T.B. DIED F.B. DIED
MARCH DEC. 27
16 1864 1858
AGE 81 AGE 78
During the Labor Day weekend this year a couple of guys went out in search of old forgotten family cemetery grounds in Lincoln County, West Virginia. They knew that due to the mountain top mining that had been going on within the area that several family plots had been uncovered by the mines. The law requires the mining companies to leave these plots untouched and in some cases they are required to fence in the cemeteries. This particular weekend they began their search in an area called Kiahs Mountain, in the Bryant Ridge area, where they discovered the graves of FRANCIS BROWNING, TABITHA BROWNING AND DAVID ROBINSON. On October 21, 2000, I traveled to Lincoln County and met with these gentlemen and they led myself, my husband and Margie Salazar (a Browning researcher from the state of Washington) to the site that they had discovered. As we traveled up the mountain they stopped along the way to show us where Francis Browning's property line began and another point where we were able to see across the mountain where they believed the original homestead once stood. They had traveled by foot to the grassy meadow and found fence posts and corner stones that were once foundations for buildings and/or the home of Frances & Tabitha. It was the most thrilling time I have ever spent researching my family roots, to actually find an ancestor's grave who lived over a hundred years ago in the same state that I now live in and to experience the beauty of their lands is something that I shall forever treasure in my memories. I am deeply appreciative to the gentlemen that so willingly spent their free time to show us all the way to this place. They too have caught the genealogy bug so they understood how precious this journey was to us. Thanks to Billy Adkins, and his friends for this discovery.
Below are a few photos that I took of the tombstone we found, some were in very poor condition, not surprising, considering that they are over hundred years old in some cases. There were several graves found that I am not sure how they connect to the Browning family. One of those is Linda Bryant May 29, 1953, and a grave marked M.M. 10/28/1870, both of these graves are located in the same plot as the Browning's. There were several other graves in this plot that didn't have markers but someone knows who they are because there were flowers placed on them recently. Other graves were located during our visit that are in separate family plots and they are listed below the photos.
T.B. DIED
F.B. DIED
MARCH
DEC. 27
16 1864
1858
AGE 81
AGE 78
DAVID ROBINSON (MARRIED
MARGARET BROWNING D/O FRANCIS & TABITHA)
DIED
MARCH
THE 28
1868 AGE
49 YRS
The information that follows are graves that we located in adjacent to the graves of Francis & Tabitha Browning. Some of these were enclosed with fences, they were definitely separate cemeteries from the Browning's and several years later. Francis Browning owned 5,000 acres of land at the time of his death and records have been found indicating that the land was divided among his children. Some of these families may have owned the lands at the time of their deaths.
Located on the top of the mountain:
JOHN MARTIN
MARGARET WILEY
APR. 25, 1886
BORN 0CT.14, 1868
SEPT. 18, 1938
DIED MAR. 20, 1940
A FAITHFUL FRIEND
MOTHER IS GONE BUT NOT FORGOTTEN
Located on the same ridge several yards
away from the Browning's:
JAMES ALLEN MARTIN
POLLY ELLIS
BORN 1811 OR 1861
10/18/1888
DIED 1902
4/5/1921
HAZEL ELLIS
TROY ELLIS
5/29/1920
MAR. 1827
11/25/1920
1924
RUBY ELLIS
JAMES H. MARCUM
1/27/1920
1889 - 1945
2/15/1928
If you can identify any of the above individuals please SEND ME A MESSAGE.
DEBBIE'S GENEALOGY PAGE