Estella Brown (1858 - aft. 1885)

Born 6 May 1858 in Mt. Washington, Berkshire County MA

Ancestors

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Biography

Estella was born in the Township of Mount Washington, Berkshire County MA in 1858 ^[1]

She was the illegitimate daughter ^[2] and youngest known child of Daniel Brown and Mary Cater.

Her father died in January 1858 before her birth ^[3]

From the nearby Township of Copake Station (now Copake Falls) in Columbia County NY she, her mother Maria and her older siblings Eli, Ellen and Daniel entered the Columbia County Poor House in Ghent NY in December of 1858 ^[4]

Her older sister Ellen and mother Maria died in the Poor House in February 1859 ^[4] and December 25th 1863 ^[4] respectively. Her older brother Daniel left the Poor House 3 days after the mother's death ^[4] and is found first with the Amos Hapeman family ^[5] and later the Charles Hapemen family ^[6]

In 1868 she left the Poor House ^[4] and is found living as a servant with the widow Anna Esselstyne in Town of Valatie, Columbia County NY ^{[6][7] [8]} where she probably remained at least until Anna Esselstyne's death in 1882 ^[9]

Her brother Daniel Brown reported that she married a man with the surname "Scovil" ^[10]

As of 2018 no marriage records or further records of any nature pertaining to Estella have been found. Brown family members of the early 1900's reported they never saw or met her^[11]

Sources

1. ↑ Town of Mt. Washington, Berkshire County records. The original copy of this birth record indicates she was "Black". The only other indication of this kind is found in the 1875 NY State Census where she is listed as "Mullato".
2. ↑ 1860 probate Affidavit related to biological father Daniel Brown re settlement of his estate; executed by his legal wife Amanda Brown then living in Township of Livingston, Columbia County NY; Affidavit found at Town Hall, Great Barrington MA.
3. ↑ Town of Mt. Washington, Berkshire County records. The 1865 State of MA Census indicates he was "Black". No other records have been found to re this indication.
4. ↑ ^{4.0 4.1 4.2 4.3 4.4} Original daily ledger books maintained by the Columbia County Poor House, currently held by the Columbia County Historian's Office in City of Hudson NY.
5. ↑ 1865 NY State Census (error: reported born in NY State).
6. ↑ ^{6.0 6.1} 1870 US Census (error: reported born in NY State).
7. ↑ 1875 NY State Census (error: reported born in NY State).
8. ↑ 1880 US Census (error: reported born in NY State).
9. ↑ NY State Death Certificate available from NY State Heath Dept, Albany NY.
10. ↑ Hand written notes by Robert Milton Brown c.1940.
11. ↑ First-hand information as remembered by Daniel Brown.

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