Hannah (Benjamin) Brown (1737)

Born 22 May 1737 in Preston, New London, Connecticut Colony

Ancestors

Wife of Benjamin Brown — married 25 Feb 1755 (to Jan 1792) in Canterbury, New London, Connecticut Colony

Descendants

Problems/Questions Profile manager: Ron Lamoreaux [send private message]

Biography

Hannah was born 22 MAY 1737 in Preston, Connecticut to Jedediah Benjamin & Patience Stanton^[1] She may have died 27 JAN 1805 in Brookfield, Fairfield, Connecticut.^{[citation needed]}

25 FEB 1755 - Canterbury, Windham, Connecticut Colony: Hannah Benjamin married Benjamin Brown^[2][3]

- this marriage is curious in that she did not obtain a divorce from Benjamin Abbott, her 1st (and current husband). Mr Abbott petitioned the local courts in this matter, attempting to block Hannah's 2nd marriage (to Mr Brown). I'll look for that info and post here.

2 AUG 1790 - There is a record of Benjamin Brown of Canterbury, Windham, Connecticut in the 1st census of the United States^[4]

- Males 16+ (3) <16 (1) //// Females (5)

28 NOV 1791 Hannah's husband executes his Will, naming all their living children^[5]

Abt JAN 1792 - Hannah is widowed (based on husband's probate record^[5]

14 SEP 1819 - Hannah was living when Windbury Probate Court distributed her departed husband's estate ^[5]

- Hannah is named widow Hannah, relic of Benjamin Brown, dec'd of Windham

• Children with Benjamin (list taken from husband's 1791 Will)^[5]

1. Benjamin Brown- Son b. 1 JAQN 1756^[6]
2. John Brown - Son b. 27 AUG 1758^[7]
3. Abial Brown - Son b. 30 APR 1770 ^[8]
4. Bellisan Morre - Daughter b. 13 SEP 1764^[9]
5. Hannah Morse - Daughter b. 5 NOV 1767^[10]
6. Jedediah Brown - Son b. 30 MAR 1757^[11]
7. Daniel Brown - Son b. 10 APR 1763^[12]
8. Rosanna Brown - Daughter
9. Rufus Brown - Son b. 5 AUG 1771^[13]
10. Ebenezer Brown - Son b. 7 FEB 1773^[14]
11. Luther Brown - Son b. 29 NOV 1782^[15]
12. Anna Brown - Daughter b. 29 OCT 1761^[16]
13. Abigail Brown - Daughter
14. Thankfull Brown - Daughter b. DEC 1774; d. AUG 1868
15. Aurelia Brown - Daughter b. 11 AUG 1778^[17] OR 21 APR 1766^[18]
16. Busana Brown - Son

16 MAR 1795 - It's a long story, but Hannahs 1st hubby published a public notice in Windham (see attached exhibit) disavowing any responsibility to any of Hannah's creditors.

Following is Hannah's published response to Mr Abbott's Mar 16 public doxxing of her. She did a good job of it. Reading her own words gives us personal feel of her.

TO THE PUBLIC

• As Mr Abbott has seen fit by an officious publication, to paragraph me in a newspaper, I consider it a duty incumbant on me, to set the matter in it's true light, that the candid public may be capacitated to judge of my proceedings ---
• And first you must know that after a short and hasty connection with Mr. Benjamin Abbot, I joined with him in a bond of wedlock. As he appeared to be a rational, civil man, I thought it might conduce to the happiness of both our families; and for a few months he appeared to pay me the respect which is due the husband to the faithful wife. But soon his pretended good will began to decline, and that tenderness which he seemed to ex-press for my happiness, was now converted into the most rigid and inflexible behavior; and he considered me no longer the wife of his bosom. From the time he began to mark me out as the object of his hatred, and insulted me with every indecency that ingratitude could invent, or language express. While I, on the other hand, endeavored to mitigate his passion, and find the cause of his resentment, but in vain! The more I tried to soften his inflexibility, the more intolerant his conduct appeared, and I, at last, was hunted as a pest to his family, and the considered by him as an obtrude upon his interest.
• Now that you may judge of his conduct, it will be necessary to inform you, that upon my agreement with him, to be his wife, he strongly urged how needless it would be for me to convert any of my property to the support of our families, and that he considered his estate sufficient, and that my children should find his house a home, and himself a father: and that he rather chose to have no concern with my property; consequently to answer his mind, I put my property out of my hands, firmly relying on his word and generosity, to be my guardian, my protector and my friend. But I soon found his conduct on this occasion to be the reverse of his word; and that he even refused my necessary assistance when I was sick, and unable to help myself ; even a pint of spirits he refused me for medicine, which was ordered me by my doctor; and my children, when they came her to visit me, were not allowed to tarry all night, but were obliged to travel a number of miles in tedious weather, before they arrived, at the house of a friend. My little girls too were compelled to go to meeting on sabbath days at the time I was unwell, and scarcely able to walk across the floor, and I was obliged to do the work. He even shewed that resentment, that he would take nothing out of my hand, nor suffer me to tie a handkerchief on the neck. Now, what could be the cause of his behavior. I never had the remotest idea. I challenged Mr Abbott to bring one instance in which I ever gave him the cause to treat me in this manner. But so it was, his conduct to me was so irreconcilable, that I proposed a separation, to which he readily agreed. My friends accordingly gave security that I never should become chargeable to him, and we parted by mutual agreement; so that his pelting me in a newspaper, is of no consequence to himself, but it appears that he did it with a design to injure my character. But I spare him. I mention only his general conduct. The particulars would be to many to enumerate. But this I affirm, that he need not be afraid of my being trusted on his account, for I would not impose upon mankind in this manner; I know not but that he is unable to pay his just debts, as he is to perform the duties of a conjugal bedfellow.

HANNAH ABBOTT.

Sources

1. ↑ Birth: "Connecticut, U.S., Town Birth Records, pre-1870 (Barbour Collection)"
   Preston Vital Records Part I 1687-1850
   Ancestry Sharing Link - Ancestry Image (accessed 31 December 2023)
   Hannah Benjamin.
2. ↑ Barbour Collection of Vital Records. 1; 70. [1]
3. ↑ Barbour collection: "Barbour collection"
   Catalog: Barbour collection General index Bro - Brown, I-N
   Film number: 008272222 > image 4778 of 7958
   FamilySearch Image: 3Q9M-CS56-DSS6-4 (accessed 31 December 2023)
4. ↑ 1790 United States Federal Census: "1790 United States Federal Census"
   Connecticut > Windham > Canterbury
   Ancestry Sharing Link - Ancestry Image (accessed 31 December 2023)
   Benjn Brown.
5. ↑ ^{5.0 5.1 5.2 5.3} Probate: "Connecticut, U.S., Wills and Probate Records, 1609-1999"
   Hartford > Probate Packets, Bradford, H-Cady, Daniel, 1747-1880 > image 476 of 1422
   Ancestry Sharing Link - Ancestry Image (accessed 31 December 2023)
   Benjamin Brown.
6. ↑ Barbour collection: "Barbour collection"
   Catalog: Barbour collection General index Bro - Brown, I-N
   Film number: 008272222 > image 4779 of 7958
   FamilySearch Image: 3Q9M-CS56-DSHJ-5 (accessed 31 December 2023)
7. ↑ Barbour collection: "Barbour collection"
   Catalog: Barbour collection General index Bro - Brown, I-N
   Film number: 008272222 > image 6840 of 7958
   FamilySearch Image: 3Q9M-CS56-DSHM-W (accessed 31 December 2023)
8. ↑ Barbour collection: "Barbour collection"
   Catalog: Barbour collection General index Bro - Brown, I-N
   Film number: 008272222 > image 4858 of 7958
   FamilySearch Image: 3Q9M-CS56-DS6F-5 (accessed 31 December 2023)
9. ↑ Barbour collection: "Barbour collection"
   Catalog: Barbour collection General index Bro - Brown, I-N
   Film number: 008272222 > image 4862 of 7958
   FamilySearch Image: 3Q9M-CS56-DSD8-X (accessed 31 December 2023)
10. ↑ Barbour collection: "Barbour collection"
    Catalog: Barbour collection General index Bro - Brown, I-N
    Film number: 008272222 > image 6166 of 7958
    FamilySearch Image: 3Q9M-CS56-DSQM-2 (accessed 31 December 2023)
11. ↑ Barbour collection: "Barbour collection"
    Catalog: Barbour collection General index Bro - Brown, I-N
    Film number: 008272222 > image 6672 of 7958
    FamilySearch Image: 3Q9M-CS56-DS8F-W (accessed 31 December 2023)
12. ↑ Barbour collection: "Barbour collection"
    Catalog: Barbour collection General index Bro - Brown, I-N
    Film number: 008272222 > image 5177 of 7958
    FamilySearch Image: 3Q9M-CS56-DSH2-S (accessed 31 December 2023)
13. ↑ Barbour collection: "Barbour collection"
    Catalog: Barbour collection General index Bro - Brown, I-N
    Film number: 008272222 > image 4858 of 7958
    FamilySearch Image: 3Q9M-CS56-D3KL-1 (accessed 31 December 2023)
14. ↑ Barbour collection: "Barbour collection"
    Catalog: Barbour collection General index Bro - Brown, I-N
    Film number: 008272222 > image 5423 of 7958
    FamilySearch Image: 3Q9M-CS56-DS3P-5 (accessed 31 December 2023)
15. ↑ "Connecticut, Vital Records, Prior to 1850", , FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:QP4Z-9V8Q : Fri Nov 10 00:56:24 UTC 2023), Entry for Luther Brown and Benjamin, 29 Nov 1782.
16. ↑ Barbour collection: "Barbour collection"
    Catalog: Barbour collection General index Bro - Brown, I-N
    Film number: 008272222 > image 4604 of 7958
    FamilySearch Image: 3Q9M-CS56-DSHN-7 (accessed 31 December 2023)
17. ↑ "Connecticut Births and Christenings, 1649-1906", , FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:F7WR-FKS : 7 January 2020), Hannah in entry for Aurelia Brown, 1778.
18. ↑ Barbour collection: "Barbour collection"
    Catalog: Barbour collection General index Bro - Brown, I-N
    Film number: 008272222 > image 4675 of 7958
    FamilySearch Image: 3Q9M-CS56-DS8V-H (accessed 31 December 2023)