The ancestors of the Browns who lived in
Versailles, Cattaraugus County, NY, had their roots in Eastern NY. Will
Lincoln Brown's father was Elisha Brown. Elisha was born 20-AUG-1817 in Luzerne,
Warren County, NY. Elisha married Marion Eliza Hills of Chautauqua County,
NY, on 10-OCT-1849
at Versailles, Cattaraugus County, NY. Elisha's parents were Jonathan Brown, born
15-MAR-1787 at
Queensbury, Washington County, NY and Anna Baker, born 6-JUL-1792 at Easton,
Washington County, NY. Anna was the daughter of Ruben Baker, born 1756,
died 16-APR-1822, and Martha Palmer. Jonathan and Anna
were married 21-DEC-1809. They had 10 children, all born in Luzerne. Jonathan
also had a second wife, Elizabeth Harrington
("Betsey"), born 10-APR-1810, with whom he also had 10 children.
Jonathan's parents were Howgill Brown, born
12-APR-1755 at Nine Partners, Dutchess County and Lydia (?). Howgill's
parents were Benedick Brown, born abt. 1722 and Rebecca Burch born abt. 1725.
The
county and town names in this area can be confusing because they were changed
and split, over the years. Warren county was formed in 1813 from the northwest
portion of what was then Washington county. The town of Easton remained in
Washington county but Queensbury and Luzerne became part of Warren county.
Washington county received its name in 1784 when the name of what was then
Charlotte county was changed to Washington County. Prior to 06-APR-1808, the town
of Luzerne had been named Fairfield. The town of Hadley is adjacent to Luzerne
but on the opposite side (west side) of the Hudson River, in Saratoga
county. Many of the town boundaries were also moved and rearranged over
time. The Brown family was
influenced by, and participated in, various branches of the Quaker
(Society of Friends) religion. They began as Orthodox Quakers but
became Hicksite Quakers and ultimately joined the Friends for Human
Progress faction in Western NY. In order to properly understand
the Brown family, you need to study and understand the evolution of the Society
of Friends in NY State. |
