Aaron Brown

In early life, Aaron Brown removed to Acworth, New Hampshire, where he lived for a short time. Later he went to Putney, Vermont, remaining for two or three years, and is thought to have finally moved to Syracuse, New York, where he lived until his death. One source says that Aaron Brown Sr. was born at Marlow, Cheshire County, New Hampshire. If so, the birth was probably before town records existed. He was reputed to be a carpenter by trade.

A source states: "It is said that his father was a general in the Revolutionary army, and commanded New Hampshire troops at Bunker Hill." Another simply said that his father was an officer in the war. Neither story has been substantiated, but such family stories usually have some basis in fact, however small.

Aaron Brown Sr. and Mary (Polly) Gates, daughter of Isaac Gates and Mary Wheeler, were married by Silas Macj Minister of God on 18 Sep 1794 at Marlow, Cheshire County, New Hampshire.

The earliest record found so far for Aaron, Sr. is a 1794 tax levy list recorded for the town of Marlow on 13 August 1794. The normal tax listing has each man in the town on a line individually for his poll tax, cattle and other taxable items. Another listing is then done in a similar manner to indicate the taxes assessed to each individual. In Aaron's case, however, he shares a line with an individual named Ripley Bingham and all taxable value is attributed to the household. The way these two men are listed for valuation is unique to the records in that they are both written on one line. Many men are listed with several polls in the household, but never with two names on the line for the household. The tax levy table presents the two men on a single line again, "Ripley Bingham and Aaron Brown", with a single tax bill assessed to both men as a unit. Aaron Brown and Ripley Bingham were obviously living in the same household, but ownership is not clear. The tax levy list was recorded on 13 August and Aaron recorded his marriage banns on 25 August. Was Aaron just a boarder in town waiting for the wedding to take place in September?

A separate tax list was compiled for "non-residents", and Aaron was not included there. So, he was considered as a "resident", but may have had nothing more to pay than his poll tax. Understanding all of this is further complicated by the fact that the marriage banns list him as "no inhabitant". His bride-to-be, while not listed so, was actually no-inhabitant, too, as her residence was shown to be Acworth rather than Marlow. It is not clear just what the "no inhabitant" phrase meant. Perhaps it just meant that the clerk did not know where Aaron lived.

Aaron's relationship with Ripley Bingham is not known. Ripley Bingham was mentioned in the town records in 1789 and on the 1793 Marlow tax list. He is on the 1794 tax list with Aaron Brown, but both Ripley Bingham and Aaron Brown are gone from the Marlow Tax rolls in 1795.

Other Browns were present in Marlow, notably Francis Brown, but no connection between them and Aaron has been found. One would assume that Aaron would have stayed with Francis Brown in 1794 if a relationship were present. Records for 1798 show a Selden Brown born to "Aaron Brown and Anna his wife. There is a Frances Brown with a wife Anna, with four other children born from 1786 to 1803. It does confuse things, as it raises the possibility of two Aarons in town at the same time.

Aaron, Sr. was in Putney, Vermont in 1798 where Isaac was born, then in Acworth in 1803 when the family births were recorded in town records. The family must have stayed in Acworth and Lempster for several years, at least until Aaron, Jr. was of age, because Aaron, Jr's records indicate that he went to school in Acworth and Lempster. He must have been older and finished with school to have remained in New Hampshire when Aaron, Sr. went to New York.

An Aaron Brown begins to show up in Acworth town records in 1826, but this is probably Aaron Brown, Jr., based on other stories that Aaron, Sr. went on to Syracuse, New York. We can be reasonably sure that we have located Aaron Brown, Jr. in the 1820 Cheshire County, New Hampshire census. However, the whereabouts of Aaron Brown, Sr. is unknown at this point in time. Aaron Brown is a very common name, with several listings in the census records. The closest one to Aaron, Jr. is one township away in the same county, but it is a large family with nothing to suggest it could be Aaron, Sr. Research at this time has failed to locate Aaron or Polly Brown after they left Acworth. It is possible, or even probable, that their children numbered many more than the three known at this time, unless other factors beyond our knowledge affected the family.

Aaron Brown Sr. died at Syracuse, New York. Another source just said "out West."

A. Aaron2 Brown Jr was born on 29 May 1795 at Acworth, Cheshire (present Sullivan) County, New Hampshire.

He attended the schools in Acworth and Lempster, New Hampshire. He was a farmer and lived in Acworth till late in life, when he removed to Alstead, New Hampshire, where he died. He was a Democrat in Politics, and attended the Universalist Church.

Aaron Brown Jr. and Eadey Watts, daughter of Joseph (John) Watts and Polly Cockle, of Hollis, New Hampshire, were married on 5 Jun 1817. Aaron Brown appeared on the census of 1820 at Acworth Township, Acworth, Cheshire County, New Hampshire. This 1820 census reflects the two children as we know them in the Aaron Brown, Jr. family in 1820, after the marriage of Aaron and Eadey in 1817. This is the earliest census that can reasonably be attributed to the Brown family.

Aaron Brown appeared on the census of 1830 at Acworth Township, Sullivan County, New Hampshire. By 1830, Cheshire County had been split in two, adding Sullivan County to New Hampshire. The Browns had not moved, but are now listed in Sullivan County. This 1830 census reflects the five children as we know them in the Aaron Brown, Jr. family by 1830, but also shows one extra male 80-90 and an extra female 15-20. Since the elder Aaron supposedly left the area, this is probably not his household. However, since we do not have a birth date for him, there exists a slight possibility that he could be the unknown male 80-90 years old. To be 80 years old in 1830, he would have been 45 years old when his 24 year old wife Polly gave birth to Aaron, Jr. An unusual age difference, but not out of the question. Also, we do not know if the elder Aaron is a widower in 1830, because we have no death date for Polly Gates Brown.

Aaron Brown appeared on the census of 1840 at Acworth Township, Sullivan County, New Hampshire. This 1840 census again matches the nine children we know to have been in the Aaron Brown, Jr. family by 1840. There is one extra male 15-20 for whom we cannot account.

Aaron Brown Jr. appeared on the census of 22 Oct 1850 at Acworth, Sullivan County, New Hampshire. The 1850 census lists family members by name, so we can at last be certain that this is the correct family.

Aaron Brown Jr. died on 4 Jan 1879 at Alstead, Cheshire County, New Hampshire, at age 83. He was buried at Mapleside Cemetery, Alstead, Cheshire County, New Hampshire.

1. Eadey Diana3 Brown was born on 12 Dec 1817. She married Capt George LewisS on 19 Sep 1849.

Eadey Diana Brown married, 2nd, Orlando Newton, son of Joab Newton and Polly Butterfield. She died in Apr 1899? at age 81?

2. Mary Urana3 Brown was born on 18 Dec 1819. She married Amos Fletcher of Hollis, New Hampshire. She appeared on the census of 22 Oct 1850 in the household of Aaron Brown Jr. at Acworth, Sullivan County, New Hampshire, age 30.

Mary Urana Brown died on 13 Jun 1865 at age 45. She was buried at Mapleside Cemetery, Alstead, Cheshire County, New Hampshire.

3. Isaac3 Brown was born on 15 Dec 1821 at Acworth, Sullivan County, New Hampshire.

Isaac Brown was a son of Aaron and Eda (Watts) Brown, both of whom were of English ancestry, and on the paternal side, of Puritan stock. He was reared in his native State and received a common school education. He worked at painting for a number of years in New Hampshire and Massachusetts, but when nineteen years old began teaching, and continued for fourteen years, also painting and farming.

Marriage banns for Isaac Brown and Francis Louise Bundy were published on 6 May 1850 at Walpole, Cheshire County, New Hampshire. Town records say, "This certifies that on the (should read Three) public meeting days in the Town of Walpole in the county of Cheshire and state of New Hampshire, I published the intention of Mr. Isaac Brown and Miss Frances L. Bundy both of Walpole, to be joined in marriage." He and Francis Louise Bundy, daughter of George Bundy and Jane (Jenny) Moore, were married by Reverend E. H. Barstow on 23 May 1850 at Walpole, Cheshire County, New Hampshire, and after the marriage, the couple resided in Paper Mill Village, then lived for many years in Surry. He appeared on the census of Jul 1850 at Alstead, Cheshire County, New Hampshire, as a 27 year old farmer born in New Hampshire. Mr. Brown was a Democrat, and for two years was a member of the New Hampshire Legislature, where he represented the town of Surry in that state's legislature, and held other town offices while living in New Hampshire.

From 1850 to 1860, he was farming and lumbering in New Hampshire and a part of the time was manager of two saw mills. Ill health compelled him to give this up in 1860, and the same year he came to Illinois. Leasing a place in Champaign County, he engaged in farming and stock raising on an extensive scale. The cold weather of 1862-63 killed four hundred sheep and large quantities of other stock, value about $2,500. In 1863, he sold this property and returned to New Hampshire. In 1866, he again went West and located on Section 21, Center Township, Benton County, Indiana, and in partnership with a Mr. Seabury purchased the whole of Section 21, and again engaged in stock dealing and farming. In 1876, he went to Texas and Mexico and dealt in stock several months. Isaac owned the previous mentioned land in Benton County until June 1880, when he sold out, and moved permanently into Fowler. From the obituary of Francis, it sounds like the family stayed behind in New Hampshire during all of Isaac's adventures, probably on another farm. Around 1877, the New Hampshire farm was sold and the family moved into Walpole, New Hampshire for three years until June of 1880, when Francis and the rest of the family joined Isaac in Indiana. It is possible that the family was with him in 1860 in Illinois, but that is not clear. If not together in Illinois, he certainly was back and forth, as children were born during this time.

Isaac Brown appeared on the census of 23 Jul 1860 at Surry, Cheshire County, New Hampshire. He is a 37 year-old farmer with substantial wealth. His real estate is valued at $9,000 and his personal property is $3,300. Two farm laborers and a domestic are also in the household.

Isaac Brown appeared on the census of 16 Jul 1870 at Surry, Cheshire County, New Hampshire. He is now 48 years old.

Isaac Brown and Francis Louise Bundy were listed in a town census taken on 1 Apr 1878 at Walpole, Cheshire County, New Hampshire.

Isaac Brown appeared on the census of 1880 at Fowler, Benton County, Indiana, as a 58 year old farmer born in New Hampshire.

Isaac and Frances were living in Fowler, Indiana in 1908.

Isaac Brown died Monday morning on 12 Feb 1912 at his Fifth Street home, Fowler, Benton County, Indiana, at age 90 of heart failure and the infirmities of advanced age. He was conscious till death came. His sons George and Fred came the day before from their homes in the far west and he had a visit with them before going on the final journey. Mr. Brown had the distinction of being the oldest man in Fowler at the time of his death and prior to a fall which he received a couple of years previous he was very active for his years.

He was a remarkable old man. The infirmities of age seemed to have passed him by, and left him in the full possession of all his faculties, both physical and mental. He looked and appeared like a man of 75 even when he had passed his 90th birthday, and retained his mental grasp on all subjects of human interest until the end of his long life. As his daughter, Mary L. Brown, of Fowler, Indiana, expressed it, "Father enjoyed life to the last." She cared for him in his declining years.

Funeral services were held at the family residence. Rev. F. A. Johnson of the Presbyterian Church conducted the service. Isaac Brown was buried on 14 Feb 1912 at Fowler Cemetery, Fowler, Benton County, Indiana, He possessed the esteem of all who knew him and a large circle of friends gathered at the home to pay their last respects.

a) George Bundy4 Brown was born on 19 Jun 1853 at Surry, Cheshire County, New Hampshire. He appeared on the census of 23 Jul 1860 in the household of Isaac Brown at Surry, Cheshire County, New Hampshire, age 7 and born in New Hampshire. He appeared on the census of 16 Jul 1870 in the household of Isaac Brown at Surry, Cheshire County, New Hampshire, age 17 and born in New Hampshire. He appeared on the census of 1880 at Montague County, Texas. He is listed as a stock raiser, 26 years old and born in New Hampshire. He married Maggie Archinson on 25 May 1880.

According to some oral histories of the area, George B. Brown was a partner in the Pitchfork Ranch with his brother Fred.

George Bundy Brown was a co-executor for the will of Francis Louise Bundy written on 9 Mar 1905 at Fowler, Benton County, Indiana. He was also left a house in "the Jacobs Addition next to W. S. Vannetta" and an equal division of property after debt settlement and some small cash bequests, and a division of household goods after his sister Mary takes what she wants.

George Bundy Brown died on 28 Aug 1925 at Hobart, Kiowa County, Oklahoma, at age 72. He was buried on 30 Aug 1925 at Elmwood Cemetery, Bowie, Montague County, Texas.

(1) Myrtle May5 Brown was born on 10 Apr 1881.

Myrtle May Brown was mentioned in the will of her grandmother Francis Louise Bundy written on 9 Mar 1905 at Fowler, Benton County, Indiana, with a bequest of $50. She married Ernest R.Mangum on 20 Feb 1907 at Bowie, Montague County, Texas.

b) Charles Henry4 Brown was born on 22 Feb 1857 at Surry, NH? He appeared on the census of 23 Jul 1860 in the household of Isaac Brown at Surry, Cheshire County, New Hampshire, age 3 and born in New Hampshire. He died on 1 Apr 1869 at Surry, NH?, at age 12. He was buried at Surry, Cheshire County, New Hampshire.

c) Mary Louise4 Brown was born on 28 Sep 1861 at Surry, Cheshire County, New Hampshire.

Mary Louise Brown appeared on the census of 16 Jul 1870 in the household of Isaac Brown at Surry, Cheshire County, New Hampshire, age 18 and born in New Hampshire. She appeared on the census of 1880 in the household of Isaac Brown at Fowler, Benton County, Indiana, age 18 and born in New Hampshire. She witnessed the will of Francis Louise Bundy on 9 Mar 1905 at Fowler, Benton County, Indiana. She died on 4 Dec 1918 at Bowie, Montague County, Texas, at age 57. She was buried at Fowler Cemetery, Fowler, Benton County, Indiana.

d) Fred Arthur4 Brown was born on 26 Sep 1865 at Surry, Cheshire County, New Hampshire.

Fred Arthur Brown appeared on the census of 16 Jul 1870 in the household of Isaac Brown at Surry, Cheshire County, New Hampshire, age 4 and born in New Hampshire. He appeared on the census of 1880 in the household of Isaac Brown at Fowler, Benton County, Indiana, age 14 and born in New Hampshire.

Earliest Known Brown Ancestors, by Earliest Known Locations www.brownsociety.org/browndna/earliestancestorsMIthruNC.htm

Descendancy Narrative of Aaron Brown Sr. (Information supplied by Arthur R. Brown, 25709 County Road 4, Nisswa MN 56468-2207, abrown@brainerd.net, 18 Jan 2009) Added by Geni member, Janet Milburn (see website for more on this family)