Colonel William Bratton, Jr

Colonel in the Continental Army, led troops at the Battle of Huck's Defeat in Brattonsville. DAR# A013874

https://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=49959798

William Bratton, Grandson of Andrew Bratton and son of William Bratton who married a Dunlap and one of 5 Bratton brothers John, Robert, Thomas, Hugh and one sister Jean Bratton Guy. who came to York County S.C. in the 1700 before the revolution. Andrew was born in Antrium Co Ireland 1686 and married Audrea. William Bratton Married Martha Robinson/Robison/Robertson spelled three ways.

The Brattons started settling in York County April 22, 1766 when Thomas purchased land in York County on South Fork of Fishing Creek. William Bratton signed a deed to his land on 8-11-1766. All five brothers and Jean Bratton Guy eventually settled all around each other.

Colonel William Bratton's obituary appeared in the Charleston City Gazette on Feb. 28,1815. "Died on the 9th of Feb. 1815, in York District, Col. William Bratton, in the 72 year of his age. He was one of the old Revolutionary characters worthy to be remembered. He was one of the heroes of '76, who bravely defended the rights of our country, and was instrumental in procuring for us the blessings of freedom and independence. He was a fine patriot, and had naturally a strong love for independence. Under a well-regulated government, he was a good citizen, but could not tamely submit to the encroachments of any man or body of men, on his perfects rights. His services were zealously devoted to his country through the Revolutionary War, and for many years afterwards in the Legislature. Through a long and active life, he generally enjoyed good health, possessing a good constitution and a firm mind judicious and intrepid in the execution of his plans. At length he was taken with a lingering disease which terminated his existence. It may be truly said of him, that he was strictly honest, virtuous, good man. He was exemplary in his integrity, benevolent and friendly in his position ever ready to relieve the distressed and help the needy. He has left a widow and a numerous family, besides a large circle of friends and acquaintances to lament his loss.

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https://www.scencyclopedia.org/sce/entries/bratton-william/

Bratton served as a regimental commander in Sumter’s Brigade until the end of the Revolution. After the war, he served as a justice of the peace for York County, sheriff of Pinckney District, and a state legislator in both the House of Representatives (1785–1790) and the Senate (1791–1794). He also operated a small store, was a successful planter and businessman, and owned several slaves.

Soldier, legislator. Bratton was born in county Antrim, Northern Ireland, and immigrated with his family to America not long afterward. Family traditions recorded in the nineteenth century stated that Bratton lived in Pennsylvania, Virginia, and North Carolina before moving to South Carolina in the 1760s. Beginning in 1765, an extended family of Brattons—including John, Robert, Thomas, Hugh, and William Bratton— moved into the area of present-day York County as part of a larger migration of Scots-Irish into the Carolina Piedmont immediately after the French and Indian War. William Bratton probably married his wife, Martha Robinson or Robertson (ca. 1750–1816), about this same time. They had eight children. In 1766 Bratton purchased two hundred acres of land on the South Fork of Fishing Creek. The Brattons’ original two-story log house, which probably dates from this same period, still exists as the Colonel William Bratton House at Historic Brattonsville in York County.

During the Revolutionary War, Bratton served as a South Carolina militia commander and rose from the rank of captain at the beginning of the war to colonel by late 1780, when he commanded a regiment in the partisan brigade of General Thomas Sumter. Early on the morning of July 12, 1780, an important battle was fought near Bratton’s home on the neighboring plantation of James Williamson; this battle is today known as the Battle of Williamson’s Plantation or, locally, as Huck’s Defeat. A force of about 133 local militiamen under the command of Bratton, William Hill, John McClure, Edward Lacey and others ambushed and defeated a mixed force of about 120 British Provincials and Loyalist militia under the command of Captain Christian Huck of the British Legion. This battle was the first significant defeat of British forces by South Carolina militia after the surrender of Charleston in May 1780, and it revitalized the patriot cause in the upstate.

Bratton served as a regimental commander in Sumter’s Brigade until the end of the Revolution. After the war, he served as a justice of the peace for York County, sheriff of Pinckney District, and a state legislator in both the House of Representatives (1785–1790) and the Senate (1791–1794). He also operated a small store, was a successful planter and businessman, and owned several slaves. William and Martha Bratton were early members of Bethesda Presbyterian Church, one of the oldest churches in the region. Bratton died on February 9, 1815, and was buried in the Bethesda Presbyterian Church cemetery. His children and grandchildren expanded the homesite into a large nineteenth-century plantation, which became known as the village of Brattonsville.