Brandon worked with his father in his later years, and succeeded him around 1639, ostensibly obtaining the position through inheritance. In 1641 he was imprisoned at Newgate Prison for bigamy, though he was cleared of this charge on two occasions. At this time he was living at the same address, Rosemary Lane, with his wife Mary (whether she was the allegedly bigamous wife of Brandon's or not is not recorded). As the common hangman of London, Brandon was responsible for several notable executions through the English Civil War, including Charles' advisor Thomas Wentworth, 1st Earl of Strafford, on 12 May 1641 and Archbishop of Canterbury William Laud on 10 January 1645.