Earliest Known Brown Ancestors
James and Mary Matchett Brown came to the Nelson County, Kentucky area about 1780s, I believe. Unfortunately for us, there were THREE James Browns in the area at the time. Fortunately, with help of others and some basic research, I discovered which James was ours.
My direct line lineage is as follows:
James and Mary Matchett Brown
Joseph and Susannah Carter Brown
Daniel Clinton and Elizabeth T. Haskins Brown
Joseph Manuel and Martha Jane Brown
Milo Bruce and Mary Idaho Brown Fulk/Faulk
Edward Patrick and Virginia Rose Faulk Kemmerling
Mary Kathleen Kemmerling
NOTE - I have a cousin who has had DNA testing done. He descends from William Gilbert Brown, the brother to my grandmother, Mary Idaho Brown.
Joseph, son of James and Mary, claimed to have been born in Franklin County, Virginia. I have not found the family there.
I determined which James Brown was ours through LAND TAX RECORDS. A cousin had fond a history of Joseph Brown in Porter County, Indiana, which stated he was born in Hardin County, Kentucky and his father was James Brown. A search through the Tax Records, determined that the James who had land on the Rolling Fork, had a son, Joseph, who appeared in the tax rolls in 1806, when he turned 21. (1806-21=1785, the date we had for Joseph's birth.)
The ten children of James and Mary Matchett Brown: (a Brown researcher, Carolyn Wimp, has GREATLY helped with my research!!! mild understatement...)
Samuel Brown, b. abt 1773
Sarah Brown, b. 1775, d. 1 Mar 1874 - married John Jackson
James Brown Junior, b. 1780, d. 20 Jul 1838 - married Nancy Ash
John Brown, b. 1781
Unknown Brown son, b. abt 1783, d. before 1804 - from census records, tax records
Mary Polly Brown, b. abt 1784, d. before 1834 - married Moses Thomas
Joseph Brown, b. 5 Jun 1784, d. 20 Aug 1850 - married Susannah Carter
Unknown Brown son, b. abt 1787, d. before 1809 (from census records, tax records)
Elizabeth Brown, b. abt 1789, d. between 1860-1870 - married Henry Ash
Rachael Brown, b. abt. 1792 - married John Howell (his second marriage)
Nelson County, Kentucky LAND RECORDS (The earliest Land Record that I find):
11 Oct 1791 - William Gerard, wife Hannah, heirs of Eli Gerard, decd. to JAMES BROWN, 100 pounds, 700 ac. south side of Rolling Fork at the mouth of Clear Creek, adj. Conert Joy. (Book Four) THIS IS OUR JAMES BROWN - see Hardin County Chancery Court Case 1817-1822
Land Tax Records of our James:
HARDIN COUNTY, KENTUCKY: Tax Records Index (Hardin County formed in 1792 from Nelson) FHL Film 8013.
1793
: Two Browns listed : Thomas and James. Only 1 page of record on the film.1794
: Two James Browns listed, one with (next to) Patrick Brown1795
: One James Brown, Mson County??, on the Crooked Creek, 175 acres.Another James (next to a Thomas on record), Hardin County, has land here: Rock Creek, 700 acres; Long Lick, 330 acres; Rolling Fork, 400 acres; Rolling Fork, 100 acres.
1796:
James Brown, Hardin County, 105 acres on Rowling F, land originally entered by Eli Jarots (?), immediately underneath James is listed Samuel Brown, 1 white male above 21 (Is this a son?..brother?) Thomas now on Valley water course. Other Browns: Dickson (Dixon), Patrick.NOTE: I believe that the above Samuel Brown is a very near relative of James, perhaps his oldest son. In the earliest tax records, Samuel is listed right next to our James, indicating that perhaps he is a son. Another record states that James and Samuel are in the same househould.
1797
: James Brown, 125 acres on Rowlling F., Eli Janett's former land.1798: no record given for this year.
1799:
one James Brown, no land, over 21; James Brown has 256 acres on Rowling Fork, Eli Janet's land. Also 600 acres on Bare Creek. Right next to him in record is Samuel Brown with 1591 acres? (or is that a total for page?) and 200 acres on Russels Creek in Green County, 50 acres on Roling Fork in Washington County. (Map 50, H1, H2)NOTE: Green County, Kentucky was formed from Lincoln and Nelson Counties. It was the 16th to be formed and was created on 20 Dec 1792.Washington County, Kentucky was formed from Nelson County, Kentucky. It was the 10th county formed. Page 934. Two fires, one in 1795, and the second in 1814 destroyed courthouses, though some records were saved.
1800
: No James Brown on record.1801
: James Brown, 265 acres on Roling Fork, Eli Jarrrard's land, 280 acres on Roling Fork. James Brown, Jr, no land 1 male over 21. Samuel Brown is assessed two people before James, Sr...all of these people assessed were on the Roling Fork.1802: in record in this order: Brown, James, Jr, no land, 1 over 21; Brown, John, no land, over 21; Brown James, 165 acres on Rolling Fork, also 200 acres on Rolling Fork No Samuel Brown in record.1803:
Brown, James, 265 acres on Rolling Fork, Eli Garrard's land; also 286 acres on Rolling Fork, also 300 acres on Rock Creek. Listed right below: Brown, James, Jr, no land, 1 white male and Brown, John, no land, 1 wh male. Samuel not listed. Samuel Carter shows up with 80 acres on Rolling Fork but in Nelson County.1804:
Brown, James, 296 acres on Roling Fork, Eli Jarret's land; 282 acres on Roling Fork; 190 acre on Rock Creek , first entered in J. Brown's name. Listed next is Brown, John, no land, over 21 and Brown, James, Jr, no land, over 21. Samuel Carter now has 300 acres on Knoll Creek and James Carter has 224 acres on Roling Fork.1805:
Brown, James 290 acres, Roling Fork, Eli Garret's land plus 282 acres on Roling Fork. Listed next to him is Brown, James and Brown, John. A Mary Brown is also listed at end of "B" Samuel Carter now has Samuel Jr and William under him.1806:
Brown, James, Sr, 260 acres on Rolling Fork, E. Jarrett's land, with James, Jr., John and NOW, JOSEPH Brown listed below....THIS IS OUR JAMES BROWN...Joseph born 1785 appears as 21 on this Tax Record.1807:
Brown, James, Sr. with James, Jr and John. Joseph not listed.1808
: Brown, James with two parcels on Roling Fork. Samuel Brown a few days later. No children here.1809:
Brown, James, Sr., 260 acres on Ruff Creek, Jarret's land plus 280 acres on Roling Fork. James Brown, Jr and Joseph Brown listed immediately under James, Sr. John Brown listed later, no land.1810:
Brown, James 260 acres; 280 acres, 600 acres. Two names down: Brown, James, Jr. and Brown, Joseph (both have no land) Thomas Lincoln shows up with 200 acres on Mill Creek.1811
: James Brown with 280 acres on Rolling Fork and 800 acres in Grayson County (?) on Rock Creek, first granted to James Brown. Also James Brown 350 acres on Rolling Fork (is this Jr?) and Joseph and John listed one name down under Jr. They had no land.1812 - this is as far as I got before I had to leave for summer 2000 trip ...
from Carolyn Wimp: "In the 1817 tax list, it was James Brown, Sr. with 320 on Rolling Fork."
....more to follow....