The Procuniar\ier Chronicle
Volume III Issue V October 1998
This Issue ... A lot of email from newly discovered family who have been searching for their family tree!
David’s Corner ...
I want to start off by passing on some family information that was sent to us by a few of the Procuniar/ier Clan .....
Michael Anthony Volpe JR, was born on March 31, 1986 in Arlington Heights, Illinois to the parents of Michael and Debbie (Klemp) Volpe. Mike has undergone radiation treatments for what is believed to be a benign sinus tumor. Mike's mother, Debbie says that what Mike has is an angiofibroma and they are EXTREMELY rare ( as few as 50 cases diagnosed in the world in a year). The Procuniar\ier Clan expresses their deepest concern and our prayers and thoughts are with Mike!
Rachel Goldberg, daughter of Ira & Pamela (Procuniar) Goldberg received her Masters Degree in Political Science from Georgetown University in Washington, DC April 7, 1998.
Pamela (Procuniar) Goldberg, wrote to say she had surgery for Ductal Carcinoma in Situs (DCIS), a non-invasive, zero stage cancer. She finished her radiation treatments & is doing Ok. Don’t forget for those of you who have access to the Internet ..... you can view our Procuniar/ier Web Page at our new web site address ... http://www.infinet.com/~dpro
Due to so much trouble with AT&T’s WorldNet Server, I changed to another server called InfiNet (out of Columbus Ohio) my new email address is dpro@infinet.com
A few years ago I came across information that one of our clan, Nancy (Brecunier) Deardorff attended the Dunkard Church in Illinois and in Panora Gutherie, Iowa. They are buried in the Brethren Cemetery, Gutherie Co., Iowa. The Dunkard church splintered & the Old German Baptist Brethren was formed. The OGBB split in 1881 and the Brethren Church was formed. I have been subscribing to the Brethren Rootsweb, (On the Internet) which was formed to share queries for those with Brethren roots. One of the queries (in May 1998) was about Johan Nicholas Beckner Jr who came to America on the ship Lydia in September of 1740. My first thought was "wait a minute here"! I had copies of the ship Lydia’s log which spelled his name Johan Nicholas Peckoner Jr. This query was about the new book called "The Beckners in America, The First 250 Years" by Brenda (Cook) Beckner & Barbara (Roland) Beckner in 1996.
Below is an excerpt from my web site about this Beckner book! .........
It lists a Johan Nicholas Beckner SR (who the authors say arrived in America on the ship "Lydia" Sept 27, 1740) as the progenitor of the Beckner Clan.
The ship Lydia's passenger list that I found list a Johan Nichol "Peckoner" SR who came to America on the ship "Lydia" on September 27, 1740 from Rotterdam and arrived in Philadelphia Pennsylvania.
I have been in contact (via email) with Brenda Beckner concerning the above Beckner book since June 1998. Brenda has conferred with her co-author Bobbie Beckner recently concerning our web site. They have asked me not to reveal any of the contents of their book on our web site anymore, since they want to sell more books. Most, if not all, of our family genealogists quote from resource books from time to time. I can't imagine that the Beckner authors would not want anyone to use their new book as a reference to be quoted from. So the dozen or so of our clan who have been contacting me lately concerning the Beckner Book, will now have to contact the book authors about any content they may be interested in. To read and find out if these Beckners are part of our clan, I coughed up $47.50 and purchased a copy of the Beckner book! This book, in my opinion, does nothing to establish that the Beckners are related to Johan Nicholas Peckoner Jr (John Nicholas Beckner Jr as the book suggests). However the Beckners shown to be sons & grandsons of John Nicholas Peckoner (Beckner) were named John and Nicholas, which none of our clan were named Nicholas after this same man. The Beckner family have chosen (for some reason) to spell Johan Nichol Peckoner's name "Beckner".
My records show the following:
The Captain of the "Lydia" was James Allan. There were three passengers lists for this ship, list 76 A, B, & C.
On list 76 "A" A list of the men's Names & Ages per the Lydia, Capt. James Allen, from Rotterdam, but last from Dover. Qualified Sept. 27, 1740.
Johan is listed as:
Johan Nichol Peckoner (age 36)
Johan Nichol Peckoner Jun (age 15)
On list 76 "B" Palatines imported in the Ship Lydia, Capt. James Allan, from Rotterdam. Qualified Sept 27, 1740
Johan is listed as:
Johann Nickel Buckener
On list 76 "C" At the Courthouse Philad, Sept 27, 1740 Present: Jeremia Langhorne, Thomas Graeme & Thomas Griffitts. The Palatines whose names are underwritten, imported in the Ship Lydia, James Allan, Commander, from Rotterdam, but last from Dover, did this day take & subscribe to Oaths to the Government, viz.,
Johan is listed as:
Johan Nickel Boeckener
It appears that the ships crew had a field day with the "Procunier" surname. The above information is from a book titled "Pennsylvania German Pioneers" Vol 1. They show the printed spellings of the passengers names by the crew, and the signatures of the passengers from the ship Lydia in 1740.
As I mentioned on the Research Page of this web site, that over the years some of the Procunier family have researched it’s ancestors, and most came to the conclusion that Johan Nichol Peckoner SR was probably the progenitor of our family. However none had any proof of such a claim, just "Probably" the progenitor of our family. The Beckner book states that Johan SR appears on a Philadelphia tax list in April of 1743, the same year Johan SR was naturalized in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Research reveals nothing on Johan SR for the next 26 years until they find Johan SR in York County, Pennsylvania in 1770 where he is named a single member of the Great Conewago Church of the Brethren. It is believed that Johan SR must have died before 1779 as he is not on the tax list for York County, as were his sons! The Beckner book lists eight (8) children for Johan SR, (Johan JR, Marillis, Lawrence, John, Michael, Peter, Magdalene & Henry) but note ... that no record has been found naming Johann Nichol SR's wife or children, with the exception of the ships log of the Lydia with Johan JR listed! All eight children of Johan SR listed by the "Beckners in America" were said to be found in York County, Pennsylvania. Records show that Lawrence and Johan Nichol JR moved side by side to Virginia and their families were close for several generations. Ref: "The Beckner in America 1996"
So here we find ourselves again with all this marvelous research & still do not know who the "Progenitor" of our family is. The Procuniar\iers and the Beckners can not claim this Johan Peckoner SR as the progenitor of our families, other than to point to some circumstantial evidence and say he is "Probably" our progenitor.
I will be adding more to this page, but I wanted to give you some thought on the new book "Beckners in America". David C. Procuniar 8/11/98 .....
Throughout my research I have come across the phrase "Pecunia non olet" which is used many times in France. "Pecunia non olet" translated says "Money doesn’t smell" Here is what the dictionary says about the whole subject ........
pe·cu·ni·ar·y ( p¹-ky›"n¶-µr"¶) adj. 1. Of or relating to money: a pecuniary loss; pecuniary motives. See note at financial . 2. Requiring payment of money: a pecuniary offense. [Latin pec¿ni³rius from pec¿nia property, wealth; See peku- in Indo-European Roots.]
peku- . Important derivatives are: fellow fee pecuniary peculiar Wealth, movable property. I. 1. a. FELLOW , from Old Norse f ¶, property, cattle; b. FEE , from Old French fie , fief; c. FEUD 2 , from Medieval Latin feudum , feudal estate. a, b, and c all from Germanic *fehu- . 2. PECORINO , from Latin pecus , cattle. 3. Suffixed form *peku-n- . PECUNIARY ; IMPECUNIOUS , from Latin pec ¿nia, property, wealth. 4. Suffixed form *peku-l- . PECULATE , PECULIAR , from Latin pec ¿lium, riches in cattle, private property.
[ In Pokorny 2. pe ç- 797. ]
It was known that "the Romans washed white togas in old, stinking urine," and that Emperor Vespasian wanted to raise taxes on the use of public outhouses, saying, "Pecunia non olet -- Money does not smell"?
PECUNIA NON OLET (geld stinkt niet)
Over the past several months we have had eight new family members contact us by email. Briefly here are the eight with their lineage. I listed them as to their relation to me ......
[1]Betty Jean Bragonier Simpson (my 7th cousin)
Clare Barr Bragonier
Curtis Bragonier
Abraham Justice Bragonier
Jacob Bragonier Jr.
Jacob Bragonier Sr.
**George Braggooner Sr
[2]John Robert Bragonier (my 7th cousin)
Wendell Hughell Bragonier
Robert Jacob Bragonier
Abraham Justice Bragonier
Jacob Bragonier Jr.
Jacob Bragonier Sr.
**George Braggooner Sr
[3]Terry Ann [Dunn] Bertone (my 5C2R)
Esther Lucille [Nedo] Dunn
Gertrude Mae [Procunier] Nedo
Donna [Procunier] Procunier (my 4C1R) Donna Procunier married her 2nd cousin Richard Procunier
Henry Procunier Peter Procunier
Peter Procunier Anthony Weymer Procunier
Henry Procunier Sr Henry Procunier Sr
Peter Procunier Jr Peter Procunier Jr
Peter Brockunier Sr Peter Brockunier Sr
[4]Nicholas Brockunier (my 5th cousin)
Samuel Hugh Jr Brockunier
Samuel Hugh Sr Brockunier
Charles Westley Brockunier
Samuel Rohrer Brockunier
Henry Brockunier
Peter Brockunier Sr
[5]Earl Bragunier (my 5th cousin) wife +Suzanne Swann Bragunier
Miller Howard Bragunier
Tyron Edward Bragunier
James Dean Bragunier
Daniel Bragonier
David Bragonier
Peter Brockunier Sr.
[6]Mary Elizabeth (Mary Lou) Corun Morgan-Lindley (my 5th cousin)
*Mary Lou Morgan (James Lindley 2nd husband)
Rita Louise Brogunier
Joshua Leon Brogunier
Aaron Hetrich Brogunier
John Jacob Brogunier
Jacob Brogunier
Peter Brockunier Sr
[7]Richard Procunier (don’t know yet?)
*Richard’s Co-worker Jane is looking for Coat of Arms
Werner Richard Procunier
Olaf Milton Procunier
Isar Procunier (born in Canada 1853)
???? Do not know?
[8]Mary A. Old (Burgoon Family) We are still trying to place this "Burgoon" connection to our family tree!!
**George Braggooner Sr (born 1730/35) George may be a brother to Peter Brockunier Sr and/or the son of John Nicholas Peckoner Sr who came to America in September 1740. I have placed this "George" in our family tree as the brother of Johan Nicholas Peckoner Sr until proof is found as to his place if any in our lineage!
Email sent to me from the above New Contacts .....
Betty Jean Bragonier Simpson ... [1] Jeanie, my 7th cousin, (as she likes to be called) contacted me back in July of 1997 ..... she lives in Rocklin, California 95677
Dear David,
My name is Jeanie Bragonier Simpson. I am the daughter of Clare Barr Bragonier, and the grandaughter of Curtis Edwin Bragonier. Curtis was from Iowa. I do know of some other Bragoniers in this area. I'm sure we are related. My father was born in Omaha in 1911. His cousin is still alive and lives in Colorado. I am very interested in our family tree. How are we related? I am a teacher and I understand we come from a long line of teachers. I teach 5th grade, which means I work with 10, 11, & 12-yr.-olds.
Jeanie Simpson email: jenelsim@garlic.com
7/14/97 Dear David,
My neighbor found your information on the Internet Roots Surname List. She does not work and spends hours working on her genealogy. She often has searched information for me, and this is her first real connection! Here is what I can tell you:
My grandfather, Curtis Edwin Bragonier, did not move to Modesto. He lived in Denver and then moved to Merced, CA approximately in 1949. He lived with my family. My father, Clare Barr Bragonier, was his only child. Curtis died at the age of 88 in 1967. Curtis was married to Ocie Barr and her maiden name was my dad's middle name. My father died at the age of 58 in 1970. He was married to Pauline Elizabeth Romatzke. My brother, Lawrence Don (goes by the name Don) was born in 1944 in Denver and myself Betty Jean (goes by the name Jeanie) born in 1946 in Denver, were their two children. My brother married Kenra Sue Nixon and has one child, Jake Daniel. Jake was born in 1973 in Merced, CA. Jake will be attending Ohio State University this fall to get his masters in Sports Management. I married Elmo Frank Simpson (no relation to O.J.!), and we have two children. Keith Franklin born in 1971 and Kristen Janeen born in 1973.
My grandfather had a brother named Robert and his son lives in Colorado and he has two children who live in California. Curtis also had brothers named Ernest and Frank. He had a sister named Marion. I corresponded to Marion for years when I was growing up.
I would be very interested in getting some written information about the Bragonier Family Tree. I have contacted a Bragonier who explained that we were Procunier until we immigrated, and then the name was changed, I believe, in the U.S. Please let me know how I can get more information regarding our family history.
I hope you are having a good week. I will be leaving Friday for a week in Hawaii. My daughter and I are going to Honolulu and then to the big island. My husband has his own business, and unfortunately cannot get away this time. Our daughter works for Anderson Consulting (a worldwide consulting firm, have you heard of it?...she's in the systems end), and our son just finished law school and is living in Japan and doing an internship in international law. Since I'm off from school for a few weeks, Kristen and I decided to go have some fun. What about you? How are we connected here?
Thanks for being so helpful with my research. For years I've looked in telephone books on every trip I ever took. This is so much better!
Jeanie
P.S.There is a Dennis Bragonier in Folsom, CA. His father lives in the bay area. I have spoken to him on the phone. I will try to find his name, because I can't remember it. He is very interested in the family tree also.
7/16/97 David,
Sunday, my husband and I celebrate our 29th wedding anniversary. By the way, how do you pronouce our last name? The Bragoniers in the bay area say "Brag-on-ear." My dad always cringed at the pronouciation. We say "Bra-gone-yer." Your cousin, Jeanie
P.S. It's nice to have a cousin on my dad's side, because I didn't have any that I knew of when I was growing up!
9/8/97 Dear David,
I received my first Chronicle today. What a thrill! it is very interesting and I find it exciting to think I have so many relatives...especially when I thought I was in a world of just my brother and myself! Anyway, thank you very much. I do plan to subscribe. I really enjoyed the pictures. It's fun to see if anyone looks like my dad's side of the family. My brother just moved my nephew to Ohio. Jake seems to like Columbus.
Did I tell you my daughter lives very near your penpal? Maybe when I'm in the area, I'll give her a call. I have been busy getting the class (and students) into shape. Back-to-school night is Thursday. It takes a few weeks to get all the procedures down and have the class running smoothly.
Thanks again for the newletter. I really appreciate it.
9/9/98 David,
Your family tree is an incredible work of art, and I really appreciate your effort. I have one small (large?) favor to ask. I can't get my "find" button to find me. Could you give me a hint where I can be found? I would really appreciate it. Thank you very much. Your cousin,
Jeanie
John Robert Bragonier [2] of our new contacts Here is some of what J. Robert had to say via email ......
Hi, David! My wife, Barbara, received your e-mail and address from her office at Cal State, Long Beach, and she asked if I'd like to respond. I'm happy to.
I am an obstetrician/gynecologist, a professor at UCLA School of Medicine for 28+ years and Director of Maternal Health and Family Planning Programs for the County of Los Angeles Department of Health Services. I was born in
Iowa in 1937 (Barbara also grew up in Iowa), and we have been in California since 1970.
The other recipients of this post are my father, Wendell H., 88, retired dean of the graduate school at Colorado State University, Ft. Collins, CO; my brother Jim, 58, an architect and music store proprietor also in Ft. Collins; my son Bruce, 36, a pediatric orthopedic surgeon who lives with wife Maria and 1-year-old son Bruce Jacob (BJ) in Menominee, MI; and Jim's daughter Cheryl, 32?, who works for the University of Minnesota in the international students program (she also has had an interest in tracing her geneology). We also have two daughters, Becky (34), a high school teacher in Whittier, CA, and Beth (30), who works for the international firm Boston Consulting Group. Beth, although married and living with her Aussie husband in Melbourne, still uses our surname (Becky's surname is Schuler). Jim's other daughter Renee (29?) has been associated with the university in Terre Haute, IN, but she is now back in Minnesota, where the family grew up. I forget exactly what she's doing, but I'm quite sure it's in the counseling field.
My father did a fairly extensive search of our geneology probably 30+ years ago and found out, if memory serves, that we are decendents of French Hugenots who escaped persecution in Holland after the French revolution and came to this country with the massive immigration of Germans and Dutch in the 19th century. One branch of the family settled in "Pennsylvania Dutch" country (around Lancaster County, PA), and another came to Iowa and were farm people. My father was the first in his family to attend college (Iowa State Teacher's College, now University of Northern Iowa), in Cedar Falls, where I was born.
We know of quite a few different branches of the Bragonier family in California and on the east coast. As I recall, one theory of the derivation of the name was from the French "Breccunier" (sp?), meaning "poacher," so we may have skeletons in the closet! An Armenian friend of mine who studied medicine in Brussels has told me that the "Braggonier" (sp?) was the person on old warships who loaded armaments into cannons. I also recall the spelling "Pekunier" from dad's geneologic studies, but I'm just too lazy right now to find the documentation, somewhere in the house. I do not recall your particular spelling, but dad might.
Anyway, that's enough for now. I hope you find this contact interesting and useful. Thanks for initiating it! Please don't hesitate to respond, if the spirit moves you...
Best regards, Bob
email - 74204.3266@compuserve.com
Terry Ann (Dunn) Bertone [3] of our new contacts page 207 ... (6th granddaughter of Peter Brockunier Sr)
HI COUSIN!!!!! I don't believe it! I have looked on the internet for over a year on my fathers family and never had a hit. Now the first time I throw a name on my mom's side I hit. I just got back from Michigan. I haven't been in 11 yrs, but I got a wild hair (as my Daddy would say) and went to see the Yankees. I found a relative with all this info that had been in the ole homestead for 40 yrs.
Peter Prakunier born 1726 died 1804 Married Margaret Peter Procunier born 1764 died 1847 Married Elizabeth Henry Procunier born 1792 died 1842 Married Franicis Weymer Peter Procunier born 1820 died 7-17-1884 Married Elizabeth Baumwart Henry Procunier born 1849 died 7-8-1900 Married Roxy Titus, Donna Procunier born 2-6-1880 died 12-5-1971 Married Richard Procunier. Yes, they were 2nd or 3rd cousins!! Donna and Richard are my G Grandparents. I met them before they died. In fact, I have a 5 generation picture with Donna thru to my daughter. I have their ages if you want them. I have pages of more information, let me know what you need and what you have.
Your Southern Roots Terry
8/25/98 Hi Cuz,
Well, first of all I am really proud I finally learned how to use the mouse. Does that tell you how computer literate I am? I have Family Tree Maker, but I am not able to transfer anything. I must have set it up wrong. My mother was from Michigan. Dad met and married her when he was stationed there. He was from LA. That's where I was born and raised. I couldn't take the South during the 60's so I left. By the way, I am 49 yrs old. I was in Memphis when Martin Luther was killed and no I didn't do it. I lived in Michigan on and off for over 8 yrs. It's beautiful country, but the people are ---well, not very friendly. I ended up in KS and have lived here every since.
KS City is nice, but if I was not married I would not live here. I miss the trees and water. The City is nice, but I love the country. People all told me " you can take the girl out of the country, but you can't take the country out of the girl". I was usually bare footed when they said that.
Give me your Home page or whatever you called it, so I can read it and find out about you. I am going to Michigan next summer for a month. If you aren’t an ax murder (ha ha) then come on up and I'll introduce you to all the Canadian Procuniers and show you the ole home place.
Ronnie Procunier is the cousin that lives in the ole home place. He is about your age. He is real sweet, and so shy. I went to see him when I was up there. My aunt said he probably would be to shy to talk to me. But he remembered me and we had a real nice visit. His father, Desmus, was Donna's first son. Ronnie was a late child and his father was the family historian, so Ronnie knows all the family stories.
Roxy is not buried in Canada. After Henry died she remarried Charles Monroe. She is buried at Springport Cemetery in Harrisville, MI along with the other Procuniers. I took a picture of her head stone when I was up there a few wks ago.
David, I have so much info that I have not had the time to set down and sort thru it and get it in the computer. I am also waiting for forms I gave my aunts when I was in MI to complete. When I get those I will get them in the computer and try to figure out how to send them to you.
I have lots of pictures of Donna and Richand and kids. It may be awhile, but I will send you one. I am curious, if we were in NY or PA in 1765 and moved to Canada, does that mean we were Tories? Alot of the people that moved to Canada during that time had to leave! If we were Tories, it would be funny, considering I am a Southern and they were Rebels one hundred years later.
Well, David, its nice to meet a long lost cousin. I have been to Dayton many times. I thought it was beautiful in the summer, spring and fall, but you can have the winter. I am not too fond the I-75 either. I do have other information you might enjoy seeing. Like sketch of the log cabin by Peter and family stories and much more. I look forward to hearing from you again.
Your Southern Roots Terry
Below is a portion of an email message from Nicholas Brockunier [4] of our new contacts page 207, that he sent to us in September of 1998 saying ......
My dad passed quite a number of materials on to me. I have not been able to spend much time reading them. Included were letters during the Civil War from his grandfather, Charles Wesley Brockunier, to his wife Elizabeth. I have found similar letters from my grandfather, Samuel Hugh Brockunier, Sr., who died before I was born, to his wife Clare when he was working in another part of the country from his family. He was a mining engineer and had to follow the trends in mining, moving from gold and silver to coal and oil, etc. Because they moved to Nevada City, California in 1909, my father used to say "I was born at the age of 6 in the Sierra Nevada Mountains." (He loved the Sierras, though he seldom went back to where they lived during his later life.) Both my dad and my Aunt "Jane" (Elizabeth B. Brockunier), who passed away on September 2, 1998 mentioned their move from Nevada City in 1914 - first to the Sacramento area, and then to San Francisco. It was when the gold mines were forced to close during the period leading up to the U. S. entering World War I.
I often wondered what my dad meant about going across the street from where they lived in San Francisco to go to the park and the exposition in 1915. It didn't percolate until I put both stories together and realized that they were talking about Golden Gate Park and the 1915 World Exposition. It must have been something, despite having limited money. All the while, my grandfather was trying to find other work. Eventually he did, and the family moved to Lyons Mountain in Upstate New York, near Plattsburgh (burrrr!). Grandfather ran a coal mine there for the Delaware and Hudson Railroad, but encountered much union strife and difficulties with the board of directors appointed by the railroad. After a few years they moved again, this time to Lowell, Mass. During this period, grandfather apparently was hired as an assistant editor for Webster's Dictionary to work on mineralogy and mining definitions. In later years, he would try to interest New York investors in possible oil fields in the James Bay and Hudson Bay region of Canada. He and my uncle Charles Wilbur went to the area in the late 1928 or so to perform analyses on the soil and view possible sites for exploration. During this trip, they were left to fend for themselves by their Indian guides, who later tried to murder them for their equipment and supplies. My grandfather and uncle escaped because they had weapons and were able to shoot game on their way back to civilization. Later my grandfather would move to Pittsburgh to try to find work in the steel mills, again with my uncle Charles Wilbur. He died there in 1931.
All of the Brockunier children in my father's family finished high school in Lowell, Massachusetts. The oldest, Charles Wilbur Brockunier, went on to engineering school. "Sam Hugh," my dad, went to Harvard and eventually got a PhD in U. S. History, but only after rewriting most of his thesis due to the theft of his briefcase with all recent drafts of it at a library. My aunt "Jane" [Elizabeth B.] Brockunier went to Margaret Morrison College, Carnegie Tech, and then to Simmons College, each for a year. She went on to become the Secretary to the Director of the Boston Public Library, Clerk of the Corporation, and Secretary to the Board of Trustees. My aunt Clare Reed Brockunier was somewhat lame and did not go to school initially after high school, but stayed with her mother. Eventually, during the late 1950s-60s she obtained a BS in Art at Lowelll Tech and became a VISTA Volunteer and teacher of art in the Lowell, Mass. area. My uncle "Bill" [Sawyer Reed] Brockunier went on to Yale, where he received a PhD in Geology in 1936. He was loved by everyone in the family, so it was reported, and was considered the kindest and smartest of the kids. Unfortunately, during the summer of 1936, he was with a U. S. Geological Survey team in Montana that was called in to help fight a forest fire. He and another man were caught unprotected at the edge of a cave by a crown fire that turned back on them due to a sudden shift in wind. He died there on an Indian reservation.
My grandmother, Clare R. Brockunier, was considered to be the best shot with either a rifle or a Colt 45 of anyone in the family. Though she grew somewhat lame in her mid-thirties, she could shoot a bullseye or a bottle or can at 50 paces. I would have liked to have seen it. Well after her husband died, her old sweetheart from grade school all the way through high school looked her up after his wife died. In the 1930s, she married Phillip S. Marden, newspaper publisher, lawyer, president of a printing firm, and writer. "Grandpa Phil," as I came to know him, was a gem. He loved kids, though he had none of his own. He often would spout witticisms and jokes that would leave you rolling. Most of all he loved having family around him. I played many hours of cribbage with him in his final years. he was still at age 90 very much with it and full of life, though he did have trouble walking by then. Undoubtedly, "Grandma Marden," as I called her, had finally found some peace and happiness with her new husband. She died about 6 years before grandpa Phil, but had reached a point, with diabetes and other ailments that life had become more difficult. When she was alive, she still ruled the roost. A former school teacher, she often used her vocabulary to quiz her middle-aged children, as well as her grand children, much to their chagrin, on the proper spellings, definitions and derivations of words. I always thought she was a little bit tyrannical. Yet, luckily, I did not fall victim to her very often. Generally she was very nice, but clearly knew how to raise and control a large family without much help.
There are no members of my father's generation of the Brockuniers left, as I indicated. I hope we become better correspondents now with the rest of our enlarged family. I think my kids, as well as Barbara and Charles Brockunier would be interested in any family reunions or occasional get-togethers that you hear about. Also, I am trying to find good ways for those of us left in our branch of the family to pull together more and see each other more often. Barbara and Charles Brockunier, in particular, have heard little about the family and how it grew in America.
My dad never hesitated to tell what he knew, but I think other family members did not bring the subject up much. Personally, I think what you are doing is fascinating. Keep up the wonderful work! I will contribute when I can.
As a brief side light, I found an old map of the family plot in Wheeling, WV, when I began inquiring about the burial of my Aunt Jane at the cemetery there. Apparently there are Fergusons and Forsyths buried in it, as well as Brockuniers. At some point, I will try to make you a copy so that you can see what the years were, and who the children were, etc. We also have some of the information in our family Bible.
Signed, Nick Brockunier
La Plata, Maryland, which is about 45 miles south of Washington and 50 miles from College Park on US 301. You can contact Nick via email at brockun@nova.umuc.edu or nbrockun@polaris.umuc.edu
Earl Bragunier [5] from our new contacts on page 207, I received email from Earl’s wife Suzanne (Swann) on 9/7/98 ........
David,
You wrote to my son Jason about the surname of Bragunier in July and yesterday I was just looking on the net for Bragunier and had found your site and was telling my son about it and he handed me your paper about your search! I forwarded your site to my husbands brother who knows the family history better than I do. My husband is from Hagerstown Maryland where there is alot of Braguniers if you have searched in web for Braguniers David who is with the National symphony is a cousin. I also saw Braguniers of Bedford county in Pa. who I think are some relation. But what I do have which maybe of some interest to you is my husbands great grandfathers James D. Bragunier's papers for joining the Ohio infantry 60th regime he enlisted for 3 years on February 25, 1864. He was born in Washington Co. Maryland I don't know how he ended up in Ohio but all of my husbands Family is from Washington County Maryland. His occupation is listed as farmer and when he enlisted on Feb. 25, l984 his age is listed as 21 years and eleven months I have copies of his Company Muster Roll He enrolled in New Jasper Ohio.in Green County. He was captured May 1864 and paroled exchanged and returned to duty April 6 1865 I have copies of these documents if you would like a copy let me know and I can send them.
This has been very interesting in reading about your research and family and all the history. I'm sure somewhere along the line there is a connection. My husbands fathers name is Miller Howard Bragunier, his age is 79 I believe, his fathers names was Tryone Bragunier. I do know that they have cousins in Clearspring, Maryland if you saw on the net Bragunier Masonry that is my husbands cousin Donald Bragunier. Miller Bragunier is one of many children who I am trying to get all their names together as most have passed on. I am very much interested in purchasing the book The Bragunier Family in America by Brittian Bragunier Robinson any suggestions? Last weekend we had our family reunion of all the brothers and sisters and there family but what I would love to do is get more history of the family to present at our next year reunion.
I hope some of this information has been of some help to you I sure would like to know if there is any connection.
I had to laugh when you said all your life no one could pronounce your name my son had the same problem I remember one day he came home from kindergarten and said he just wanted to be called JB as it was so much easier!! We get petunia and begonia alot I had a boss who slaughtered my name for years then I noticed he just stopped trying to use it and just used my first name!
By the way my name is Suzanne and my husbands name is Earl and Jason is my son who is about the same age as your Jason, he goes to Slippery rock University and works full time for the parks and recreation Dept. of the local township. We live north of Pittsburgh, Pa . Please let me know how I can get the book of the Bragunier Family and if you would like a copy of James Braguniers papers.
Suzanne Bragunier
Suzanne sent me James Dean Bragunier’s civil war papers. He received a pension, along with his wife (application 419184, Cert. 1123326, his wife received a pension #1234846 Cert. 965123! Private in Co. "C", 60th Ohio Inf., Enlisted in New Jasper, Green County, Ohio. James was a prisoner at Andersonville Prison. In the near future I plan on creating a Civil War Web Page for my web site that will discuss all our clan who served in the Civil War.
Elizabeth Mary (Corun) Morgan-Lindley [6] of new contacts on page 207 ...
4/9/98 Hello:
I found you while searching for Brogunier (Bragunier) family information. I am very interested in information you may have; particularly regarding Aaron Hetrick Brogunier, John J. Brogunier, Jacob Brogunier, etc. My mother's maiden name was Brogunier (Hagerstown, MD) and my cousin and I are compiling information together. Any information will be greatly appreciated. I shall look forward to your response. Thank you very much.
Sincerely, M. L. Morgan
4/10/98 Dear David:
Thank you for your response. Yes, I did visit your web site and was very impressed. You have done an amazing amount of work. I am new at this computer-internet stuff and don't understand all of the terminology. The program I am using is Borderland "Family Tree Maker" Deluxe Edition III. Is that a good choice? I don't know if it is compatible with what you have. Maybe you can advise me. My husband understands more about the software application than I do. Sorry. We just purchased a zip drive and it should be installed next week. What else do I need to download your files? Aaron Hetrick Brogunier (1833) is my GG Grandfather. His son, Joshua Leon (1867) married (Anna) Annie Belle Eisenbart (Rosenburg) Aug. 26,1891/2. (I'll explain all of these names later). They had nine children and my mother, Rita Louise, was one of them. I have information about all of these people and some information about Susan's family if you are interested. Isn't this interesting work? My husband is supportive but he thinks I'm NUTZ! Wait until I start working on HIS family. Bet he changes his mind.
Sincerely, Mary Lou (M.L.) Morgan
Richard Procunier [7] of new contacts on page 207 ... Richard saw my web site on the Internet and sent me email asking for a color copy of our Procunier Family Coat of Arms. I do not have a color copy, so Richard’s co-worker Jane O’Connell has taken up the task of finding someone to locate our Procunier Coat of Arms in color.
*** David C. Procuniar ***
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