Marty and Karla Grant

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Joseph Brown (c1740-1815) and 1) Unknown and 2) Rachel (—) of Randolph Co., NC

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Joseph Brown and his first wife are my 7 times Great Grandparents.

There were several men named Joseph Brown in the region where mine lived. Visit this page for help differentiating them.

Joseph Brown’s birth date is unknown. I estimate ca 1740. This is based upon a proven child being born in 1758, and assuming that Joseph was at least 18 at the time which works out to before ca 1740. Of course he could have been much older. Said child (Mary Barnes) could have been his youngest, oldest, or somewhere between. However, with the information I have at hand, she seems to be the oldest, and if Daniel Brown is his father, then Joseph couldn’t have been born much before ca 1740.

I’m not 100% sure, but I believe that Joseph Brown is the same Joseph named in the 1788 Will of Daniel Brown in Randolph Co.,NC.

In 1750, Daniel Brown, then a resident of Augusta Co., VA, married Grace Thompson in New Jersey, then returned to Virginia, then soon moved to Orange Co., NC then to what is now Randolph Co., NC. Based on the dates, it’s obvious that Grace couldn’t be Joseph’s mother. The wording of the Will also supports this. He named, in this order,

∙           my son Henry

∙           my son Daniel

∙           my son William

∙           my grandson Daniel Bedsall (under 20)

∙           my wife Grace

∙           the children viz.

∙           Anna

∙           Mary

∙           Henry

∙           Jane

∙           Daniel

∙           Samuel

∙           William

Each of the sons received land. Joseph was not included in the above list. Later in the Will Daniel mentioned his son Joseph Brown was to have five shillings. That made him the last listed child, which could indicate he was very young, or much older than the others and already well established. The latter makes more sense to me. Daniel and Grace’s children were marrying in the 1770s and 1780s, thus born 1750s and 1760s, which fits with Daniel and Grace’s 1750 marriage. Joseph was married before 1758 which puts him much older than the others. To complicate my theory, there was a younger Joseph Brown (born ca 1755/74 per 1800 census) who apparently married ca 1790. That would fit if he was Daniel’s youngest son. However, even if he was young in 1788, why didn’t he get land too? I think it more likely this younger Joseph is the same Joseph (1767) son of William Brown and Hannah who were in the Cane Creek Monthly Meeting Quaker records at that time, which is the same as Daniel Brown, etc.

My Joseph Brown (c1740) had a daughter named Mary Brown (1758) who named a son “Daniel” and a daughter “Grace” which can’t be a coincidence. Those would be Mary’s grandparents. Grace, would be her step-grandmother, technically, but since Mary was born nearly a decade after the death of her actual grandmother, Grace would be the only grandmother she knew on that side of the family.

Before continuing, I should note that my ancestor Mary Brown, wife of Edward Carter, was long thought to be Daniel Brown’s daughter. Daniel did indeed have a daughter named Mary as named in his 1788 Will. Her surname was not listed in that document. Daniel’s daughter Jane Brown (1763) married Edward Carter’s brother John Carter in 1781, the same year Edward married Mary Brown. Jane’s marriage, and parentage, are listed in the Quaker records, so there’s no doubt Jane is Daniel’s child. However, when Edward Carter married, he was disowned for marrying a non Quaker. Would Jane have been a Quaker, but her sister Mary not? Unlikely, unless Mary had been disowned earlier. Regardless, a new document came to light in recent years that shows our Mary Brown was not a daughter of Daniel after all.

Consider the following entry from John Carter’s Bible (this is Mary’s son John Carter, not the older one who married Jane Brown):

Edward Carter was born May the 29 in the year of our Lord 1761.

Marey Carter his wife was born May the 20 in year of our Lord 1758 her father his sur name was Brown Joseph.

The above was shared with me by Werner Howald in 2016. There is no doubt the Bible record is genuine and contemporary. Thus, we now know that Mary Brown Carter (wife of Edward) and Jane Brown Carter (wife of John) were not sisters after all.

Our Joseph Brown married someone, name unknown, ca 1757 or earlier, perhaps in Augusta Co., VA where Daniel was at that time. I’ve found no record of her name thus far.

Daniel Brown was in Orange Co., NC by 1760, so we can probably assume Joseph was too.

With a name as semi-common as Joseph Brown, we have to be careful when searching his name in the records. It is often not the same person we seek. For example, there is a Quaker Joseph Brown who resided in Guilford Co., NC, one of the parent counties of Randolph, where our Joseph lived. That Joseph was born 1749 a son of Thomas Brown and Margaret Moon. We can see from his birth date he’s too young to be our Joseph. However, since he’s in the same area, he is of interest. That Joseph Brown married Ann Jones, widow of Henry Morgan, in 1763 at Cane Creek Monthly Meeting, which was her church. They went to New Garden Monthly Meeting after marriage, which is present day Guilford around Greensboro. Several of their children’s births were recorded there. The oldest was Mary, born 1764, thus clearly not our Mary born 1758. This family went to Deep River Monthly Meeting in 1783, which was also in Guilford, around modern High Point. There was also Joseph Brown (1767) son of William Brown, also of Cane Creek Monthly meeting.

The area that is now Randolph Co., NC was part of Orange Co., NC and Rowan Co., NC from the 1750s until 1771 when Guilford was formed. It remained part of Guilford until 1779 when Randolph County was formed from the southern section of Guilford. Not knowing when Joseph arrived there, we have to check all the parent counties.

There is a Joseph Brown in early Orange Co., NC records who was appointed a Constable in 1758. He was replaced by James Thompson in March 1759. I don’t know if this was our Joseph Brown or someone else. It could be ours as the time frame fits.

In 1759 court, Joseph Brown and Dunkin Lewis, witnesses in the suit of Hugh Porter, Esquire against John Buckerstaff, were to be fined Twenty pounds each, though I’m not sure why. Perhaps they didn’t show up for the case.

There is an entry in the Cane Creek Monthly Meeting minutes (Friends Church, alias Quakers) dated 4 Jul 1778 wherein a Joseph Brown was dismissed from the church for marrying a non Quaker. This is probably not our Joseph Brown because ours was never a member of that church as far as I’ve found. His father was and a few of his siblings were, but most of the family was not. However, if it isn’t our Joseph, then who was it? It’s possible ours joined at some point and this is him. If that is true, then his first wife, the mother of Mary Brown (1758), had died before then, and this represents his next marriage. Unfortunately, the wife’s name was not given in the Quaker records.

It seems Joseph Brown was already living in Randolph when the county was formed in 1779 for he was listed on the tax list there that very year. He was in Jacob Sheppard’s District, in the list made by Assessors, so the information was only for land and not other property. Joseph Brown was listed with 807 acres of land (or perhaps it was $807 worth of property, as there are no column headings for that part of the list). He was the only Brown in that district.

Others listed in 1779 were James Brown and Jeremiah Brown in Joseph Hinds’ district; Michael Brown in John Hinds’ District, Robert Brown and Daniel Brown in Windsor Pierce’s district.

Daniel would be Joseph’s father. I don’t know if the others are related.

That Joseph already had 807 acres (or $807 worth of land) in 1779 means he had acquired that land before Randolph county was created, thus either in Guilford if 1771-1779 or Orange or Rowan if before 1771. If he lived close to his father, then it would have been in Orange County.

I didn’t find any record of this Joseph Brown in the Rowan deeds, though there were two Josephs there in the 1760s, one was associated with a James and Jane Brown and apparently lived in the part of Rowan that became Surry (in 1771). Another Joseph Brown and his son of the same name lived in what became Guilford and remained Guilford. I found that same Joseph in a few Guilford deeds before he moved to Tennessee. That Joseph (1760) is a son of another Joseph Brown (1731) as proven by Revolutionary War pension file.

Rowan records, just in case:

17 Jul 1762, George Hamilton of Rowan to Joseph Brown of Rowan for twenty pounds ... land George Hamilton now lives on ... Buffalo Creek ... 273 acres. Signed George Hamilton, Francis Hamilton (her mark). Witnessed by Thos Donnell, Alexander Breden. (Rowan Co., NC Deed Book 5, p. 181. [Joseph Brown sold this in 1778 in Guilford.]

6 Sep 1765 Andrew Ferguson of Rowan to James Brown of Rowan, land on both sides of Stewarts Creek, being west fork of the Tarrarat River .... Witnesses Thos Donnell, Joseph Brown. (Rowan Co., NC Deed Book 7, pp. 267-268.) This area became Surry Co., NC in 1771.

10 Dec 1766 James Brown and wife Jane Brown of Rowan to Joseph Brown of same place, for fifty pounds, 315 acres west side of Stewarts Creek. Witnesses: James Dorchester, Wm Steel. (Rowan Co., NC Deed Book 7, p 269.) This area became Surry Co., NC in 1771.

1768 Rowan tax list, Thomas Donnell’s list includes Joseph Brown, and another listing for Joseph Brown and “Will, a negro.”

4 Jul 1770 James Brown, Planter, and wife Jane, of Rowan to Rice? Porter of Rowan, for land purchased from William Brown, deceased, father of said James Brown, being on south side of North Buffalo Creek. Witnesses Joseph Brown, Robert Davis. (Rowan Co., NC Deed Book 7, pp. 266-267.)

A deed dated 3 Feb 1772 between John McWhorter and Joseph Brown for 313 acres was proven in Rowan Court in Feb 1772. I didn’t find the actual deed for this.

Guilford records:

23 Jan 1772, Joseph Brown was bondsman for Robert Smith to marry Margaret Brown in Guilford Co., NC.

19 Aug 1778 Joseph Brown of Guilford to Andrew Donnell of Guilford, land on waters of North Buffalo Creek purchased from George Hamilton. 273 acres. (Purchased in 1762 in Rowan). Signed Joseph Brown and Mary Brown (her mark). No witnesses. (Guilford Co., NC Deed Book 1, p. 442.)

The above proves that Joseph Brown, formerly of Rowan, was married to Mary.

On 9 Sep 1778, Joseph Brown entered 300 acres on both sides of North Buffalo in Guilford. It was granted to him on 13 Nov 1779. The land was surveyed 2 Feb 1779. George Denny and William Brown were chain carriers. Joseph (1731) had a son William (1757).

In 1778, Joseph Brown and Ann Porter were named executors of the Will of James Porter in Guilford Co., NC. Hugh Porter and John Hodge were witnesses.

On 17 May 1780, Joseph Brown of Washington Co., NC (now TN) made a deed to Andrew Donnell of Guilford for 300 acres on North Buffalo. James Brown signed on behalf of Joseph Brown. Witnessed by Alex. Caldwell. The deed was acknowledged in court by James Brown, Esquire, attorney for Joseph Brown. (Guilford Co., NC Deed Book 2, p. 60.)

This 1780 deed shows that Joseph Brown (and wife Mary) are not our Joseph Brown, as they moved to Tennessee between 1778 and 1780. There is also a Revolutionary War Pension for Joseph Brown (1760) son of Joseph (1731) and Mary which includes a family record, further proving it isn’t our Joseph Brown of Randolph. This family was said to live eight miles from Guilford Court House before the move to Tennessee, thus there is no chance of mixing either of these two Joseph Browns up with ours after 1780.

Thus, as best as I can tell, none of the records for “Joseph Brown” in Rowan or Guilford are for our Joseph Brown of Randolph Co., NC.

Randolph

How did our Joseph Brown already have land on the 1779 tax list for Randolph, the same year the county was formed from southern Guilford? Did he obtain it via a 1772 deed from James McWhorter (McWhirter), mentioned in the court minutes? I was unable to find that deed in Rowan or Guilford County records. It may have been in Orange County instead, and unfortunately, many of the early deeds there were lost during the Revolutionary War.

As noted earlier, Joseph Brown was named in the 4 Aug 1788 Will of Daniel Brown as his son. He was left five shillings instead of land like his half brothers. This is easily explained as he was so much older than the other children and very well established and didn’t need any land from his father. Five shillings in 1788 is roughly equivalent to about $250 today.

On 22 Aug 1789, Joseph Brown entered 175 acres on Richland creek including his improvement (meaning he’d already done some work on the land). Apparently granting the above had to be delayed because it was combined with another entry dated 24 Aug 1793. The second entry was described as 200 acres on his own line and Daniel Cox’s line. When it was surveyed it was for 370 acres total. That’s 200 acres + 175 acres, minus 5 (a common enough adjustment). The description mentioned Ramsour’s line, Teague’s line (I’m not sure it actually says Teague, it might say Ferquas), Carter’s line. The land was surveyed 5 Feb 1795. Edward Carter (Joseph’s son-in-law) and William Brown (son) were Chain Carriers. The land was actually granted on 20 Aug 1802, which was 13 years after the first claim! (North Carolina Land Grants.)

Joseph Brown is listed on the 1790 census in Randolph Co., NC. The census taker alphabetized his listings, but within community groupings, so we can’t determine “next door” neighbors, but we can determine who lived in the same general area. Joseph Brown was in the same grouping with Robert Brown, Daniel Brown, Samuel Brown and Henry Brown. Daniel is Joseph’s father, Samuel (1760/70) and Henry (1780) are Joseph’s younger brothers. I don’t know who Robert Brown was. Daniel had a half brother of that name, but I don’t know if this was him or not. Joseph’s son-in-law Edward Carter was in the same grouping.

1790 Census - Randolph Co., NC

Page	Name	Males 16+	Males under 16	Females	Others	Slaves
293	Joseph Brown	2	1	2	~	~

Enumerations                                         Who it might be

2m 16 and Up (before 1774)               1. Joseph Brown

                                                                  2. William Brown, son

1m under 16 (1774/1790)                 Son?

2f any age (before 1790)                      1. Wife?

                                                                  2. Daughter?

In 1791, Catherine White, “Base born child” about eleven years old was bound (indentured) to Joseph Brown until she turns 18 to learn the “Art of Spinster.” (Randolph Co., NC Court Minutes 1794-1802, p. 154.)

On 15 Jun 1793, Joseph and Henry Brown made a land entry of 150 acres on “Tan & Trough” Branch of the waters of Richland Creek. The survey was dated 22 Feb 1796, referred to in the survey as Tantrough Branch. It mentions Samuel Millican’s corner and line, a rock quarry, and Daniel Cox. Chain Carriers were Daniel Cox and John Tinsher? It was granted to them on 1 Dec 1796. Daniel Cox was a neighbor of Joseph Brown. Henry Brown would be Joseph’s half-brother, unless Joseph also has a son of that name who was old enough by 1793. John “Tinsher” (hard to read) might be the same person as John Fincher from the 21 Nov 1793 survey below for Edward Carter, which is definitely our Joseph Brown. (A man named John Fincher married Jane Brown in 1805. I don’t know if she’s closely connected to Joseph Brown or not.)

Tantrough Branch is now in south eastern Asheboro. It flows easterly into Richland Creek, flowing south of Cox Mountain, perhaps named for Daniel Cox who was mentioned in the survey above. There were numerous Cox families in the area.

On 25 Jun 1793, Edward Carter made land entry for 150 acres in Randolph Co., NC, described as being on Mountain Run joining the lands of Joseph Brown. It was surveyed on 21 Nov 1793. Joseph Brown and John Fincher were the chain carriers. We know Brown was Carter’s father-in-law. Fincher could be related or perhaps a friend/neighbor. The land was granted to Carter on 1 Dec 1796 or 23 Dec 1796 per the deed. (North Carolina Land Grants, and Randolph Co., NC Deed Book 7, p. 126.)

I couldn’t find “Mountain Run” on any maps. It does seem to be a branch of Richland Creek which rises near Asheboro and flows easterly until connecting to the Deep River not too far from the Chatham line.

On 5 Feb 1795, a survey was made for Joseph Brown for 375 acres on Richland Creek. Edward Carter and William Brown (Joseph’s son) were chain bearers.

On 14 Aug 1795, Joseph Brown entered 188 acres in Randolph Co., NC on both sides of Richland Creek on the south side of “a former survey.” The entry was surveyed 1 Oct 1798. William Brown “Jr” and Daniel Bedsall were Chain Carriers. I didn’t see an actual grant to go along with the entry and survey, so perhaps it was never granted to him. (Randolph Co., NC Land Warrant # 64.)

Daniel Bedsaul was Joseph’s nephew, a grandson of Daniel Brown (d 1791). William Brown Jr was probably Joseph’s son, to distinguish him from Joseph’s half brother William who would be the older of the two Williams.

On 30 Jan 1797, John Clark made a deed to Joseph Brown, for $100, land on the waters of Carraway. It mentioned Moores old corner, William Commons corner, and the Trading Road. There were no witnesses or signatures. It was proven in Nov 1798 court by Alexander Gray. (Randolph Co., NC Deed Book 7, p. 292.)

I don’t know if the above deed is our Joseph Brown. This might be Joseph (1767) son of William because William Common was that Joseph’s brother-in-law having married Sarah Brown in 1780.

On 16 Nov 1797 John Brooks of Guilford Co., NC made a deed to Eleanor Brown of Randolph, for 25 pounds he sold her 150 acres on Howards Branch Carraway waters. There were no signatures or witnesses recorded. Joseph Brown proved the deed in Nov 1797 court, meaning he was a witness.

The very next page of the deed book has Eleanor Snow selling the same 150 acres to Thomas Andrews. This deed is dated 10 May 1796, which doesn’t work if she purchased it a year after that. One of the dates must be off, or else it isn’t the same 150 acres in each deed. Joseph Brown was not mentioned in the second deed.

There are two Joseph Brown entries on the 1800 census in Randolph Co., NC. Their ages make it clear which one is our Joseph. The other might be Joseph (1767) son of William. Unfortunately, the 1800 census is alphabetical, so we can’t determine neighbors.

1800 Census, Randolph Co., NC, p. 298, Joseph Brown, 10010-30010-0-0

1800 Census, Randolph Co., NC, p. 303, Joseph Brown, 00101-00001-0-0

On 19 Jul 1800, Augustine E. Scudday made a deed to Joseph Brown for 100 acres on the waters of Deep River. It mentioned Jesse Webb’s line. Witnessed by Joseph Dougan. (Randolph Co., NC Deed Book 13 p. 216.)

That deed might be the younger Joseph Brown (1767).

On 24 Jan 1802, Joseph Brown entered 250 acres on waters or Richland Creek. It was described as running between “his own two lines.” The survey was dated 15 Nov 1811. The land began at his own corner. Mentions Cox’s corner. Chain Carriers were James Winningham and Lynsy Bell.

The land was granted to Joseph Brown on 11 Sep 1812. (North Carolina Land Grants.)

Joseph Brown is listed on the 1804 (or 1803?) Tax List in Randolph Co., NC in John Craven’s District. He had no polls (he himself wasn’t taxed, perhaps due to his advanced age), $770 worth of land and no slaves. His half brothers Samuel Brown, Henry Brown and William Brown Sr were also listed in that district, as was his son William Brown Jr.

On 8 Jan 1808, James Winingham of Randolph made a deed to Joseph Brown of Randolph for a house lot. James Thornburg witnessed. (Randolph Co., NC Deed Book 11 p. 318.)

The above might be the younger Joseph Brown (1767).

On 4 Nov 1808, Thomas Bulla made his Will in Randolph Co., NC naming several heirs. To one of those he left “the plantation I purchased from Joseph Brown.” No acreage or land marks were mentioned. I didn’t find a deed from Joseph Brown to Thomas Bulla in Randolph County deeds. This is probably Thomas Buller from the 1800 census, aged 45+ (born before 1755). He was also on the 1790 census as Thomas Buller. He wasn’t in the same community as Joseph Brown on that census.

Mrs. Joseph Brown apparently died between 1800 and 1810.

Joseph Brown married Rachel (—) sometime between 1800-1810. She was born before 1765 per her age on the 1810 census, assuming she was the oldest woman in the household that year. That household was quite full, suggesting to me, perhaps she was married prior to Joseph Brown and brought a large family with her. There isn’t a marriage record for them in Randolph County, nor in the Quaker records since he was no longer a member of that church since 1778.

There is only one Joseph Brown on the 1810 census in Randolph Co., NC. Despite him being the only one listed, he is listed as Joseph “Sr” which suggests there was still a younger man of that name in the county. Joseph’s household was quite full. As I noted above, I suspect his new wife Rachel had a large family from her previous marriage. I don’t know that for sure. These could be Joseph’s own relatives living with them.

Unfortunately, the census was alphabetical, so we can’t determine neighbors.

1810 Census, Randolph Co., NC, p. 4, Joseph Brown Sr, 01101-21111-0-0

On 25 Dec 1810, Joshua Craven and Joseph Brown were bondsmen for the marriage bond for Lewis Martin to marry Mary Langley.

On 2 Mar 1815, Michael Harvey Jr made a deed to Joseph Brown for 548 acres on the waters of Taylors Creek. It mentioned Jesse Harvey’s corner. Witnesses were Joshua Craven and John D. Harvey. (Randolph Co., NC Deed Book 13 p. 51.)

On 2 Mar 1815, Joseph Brown of Randolph Co., NC, made a deed to John Carter, Jr, also of Randolph. For $1200, he sold several tracts, waters of Richland Creek ... Henry Ramsours line ... Fuquas line ... Carters line ... 370a, another tract adjoining the above ... fork of Mountain Run ... Richland Creek ... road from Joseph Brown's house to the court house ..., acreage not known. Joseph Brown signed. Witnesses were Joshua Craven, Samuel Trogdon and John Carter. (Randolph Co., NC Deed Book 13 p. 62.)

The above deed looks as if Joseph was getting rid of the bulk of his land. John Carter (1759-1844) (the witness) was Joseph Brown’s brother-in-law having married his half sister Jane Brown in 1781. John Carter Jr (c1780s) was their son.

Joseph Brown was listed on the 1815 tax list in Randolph, in Cpt. Armistead’s District. He had 200 acres on Deep River and 1 white poll. William Brown Jr (his son) was listed in the same district. Braselton Brown Jr was also listed as was Joseph’s half brother Samuel who had numerous tracts of land. (Braselton was Samuel’s son.)

Joseph Brown was dead by 31 Oct 1815, for on that date an inventory of his estate was filed by Elisha Brown, administrator. In the accounts, Henry Brown, John Brown, Zimri Brown and William Brown are mentioned, but no relationship is given. (Zimri is a nephew of Joseph’s, via Samuel Brown). John Henly is listed as guardian of Patsy Brown, who was a daughter of Joseph as proven by other records in the estate records. By 6 Nov 1815, Rachel Brown (the widow) was administrator along with Seth Wade.

The estate file is pretty large, though it doesn’t name any heirs except the widow Rachel and daughter Martha “Patsy” who was a minor.

In one paper in the estate, a petition of dower dated February 1816, Rachel Brown states that Joseph Brown died “about” the month of October 1815, intestate, leaving several tracts of land, one being 548 acres on Taylors Creek adjoining Jesse Harvey; two, 195 acres on Richland Creek adjoining Daniel Cox; three, 100 acres on (blank) adjoining William Carson? She requested her one third of the land be laid off for her. She also mentions Stephen Henly, guardian of Patsey Brown, an infant under 21 years. (The land was dutifully laid off for her, totaling 182 acres.)

On 2 Apr 1817, Rachel & Martha Brown entered a tract of 300 acres on Taylors Creek adjoining Michael Harvey. The survey was dated 2 Apr 1817 with Samuel Phelps and Joseph Rollins acting as Chain Carriers. The land was granted to them on 12 Dec 1823. (North Carolina land Grants and Randolph Co., NC Deed Book 15, p. 27.)

On 5 Aug 1817, Seth Ward and Rachel Brown, administrators of Joseph Brown, deceased, made a deed to John Carter for $600. The land described was nearly identical to the 2 Mar 1815 deed (see above). Seth Ward signed. Rachel Brown made her mark. Witnesses were Ruben Cox and Stephen Hurly. (Randolph Co., NC Deed Book 13 p. 334.)

Stephen Henley, guardian to heir Martha Brown, died in 1820, and John Henley took his place as her guardian in 1821.

Unfortunately, Joseph’s estate record, while large, contained no list of heirs except wife Rachel and daughter Martha. Rachel is mentioned many times. The bulk of the records pertain to their daughter Martha/Patsy Brown who was still underage as late as 1828, perhaps as late as 1833.

Unfortunately, the 1820 census is lost for Randolph County.

Widow Rachel Brown married Michael Harvey on 21 Feb 1821 in Randolph Co., NC. Wood Arnold was bondsman.

There was a Michael Harvey on the 1800 and 1810 census in Randolph Co., NC. I’m not sure either of those are the same Michael Harvey who married Rachel, but could be.

On 15 Feb 1825, Michael and Rachel Harvey sold the land that Rachel inherited from Joseph Brown, deceased to Allen Lusk. No description was given, but it was dower land of 182 acres. Michael Harvey signed. Rachel Harvey made her mark. William Johnson and John Bolling were witnesses. The Harvey’s were residents of Crawford Co., IN then. (Randolph Co., NC Deed Book 16, pp. 235-237.)

The Harveys were not listed on the 1830 census in Crawford Co., IN. I did find a Michael Harvey in 1830 Wayne Co., IN. Both he and his apparent wife were in their 40s (born ca 1780s). That isn’t this same Michael Harvey. There were two Michael Harveys in Montgomery Co., IN in 1830, one too young, the other in his 60s (born ca 1760s). Rachel did not seem to be with him, so if this older one is the same Michael, then she apparently died between 1825 and 1830.

1830 Census, Montgomery Co., IN,

 Michael Harvey, 0001100000000-200010000000, p. 32

 Michael Harvey, 0000100010000-000010000000, p. 33 <–?

I didn’t find Michael Harvey of 1830 Montgomery Co., IN on the 1840 census, nor the 1850 census.

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Children

Joseph Brown left no Will, nor did his estate papers name any heirs other than his widow Rachel and minor child Martha/Patsy.

Joseph apparently had several children, but only two are proven thus far. Mary (1758), as named in her son’s Bible record, and Martha/Patsy (1807/1815-aft 1828), as named in Joseph’s estate records. There is about a 40 year age difference between Mary (1758) and Martha. It’s reasonable to assume they never even met as Mary had moved away before Martha was born.

There are other potential children based on association, namely William Brown who I do believe is one of Joseph’s sons. There is also Elisha Brown and Henry Brown who were in the estate file among the accounts, though not named as heirs. Henry could be his son, or it might be his brother of that same name. His brother Henry had a son named Elisha Brown.

 

1.         Mary Brown (1758-1833) married Edward Carter in 1781. These are my ancestors. Mary is proven by her son John Carter’s Family Bible record in which he says her father was named Joseph Brown. There is also evidence that Edward Carter and Joseph Brown were associated in Randolph Co., NC before the Carters moved to western North Carolina.

 

2.         William Brown was born before 1774 per his apparent age on the 1790 census, assuming he was the second male over age 16 in his father Joseph’s household that year. He could have been born anytime between ca 1760 and 1774. He was associated with Joseph Brown and Joseph’s son-in-law Edward Carter, sometimes listed as William Brown “Jr” to distinguish him from his uncle William Brown, son of Daniel Brown. There were several William Browns in the area, so I haven’t been able to find much on this one so far. It seems that he left the area early on, as only Daniel’s son William Brown was in the records for quite awhile.

 

3.         Henry Brown is probably Joseph’s brother, not a son. Though he might be a namesake son. There was a Henry Brown who died ca 1820 in Randolph, but I think he’s a son of the older Henry.

 

4.         Martha Brown (alias Patsy Brown) was born between ca 1807 and 1815. She was still listed as a minor as late as 1828, so born no earlier than 1807/08. Upon her father’s death in 1815, Stephen Henley became her guardian until he himself died in 1820. Then, John Henley became her guardian until 1825 when John Henley Jr became her guardian. He was still listed as such as late as 1833 in the estate records, though those didn’t say she was still a minor. If she was, that pushes her birth date to ca 1812/1815, meaning she was very young when Joseph Brown died.

 

There is a marriage bond in Randolph Co., NC dated 4 Jun 1835 wherein Jacob Coltrane married Patsey Brown. Thomas Fentris was bondsman. This doesn’t seem to be the same Martha/Patsy, for she was born in 1799 which is too old (and died 1875). In fact, this one might be a widow Brown, and not a Brown by birth.

 

Thus, I don’t know what became of our Martha/Patsy Brown. Did she go to Indiana with her mother?

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For Family Group Sheet and other notes see my database pages for Joseph Brown.

Revised: February 10, 2025

Copyright © 1996-2025 Marvin A. Grant, Jr. All Rights Reserved.

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