History

We begin the answer to this question with the name of our founding ancestor, Bourgon Broucard. In his time the French gave the sound of o or u to the dip thong ou and the final d was silent, so that the original pronunciation must have been "Brokar or Brucar." The r has been dropped and a w substituted so that the pronunciation is not so remarkable for it's changes as for it's persistency.

The progenitor of the Brokaw; Bragaw and other families are descendents from one Bourgon Broucard who was born in the low country of what is now France. He was a member of the Huguenot party, which was, during the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries, struggling to maintain Protestantism in that country. Soon after the Luther resistance to the Roman Catholic Church, in Germany, there developed a religious pressure, in France, and it continued for several centuries. After the Edict of Nantes, issued by Henry 14 (Henry of Navarre), the Huguenots enjoyed a considerable freedom of worship, for a time, but during the latter part of the reign of Henry, and during several subsequent reigns, the privileges. granted by the Edict. were finally withdrawn, in 1685, and the Edict was revoked, and most of the civil rights of the Huguenots were withdrawn. As a result of the increasing religious pressure many thousands of the French Huguenots left France and sought freedon in surrounding countries, and in America..

It was in the early 1660's that Bourgon Broucard, before he was of twenty years of age, sought religious freedom in Manheim, Germany, and there he was affiliated with the Protestant branch of the Walloon Church. The Walloons were remnants of the Belgae, or rather descendents of the ancient Gauls, who remained in Southeast Belgium and the near parts of Holland and Germany. They were essentially Dutch in religion, customs and culture, and it appears that the immigrants readily accepted the Dutch way of life.

While in Manheim Bourgon Broucard married, 1st, to Marie DuMay and had one child. Then he married, 2nd, to Catherine LeFebre (Le Fevre) and three more children were born at Manheim. In the early 1670's he removed to Amsterdam, Holland, and there one more child was born. During the year of 1675 he and family removed to what is now Brooklyn, New York. where he remained for more than twenty-five years.

Following Henry Hudson's famous voyage, under the Dutch flag, and the discovery of the Hudson River, in 1614, the Dutch took possession of the territory of what is now New York, and named it New Amsterdam. Four Dutch governors were sent to govern the territory and a stream of Dutch settlers followed. The tenure of the Dutch, in New Amsterdam, lasted only about 50 years, but the stream of settlers did not stop with the loss of the colony, but continued until the whole territory became almost a Dutch settlement adequate to maintain their customs and habits over a vast scope of the country around New York and the surrounding parts of New Jersey and Pennsylvania. Needless to say that the Brokaw. etc.. descendents were constantly under the influence of the Dutch culture and maintained their habits for many years until the whole swept under the leavening influence of the" American Melting Pot," and dropped their racial characteristics.

For a little over twenty five years the family lived in the vicinity of New York, but in about 1702, all of the family, except one son, Isaac, moved to Somerset County, New Jersey. Isaac remained near the old home site, in Brooklyn, and his descendents began to spell their names, as Bragaw, and many of them still retain that spelling. The parents and the rest of the family found homes on the Raritan and Millstone Rivers, in New Jersey. The New Jersey branch spelled the name as "Brokaw" and since then others have converted to other way's of spelling, as Bercaw; Brocaw; Berkaw, etc. More than twenty different ways of spelling were found in old records of New Jersey.

The Huguenots of France became soldiers to protect their religion and country and, like other soldiers of the times, adopted emblems known as "Armorial Bearings" or "Coats of Arms." Such emblems were first used to identify armored warriors on the battle fields. Later, however, they became marks of honor, or distinction, and could be used by members of the family, on civil occasions. and regulations became so lax that their value was much impaired. There is evidence that some member of the Broucard and LeFebre families adopted such emblems, but authentic "Crests" have not been found. It is certain that Bourgon Broucard never was a soldier.

We can assume that Bourgon was a militant man, from his connection with the French Huguenots; the Walloons, in Manheim and Holland and in America; and, later, with the Dutch Church, and from the further fact that most of the immediate descendents in and around New York; Somerset County, New Jersey and on into Pennslyvania, adhered to the Dutch Church for several generations. And for the same facts we may assume that he was a man of character and influence.

The second generation of Bragaws was composed of eleven children. of whom four were born in Manheim, Germany, one in Amsterdam, Holland, and six in America. When the move was made, to New Jersey, five of the family went with him; that is Jacob, Jan (John), Peter, Abraham and Catherine. A large tract of land was purchased, by him and his son-in-law, John Coverson, and the second large colony of the family was started. Many of their descendants still live in and around Somerville, New Jersey, but most of them have gone to other localities, as will be seen as the story unfolds.

A third colony was developed in Eastern Ohio, where George Brokaw of the fourth generation settled near Flushing, in about 1798, and there he raised a family of twelve children. He had eight sons and each son reared a family. They were all farmers and lived on contiguous farms. For a time that community was mostly of that family.

The descendants of Bourgon Broucard are legion and from the original places of settlement here in America, they have spread to all over the country. Ever Westward they moved and carried the frontier with them or followed closely behind. They carried the banners of faith, truth and industry wherever they went. In every war, from the first, in 1776, to the latest wars, there have been many soldiers defending their country and it's honor. Few have attained wealth or fame, as the world defines it, but the vast majority were men that farmed, " The backbone of the Nation. "- tradesmen; business men; teachers, etc.. and numerous ministers of the gospel. Our Heritage indeed is great and for this we are truly thankful.

The first area of question is that we cannot establish with any certainty that there ever was a town or village named Bungary near the city of La Rochelle, France. Also during this portion of the research we found no evidence of the Broucard name in that vicinity, which led us to question whether or not the spelling of the name was correct.

This researcher was then made aware of translated transcripts provided by Mrs Ruth P. Heidgerd to the Huguenot Historical Society, New Paltz, New York, from the French Congregation, sometimes referred to as the Walloon Congregation, at Mannheim, Germany. Upon examination of these records we noted that our progenitor's name is spelled in various ways during his two marriages there and at the baptisms of his children born there and as were the names of his relatives and the names of the children of his relatives. These documents also indicated that our progenitor is the brother of one Royer (Rogier) Brouquart who was listed as the son the late Louis Brouquart, during his life living in Mouqueron in the "Low Country". This would indicate that Louis Brouquart is also the father of our Bourgon, which adds another generation to our ancestry and therefore a different Progenitor. At this point in time we do not have any birth or death dates for Louis nor do we have a spouse, so for the time being we will still concentrate on Bourgon being our 1st generation. We also find in the French Congregation transcript other possible family members with the name spelled Broncart, Brocart, Broucart, Brounquaert, Brancart in addition to the commonly accepted spelling of Broucard. We also find that Bourgon's first name is spelled Gourgon on at least two occasions (I believe this phenomena to be a spelling error on the part of the transcriptionist) . Regardless of the spelling we feel with a fair degree of certainty that this is the same man, all part of one family.

During our research another Brokaw cousin, James Russell (Russ) Brokaw of Wisconsin, befriended a French Professor (Francois) who has played an invaluable roll for us in researching surnames and geographical locations in France and surrounding countries. More recently I have befriended a man (Mr. Patrick Lernout) who lives near Mouscron, Belgium and he has subsequently provided invaluable information regarding the meaning of the Broucard name along with additional information concerning the "Low Country". He has also provided us with a more likely origin of the Christian name "Bourgon", and possible birth location. The first thing to note here is that the "Low Country" as it is called, is located in an area of North Eastern France that includes Flanders and Belgium. In fact the literal translation of "The Netherlands" in English is "The Low Lands". The first part ofthe last name (Brou) means "swamp dweller". Mr. Lernout has also told us that the given name Bourgon is an old French name meaning "Boss of the drivers".

Reproduced letter from posting by Dennis Brokaw

Mouscron is a small city (I think about 40.000 habitants) in the South West of Belgium and on the border with France. It has always been cause for dispute between Flemish and French spoken part in Belgium. Now it belongs to the French community of Belgium although its territory is completely surrounded by Flemish speaking cities. It was a poor region until 15 years ago. Now many new industries are building there with support of the European .community, for improving the situation of poor regions (I hope I can explain this all that you understand it, there are many words I would like to use, but I don't know how to say them in English.) They even have a website, but only in French: www.mouscron.be. There is also an e-mail under "contact" at the right upper side. (they have a soccer team in the 1st Belgian division).

Broucard: is not a French name but is originally a Flemish name who was transformed later into a French version. It is a current name here. The original name is "Broeckaert" or "Brouckaert". In attachment I send you a list of names of people living in Mouscron (or Moeskroen in Flemish) with this name.

What does the name mean? You certainly heard of our capital Brussels (Bruxelles in French). The original name (in the middle ages) of it was "Broucksella" what means "Place at the swamp". "Brouck" means swamp, but that word is not used any more. So Brouckaert means "person living at the swamp." As you say in your letter: it were the "Lowlands". Many regions were constantly submerged since a big part of Flanders is under the sea level only protected from the sea by embankments.

So, hoping I have been a little help to you. Sincerely, Patrick Lernout

During this period in history the area's borders were constantly changing. Cousin "Russ" also found that there was a village called Bongre' near another La Rochelle in that area which could have possibly the source of the Bungary story. Russ with a tenacity for accuracy, has also found through extensive name searches on the Internet, that most of the above variant spellings ofthe name were common in that area near Mouqueron (Mouscron). We believe that the location of Mouqueron in the "Low Country" mentioned in the Mannheim transcripts, is in fact what is now known as Mouscron, Belgium near Lille, France which is near the French / Belgium border. Additionally we find in the history of the "Low Lands" there was an area called Bourgondy of which we see a reference to a Mary of Bourgondy and I believe this to be the area of North Eastern France famous for its Bourgondy (Burgondy) (Burgundy) wines.

Even after Bourgon, (Gourgon) or whatever he may have been called came to America in approximately 1675, there continues to be questions about the spelling ofthe name as we have seen in various baptismal, marriage, death, wills and other records. And no doubt there most assuredly has been some literary license taken over the years with respect to spelling. With all this said, it does cast some legitimate doubt on the validity of the correct spelling of the original name and the actual birth location of our progenitor. It does not however, negate the fact that all members of this vast and diversified family are descendants of this man called Bourgon Broucard.

E. Townsend Bragaw, of New York City, a descendent of Richard Bragaw (No. 98-3, in Gen.) has many Bragaw records. Pictures of old estates of Bragaw families of Long Island and news items. Am including some of these news items to give a picture of their homes and living.

"That the Bragaw family was one of wealth is evidenced by the number of old homesteads which were originally built by them. Among these are the old Bragaw home, built by John Bragaw, which became the old Gosman homestead, which, through marriage, passed into the Gosman family. The old William Bragaw home and another one owned by him at the time of the birth of his son Elias T., in 1836, and others. All were of the old Colonial style, large and pretentious."

The John Bragaw whose family is given above, was, in 1755, residing in the house he built and later became the Gosman home. ("Town Register" of June 20,1886) and it describes the Bragaws, as follow:

" Plucky sons of action, in war they will not be neutrals; without ostentation they obey the call to arms and retire from the conflict at it's conclusion. Well fitted to endure hardships, this Huguenot race leave home without a pang, sustain the hardships of military life and return without emotion." - "They were men of towering stature and great physical strenght throughout the generations."- "When the old homestead was sold, Harry Bragaw (No. 1349-3) decided to build a house in Pike County, Pennsylvania. He bought some of the timbers from the old house, when it was torn down, and had them used in the construction of his new home. It was found that these timbers had been felled on the slopes of the mountains of Pike Co. ,Pa. , more than half a century before and rafted down the Delaware River, finally reaching the New York market. This Harry Bragaw was a descendent of John Bragaw and he was an artist of sorts. "

From the "Brooklyn Daily Eagle", of Sunday Aug. 2,1903, in an historical article on the time when property was being acquired for the Long Island railroad terminal and yards, has this to say:

"... property acquired was 800 acres besides 500 acres previously purchased. In this tract was the Bragaw estate with it's extensive holdings, in the heart of the district." It listed property of another section nearby as "hill country to be leveled for fill-in on swampland, as comprising land of Francis Duryea -75 A; of John De Bevoice -80A; of Abram Paynter-80 A ;of Abram Rapalje-over 80 A; of William Bragaw 84-A; of George Brinkerhoff, over 100 A.; of William Morrill-, still larger; of Richard Bragaw-88 A; of Abram Schuylert-over 100 A; of Andrew Bragaw -84 A" - "All of the above men lived during the Revolutionary War and for years preceding, some taking part in the French and Indian War. Many houses have been despoiled of ancient relics, such as furniture, door knockers, fireplace cranes, old hair trunks, letters, deeds, mortgages, Bibles and other books. Flint-lock guns, araquebuses, table cutlery and pewter ware., which are to be found in scores of modern homes of old Newtown."

" Others have gone beyond the confines of the old town and are cherished in the homes of many a western city. One sash from the Gosman house, formerly Andrew Bragaw's, upon which was marked by a British officer, with his diamond ring, his initials and regiment to which he belonged, is amongst the collections of the Long Island Historical Society. A number of old cannon balls have been dug from the banks and preserved by residents, or former residents. "- " Harry Bragaw has in his possession some old Dutch tiles upon which are representations of Lazarus eating crumbs from the rich man's table; of the Prodigal Son and other scriptural scenes, which were brought from Holland 200 years ago. The Gosman house was built of stone and mortar walls 1-1/2 feet thick and was used for fortifications as well as a dwelling in those days. The siding was a species of fire-clay stuffed between oak strip sabout the size of a wall lath and the whole covered with a coating of mixed plaster and hair.

" The big beams on which floors were laid were all hewn by broad-axes and the shingles rived by axes. The big double doors were of chestnut wood, with wrought iron hinges. It had a steep gabled roof. In the home there ran a wide hall with door s at both ends, and here the family would sit and read (by tallow dips) their Bibles, or other religious or philosophical works. In the long winter evenings parents related their adventures with the Indians; or stories of the old home in Holland or other countries." " During the Revolution companies of British Soldiers had headquarters at the house of S.B. Townsend, on the high tableland overlooking the countryside. In the fall and winter of 1780 the Royal Artillery, with their horsemen in Newtown, and the 33rd. Regiment, under Lord Cornwallis, occupied huts on the land of John Bragaw; and in the fall of 1781, the Royal Highland Regiment, a division of Queen's Rangers, wintered on the farm of George Brinkerhoff, which was afterwards William Bragaw's. On Monday Dec.8,1783, the end of the war was celebrated by residents of Dutch Kills, at the stone house, then a tavern, of Abram Rapelje. This room was lighted by thirteen lamps representing the thirteen states."

(Rec. from NYG & B Rec. v. 86, pp. 103 -04 and 105, on the family of John Bragaw.)