1656-57 - Thomas and Hester Browning came to the colonies with their children to Old Rappahannock County, Maryland. [Maryland Hall of Records, State Archives, Book 9, Paage 490; Book WC2, page 73]
It apparently took several years for a person to patent land due to selecting, surveying, and purchasing the land. Since he patented land in 1657 they should have come sometime before that.   Settlements couldn't be made on the Rappahannock River until the treaty with the Indians was signed on September 1, 1649 so it was unlikely that they would have been here earlier than that.  Although Thomas had land claims in both Virginia and Maryland, he lived in Essex County, VA where many other immigrants from Bristol, England also lived. 

Thomas and Hester Browning show in documents on the "south side of the head of Hoskins Creek" in Lancaster Co VA (later Old Rappahannock Co and present Essex Co), The Virginia patent for 450 acres, granted 30 Nov 1657 was issued for the transportation of nine people to the colony, including Thomas, his wife Esther, their son, John and their daughter, Hester, as well as others. The patent was signed by Samuel Mathews and William Claiborne, Sr. [Old Rappahannock Co VA Deed Book 2, p. 55]

1659- O4 May l659, 'Thomas sold his land on Hoskins Creek to John Cooke. [Old Rappahannock Co Deed Book 2, p.55] John Cooke assigned to Thomas Meader, dec'd, and given by will to Thomas Meader, orphan on 09 Apr 1664. (Cavaliers & Pioneers, p. 477-478, by Marion Nell Nugent)

1659, 01 Aug - Thomas Browning bought 100 acres of land from William Johnson. [Old Rappahannock Co Deed Book 2, p. 190]

1662 - 16 Jun , Thomas made arrangement to sell this land to David Hopkins and Richard Prator. [Old Rappahannock Co Deed Book 2, p. 335]

1663: Thomas Browning and his wife Hester sell their Essex land and move to Maryland accompanied by their son John. The elder Brownings purchased property from Abraham Morgan in Baltimore Co. (later Cecil Co.) that year in November. [Robert W Barnes, Baltimore County Families, Baltimore: GPC Co, Inc, 1989, page 78]

On 31 Dec 1662, David Hopkins and Richard Prator agreed to pay to Thomas Browning"two thousand pounds of good, sound merchantable bright and large Virginia tobacco." Witnesses: Richard Glover and Richard James. Richard James was one of the persons transported to MD by Thomas Browning. [Old Rappahannock Co Deed Book 2, p. 327]

1670- 03 February 1670/1, John had 500 acres of land, known as "Successor" surveyed on forks of the Elk River in MD. [Maryland Rent Rolls, Book 6, p. 330]  This record indicates that John had to be at least 21 years old in 1670

1674 - April 6  - John and his wife Elizabeth sold to Richard Nash of Kent County,MD, "all that messuage and tenement where said John Browning now liveth or did lately live and commonly known by the name of Browning's plantation near the River of Bohemia." The deed states that John Browning's right to sell this land was "by virtue of a patent the twenty-first day of July 1663 made unto Abraham Morgan and by him assigned to Thomas Browning, father of said John Browning." It stipulates that John Browning will make other assurances as needed provided it occurs within three years and that John and Elizabeth are not compelled to travel over twenty miles from their place of abode to perfect it. This document appoints Henry Ward of Baltimore County to serve as theirattorney to enroll the indenture. The deed, signed on 06 Apr 1674 by John and Elizabeth Browning was witnessed by Augustine Henum, Rowland Williams and Thomas Shelton. References in this deed suggest that John and Elizabeth planned to be away from Maryland for a period of time and alsosuggest that Thomas Browning was still living at that date, hence the need for "other assurances as needed."Recorded in 26 Feb 1674/5 Maryland Testamentary records is a document which shows that Captain Peter Judman of the Isle of Jamaica, a merchant, granted to "John Browning, gentleman, now bound for his Majesties'plantation of Virginia" power of attorney to receive debts from John Gilbert, merchant. This document establishes that John Browning was en route to Maryland. The power of attorney was signed by Peter Judman on 12 Aug 1674. Upon arrival in MD, John Browning found that John Gilbert had died intestate, and as representative of a creditor of John Gilbert, he was named administrator of the Gilbert estate. Sureties for this administration were Richard Nash and John Poole.It appears that John and his wife were in Maryland on 06 Apr 1674 when they transferred land to Richard Nash. Soon after that date, they left the colony of Maryland for a period of several months and were in Jamaica on 12 Aug 1674, when Peter Judman designated John Browning to receive debts from John Gilbert, merchant, and were back in Maryland before February 1675. The Peter Judman document clearly establishes that John was en route to Maryland, as the reference in the Judman document to 'Virginia' is consistent with terminology of early date when all of the southern colonies were sometimes referred to as "His Majesties Plantation in Virginia."John Browning had settled on a piece of land that his friend and neighbor, Augustin Herman, claimed as his own. Herman sued Browning, but on the day of appearance,he was so ill that he could not undertake the long joumey to court. He drew up a detailed complaint against his neighbor which he entrusted to his contestant, John Browning, to be taken to court. Browning in turn faithfully delivered the complaint at court and had it read. Browning was ordered to vacate the disputed piece of land, whereupon he left the (MD) colony for good.
            ["The German Element in Maryland" by J.A. Weishaar and "The Maryland Germans" by Dieter Cunz, p. 19]

On 29 Jul 1679, a document signed by Cecil, Lord Baltimore, shows that thirteen years ago, John Browning's father had a conditional warrant granted for 500 acres 'in Cecil County being made good by John Browning, his son, who has possession and has paid taxes since his father's decease, but no patent was granted to either Thomas Browning or his son. It was ordered that the land office draw up a patent. [Cecil Co MD Patent Records, Book 15, p. 574]. This document was signed personally by Cecil, Lord Baltimore, who was never in Maryland. It appears that John Browning may have been in England to settle the affairs of his father's estate when the document was obtained. Additional evidence of the absence of John Browning for a period of approximately I8 months is that "John Browning, Gentleman," brought suit against George Oldfield and Andrew Peterson on 24 Oct 1677. This suit was filed in Chancery Court and wasn't tried until 29 Jul 1769. This would indicate that Thomas Browning diedsometime between the arrival of the Spring and Fall 1677 convoys. On 03 Nov 1679, John Browning made an oath that his father transported himself, Hester Browning, John Browning, Gabriel Brown, Anne Brown, Richard James, Elizabeth Laven, Thomas Simster and John Devon thirteen years earlier. [MD Patent Records, Book WC2, page 73.]

1679 - On 26 Nov 1679, a John Browning bought a 500-acre tract in Somerset Co called "Coleman's Adventure." (Book 25, p. 401)On I8 Mar 1680, John bought a 500-acre tract in Cecil Co MD called "Round's." (Book 24, p. 105)

On 22 Mar 1680, John Browning had 883 acres of land called "Clifton" surveyed in Cecil Co MD. (From "Sidelights of Maryland History." by Richardson) On 26 Nov 1679, he purchased the 883-acre tract in Cecil Co called "Clifton." (Book 24, p. 282)

On 17 Nov 1680, John bought a I 00-acre tract in Cecil Co MD called "Brownley." (Book 25, p. II; Book 30, p. 208)On 22 Mat 1681, John received a 450-acre tract in Cecil Co MD called "Warren." (Book 24, p. 282)

1680- On 02 May 1680, John Browning received the 500-acre tract 'm Cecil Co called "Success" which had been surveyed in 1670. (Book 24, p. 88)

On 08 Sep 1687, John bought a 550-acre tract in Cecil Co MD called "Askmore. " (Book 25, p. 35 1; Book 32, p. 660)

On 08 Sep 1687, John bought a 150-acre tract in Cecil Co MD called "Morelow." (Book 25, p. 352; Book 32, p. 662)


1690 - The estate of John Browning was settled by a court-appointed administrator. Administrative bond recorded 18 Oct 1690, authorizing William Walton to serve as administrator for the estate of John Browning "late of Cecil County." Security in the amount of 100 pounds was posted by John Sleep (Sloop) and Mathias Mathason. (Cecil Co Records of Administration, Box 6, Folder 25) Note: There is no mention of Elizabeth Browning or her dower rights as John's wife, so she probably died before that time. The sons of John Browning were either too young or absent and could not serve in any capacity as administrators of their father's estate.Inventory of estate filed 18 Oct 1690 by William Walton, The inventory was carried out by George Beestone and Henry Riggs. [Cecil County Records of Administration, Box 1, Folder 19]

1696- There are six children living with John Browning's mother, Hester Browning, in Bristol, England --- Francis, Hester, Judith, Elizabeth, Mary and Ann.  Nothing identifies these children as John's children, it is possible that Mary and Ann are the children of John's brother, Thomas.