William Henry Brawner Family

The true parentage of William Henry Brawner may never be known with absolute certainty. Listed as a member of the family of John and Ann Brawner on the 1850 Franklin County census is Henry Brawner, age 10, born in Kentucky. The birthdate inscribed on Henry's tombstone reads December 30, 1840. His Kentucky death certificate (#11067) states he was born on January 31, 1840, the son of John Brawner and Ann Warfield, however, this may not be the case. Mrs. Annie Black, daughter of William Henry Brawner, was the informant for the death certificate information and may have been unaware of his true parentage.

In his will, John Brawner made specific reference to Henry as "Henry WARFIELD, son of my wife Ann." Whether Ann Warfield was previously married or gave birth to Henry out of wedlock remains unknown. Ann is listed in the will of her father, Vachel Warfield, as daughter Ann Brawner, indicating she was a Warfield by birth. When John Brawner married Ann, he was 66 and she was only 29 (marriage bond dated April 13, 1849). Census records indicate younger sons Peter (born 1846) and James (born 1848) were born prior to the 1849 marriage, suggesting John and Ann were living as husband and wife as early as 1845 or 1846. In the mind of John Brawner, he either knew or suspected he was not the father of Ann's son Henry, leading to the specific designation in his will.

William Henry Brawner married Sarah Elizabeth Buford, daughter of Simeon Buford and Louiza Elizabeth Riner, on June 1, 1870 in Franklin County, Kentucky. Sarah gave birth to four known children, two of whom died as infants and are buried at the Lebanon Baptist Church Cemetery in Franklin County. William died on April 18, 1920 in Franklin County and is buried at Lebanon. Sarah died on March 14, 1944 at the age of 95.