It is believed that the Brawner's arrived in the Maryland Colony with Calvert, Lord Baltimore in the 1600's. It is not clear who they were at this point, but the earliest records of Brawner's in America are in 1682, when Henry Brawner registered his cattle marks.
It is believed that Henry was born in 1656 and that he died in 1698. His wife, Mary (Brock) Brawner, married again after Henry's death and resided in Prince George's County. She died in 1727 as Mary Elliott. Henry and Mary Brawner had the following children:
Edward Brawner (b. 1682,
d. 9-5-1767,) married Anna Ball
Edward Brawner
II (b. 1728, d. 05-15-1760)
Elizabeth Brawner
Henry Brawner (b.,
d. 1744)
Thomas Brawner
William Brawner
John Brawner
Abagail Brawner
Benjamin Brawner
Joseph Brawner Henry Brawner (b., d. bef
1727)
William Brawner (b. d. 1717)
Mary?
Henry Brawner (b. 12-16-1717,
d.)
Frederick County, Maryland Brawners
An early family near Mount St. Mary's College was that of Edward
Brawner. It appears that the Brawners have come from Piscataway Hundred
in Prince George's County. Edward Brawner joined the Catholic Settlement (in Emmitsburg, MD) with his survey of Elder's Kindness on February 3,
1743. This land is located along Emmitsburg Road, the old U.S. 15. It may
be identified in the 1873 Atlas as the home of Joseph Brawner opposite
Mount St. Mary's College. Edward Brawner was made overseer of the road
from Ambrose's Mill to the temporary Pennsylvania line in 1754 and 1755.
Edward was married to Elizabeth Wheeler, who predeceased him. Edward and Elizabeth had the following children:
In his will dated April 7, 1760, he noted that he was a widower and the father of sons: Richard, Thomas, Henry, Edward, William and John. His eldest son, Richard Brawner, served as Constable of Upper Monocacy Hundred in 1759 and 1760 and enlarged his father's land through a resurvey in 1771. Richard married William Elder's daughter, Elizabeth. Except for land held by Robert Wilson and John Douthet and the few acres surveyed for Daniel Dulaney, all the land surveyed during the second decade of Frederick County's settlement, from one mile north of Thurmont to the Pennsylvania border above Emmitsburg, was owned by Catholics. There appear to have been no settlers on Carrollsburg at early dates, but the Catholic settlement begun in the forks of Owens Creek by the Livers, Elder and Brawner families expanded progressively northward toward Emmitsburg until today the area has become nationally known.
Four Brawner heads of families paid quick rents in Frederick, Co. for its first year 1748. Richard Brawner bought land from Elder in 1767. In 1769, Richard bought 99 acres from the Resurvey on Elder's Kindness from Thomas Brawner.
Henry Brawner married Mary Butler (widow of Peter Butler). Joseph Ogle's 1765 will cryptically noted that Mary and Peter Butler have parted from each other. Still, when Captain Butler wrote he own will in 1764, he named his wife Mary as executrix. In 1779 as Mary Brawner, late widow of Peter Butler, released her rights of dower in the sale of College Green to Alexander Ogle. In 1799, Henry (along with Guy Elder) was deeded, from Ann Elder, 42 acres on Owens Creek called Peace, her slaves, horses, cattle, and household property. After their deaths, all was deeded to Ann's sisters, Elizabeth Hobbs and Charity Lilly.
November 19, 1805 was the breaking of the ground for Mount St. Mary's Parish on the hill. Many men, women and children were eager to have a hand in the work, and one lady in the neighborhood, Mrs. Brawner, gathered her children and slaves, (ten to twelve of them), armed with baskets, and leading them to the spot chosen for the church, directed them in gathering the loose stones lying about and carrying them away. It was another Brawner who made the north road leading up to the mountain, using large rocks removed to build the stone causeway just above the Dam called Plunket's Folly. His grandson, Dr. John B. Brawner was the college physician for many years.
John B. Brawner was born in Virginia, Aug. 16, 1852. In drug business from 1865-1870. M.D. University of Maryland, 1872. Settled at once in Emmitsburg and was a physician at MSM College and St. Joseph's Academy for 50 years. Dr. John B. Brawner wife's name was Ann Cecilia Rose Brawner.
John Brawner (b. 8/16/1852) married Mary Shingledecker.