, registered for the draft in Philadelphia. He listed his occupation as clerk for a lumber company located at Pier 42, North Delaware Avenue. He claimed a wife and child as dependents but didn't name them. elijah was described as medium height, slender build, with blue eyes and dark hair. He had a "defective right eye".

According to Catherine Brasure Lewis, Elijah "bought a schooner and hauled 'stuff' to CT. Then he got a regular job working on a 'one-quarter lightship' . . . He worked on it for years and years . . . He would go out on the ship and stay for two months, then be home for a month. He passed the time on the lightship making cedar chests, carved toys."[10] Elijah Brasure was listed as Mate on Lightship #91 of the U.S. Coast Guard in 1920. This may have been Elijah Junior as Elijah Senior was 64 in 1920.

*In the 1910 Census Mary Ann Birch Brasure stated that she was the mother of 5 children, 4 living; but there are five marriage records for children of Elijah David and Mary Ann Brasure in Accomack County, VA: Lula, Cinda, Joshua, Mary and Emma. Joshua E. Brasure was definitely their son, thus six.

Sep 1863: Salem Applegate Doughty was born in NJ, the son of Abner and Mary Doughty.

11 Oct 1866: Ida Belle Brasure was born in Sussex County, DE. In the 1900 Census, however, Ida claimed, to have been born in September.

7 Jun 1900 Census, Chincoteague, Accomack County, VA: Oysterman Salem Doughty 36, born Sep 1863, NJ NJ NJ, married for 17 years; Ida V. 33, born Sep 1866, DE DE DE; Bertie M. 15, born Aug 1884, VA NJ DE; Edward E. 11, born Sep 1889; Louis N. 9, born Dec 1890.[11]

1910 Census, Northampton County, VA (Bayview Precinct): Oysterman Salem Doughty 47, NJ NJ NJ, married for 27 years; Ida B. 42, DE DE DE, mother of 4 children, 3 living; Edward 22, VA NJ DE; Lewis N. 19; Pusy S. 16. They were residing on a "Seaside County Road".[12]

10 Apr 1930 Census, Chincoteague Town, Accomack County, VA: Fisherman Salem Doughty 66, NJ NJ NJ, married at age 20, the owner of a home valued at $1,200; Ida 62, DE DE DE, married at age 16; Lewis 38, VA NJ DE, married at age 26, employed as a "clammer".[13]

1 Jan 1936: Salem died. He was buried in Greenwood Cemetery on Chincoteague Island.

6 Mar 1865: William James Collins was born in Sussex County, DE, the son of Charles C. and Hester Bishop Collins. Hester was the daughter of Joshua W. Bishop and Comfort West.

16 Feb 1869: Maria (or Mariah) Brasure was born in Sussex County, DE. She was baptized in the Sound Methodist Church there in 1869.[14]

7 Feb 1886: William and Maria were married on Chincoteague Island, VA. The ceremony was performed by J. D. Reese.[15] Bobby Collins lists a marriage date of 19 Feb 1886.

Both William and Maria were followers of Joseph Lynch, and both were among the 19 signatories to the Doctrines and Discipline of the Sanctified Church, along with [Mariah's sister] Lucinda Brasure Bishop in 1893.[16] See "What was this organized band?", and/or The New York Times, "Lynch's Sanctified Band".

15 Sep 1894: Along with "Sindy Bishop", Mary and James Hudson, George and John Bishop, William was among those named in the Commonwealth of Virginia warrant against the Lynchites.

According to Bobby Collins, William was "in the oyster business with Charles H. (Buddy) Lewis. When Buddy Lewis left Chincoteague to travel with Christ's Sanctified Holy Church, he and Pop Collins owned the skipjack Annie Holmes together. He was also in the oyster business and chicken business with his sons, Roland and Lloyd."

8 Jun 1900 Census, Chincoteague, Accomack County, VA: Oysterman William J. Collins 35, born Mar 1865, DE DE DE, married for 14 years; Maria C. 31, born Feb 1869, DE DE DE, mother of 5 children, 4 living; Annie E. 12, Born Dec 1887, VA DE DE; Charles W. 9, born Jul 1890; Linie M. 6, born Aug 1893; Harry J. age 1, born Jul 1898; father Charles C. 72, a widower, born Jan 1828, DE DE DE, house carpenter.[17]

30 Apr 1910 Census, Chincoteague, Accomack County, VA: Oysterman William J. Collins 43, DE DE DE, married for 24 years; Mariah C. 39, DE DE DE, mother of 8 children, 7 living; Charley W. 19, VA DE DE; Leina M. 16; Harry 16; Edela P. 11; Roland Le 4; Lloyd E. 4.[18]

1920: William and "Miriah" appeared in the group photograph taken in front of Goodwill Church in Chincoteague, some of the very few church members who had not left Chincoteague Island.[19]

19 Apr 1930 Census, Chincoteague Town, Accomack County, VA: Oysterman William J. Collins 65, DE DE DE, age 21 when married, the owner of a home valued at $2,000; Marie C. 60, DE DE DE, married at age 16; oysterman Dennie L. 17, VA DE DE.[20]

31 Oct 1939: William suffered a fatal heart attack in church in Norfolk, VA.[22]

According to Robert S. Collins: "I never knew Pop Collins to do manual labor. He always had new cars and wore a blue suit. He was in the oysyer business with Charles H. (Buddy) Lewis. When Buddy Lewis left Chincoteague to travel with Christ's Sanctified Holy Church, he and Pop Collins owned the skipjack, Annie Holmes, together. He was also in the oyster business and chicken business with his sons, Roland and Lloyd."[23]

Annie Elizabeth Collins (2 Dec 1887 - 11 Feb 1911; m. Chester A. Williams c. 1906)

Charles William Collins (8 Jul 1890 - 27 Mar 1957; m. Charlotte Delilah Thornton)

Harry James Collins (15 Jul 1898 - 15 Oct 1960; m. Lydia Mae Pointer 29 Nov 1918)

Edna Pauline Collins (8 Oct 1902 - 25 Jul 1992; m. 1st Edgar Tingle, m. 2nd Howard Lemuel Lynch)

Roland Lewis Collins (5 Aug 1905 - 30 Jan 1963; m. Edna Mae Hill 23 Mar 1926)

Denny Lee Collins (8 May 1912 - 24 Jun 1986; m. 1st Madeline Mears c. 1940, m. 2nd Frances Rickards 1978) Denny may also have married on 10 Jun 1944.

Emma was listed as a daughter of Joshua and Elizabeth in the 1880 Census, but Emma Elizabeth Brasure, born 14 Dec 1878, is listed as the daughter of James L. and Elizabeth E. Brasure in the Sound Church Baptismal Record. Did Joshua and Elizabeth have a heretofore unknown son named James? Was the church record partly wrong? Doris Green Hamilton, great granddaughter of Lucinda Brasure Bishop, remembers that Lucinda visited her sisters "Ida Lewis" and Emma. Of course, Emma was the "sister" who was married to Mr. Lewis, so perhaps "sister" was also technically incorrect.

17 Dec 1896: She and Daniel J. Lewis were married on Chincoteague Island, VA.

7 Jun 1900 Census, Chincoteague, Accomack County, VA: Widow Sarah A Lewis 65, born Dec 1834, VA VA VA; her son Daniel J. Lewis, 23, born May 1876, married for 4 years and employed as a "sea captain"; Emma E. 21, born Dec 1878, VA DE DE, mother of one child; Hallie M. 3, born Jan 1897, VA VA VA; Sarah's son Joshua S. Jones 36, born Jun 1863, employed in U.S. Lifesaving ___.[24]

30 Apr 1910 Census, Chincoteague, Accomack County, VA: Daniel J. Lewis 34, VA DE VA, married for 13 years, captain of a "freight vessel"; Emma E. 31, VA DE DE; Hallie M. 12, VA VA VA; Viola E. 8; Thalia S. 2; Wilhemina 10/12.[25] They were residing on "Main Street on Creek" but were enumerated next to [uncle or brother] Elijah D. Brasure on "Main County Road up Neck".

5 Jan 1920 Census, Accomack County, VA (Island District: Daniel J. Lewis 44, VA DE VA, employed as a sailor on a merchant vessel; Emma E. 41, VA DE DE; Hallie M. 22, VA VA VA, a public school teacher; Viola E. 18; Thalia B. 12; Wilhelmina E. 10.[26]

1930 Census, Philadelphia, PA: Wilhelmina Lewis, age 20, was enumerated at Children's Hospital, where she was employed as a nurse.[27]

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Any information is only as reliable as its source. Evaluate the following sources accordingly.

[1] Miles, Marriage Records of Accomack County, Virginia 1854-1895, p. 64, copy provided by Dent Gitchel.

[2] Accomack County 1900 Census, ED 14, Sheet 12

[3] Accomack County 1910 Census, ED 4, Sheet 18B

[4] Accomack County 1920 Census, ED 4, Sheet 29A

[5] Catherine Brasure Lewis, quoted in notes of Dent Gitchel, 5 Aug 1998

[6] Milton Green; Notes of Dent Gitchel, 22 Jul 1998

[7] Notes of Dent Gitchel, 5 Aug 1998

[8] Accomack County 1920 Census, ED 4, Sheet 29A

[9] Catherine Brasure Lewis, quoted from in notes of Dent Gitchel, 5 Aug 1998]

[10] Notes of Dent Gitchel, 5 Aug 1998

[11] Accomack County 1900 Census, ED 14, Sheet 14A

[12] Northampton County 1910 Census, ED 91, Sheet 3B

[13] Accomack County 1930 Census, ED 1-5, Sheet 6B

[14] Sound Church Baptismal Record; Sanctified Church Directory 1975, p. 35; supported by 1870 and 1880 Censuses, age given at marriage.

[15] Miles, p. 91, copy provided by Dent Gitchel

[16] Copy provided by Dent Gitchel

[17] Accomack County 1900 Census, ED 14, Sheet 13B

[18] Accomack County 1910 Census, ED 4, Sheet 19A

[19] Enlarged copy with identities provided by Dent Gitchel, from Mariner, Revival's Children: A Religious History of Virginia's Eastern Shore, p. 197

[20] Accomack County 1930 Census, ED 1-5, Sheet 20B

[21] Bobby Collins

[22] Bobby Collins; Sanctified Church Directory 1975, p. 35

[23] Quoted by Bobby Collins in "Family of Robert S. Collins, Jr." on WorldConnect, Rootsweb

[24] Accomack County 1900 Census, ED14, Sheet 13A

[25] Accomack County 1910 Census, ED 4, Sheet 18B

[26] Accomack County 1920 Census, ED 4, Sheet 4B

[27] Philadelphia County 1930 Census, ED 51-110, Sheet 18A