William Eben Brown

Family/Spouse: Elizabeth Knapp. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

From "Abstracts and Extracts of Athens Co. Newspapers in the 1820s-80s" M.L. Bowman, compiler:

We clip the following from the Fort Madison Evening Democrat of Wednesday, October 23d:

Today, but one, makes the most important epoch in the lives of Mr. and Mrs. Daniel T. Brown. Fifty years ago today they were united in marriage in Athens county, Ohio, and for all that time they have dwelt happily together and traveled along the pathway of life hand in hand, taking the bitter with the sweet, but always with a perseverance and love for each other which knew no failure, and today, at their pleasant home, corner of Pine and Fourth streets, they are celebrating the fiftieth anniversary of their marriage, in health and prosperity, and surrounded by their children and grandchildren. They are keeping open house and hundreds of their friends will call on them this evening from five to ten, and pay their respects to the worthy couple.

Daniel T. Brown was born in Athens county, Ohio, August 7, 1822, and was raised on his father's farm until he was seventeen years old, when he engaged in merchandizing and general trading. In October, 1844 he established a mercantile business in Amesville, Ohio, under the firm of Brown & Dickey, which continued until 1856, in which year he removed to Denmark township, this county, and engaged in farming until 1875. He then became the successor to Webster Bros. in Fort Madison and has since resided here.

Mrs. Maria D. (Foster) Brown was born in Athens county, Ohio, April 9, 1827, and was married to Daniel T. Brown in Athens county, Ohio, October 23, 1845. Six children have been born to them and together with the grandchildren were present.

Both Mr. and Mrs. Brown are unusually robust for people of their age, 73 and 68 years respectively, and bid fair to continue with their family and friends for many years to come.

The Democrat of the day following, in referring to the celebration of the wedding anniversary, says that several hundred of the citizens of Fort Madison, called to do the worthy couple honor, and adds that the parlors were hung with autumn leaves of the sturdy oak, cut flowers in profusion adding brightness and making the scene one of gladness.

Mrs. van Vorhes, a sister of the bride of fifty years, and widow of the late Hon. Nelson H. van Vorhes, for many years the editor of the MESSENGER, was married on the same day, and would have been present at the golden anniversary of Mr. and Mrs. Brown, but was prevented by the utter helplessness of her invalid son, Mr. Louis A. van Vorhes.

The many Athens friends of Mr. and Mrs. Brown join in hearty congratulations to them and hope they may live to enjoy many more years of peace, plenty and happiness. [The Athens Messenger, Thurs., 31 Oct. 1895, p. 1, col. 5]

Daniel married Maria Dean Foster on 23 Oct 1845 in Athens County, OH. Maria was born on 9 Apr 1827 in Athens County, OH; died on 8 Jan 1929. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

Maria Dean Foster Brown lived to be 101 years, 9 months. A book was written about Maria Dean Foster Brown entitled, "Grandmother Brown's One Hundred Years, 1827 - 1927" by Harriet Connor Brown, Little, Brown and Co., Boston MA (1929). There are photos of Grandmother Brown, 1) in her thirties; 2) in 1887 and 3) on her hundredth birthday.
An original book is in the possession of Brenda France Buck.

Photos of Maria in 1890 and her husband, Daniel Truesdell Brown after 1870 and the entire family of Maria and Daniel are contained in "William Brown, English Immigrant of Hatfield and Leicester, MA and his Descendants, c1669-1994", Carol Willits Brown, pp. 146A and 146B, Gateway Press: Baltimore MD (1994). A copy of the book is in the possession of Brenda France Buck.

William married Polly Leonard Brown on 25 Mar 1800 in Waterford, Washington County, OH. Polly (daughter of Samuel Brown and Lydia Thayer) was born on 14 Sep 1782. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

From, The First American Frontier, by Julia P. Cutler, Arno Press & The New York Times, reprinted 1971:

Copy of a statement of his services in the Revolutionary War, made in or about the year 1818 by Capt. Benjamin Brown, in support of his application for a pension. (On record in the Court of Common Pleas of Athens County, Ohio:

"In February, 1775, I joined in forming a regiment of minute men in Hampshire County (Massa-chusetts), commanded by Colonel Barnard. The regiment marched to Concord, 21st of April, under Lieut. Col. Williams, of Northfield. I served in the regiment as quartermaster. At Cambridge I took a lieutenant's commission in Captain Hugh Maxwell's company, in Colonel William Prescott's regiment, Massachusetts' line, in which I continued from May till the last of December. I continued in the same regiment during the year 1776, when I engaged as captain in Colonel Michael Jackson's regiment, and continued in the same till the latter part of 1779, when I resigned and returned home.

"I was in the party engaged in moving the stock from Noddle's Island, and burning the Diana, British packet, on Malden Ways, near Boston, in June, 1775. I was in the battle of Bunker Hill, 17th of June, 1775. I was in several engagements during the evacuation of New York Island in 1776. I was in the battle of White Plains (where his brother, Pearly Brown, was killed), and in December was present at the taking of Hackensack under General Parsons. In 1777 I commanded the detachment at the German Flats, and captured Walter Butler and his party. I was in the detachment sent to raise the siege of Fort Stanwix. I was in the battles of 19th September and 7th October, that preceded the capture of Burgoyne on the 17th. During 1778 and 1779 I was not in any important battle, but was not off duty during a single day during the three preceding campaigns."

(The position of aid to General DeKalb was offered to him at the time he (DeKalb) was ordered south to North Carolina, where he was killed at the battle of Guilford. He (Captain Brown) was the first man who entered the Hessian works stormed by Brooks and Putnam's regiments on the 7th of October, 1777 at Saratoga.)

From History of Athens County, Ohio, p. 404:

Capt. Benjamin Brown, father of General John, and of Judge A.G. Brown, and one of the most prominent among the early settlers of Ames, was born October 17, 1745, at Leicester, Massachusetts. His grandfather, William Brown, came from England to America while a youth, was the first settler in the town of Hatfield, on the Connecticut river and was often engaged in the Indian wars of that period.

Died:
Age: 75

Benjamin married Jean Thomas on 9 Jul 1772 in Rowe, Franklin County, MA. Jean died on 14 Jun 1840 in Athens County, OH. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

Source: Washburn's History of Leicester, MA
Source: Leicester, MA Vital Records
Source: History of Washington Co., NY, Chrisfield Johnson, 1878
Source: Memoirs of Early Pioneers of Ohio, S. P. Hildreth, 1854 Cincinnati
Source: "Old Northwest Quarterly" 1906 Ohio, Vol. 9, pp. 28-32
Source: Benjamin Brown pension record, National Archives
DEATH-DATE: Soldiers of the American Revolution Buried in the State of
Ohio

Samuel married Lydia Thayer on 21 Aug 1781 in Leicester, Worcester, Massachusetts, USA. Lydia was born on 17 Oct 1759 in Taunton, Bristol County, MA; died on 28 Feb 1829 in Athens County, OH; was buried in Athens, Athens County, OH. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]