Southern Biographies and Genealogies, 1500s-1940s The Browning Family. [by Judge D. A. Grimsley.] John Browning, b. in England in 1594, came to Virginia in 1622 in ship "Abigail," and served in the House of Burgesses in 1629. William Browning came to Virginia about 1623 in ship "Bona Nova." See Hatton's list of American emigrants. It is supposed that the Virginia Brownings descended from one, or both, of the above, but the line of descent cannot be directly traced. The Brownings appeared in Virginia soon after the settlement of the Colony. One of them, as appears from Henning's Statutes, was a member of the House of Burgesses, but whether the Culpeper family is a descendant of this man is not definitely known. Francis Browning settled near Gaines X Roads, now Rappahannock, in 1735. He is supposed to have come from Caroline county. One Thomas Browning also came to Culpeper about that time, but returned to Caroline. The wife of Francis Browning was a Miss. Lloyd, of Maryland, and they had the following children: 1. Francis, m. Frances Norman; 2. Nicholas, m. Sarah Washburn; 3. John, m. Miss Demorest; 4. Jacob, m. Elizabeth Bywaters; 5. Mary, m. Courtney Norman; 6. Ruth, m. William Duncan; 7. a daughter m.(???)Turner. FRANCIS BROWNING (Francis.) m. Frances Norman, and had 1. Shadrach, m. Polly Route; 2. Charles, m. Mollie Strother; 3. William, m. Milly Roberts; 4. James, m. Miss Deane, and moved to Ky; 5. Reuben, m. Ann Hickman, and went to Ky; 6. John, m. Elizabeth Strother; 7. Isaac, m. a daughter of Joshua Browning, Captain in the Virginia State Line; 8. Francis, died in Revolutionary army; 9. Molly, m. James Duncan; 10. Sarah, m.(???)Duncan; 11. Asenith, m. Benjamin Duncan NICHOLAS BROWNING (Francis.) m. Sarah Washburn, and had 1. Nicholas, m. Miss Sloane; 2. Charles, m. Miss Wright; 3. A son who went to South Carolina. JACOB BROWNING (Francis.) m. Elizabeth Bywaters, and had 1. Samuel, m. Miss Dunn, and went to Ky; 2. George, m. Elizabeth Browning, and went to N. C.; 3. Edmund, m. Sarah Allan, and went to Ill.; 4. Jacob, m. and went to Missouri. Was a Baptist preacher; 5. Lloyd, m. Elizabeth Allan, and went to Mo.; 6. Mary, m. Capt William Norman, and was maternal grandmother of Rev. Barnett Grimsley; 7. Senie, m. Edward King, and went to Ky.; 8. Delilah, m. Joseph Tanner, and went to Ky.; 9. Bettie, m. Elijah Anthony, and went to Ky. JOHN BROWNING (Francis.) m. Miss Demorest, and bad: 1. James, m. Miss Hickman, sister of Gen. Hickman, and went to Ky; 2. Joshua, m. Ann Scott, and went to Ky. He was the father of Thomas Browning, m. Elizabeth Lewright, who was the father of Robert Lewright Browning, Lieut. in the U. S. Navy, was drowned in Trinidad bay, and was the father of Chas. H. Browning, the founder of the order of "Runnemede," and author of "Magna Charta Barons, and their Descendants;" 3. Francis went to Russell county, Va., as did his brother, Enos. Page 151 SHADRACH BROWNING (Francis, Francis.) m. Polly Route, and had: 1. Preston, died unmarried; 2. Route, m. Miss Browning and went to Mo.; 3. Francis, m. Mrs. Moore, and went to Ky.; 4. Somerville, m. Lloyd Browning. CHARLES BROWNING (Francis, Francis.) m. Mollie Strother, and had 1. Lloyd. m. Somervllle Browning; 2. Willis, m. 1st. Caroline Menefee, 2nd. Elizabeth White; 3. Joseph, went to Ky.; 4. William, m. Lucy McClanahan, and went to Ky.; 5. Francis, m. Miss Yates, and went to Mo.; 6. Charles, died single; 7. John, m. Miss Pendleton, and went West; 8. Sarah. m.(???)Morrison, and went to Ky.; 9. Mary m. Col. Gates Yates, of Ky.; 10. Lucy, m. Weedon Smith, and went West: 12. Ann, m. Ashley, and went to Ky. WILLIAM BROWNING (Francis, Francis.) m. Millie Roberts, and had 1. Henry, m. Mrs. Newell; 2. James, m.(???); 3. William, m 1st. Miss Funkhouser, 2nd. Mrs. Hines; 4. Robert, m. Miss Duncan; 5. John, m. Kitty Duncan; 6. Daniel, m.(???). and went to Ky; 7. Charles, m. Hines, and went to Mo.; 8. Samuel, m. (???), and went to Mo.; 9. Mason, m. Kitty Stover; 10. Lucy, m. Nicholas Browning; 11. Margaret, m. Eldridge Duncan; 12. and 13.. James and Elizabeth, died single. There are said to have been nineteen children in this family, the names of the last six not being known. JOHN BROWNING (Francis, Francis.) m. Elizabeth Strother, and had 1. George, m. Miss Covington, and went to Ky.; 2. John D., m. 1st. Miss Dulaney, 2nd. Miss Haney; 3. Charles, m. 1st. Miss Moore, 2nd, Miss Bumgarner, and went to Mo.; 4. Strother, m. Miss Reid, and went to Ill.; 5. Oliver, m. Miss Bowyer, and went to Ohio; 6. Betsy, m. (???)Whitescarver, and went to Ky,; 7. Fanny, m. Frederick Whitescarver; 8. Millie, m. Elijah Bruce, and went West; 9. Polly, m. George Yates, and went West. CHARLES BROWNING (Nicholas, Francis.) m. Miss Wright, and had 1. Chas., died single; 2. Thomas, m. Miss Bywaters; 3. Nicholas, m. Lucy Browning (William). JAMES BROWNING (John, Francis.) m.(???), and had 1. James, of Clarke county, Ky.; 2. Caleb, m. Miss Pendleton; 3. Micajah, m.(???), and went to Ky. Was the father of O. H. Browning, United States Senator from Illinois, and a member of Lincoln's cabinet; 4. Polly, m. Taliaferro Browning; 5. Anne, m.(???)Overall, and went West. JOSHUA BROWNING (John, Francis,) m(???), and had 1. John, m. Miss Pendleton; 2. James, went to Ky.; 3. Edmund, went to Ky.; 4. Jacob, went West; 5. Polly, m. William Grant, and went West; 6. Annie, m. Wm. Pendleton; 7. Elizabeth m. Capt. Isaac Browning. LLOYD BROWNING (Charles, Francis, Francis.) m. Somerville Browning, and had 1. Margaret, m. Thos. Deatherage: 2. Amanda, m. Carnot Walden; 3. Martha, m. Puller A. Hughes; 4. Jane, m. A. F. Menefee. WILLIS BROWNING (Charles, Francis, Francis.) m. 1st. Menefee, 2nd. Miss White, and had 1. John A., m. Miss Willis; 2. Chas. H., died single; 3. Cassandra, died single. WILLIAM BROWNING (William, Francis, Francis.) m. 1st. Funkhouser, 2nd. Mrs. Hines, and had 1. James H., m. 1st. Margaret Duncan, 2nd. Maria Corbin; 2. William L., m. Margaret Lillard; 3. Eliza, Samuel Baker, and went to Mo.; 4. Lucy, m. Isaac Baker, and went to Mo. JOHN BROWNING (William, Francis, Francis.) m. Kitty Duncan, and had 1. Lafayette, m. Susan Stallard; 2. Richard H., m. Edwina Lillard; 3. Jane, m. Walker Campbell. MASON BROWNING (William, Francis, Francis.) m. Kitty Hines, and had 1. William S., Lieut. Co. B., 6th. Va. Cav., killed at Cedar Creek, Va.; 2. Henry R., m. Fletcher; 3. David, m. Rudacilla; 4. Regina, m. Richard Coates; 5. Virginia, m. Wm. J. Lillard; 6. Lucy, m. Wm. Stickley; 7. Route, m. Miss Priest. Page 152 NICHOLAS BROWNING (Chas., Nicholas, Francis, Francis.) m. Lucy Browning, and had 1. William H., m. 1st. Kitty Rixey, 2nd. Lucy Ellen Eastham; 2. Jas. A., m. 1st. Jane Cheek, 2nd. Mary Utterback; 3. Chas., d. single; 4. Elizabeth, m. Benjamin Lillard; 5. Tabitha, m. Cornelius Smith; 6. Cassandra, m. Johnson McQueen, and went to Illinois; 7. Anne, m. Jas. Kinsey; 8. Mildred, m. Charles Smith. MARGARET BROWNING (William, Francis, Francis.) m. Eldridge Duncan, and had 1. Chas. H., died single. Was Lieut-Col. 16th. Miss. Inf., C. S. A.; 2. Robert R., m. 1st. Louisa Kerfoot, 2nd. Lucy Browning. Was Captain of Co. B., 6th. Va. Cav., C. S. A., losing an arm at Tom's Brook; 3. Benjamin F., killed at Cedarville, member of Co. B., 6th. Va. Cav.; 4. Olivia, m. Jas. F. Kerfoot, and lives in Clarke county, Va.; 5. Mildred, m. Silas B. Lillard; 6. Margaret, unmarried. JOHN D. BROWNING (John, Francis, Francis.) m. 1st Miss Dulaney, 2nd Miss Haney and had 1. Margaret, m. John Carr; 2. Eliza, m. B. F. Eastham; 3. Sarah, m. B. F. Miller; 4. Mark A. H., m. Miss Kendrick, and went to Texas; 5. Dr. John S., m. 1st Miss Deatherage, 2nd Miss Roberts; 6. G. Judson, m. Miss Thomas. Was a member of the Va. Legislature; 7. Fanny, m.(???)Mayberry, of Mo.; 8. Sophronia, m. Wm. S. Wood. FRANCES BROWNING (John, Francis, Francis.) m. Frederick Whitescarver, and had 1. John S., m. Miss Griffin; 2. Harmon, m. Miss Latham; 3. Winston, m. Miss Bragg; 4. Chas., m. (???) and went to W. Va.; 5. Conner, m. (???) and lives in Rockingham county, Va; 6. Franklin, died single, Mexican war veteran; 7. William, m. 1st Miss Harrison, 2nd Miss (???). Was a Baptist preacher; 8. Robert, m. Miss Burgess; 9. Joseph, m.(???) and lives in Iowa; 10. Cornelius, m.(???) and lives in Iowa; 11. Addison, m. Miss Browning, and lives in Mo. 12. Bethany, m. 1st Jack Johnson, 2nd Mathias Weaver. MARGARET BROWNING (Lloyd, Chas., Francis, Francis.) m. Thomas Deatherage, and had: Allie, m. Wm. N. Smith, having Thomas. JANE BROWNING (Lloyd, Chas., Francis, Francis.) m. A. F. Menefee, and had: 1. Mollie, m. Samuel Spindle, and went to Texas; 2. Henry, m. Roberta Holland, and had Lloyd and others; 3. Robert, m. Miss Miller, and had issue. JOHN A. BROWNING (Willis, Chas., Francis, Francis.) m. Miss Willis, and had: 1. Charles, died single; 2. Bessie, m. W. G. Wood; 3. John; 4. George; 5 Willis; 6. Belle, m. Dangerfield Lewis; 7. Fanny. JAMES H. BROWNING (William, William, Francis, Francis.) m. 1st Miss Duncan, 2nd Miss Corbin, and had: 1. Thomas, m. Miss Chappellear; 2. Susan, m. Wm. Duncan; 3. Isaiah, died single: 4. Preston, m. Miss Fletcher; 5. Lizzie, m. John Wood; 6. Fanny, m. Joseph Brown; 7. Charles, m. Botts; 8. Ada, m. Mr. Luttrell; 9. Ella; 10. Ernest; 11. Mason; 12. Lucy. WILLIAM L. BROWNING (William, William, Francis, Francis.) m. Margaret Lillard, and had: 1. Bettie A., m. D. A. Grimsley, major 6th Va. Cav., C. S. A., and judge of Circuit Court of Virginia; 2. Annie M., m. B. F. Bywaters; 3. Benj. W., m. Ella Rixey; 4. Silas H., m. Lizzie Simms; 5. Elocia, m. Willie Timberlake; 6. Lucy, m. Capt. R. R. Duncan. LAFAYETTE BROWNING (John, William, Francis, Francis.) m. Susan Stallard, and had 1. John, m. and lives in Richmond, Va.; 2. S. R., m. Laura Lillard; 3. Mollie, m. Geo. Burgess; 4. Ella, m. Jno. Fraley. RICHARD H. BROWNING (John, William, Francis, Francis.) m. Edwina Lillard, and had 1. Ophelia, m. Wm. Lillard; 2. Edward, lives in Mo; 3. Sallie, m. Mr. Harrison; 4. Frank, lives in Mo; 5. Lessie; 6. Jane, m. Richard Duncan; 7. Robert; 8. Eva; 9. Lucy. Page 153 JANE BROWNING (John, William, Francis, Francis.) m. Walker Campbell, and had 1. Delia, m. Robert Bywaters; 2. Mary, m. Thomas Bywaters; 3. Scott, m. Miss Strother. DAVID BROWNING (Mason, William, Francis, Francis.) m. Miss Rudicilla, and had 1. William; 2. Blanche; 3. Ida; 4. Fanny. VIRGINIA BROWNING (Mason, William, Francis, Francis.) m. William Lillard, and had 1. Benjamin; 2. Vernon, m.(???)Jolliffe; 3. Silas; 4. Lena, m. Wm. Harrison; 5. Roberta, m.(???)Funk. LUCY BROWNING (Mason, William, Francis, Francis.) m. Wm. Stickley, and had 1. Mason; 2. Browning. ROUTE BROWNING (Mason, William, Francis, Francis.) m. Miss Priest, and had Luther, William, Regina, Ada, Frank, Russell, Lillian, and Louise. WILLIAM H. BROWNING (Nicholas, Chas., Nicholas, Francis.) m. 1st Kitty Rixey, 2nd Lucy Ellen Rixey, and had Lucy, m. J. E. B. S. Leavel. JAS. A. BROWNING (Nicholas, Chas., Nicholas, Francis.) m. 1st Jane Cheek, and had 1. Alice; 2. Montgomery; 3. Myrtis, m. A. J. Yates; 4. Mollie, m. George Rosson; 5. Dora, m. Chas. Jolliffe; 6. Caroline; 7. George. ELIZABETH BROWNING (Nicholas, Chas., Nicholas, Francis.) m. Benj. Lillard, and had 1. Chas. H., m. Miss Gurley, of Miss; 2. Lucy M., m. 1st. Jas. M. O'Bannon, 2nd Cornelius Smith. By her first marriage she had Roberta J., m. S. L. Cooper, and P. H, m. Josephine Miller; 3. Margaret, m. Wm. L. Browning (see supra); 4. Silas B., m. Mildred Duncan, having Laura, m. S. R. Browning, Lizzie m. Geo. Pulliam, and Lucy, m. Jas. Miller; 5. Wm. J., m. Virginia Browning, (see supra); 6. Edwina C., m. Richard H. Browning, (see supra); 7. Virginia; 8. Sarah. TABITHA BROWNING (Nicholas, Chas., Nicholas, Francis.) m. Cornelius Smith and had 1. Wm. N. Smith, m. Allie Deatherage (see supra); 2. Lucy A., m. H. A. Wood; 3. Rebecca, m. John B. Miller; 4. Hugh M., m. Mollie O'Bannon; 5. S. Russell, m. 1st. Frankie English, 2nd. Mrs. Mary Taunt: ANNE BROWNING (Nicholas, Chas., Nicholas, Francis.) m. Jas. Kinsey, and had 1. Eliza, m. Wm. Smith; and others who live in the West. MILDRED BROWNING (Nicholas, Chas., Nicholas, Francis.) m. Chas. Smith, and had 1. Lucy M., m. Matthew Carpenter; 2. Annie M., m. R. Y. Field; 3. Chas. E., m. Katherine Duncan; 4. Jennie; 5. Austin. R. R. DUNCAN (Margaret, William, Francis, Francis.) m. 1st. Miss Kerfoot, and had 1. Blanche, m. John R. Duncan; Robert L., m. Miss Meade; 3. Ada, m.(???)Napier, lives in Ga. He m. 2nd. Lucy Browning, and had: Maude, m. Jno. Button, Rosa, Frank, and Lucy Russell. ELIZA BROWNING (John D., John, Francis, Francis.) m. B. F. Eastham, and had 1. Robert W., m. Miss Read; 2. F. Dabney, m. Miss Eastham. Was a Confederate soldier and was badly wounded; 3. Emma C.; 4. Philp B.; 5. Wm. B.; 6. John R.; 7. Edwin L.; 8. Annie M.; 9. Ada V., m. Jas. Miller; 10. Geo. B; 11. Chas. C.; m. Eva Alexander. SARAH BROWNING (John D., John, Francis, Francis.) m. B. F. Miller, and had 1. Annie C., m. Hampson Keyser; 2. Laura F., m. Rev. J. F. Kemper, of Mo.; 3. Alice; 4. John J., m. 1st. Miss Taylor, 2nd. Miss Tyler; 5. Cora C., m. Andrew Botts; 6. Ella B., m. Ringgold Armstrong; 7. Ada F., m. John N. Keyser, of Mo.; 8. Florence, m. J. W. Yancey; 9. Rosa L., m. Wm. Benton. G. JUDSON BROWNING (John D., John, Francis, Francis.) m. Miss Thomas, and had 1. Alexander; 2. Robert; 3. Judson. DR. JOHN S. BROWNING (John D., John, Francis, Francis.) m. 1st. Miss Deatherage, and had 1. Robert; 2. Judson, m. Miss Deatherage. He m. 2nd. Miss Roberts, and had: Dr. Edgar Browning, m. Miss Turner. Page 154 SOPHRONIA BROWNING (John D., John, Francis, Francis.) m. W. S. Wood, and had 1. Flora, m. Eugene Brooking; 2. Emma; 3. John. HARMON WHITESCARVER (Fanny, John D., John, Francis, Francis.) m. Miss Latham, and had 1. son, killed in C. S. A.; 2. George, lives in W. Va. WINSTON WHITESCARVER (Fanny, John D., John, Francis, Francis.) m. Miss Bragg, and had 1. William, died in C. S. A.; 2. Lucy, m. Jas. M. Chelf. WILLIAM WHITESCARVER (Fanny, John D., John, Francis, Francis.) m. 1st. Harrison, 2nd. Miss(???)-, and had 1. A son who m. a daughter of Gen. J. G. Field; 2. Annie, m. Rev. Mr. Hume. BETHANY WHITESCARVER (Fanny, John D., John, Francis, Francis.) m. 1st.(???)-Johnston. and had 1. George, m.(???)-; 2. Charles, died in Union army; 3. Joseph, m. Johnson; 4. Elizabeth, m. Mr. Bayne, and lives in W. Va. Married 2nd.(???)-Weaver, and had 1. Taylor, m. and lives in W. Va.; 2. Mark. m. Miss Burke. In compiling the genealogy of the Browning family no effort has been made to give the names and marriages of the present generation, nor has been followed the line of descent of those who emigrated from this county to the West, the descendants of whom are very numerous, and live in various States. It is quite possible that some may have been overlooked, who died unmarried, or emigrated previous to their marriage. June