Paint Lick Presbyterian Cemetery, Garrard County, Kentucky

Some of the oldest graves in Paint Lick Cemetery in Garrard County are those of the Brank family.  Let me share the photos of those gravestones with you today.

Robert Brank, born March 17th, 1757, died April 10th, 1846.  Forty years an Elder of Paint Lick Church.

Robert Brank was born and raised in Washington, Beaufort County, North Carolina.  He married Margaret McLean September 25, 1778, in Burke County of the same state.

Robert Brank, North Carolina, Private, Revolutionary War.  March 17, 1757 – April 10, 1846

This pension document shows that Robert was due $63.33 for the annual amount due from March 1, 1831, to March 1, 1832, and the additional $32.66 through September 4, 1832.  His Revolutionary service was in North Carolina.

Margaret, wife of Robert Brank, born December 26, 1761, died December 25, 1857

Andrew N. Brank, born January 26, 1806, died September 11, 1858

I believe Andrew to be a younger son of Robert and Margaret.

Jane Woods, daughter of Robert Brank, born February 25th, 1781, died July 26th, 1811.

Jane, a daughter, who married James G. Woods – she died so very young.

William G. Brank, born August 15th, 1805, died May 22, 1842

William, another young son of Robert and Margaret.  These graves are one after another in a row, side by side.  One other Brank is buried in this cemetery, but several rows away.  Since she lived much longer than the rest of her family I suppose that is why there is such distance from her and the others.  I do feel she must belong to this family.

Sophronia S. Brank, born August 30, 1792, died January 14, 1879

Sophronia outlived her family members by a good 30 to 40 years!  Was she a daughter of Robert and Margaret?  Possibly.  Could she have been a wife of one of the brothers who died young – William or Andrew?  Again, possibly. In the 1850 Garrard County Census Sophronia is living with Rice R. Woods, aged 36, and his young family.  Could this be the son of her sister, Jane, who died in 1811?  If he were born the year his mother died he would have been 39 – not far from the listed age of 36.  A little more research will be needed to find out!