A BROWN STUDY

Brown is a common name and it is unsurprising to find it on both my father's line and my mother's line. Interestingly enough, both involve "runaways" - so the Browns were a unique group regardless of tree or there may be more in common than previously thought.

My Mother's Line of Brown  (Velma Cochren> Annie B. Brown> Burgess F. Brown> Ptolema P. Brown > Isaac Brown and wife Mary Mooney)

Isaac Brown would always say he was born 1806 in Tennessee and he named his children from names in classical literature and history, indicating, that he was well read. A legend of the family says that this Isaac Brown ran away from am apprenticeship in Scotland, changed his name, and came to North America. Once he landed he moved inland, was swept up in an action to protect from or attack local tribes and in a conflict was injured, cared for by a leader's daughter.  One son had a story that the original name was McDerknee of something similar. Recent DNA by male members of this Brown clan (and a large, diverse one it is!) there is evidence that some children may be fostered children (or orphans taken in by this Brown and his wife).  There is also some indication (historical references and events) that seem to indicate that this story may actually be describing events about Isaac's father or grandfather!

My Father's Line of Brown (Roy Terry> Wesley S. Terry> John King Terry> Martin Terry>William Tery> John Terry and wife Esther Brown Terry)

The parents of Esther Brown Terry are believed to be Thomas Brown and wife Mary Hadden  and her grandfather Henry Brown Sr. The line is bit more iffy past that point and many lines show a shift from Salem County, NJ to Southold, NY but no clear evidence for the migration.

What is interesting in this line is that according to North American Histories, the section on the Brown Family, is a note from the New Jersey Archives concerning the estate of one Alexander Grant of Salem County, NJ who left a will dated 21 Feb 1727. His wife Ann acted as administrator and presented a list of debtors to the courts that included one HENRY BROWN designated a "runaway". 

A Henry Brown and Samuel Brown appear very early (circa 1744) in Augusta County, Virginia (at an estate sale, building roads, militia members, etc.). In court records of 3 Nov 1753 a complaint was filed by one Nicolas Gibbons, assignee of Amy Grant, against one Henry Brown described as being "of Mannington, Salem, NJ" a place in western NJ, he was a "yeoman" and referenced on a bond  dated 5 June 1729.  Henry Brown Jr, son of Henry Brown Sr. and Isaac Taylor entered into bail for Henry Brown Sr. 19 March 1756 (Book 5, pg. 48).

In 1757, this Henry BROWN will die in an confrontation with Native Americans (believed to be Shawnee due to tensions at the time in that place) and was killed.