One of my branches is Brand from New York state. I have as far back as David Brand, born 1778 in Schoharie and then moved to Erie. He married Sophia Elliot who was also from NY state and a family history states that she was the daughter of a sea captain and the family had shipping vessels. I estimate Sophia to have been born sometime in the late 1780s.

David traveled to Iowa where one of his sons was starting a farm and mill. While helping his son, David died in December of 1854 in Warren County, Iowa. Sophia did not follow David to Iowa and is rumored to have lived in New York state until her death, but I have no info about that.

The son I descend from was DeWitt Clinton Brand, born 27 Jan 1824 in Erie, NY and died 28 Mar 1906 in Springhill, Warren County, Iowa. DeWitt married Lovisa Ranney, born 21 Aug 1831 in Agusta, NY and died 25 Dec 1919 in Springhill, Warren County, Iowa. Her family history is well detailed in historical documents (daughter of Eli Ranney and Evaline Parmalee).
I would love to go further back in the Brand family and know David Brand's parents as well as more about the Elliot family that Sophia came from. Any information is much appreciated!