GENEALOGY OF BRANTLEY COUNTY'S NAMESAKE

Benjamin Daniel Brantley was born in Laurens County, Georgia, Jan. 14, 1832, the youngest child of Benjamin Brantley and Elizabeth Daniel, the daughter of Benjamin and Lucretia (Bergamont) Daniel). Benjamin Daniel's, Benjamin Brantley, was the son of Joseph Brantley. Joseph Brantley was a soldier in the Continental Army under General Nathaniel Green, enlisting from North Carolina. 

 At birth Benjamin Daniel was initially named Joseph, after his grandfather, but with his father dying when he was only three weeks old, his mother changed his name to Benjamin Daniel, Benjamin for his father and Daniel for his mother's maiden name. Benjamin Daniel's father was a native of North Carolina, moving from that state to Laurens County, Georgia.

 In the early fifties he followed his brother William to Waresboro in Ware County and entered the mercantile business as a clerk in his brother's store. It was while living at Waresboro, on August 10, 1856 that he married Jennet Baker McRae, the daughter of Chistopher and Chistian McRae of Montgomery County. They gave birth to the following children.

(1) Christian Elizabeth, born 11 Jun. 1857 Ware Co. Ga.; married on 29 Nov. 1883 in Blackshear, Ga., to John Mason Purdom; died 15 Aug. 1937 in Blackshear, and is buried in the B.lackshear Cemetery

(2) Margaret Lucretia, born 21 January 1859 in Blackshear; married on 19 Dec. 1882 to Andrew Broadus Estes, Jr. in Blackshear; died on 31 Dec 1918 in Blackshear, and is buried in the Blackshear Cemetery

(3) William Gordon, born 18 September 1860 in Blackshear; married (a) on 6 Jun 1883 to Jesse Kate Westbrook in Waycross, Ware Co., Ga.; (b) on 8 Jan 1901 to Mary George Linn; he died on 12 SepSt 1934 in Washington, D.C. and was buried in Blackshear Cemetery.

(4) Archibald Phillip, born 9 Nov 1862 in Blackshear, and married on 3 Oct 1888 to Ella Thomas Foreacre in Blackshear; died on 3 Oct. 1937 in Atlanta (Fulton Co.), Ga., and was buried in the Blackshear Cemetery.

(5) Benjamin Duncan, born 4 Dec 1864 in Blackshear, and married on 13 Dec 1892 to Anna E. Pomeroy in Marietta (Cobb Co.), Ga.; died on 17 Jun 1941 in Blackshear, and was buried in the Blackshear Cemetery.

(6) John Thomas Brantley, born 17 Dec 1867 in Blackshear, and married on 15 Jul 1903 to Harriette Hale Camp; died on 22 Sept 1932 in Atlanta (Fulton Co.), Ga., and was buried in the Blackshear Cemetery.

(7) Jeanette Harriet, born about Dec. 1869 in Blackshear, and married on 29 Jun 1898 in Blackshear to Lee Jefferson Langley; died on 25 May 1962 in Leesburg (Lake Co.), Fla., and was buried in the Blackshear Cemetery.

Benjamin Daniel Brantley died at his home in Blackshear, Pierce County, on March 18, 1891. Nearly 30 years later the Georgia legislature created a new county and, in honor of his memory, named it Brantley County.

FATHER OF BENJAMIN DANIEL BRANTLEY

The father of Benjamin Daniel Brantley was Benjamin Brantley of Laurens Co., Georgia. He was born about 1780-1790 in North Carolina. He married before 1816, probably in Laurens County, Georgia, to Elizabeth Daniel, who was born about 1792 (probably Montgomery Co., Ga.), the daughter of Benjamin and Lucretia (Bergamont) Daniel.

Benjamin died about Feb.1832 in Laurens Co. Ga; his burial place is unknown. Elizabeth, his wife died 24 May 1864 in Blackshear, Ga., and was initially buried at Molly Brown Cemetery Pierce Co., Georgia, but later, we understand that her stone was moved to the Blackshear City Cemetery and placed in the "Brantley" part of the cemetery where Benjamin Daniel Brantley and his wife are buried.

Children: (1) James died young; (2) Nathaniel Green died young. (3) William, born 8 Jan 1816 in Laurens Co., Ga., and marriage (a) circa 1838, Hester Ann Bracewell; (b) circa 1862, Lucretia Hersey in Ware Co., Ga.; he died 28 Feb. 1901 in Montgomery Co., Ga; buried in an unmarked grave at Hepzibah Church, Dixie Union Section, Ware Co. Ga. (4) Harriet Elizabeth, born circa 1823 in Laurens Co., Ga., and was married on 26 Oct. 1836 in Laurens Co. Ga. to James Hudson; died circa 1840 in Laurens Co., Ga.; burial place is unknown. (5) Mary Lucretia, born 17 Jul 1829 in Laurens Co., Ga.; and married on 18 Aug.1847 in Montgomery Co., Ga. to John Mc Rae; died on 9 Apr 1883 Montgomery Co, Ga, and was buried in Molly Brown Cemetery, Pierce Co., Georgia. (6) Benjamin Daniel, born on 14 Jan. 1832 in Laurens Co., Ga; and was married on 10 Aug. 1856 in Ware Co.,Ga. to Jennett Baker McRae; he died on 13 Mar. 1891 in Blackshear, Pierce Co., Ga.

Editor's Note: We welcome additions and refinements to this summation; Thomas Earl Cleland