Dr Jess Browning

Francis Dr Jess Browning

Francis was born in Isle of Wight County near the James River on a tobacco plantation in Virginia where life was easy but there was always a threat. Life became more difficult and troublesome as his family migrated to new lands, always on the frontier. In 1622 the great Indian massacre took place and the Virginia House of Burgess created a militia to drive organized groups of them out of the area. While the action was successful, there were still natives Indians around, but they didn't pose a threat. Surprisingly the greatest threat came from pirates and privateers. Francis' mother Eunice was killed by pirates who invaded and plundered their plantation. A few months following her death, his father talked with his children, Elizabeth and Francis about their future. Four months later they left their plantation next to Grandma near the James River and migrated north in their boat with most of their belongings along the Rappahannock River into Virginia's tidewater country. All the while being very aware and cautious of pirate activity.