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1. SUBJECT:

Brenneman Home.

2. LOCATION:

At Edom, Virginia, on Linville Creek, about 11 miles north of Harrisonburg, Virginia, on Route #260, on west side of and adjoining the highway.

3. DATE:

1804.

4. OWNERS:

• Abraham Brenneman from George Chrisman, March 20, 1810. Record burnt in 1864, during the War

• Christian Brenneman from Abraham Brenneman’s Executors, October 4, 1851, 153 acres (The Shank

• Christian Brenneman from Joseph Chrisman January 9, 1837, 17 acres, 7 poles, D.B. 12, page 18.

• Christian Brenneman by survey, February 12, 1837, 74 acres, Survey Book, page 269.

• Christian Brenneman from Erasmus and Gambyses Chrisman, February 23, 1845, 227 acres, $11250.

• Christian Brenneman from George H. Chrisman, May 9, 1845, 65 acres, 5 poles, B.R.D.B. 18, page 168.

• Christian Brenneman from Richard Maupin, May 21, 1849, B.R.D.B.21, page 459.

• Christian Brenneman from Christian Brunk, March 31, 1855, March 31, 1855, two tracts, one 89 acres on Linville Creek, one 60 acres in the "Gravels". B.R.D.B.27, page 446.

• Rebecca Brenneman from father, Christian Brenneman, by will, the "Homestead" place, etc.

• Henry Geil, life interest, "Homestead" place, January 9, 1875, D.B. 11, page 444.

• Heirs of Rebecca Brenneman Geil from John S. Geil, January 29, 1905, 130 acres, 3 rods, 2 poles, and 25 acres, 4 poles, D.B. 74, page 168.

• D.C. Brenneman and J.H. Brunk from heirs of Rebecca Geil, April 12, 1905, 156 acres, including 25 acres of timber land. D.B. 78, page 42.

• J.W. Brunk from D.C. Brenneman, March 1, 1913, $11505, for 115 acres, 19.7 poles. D.B. 101, page 35.

• D.A. Hill from J.W. Brunk November 1, 1929, $11000. 56 acres including the house. D.B. 145, page 216.

1. DESCRIPTION:

The house is rectangular, built of brick, and now plastered. There are two stories. Originally there was but one kitchen, but now there are two.

See form 3686, attached.

2. HISTORICAL SIGNIFICANCE:

Abraham Brenneman (or Branaman) was one of the early settlers on Linville Creek. There was also an Anthony Branaman who owned land in the eastern part of the county on Humes Run. A survey was made to him as assignee of Peter Conrad for two hundred and forty acres, April 8^th, 1783, cornering or following his own patent land, indicating that previously to 1783, he owned land there either by patent and survey or by purchase. According to figures in the garret of the old Brenneman home at Edom, the house was built in 1804, and of brick. Originally it had but one kitchen, but later, two. It has undergone some changes in after years, but is still practically as it was when built, though plastered on the outside. One door leading from the dining room into the original kitchen is paneled, but reinforced on the other side with rather wide boards running diagonally across. Some of the doors have long strap hinges while others have the old L hinges; the floor boards are about six inches wide and one and three quarters thick, are still good and strong. There

Brenneman Home

Page 2

were seven fireplaces in seven rooms; a nine-foot hallway with closed string stairway leads to the garret or attic.

What other pursuits he had besides farming, or whether he had any military activities has not been discovered. In Dr. Wayland’s "Valley Records", Abraham Brenneman is listed in Militia vouchers, as a member in the Company of George Chrisman with three horses; Robert Harrison’s Company with three horses; John Harrison’s Company with a servant and five horses, in 1788. David Branaman in 1788 is listed with $1 tithable; 4 horses and in 1789 with 220 acres of land. Daniel Brenaman is listed in Joseph Cline’s and in Jacob Spader’s Company, in the First and Second Battalions, 58^th Regiment". These persons are evidently of the same family. Dr. Wayland in his Valley Records, also lists "Anthony Branaman as a member of Stephen Conrad’s Company, No. 15, with 8 tithables; 5 horses." Also, Civil War records lists Brannaman…a member of Co. I, 33 Virginia Regiment, July 1, 1861. I take it he was one of the Linville Creek or Edom Brannaman's. (the name is spelled several ways, Branaman, Brenaman, Braniman, and Brenneman.)

3. ART:
4. SOURCES OF INFORMATION: