I haven’t yet gotten to him as I gradually expand my Genealogy information, and in fact I believe I am missing one piece of information that I would need to definitively link myself… the final link confirming that the oldest Brandon ancestor I can find is actually the son of this guy… but I’ve heard family lore that indeed, #6 on this list is an ancestor of mine:

7 Famous Executioners
(Sami, ty.rannosaur.us, 22 Jun 2008)

6) Richard Brandon

The English were always very picky about who could become an executioner. It had to be someone from a family of executioners that knew how to kill someone quickly but also knew how to vamp for the crowd. Brandon was one of the most famous Common Hangmen of London and became the yardstick against which other English executioners (even Albert Pierrepoint) were measured. He was extremely proud of his ability to sever a head with a single blow, something that was very popular with the crowds – and appreciated by people getting executed – since it generally took a few chops for the average executioner to get through. He refined this skill after years of practice on cats and dogs. He is best known for executing King Charles I, but did so under heavy disguise out of fear of retaliation.

(via Neatorama)