“ It takes two men to make one brother.” – Israel Zangwill
One of the first items of information that we found on the Kimbroughs of Todd County, Kentucky was the will of Meredith Kimbrough, 1794 – 1831. Meredith and his wife, Sarah “Sally” Garth Gaines were married in 1817 in Albemarle County, Virginia soon after the marriage of Thomas Winston Kimbrough and Sally’s sister Susan Garth Gaines. They had no children that survived and Meredith is buried in the Kimbrough Family Cemetery in Hadensville.
Meredith’s will contained some interesting clues to the family of origin of T.W.K., our oldest known ancestor to date.
Transcription: <As to my worldly substance I will and positively ordain that all my just debts be paid it is my desire that my beloved wife, Sally Kimbrough, be and remain in quit and peaseble (sic) possession of the whole of my estate personal and real after the pament (sic) of my just debts for her > benefit during her mortal life or widowhood at the death of my wife I will to my brother’s children out of my estate as follows:
To Meredith G. Kimbrough, son of Thos. W. Kimbrough five hundred dollars.
To William L. Kimbrough, son as aforesaid one hundred dollars
To Meredith Kimbrough son of William Kimbrough one hundred dollars
To James Kimbrough, son of Nelson Kimbrough, one hundred dollars
To Thomas Kimbrough, son of James Kimbrough, one hundred dollars
I will that the balance of my estate be equally divided among by Brother Thos. W. Kimbrough’s children. I appoint my brother Thos. W. Kimbrough, my executor and will that what I have left to my Brother’s children remain in the hands of my executor until they become of Lawful age.
In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal the 25th day of June 1831.
Signed: Meredith D. Kimbrough
<Todd County, KY, Will Book C, pages 182 & 183>
So, this tells us that at the time of the writing of this will, Thomas had at least 4 brothers, two sons, and three nephews. Brothers generally means sons of the same mother or father or both, but to complicate matters, can mean a close associate. We are going on the assumption that these named brothers are blood relations as we have so few clues.
Meredith appears to have been quite close to Thomas – they married sisters and Thomas and Susan sold property in Virginia to Meredith for $1. It is believed that Meredith and Sally moved to Kentucky to be near Thomas and Susan, perhaps because he knew he was dying. Sally remarried in 1836 to Anderson Miller. *This post is republished due to computer kerfuffles
Kimbrough Genealogy 
Can you help me link this discovery to My gg grandparents who were:
William Ragland Kimbrough
B 24 Jan 1830, Todd County Pulaski KY
D 23 Feb 1910, Carthage Ill
M 4 Jul 1847 Hancock IL
William Raglan Kimbrough (son of William J Kimbrough and Susan Wyatt) was born in Todd Co., KY, and died in Hancock Co. Ill. He married Elizabeth A Dale abt 4 July 1847.
Elizabeth A Dale
B 27 Jun 1830 Woodford CO KY
D 17 April 1907, Carthage Ill
Based on my research William J. was Thomas Winston Kimbrough’s brother. TWK is our brick wall. If you are on Ancestry, search for Robert Landon Kimbrough’s tree – don’t remember if i added your William, probably not, but if you have done DNA there should be a match somehow. contact me on Ancestry Sherrysk2019 so we can collaborate.
This introduced another mystery in my quest to further my research of the Kimbro (Kimbrough) family of North Carolina around 1830, when my Sarah Elizabeth Kimbro, my gg-grandmother was born. She migrated to Giles County TN around 1850 and married into the Sirls (Serles) family. They moved to Southern Illinois. I feel certain there is a connection as I believe all the Kimbro/Kinbrough were related.
On Sun, Jun 21, 2020 at 5:26 PM Kimbrough Genealogy wrote:
> vistaqueen posted: ” “ It takes two men to make one brother.” – Israel > Zangwill One of the first items of information that we found on the > Kimbroughs of Todd County, Kentucky was the will of Meredith Kimbrough, > 1794 – 1831. Meredith and his wife, Sarah “Sally” Garth Ga” >
I have a few hypotheses about our brick wall – Thomas Winston Kimbrough b. 1796 Louisa Cnty, VA. LOTS of research so happy collaborate, although haven’t done much in NC as all the relations are in VA. Nothing in Orange County, either, so far. I assume you know about the Kimbrough Quarterly, etc. but if not, let me know.
Sorry, forgot mention that prior to living in Caswell County NC, my Kimbros were from Orange County VA, just across the state line.
Marilyn Morris Haag
On Sun, Jun 21, 2020 at 5:26 PM Kimbrough Genealogy wrote:
> vistaqueen posted: ” “ It takes two men to make one brother.” – Israel > Zangwill One of the first items of information that we found on the > Kimbroughs of Todd County, Kentucky was the will of Meredith Kimbrough, > 1794 – 1831. Meredith and his wife, Sarah “Sally” Garth Ga” >
Thanks Sherry
I am on ancestry under Jeffandsusanhall as my user name. Also have DNA tests in their system.
regards
Jeff