Rosanna (McClure) Brown (1826 - 1873)

Born 6 Jun 1826 in Grayson, Virginia, United States

Ancestors

Wife of Absalom Brown — married 12 Oct 1843 in Livingston, Missouri, United States

Descendants

Died 7 Mar 1873 at age 46 in Livingston, Missouri, United States

Problems/Questions Profile manager: Mark Shernick [send private message]

Biography

From the "Rosanna McClure" page on the Green Hills Pioneer website [1], the "Susannah Rosannah (McClure) Brown" Fact Page on Audrey's Family Tree at Ancestry.com [2] and U.S. Census records:

Rosanna McClure was born on 6 Jun 1826 in Grayson County, Virginia.

She was the daughter of William Pleasant McClure Jr. and Martha Ann DeHaven, a pioneer family. "The McClure Family," p. 56, gives Rosannah's birth date as June 6, 1824, conflicting with the date on page 55.

Rosanna grew up on the McClure family farm in Virginia with five brothers and three sisters.

She was only about 14 or 15 years old when her parents decided to sell the farm and join a wagon train of people travelling down the Wilderness Road through the Cumberland Gap to Kentucky.

The William McClure family remained only briefly in Warren County, Kentucky before moving northward to Indiana, where the government allowed veterans of the War of 1812 to claim land.

Rosanna's youngest brother, Abraham, was born in Indiana in 1840, according to the 1860 U.S Census.

The country's War with Mexico caused her father and older brothers to sign up with the Army and move southward to Texas. Rosannah's older brother, Jesse Stoball McClure, liked Texas so much he decided to move there. One of Rosannah's younger brothers, Samuel, 'went West" in 1849.

Rosanna's father, however, returned to Indiana and decided to push onward to Missouri territory, where the family settled about 1842. The may have moved in the same wagon train as the family of Absalom Brown, Rosanna's future husband.

Like many "Green Hill Pioneers," William McClure Sr. bought a fair patch of prairie land in Livingston County, and he began clearing trees and using the logs to build cabins and farm houses.

Livingston County is located in northwestern Missouri, not far from St. Joseph, Missouri and Kansas City. A History of Livingston County indicates the local settlers managed to build up the town of Sampsel fairly rapidly, organizing a church, an elementary school and (eventually) a railroad depot, where crops could be brought after harvest.

Many of Rosanna's siblings, aunts and uncles settled in the same district.

At age 17, Rosanna received a wedding proposal from Absolom Brown, whose family came from Indiana. She accepted. They were wed on 12 Oct 1843 in Livingston County.

Absolom bought some land of his own and built a house for his new family. Over the next decade Rosanna and Absolom farmed and raised seven children of their own.

Their children were:

• John A. BROWN,
• William BROWN,
• Martha Jane BROWN,
• Nancy Louisa BROWN,
• Samuel BROWN,
• Rebecca Carrie BROWN,
• Elizabeth Ann BROWN.

The Civil War caused a great deal of upset in Rosanna's family. Her brothers signed up with the Confederacy, but the Brown family were notorious abolitionists. In about 1860, Rosanna's husband, Absolom Brown, simply disappears from the picture.

More research is needed to discover what became of Absolom. Is he identical to the Absolom Brown who signed up with the Confederacy and died fighting at the Siege of Vicksburg? Was he bush-whacked and buried in an unknown grave? Or did Absolom divorce Rosannah and travel down the road to find a new wife?

There is certainly a man named Absolom Brown who appears on the 1870 census a few counties away, with a very different wife and family.

in any case, the 1870 census shows Rosanna McClure Brown living and working alone, without a husband in the house, trying to support her children by running the farm on her own.

Her efforts to save the farm didn't work. She was struck down by fever during a local epidemic.

Rosanna McClure Brown died in 1873 near Sampsel in Livingston County, Missouri. Her probate file says she died March 7, 1873. Her burial place is unknown.

Her children became orphans, and the 1880 census indicates some of them died in the same epidemic that killed Rosannah. Those who survived were sent to live with relatives.

Rosanna's daughter, Martha Jane Brown, survived, married, and brought up a large family. Consequently, Rosanna McClure still has a large number of descendants living in northwestern Missouri.

SOURCES

Livingston County Missouri Genealogy Wiki - FamilySearch.org

"Absalom Brown" page on Green Hills Pioneers website

"Rosannah McClure" page on Green Hills Pioneers website

"Susannah Rosannah (McClure) Brown" Fact Page, Audrey's Family Tree, Ancestry.com.

1830 U.S. Census [Grayson, Virginia]

1830 U.S. Census (Grayson County, VA) William McClure in the 1830 United States Federal Census

• Name: William McClure
• Home in 1830 (City, County, State): Grayson, Virginia
• Free White Persons - Males - 30 thru 39: 1
• Free White Persons - Females - Under 5: 3
• Free White Persons - Females - 30 thru 39: 1
• Free White Persons - Under 20: 3
• Free White Persons - 20 thru 49: 2
• Total Free White Persons: 5
• Total - All Persons (Free White, Slaves, Free Colored): 5

Source Citation 1830; Census Place: Grayson, Virginia; Series: M19; Roll: 190; Page: 269; Family History Library Film: 0029669

Source Information Ancestry.com. 1830 United States Federal Census [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2010.

Images reproduced by FamilySearch.

Original data: Fifth Census of the United States, 1830. (NARA microfilm publication M19, 201 rolls). Records of the Bureau of the Census, Record Group 29. National Archives, Washington, D.C.

Description This database details those persons enumerated in the 1830 United States Federal Census, the Fifth Census of the United States.

Citing this Record

"United States Census, 1830," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:XH54-QWM : 17 August 2017), William Mcclure, Grayson, Virginia, United States; citing 269, NARA microfilm publication M19, (Washington D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.), roll 190; FHL microfilm 29,669.

1840 U.S. Census [Grayson, Virginia]

1840 U.S. Census [Grayson County, Virginia] William McLure United States Census, 1840

• Name: William McLure
• Event Type: Census
• Event Date: 1840
• Event Place: Grayson, Virginia, United States
• Event Place (Original): Grayson
• Record Collection: United States Census, 1840

Document Information: Page 139 Affiliate Name The U.S. National Archives and Records Administration (NARA) Affiliate Publication Number M704 Affiliate Film Number 112 GS Film Number 0007826 Digital Folder Number 005154513 Image Number 00280

Citing this Record

"United States Census, 1840," database with images, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:XHR1-1NC : 19 May 2020), William McLure, Grayson, Virginia, United States; citing p. 139, NARA microfilm publication , (Washington D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.), roll ; FHL microfilm .

1850 U.S. Census

Rosanna Brown in the 1850 United States Federal Census

• Name: Rosanna Brown
• Age: 24
• Birth Year: abt 1826
• Birthplace: Virginia
• Home in 1850: District 51, Livingston, Missouri, USA
• Gender: Female
• Family Number: 570

Household Members:

• Absalom Brown 27
• Rosanna Brown 24
• John A Brown 6
• Wm R Brown 4
• Martha Brown 2

Source Citation

Year: 1850; Census Place: District 51, Livingston, Missouri; Roll: M432_405; Page: 86A; Image: 178

Source Information

Ancestry.com. 1850 United States Federal Census [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2009. Images reproduced by FamilySearch.

Original data: Seventh Census of the United States, 1850; (National Archives Microfilm Publication M432, 1009 rolls); Records of the Bureau of the Census, Record Group 29; National Archives, Washington, D.C.

Description

This database is an index to individuals enumerated in the 1850 United States Federal Census, the Seventh Census of the United States. Census takers recorded many details including each person's name, age as of the census day, sex, color; birthplace, occupation of males over age fifteen, and more. No relationships were shown between members of a household. Additionally, the names of those listed on the population schedule are linked to actual images of the 1850 Federal Census

1860 U.S. Census

Rosanah Brown in the 1860 United States Federal Census

• Name: Rosanah Brown
• Age: 34
• Birth Year: abt 1826
• Gender: Female
• Birth Place: Virginia
• Home in 1860: Jackson, Livingston, Missouri
• Post Office: Springhill
• Family Number: 281
• Value of real estate: View image

Household Members:

• A Brown 36
• Rosanah Brown 34
• Martha Brown 11
• Louisa Brown 9
• Samuel Brown 7
• Rebecca Brown 7
• Elizabeth Brown 4

Source Citation Year: 1860; Census Place: Jackson, Livingston, Missouri; Roll: M653_630; Page: 859; Image: 259; Family History Library Film: 803630

Source Information Ancestry.com. 1860 United States Federal Census [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2009. Images reproduced by FamilySearch.

Original data: 1860 U.S. census, population schedule. NARA microfilm publication M653, 1,438 rolls. Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.

Description This database is an index to individuals enumerated in the 1860 United States Federal Census, the Eighth Census of the United States. Census takers recorded many details including each person's name, age as of the census day, sex, color; birthplace, occupation of males over age fifteen, and more. No relationships were shown between members of a household. Additionally, the names of those listed on the population schedule are linked to actual images of the 1860 Federal Census

1870 U.S. Census

Basanna [Rosanna] Brown in the 1870 United States Federal Census

• Name: Basanna [Rosanna] Brown
• Age in 1870: 45
• Birth Year: abt 1825
• Birthplace: Virginia
• Home in 1870: Jackson, Livingston, Missouri
• Race: White
• Gender: Female
• Post Office: Spring Hill
• Value of real estate: View image

Household Members:

• Basanna [Rosanna] Brown 45
• Nancy Brown 19
• Samuel Brown 17
• Rebecca Brown 17
• Elisabeth Brown 14
• Drucilla Brooksher 6

Source Citation

Year: 1870; Census Place: Jackson, Livingston, Missouri; Roll: M593_789; Page: 572B; Image: 71629; Family History Library Film: 552288

Source Information

Ancestry.com. 1870 United States Federal Census [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2009. Images reproduced by FamilySearch.

Original data:

1870 U.S. census, population schedules. NARA microfilm publication M593, 1,761 rolls. Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d. Minnesota census schedules for 1870. NARA microfilm publication T132, 13 rolls. Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.

1873 Death Record

The Green Hills Pioneers website indicates Rosannah McClure Brown died 7 March 1873. "Her probate file says she died March 7, 1873."

1878 Brown Family Land Ownership Records, Livingston County

Brown in the U.S., Indexed County Land Ownership Maps, 1860-1918

View image at this Ancestry.com link: [1]

• Owner's Name: Brown
• State: Missouri
• County: Livingston
• Year: 1878

Source Citation Collection Number: G&M_91; Roll Number: 91

Source Information Ancestry.com. U.S., Indexed County Land Ownership Maps, 1860-1918 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2010. Original data: Various publishers of County Land Ownership Atlases. Microfilmed by the Library of Congress, Washington, D.C.

Description This database contains approximately 1,200 U.S. county land ownership atlases from the Library of Congress’ Geography and Maps division, covering the approximate years 1864-1918. Some photos of county officers, land owners, and buildings or homes are also included.