Robert Brownfield, Jr.

• ID: I4305
• Name: Robert BROWNFIELD
• Sex: M
• Birth: 1705/1715 in Northern Ireland
• Death: 1790/1800 in Mecklenburg, NC
• Burial: Steel Creek Presbyterian Church Cemetery, Mecklenburg County, NC

Note:

Robert's parents' family was in Chester County, Pennsylvania by 1737 and there is evidence that Robert, Jr., was married soon after. Records show that Robert Brownfield, Jr. purchased a 59 1/2 acre farm one-half mile west of Russellville, Pennsylvania, which was a part of the 5,000 acre William Penn, Jr., manor. His tax assessment for 1739 in Chester County was ten shillings, nine pence. Following the death of his father in September 1738, and the removal of his mother (upon her request) from administrative duties in February 1739, Robert and his brother Charles assisted in the settlement of the estate. After the 1740 tax assessment, the name of Robert Brownfield, Jr., disappears from Chester County records. However, family records indicate that all of Robert's children were born in Pennsylvania. This would mean that they remained there at least through 1757 and possibly later

It is likely that in the 1760's the family took one of the major southern routes of Scotch-Irish migration through the Shenandoah Valley and into the Yadkin River Valley of North Carolina. The Brownfield name appears on public records in Mecklenburg County, North Carolina, in 1768, for the first time. William and John Brownfield were witnesses to a deed made by John and Martha Henry to John, Robert, and James Bigham on the north branch of Steele Creek, dated December 23, 1768, in Mecklenburg County. This is the first indication of the family in North Carolina

On May 3, 1769, William Tryon, Governor of North Carolina, authorized the granting of 300 acres of land to William Brownfield. The wheels of the monarchy turned slowly and in July 1771, the grant was issued and it was for only 150 acres. The chainbearers for the survey were Robert Brownfield and Samuel Bigham. Robert Brownfield, Jr., had settled just southwest of the present city of Charlotte. This is believed to be the first settlement in the deep south to become saturated with Scotch-Irish Presbyterians and nearly all came from Southeastern Pennsylvania and its adjacent surroundings in Northern Maryland. On Steele Creek, just south of Charlotte, one of the earliest churches was organized by 1760. In 1872 Pastor John Douglas wrote a history of the Steele Creek Presbyterian Church in which he indicated on page 7 that the congregation met for some time "under the widespread branches of some forest oak." He further stated, "In the course of time they (the Steele Creek Church) obtained a small piece of land, not exceeding two acres, from a Mr. Brownfield (or Brumfield as he was more commonly called). It is unknown if this land was purchased or donated. The third published history of the Steele Creek Church in 1978 gives the following information on page 13: "Apparently there were two tracts of land chosen for Steele Creek Church. The first was obtained from Robert Broomfield, whether it was purchased or was a gift is not known. The tract consisted of about two acres on the headwaters of Steele Creek." The only purchase of land made by Robert Brownfield, Jr., that can be found was made January 7, 1771: "William Bigham and wife Sarah of Mecklenburg County, planter, to Robert Brownfield, of same, planter, for 60 pounds proclamation money ... 300 acres on branches of Beaver Dam Creek on west side of Hugh Parks, part of grant to Bigham made on 23 December 1763, four acres of said land, including the old and new meeting houses, the graveyard and the spring on the north side of said meeting houses, only excepted and exempted for the use of the congregation. Witnesses: Robert Brownfield, Jr., and Samuel Bigham; signed: William Bigham and Sarah Bigham. Robert Brownfield, Jr., was never referred to as "Junior" in North Carolina records. He was called Robert Brownfield, Sr., and the witness to the above deed was his son, the twenty-one year old Robert Brownfield, Jr., who will hereinafter be called Dr. Robert Brownfield. The elder Robert was a planter whose 300-acre farm joined the 150 belonging to son William so that they had a joint estate of 450 acres. Following the American Revolution Robert and William sold a portion of that estate to neighbor, James Bigham. This deed for 200 pounds sterling was made October 10, 1783 for the sale of 262 acres, thus reducing the estate to 188 acres: "being part of two tracts of land, one granted to Robert Brownfield by deed from William Bigham dated January 7, 1771; the other grant to Will Brownfield by patent dated July 12, 1771. Witnesses: James Hail and John Brownfield; signed: William Brownfield and Robert Brownfield (his mark)."

By 1790 when the first U. S. census was taken Robert Brownfield was an old man living only with his wife in Mecklenberg. He had been a vital part of an area which had produced its own Declaration of Independence (The Mecklenburg Declaration) prior to July 4, 1776 where virtually no Tories could be found among these Scotch-Irishmen. Robert had seen all three sons serve as officers of the Revolution and had lived long enough to be a part of the new nation whose liberties his sons and sons-in-law had helped to achieve. Oldest son, William, was likely the only one of the children still living nearby when Robert died in the 1790's. According to a great granddaughter, Jane Wilson, he was interred in the Steele Creek Church graveyard. There is no marker there today designating the site of his burial.

1

Father: Robert BROWNFIELD b: 14 JUN 1670 in Northern Ireland

Mother: Joan

Marriage 1 Jane STEWART (STUART) b: 1716 in Northern Ireland

Married: ABT 1737 in Chester County, Pennsylvania

Children

• William BROWNFIELD b: ABT 1739 in Chester County, Pennsylvania
• Margaret "Peggy" BROWNFIELD b: ABT 1742 in Chester County, Pennsylvania
• Ann BROWNFIELD b: ABT 1743 in Chester County, Pennsylvania
• John BROWNFIELD b: ABT 1746 in Chester County, Pennsylvania
• Isabella BROWNFIELD b: ABT 1747 in Chester County, Pennsylvania
• Robert BROWNFIELD b: 1750 in Chester County, Pennsylvania
• Mary "Mollie" BROWNFIELD b: ABT 1754 in Chester County, Pennsylvania
• Flora BROWNFIELD b: ABT 1757 in Chester County, Pennsylvania

Sources:

• Found at "vhhawk" database at RootsWeb.com, WorldConnect
• 1790 census for North Carolina, Mecklenburg (Im 3 at Ancestry.com)
• December 23, 1768, in Mecklenburg County (Deed Book 7, pp 231, 232)
• July 1771, N.C. Land Grants, File #1863
• January 7, 1771 Mecklenburg Deed Book 5, pp. 328-330 (N.C.)
• October 10, 1783 Mecklenburg Deed Book 17, p. 415 Note the DOB & DOD are approximate.

This information is from a posting by pssallee1 on ancestry.com:

Birth: 1705/1715 in Northern Ireland. Death: 1790/1800 in Mecklenburg, NC.

Burial: Steel Creek Presbyterian Church Cemetery, Mecklenburg County, NC.

Robert's parents' family was in Chester County, Pennsylvania by 1737 and there is evidence that Robert, Jr., was married soon after. Records show that Robert Brownfield, Jr. purchased a 59 1/2 acre farm one-half mile west of Russellville, Pennsylvania, which was a part of the 5,000 acre William Penn, Jr., manor. His tax assessment for 1739 in Chester County was ten shillings, nine pence. Following the death of his father in September 1738, and the removal of his mother (upon her request) from administrative duties in February 1739, Robert and his brother Charles assisted in the settlement of the estate. After the 1740 tax assessment, the name of Robert Brownfield, Jr., disappears from Chester County records. However, family records indicate that all of Robert's children were born in Pennsylvania. This would mean that they remained there at least through 1757 and possibly later.

It is likely that in the 1760's the family took one of the major southern routes of Scotch-Irish migration through the Shenandoah Valley and into the Yadkin River Valley of North Carolina. The Brownfield name appears on public records in Mecklenburg County, North Carolina, in 1768, for the first time. William and John Brownfield were witnesses to a deed made by John and Martha Henry to John, Robert, and James Bigham on the north branch of Steele Creek, dated December 23, 1768, in Mecklenburg County. This is the first indication of the family in North Carolina.

On May 3, 1769, William Tryon, Governor of North Carolina, authorized the granting of 300 acres of land to William Brownfield. The wheels of the monarchy turned slowly and in July 1771, the grant was issued and it was for only 150 acres. The chainbearers for the survey were Robert Brownfield and Samuel Bigham. Robert Brownfield, Jr., had settled just southwest of the present city of Charlotte. This is believed to be the first settlement in the deep south to become saturated with Scotch-Irish Presbyterians and nearly all came from Southeastern Pennsylvania and its adjacent surroundings in Northern Maryland. On Steele Creek, just south of Charlotte, one of the earliest churches was organized by 1760.

In 1872 Pastor John Douglas wrote a history of the Steele Creek Presbyterian Church in which he indicated on page 7 that the congregation met for some time "under the widespread branches of some forest oak." He further stated, "In the course of time they (the Steele Creek Church) obtained a small piece of land, not exceeding two acres, from a Mr. Brownfield (or Brumfield as he was more commonly called). It is unknown if this land was purchased or donated. The third published history of the Steele Creek Church in 1978 gives the following information on page 13: "Apparently there were two tracts of land chosen for Steele Creek Church. The first was obtained from Robert Broomfield, whether it was purchased or was a gift is not known. The tract consisted of about two acres on the headwaters of Steele Creek." The only purchase of land made by Robert Brownfield, Jr., that can be found was made January 7, 1771: "William Bigham and wife Sarah of Mecklenburg County, planter, to Robert Brownfield, of same, planter, for 60 pounds proclamation money ... 300 acres on branches of Beaver Dam Creek on west side of Hugh Parks, part of grant to Bigham made on 23 December 1763, four acres of said land, including the old and new meeting houses, the graveyard and the spring on the north side of said meeting houses, only excepted and exempted for the use of the congregation. Witnesses: Robert Brownfield, Jr., and Samuel Bigham; signed: William Bigham and Sarah Bigham.

Robert Brownfield, Jr., was never referred to as "Junior" in North Carolina records. He was called Robert Brownfield, Sr., and the witness to the above deed was his son, the twenty-one year old Robert Brownfield, Jr., who will hereinafter be called Dr. Robert Brownfield. The elder Robert was a planter whose 300-acre farm joined the 150 belonging to son William so that they had a joint estate of 450 acres. Following the American Revolution Robert and William sold a portion of that estate to neighbor, James Bigham. This deed for 200 pounds sterling was made October 10, 1783 for the sale of 262 acres, thus reducing the estate to 188 acres: "being part of two tracts of land, one granted to Robert Brownfield by deed from William Bigham dated January 7, 1771; the other grant to Will Brownfield by patent dated July 12, 1771. Witnesses: James Hail and John Brownfield; signed: William Brownfield and Robert Brownfield (his mark).".

By 1790 when the first U. S. census was taken Robert Brownfield was an old man living only with his wife in Mecklenberg. He had been a vital part of an area which had produced its own Declaration of Independence (The Mecklenburg Declaration) prior to July 4, 1776 where virtually no Tories could be found among these Scotch-Irishmen. Robert had seen all three sons serve as officers of the Revolution and had lived long enough to be a part of the new nation whose liberties his sons and sons-in-law had helped to achieve. Oldest son, William, was likely the only one of the children still living nearby when Robert died in the 1790's. According to a great granddaughter, Jane Wilson, he was interred in the Steele Creek Church graveyard. There is no marker there today designating the site of his burial..

1.

Father: Robert BROWNFIELD b: 14 JUN 1670 in Northern Ireland.

Mother: Joan.

Marriage 1 Jane STEWART (STUART) b: 1716 in Northern Ireland.

Married: ABT 1737 in Chester County, Pennsylvania.

Children.

William BROWNFIELD b: ABT 1739 in Chester County, Pennsylvania Margaret "Peggy" BROWNFIELD b: ABT 1742 in Chester County, Pennsylvania Ann BROWNFIELD b: ABT 1743 in Chester County, Pennsylvania John BROWNFIELD b: ABT 1746 in Chester County, Pennsylvania Isabella BROWNFIELD b: ABT 1747 in Chester County, Pennsylvania Robert BROWNFIELD b: 1750 in Chester County, Pennsylvania Mary "Mollie" BROWNFIELD b: ABT 1754 in Chester County, Pennsylvania Flora BROWNFIELD b: ABT 1757 in Chester County, Pennsylvania

Sources:.

Found at "vhhawk" database at RootsWeb.com, WorldConnect.

1790 census for North Carolina, Mecklenburg (Im 3 at Ancestry.com).

December 23, 1768, in Mecklenburg County (Deed Book 7, pp 231, 232).

July 1771, N.C. Land Grants, File #1863.

January 7, 1771 Mecklenburg Deed Book 5, pp. 328-330 (N.C.).

October 10, 1783 Mecklenburg Deed Book 17, p. 415

• Reference: Find A Grave Memorial - SmartCopy: Jan 5 2018, 12:49:01 UTC

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Find a Grave bio

Note the DOB & DOD are approximate.

This information is from a posting by pssallee1 on ancestry.com:

Birth: 1705/1715 in Northern Ireland. Death: 1790/1800 in Mecklenburg, NC.

Burial: Steel Creek Presbyterian Church Cemetery, Mecklenburg County, NC.

Robert's parents' family was in Chester County, Pennsylvania by 1737 and there is evidence that Robert, Jr., was married soon after. Records show that Robert Brownfield, Jr. purchased a 59 1/2 acre farm one-half mile west of Russellville, Pennsylvania, which was a part of the 5,000 acre William Penn, Jr., manor. His tax assessment for 1739 in Chester County was ten shillings, nine pence. Following the death of his father in September 1738, and the removal of his mother (upon her request) from administrative duties in February 1739, Robert and his brother Charles assisted in the settlement of the estate. After the 1740 tax assessment, the name of Robert Brownfield, Jr., disappears from Chester County records. However, family records indicate that all of Robert's children were born in Pennsylvania. This would mean that they remained there at least through 1757 and possibly later.

It is likely that in the 1760's the family took one of the major southern routes of Scotch-Irish migration through the Shenandoah Valley and into the Yadkin River Valley of North Carolina. The Brownfield name appears on public records in Mecklenburg County, North Carolina, in 1768, for the first time. William and John Brownfield were witnesses to a deed made by John and Martha Henry to John, Robert, and James Bigham on the north branch of Steele Creek, dated December 23, 1768, in Mecklenburg County. This is the first indication of the family in North Carolina.

On May 3, 1769, William Tryon, Governor of North Carolina, authorized the granting of 300 acres of land to William Brownfield. The wheels of the monarchy turned slowly and in July 1771, the grant was issued and it was for only 150 acres. The chainbearers for the survey were Robert Brownfield and Samuel Bigham. Robert Brownfield, Jr., had settled just southwest of the present city of Charlotte. This is believed to be the first settlement in the deep south to become saturated with Scotch-Irish Presbyterians and nearly all came from Southeastern Pennsylvania and its adjacent surroundings in Northern Maryland. On Steele Creek, just south of Charlotte, one of the earliest churches was organized by 1760.

In 1872 Pastor John Douglas wrote a history of the Steele Creek Presbyterian Church in which he indicated on page 7 that the congregation met for some time "under the widespread branches of some forest oak." He further stated, "In the course of time they (the Steele Creek Church) obtained a small piece of land, not exceeding two acres, from a Mr. Brownfield (or Brumfield as he was more commonly called). It is unknown if this land was purchased or donated. The third published history of the Steele Creek Church in 1978 gives the following information on page 13: "Apparently there were two tracts of land chosen for Steele Creek Church. The first was obtained from Robert Broomfield, whether it was purchased or was a gift is not known. The tract consisted of about two acres on the headwaters of Steele Creek." The only purchase of land made by Robert Brownfield, Jr., that can be found was made January 7, 1771: "William Bigham and wife Sarah of Mecklenburg County, planter, to Robert Brownfield, of same, planter, for 60 pounds proclamation money ... 300 acres on branches of Beaver Dam Creek on west side of Hugh Parks, part of grant to Bigham made on 23 December 1763, four acres of said land, including the old and new meeting houses, the graveyard and the spring on the north side of said meeting houses, only excepted and exempted for the use of the congregation. Witnesses: Robert Brownfield, Jr., and Samuel Bigham; signed: William Bigham and Sarah Bigham.

Robert Brownfield, Jr., was never referred to as "Junior" in North Carolina records. He was called Robert Brownfield, Sr., and the witness to the above deed was his son, the twenty-one year old Robert Brownfield, Jr., who will hereinafter be called Dr. Robert Brownfield. The elder Robert was a planter whose 300-acre farm joined the 150 belonging to son William so that they had a joint estate of 450 acres. Following the American Revolution Robert and William sold a portion of that estate to neighbor, James Bigham. This deed for 200 pounds sterling was made October 10, 1783 for the sale of 262 acres, thus reducing the estate to 188 acres: "being part of two tracts of land, one granted to Robert Brownfield by deed from William Bigham dated January 7, 1771; the other grant to Will Brownfield by patent dated July 12, 1771. Witnesses: James Hail and John Brownfield; signed: William Brownfield and Robert Brownfield (his mark).".

By 1790 when the first U. S. census was taken Robert Brownfield was an old man living only with his wife in Mecklenberg. He had been a vital part of an area which had produced its own Declaration of Independence (The Mecklenburg Declaration) prior to July 4, 1776 where virtually no Tories could be found among these Scotch-Irishmen. Robert had seen all three sons serve as officers of the Revolution and had lived long enough to be a part of the new nation whose liberties his sons and sons-in-law had helped to achieve. Oldest son, William, was likely the only one of the children still living nearby when Robert died in the 1790's. According to a great granddaughter, Jane Wilson, he was interred in the Steele Creek Church graveyard. There is no marker there today designating the site of his burial..

1.

Father: Robert BROWNFIELD b: 14 JUN 1670 in Northern Ireland.

Mother: Joan.

Marriage 1 Jane STEWART (STUART) b: 1716 in Northern Ireland.

Married: ABT 1737 in Chester County, Pennsylvania.

Children.

William BROWNFIELD b: ABT 1739 in Chester County, Pennsylvania Margaret "Peggy" BROWNFIELD b: ABT 1742 in Chester County, Pennsylvania Ann BROWNFIELD b: ABT 1743 in Chester County, Pennsylvania John BROWNFIELD b: ABT 1746 in Chester County, Pennsylvania Isabella BROWNFIELD b: ABT 1747 in Chester County, Pennsylvania Robert BROWNFIELD b: 1750 in Chester County, Pennsylvania Mary "Mollie" BROWNFIELD b: ABT 1754 in Chester County, Pennsylvania Flora BROWNFIELD b: ABT 1757 in Chester County, Pennsylvania

Sources:.

Found at "vhhawk" database at RootsWeb.com, WorldConnect.

1790 census for North Carolina, Mecklenburg (Im 3 at Ancestry.com).

December 23, 1768, in Mecklenburg County (Deed Book 7, pp 231, 232).

July 1771, N.C. Land Grants, File #1863.

January 7, 1771 Mecklenburg Deed Book 5, pp. 328-330 (N.C.).

October 10, 1783 Mecklenburg Deed Book 17, p. 415