William Thomas Browning is believed to be the son of James F. McNew and Mahala Jane Darnell. This is based upon the following scientific evidence:
1) Y-DNA test result evidence for a direct line male descendant of William Thomas Browning that confirms the surname lineage as McNew. Multiple McNew Y-DNA matches have resulted from a Y-111 test through Family Tree DNA (www.familytreedna.com), an industry leader in Y-DNA testing.
2) Strong Family Finder DNA matches to the ancestors of James F. McNew and Mahala Jane Darnell. 8 separate Family Finder tests were taken through Ancestry and Family Tree DNA for 6 different descendants of William Thomas Browning. All of these tests showed a strong connection to James F. McNew and his McNew (and other) ancestors as well as Mahala Jane Darnell and her Darnell (and other) ancestors.
This provides confirmation beyond a reasonable doubt that William Thomas Browning was born William Thomas McNew to the James F. McNew and Mahala Jane Darnell family of Washington County, Virginia.
Based upon this DNA evidence connection of William to the McNew family, he was born near Abingdon in Washington County, Virginia as William McNew. William shows up with his McNew family in the 1860 census for Washington County, Virginia as William McNew living with his mother, Mahala Jane Darnell McNew. His father, James F. McNew, died shortly before the 1860 census which undoubtedly put an enormous strain on his mother who then had to raise 6 children on her own.
William later changed his name after he left home sometime between 1860 and 1877. It is believed that he may have been raised by a Browning family from adjacent Russell County, Virginia. Both the McNew and Browning families were devote followers of the United Methodist faith. James F. McNew died when William was about 2-3 years old and may have been raised by fellow church members lending a helping hand to a broken family. William initially went by Thomas Browning and later went by his first name, William. He later used the name William Thomas Browning.
Below is a brief timeline from available historical records.
1860: In the 1860 census record for Washington County, Virginia he is listed as William McNew, and has 5 siblings (3 brothers and 2 sisters) including a Benjamin Franklin McNew who also disappeared after the 1860 census.
1870: William cannot be found in the 1870 census, listed as a McNew or Browning.
1877: The first record that I have for William Thomas using the surname Browning is when he married Hannah Elizabeth Looney on 18 Nov 1877 just across the state line in Hawkins County, Tennessee. He was listed as Thomas Browning on the marriage license.
1880 and Beyond: William Thomas McNew Browning can still be found living in Hawkins County, Tennessee during the 1880 census along with his wife, Hannah, and their first son Mac. William consistently lists his mother as being born in Scotland or Ireland in the 1880 - 1910 census records. His father's surname and mother's married name were McNew. This is clearly a name that associates itself with the Ireland and Scotland areas of the United Kingdom. The McNew family did in fact immigrate from Scotland to the United States.
--------------
William Thomas and Hannah Elizabeth had 7 children as follows:
1) Mr. Mclellen "Mack" Browning, born 1880
(born in Hawkins County, TN and died as a child)
2) Mr. Alexander "Alex" Riley Browning
(born in Hawkins County, TN)
3) Unknown Browning
(died as a child, most likely born in Hawkins County, TN)
4) Rosa "Rose" Ella Browning
(most likely born in Scott County, VA)
5) Minnie Jane "Jane" Browning
(born in Scott County, VA)
6) Mr. James "Jim" M Browning
(born in Scott County, VA)
7) Mr. William Arthur "Arthur" Browning
(born in Scott County, VA).
William Thomas died in a historical district/township of Virginia known as Yokum Station that is located between between the towns of Olinger and Dryden in Lee County, Virginia. William Thomas was buried in Moore Cemetery near where his eldest living son, Alex, resided at the time of William's death. William Thomas was a farmer.
His wife, Hannah Elizabeth Looney, is most likely buried in the same cemetery as William is. Their eldest son Alexander Riley Browning lived nearby in Keokee, Lee, Virginia. Alexander has been rumored to visit his parents' gravesites frequently, even spending the night next to their graves.
--------------
Find a Grave contributor, Jamie Pennington (# 48112151), searched the entire cemetery on April 14, 2018 and was unable to find a headstone for William Thomas Browning. I have to assume that his grave is not marked.
--------------
This is my great, great grandfather.
1) Y-DNA test result evidence for a direct line male descendant of William Thomas Browning that confirms the surname lineage as McNew. Multiple McNew Y-DNA matches have resulted from a Y-111 test through Family Tree DNA (www.familytreedna.com), an industry leader in Y-DNA testing.
2) Strong Family Finder DNA matches to the ancestors of James F. McNew and Mahala Jane Darnell. 8 separate Family Finder tests were taken through Ancestry and Family Tree DNA for 6 different descendants of William Thomas Browning. All of these tests showed a strong connection to James F. McNew and his McNew (and other) ancestors as well as Mahala Jane Darnell and her Darnell (and other) ancestors.
This provides confirmation beyond a reasonable doubt that William Thomas Browning was born William Thomas McNew to the James F. McNew and Mahala Jane Darnell family of Washington County, Virginia.
Based upon this DNA evidence connection of William to the McNew family, he was born near Abingdon in Washington County, Virginia as William McNew. William shows up with his McNew family in the 1860 census for Washington County, Virginia as William McNew living with his mother, Mahala Jane Darnell McNew. His father, James F. McNew, died shortly before the 1860 census which undoubtedly put an enormous strain on his mother who then had to raise 6 children on her own.
William later changed his name after he left home sometime between 1860 and 1877. It is believed that he may have been raised by a Browning family from adjacent Russell County, Virginia. Both the McNew and Browning families were devote followers of the United Methodist faith. James F. McNew died when William was about 2-3 years old and may have been raised by fellow church members lending a helping hand to a broken family. William initially went by Thomas Browning and later went by his first name, William. He later used the name William Thomas Browning.
Below is a brief timeline from available historical records.
1860: In the 1860 census record for Washington County, Virginia he is listed as William McNew, and has 5 siblings (3 brothers and 2 sisters) including a Benjamin Franklin McNew who also disappeared after the 1860 census.
1870: William cannot be found in the 1870 census, listed as a McNew or Browning.
1877: The first record that I have for William Thomas using the surname Browning is when he married Hannah Elizabeth Looney on 18 Nov 1877 just across the state line in Hawkins County, Tennessee. He was listed as Thomas Browning on the marriage license.
1880 and Beyond: William Thomas McNew Browning can still be found living in Hawkins County, Tennessee during the 1880 census along with his wife, Hannah, and their first son Mac. William consistently lists his mother as being born in Scotland or Ireland in the 1880 - 1910 census records. His father's surname and mother's married name were McNew. This is clearly a name that associates itself with the Ireland and Scotland areas of the United Kingdom. The McNew family did in fact immigrate from Scotland to the United States.
--------------
William Thomas and Hannah Elizabeth had 7 children as follows:
1) Mr. Mclellen "Mack" Browning, born 1880
(born in Hawkins County, TN and died as a child)
2) Mr. Alexander "Alex" Riley Browning
(born in Hawkins County, TN)
3) Unknown Browning
(died as a child, most likely born in Hawkins County, TN)
4) Rosa "Rose" Ella Browning
(most likely born in Scott County, VA)
5) Minnie Jane "Jane" Browning
(born in Scott County, VA)
6) Mr. James "Jim" M Browning
(born in Scott County, VA)
7) Mr. William Arthur "Arthur" Browning
(born in Scott County, VA).
William Thomas died in a historical district/township of Virginia known as Yokum Station that is located between between the towns of Olinger and Dryden in Lee County, Virginia. William Thomas was buried in Moore Cemetery near where his eldest living son, Alex, resided at the time of William's death. William Thomas was a farmer.
His wife, Hannah Elizabeth Looney, is most likely buried in the same cemetery as William is. Their eldest son Alexander Riley Browning lived nearby in Keokee, Lee, Virginia. Alexander has been rumored to visit his parents' gravesites frequently, even spending the night next to their graves.
--------------
Find a Grave contributor, Jamie Pennington (# 48112151), searched the entire cemetery on April 14, 2018 and was unable to find a headstone for William Thomas Browning. I have to assume that his grave is not marked.
--------------
This is my great, great grandfather.
William Thomas Browning is believed to be the son of James F. McNew and Mahala Jane Darnell. This is based upon the following scientific evidence:
1) Y-DNA test result evidence for a direct line male descendant of William Thomas Browning that confirms the surname lineage as McNew. Multiple McNew Y-DNA matches have resulted from a Y-111 test through Family Tree DNA (www.familytreedna.com), an industry leader in Y-DNA testing.
2) Strong Family Finder DNA matches to the ancestors of James F. McNew and Mahala Jane Darnell. 8 separate Family Finder tests were taken through Ancestry and Family Tree DNA for 6 different descendants of William Thomas Browning. All of these tests showed a strong connection to James F. McNew and his McNew (and other) ancestors as well as Mahala Jane Darnell and her Darnell (and other) ancestors.
This provides confirmation beyond a reasonable doubt that William Thomas Browning was born William Thomas McNew to the James F. McNew and Mahala Jane Darnell family of Washington County, Virginia.
Based upon this DNA evidence connection of William to the McNew family, he was born near Abingdon in Washington County, Virginia as William McNew. William shows up with his McNew family in the 1860 census for Washington County, Virginia as William McNew living with his mother, Mahala Jane Darnell McNew. His father, James F. McNew, died shortly before the 1860 census which undoubtedly put an enormous strain on his mother who then had to raise 6 children on her own.
William later changed his name after he left home sometime between 1860 and 1877. It is believed that he may have been raised by a Browning family from adjacent Russell County, Virginia. Both the McNew and Browning families were devote followers of the United Methodist faith. James F. McNew died when William was about 2-3 years old and may have been raised by fellow church members lending a helping hand to a broken family. William initially went by Thomas Browning and later went by his first name, William. He later used the name William Thomas Browning.
Below is a brief timeline from available historical records.
1860: In the 1860 census record for Washington County, Virginia he is listed as William McNew, and has 5 siblings (3 brothers and 2 sisters) including a Benjamin Franklin McNew who also disappeared after the 1860 census.
1870: William cannot be found in the 1870 census, listed as a McNew or Browning.
1877: The first record that I have for William Thomas using the surname Browning is when he married Hannah Elizabeth Looney on 18 Nov 1877 just across the state line in Hawkins County, Tennessee. He was listed as Thomas Browning on the marriage license.
1880 and Beyond: William Thomas McNew Browning can still be found living in Hawkins County, Tennessee during the 1880 census along with his wife, Hannah, and their first son Mac. William consistently lists his mother as being born in Scotland or Ireland in the 1880 - 1910 census records. His father's surname and mother's married name were McNew. This is clearly a name that associates itself with the Ireland and Scotland areas of the United Kingdom. The McNew family did in fact immigrate from Scotland to the United States.
--------------
William Thomas and Hannah Elizabeth had 7 children as follows:
1) Mr. Mclellen "Mack" Browning, born 1880
(born in Hawkins County, TN and died as a child)
2) Mr. Alexander "Alex" Riley Browning
(born in Hawkins County, TN)
3) Unknown Browning
(died as a child, most likely born in Hawkins County, TN)
4) Rosa "Rose" Ella Browning
(most likely born in Scott County, VA)
5) Minnie Jane "Jane" Browning
(born in Scott County, VA)
6) Mr. James "Jim" M Browning
(born in Scott County, VA)
7) Mr. William Arthur "Arthur" Browning
(born in Scott County, VA).
William Thomas died in a historical district/township of Virginia known as Yokum Station that is located between between the towns of Olinger and Dryden in Lee County, Virginia. William Thomas was buried in Moore Cemetery near where his eldest living son, Alex, resided at the time of William's death. William Thomas was a farmer.
His wife, Hannah Elizabeth Looney, is most likely buried in the same cemetery as William is. Their eldest son Alexander Riley Browning lived nearby in Keokee, Lee, Virginia. Alexander has been rumored to visit his parents' gravesites frequently, even spending the night next to their graves.
--------------
Find a Grave contributor, Jamie Pennington (# 48112151), searched the entire cemetery on April 14, 2018 and was unable to find a headstone for William Thomas Browning. I have to assume that his grave is not marked.
--------------
This is my great, great grandfather.
1) Y-DNA test result evidence for a direct line male descendant of William Thomas Browning that confirms the surname lineage as McNew. Multiple McNew Y-DNA matches have resulted from a Y-111 test through Family Tree DNA (www.familytreedna.com), an industry leader in Y-DNA testing.
2) Strong Family Finder DNA matches to the ancestors of James F. McNew and Mahala Jane Darnell. 8 separate Family Finder tests were taken through Ancestry and Family Tree DNA for 6 different descendants of William Thomas Browning. All of these tests showed a strong connection to James F. McNew and his McNew (and other) ancestors as well as Mahala Jane Darnell and her Darnell (and other) ancestors.
This provides confirmation beyond a reasonable doubt that William Thomas Browning was born William Thomas McNew to the James F. McNew and Mahala Jane Darnell family of Washington County, Virginia.
Based upon this DNA evidence connection of William to the McNew family, he was born near Abingdon in Washington County, Virginia as William McNew. William shows up with his McNew family in the 1860 census for Washington County, Virginia as William McNew living with his mother, Mahala Jane Darnell McNew. His father, James F. McNew, died shortly before the 1860 census which undoubtedly put an enormous strain on his mother who then had to raise 6 children on her own.
William later changed his name after he left home sometime between 1860 and 1877. It is believed that he may have been raised by a Browning family from adjacent Russell County, Virginia. Both the McNew and Browning families were devote followers of the United Methodist faith. James F. McNew died when William was about 2-3 years old and may have been raised by fellow church members lending a helping hand to a broken family. William initially went by Thomas Browning and later went by his first name, William. He later used the name William Thomas Browning.
Below is a brief timeline from available historical records.
1860: In the 1860 census record for Washington County, Virginia he is listed as William McNew, and has 5 siblings (3 brothers and 2 sisters) including a Benjamin Franklin McNew who also disappeared after the 1860 census.
1870: William cannot be found in the 1870 census, listed as a McNew or Browning.
1877: The first record that I have for William Thomas using the surname Browning is when he married Hannah Elizabeth Looney on 18 Nov 1877 just across the state line in Hawkins County, Tennessee. He was listed as Thomas Browning on the marriage license.
1880 and Beyond: William Thomas McNew Browning can still be found living in Hawkins County, Tennessee during the 1880 census along with his wife, Hannah, and their first son Mac. William consistently lists his mother as being born in Scotland or Ireland in the 1880 - 1910 census records. His father's surname and mother's married name were McNew. This is clearly a name that associates itself with the Ireland and Scotland areas of the United Kingdom. The McNew family did in fact immigrate from Scotland to the United States.
--------------
William Thomas and Hannah Elizabeth had 7 children as follows:
1) Mr. Mclellen "Mack" Browning, born 1880
(born in Hawkins County, TN and died as a child)
2) Mr. Alexander "Alex" Riley Browning
(born in Hawkins County, TN)
3) Unknown Browning
(died as a child, most likely born in Hawkins County, TN)
4) Rosa "Rose" Ella Browning
(most likely born in Scott County, VA)
5) Minnie Jane "Jane" Browning
(born in Scott County, VA)
6) Mr. James "Jim" M Browning
(born in Scott County, VA)
7) Mr. William Arthur "Arthur" Browning
(born in Scott County, VA).
William Thomas died in a historical district/township of Virginia known as Yokum Station that is located between between the towns of Olinger and Dryden in Lee County, Virginia. William Thomas was buried in Moore Cemetery near where his eldest living son, Alex, resided at the time of William's death. William Thomas was a farmer.
His wife, Hannah Elizabeth Looney, is most likely buried in the same cemetery as William is. Their eldest son Alexander Riley Browning lived nearby in Keokee, Lee, Virginia. Alexander has been rumored to visit his parents' gravesites frequently, even spending the night next to their graves.
--------------
Find a Grave contributor, Jamie Pennington (# 48112151), searched the entire cemetery on April 14, 2018 and was unable to find a headstone for William Thomas Browning. I have to assume that his grave is not marked.
--------------
This is my great, great grandfather.
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