The Society of Friends (Quakers) began in England in the 1650s, when they broke away from the Puritans. Pennsylvania was founded by William Penn, as a safe place for Friends to live and practice their faith.
Benjamin Brown, Sr. was born in 1741 in Groton, New London County, Connecticut.
He married Sarah Case. She was the daughter of Nathan Case and Mary Tory. They were Quakers.
Bejamin and Sarah's children probably included:
Nathan Brown (1769, married Susannah Wilber),
Benjamin Brown, Jr. (1771, married Susannah Charlotte Wickham),
Hannah Brown (1774, married Dyer Fitch),
Oliver Brown (1776, married Sarah Wiltse),
Lucy Brown (1779, married John Wickham),
Ezra Brown (1782),
Jonathan Brown (1785, married Catherine Lamb Lesher and Esther),
Daniel Brown (1787, married Mary Wiltse), and
Case Brown (1791, married Mary Lesher).
Benjamin Brown served as a private for nine days in October, 1776 in the Ninth Regiment of the Albany Militia under Colonel Peter Van Ness.
On July 13, 1799 Benjamin and his brother Nathan sold their land in Chatham and moved to Leeds County, Ontario. They settled near what is now Athens.
Benjamin did not receive a land grant as a United Empire Loyalist.
Two of the Brown sons refused to bear arms for the British during the War of 1812. Daniel was caught by the British, tried for treason and was acquitted. Ezra escaped across the St. Lawrence River to the United States.
1801-King vs. Jonathan Brown & Wife -for harbouring a Felon-no bill-discharged after paying fees.
Sarah died in 1815 and Benjamin died in 1822.
Alfred, Alva, Andrew, Benjamin, Daniel, David, George, James, John, Johnson, Nathan, Nathaniel, and Nelson Brown appeared on the census lists of Yonge Township, Leeds County Ontario in the 1840s.
New London County, Connecticut was one of four original Connecticut counties and was established on May 10, 1666, by an act of the Connecticut General Court
Johnstown District and for the District of Johnstown on Tuesday the eighteenth day of February in the Forty- sixth year of the reign of our Sovereign Lord George the Third
Nathaniel Brown of Elizabethtown Innkeeper acknowledges to owe to Our Sovereign Lord the King the sum of ten pounds and Billa Flint and Jonathan Mills Church both of the same Yeomen each acknowledge to owe to Our Sovereign Lord the King the sum of five pounds upon condition that the said Nathaniel Brown shall suffer no unlawful games, drunkeness, or any other disorder to be used or committed in his House for and during the term of one year from the fifth day of January last, but shall keep good order and rule within the same during the said term according to law, then this recognizance to be void, otherwise to remain in full force.
Seth Jackway of Yong Yeoman and Nathaniel Brown Junior of the same place acknowledge to owe to Our Sovereign Lord the King the sum of ten pounds each to be made and levied upon their goods and chattels, lands and tenements, to his Majesty's use. The condition of this recognizance is such, that of the said Seth Jackway and Nathaniel Brown Junior shall personally appear at the next Sessions of the Peace in this District, and prosecute and give evidence against Solomon Churchel in a case of trespass and assault, then this recognizance to be void, or else to remain in full force.
George III ruled Great Britain from
October 25, 1760 to
January 29, 1820.
In 1784 the widow Brown, Nathan Brown and Thomas Brown appeared on the provisioning list for disbanded troops as a member of the Loyal Rangers. They were mustered in Augusta.
1801
Ensign Thomas Brown being called appears and on hearing the Witness, the Court are of the opinion that he be discharged they being satisfied of his Loyalty and that the expressions uttered by him were not from any seditious principals....
Hugh Montgomery Constable presented and account in the case of Ensign Thomas Brown amounting to one pound nine shillings and six pence.
Benjamin Brown was born about 1771.
He married Susannah Wickham.
Nathan Brown (1798),
Alvah Brow (1798),
Salome Brown (1802, married James Phillips),
Thomas Brown (1803),
John Brown (1805),
Benjamin Brown (1807),
Elizabeth Brown (1809),
James Wickham Brown (1811),
Hannah Brown (1816).
Benjamin Brown (1806)
Hiram Brown (1808
Anthony Brown (1810),
Jeptha Brown (1812),
Ezra Brown (1814),
Alfred Brown (1816
Franklin Brown (1819),
Henry Brown (1822).
Oliver died on November 16, 1862 in Albion, Orleans County, New York.
The first European settlements in Ontario were after the American Revolution when 5,000 loyalists left the new United States.
Jonathan Brown,
Peter Brown,
Sarissa Brown (married Ezekiel Parish),
Phoebe Brown,
James Brown,
Sally Brown,
Eliza Brown,
Thomas Brown,
Mary Ann Brown
and Samuel Brown.
The Battle of the Windmill was in November, 1838. Loyalists defeated an invasion attempt by Hunter Patriots, led by Nils von Schoultz, who were attempting to overthrow British rule. The battle was at a windmill two miles east of Prescott.
In the War of 1812 (1812-1815) the United States declared war on England because of trade restrictions, impressment, and British support for Indian attacks. They signed the Treaty of Ghent on December 24, 1814 after reaching a stalemate.
from A Record of Marriages Solemnized by William Smart
1823 Jan. 21st.—Peter Brown and Thankful Bentley, both of Yonge, banns, wit. Jonathan Brown, Daniel Munro.
1824 Jan. 28th.—Ezekiel Parish and Sarissa Brown, both of Yonge, banns, wit. Joel Parish, Trueinan Brown
Nathan Brown was born in New York about 1769.
He married Susannah Wilbur (Wilber).
Sarah Brown (1794)
Luther Brown (1796, married Rachel Conley),
Hannah Brown (1798)
Obediah Brown (1800, married Hannah Parish)
Nathan Brown (1801)
William Brown (1802, married Rachel Wiltse),
Daniel Brown ( 1804, married Sarah Towsley)
Asa Brown (1806, married Eliza Lee)
Susannah Brown (1808, Joel Parish),
Nancy Brown (1809),
Armenia Brown (1811)
Ellen B. Brown (1812),
Nathan Brown (1812)
Chester Brown (1814)
Anson Brown (1816), and
Elizabeth Brown (1822, married George Johnston).
On February 7, 1813, the American army raided Elizabethtown (present day Brockville, Leeds County, Ontario). The Americans crossed the frozen St. Lawrence River and seized equipment, freed American prisoners, and captured Canadian men.
from A Record of Marriages Solemnized by William Smart
1823 March 12th.—Nathan C. Brown and Huldah Holmes, both of Yonge, banns,
wit. Hiram Boyce, James Phillips.
1824 March 17th.—Nathaniel Brown and Peggy Philips, both of Yonge, banns,
wit. Philip Wickwire [Wickware], Seth S. Cornell.
Benjamin Brown, Jr.
David W. Brown (1800),
John Brown (1805), and
James Wickham Brown (1811).
Ezra Brown
Rebecca Clarissa Brown (1802),
Achsah S. Brown (1803)
Nelson Brown (1805)
Orrin Brown (1807),
Fannie Brown (1810
Almeda Brown (1813
Nancy Jane Brown (1816)
Elizabeth Betsey Brown (1819)
Sally Brown (1821
James Wickham Brown was born about 1811. His father was Benjamin Brown, Jr.
He married Eleanor Bates.
Byron Brown,
Sarah Brown,
Hiram Brown,
Ladorna Brown,
Adeline Brown,
Maria Brown,
Ome Brown,
James Brown,
Eleanor Brown and
Munsell Brown.
The Rev. William Brown, of the Rideau, was a member of the first class organized in that section, the number in the class being five. From this little acorn, the reverend gentleman lived to see arise and flourish the sturdy oak of Methodism, whose ample branches proved a resting-place for thou sands.
William Brown was born in Duchess County, August 27th, 1769. He came to Canada in 1795, and first settled not far from the St. Lawrence, on the town line between Augusta and Edwardsburg. It is believed that he belonged to the class established by the Hecks. Subsequently he removed to Woll ord, where he was known as " Priest Brown." He was thrice married, his second wife being a Scotch woman, the widowed mother of the Rev.
Dutchess County, New York patriots forced colonists loyal to the British government to flee north into what became Ontario.
From Six Generations of Browns by Harriet Brown Paul
Benjamin [Brown] was born in 1741 and married Sarah Case in 1768. She was the daughter of Nathan and Mary (Tory) Case who lived in Stanford, Dutchess County, New York. Her father's will signed May 3, 1800 mentions his daughter Sarah Brown and requests that he be "decently buried according to the order of the Frds." This establishes the family as Quakers.
Seven sons and two daughers were born to Benjamin and Sarah: Nathan, Benjamin Jr., Hannah, Oliver, Lucy, Ezra, Jonathan, Daniel and Case.
This family lived in Chatham, New York.
The National Archives contains a record of Benjamin's Revolutionary War service which follows:
Benjamin Brown, private in the Ninth Regiment of the Albany Militia under Col. Peter Van Ness. Regiment ordered to hunt for and apprehend Tories in Kinderhook and Kings District. Time served -- 9 days in October 1776.
Whether further time was spent in service and not recorded is a possibility, since his niece (daughter of Hannah Holmes) said that he served with the Minute Men at various times.
On July 13, 1799 Benjamin and his brother Nathan and their wives sold land in the Town of Chatham estimated at 20 acres for $750. At this time the family was preparing to move to Canada and all of Benjamin's family as well as his brother Nathan moved to Leeds County, Ontario. They settled near what is now Athens sometime between the date of this sale and 1801. In Canada he became the owner of land in Yonge Township, Leeds County.
Benjamin was 59 years old in 1800 which seems a rather advanced age to make the move to Canada. Probably the desire for better or cheaper land was a motivation. A researcher in Ottawa has found that Benjamin made an application for a grant of land as a United Empire Loyalist. However, since his name was not among those listed as Loyalists he received no grant. A certificate found attached to Petition B, Bundle 5, No. 48 in Ottawa gives interesting information:
I do here by certify that Benjamin Brown, formerly of Kings District in the time of War, but a resident in the this Province more than one year, to be a man that spared no manner of panes to assist myself and all other distressed people that he knew of either by night or day, he gave me all the intelligence he possibly could, kept me in his own house when others dare not do it and when I returned through the country on my way to Canada I found him to be the same well disposed and faithful subject to His Majesty, the King of Great Britain as he was when I left him in the year 1778. At present he and seven sons is settled in the Town of Young and is an excellent farmer.
Dated Feb. 24, 1801.
Signed: Barret Dyre
One ponders the circumstances that might have influenced Benjamin's change in attitude between 1776 and 1778. Might Sarah, his Quaker wife have been instrumental in effecting his changed loyalties? Did the 9 days he served in the Revolutionary War keep him from getting a Loyalist grant of land? His sons, Oliver and Daniel both received such grants since their wives were daughters of Loyalists. Both of these men later returned to the U.S. as did Ezra, Case and Jonathan.
Not many years after Benjamin's arrival in Canada the War of 1812 began to have an effect on his family. Two of his sons refused to bear arms for the British -- Daniel was caught by the British, tried for treason and was acquitted. Ezra escaped across the St. Lawrence. Further details of his activities are given later in this account.
Benjamin's wife Sarah died in 1815; Benjamin died in 1822. It is thought that they were buried in a small cemetery on the eastern edge of Athens across the road from the former location of a Friends Church. The cemetery is now in ruins."
from Portrait and Biographical Album of Ionia and Montcalm Counties, Minnesota
Hiram [Brown] was born in the ancestral home in Ontario, Canada, July 27,1842. He is a prominent farmer and representative citizen of Easton Township, Ionia County, a gentleman of sound information and agreeable disposition.
His parents, James W. and Eleanor Bates Brown, are Canadians of English extraction. He is one of ten children, all still living, namely: Byron, Sarah, Hiram, Ladorna, Adeline, Maria, Omer, James, Eleanor and Munsell. His grandfather, Benjamin Brown, was one of the pioneers of Leeds County, Ontario, Canada.
The subject of this sketch grew to manhood in the early home, and received his education in the public schools of Leeds County. When about twenty-four years old he went to Orleans County,N. Y., and worked out on a farm for about three years. . .
