Major James Brown

James II - Major James Brown was born at Newprt. As he was admitted Freeman, May 6, 1701, his birth must have been before 1680. He lived first at Newport and later at Scituate, R. I. (after 1739) He died in 1756.

His first wife, Ann Clarke, is supposed to have been the daughter of James and Hope (Power) Clarke. She was the mother of his five children. He married second, April 27, 1740, Catherine Greene, daughter of Job and Phebe (Sayles) Greene, and great granddaughter of Roger Williams.

The Chad Browne Memorial says of James Brwon: "The Colonial Records contain frequent mention of his name. In 1704, he was appointed to assist in supervising the printing of the Laws. With the exception of one year, he was Deputy from 1706-1715, and Assistant from 1715-1723. He was Justice of the Peace in 1708, and Major for the Island from 1711-1713. At that time, there were two Majors - one for the Island, and one for the Main. It was the highest military title of the period. After 1711, the name fo James Brown was always written with the prefix, Major.

With two others, he was appointed June 12, 1711, to buy a vessel fro the intended expedition of the Colony against Canada, and the following year, he and the Governor were empowered to employ workmen to enlarge the Colony House.

In 1702, James and Ann Brown of Newport conveyed a piece of land to Joseph Latham, which was originally owned by his grandfather, Chad.

Land in newport was transferred to John Wrasson, yeoman, and wife, of New London, Conn. Deeds signed in newport, R.I., April 1734, by James Brown, Anna Brown, john Brown, Dorothy Brown. James and Ann Clarke Brown had four sons and one daughter all born in Newport,

1. James born 1700, m Ann Noyes, sister of Dorothy Noyes who married his brother. James died 13 Dec 1765 at Providence. He was a mariner, Children named in their father's will: George, Ann, Hope, Mary, Elizabeth, James, Hermione.

2. John born 1702, m Dorothy Noyes, 1728

3. Clarke born 1704, Referring to him, W.B. Browne says: "Living in 1765, and named in the will of his brother James; probably the Clarke Brown of Newport 'boat builder', who married 4 Dec 1740, Elizabeth Gardner." Rev Clark Brown in his pedigree written in longhand, calls him "Clark Brown, brother to my Grandfather Brown."

4. Hope b 1706 m 20 March 1720, Nathaniel Coddington B. 1692, son of Nathaniel and grandson of Gov. William Coddington. They had ten chlldren.

5. Thomas, born 1706 at Sclutate 1775 m 3 April 1746 Almey Green, daughter of John Green, of Potowomot, They had five children: Fleet, Judith, Job, Deborah, Thomas, According to W.B. Browne, six others were named in their father's will: John James, Nathaniel, Robe, Almey and Anne.

In the will of Major James Brown, proved 27 Nov 1756, mention is made of land which he owned in South Amboy, NJ and in Northfield, MA.

Source: The Brown Family History II. By Judith Young. page 19-20.