“B” is for Bratton, William (ca. 1742-1815)

“B” is for Bratton, William (ca. 1742-1815). Soldier, legislator. Bratton was born in Northern Ireland and immigrated with his family to America. In the 1760's the family relocated to South Carolina and settled into the area of present day York County. In 1766 Bratton purchased two hundred acres of land on the south fork of Fishing Creek. During the Revolutionary War, Bratton served as a South Carolina militia commander and by late 1780 he was a colonel and commanded a regiment in Sumter’s partisan brigade. In July 1780 he participated in the battle of Williamson's Plantation when local militia defeated a unit of the feared British Legion. After the war William Bratton served as a justice of the peace for York County, sheriff of Pinckney District, and a state legislator in both the House of Representatives and the Senate.