William Henry Brannen

https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/225104579/william-brannen

William was the son of Archibald Brannen Sr (1777-1827) and Mary Atkinson (1788-??) was born June 25 1807 in Barrington Township.
He married Hannah Duncan (1811-1862) daughter of David Duncan (1768-1813) and Mary Perry (1892-1866), in 1829. No record of a middle name has been found.
It is unknown where William and Hannah lived from the time of their marriage until they settled in South Side. The 1838 census only records him as living on Cape Sable Island. At that time the family was made up of three males and four females. His occupation was recorded as "fisherman".
He purchased a large lot, number three in class one of the second division of the lands on Cape Sable Island, on September 12th 1838 from Edward Hopkins for fourteen pounds and built a home and barn there. His house is clearly marked as the one nearest Centreville on the A.F. Church 1870's map of Cape Sable Island. William described his lot as being north of the creek. The lot included waterfront on Bakers Flats and a small island and a significant portion of "savanna". It is described as, "Commencing at the northern line near the said Burnt Woods Creek composing the one third part of the entire lot from Bakers Flats to the back line".
In January 1843, he was shown as a member of Asa McGray's Centreville church. In March of that year he was baptized and became active in the congregation and was a delegate to quarterly meetings of the local churches.
He and Hannah had 11 children all surviving to maturity. Where the first three were born is unknown, however the children born after 1838 were most likely born at South Side. The 1861 census showed the household consisted of nine people, four males and five females. All were listed as being older than age 15. This is inconsistent with the facts. There were clearly four children under 15 in 1861.
Church records show that Hannah passed away in March 1862 leaving young children at home: Daughter Susan was 13, Horatio 12, and Samuel age nine.
The 1871 census listed William as a widower age 62, Susan Jane as age 22 and Samuel as age 17.
He remarried, March 14 1872, to Jemima Nickerson (1840-1917), daughter of Alexander Nickerson (1780-1867) and Abigail Nickerson (1786-1860). She was the widow of Prince William Nickerson (1836-1867). She had a young son William Edgar Nickerson (1867-1933) age five. William became his stepfather.
The 1881 census listed William as age 73, a carpenter, Jemima age 45, and his stepson William Nickerson age 14.

The 1891 census listed him as an 84-year-old farmer.
William died sometime before 1897 and is buried in an unmarked grave likely in the Centreville church cemetery. There appears to be no record of his death.
All except one of the children settled in the area. Horatio was lost at sea at age 20 and Samuel became a master mariner and moved to San Francisco CA

Inscription
There is no grave marker. This part of the cemetery is very old. Original markers were likely wooden, long gone.