Samuel Brown (abt. 1775)

Born about 1775 in New York

Descendants

Problems/Questions Profile manager: Tom Blumer [send private message]

Biography

Born BET 1775 AND 1780, New York. Imported only 1775 from Birth Date and marked as uncertain.

Burial: Morhous Cem, Willsboro, New York.

A Samuel Brown served as a sergeant in Captain Jonathan Lynde's company, a part of Noble's 37th Regiment, New York Militia, in the War of 1812. According to the company payroll, he served from Sept 7, 1814 until Sept 14, 1814 and was paid $2.93. His residence was 26 miles from the place of discharge, according to the record. However, we will need to find out where this unit was discharged to determine the likelihood that this was our Samuel Brown.

Burial place is documented in an old letter from William H. Brown to his brother Wade Hampton Brown. William Brown lived in Lockport, Illinois, and is buried there.

Samuel's birthplace is given as New York (state) by Wade Hampton Brown in the 1905 Iowa State Census. That is confirmed by census data from William H. Brown and census data from Lois (Brown) Sharpe.

From researcher A. F. Hayward, Willsboro, New York (Letter supplied by Jean Hinkle?): "Here in Willsboro I found a Samuel Brown who first appears on the Willsboro Town Record Book in the spring of 1802, subject to 3 days work on the highway in District #3. [This was at a time when every able-bodied male citizen was required by ordinance to help keep up the roads.] This Samuel was still in Willsboro, and appeared each year on the road tax list, in the year 1831. This was the last year on record in the book.".

"I checked the 1810 Census of Willsboro and found this Samuel Brown as a man between 26 and 45 years old with a wife 26-45, two male children under 10 years and one female under 10 years." This would give him and his wife birth dates between 1765 and 1784.

Samuel Brown is listed in the 1810, 1820, and 1830 censuses, but not before or after these dates. In 1810 the family is 12; in 1820, 13; and in 1830, 4. --Information in this paragraph from Francis P. Hale, researcher, Essex County Historical Society, Elizabethtown, N.Y.

In the records of the Willsborough town meeting, 5 April 1813, the [tax] collector was Samuel Brown, and he was also a constable. In the town meeting of 5 April 1814, Samuel Brown was again listed as collector and constable.

On 13 May 1814, "the British attempted to steal up the Bouquet River and steal the government store at Willsboro. An alarm was sent out and all the militia assembled and repulsed the British before they even reached the Falls. Our militia had three wounded and the British loss was forty killed and wounded." --Information in this paragraph from G. H. Smith, HISTORY OF ESSEX COUNTY, History of Willsboro published in Essex Co. Republican 1940-41.

In the town meeting of 1821, 1822, and 1823 Samuel Brown is again listed as constable. In 1824, he is listed as an assessor. --Same source as previous paragraph. Notes from Jane Elizabeth (Brown) Schuhmacher say cryptically: "Samuel Brown, Sheriff Essex Co." Records do not show a sheriff by that name, however.

Elmore Brown apparently never married. He is buried in the Morhous family plot near Ariel and Nancy. The cemetery is located on the McCauleff farm in Willsboro.

In the 1840 Census of New York (and index to it), I found: Samuel Brown, Essex County, Willsboro. Page 142. One person 30-40 years, one person 60-70 in "manufacturing and trades." This could be Samuel and Elmore.

In the index to the 1850 Census of New York, page 222, I found: Samuel Brown, village of Chesterfield, Essex Co., N.Y. [just north of Willsboro]. Age 74. Birthplace: New York. Also listed were Betsey, 61, born in Vermont, and Eleanor, 42, born in New York. It's possible that this could be our Samuel, married a second time or simply living together for convenience. Since he is the only one of the three with listed real property ($200) he apparently owned the dwelling. Also, Eleanor is listed as "insane.".

A. F. Hayward, Willsboro researcher, says: "A check of the microfilm records of the 1820 and 1830 Censuses of the towns of Essex and Willsboro, N.Y., reveal the following Brown families in these towns.

"There were NO Brown families in Essex in 1820 . . .[or] 1830.

"In 1820 there was one Brown family as follows in Willsboro.

"Samuel Brown in the 26-45 year age bracket [b. 1775-1794].

A wife in the 26-45 year age bracket.

An older female in the 45 yrs and upwards bracket [mother or m.-in-law].

One male under 10 years [This could be Melvin]. male 10-16 [This could be Melvin, b. 1805 or 1806]. male 16-18 [This could be Ariel, b. 1803]. male 16-26.

"In the 1830 Census of Willsboro there was still only one Brown family in Willsboro, as follows.

"Samuel Brown in the 50-60 year bracket [b. 1770-1780].

A wife in the 40-50 year bracket.

One male in the 5-10 year bracket [probably Wade].

Male in the 20-30 year bracket [probably Elmore]".

". . .An 1850 assessment roll for Willsboro . . . shows both Samuel and Ariel were still assessed for land in Willsboro. Ariel for 90 acres and Samuel for 40 acres.".

"A list of members of the Masonic Lodge F. A. M. #152 shows Samuel Brown among the original members when the Lodge was organized June 2, 1806." ". . .[I] find Samuel Brown one of the first members (#6 on list) who joined June 2, 1806 with other original members." ". . .No other Brown name appears between that date and the date of disbandment in 1826.".

"I find on the pay rolls of Brigadier General Daniel Wright's 40th Brigade, 37th Regiment at Battle of Plattsburgh Samuel Brown was a Sergeant in the 2nd Company of Ransom Noble's 37th Regiment Staff. (Both Daniel Wright and Ransom Noble were residents of the town of Essex, the neighboring town to Willsboro on the south)." Jean Hinkle has given me a copy of this document, which shows that Samuel served from Sept 7 to Sept 14, 1814, and that his residence was 26 miles from the place of discharge.

Somewhere along the line we have some indication of a son Melvin, born about 1807, but we have no proof.

From the census information--1810,1820, 1830, and 1840--I conclude that Samuel was born between 1775 and 1780; Olive, between 1780 and 1784. The Samuel with a wife named Betsey, listed in the 1850 census (index) for Chesterfield, just north of Willsboro, may or may not be our Samuel, although his age (74) would fit. Betsey is only 61, born in Vermont. The disparity in ages suggests that she might have been more a caretaker than wife. Another female, Eleanor, 42, born in NY, is also listed with them, with the notation "insane." Although all previous information we have about our Samuel is connected with Willsboro, I believe that the chances are good that this is "our" Samuel Brown.

Sources

• Family records of Philip K Blumer, great-great-grandson of Samuel, now held by Tom Blumer.
• Letter from William H. Brown to his brother Wade Hampton Brown, sons of Samuel and Olive.
• Census records of Essex County, NY and the town of Willsborough (now Willsboro) in Essex County, 1810, 1820, 1830, 1840, 1850.
• Town records of Willsborough, Essex Co., NY
• G. H. Smith, HISTORY OF ESSEX COUNTY, History of Willsboro published in Essex Co. Republican 1940-41