John
Browning
Family
Virginia and Maryland
John Browning
b. 1640 Gloucestershire, England
d. September 1720 Cecil County, Maryland
buried:
1m. possibly Elizabeth Simmons
(widow) 6 April 1674 Maryland
b. 1649 England
d. abt 1689 Cecil County, Maryland
her father:
her mother:
his father: Thomas Browning
(1620 )
his mother: Hester _____
(1620)
Children with
Elizabeth Simmons
|
possible son - Francis Browning- see
1696
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b. 1673 probably in Gl
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d. 1723 Spotsylvania, Virginia
|
m. Rachel Merritt 1693 Cecil,
Maryland
|
Hester Browning
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b. 1676 Cecil, Maryland
|
d.
|
m.
|
Judith Browning
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b. 1683 Cecil, Maryland
|
|
|
Elizabeth Browning
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b. 1672 Maryland
|
|
|
(possibly) Mary Browning
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b. 1685 Cecil, Maryland
|
|
|
(possibly) Anne Browning
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b. 1678 Cecil, Maryland
|
|
|
John Browning Jr.
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b. 1673
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d. 1714 Kent, Maryland
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m. Rosamund Burger 1698 Kent,
Maryland
|
George Browning
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b. 1675 Cecil, Maryland
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d. 1714 Kent, Maryland
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m. Mary Pullen 19 June 1701
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1656-57 - John Browning came to the colonies with his parents through
the Barbados.
1663- Thomas Browning comes to the colonies with his family.
1670- 03 February 1670/1, John had 500 acres of land, known as
"Successor"
surveyed on forks of the Elk River in MD. [Maryland Rent Rolls, Book 6,
p. 330] This record indicates that John had to be at least 21
years old in 1670
1674 - April 6 - John and his wife Elizabeth sold to Richard Nash
of Kent County, MD,
"all that messuage and tenement where said John Browning now liveth or
did lately live and commonly known by the name of Browning's plantation
near the River of Bohemia." The deed states that John Browning's right
to sell this land was "by virtue of a patent the twenty-first day of
July 1663 made unto Abraham Morgan
and by him assigned to Thomas
Browning, father of said John Browning." It stipulates that John
Browning will make other assurances as needed provided it occurs within
three years and that John and Elizabeth are not compelled to travel
over twenty miles from their place of abode to perfect it. This
document appoints Henry Ward of Baltimore County to serve as
theirattorney to enroll the indenture. The deed, signed on 06 Apr 1674
by John and Elizabeth Browning was witnessed by Augustine Henum,
Rowland Williams and Thomas Shelton. References in this deed suggest
that John and Elizabeth planned to be away from Maryland for a period
of time and alsosuggest that Thomas Browning was still living at that
date, hence the need for "other assurances as needed." Recorded in 26
Feb 1674/5 Maryland Testamentary records is a document which shows that
Captain Peter Judman of the Isle of Jamaica, a merchant, granted to
"John Browning, gentleman, now bound
for his Majesties' plantation of
Virginia" power of attorney to receive debts from John Gilbert,
merchant. This document establishes that John Browning was en route to
Maryland. The power of attorney was signed by Peter Judman on 12 Aug
1674. Upon arrival in MD, John Browning found that John Gilbert had
died intestate, and as representative of a creditor of John Gilbert, he
was named administrator of the Gilbert estate. Sureties for this
administration were Richard Nash and John Poole. It appears that John
and his wife were in Maryland on 06 Apr 1674 when they transferred land
to Richard Nash. Soon after that date, they left the colony of Maryland
for a period of several months and were in Jamaica on 12 Aug 1674, when
Peter Judman designated John Browning to receive debts from John
Gilbert, merchant, and were back in Maryland before February 1675. The
Peter Judman document clearly establishes that John was en route to
Maryland, as the reference in the Judman document to 'Virginia' is
consistent with terminology of early date when all of the southern
colonies were sometimes referred to as "His Majesties Plantation in
Virginia."John Browning had settled on a piece of land that his
friend and neighbor, Augustin Herman, claimed as his own. Herman sued
Browning, but on the day of appearance, he was so ill that he could not
undertake the long journey to court. He drew up a detailed complaint
against his neighbor which he entrusted to his contestant, John
Browning, to be taken to court. Browning in turn faithfully delivered
the complaint at court and had it read. Browning was ordered to vacate
the disputed piece of land, whereupon he left the (MD) colony for good.
["The German Element in Maryland" by J.A. Weishaar and "The Maryland
Germans" by Dieter Cunz, p. 19]
On 29 Jul 1679, a document signed by Cecil, Lord Baltimore, shows that
thirteen years ago, John Browning's father had a conditional warrant
granted for 500 acres 'in Cecil County being made good by John
Browning, his son, who has possession and has paid taxes since his
father's decease, but no patent was granted to either Thomas Browning
or his son. It was ordered that the land office draw up a patent.
[Cecil Co MD Patent Records, Book 15, p. 574]. This document was signed
personally by Cecil, Lord Baltimore, who was never in Maryland. It
appears that John Browning may have been in England to settle the
affairs of his father's estate when the document was obtained.
Additional evidence of the absence of John Browning for a period of
approximately I8 months is that "John Browning, Gentleman," brought
suit against George Oldfield and Andrew Peterson on 24 Oct 1677. This
suit was filed in Chancery Court and wasn't tried until 29 Jul 1769.
This would indicate that Thomas Browning died sometime between the
arrival of the Spring and Fall 1677 convoys. On 03 Nov 1679, John
Browning made an oath that his father transported himself,
Hester
Browning, John Browning, Gabriel Brown, Anne Brown, Richard James,
Elizabeth Laven, Thomas Simster and John Devon thirteen years earlier.
[MD Patent Records, Book WC2, page 73.]
1679 - On 26 Nov 1679, a John Browning bought a 500-acre tract in
Somerset Co
called "Coleman's Adventure." (Book 25, p. 401)On I8 Mar 1680, John
bought a 500-acre tract in Cecil Co MD called "Round's." (Book 24, p.
105)
On 22 Mar 1680, John Browning had 883 acres of land called
"Clifton" surveyed in Cecil Co MD. (From "Sidelights of Maryland
History." by Richardson) On 26 Nov 1679, he purchased the 883-acre
tract in Cecil Co called "Clifton." (Book 24, p. 282)
On 17 Nov 1680, John bought a 100-acre tract in Cecil Co MD called
"Brownley." (Book 25, p. II; Book 30, p. 208)On 22 Mat 1681, John
received a 450-acre tract in Cecil Co MD called "Warren." (Book 24, p.
282)
1680- On 02 May 1680, John Browning received the 500-acre tract 'm
Cecil Co
called "Success" which had been surveyed in 1670. (Book 24, p. 88)
On 08 Sep 1687, John bought a 550-acre tract in Cecil Co MD called
"Askmore. " (Book 25, p. 35 1; Book 32, p. 660)
On 08 Sep 1687, John bought a 150-acre tract in Cecil Co MD called
"Morelow." (Book 25, p. 352; Book 32, p. 662)
1690 - The estate of John Browning was settled by a court-appointed
administrator. Administrative bond recorded 18 Oct 1690, authorizing
William Walton to serve as administrator for the estate of John
Browning "late of Cecil County." Security in the amount of 100 pounds
was posted by John Sleep (Sloop) and Mathias Mathason. (Cecil Co
Records of Administration, Box 6, Folder 25) Note: There is no mention
of Elizabeth Browning or her dower rights as John's wife, so she
probably died before that time. The sons of John Browning were either
too young or absent and could not serve in any capacity as
administrators of their father's estate. Inventory of estate filed 18
Oct 1690 by William Walton, The inventory was carried out by George
Beestone and Henry Riggs. [Cecil County Records of Administration, Box
1, Folder 19]
1696- There are six children living with John Browning's mother, Hester
Browning, in Bristol, England --- Francis, Hester, Judith, Elizabeth,
Mary and Ann. Nothing identifies these children as John's
children, it is possible that Mary and Ann are the children of John's
brother, Thomas.
Source:
Blanchard, Charles. Editor. Counties
of Morgan, Monroe and Brown, Indiana - Historical and Biographical. F.
A
Battey
&
Co.,
Pub.
1884.
Chicago
(800
pages)
Browning, E. F. Brownings in America, 1908
Burgess, James Anthony. Ancestors and Descendants of James Anthony
Burgess. website. http://gedcom.surnames.com/burgess_jim/ghtindex.htm
Cheryl's Family Index
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