Phillip Ashabranner [????-????]

>>> Phillip Ashabranner is the son of Urban Aschenbrenner and Anna Maria Balty. Phillip first appeared in a 1778 Burke County petition along with his brothers, Henry, Urban, and Felda (John Valentine). This petition requests that the governor consider the area where they lived to remain as Tryon County.

>>> Signs of the American Revolution begin in 1772 when Patriot groups create committees of correspondence which would eventually become a Provincial Congress for each, but not all of the colinies. By 1775 the American Revolution had begun dividing the colonists into Patriots and Loyalists. Colonists loyal to the crown were often called Loyalists, Tories, Royalists, or King's Men by the Patriots. Phillip becomes a Tory supporting the British Crown and joins the North Carolina Regiment. The reason for his support are not known, but this action would cause hardships for his father, Urban and brothers, Henry and Urban, jr. On 4 February 1781, Phillip enlists under Major Nicholas Welch's Company of the Royal North Carolina Regiment in Hillsborough, NC. Under this command he serves as a Private from 24 February 1781 to 24 April 1781. When his enlistment ends with Major Nicholas Welch's Company, he enlists under Captain John Wormley's Company of the Royal North Carolina Regiment in Wilmington, NC, on 24 October 1781. With Captain John Wormley's Company he serves as a Private from 25 October 1781 to 24 December 1781. On 24 April 1782, he reinlists with Captain John Wormley's Company and serves as a Corporal for 61 days from 25 April 1782 to 24 June 1782.

>>> On 3 September 1783 the Treaty of Paris was signed formally ending the American Revolutionary War. Separate agreements with France, Spain and the Dutch Republic were also signed by the Kingdom of Great Britain on the same day. The treaty with Spain ceded the colonies of East and West Florida back to Spain ending the 20 year control of these colonies by the Kingdom of Great Britain. During the Revolutionary War colonists from Georgia, North and South Carolina fled to escape unwelcomed support of the crown. Many of these Loyalists came to Florida thinking that they would remain subjects of the crown and would remain under the protection of the Kingdom of Great Britain. The Treaty of Paris revolked this Loyalist sanctuary and many residents would have no choice but to leave again. Phillip was no different, during the Spanish census of 1783 it was noted that Phillip, an unmarried weaver and native of Pennsylvania (This was likely a reference to his birth place.), requests for Spanish protection until he can leave the country. The fate of Phillip after this date is not known.

>>> In 1795, the patriarch of the family, Urban Aschenbrenner, dies. In his father's will, Phillip was given seven years to make a claim on his father's estate. No claim has ever been found.

>>> Don't know where is this descendant belongs. Look at my Descendants of Urban Aschenbrenner Chart to see how the relationships stack-up.

Sources and Citations

1778 Burke County Petition

>>> On 25 December 1778, residents of the newly reformed Burke County petitioned the Governor to remain a part of Tryon Co., NC. This included four of Urban's sons, Henry, Urban, Jr., Phillip, and Felda (John Valentine). All four brothers signed a Burke County petition in 1778/9 requesting the governor to consider the area where they lived to remain as Tryon County. It is not clear if they were living on their father's property, nor is it certain that the named Orband (Urban) was senior or junior, although it was likely Urban, Jr. This petition would never become reality since Tryon County was abolished in 1779 and replaced by the newly created Lincoln and Rutherford Counties. Many of these long time residences were again affected as neighboring county lines were again redrawn.
>>> This document shows the earliest consensus of the adopted spelling in the family name. All four of Urban's sons clearly signed their name using the "Ashabraner" spelling. Before 1778, Urban's signature appeared to vary greatly, resulting in a multitude of interpretations in spelling. The spellings varied to such an extent that I had only his first name and the location of the found document to go by to confirm the connection. There may yet be undiscovered documents waiting to be found. It is likely that the final variation in the spelling of this family name was meant to be "Ashabranner". This family name is phonetically simple and easy to pronounce. It is ironic that while researching my family that I would find this name so commonly misspelled. This presented to me an unusual circumstance to solve. How many spellings exist today which stem from Urban? I know of at least 6 variations: (In order of the highest common appearance in numbers.) [Date of the earliest known use.]

• Aschenbrenner [1740]

1. Ashabranner
2. Ashabraner [1778]
3. Asherbranner
4. Asherbraner
5. Ashabrann
6. Ashabran

>>> I believe that there may be other variations in spelling used today. I am interested in understanding how each variation became created and when it derived. Please contact me if you share any of the above variations and when you believe it changed. Include your ancestral line.
>>> There also seemed to be a strange but common circumstance of flip-flopping the spelling from one generation to the next and back again. [ie: Ashabraner to Ashabranner to Ashabraner].

Source:

1. German Speaking People West of the Catawba River in North Carolina 1750-1800; Compiled/Edited By: Lorena Shell Eaker; Page: 35-6; Published/Publisher: [1994] SCK Publications, P.O.Box 2125, Church Hill, TN 37642.
   

1781-1782 Loyalist Muster Rolls:

4 February 1781 Muster Roll; Major Nicholas Welch's Company, Royal North Carolina Regiment, Hillsborough, NC; 24 February 1781 to 24 April 1781.

• 2 - Private - Philip Ashbranner [Page 376]

24 October 1781 Muster Roll; Captain John Wormley's Company, Royal North Carolina Regiment, Wilmington, NC; 25 October 1781 to 24 December 1781.

• 2 - Private - Philip Ashbrannon [Page 403]

24 April 1782 Muster Roll; Captain John Wormley's Company, Royal North Carolina Regiment, Quarter House, NC; 25 April 1782 to 24 June 1782; 61-days pay.

• 2 - Corporal - Philip Ashbrannon [Page 404]

Source:

1. Loyalists in the Southern Campaign of the Revolutionary War, Volume I; By: Murtie June Clark; Page: 376, 403-403; Published/Publisher: [1981] Genealogical Publishing Co., Inc.
   

1783 Spanish Census of East Florida:

>>> On 3 September 1783 the Treaty of Paris was signed formally ending the American Revolutionary War. Separate agreements with France, Spain and the Dutch Republic were also signed by the Kingdom of Great Britain on this date. The Treaty of Paris was accepted and approved by the Congress of the Confederation on 14 January 1784. The treaty with Spain ceded the colonies of East and West Florida back to Spain. This ended the 20 year control of the colonies of East and West Florida by the Kingdom of Great Britain and a Loyalist sanctuary.

>>> Over the course of 20 years colonists and Europeans settled into East and West Florida seeking land and trade. It was during this period that East Florida became a safe haven for colonists loyal to the British Crown. With tention mounting during the Revolutionary War colonists from Georgia, North and South Carolina fled to escape unwelcomed support of the crown. Many Loyalists came to Florida thinking that they would remain subjects of the crown and would remain under the protection of the Kingdom of Britain.

>>> The new Spanish government quickly took a census of all residents. The residents were given the choice to remain here as Spanish subjects first by swearing an oath of allegiance to the Spanish Crown and, second, by embracing the Catholic religion by conversion. Residents were given 18 months to decide. Those who were not interested in the conversion had to relinquish their land to the new Spanish government.

• Phillip Ashbraner - Native of: Pennsylvania; Occupation: Weaver; Marital Status: Bachelor; Note: Asks for Spanish protection until he can leave the country. Resident: Port of St. Marys River; County: St. Johns; Microfilm: 1014120.

1. 1783 Spanish Census of East Florida; Compiled By: Susan Perterson; Publisher: USGenWeb.
2. Ancestry.com - Florida Census, 1820-1890 Database; Microfilm: 1014120; Searched Under: Phillip Ashbraner; Published/Publisher: [2008] The Generations Network, Inc.
3. Discovering Jacksonville and the Surrounding Area: Chapter 7: Second Spanish Period, 1783-1821; By: Dr. Patrick L Cooney.
4. Wikipedia.org: Articles: [1] American Revolution; [2] East Florida; [3] Loyalist (American Revolution); [4] Spanish Florida; [5] Treaty of Paris (1763); Publisher: Wikipedia.

1795 Will of Urban Aschenbrenner:

Urban makes note in his will that Phillip must make an application within seven years to make a claim.

Source:

1. German Speaking People West of the Catawba River in North Carolina 1750-1800; Compiled/Edited By: Lorena Shell Eaker; Page: 71; Published/Publisher: [1994] SCK Publications, P.O.Box 2125, Church Hill, TN 37642.

German Speaking People West of the Catawba River in North Carolina 1750-1800; Compiled/Edited By: Lorena Shell Eaker; Page: 35-6, 70-1; Published/Publisher: [1994] SCK Publications, P.O.Box 2125, Church Hill, TN 37642.

• This is a great source for understanding the families who settled along the Catawba River. A well research book.