robertmackayclan

John Brownley had 29 slaves listed on 15th Sep 1802 at estate inventory and at the division of slaves taken 31 Jan 1803 between his widow and three children were 31 slaves.

The questions is where and when did he purchased the slaves or were they devised to him?. I will order Kingston Parish Vestry Book 1774-1856 to see if any of his slaves of Frederick Co. VA are mentioned in the church book or land deeds. The following are the people I will looking for in the future

1. Allen given to A. Brownley
2. Amey, small girl, given to A. Brownley
3. Armistead, given to the widow
4. Ben, small boy given to Tuley family
5. Betty, given to Tuley family
6. David, given to A. Brownley
7. Dinah, woman, given to Earle family
8. Dolly,girl, given to the widow
9. Esther, girl, given to the Earle family
10. Gilbert, given to the widow
11. Hannah, small girl, given to A.Brownley
12. Harry, given to the widow
13. Isaac given to Earle family
14. Jack given to the Tuley family
15. John, small boy, given to the Earle family
16. Judith, woman, given to A.Brownley
17. Lewis not in the inventory, given to A. Brownley
18. Lucy, girl, given to Tuley family
19. Nancy/Nanny, woman, given to Tuley family
20. Nelson, small boy, given to A. Brownley
21. Peter, given to the widow
22. Phebe, old woman, given to the widow
23. Phebe given to the Tuley family
24. Phil, middle age, given to the Tuley family
25. Ralph, middle age, given to A.Brownley
26. Thamer, woman, given to the widow
27. Toney, given to the widow
28. Venus, girl, given to Earle family
29. Vina, small girl, given to the widow
30. Will, given to Earle family
31. Winney,girl, given to Earle family

The slaves given to the widow Betsy Brownley at her death divided among her heirs. I see a slave named Gilbert in the inventory of Archibald's son John inventory.

The slaves given to Archibald Brownley, he would have either sold during his life time or given to his children,since his sons died, if given to his daughters, then the slaves would be living in Sowers or Walker households.

Frederick Co. VA Land Deed Book 36,217, dated 25 Apr 1814,1 Aug 1814, stated that Archibald Earle & his wife Mary living in Randolph Co. VA sold their share of his parents (Esaias & Sally Earle) tract in Frederick Co. VA to John B. Earle of Frederick Co. VA,

I think others in the past have sent me information on your surname Brownley/Brownlee, it would appear I have misplace the researcher name. Perhaps it will turn up. I seem to remember the above researcher was trying to connect the Frederick Co. VA Brownley with the ones living in early MD. I do not know if there were two different families one spelled Brownley and the other Brownlee. So far I have not seen you family named spelled as Brownlee.

In any case, the following is what I can piece together about your Brownley family.

At this point in time, I really think your Brownley came from King Wm. Co. VA into Frederick Co. VA and not from MD. Since I have documented Cary Mitchell as living for most of his life in King Wm. Co. VA. I think unlikely Betsey Hunt who married John Brownley removed into Frederick Co. VA to marry him, so he must have lived in the same location at the time of their marriage. Remember I have the land deeds which stated that Betsey & Frances were sisters, the first one married John Brownley and the other Cary Mitchell.

John Brownley b. c1740 where?, m. most likely in King Wm. Co. VA before 1764 to Betsy Hunt, daughter of Cary Hunt of King Wm. Co. VA, d. 1802 in Frederick Co. VA, his will and inventory (lots of slaves) found in Frederick Co. VA, dated 12 May 1801, probated 6 Sep 1802. He stated that his slaves to be given to his family members. His executor's report named some of his children, Betsy (Hunt) Brownley will also filed in Frederick Co. VA her will dated 26 Feb 1815, probated 5 Jun 1815. You can add to the next generation by combing through Frederick & Clarke counties records. If they had other children who died young, I do not know. The ones I have listed below I have records they did exist.


1. Archibald Brownley b. 1764, m. Betsy Mitchell, d. 1805 "Pleasant Green" Frederick/Clarke Co. VA. His son Wm./Billy named in grandfather's estate
transfer of funds. Copies of their wills found in Frederick Co. VA.

2. Nancy Brownley b. 10 May 1766 m. 25 Dec 1787 Joseph Tuley d. 1823 VA
Named as daughter in transfer of monies from father's estate. This Tuley family I believe did come down into VA from MD, perhaps people have confused this fact with your Brownley family. The Clarke Historical Assocation has an article about the family in one of their publications. He lived at "Tanner's Retreat", stated he also had tracts in KY and a lot with house in Paris, Fauquier Co. VA. And 500a farm in Augusta Co. VA called "La Grange". This article stated that his wife died the same year he did but left no legal papers. His daughters married into Massie & Mitchell families. His daughter Mary Tuley married Henry Mitchell in Frederick Co. VA 20th Nov 1811. This article stated that "Henry Mitchell was a relative of the wife of Mary Tuley's uncle Archibald Brownley". I believe the above Henry Mitchell belonged to the group that came into Frederick Co. VA from Fredericksburg, VA. So perhaps this is the location you might want to look into for your Brownley.

3. Sally Brownley b. 17 Dec 1767 m. Maj. Esaias Earle, she was named in her father's transfer of monies, her husband's will filed in Frederick Co. VA dated 23 Aug 1826, probated 7 Nov 1826. Earle family you should be able to find additional information.

You can find additional information about the above surnames in my Frederick Co. VA Books

Frederick Co. VA Land Deeds 1743-1765 for $20.00
Frederick Co. VA Land Deeds 1765-1785 for $35.00
Frederick Co. VA Land Deeds 1785-1800 for $25.00
Frederick Co. VA Wills 1743-1816 for $25.00
Frederick Co. VA Wills 1816-1837 for $20.00
Frederick Co. VA Wills 1837-1865 for $20.00

check or money order to me, postage & handling $3.50 first book & $2.50 each additional book

Dee Ann Buck
10814 Paynes Church Drive
Fairfax, VA

Handley Library has copies of all the above books.

I have ordered additional film for King Wm. Co. VA, so I hope to find out more about Mitchell, Hunt & perhaps Brownley. I might also order what film they have dealing with King & Queen Co. VA.

Remember your John Brownley possessed lots of slaves and the names of them can be found in Frederick Co. VA records and he wanted them given to his family members, so this is a tool that you can use to document his children and grandchildren by tracing the possession of each slave. Then the question comes when and where did your John require his slaves. Did he buy them or perhaps given him?. We hope the last case is true, then you can document his parentage.

I believe Sarah Brownley & Fielding Sowers as well as Sarah's mother Betsey Mitchell Brownley were originally buried in the Brownley-Mitchell Cemetery near White Post where some of my Heflybower Branch are still buried.

I think Uncle Bev McKay had them removed to Bethel sometime during his lifetime. I'm guessing that had he lived longer he would have had them all transferred to Bethel. The Brownley-Mitchell Cemetery is in a remote location away from White Post and I have yet to actually go there. Burch McKay told me where it was located years ago but I just never felt comfortable trying to make the trek down those railroad tracks.

Richard Hunt, the now known father of said Betsey (Hunt) Brownely & Frances (Hunt) Mitchell, would be about the right age group to be a son of the following couple:

George Hunt married 24th Jun 1709 in St. Peter Parish in New Kent Co. VA to Elizabeth Poindexter.

Richard Hunt, the now known father of said Betsey (Hunt) Brownely & Frances (Hunt) Mitchell, would be about the right age group to be a son of the following couple:

George Hunt married 24th Jun 1709 in St. Peter Parish in New Kent Co. VA to Elizabeth Poindexter.