Benjamin Brown

Male 1689 - 1762  (~ 73 years)


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  • Name Benjamin Brown  [1, 2, 3, 4, 5
    Birth Apr 1689  Horne, Surry, England Find all individuals with events at this location  [1, 2
    Christening 2 Apr 1689  Horne, Surry, England Find all individuals with events at this location  [3
    Gender Male 
    Death 9 Nov 1762  Browns Cove, Albemarle, Virginia Find all individuals with events at this location  [1, 2
    Notes 
    • bResearch Notes: Benjamin Brown
      /bBenjamin Brown of Hanover County was one of the first to take up lands in the westward counties. He and his son Benjamin procured patents on land in Louisa County before its establishment in 1742, and soon thereafter turned their attention to Albemarle. Between 1747 and 1760 they entered more than 6000 acres on both sides of what is now called Doyle's River, and additional tracts in other sections. The family became one of the most influential in that section of the county, often being magistrates and holding other offices. Browns Gap and Browns Cove are reminders of their settlement. The first Benjamin married Sarah Dabney who, according to the firm belief of her grandson Charles Brown, was a descendant of the Jennings who left a fabulous estate in chancery in England. As early as 1860 the Browns were active in pressing their claim and Dr. Charles went twice to England to see about it, but with no tangible result. Three quarters of a century have passed and still there are claimants to the Jennings estate. It is now a famous genealogical will-o'-the-wisp, and it is interesting to think that much of its life and the persistency of the belief in it comes from the labor expended on it seventy-five years ago by the Browns of the Blue Ridge. The first Benjamin Brown must have loved the alliteration of "B. B." for of his eight sons, seven were named Benjamin, Barzillai, Benajah, Bernard, Bernis, Bezaleel, and Brightberry. While the Biblical origin of some is evident, he must have invented several of these names. The son Bernis became a Methodist preacher and through this connection the entire family had a wide acquaintance with the ministers of that denomination.

      In 1805 Brightberry Brown and bWilliam Jarman/b began the construction of a turnpike across the mountains, from Camping Rock on the west side, crossing the Ridge at Browns Gap, descending through Browns Cove, and ending at Mechum's Depot. Its formal opening and acceptance by Commissioners from counties on both sides of the mountains in 1806 was the occasion for a great celebration. Under the name of "Brown's Turnpike" it was long one of the important crossings. Some idea of values may be glimpsed, however, from the fact that in 1819 James, son of William Jarman, sold his half interest for $100. In 1867 the title to Brown's Turnpike as individual property lapsed, and it has since been a public road. This turnpike in part followed one of the oldest trails from the west - from the Old Fields (in what is now Hardy County, W. Va.) through Brocks Gap, by Singers' Glen (where there have been singing festivals yearly for over a hundred years), past Big Spring and so across the Blue Ridge by the Gap later known as Browns.

      In 1745, at age 52, Benjamin Brown, Sr. began his move to what is now known as Brown's Cove in Albemarle County, VA. This is show by the following gifts to male children of his first marriage, Benjamin, Jr., William and Bartlett, 28 May 1745: Louisa County Virginia Deeds. P. 178 - 181. (This land now lies in AlbemarleCounty.)
      "for good will of a fatherly love to (son) Bartlett Brown land of quantity unknown in the fork of the Moorman's River."

      "(same) to son William Brown land on both sides of the North Fork of Moorman's River."
      "to son, Benjamin Brown.; land in Louisa co. on both sides of the North Fork of Moorman's River on the Louisa Co. line. This later was incorporated into AlbemarleCounty.

      His move was completed in 1750. At the time of his death the family holdings in the Cove was over 11,000 acres. His last five children were born in Brown's Cove, Albemarle County, VA, the others in Hanover/Louisa, VA.

      Wills:
      Benjamin Brown, Sr. written: 15 April, 1762: proved: 11 Nov 1762: Will Book 2, Page 130, Circuit Court of Albemarle County, VA.

      Sarah Thomson Brown, written: 7 Oct 1803, proved: 4 Dec 1815, Will Book 6, p.130, CircuitCourtofAlbemarleCountyVA.
    Person ID I17751  McKenzie Genealogy
    Last Modified 14 Aug 2012 

    Father John Brown,   b. 1655, Wales Find all individuals with events at this locationd. 10 Feb 1709, Hanover, Virginia Find all individuals with events at this location (Age 54 years) 
    Relationship natural 
    Mother Alice   d. UNKNOWN 
    Relationship natural 
    Family ID F08202  Group Sheet  |  Family Chart

    Family 1 Hescott,   b. Wales Find all individuals with events at this locationd. UNKNOWN 
    Children 
     1. Benjamin Brown,   b. 1717, New Kent, Virginia Find all individuals with events at this locationd. Apr 1781, Hanover, Virginia Find all individuals with events at this location (Age 64 years)  [Father: natural]  [Mother: natural]
     2. William Brown,   b. 1720, Hanover, Virginia Find all individuals with events at this locationd. May 1780, Burtons Ferry, Allendale, South Carolina Find all individuals with events at this location (Age 60 years)  [Father: natural]  [Mother: natural]
     3. Bartlett Brown,   b. 1722, , Albemarle, Virginia Find all individuals with events at this locationd. 1 Oct 1785, Barnwell, Barnwell, South Carolina Find all individuals with events at this location (Age 63 years)  [Father: natural]  [Mother: natural]
     4. Elizabeth Brown,   b. 1730, Hanover, Virginia Find all individuals with events at this locationd. 10 Jun 1752, , Albemarle, Virginia Find all individuals with events at this location (Age 22 years)  [Father: natural]  [Mother: natural]
     5. Agnes Brown,   b. 1733, Hanover, Virginia Find all individuals with events at this locationd. UNKNOWN  [Father: natural]  [Mother: natural]
    Family ID F08200  Group Sheet  |  Family Chart
    Last Modified 12 Aug 2012 

    Family 2 Sarah Thompson,   b. 1725, , Albemarle, Virginia Find all individuals with events at this locationd. 1815, , Albemarle, Virginia Find all individuals with events at this location (Age 90 years) 
    Children 
     1. Lucretia Brown,   b. 1744, Hanover, Virginia Find all individuals with events at this locationd. 10 Jul 1806, Surry, North Carolina Find all individuals with events at this location (Age 62 years)  [Father: natural]  [Mother: natural]
     2. Barzalia Brown,   b. 1745, Hanover, Virginia Find all individuals with events at this locationd. 4 Jan 1829, Kentucky Find all individuals with events at this location (Age 84 years)  [Father: natural]  [Mother: natural]
     3. Benajah Brown,   b. 1748, Walnut Level, Albemarle, Virginia Find all individuals with events at this locationd. 6 Jul 1814, Buckingham, Virginia Find all individuals with events at this location (Age 66 years)  [Father: natural]  [Mother: natural]
     4. Bernard Brown,   b. 28 Jan 1750, Walnut Level, Albemarle, Virginia Find all individuals with events at this locationd. 26 Feb 1800, Browns Cove, Albemarle, Virginia Find all individuals with events at this location (Age 50 years)  [Father: natural]  [Mother: natural]
     5. Bernis Brown,   b. 15 Aug 1752, Walnut Level, Albemarle, Virginia Find all individuals with events at this locationd. 30 Oct 1814, Browns Cove, Albemarle, Virginia Find all individuals with events at this location (Age 62 years)  [Father: natural]  [Mother: natural]
     6. Bezaleel Brown,   b. 29 Jul 1754, Walnut Level, Albemarle, Virginia Find all individuals with events at this locationd. 9 Jan 1829, Browns Cove, Albemarle, Virginia Find all individuals with events at this location (Age 74 years)  [Father: natural]  [Mother: natural]
     7. Brightberry Brown,   b. 13 Feb 1762, Walnut Level, Albemarle, Virginia Find all individuals with events at this locationd. 26 Jan 1846, Browns Cove, Albemarle, Virginia Find all individuals with events at this location (Age 83 years)  [Father: natural]  [Mother: natural]
    Family ID F08201  Group Sheet  |  Family Chart
    Last Modified 12 Aug 2012 

  • Sources 
    1. [S004904] Cranford Family Tree, www.ancestry.com.
      QUAY 3

    2. [S004386] Brown - Fails Family Tree, www.ancestry.com.
      QUAY 3

    3. [S005507] England & Wales Christening Records, 1530-1906, (Ancestry.com. England & Wales Christening Records, 1530-1906 [database on-line]. Provo, UT: Ancestry.com Operations Inc, 2008.).

    4. [S005974] Family History: VA Genealogies #3, 1600s-1800s, (Family History: VA Genealogies #3, 1600s-1800s Virginia Colonial Abstracts, Volume III, Huntington Library Data BR Misc File).

    5. [S003435] Abshur, Becky, Albemarle, Virginia Record of Families, 1744-1890, (Albemarle, Virginia Record of Families, 1744-1890 [database on-line]. Provo, UT: Ancestry.com Operations Inc, 1999.).


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