While updating the information I have for my 4th great-grandmother, Rachel Browning Foster, I turned to FamilySearch’s full-text search to look for records that might place her more clearly within her Browning family. By filtering the search to her known lifespan, I came across a document that immediately stood out—what appears to be the 1831 will of her father, Jeremiah Browning, my 5th great-grandfather.
This will provides a key piece of evidence linking Rachel to her Browning family of origin. In it, Jeremiah explicitly names a daughter, “Rachel, wife of Richard Foster,” confirming both her identity and her marriage.
The will also identifies other members of Jeremiah Browning’s immediate family, including his wife Cassandra; sons Lewis, Joseph, and Jeremiah; and two additional daughters—Cassandra, wife of Seth Clark, and Elizabeth, wife of Henry Kuhn. Together, these details help reconstruct a fuller picture of the Browning family in the early 19th century.
Below is a transcription of Jeremiah Browning’s 1831 will, a document that not only strengthens the case for Rachel’s parentage but also adds valuable context to the Browning family structure.
page 60
In the name of God, Amen. I, Jeremiah Browning Senior of the County of Brooke and State of Vir
ginia considering the uncertainty of this mortal life and being of sound mind memory and
understanding blessed be the Lord for the same do make this will and
testament: To wit. To my dearly beloved wife Casandra I will and bequeath
that part of my mansion house wherein myself and family now live together with
the one third of the garden attached thereto desiring her natural life
also such portion or part of the household and kitchen furniture and
stock as she may reasonably judge necessary and proper for her to re
tain for hew own convenience and use in addition thereto.
To my son Lewis Browning [KV2W-HKJ] I will and bequeath the sume of one Dollar which togeth
er with the estate hereto fore conveyed by me to him I consider to be an equitable
proportion of my estate. To my daughter Elizabeth [GGQB-8NF]wife of Henry Kuhn and
to her heirs after her death I will and bequeath half of my stock in the Farmers
and Mechanics Bank of Maryland now kept in Fredericktown in said state
of Maryland which together with what property I have heretofore given her
I consider her fair and equitable proportion of my estate.
TO my son Joseph Browning [LHHQ-66D] I give and bequeath the sum of one dollar
which together with the lands in the state of Ohio heretofore by me con
veyed to him I consider to be his equitable proportion of my estate.
To my daughter Casandra [KZJP-XWZ] , wife of Seth Clark I give and
bequeath the sum of one dollar which together with the lands
and Ferry hereto fore conveyed by me to the said Clark I consider to be
her fair and equitable proportion of my estate.
To my son Jeremiah Browning [G9TW-JM4] I give and bequeath the farm whereon I now l
ive to him his heirs and assigns forever subject to the reservation of the man
sion and garden as herein before made in behalf of my wife which together with
what money and property I have heretofore given him I consider his fair
and equitable proportion of my estate. To my daughter Rachel [L5F2-FWD] wife of Richard
Foster I give and bequeath the sum of two hundred dollars also thirty shares
of stock in the Farmer & Mechanics Bank of Steubenville Jefferson County Ohio
and half of my stock in the Farmer and Mechanics Bank of Maryland
in the state of Maryland
as aforesaid which with another bequest herein after maid I consider to be
fair and equitable proportion of my estate.
In consideration of the good attention paid to me by Mary Watson who
now lives with me for wages I give and bequeath to her the said Mary
the sum of one hundred dollars provided she live with me until I depart this
life which sum is to be in addition to any wages that may be due
from me to her at the time of my decease. All the residue of
my personal estate and herin before disposed of I direct to be sold by
my executors herein after named at public vendue and the proceeds
thereof after payment of my just debts and funeral expenses to
gether with the expense that may accrue on the settlement of my
affairs I give and bequeath to my said daughter Rachel wife
page 61
of Richard Foster. Lastly I do hereby constitute and appoint my two sons
Lewis and Jeremiah Browning executors of this my las twill and testa
ment hereby revoking and annulling all former wills by me made.
In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand or set this
thirteenth day of August in the year of our Lord one thousand eight
hundred and thirty.
Jereh Browning (seal)
Signed sealed published and declared by the Testator as and
for his last will and testament in our presence who in the presence
and at the request of the testator and in the presence of each other
have hereunto subscribed our names as witnesses this thir
teenth day of August in the year of our Lord one thousand eight
hundred and thirty.
A. Sutherland
M. M. Laughlin
M. E. Lucas
Whereas I Jeremiah Browning of Brooke County Va have made and
duly executed my last will and testament in writing bearing date the
thirteenth day of August in the year of our Lord 1830 which said last
will and testament and every clause bequest and device therein con
tained I do hereby ratify and confirm (saving and excepting such
clauses bequests and devises therein mentioned as one by me here
in after revoked and made void) and being desirous to alter such
parts thereof and of making additions thereto do therefore hereby make
this my codicil which I will and direct shall be taken and held as
part of my said will and testament in manner and form follow
ng that is to say whereas my daughter Elizabeth Kuhn has received
her part of my bank stock in the state of Maryland the same
is hereby disannulled as also the same to Rachel Foster and also the
two hundred dollars mentioned as a bequest to Rachel Foster is
also paid and also the last item in my said will which
refers to my personal estate after deducting the expenses
therein express’d I will and bequeath the proceeds ari
sing form the sale thereof unto my son Joseph Therein na
med. In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand
and seal this twenty second day of November 1833
Jerh Browning
The within codicil signed sealed published and declared by the
testator as and for the last will and testament in our pre
sence who in the presence and at the request of the tes
tator in the presence of each other have hereunto
subscribed our names as witnesses this twenty se
cond da of November in the year of our Lord
page 62
eighteen hundred and thirty three
Seth Clark
William Patton
Lewis Browning Jr
In Brooke County Court May 26th 1834
The last will and testament of Jeremiah Browning Sen de
ceased with a codicil thereto was proved the first by the oaths
of M. E. Lucas & Matthew M. Laughlin and the second
by the oaths of Lewis Browning Jr & Seth Clark and ordered to be
recorded and on the motion of Lewis Browning and Jeremiah
Browning Jr the executors therein named who made
oath thereto and together with Seth Clark and Samuel
Henderson their securities entered into and acknowledged
this bond in the formality of 1000 dollars conditioned as
the law directs certificate is granted them for obtaining
a probate of the said will in due form
Present Justice [Congleton] Gardner Edie Nicholls
A copy Teste
Adam Kuhn CBC
“Brooke, West Virginia, United States records,” images, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3QS7-99VR-H3D6?view=explore : Jan 1, 2026), image 178 of 412; . Image Group Number: 007616421
This 1831 will of Jeremiah Browning is more than a list of heirs—it is a foundational document that clarifies family relationships and confirms long-suspected connections. By explicitly naming Rachel as the wife of Richard Foster, the will provides direct evidence linking my 4th great-grandmother to her Browning parents and siblings, strengthening the overall Browning–Foster lineage.
Discoveries like this also highlight the value of revisiting earlier research with new tools. FamilySearch’s full-text search made it possible to locate a record that might otherwise have remained buried in a county will book. As more records become searchable in this way, documents such as Jeremiah Browning’s will remind us how primary sources can both validate and expand our understanding of family history—sometimes with just a few carefully chosen search terms.