• General Notes

  Have also seen his birth date as 1676.
  
  Lived in Bristol, England with grandmother, Hester Browning, following death of his parents.
  
  Settled in Caroline Co., VA.
  
  1698: Francis Browning, son of John and Elizabeth Browning, appears in a Cecil County, MD court record. The court records for this period are unindexed. It is probable that Francis and Elizabeth Browning came to Maryland from Gloucestershire, ENG., at the same time. Their parents, John and Elizabeth Browning, were both deceased by 1690, therefore, these young Brownings were in their late teens or early twenties. Francis married, abt 1698/9, 1)Rachel (Merritt), and 2), Mary.
  The children of Francis Sr. & Rachel Merritt Browning were:
  Ann born 1699
  Francis born 1700
  John born 1702
  Edward born 1704
  James born 1706
  Thomas born 1708
  William born 1710
  Nicholas born 1712
  Families of 10 - 15 children were not unusual at this time in history, so it would be expected that other daughters were mixed in amongst the seven boys. Names of daughters, except for Ann, are not known. The dates of birth are totally circumstantial, but are consistent with other records of Brownings of this family. Research confirms that the sons identified by E. F. Browning, Genealogy of the Brownings in America, 1908, can be verified, except for the use of the name Edward instead of Edmund. His descent from John of Jamestown is now considered incorrect.
  
  1710: Francis Browning Sr. purchases 200 acres on the southside of Portobago Creek in Essex County, VA. This land is about 12 miles from the earlier location of Thomas and Hester Browning. Francis Browning's Portobago land was adjacent to a tract owned by the Merritt family. There seems to also be a relationship between the Maryland Brownings and a Merritt family. It is possible that Rachel Browning was a Merritt. The name, Rachel, was also used by the Maryland family. As a matter of interest, the name Merritt, was in pre-1700 records in both Maryland and VA spelled "Merriott" or "Marriott," suggestive of a French origin. This is consistent with the marriages between later Brownings and members of the Huguenot community.
  
  1711: Francis Browning Sr. sells 100 acres of his Portobago land to Joseph Calloway. Rachel Browning (wife)consented.
  
  1715: Francis Browning Sr. deeds the remaining 100 acres of his Portobago land to his daughter, Ann, with the codicil that it not convey to her until after his death. Ann could have been Francis and Rachel Browning's eldest child, and still underage (her age being abt 16) at the time this deed was executed.
  
  Abt 1721: Land purchases by Francis Browning Sr. from Larkin Chew on the River Po, a branch of the Mattapony River in King and Queen Counties, VA. in the early 1700s. Date of purchase has not been confirmed and the papers were probably burned with other King and Queen County records. This land was engrossed into Spotysivania Co., VA. when it was established in 1721.
  NOTE: The land was part of the land
  granted to Larkin Chew and adjacent to Francis Smith, John Blanton and
  William Bartell.
  Note: Larkin Chew of Essex Co., VA. was an early land developer. He was bom in 1675 in VA. and died about 1729 in Spotsylvania Co., VA. He was the son of Joseph and Margaret (Miles) Chew. Larkin married Hannah Roy, daughter ofd/o John & Dorothy Roy. In April 1712, he received a patent for nearly 3000 acres on the branches of the Mattapony River. (The River Po is one of three
  streams - the Matt, the Po and the NY, which come together to form the Mattapony River which joins with the Pamunky River at West Point to form the York River,) A list of land surveys made in Essex Co between June 29,1710 and June 10,1720 shows Larkin Chew of St. Mary's Parish owned 4020 acres of land. On 16 Jun 1719, Larkin and Hannah Chew of St. Stephen's Parish, King & Queen Co., VA. sold 320 acres in Essex Co. to Robert Taliaferro, of St. Mary's Parish, Essex Co., VA. for 120 pounds lawful money of Great Brittain.
  
  1724: Francis Browning Sr., identified as of St. Ann's Parish, Essex Co., VA., sells his Spotsylania land to Edward Rowzee for 40 pounds sterling. Land purchased by Francis Browning Sr. in 1724 on Pneumensen's River (Creek). This was not far from the Portobago land. This tract of land, purchased when it was in Essex County, became part of Caroline County when it was established in 1728. It is not likely that Francis Browning ever lived on the land he purchased in Spotsylvania County for he did not build a record in that county. He probably remained on his Portobago land in Essex Co. until his purchase in 1724 of land on Pneumensend's Creek which was engrossed into Caroline County in 1728. The deeds and wills of Caroline County are gone, but the Court Order Books were preserved.
  Note: deed Francis Browning Sr. of St. Ann's Parish, Essex Co., sold to Edward ROWZEE for 40 pounds sterling, 250 acres on north side of River Po of Mattapony in Spotsylvania Co. "Mary" (2nd wife?)is named in the records as relinquishing her dower. (Essex Co. Deed Book 18, p. 8; Spotsylvania Co. Records 1721-1800, p. 92)
  Note: should be noted that with the exception of the May 24, 1724 deed where wife "Mary" relinquished her dower, none of the other deeds originated by Francis Browning has the provision for his wife's dower as required by law. It is probable that Elizabeth died prior to 1740, the first date of this series of deeds.
  10/20/1724 Francis Browning Sr. purchased 50 acres of land in Essex Co. from William and Mary DAVIDSON for 4500 pounds of sweet-scented tobacco. Located on east side of the Peumansend Swamp at the mouth of a branch called Francis Browning's Branch at the main side of the south fork. (Essex Co. Deed Book 17, p. 424-425)
  
  10/20/1724 Francis Browning Sr. purchased from William BRYANT of King and Queen Co. 50 acres the north side of the south fork of Pneurnendsend Swamp.
  William and Margrett Bryant signed the deed.
  Co Deed Book 17, p. 428-429) (Land became part of Caroline Co., VA in 1728 and was sold by Francis in 1730 with consent of wife, Mary*.
  Note: On May 18, 1719, William Bryant of St. Anne's Parish, Essex Co.,
  VA. bought from John Bell of St. Mary's Parish, Essex Co., VA. 50 acres of land
  for l500 pounds of tobacco. This land was part of 4200 acres formerly
  granted to John Meadows and Henry Peters by a Apr. 17, 1667 patent, located
  on the north side of the north fork of Peunmnsend Swamp, joining land of
  Samuel Poe (Essex Co Deed Book 16, P. 75-77).
  
  1725 Francis Browning Sr. appeared in the court records of Essex Co, VA. He signed the inventory of Samuel Poe on Sep. 21, 1725, p. 28. His bond as Poe's administrator was on Mar. 15, 1725, p. 31. A second Poe inventory was signed on Apr. 7, 1726, p. 28 & 38. From John Frederick Dorman's "Essex Co, VA, Wills, Bond, Inv., etc," from AGLL V163-111.
  NOTE: From information on Samuel Poe:3.Essex County records indicate Samuel left no will*. After Samuel died, the court ordered a nine month delay before ruling on the petition of Francis Browning Sr. to administer the estate**. The delay was ordered to see if the "an heir at law" would administrator the estate. This suggests that Samuel's oldest son was not yet twenty-one when Samuel died. A wife could not inherit. The petition of Francis Browning was eventually granted. Francis Browning could be a son-in-law.?
  NOTE: Samuel Poe's daughter, Frances Poe, married a Robert Browning. I have not been able at this time (5/2010) to establish a relationship of this Robert Browning to Francis Browning Sr. DB
  
  1730: Francis Browning Sr., with the consent of his wife, Mary, sold the Pneumensend's Creek land settled in Orange Co. VA. (now Rappahannock Co.).
  
  
  1734 COURT: Orange Co., VA. Aug. Term. Francis Browning was on the first jury in this new county formed from Spotsylvania the previous January. W.W. Scott. A History of Orange County Virginia, 1907, reprinted. 1974, p.30.
  
  NOTE: Orange Co., VA. was formed from part of Spotsylvania Co. in 1734. Culpeper Co., VA. was formed from part of Orange Co. in 1748. In 1833, Rappahannock Co. was formed from part of Culpeper Co.
  
  About 1735 settled at Gaines X
  Roads, Orange Co., VA. (in what is now Rappahannock Co.). A Thomas Browning
  (perhaps Francis' brother) came with him, but returned to Caroline Co. VA.
  ("History of St. Mark's Parish, Culpeper Co VA,' by Dr. Phillip
  Slaughter)
  On June 19, 1735, a patent for 40 acres of land on the north fork of
  Battle Run in St. Mark's Parish, Orange Co, Dominion of VA, was granted
  to Francis Browning and John Ashley, by George II of Great Britain for 40
  shillings, 19 pence. Conditions for grant: 'Yielding and paying unto us,
  our heirs and successors, for every fifty acres, the fee rent of one
  shilling yearly, to be paid upon the feast of St. Michael, the Archangel,
  and also cultivating and improving three acres part of every fifty of the
  tract above mentioned within three years after date of these patents."
  (Virginia Land Patents)
  
  Francis owned a total of 530 acres in St. Mark's Parish, Orange Co. VA.,
  later called the Browning district, located on the headwaters of Battle
  Run on north side of Gourdvine Creek, branches of the Rappahanock River.
  (Patent Book 15, p. 528) Note: These lands later became known as the
  Browning District.
  9/16/1735 served as member of a jury in Orange Co. of office was one year. Co. Order Book 1, p. 29)
  
  11/18/1735 Francis was appointed to serve as a member of the first Grand Jury of Orange Co., VA. (Orange Co. Order Book 1, p. 43) Serving with
  him were: Abraham Bledsoe, William Bryant, William Panail, Edward Franklin, Phillip Bush, Anthony Head, William Kelly, Henry Downs, John
  Bransford, David Phillips, John Howard, George Anderson, Mark Friks, William Carpenter and George Woods. At lease nine of these men were from Caroline Co. families, indicating the strength of the movement from Caroline to the frontier.
  
  7/27/1738, Francis Browning of St. Mark's Parish, Orange Co., a planter, sold
  to Henry Willis, Esq. "personal property of considerable variety."
  Proved 27 Jul 1738. (Orange Co. Deed Book 2, p. 447)
  
  1740 Francis Browning Sr. deeded land to his son Francis Jr.
  
  8/20/1740 Francis appointed overseer of the road from Mitchell's Ford of the Gourdvine as far as the path between Samuel and Arthur SCOTT. (Orange Co. Order Book 1, p. 43)
  
  9/25/1740 Francis gave a gift of 100 acres of land in Little Fork
  of the Rappahannock River near Hickman's Mountain in Orange Co., VA. (part of 400 acres taken up by Francis Browning and John Ashley) to his son,
  Francis Jr., "for the love, good will and affection which I bear towards
  my loving son." Witnesses were Joseph Norman and Isaac Norman. (Orange Co. Deed Book 4, p. 244). Note: One source says this deed was dated Jul. 21, 1740, but the original deed says Sept 25. This is close to the location where Francis' son, John Browning, was granted 2O7 acres in l754.
  
  1741 Francis Browning Sr. deeded land to his brother John
  NOTE: No record of this land deed has ever been founf.
  
  1747 Francis Browning Sr. was granted two tracts, of 100 acres and of 430 acres, respectively, in the North Little Fork.
  
  2/4/1747 Grant from the Fairfax Proprietary to Francis Browning for 480 (430?) acres Little Fork of Rappahannock River under a stem hill on the north side of the north fork of the Gourdvine, adjacent to the line of James Cannon, now William Duncan's. (Deed Book B, p. 31; Northern Neck Grants 1690-1788)
  NOTE: The Fairfax Proprietary was granted by Charles H. to Thomas Culpeper
  in 1673. Tbrough marriage, the grant descended to the Fairfax family. The
  grant included all of Virginia which laid north of the Rappahannock
  River. It was long in contention and was finally lost by the Fairfax family as a result of the Revolution.
  
  1748 Culpeper County would be formed from Orange County.
  
  1748 Francis Browning Sr. deeded land to his sons Francis Jr. and Nicholas.
  
  1748 Francis Browning Sr. deeded land to his daughters Mrs. Turner and Mrs. Duncan.
  NOTE: Thus proving the existence of at least 2 daughters.
  
  4/26/1748 Francis deeded to his son, Francis Jr., for 2000 pounds
  of tobacco, the remainder of the 200 acres patented in 1735 by Francis
  Sr. and John Ashley on the head branch of Battle Run. Proved Aug. 25, 1748.
  Witnesses: Pendleton, Charles Dewitt, William Poe and Thomas Burke.
  (Culpeper Co. VA Deed Book I 1, p. 8 1)
  
  7/28/1748 Francis sold to Thomas Washburn, both of Orange Co., for 55
  lb. sterling, 250 acres in North Little Fork of Rappahannock River, joining James Cannon and William Duncan, adjacent to his 430 acre patent. A Feb. 4, 1747 deed mentions a division We?(made) between said Washburn and Nicholas Browning. Proved Jul. 28, 1748. Witnesses: Charles Dewitt and Pendleton. (Deed Book I 1, P. 7 1) NOTE: The Nicholas Browning referred
  to here is Francis' son, not his brother.
  
  1749 A part of Old Orange County became Culpepper County
  
  7/20/1749 James & Elizabeth Pendleton sold to John Washburn, for 5 shillings, 269 acres on the North Little Fork adjacent to Francis Browning and Washburn's previous Wd. (Culpeper Co Deeds, Vol, 1, p. 21-23)
  
  7/20/1749 John Smith of Culpeper Co. sold to Thomas Washburn a 250-acre tract of land on the north fork of the Gourdvine River, which was the upper part of the 40 acre tract granted to Francis Browning and the upper part sold by him to Thomas Washburn. (Culpeper Co. Deeds, Vol 1,
  p. 26-28)
  
  5/17/1750 John Smith of Culpeper Co. sold to Abraham Cooper for 25
  lb. current money, a tract on the north side of the North Branch of the Gourdvine River, part of Francis' 40 acre tract - the lower part of which Browning gave to his son Nicholas Browning and the upper part
  Francis sold to Thomas Washburn and Washburn conveyed to John Smith.
  (Culpeper Co. Deeds, Vol 1, p. 175-177)
  
  1/27/1753 Francis Browning bought from John Farmer, for the sum of 45 pounds, 100 acres on the south side of Middle Run, Culpeper Co., VA.
  Witnessed by William Strother, John Dunm and Samuel Scott. (Culpeper Co.
  Deed Book A, p. 484)
  
  8/5/1758 Francis Browning, of St. Mark's Parish, Culpeper Co., gave to his
  son, Francis Jr. of the Parish of Brumfield, Culpeper Co., a gift for love
  and affection - a 100 tract of land in St. Mark's Parish where he was
  living, located on the north side of Gourdvine River and adjacent to
  lands of James Pendleton and John Washburn, on Cabin Branch. Witnessed by
  William Roberts, Comelius Mitchell, Richard Coxley, William Poe, Samuel
  Scott. Francis Browning made his mark. Deed proved Oct. 19, 1758. (Culpeper
  Deed Book C, p. 157)
  
  3/7/1760 Francis Browning Sr. sold 50 acres of land to William ROBERTS and William JOHNSTON. (Culpeper Co. Deed Book C, p. 286-288)
  
  3/7/1760 Browning "the elder" of Brumfield Parish, Culpeper Co. deeded to his son, Nicholas Browning of the same county, "for love, good will and affection," 80 acres in Braunfield Parish in the
  Little Fork of the Rappahannock river, adjacent to William Johnston and
  William Roberts. This was part of a deed granted Francis Browning the elder, from the Proprietor's office for 430 acres on Feb. 4, 1747 near Cannon's River. Witnessed by Rawley Duncan, John Cooper and William Johnston. (Culpeper Co Deed Book C, p. 288-290)
  
  SOURCE NOTE: This is the last chronological reference to Francis Browning. He was probably living with one of his children by that time. He disposed ofall his land during his lifetime. Since he owned no property, there was
  no need for an estate settlement, when he died. His earlier deeds were
  proven by his own oath in open court. His witnesses proved his 1760 deeds.
  
  Other evidence of the weakness of Francis is his mark. Many county clerks were very diligent in copying the seals or marks of those who signed deeds or wills. The early seal of Francis is a bold, strong "F." In his last deeds, 1758-1760, the mark is shaky and hardly recognizable as an "F." since there was no settlement of his estate, the conclusion is that he died soon after disposing of his last property.
  
  1766 Francis Browning was a witness for a transaction between John & Martha
  Davis and Ambrose Shackleford in 1766 in Spotsylvania Co VA. NOTE: This could
  be either be Francis Sr. or his son)
  SOURCES:"Genealogy of the Brownings in America from 1621 to 1908" by
  Edward Franklin Browning, A.M. 1908.
  
  http://wc.rootsweb.ancestry.com/cgi-bin/igm.cgi?op=GET&db=hearts2&id=I1354&style=TABLE

Details of Francis' family with Rachel Merritt