Josiah Brown (1714 - abt. 1774)

Born 2 Aug 1714 in Lexington, Middlesex, Province of Massachusetts Bay

Ancestors

Husband of Prudence (Prentice) Brown — married 19 Nov 1740 in Lancaster, Worcester County, Province of Massachusetts Bay

Descendants

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Biography

Baptismal

Josiah Brown was baptized 21 Aug 1715 in Lexington, MA, son of Joseph Brown and Ruhamah (Wellington) Brown.^[1] Josiah graduated from Harvard College in 1735.^[2][3]

“Josiah, bap. in Lex. Aug. 12, 1715 ; ad. to the ch. Mar. 11, 1739. He settled in Sterling. He was grad. at H. C. in 1735, preached in Sterling, and d. Mar. 4, 1774.”^[4]

"Josiah Brown graduated from Harvard College in 1735. He was a preacher of the gospel, however he never settled in the Ministry."^[5]

Marriage

Josiah Brown and Prudence Prentice were married, 19 Nov 1740, in Lancaster, Province of Massachusetts Bay. Mr Josiah Brown and Mrs Preudence Prentice November the 19th 1740. [by ye Revd Mr John Prentice] ^[6]

Children:

1. John b. 5 Sept 1744; m. 1 Oct 1770, Lucy Rugg; d. 28 July 1828
2. Joseph b. 5 July 1746 in Sterling, MA

"The first meeting-house in the Second Parish of Lancaster [Massachusetts] opened for public use November 28, 1742; but during the five or more years previous to this date, the families of that quarter of town had grown sufficiently numerous to organize neighborhood meetings under the leadership of Josiah Brown, a young clergyman there resident."^[7]

Josiah Brown is buried at the Clocksett Precinct Burial Ground. ^[7]

His tombstone reads, "Erected|in memory of| Josiah Brown A. M.|Preacher of the Gospel|who departed this life| Feb. 6th 1773 (sic), in the |57th Year of his age.
Kind as a parent, and a friend sincere;|A generous heart disposed to feed the poor;| But cruel death has shorten'd his career.| His cheering converse we shall hear no more.| No more his tongue shall sacred truths impart.|Each virtue's fled which glow'd within his breast;| The graves great herald wing'd its cruel dart,| And now he sleeps his bed of rest."^[7]

Sources

1. ↑ Lexington Record of Births, page 10;
   History of the Town of Lexington (Genealogical Register, page 27).
2. ↑ C.J.F. Binney,The History and Genealogy of the Prentice or Prentiss Family (Boston, Published by Author, 1852). page 169
3. ↑ William A. Stanton, A Record of Thomas Stanton and His Descendants (Joel Munsell's Sons. New York. 1891.), page 75.
4. ↑ History of the Town of Lexington (Genealogical Register, page 27).
5. ↑ Josiah Brown Obituary, Boston News-Letter Boston, MA March 3, 1774
6. ↑ Massachusetts: Vital Records, 1621-1850 (Online Database: AmericanAncestors.org, New England Historic Genealogical Society, 2001-2016). Marriage Record
7. ↑ ^{7.0 7.1 7.2} Henry S. Nouse, The Birth, Marriage & Death Register , Church Records & Epitaphs of Lancaster, Mass 1643-1850 (1890, J. W. Coulter, Printer, Lancaster, MA), p 416.

• Hudson, Charles. History of the Town of Lexington, Middlesex County, Massachusetts, from its First Settlement to 1868, with a Genealogical Register of Lexington Families. Boston: Wiggin & Lunt, 1868.
• R. P. Clapp, C. A. Staples, and G. O. Smith, editors. Lexington, Mass. Record of Births, Marriages and Deaths to January 1, 1898. Boston: Wright & Potter Printing Company, 1898. https://archive.org/stream/recordofbirthsma00lexi
• https://www.familysearch.org/tree/person/details/LTZ3-KL4