Sarah Brown (abt. 1825 - abt. 1882)

Born about 1825 in North Carolina, USA

Wife of George K Mitchell — married 29 Jul 1849 in Marshall County, Mississippi, USA

Died about 1882 at about age 57 in Evansville, Vanderburgh, Indiana, USA

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Biography

BIRTH / DEATH

Sarah Brown

Birth estimated about 1825, in North Carolina, based on the following:

1) born between 1821-1825, per census in 1840, age 15-19

2) born 1828 NC, per census in 1850, age 22

3) born 1825 NC, per census in 1860, age 35

4) born 1830 NC, per census in 1870, age 40

Death: between 1880 and 1884, based on the following:

1) Sarah died between 1880 (census) and 1884 (City Directory)

2) husband George is last located in the City Directory of Evansville until 1883.

3) Assume the Directory would have switched to Sarah's name if she was living.

4) Sarah's daughter Georgia continues in Evansville Directory from 1884-1895.

5) Sarah is listed as deceased, in an 1900 court case of heirs of James Brown.

Death average = 1882

Place of Death: assume Evansville, Vanderburgh Co, IN, based on following:

1) Last known location: Evansville, Vanderburgh, Indiana (1880 census)

2) Daughters, Georgia and Julia, continued living in Evansville thru at least 1900

MARRIAGE

Ancestry.com. Mississippi Marriages, 1826-50

Groom Name: George K. Mitchell

Bride Name: Sarah Brown

Marriage Date: 29 Jul 1849

Marriage Location: Marshall County, Mississippi

PARENTAGE

Sarah Brown, daughter of James Brown and Mary

1) Sarah is named in father's 1868 court document as: Sarah Mitchell

2) listed as deceased heir of James Brown in 1900: "daughter, Sarah Mitchell, had daughters, Julia E. and Georgia A. Mitchell of Evansville, Indiana"

3) Sarah living few doors away from sister Eliza Barnett in 1850.

4) Sarah's children, who are named in 1900 document, are in 1860 census.

COURT DOCUMENTS

1868 Document:

http://www.tngenweb.org/records/madison/cemeteries/vf/vf-brown.htm

In Madison County Court Minute Book 18, pages 428-429, it is recorded that James Brown died in Madison County in May 1868 and among his heirs were Julia A. Anderson, Sarah Mitchell, Mary Rollins, John L. Brown, Anthony Brown, Caroline D. Brown and Jane Brown (deceased with daughter, Mary L. Duncan) and Elizabeth Brown (who had died leaving sons).

1900 Documents: [SARAH is named in paragraph 4]

http://www.tngenweb.org/records/madison/cemeteries/vf/vf-brown.htm

In the late summer of 1900 the chancery case, Mary L. Duncan and others v George Brown and others, was filed, the particulars of which are contained in File Docket 4454. It appeared that on October 3, 1867 JAMES BROWN conveyed his homestead consisting of two tracts, 164 and 32 acres, to his daughter, Caroline Brown, along with some livestock and household furnishings, the land to be held by her during her life-time after which the land was to be divided among his children and/or their lineal heirs. Brown held control of the property for the remainder of his life, assuring his spinster daughter the property for a livelihood and residence. He signed the document with an "x." (Madison County Deed Book 25, pages 278-279) The 164 acres (of which the adjusted 166 acres of the Thomsen tract consisted) was acquired by Brown from Andrew Caradine who had in turn bought it from an O'Riley, which deeds will be cited later.

It appeared that Caroline Brown remained unmarried and died in Madison County on February 17, 1900, soon after which the heirs of her father sought distribution of her landed property through the Chancery Court. With testimony of several local farmers, including F. A. Ward, J. D. Griffith and F. Blount Howlett (being acquainted with the local land values), that it would be impossible to divide the land itself among the numerous heirs as it was of such variable quality throughout. The court then ordered the sale of the two tracts (which on survey were found to contain 177 and 13 acres, rather than 32 acres in the smaller tract) which was done on January 5, 1901. Marcus L. Bevill first bid on the property but defaulting immediately the tracts were sold to Joseph D. Griffith, who paid for them on the installment plan. Subsequent sale of a part of this land reduced the "second" tract to some 166 acres.

In the court brief it was recorded "that when Caroline Brown died, James Brown had no living child of the thirteen children which were born to him & that of those children, eight died without and five died with issue; that Anthony Brown was the male and that his children /were/ Mary Ewell; Emily, wife of Marcus L. Bevill, Madison County; Ann, wife of A. C. McRae, Benton County, Tennessee; George Brown and John Brown of Ark.; R. Henry Brown of Lexington, Van Buren County, Arkansas; Samuel Brown, a "lunatic", mentally ill patient at the asylum in Bolivar, Tennessee; a grandson, Bedford Bumpass of Missouri.

That one of the daughters of James Brown was Jane Duncan who was survived by a daughter, Mary L. Duncan of Milan, Tennessee. Another daughter, Sarah Mitchell, had daughters, Julia E. and Georgia A. Mitchell of Evansville, Indiana. Another daughter, Eliza, wife of Thomas Barnett, had children Albert F. and Leonidas C. Barnett. Another daughter, Mary, wife of Enoch Rollins, had a surviving son, Benjamin F. Rollins (whose name was corrected from Thomas to Benjamin F. in April 1903) of Deport, Texas and two grandsons, Benjamin and Edward Shelby, also residents of Texas. These heirs received their modest "shares" of the purchase money paid by Joseph D. Griffith (after legal fees were paid) for their ancestor's former lands.

CENSUS / TIMELINE

1840 Census: Madison, Tennessee, page 31 (of filmstrip)

Name: James Brown

1 - Males - Under 5: ........... [???]

1 - Males - 20 thru 29: ....... [John]

1 - Males - 60 thru 69: ....... [JAMES]

1 - Females - 5 thru 9: ....... [Julie]

2 - Females - 10 thru 14: ... [Jand and Caroline]

1 - Females - 15 thru 19: ... [Sarah] <-------

2 - Females - 20 thru 29: ... [Eliza, and ???]

Persons Employed in Agriculture: 3

Persons Employed in Manufacture and Trade: 1

Total Free White Persons: 9

Total Slaves: 4

Total All Persons - Free White, Free Colored, Slaves: 13

1849: marriage of Sarah Brown and George Mitchell, in Marshall Co. MS

1850 Census: Northern Division, Marshall, Mississippi, family#157

Henry Stratton .......... 47 ... PA … taylor

Lettice M Stratton ..... 33 ... AL

Alabama Stratton ....... 8 ... MS

Tamsey C Stratton ...... 4 ... MS

George W Stratton ..... 1 ... MS

George K Mitchell .... 33 ... TN … carpenter <-------

Sarah Mitchell .......... 22 ... NC <------

1850 census notes:

Living close to family#184: Sarah's sister: Eliza Barnett age 35, Thomas age 57

1860 Census: Township 2 Ranges 1 and 2 West, Marshall, MS, family#423

George K Mitchell ...... 43 ... TN … plow maker, real estate $400, personal $3000

Sarah Mitchell ............ 35 ... NC

Jane Mitchell ................ 8 ... MS

Martha Mitchell ........... 6 ... MS

Georgianna Mitchell ... 4 ... MS

Julia Mitchell ................ 1 ... MS

1860 census notes:

Living with, but in different dwelling as surnames: Redus, Williams, Haden Tharpp. They appear to be living "in town" around merchants, hotel keeper, etc

1866: Living in Evansville, Indiana:

Ancestry.com. U.S. City Directories, 1821-1989

Geo K Mitchell, carpenter, address: Mulberry and Bell, Evansville, Indiana

1870 Census: Evansville Ward 1, Vanderburgh, Indiana, family#189

Geo Mitchell ......... 52 ... TN … carpenter, real estate $2000, personal $300

Sarah Mitchell ...... 40 ... NC

Jennie Mitchell ..... 17 ... MS

George Mitchell ... 15 ... MS … attends school

Julia Mitchell .......... 9 ... MS … attends school

1880 Census: Evansville, Vanderburgh, Indiana, family#378

George K. Mitchell ... 60 ... NC,NC,NC … carpenter

Sarah Mitchell ........... 50 ... NC,VA,VA

Jane Mitchell ............. 24 ... MS,NC,NC

Georgie Mitchell ....... 23 ... MS,NC,NC … school teacher

Julia Mitchell ............. 17 ... MS,NC,NC … attends school

1866: Living in Evansville, Indiana:

Ancestry.com. U.S. City Directories, 1821-1989

George K Mitchell, carpenter, address 204: Line, Evansville, Indiana

Georgia Mitchell, teacher, address: 204 Line, Evansville, Indiana

Jennie Mitchell, address: 204 Line, Evansville, Indiana

1884: Cannot locate George in City Directory of Evansville, Indiana

Note: daughter Georgia continues in the directory from 1884-1895

1900: cannot locate George and Sarah on census

1900 CHILDREN: Pigeon, Vanderburgh, Indiana, family#320

Julia Mitchell ......... 34 ... MS,NC,NC … Nov-1865 … teacher

Georgia Mitchell ... 40 ... MS,NC,NC … Sep-1859 … sister, teacher

Sources