The "von" appears to have been an affectation, based on the acquisition of land and wealth in America.

Clearing up Revolutionary War loyalty - from The German Settlers of Shenandoah Valley

[Wood?]stock called a public meeting, which, presided over by Pastor Muhlenberg, adopted spirited and patriotic resolutions. A committee of safety and correspondence was also appointed, consisting of Muhlenberg, Francis Slaughter, Abraham Bird, Taverner Beale, John Tipton, and Abraham Bowman.8 The last, shortly after the outbreak of the war, succeeded Muhlenberg in command of the famous German regiment. Mr. Waddell, the historian of Augusta, says:

When the war of the Revolution arose the people of the Valley almost to a man espoused the cause of the colonies. I have found only one instance of disloyalty at the beginning of the strife. The person implicated was an Irish Presbyterian ex-minister, who was summoned before the County Committee of Augusta on October 3, 1775. He was solemnly tried and found guilty, and the committee recommended that he should be boycotted by the good people of the county and colony 'till he repents of his past folly.'9

The writer has found no like instance whatever among the Germans of the Valley, but one somewhat similar—even more serious—occurred in the section just west of Woodstock, in Hampshire, now Hardy, County. An old German of considerable wealth, Jacob Brake by name, with some of his neighbors of the same nationality, following the advice of John Claypole, a Scotchman, refused to pay taxes and serve in the militia. Their opposition became so grave that General Morgan was sent to break up the insurrection with an armed force. Shortly afterward a petition, signed by Jacob Brake, Adam Rodebaugh, Jacob Hier, Jacob Yeazle, and others, was sent to the Governor praying for pardon, and reciting that what they did was done "through ignorance, and the persuasion of others."10 It is said that some of the whilom insurrectionists afterward volunteered for the campaign against Cornwallis.

U.S. and International Marriage Records, 1560-1900 about Jacob Brake Name: Jacob Brake Gender: Male Birth Year: 1720 Spouse Name: Maria Catharina Stump Spouse Birth Year: 1741 Marriage Year: 1758

U.S. and International Marriage Records, 1560-1900 about Jacob Brake Name: Jacob Brake Gender: Male Spouse Name: Catherine Stump Spouse Birth Place: Ge Spouse Birth Year: 1741 Number Pages: 1

In 1800, Jacob Brake lived in Edgecombe, North Carolina. (1800 United States Federal Census)

There doesn't appear to be any strong evidence that the family name was Brecht or Brechtel. The father of Johann Jacob Brake (1695-1762) was Rudolf Zur Lippe-Brake, and his father was Count Kasimir Graf Zur Lippe-Brake. Notable ancestors include Henry II of England (1133-1189), William I of England (1027-1087), Charlemagne (747-814), Hugh Capet (c940-996), Alfred the Great (849-899), Rurik (c832-879).

See - https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/2:2:3621-ZCS

mentioned in the will of his mother in law, Catherine Neff Stump,he was to have no access to his wife Catherine Stump Brake's money

• Updated from Find A Grave Memorial via son Jacob Brake by SmartCopy: Apr 27 2015, 22:24:45 UTC
• Updated from Find A Grave Memorial by SmartCopy: Apr 27 2015, 22:29:13 UTC

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GEDCOM Note

Speech given by David Armstrong in 1993 Concerning The Brake Family http://trees.ancestry.com/rd?f=document&guid=a605d58a-ebfd-40bf-8b6... The Brake/Claypole Rebellion http://trees.ancestry.com/rd?f=document&guid=3be82e88-d0d8-4ed4-a65...

GEDCOM Source

Ancestry Family Tree http://trees.ancestry.com/pt/AMTCitationRedir.aspx?tid=52811299&pid...

GEDCOM Source

@R-2141401751@ Ancestry Family Trees Online publication - Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com. Original data: Family Tree files submitted by Ancestry members. This information comes from 1 or more individual Ancestry Family Tree files. This source citation points you to a current version of those files. Note: The owners of these tree files may have removed or changed information since this source citation was created.

GEDCOM Source

Ancestry Family Tree http://trees.ancestry.com/pt/AMTCitationRedir.aspx?tid=24824747&pid...

• Reference: MyHeritage Family Trees - SmartCopy: Aug 19 2019, 21:17:57 UTC