Sent by Arlene Lambert, from information by Edith S. Reiter, 311
Washington St., Marietta, Ohio - written to Mrs. James A. Hermstad - 21150
Mellowood Dr., Saratoga, Calif. Old copies, abt. 1980's?
References: Brown Family Register, Ohio Univ. Archives, Athens, Ohio;
Walker's History of Athens Co., Ohio (1869); Ohio Univ. Archives.
Cpt. John Brown served in colonial army during French War. Represented
town of Leicester in Mass. Legislature during and after the Rev.
Capt. John Brown served with credit in the colonial army during the French War, and represented the town of Leicester in the Mass. legislature during, and for many years, after the Rev. War.
First settle in town of Hatfield on the Conn. River.
Capt. Benjamin Brown was one of the early settlers of Ames, Ohio. He
joined the Minute Men in Feb. 1775. Commissioned Lt. in Co. Prescott's Mass.
line, participated in the Battle of Bunker Hill. Commissioned Jan. 1777 a
Captain in the 8th Regt. Mass. Line. Resigned his commission in 1779 to
return home to his family to provide for their support and for other personal
reasons. In 1789 removed t9o Harttford, Washington Co., N.Y. (Then a new
settelment). In 1797 reached Marietta, Ohio, and in 1799 came to Ames Twp. (in company with Judge Cutler). In 1817 in feeble health he went to live with his son, Gen. John Brown of Athens, where he died in 1821.
Capt. Benjamin Brown, father of Gen. John Brown and of Judge A.G. Brown,
and one of the most prominent among the early settlers of Ames. His
grandfather, William Brown, came from England to America while a youth, was the first settler in the town of Hattfield, on the Conn. River, and was often
engaged in the Indian Wars of that period.
In Feb. 1775, Benjamin, then thirty years old, joined a regiment of minute men, and two months later was engaged in active hostilities. In May he was commissioned a Lt. in Col. Prescott's regiment of the Mass. line, and in Jun participated in the battle of Bunker Hill. Two of his brothers, Pearly and John, were also engaged in this battle, the latter being dangerously wounded in two places, and borne off the field during the engagement. This brother Pearly was subsequently killed at the battle of White Plains, and another brother, William, died in a hospital. In Jan, 1777. Lt. Brown was commisioned a capt.in the 8th Regiment Mass. line. His regiment took a very active part in the operations directed against Burgoyne during the summer of 1777, and Capt. Brown was engaged in nearly all of the battle that prededed Burgoune's surrender, in some of which he particularly distinquished himself by his gallantry and daring. A short time after this he was offered the position of aide-de-camp on Baron Steuben's Staff, but declined it, fearing that his military knowledge was inadequate. In 1779, compelled by the necessities of his family and other personal reasons, he resigned his commission and returned home to provide for thier support. About the year 1789, he removed with his fmaily to Harford, Washington CO., New York, then a new settlement, whence he again migrated in the fall of 1796, and sought a nome in the northwestern territory. He reached Marietta in the spring of 1797, and in 1799 came to Ames Twp., in company with Judge Cutler. He was one of the prominant citizens during the time he resided
in Ames, holding various township offices, and contributing largely to the
advancement of the settlement. In 1817, his health becoming feebel,m he went
ot live with his son, Gen. Jophn Brown, in Athens, and here he died in Oct.
1821.
His wife, whom he married in Mass. in 1772, and who bore him a large family of children, died at Athens in 1840, aged eighty - six years.
D/o Archibald and Elizabeth Thomas.
Samuel Brown was a millwright of Athens, employed to build a sawmill for
Timothy Hiett on Wolf Creek (Abt. 1815). When he finished, it was bought by
its' builder..Samuel Brown. Samuel was brother to General Brown of Athens,
Ohio. Samuel and family occupied Hiett's cabin during the building of the
mill. His first wife was Mary Poole who died in Athens Co. Samuel Brown died in 1872 at the age of 91 years. The only post office that is now, or ever was, in the neighborhood called Palmer, is called Brown's Mill's Post office. Samuel was the first postmaster, beginning about 1821. From Williams History of Washington Co., Ohio.
1850 census Washington Co., Ohio
1803 Census of Ames Twp., Ohio also 1810 census.
Washington Co., Onio Marriages
National Gen. Society Quarterly, Jun 1962"Pierrot and Liengme Graves"
William's History of Washington Co., Ohio (1788 - 1881)
Samuel Brown, late of Winchester, N.H. 100 acres Lot 27 Twp E Range 9
surveryed in 1785 from Buckeye 20" diameter 25 chains to white oak 10" diamet
etc. Rainbow Creek Allotment Nov 22, 1796. Witnessed by Eden Beebe and Rusus Putnam
Samuel Brown purchased from Daniel Weethie of AMes for $200. Mile lot 18 twp. 10 Range lr along Sunday Creek. 90 acres more or less. Aug 10, 1802
Recorded in Vol 7, page 511
Polly L. Brown and Josiah True Witnesses