BROUGHTON

My Broughton Ancestors

By Wes Patterson

Last Revised: 20 August 2018

My Broughton ancestors have been shrouded in misinformation on the web for decades, especially as regarding the Chrisman and Hite families. The bones of contention center around the identity of the wives of Willoughby Broughton and Jesse Broughton.

Many researchers state that Willoughby Broughton was married to Elizabeth Chrisman, daughter of Jacob Chrisman and Magdalena Hite, the latter being the daughter of the famous Jost Hite that was instrumental in settling the Shenandoah Valley of VA. Apparently, a Ms. Lillian Creech wrote a book called "Broughton Lineage" some years ago, and this book contained many erroneous conclusions, this being one of them.

Jacob Chrisman named an Elizabeth Broughton in his will, but named her as a daughter-in-law, not a daughter. Turns out, she was the widow of Joseph Chrisman (son of Jacob), who died around 1762. By 1763, Elizabeth remarried to Jesse Broughton. Some say Jesse was the son of Willoughby Broughton. The latter did have a son by that name, born about 1748. But the Jesse who married Elizabeth ____ Chrisman, may have been the brother of Willoughby, not the son.

Nonetheless, it appears that Willoughby's wife indeed an Elizabeth, just not THIS Elizabeth. And the Elizabeth "Chrisman" who married Jesse Broughton, was not Chrisman by birth, but by marriage. Thus, I have listed Willoughby's wife below as "Elizabeth ____ (not Chrisman)" to point out the fact that if you see this, do not believe it or perpetuate it. It's just not true.

I descend from Willoughby Broughton and his wife Elizabeth ____, by their daughter Winnifred "Winnie" Broughton... two different ways. She was married twice, and I descend from both of her marriages. Her first marriage was to John Woodard, which produced one son, William M. Woodard. He is my ancestor in one line. Winnie's second marriage was to Rev. Isham Davis, with whom she had several children. I descend from their daughter, Amy A. Davis. Both lineages are shown below.

My Broughton ancestors are as follows, beginning with the oldest generation: 

1. James Broughton (b. 1700; d. 1750) m. Eliza A. ____
2. Willoughby Broughton (b. 1725; d. 1804) m. Elizabeth ____ (not Chrisman)
3. Winnifred "Winnie" Broughton (b. 1761; d. 1847) [pedigree]
   m. Isham Davis
4. Amy A. Davis (b. 1788; d. 1880) m. Henry Franks
5. John Robert Franks (b. 1831; d. 1905) m. Harriet Woodard
6. John Tyler Franks (b. 1851; d. 1945) m. Mary Ingram(?)
7. Mollie Franks (b. 1883; d. 1964) m. Samuel Jaspar Stephens
8. Wilma Stephens (b. 1904; d. 1991) m. Clint Patterson
9. Francis Oliver "Frank" Patterson (b. 1940; d. 2015) m. Vanza Davis
10. Charles Wesley "Wes" Patterson (b. 1968) m. Ginna Fishburne

My second line of descent from Winnifred Broughton is as follows:

1. James Broughton (b. 1700; d. 1750) m. Eliza A. ____
2. Willoughby Broughton (b. 1725; d. 1804) m. Elizabeth ____ (not Chrisman)
3. Winnifred "Winnie" Broughton (b. 1761; d. 1847) [pedigree]
   m. John Woodard
4. William M. Woodard (b. 1774; d. 1842) m. Elizabeth Carrol Gibbs
5. John Woodard (b. 1808; d. 1876) m. Elizabeth "White Swan" Blackwell
6. Harriet Woodard (b. ca 1832; d. bef 1871) m. John Robert Franks
7. John Tyler Franks (b. 1851; d. 1945) m. Mary Ingram(?)
8. Mollie Franks (b. 1883; d. 1964) m. Samuel Jaspar Stephens
9. Wilma Stephens (b. 1904; d. 1991) m. Clint Patterson
10. Francis Oliver "Frank" Patterson (b. 1940; d. 2015) m. Vanza Davis
11. Charles Wesley "Wes" Patterson (b. 1968) m. Ginna Fishburne
    

Broughton Maternal Family Lines 

The following surnames make up the maternal family lines of my Broughton ancestors. If you have any info on any of these families that you'd like to share with me, I'd certainly appreciate it. Thank you.

• BLACKWELL
• DAVIS
• WOODARD