Person:Thomas Browning (53)

Biography of Thomas Browning

Thomas Browning, son of Joseph Browning & Lucy Sherman, was born March 21, 1787 in Rutland, Massachusetts^[1], the eldest of thirteen children of Joseph and Lucy (Sherman) Browning. When Thomas was but eight years of age, his father removed to Barre, Vermont. His earliest religious faith was that of the Methodist church, but his inquisitive spirit and eager thirst for knowledge of divine things, were not satisfied until he embraced the doctrine of Universal Redemption^[7]. This faith he held previous to his formal connection with the Methodist church, and he joined it with the distinct understanding that he should continue to hold to his new doctrine, and was often urged to abstain from advocating it from the pulpit. He began to preach in October, 1823 in Barre, Vermont, in his thirty-seventh year. He was ordained October 4, 1827, moved to Waterbury, Vermont in May, 1832, and in May, 1834, came to Richmond, Vermont. The Thompsons, the Gloyds, and the Dows, together with several other of the early inhabitants of the town of Jericho were Universalists. They had no religious edifice until 1846, when the church at Jericho Center was erected. The society was organized by its first pastor, the Reverend Thomas Browning, February 18, 1843, with thirty-one members. Mr. Browning was a well-known Universalist minister and preached for some years at Barre, Waterbury, and Richmond, Vermont and other places. He held many civil offices during his long life and once represented the town of Richmond in the legislature^[7].

He was called out as a member of the Vermont Milita in the War of 1812-1815, and took part in the battle of Plattsburg^[3]. In September, 1814, he volunteered to go to Plattsburgh, where he served in Capt. Warren Ellis' Company^[9]. He married Persis Ross, daughter of Abraham Ross and Persis (Welch) Ross of Jaffrey, N.H. on January 23, 1812^[1]. They lived in Barre, Washington, Vermont where their children were born. Sometime after the birth of their last child, Lucette Browning, they moved to Richmond, Chittenden Vermont. A land deed was entered into the 12 June 1854 in Richmond where they sold a partial acre to two of their children: Ross C Browning and Persis W. Browning^[10]. They had among their fourteen children, Ross C Browning. Seven of their children did not live to be two years old, and this must have been a real heartache to lose so many children. Out of twelve children they had one only son and several daughters who lived to be adults.

His wife was distantly related to ancestors of Hon. John Sherman and Gen. Wm T Sherman, of national fame. (Note: Did Mr. Edward Browning mean his mother, Lucy Sherman?)^[3] He died at Richmond, Vermont, March 12, 1875^[8], lacking just nine days of being eighty-eight years old. His wife died on October 6, 1871 in her 85th year. They are both buried in Richmond Village Cemetery along with two daughters. Their other children are buried in Wilson Cemetery, Barre, Vermont^[7].

Thomas Browning and Persis Ross Marriage

Land Deed, Thomas and Persis Browning to Ross C Browning and Persis W Browning

1. ↑ ^{1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3} Thomas Browning, in Rutland (Massachusetts). Town Clerk. Town records, 1719-1860. (Salt Lake City, Utah: Genealogical Society of Utah, 1971)
   24 Jul 1791.

   Father: Joseph

2. ↑ Whittemore, Henry. The Founders and Builders of the Oranges: Comprising a History of the Outlying District of Newark, Subsequently Known as Orange, and of the Later Internal Divisions, viz.: South Orange, West Orange, and East Orange, … 1666-1896. (Newark, New Jersey: L. J. Hardham, 1896)
   p 317.
3. ↑ ^3.0 3.1 Thomas Browning, in Browning, Edward Franklin. Genealogy of the Brownings in America from 1621 to 1908. (Salt Lake City, Utah: Genealogical Society of Utah, 1965)
   p 325.
4. ↑ Chittenden, Vermont, United States. 1850 U.S. Census Population Schedule
   M432_923, p 76A.

   Browning, Thomas, Richmond, Chittenden, Vermont
   Thomas Browning, M age 63, b. MA; Perce Browning, F age 63, b. NH; Perce Browning, F age 30, b. VT; Lucretia Browning, F age 7, b. VT

5. ↑ Chittenden, Vermont, United States. 1860 U.S. Census Population Schedule
   P. 494.

   Browning, Thomas, Universalist Clergyman
   Thomas Browning, M b. MA, age 73; Persis Browning, F age 73, b. NH; P W Browning, F age 40, b. VT

6. ↑ Chittenden, Vermont, United States. 1870 U.S. Census Population Schedule
   M593_1618, p 687A.

   Browning, Thomas, Minister of the Gospel
   Thomas Browning, M age 84, b. MA; Percie Browning, F age 84, b. NH; Percie Browning, F age 51, b. VT; Lucette Browning, F age 41, b. VT

7. ↑ ^{7.0 7.1 7.2 7.3 7.4} Thomas Browning, in Child, Hamilton. Gazetteer and business directory of Chittenden County, Vermont for 1882-83. (Syracuse, N.Y.: H. Child, 1882)
   pp 237, 253, .
8. ↑ Find A Grave.

   Rev. Thomas Browning

9. ↑ Thomas Browning, , in Johnson, Herbert T. State of Vermont : roster of soldiers in the War of 1812-14. (Baltimore [Maryland]: Genealogical Pub. for Clearfield, 1995)
   p 74.
10. ↑ ^10.0 10.1 Richmond (Vermont). Town Clerk. Deeds, 1795-1851. (Salt Lake City, Utah: Genealogical Society of Utah, 1951)
    Vol 8, page 333, 12 June 1854.

    Deed to Ross C Browning and Persis W Browning from Thomas and Persis Browning.

11. ↑ Rev Thomas Browning
12. ↑ Thomas Browning Death Certificate