Gideon Brownell (1785 - 1857)

Born 27 Dec 1785 in Rhode Island, United States

Husband of Elizabeth (Pullman) Winslow — married about 1813 in New York, United States

Died 13 Jun 1857 at age 71 in Metamora Township, Lapeer, Michigan, United States

Problems/Questions Profile manager: Joan Stewart Smith [send private message]

Biography

Gideon Brownell was born 27 Dec 1785, calculated from his headstone inscription (died 13 June 1857, aged 71 years, 5 months, 17 days),^[1] in the state of Rhode Island, per the 1850 census.^[2]

Marriage

Gideon Brownell married Elizabeth "Betsy" Pulllman about 1813 in the state of New York.^[2] Betsy was born in 1796 in the state of New York.^[3] Some trees, without sources, name her as the daughter of Psalter Pullman^[4] and his wife Orpha Olmstead.

Children

The following children of Gideon Brownell and his wife Betsy were named in their father Gideon's 1855 will:^[5]

• Betsy Ann Brownell (1814-), married Seaman Filkins^[5]
• Ellery A. Brownell (1816–1888), married Emily Dowd^[5][6]
• Sylvester Brownell (1820-1904), married Margaret McPherson, Helen Downs^[5][7]
• Leonard T. Brownell (1825–1881), married Mary Ann Hunt^[5][8]

There may have been others who died before Gideon wrote his 1855 will.

Census

1820 Federal

Middlebury, Genesee, New York, United States. ^[9]

1830 Federal

Middlebury, Genesee, New York, United States. ^[10]

1850 Federal

Metamora, Lapeer, Michigan, United States.^[2]

According to the official website of Middlebury, New York, "The Town of Middlebury was formed on March 28, 1812 from the Town of Warsaw, part of Genesee County at that time. Wyoming County was formed on May 14, 1841 and the Town of Middlebury became part of Wyoming County."^[11]

Note: The Gideon Brownell household in Bertrand, Berrien, Michigan on the 1840 federal census appears to be a different man with the same name.

Death

Gideon Brownell died on 13 June 1857 in Metamora, Lapeer County, Michigan, where he lived,^[2] and was buried in Oakwood-Mount Pleasant Cemetery, Oakwood, Oakland County, Michigan.^[1] In the same cemetery is his wife Betsy, who died 15 years later on 18 Feb 1872, aged 75, in Metamora.^[12]

Two months after Gideon died, his widow Betsy married the widower, David Griffen Winslow, the son of Capt. Job Winslow and his 2nd wife Mary Rogers,^[13] on 21 Aug 1857 in Lapeer, Lapeer County, Michigan.^[14] David's first wife was Lucretia Gray, with whom he had 10 children. Lucretia had died on 27 May 1848 in Oakland County, Michigan and was buried in Mount Vernon Cemetery in nearby Mount Vernon, Macomb County, Michigan.^[15] David died, aged 82, on 10 June 1869 in Metamora, Lapeer County.^[16]

Headstone Inscription

Will Abstract

Testator: Gideon Brownell of Metamora, Lapeer County, Michigan^[5]

Will date: 8 Jan 1855

Probate: 3 Aug 1857

Executor: Neighbor G.A. Griffin

Beneficiaries (in order listed):
Son Sylvester Brownell
Son Elira [Ellery] Brownell
Son Leonard T. Brownell
Daughter Betsy Ann Filkins
Wife Betsy W.

Witnesses: G.A. Griffin, Isaac Hoard

Will Transcription

Will of Gideon Brownell, dated 8 Jan 1855

Known all men by these present, that I Gideon Brownell of the town of Metamora in the county of Lapeer and state of Michigan, farmer, being of sound mind and memory, do make and publish this my last will and testament.

First I give and bequeath to my sons, Sylvester Brownell, Elira [Ellery] A. Brownell, Leonard T. Brownell five dollars each.

Second I give and bequeath to my daughter Betsy Ann Filkins five dollars.

Third, I give and bequeath to my beloved wife Betsy W. all my household furniture wearing apparel, and all the rest and residue of my personal property after paying from the same the several legacies already named.

Fourth, I give and devise to my beloved wife Betsy W. all the rest and residue of my real estate, together with any and all estate, right or interest in lands, which I may acquire after the date of this will.

Fifth I ordain and appoint my neighbor G.A. Griffin as executor of this my last will and testament.

In testamony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and seal and publish and declare this to be my last will and testament in the presence of the witnesses named below, this eighth day of January in the year (1855) eighteen hundred and fifty five. Gideon Brownell [his mark]

Signed, sealed and published and declared by the said Gideon Brownell as and for his last will and testament in presence of us, who in his presence, and in the presence of each other, and at his requesst have hereunto subscribed our named as witnesses

G.A. Griffin Isaac Hoard

Transcription by (Joan Stewart Smith)

Research Notes

Middle initial "B"?

The only source that gave Gideon the middle initial "B" was his findagrave memorial, which since has been changed. His name on his headstone inscription or in other records does not have a middle initial.

Questionable source

A source from "Oakland County, Michigan Vital Records, 1800-1917" on Ancestry.com (transcription only) contains questionable info for Gideon Brownell, which may lead researchers astray. Perhaps the info was taken from a legacy source. It incorrectly named Gideon Brownell's residence as Pleasant Hill, Michigan, birth place as New York and death date of 25 Dec 1787. I haven't been able to find the children that were named as "Ira, Lafayette, John and others."^[17]

Research Notes by (Joan Stewart Smith), GGG grandniece of David Griffin Winslow, the 2nd husband of Gideon Brownell's widow Elizabeth "Betsy" Pullman

Sources

1. ↑ ^{1.0 1.1} Find a Grave, database and images (https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/45621008/gideon_b-brownell: accessed March 28, 2024), memorial page for Gideon B. Brownell (27 Dec 1785–13 Jun 1857), Find a Grave Memorial ID 45621008, citing Oakwood-Mount Pleasant Cemetery, Oakwood, Oakland County, Michigan, USA; Maintained by Find a Grave (contributor 8).
2. ↑ ^{2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4} 1850 United States Federal Census. Ancestry.com. Metamora, Lapeer, Michigan, United States, household of Gideon Bronnel, born Rhode Island, including wife Elizabeth, born New York, and son Leonard, born New York
3. ↑ Find a Grave, database and images (https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/45621494/elizabeth_e-winslow: accessed March 28, 2024), memorial page for Elizabeth E. “Betsy” Winslow (1796–18 Feb 1872), Find a Grave Memorial ID 45621494, citing Oakwood-Mount Pleasant Cemetery, Oakwood, Oakland County, Michigan, USA; Maintained by Find a Grave (contributor 8).
4. ↑ Find A Grave: Memorial #39448009 for Pvt Psalter “Salter” Pullman (1755–15 Dec 1828), Baptist Church Burying Ground, Berne, Albany County, New York, USA; Maintained by Gary Abrams (contributor 46963250).
5. ↑ ^{5.0 5.1 5.2 5.3 5.4 5.5} Michigan, U.S., Wills and Probate Records, 1784-1980. Ancestry.com. Gideon Brownell of Metamora, Lapeer County, Michigan, Will dated 8 Jan 1855. Probate 3 Aug 1857. Executor: Neighbor G.A. Griffin. Beneficiaries (in order mentioned): Son Sylvester Brownell, Son Elira [Ellery] Brownell, Son Leonard T. Brownell, Daughter Betsy Ann Filkins, Wife Betsy W. Witnesses: G.A. Griffin, Isaac Hoard
6. ↑ Find A Grave: Memorial #21861895 for Ellery A. Brownell (7 Mar 1818–12 Jun 1888), Oakwood-Mount Pleasant Cemetery, Oakwood, Oakland County, Michigan, USA; Maintained by Yankee Magnolia (contributor 47100475).
7. ↑ Find A Grave: Memorial #119115481 Sylvester Brownell (1820–20 Jun 1904), Mumford Rural Cemetery, Mumford, Monroe County, New York, USA; Maintained by PaPa G (contributor 48233254).
8. ↑ Find A Grave: Memorial #117060937 for Leonard T Brownell (1825–1881), Oakwood-Mount Pleasant Cemetery, Oakwood, Oakland County, Michigan, USA; Maintained by lulu (contributor 47183637).
9. ↑ "United States Census, 1820", , FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:XHLV-CPC : Sun Mar 10 06:42:24 UTC 2024), Middlebury, Genesee, New York, United States, household of Gideon Brownell, Total 6, includes 1 male less than 10, 1 male 26-44, 1 female less than 10, 1 female 16-25
10. ↑ "United States Census, 1830", , FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:XHPN-GTN : Sat Mar 09 11:20:09 UTC 2024), , Middlebury, Genesee, New York, United States, household of Gideon Brownell, Total 7, including 1 male less than 5, 2 males 5-7 , 1 male 10-14, 1 male 40-49, 1 female 15-19 [Betsy Jr], 1 female 30-39 [Betsy Sr].
11. ↑ "Town History." Town of Middlebury, New York Website. (https://www.middleburyny.com/index.php/history : accessed 28 Mar 2024)
12. ↑ Find A Grave: Memorial #45621494 for Elizabeth E. “Betsy” Winslow (1796–18 Feb 1872), Oakwood-Mount Pleasant Cemetery, Oakwood, Oakland County, Michigan, USA; Maintained by Find a Grave (contributor 8).
13. ↑ Cutter, William Richard. New England Families, Genealogical and Memorial, v. 2, Vol. II, Lewis Historical Publishing Co., 1914 Winslow lineage, pp. 1096-1097
14. ↑ Michigan, U.S., County Marriage Records, 1822-1940. Ancestry.com. Eliza Brownell, aged 61, married David G. Winslow on 21 Aug 1857 in Lapeer, Lapeer County, Michigan
15. ↑ Find A Grave: Memorial #65773738 for Lucretia Gray Winslow (1792–27 May 1848), Mount Vernon Cemetery, Mount Vernon, Macomb County, Michigan, USA; Maintained by AL K (contributor 47405763).
16. ↑ Find A Grave: Memorial #45621524 for David Griffin Winslow (7 Oct 1786–10 Jun 1869), Oakwood-Mount Pleasant Cemetery, Oakwood, Oakland County, Michigan, USA; Maintained by James Bianco (contributor 47745493).
17. ↑ Oakland County, Michigan Vital Records, 1800-1917. Ancestry.com. Gideon Brownell, died 13 June 1857, born 25 Dec 1787 in New York, married in New York, residence Mount Pleasant, Michigan, children Ira, Lafayette, John and others