John Brien (abt. 1766 - 1834)

Born about 1766 in Ireland

Husband of Harriet Smith (McPherson) Brien — married 6 Dec 1804 in Frederick County, Maryland, United States of America

Died 27 Jul 1834 at about age 68 in Bedford Springs, Bedford Township, Bedford, Pennsylvania, United States

Biography

1766 Birth and Parents

Birth:

Date: 1766

Place: Ireland

Source: #S6 Page: 29, John Brien was born in Ireland in 1766. He immigrated to America by 1794. Quality or Certainty of Data: 3

1794 Immigration

1794 to Lebanon County, Pa

Colebrook Furnace

John first worked at Colebrook Furnace, Lebanon County, PA. In 1797 he relocated to York County, PA, where he owned Spring Forge. He shared ownership of Catoctin Furnace 1n 1820 with his father-in-law, Col. John McPherson, son of Col. Robert McPherson of Marsh Creek (Gettysburg), PA.

1820 Purchase of Catoctin Furnace

In 1820 John Brien, a wealthy Irish immigrant bought Catoctin Furnace. ^[1]

"Four brothers, James, Baker, Roger and Thomas Johnson, had the farsightedness to see the valley's industrial potential on the eve of the American Revolution. This group of enterprising men bought land at the foot of the Catoctin Ridge and then began construction of an iron furnace. The Johnson furnace was in blast by 1776 and turning out a variety of useful tools and household items, including the popular tin plate or Catoctin stove. Toward the end of the Revoltutionary War it also produced ammunition for the Continental Army, including shells fired during the siege of Yorktown. Following independence, Thomas Johnson went on to become Maryland's first governor. " ^[1]

"In 1803 his brother Baker Johnson became the sole owner of Catoctin Furnace. Shortly thereafter he built a stately Georgian mansion, "Auburn, " still standing proudly just west of Route 15 at the southern end of the village." ^[1]

"Over time, the furnace site grew into a sprawling village community with specialized workers and everything needed to support them and the furnace. A charcoal house, casting house, foundry, forge, stables, wagon sheds, saw mill, store, and church were all necessary to the iron operations, not to mention housing for miners, colliers, furnace fillers, founders, forge men, foreman, blacksmiths and other skilled workers." ^[1]

Enslaved Workers

Enslaved Africans provided a large part of the labor force at Catoctin furnace in the early days. Johnson enslaved more than 80 people including men such as Collier Sam and Waggoner's Henry and Harvey. Highly skilled and experienced, these enslaved craftsmen worked as blacksmiths, colliers, founders, and forge men. They in turn taught youths these skilled and valuable trades. In addition to their roles in the making of iron, members of the enslaved community toiled in the vineyard and at other agrarian tasks on large farms surrounding the furnace. They also worked as domestic servants for the ironmasters and their families. ^[1]

1831 Mortgage for Georgetown Property

Know All men by these presents that we John Brien, John McPherson and Edward B. McPherson all of Frederick County in the State of Maryland are held and firmly bound unto William Gunton and both of the city of Washington in the District of Columbia in the sum of Twelve Thousand eight hundred and twenty five Dollars current money of the United States to be paid to the said William Gunton and or to their certain attorney, Executors & administrators or assigns to which payment well and truly to be made, We

bind our heirs, executors and administrators firmly by these presents, sealed with our seals dated Sixth day of May One Thousand eight hundred and thirty one.

Whereas certain William J. McPherson and Horatio McPherson as trustees for the sale of certain property in George Town in the District aforesaid late of Sarah McPherson their late mother deceased

• caused the same to be offered for sale by public auction on the fourth day of May instant and at which the above named William Gunton became the bidder for, and purchaser of a dwelling house, store and lot situated at the corner of Bridge and High Streets and now in the occupation of Otto M. Louthecum, at the price of Eight Thousand five hundred and fifty Dollars and
• whereas the said purchase was made by the said William Gunton at the request of the above bounden John Brien, John McPherson and Edward B. McPherson and for and on behalf of the several heirs at law of the said Sarah McPherson,
• and he hath given to the said trustees in order the more fully to execute their trust his three promissory notes bearing even date with the within obligation each for the sum of two thousand one hundred and thirty seven Dollars and fifty cents payable one of them on the fifth day of May one thousand eight hundred & thirty two, another of them on the fifth day of May one thousand eight hundred thirty three and the other of them on the fifth day of May one Thousand eight hundred and thirty four, being for the last three installments of the purchase money aforesaid,
• and the before named obligors have undertaken that the first installment thereof shall be discharged forth with agreeably to the conditions of sale, now the above written obligation is such that if the above bounded John Brien, John McPherson and Edward B. McPherson or any of them their or any of their heirs, executors or administrators shall and do well truly satisfy pay or discharge the several installments of the said purchase money for which notes have been given as aforesaid by the said William Gunton and as and when the same shall become due payable and shall and do from time to time and at all times hereafter well and sufficiently
• save defend keep harmless and indemnify the said William Gunton andt their heirs, executors and Administrators and their lands and tenements goods and chattels of and from all actions suits, costs, charges and damages which be they or any of them shall or may incur or sustain for or by reason of his or their having made the aforesaid purchase and given notes here in before mentioned of any of them.
• Then the before written obligation shall be void or else be and remain in full force and virtue in law-----------
• Signed Sealed and

Delivered in the presence Of R. Roack * Know all men by these presents that I John McPherson of Frederick County and I John Brien of Washington County both of the State of Maryland are held and firmly bound to James M. Lingan of the District of Columbia & John Henderson of Montgomery County Maryland Executors of Richard Henderson deceased in the just and full sum of five thousand Dollars specie to be paid to the said James M. Lingan and John Henderson or their certain attorney, heirs Executors, administrators, assigns to the which payment well and truly to be made and done we bind ourselves our and each of our heirs jointly and severally in and for the whole firmly by these presents sealed with our seals and dated this Twenty first day of April one Thousand eight hundred and six.

• The condition of the above obligation is such that if the above bound John McPherson and John Brien or either of them shall well & truly pay or cause to be paid unto the said James M. Lingan and John Henderson or either of them their certain attorney heirs Executors administrators or assigns the just and full sum of two thousand five hundred Dollars specie at or upon the first day of May one thousand eight hundred and ten with legal interest thereas from the first day of March one thousand eight hundred and six, then the above obligation to be void otherwise to remain in full force and virtue in law.
• John McPherson

:Signed and sealed in presents of :The words or either of them :interlined before signed

Lancelot Jacques

:Sam Lingery

• We the executors of Richard Henderson deceased do in consequences of a debt due from said Richard Henderson to his brother Alexander Henderson hereby transfer and makeover to said Alexander Henderson his heirs and assigns all our right title interest and claim to the within mentioned bond- given unto our hands & seals this 2nd day of June 1807-
• James Lingan Seal

:John Hendersontt Seal

Signed Sealed & Paid on the 25th day of March 1810

Delivered in the bank of Columbia paid of the within

Presents of two thousand five hundred dollars- On receipt of the balance by my son Thomas he is hereby authorized to discharge this bond.

April 30, 1810

Aron Henderson

Henry Maning

George Clemt

GeorgeTown (col) May 1810

Received the balance due on this bond

Jn Henderson

• Bond

John McPherson

John Brien

To James M. Lingan & John Henderson

00 1810

paid March 25th 1810 by his Bank of Columbia 00 April 21, 1806

• Agreement Between

:Horaio McPherson & Others- :To :John McPherson Admin of John Brien

1834

1834 Articles of Agreement

Articles of agreement made and concluded this day of --------- A.D. 1834 between Horatio McPherson, John McPherson Brien, William C. Brien and Henry A. Brien, of the one part and John McPherson of the other part. - Whereas John McPherson Senior and John Brien were partners in certain Iron works in Washington County in the State of Maryland.t That the said John McPherson is dead, and the said Horatio McPherson has become acting Executor upon the estate of the said John McPherson Senior. That John Brien the surviving partner of the said McPherson & Brien has also lately died intestate and the said John McPherson Junior has taken out letters of administration upon the estate of the said John Brien. That no account of the partner- ship of the said John McPherson Senior and John Brien was ever settled between them during their lives nor has the said John Brien as the surviving partner settled on account of the said firm with the said acting Executor of the said John McPherson Senior- and whereas the said John Brien after the death of the said John McPherson Senior entered into various partnerships with the above named Horatio McPherson, John McPherson Brien, William C. Brien, Robert C. Brien & Henry A. Brien. That the said John Brien died without settling up the partnership of the said firms leaving the said John McPherson Brien, William C. Brien, Henry A. Brien and a child of the said Robert C. Brien his legal heirs and representatives- and whereas the parties to these presents being anxious that the Estate of the said John Brien should be settled to the greatest advantage both for these parties as partners and heirs of the said John Brien and the partnership debts of all the parties be fully paid and satisfied. This therefore covenanted and agreed in the manner following viz. That the said John McPherson Junior as the administrator of the said John Brien take an inventory of all the personal estate of the said John Brien particularly dismantiling the partnership effects of the firm of John McPherson Senior and John Brien, and to apply the partnership effects of said firm first to the payment of the partnership debts of the said firm and if any surplus remains after the payment of the said debts to pay or is share of the said surplus belonging to the estate of the said John McPherson to his acting Executor- And it is future agreed that all the other property belonging to the other firms shall be inventoried as the property of the said John Brien and applied onto the discharge of the debts of said John Brien both those in partnership, as well as his private debts and it is further convenanted and agreed that the said John McPherson as the administrator of the said John Brien shall sell all the property so returned in his inventory free and released from all claim we may or might have to the same as surviving parties excepting that part belonging to the firm of John McPherson & John Brien.- In testimony whereof we have hereunto set our Hands& seals the day & year first above written.

Signed, sealed &t

Clan McPherson website: http://www.clan-macpherson.org/genealogy/index.html GED of Robert McPherson 1689

1834 Death and Burial

Death:

Date: 27 Jul 1834

Place: Bedford Springs, PA while on vacation

Source: #S7 Page: 12

Burial: Frederick County, MD

Sources

1. ↑ ^{1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4} Catoctin Furnace Historical Society. Catoctin Furnace History Accessed 5 October 2022 jhd

See also:

• Source: S6 Media: Book Abbreviation: Catoctin History, Spring 2003 Title: Catoctin History, Spring 2003
• Source: S7 Media: Book Abbreviation: The Jacob Engelbrecht Death Ledger of Frederick County, Maryland Title: The Jacob Engelbrecht Death Ledger of Frederick County, Maryland Author: Edith Olivia Eader and Trudie Davis-Long Date: 1820-1890 Text: excellent Repository: #R10
• Repository: R10 Name: Not Given Address: Not Given Name: Not Given

Acknowledgments

Thank you to Andrew Fowler for creating WikiTree profile Brien-74 through the import of RbtMcP1689.ged on Sep 13, 2013. Click to the Changes page for the details of edits by Andrew and others.