“Robert Brown was born in 1757 in Montgomery County, Virginia and died in Elbert County, Georgia in 1801. Robert was married to Catherine Brown. Catherine’s last name is unknown. After Robert’s death, Catherine married again to William Stubblefield on 23 February 1809 in Elbert County, Georgia. According to the 1840
Census, their son Abraham was between 60 and 70. That means he
was born between 1770 and 1780.
Abraham was probably the oldest child. This is based on the
fact that he and his mother were administrators of his father’s
estate. His parents were probably in their early twenties when
he was born. So, we can guess that they were probably born
between 1750 and 1760.
Robert Brown was probably born in Augusta County, Virginia. His
father was there about the time we think he was born. He
apparently came to Georgia from North Carolina between 1782 and
1788. According to the 1860 census his daughter, Mary, age 77,
was born there. The Joel Maxwell Bible shows her birth date as
27 January 1782. So we know he was in North Carolina in 1782.
According to the Elbert County, Georgia History, page 69, in the
spring of 1788, Thomas A. Carter deeded one acre of land,
including a church building known as “Beaverdam Preaching House”
to Nathaniel Allen, Richardson Hunt, John Tallet, John
Harkleford, Robert Brown, William Hanson and Peter Stubbs as
trustees.”
(John Tollett, mentioned above, was married to Robert Brown’s
sister, Margaret. D.B.)
“The deed provided that, “They permit only such persons as are
appointed by the conference of the people called Methodist, and
no other, for the purpose of preaching and expounding God’s
word, and that the said persons preach no doctrines than is
contained in Mr. Wesley’s notes on the New Testament and his
four volumes of sermons and the Minutes of the conference.” The
Beaverdam Preaching House was the second Methodist church built
in Georgia. It was preceded by Grant’s Meeting House in Wilkes
County.
This trustee was probably our Robert Brown, because there is no
other one of record in the area. So now we can most probably
place him in Georgia in 1788.
We know Robert Brown was in Elbert County by 1790. He was
paying taxes on some land in the Northwestern corner of Elbert
County then. According to Elbert County, Georgia Land Court
Records he received three land warrants of 400, 450 and 200
acres on 7 January 1793. The records show he had three in his
family and he also received a headright. On the same day Moses
Davis, self and four in family, to issue in the name of Robert
Brown. On 1 January 1797 he received two land grants of 1,000
acres each [Georgia, Surveyor General (Secretary of State) Land
Grants, Book ZZZZ, 1796-1797, pages 170, 171].
According to the 1805 Georgia Land Lottery by Virginia S. Wood,
orphans of Robert Brown were entitled to a draw in Franklin
County, Georgia but drew a blank. Catharine Brown was entitled
to two draws as a widow in Elbert County, Georgia but both were
blanks. According to The Second or 1807 Land Lottery of
Georgia, by Lucas, the orphans of Robert Brown of Keelings
Militia District received Lot 117 in District 20 of Wilkinson
County, Georgia.
Robert Brown died in or before July 1801 in Elbert County,
Georgia. This is reflected in the Minutes of the Inferior
Court, 1791-1830. At the July Term 1801, Caty and Abraham Brown
are appointed Administrators of Robert Brown, deceased.
On September 13, 1802 Robert Brown’s estate was appraised and
inventoried. The total appraisal came to $901.76 3/4 [Elbert
County, Georgia, Wills and Administrations of Estates 1803-1806,
pages 48.]. On September 15 & 16, 1802 his estate was sold at
auction. Among the principle buyers were Caty and Abraham
Brown. The sale netted the estate $909.43 3/4 [Elbert County,
Georgia, Wills and Administrations of Estates 1803-1806, pages
20-28.].
Robert and Catherine Brown had the following children:
- Abraham Brown born 1778
- Elizabeth Brown born 1780 in Chowan County, North Carolina
- Mary Brown born Jan. 27, 1782 in North Carolina
- Margaret Brown born 1786
- John Brown born 1790 in Elbert County, Georgia
- Sara Brown born 1792 in Elbert County, Georgia
- Ann Brown born 1794 in Elbert County, Georgia
- Robert Brown born May 11, 1799
On November 8, 1808 the Sheriff was directed to see to it that
Robert Brown’s land was divided between his heirs. This was
done in accordance with an act of the state assembly that
specified how intestate estates were to be divided. Though the
document implies that a special act was passed concerning this
action, such was not the case. The land was divided according
to the law as it was at the time. The division was to be done
so each received land of the same approximate value. That
resulted in various sizes for the lots depending on the quality
of the land distributed. The heirs were his widow, Catharine,
and their children Abraham, Elizabeth, John, Sally, Anna
(probably one in the same as Anny shown in some records),
Robert, Polly and Peggy. As stated in the document, Elizabeth
was married to Silas Brown and Polly was married to Joel
Maxwell. The division of the land was completed by December 23,
1809 [Elbert County, Georgia, Clerk of Superior Court Office,
Deed book O, pages 37-42.].
Abraham Brown performed most of the Administrator duties
required [Elbert County, Georgia, Will Book 1809-1812, pages 16,
17, 242; Elbert County, Georgia, Will Book K 1812-1816, page
68.].
Order of birth and birth date information as well as marriage
and family information concerning Abraham, Mary, Margaret, Ann
and Robert Brown was furnished by Ann G. Holloman, Albany,
Georgia.
SOURCE: A Brown Family of Elbert County, Georgia, Compiled by
William A. Coup, 1148 SW 11th Street, Boca Raton, FL 33486, copy
in the Hart County, Georgia, Public Library. Also
correspondence from William A. Coup.
BIRTH: Montgomery County, Virginia, Entry Book A, page 139. On
21 September 1782 Robert Brown received 400 acres adjoining his
father, Abraham’s, land. That means he was at least 21 years old
at the time and so must have been born no later than 1761.
CHILDREN: Georgia, Elbert County, Clerk of Superior Court
Office, Deed Book O, pages 37-42. Distribution of his estate
names each child and his wife.
MARRIAGE & DEATH: Elbert County, Georgia, Minutes of the
Inferior Court 1791-1830, July Term 1801, where Caty and Abraham
Brown are appointed Administrators of Robert Brown, deceased.
Participated in the King’s Mountain Campaign.
SOURCE: The Patriots at Kings Mountain, by B. G. Moss, Copyright
1990, Library of Congress Catalog Card Number: 90-060759. ISBN
0-9626172-0-2, Page 278.
BEAVERDAM PREACHING HOUSE
The following deed describes a society which met in a building
on Beaverdam Creek in what became Elbert County as early as
1788. The only societies which are known to have been in that
area are Thompson’s by 1801 and Parks’ by 1799.
Carter, Thomas, to Nathaniel Alien, Richard Hunt, John Tollet,
John Harkleford, Robert Brown, William Hanson and Peter Stubbs,
Trustees of the Methodist Episcopal Church of Georgia, for 5
shillings, all that lately erected house known by the name of
Beaverdam Preaching House, with one acre of land, being part of
the tract whereon said Thomas Carter now lives, with the
privilege of the spring, provided they permit only such persons
as are appointed by the conference of the people called
Methodist and no other, for the purpose of preaching and
expounding God’s Word, and that the said persons preach no other
doctrine than is contained in Mr. Wesley’s notes on the New
Testament and his four volumes of sermons and the minutes of the
Conference, 3-17-1788. Reuben Allen, John Cunningham, JP’s,
Test.
With the restrictions stated in the above deed, conflicts over
the use of the building could have led to its abandonment prior
to Asbury’s visits at the turn of the 19th century, however,
such a likelihood is remote. More plausible is the notion of
this society being the forerunner of another which Asbury did
visit, though there is no clue from his writings to link it with
any other society or chapel.
Asbury’s first Georgia visit was a month after this deed was
written. On that visit, Asbury did not name the places he
preached or lodged nor did he venture far from the forks of the
Broad River.
SOURCE: A Brief History of Early Methodist Societies & Meeting
Houses in the Broad River Valley of Georgia, by John Wright
Boyd.
Robert Brown’s First Land Grant, 17 January 1797.
STATE OF GEORGIA
By His Excellency Jared Irwin Captain-General, Governor, and
Commander in Chief in and over the said State, and of the
Militia thereof.
To all to whom these Presents shall come, GREETING:
KNOW YE, That, in pursuance of the Act for opening the Land-
Office, and by virtue of the powers in me vested, I HAVE given
and granted, and, by these presents, in the name and behalf of
the said state, DO give and grant unto Robert Brown his heirs
and assigns forever, ALL that tract or parcel of land,
containing One Thousand acres, situate, lying, and being in the
county of Elbert in the said state and butting and bounding
Northwest by Said Brown Tollet Vinyard and Creswell Northeast by
Raglins and Vacant, and Southerly by Mathews land. having such
shape, form, and marks, as appear by a plat of the same hereunto
annexed; together with all and singular the rights, members, and
appurtances thereof, whatsoever, to the said tract or parcel of
land belonging, or in any wise appertaining; and also all the
estate, right, title, interest, claim, and demand of the state
aforesaid, of, in, to, or out of, the same: TO HAVE AND TO HOLD
the said tract or parcel of land, and all and singular the
premises aforesaid, with their and every of their rights,
members, and appurtances, with the said Robert Brown his heirs
and assigns, to his and their own proper use and behoof forever,
in Fee Simple.
GIVEN under my hand, the great seal of said state, this
Seventeenth day of January in the year of our Lord one thousand
seven hundred and ninety seven; and in the Twenty First year of
American Independence.
Signed by his Excellency the Governor, the ) Jared Irwin
17th day of Jany 1797 )
J Meriwether LSD
Registered, the 18th day of Jany 1797 Georgia, Surveyor General
(Secretary of State) Land Grants, Book ZZZZ, 1796-1797, page
171.
Robert Brown’s Second Land Grant, 17 January 1797.
STATE OF GEORGIA
By His Excellency Jared Irwin Captain-General, Governor, and
Commander in Chief in and over the said State, and of the
Militia thereof.
To all to whom these Presents shall come, GREETING:
KNOW YE, That, in pursuance of the Act for opening the Land-
Office, and by virtue of the powers in me vested, I HAVE given
and granted, and, by these presents, in the name and behalf of
the said state, DO give and grant unto Robert Brown his heirs
and assigns forever, ALL that tract or parcel of land,
containing One Thousand acres, situate, lying, and being in the
county of Elbert in the said state and butting and bounding
Southwest by Templetons and Edward Northwest by Statam and
Creswell Northeast by Tottels and Southeasterly by Brown and
Mathews land. having such shape, form, and marks, as appear by a
plat of the same hereunto annexed; together with all and
singular the rights, members, and appurtances thereof,
whatsoever, to the said tract or parcel of land belonging, or in
any wise appertaining; and also all the estate, right, title,
interest, claim, and demand of the state aforesaid, of, in, to,
or out of, the same: TO HAVE AND TO HOLD the said tract or
parcel of land, and all and singular the premises aforesaid,
with their and every of their rights, members, and appurtances,
with the said Robert Brown his heirs and assigns, to his and
their own proper use and behoof forever, in Fee Simple.
GIVEN under my hand, the great seal of said state, this
Seventeenth day of January in the year of our Lord one thousand
seven hundred and ninety seven; and in the Twenty First year of
American Independence.
Signed by his Excellency the Governor, the ) Jared Irwin
17th day of Jany 1797 )
T Meriwether LSD
Registered, the 18th day of Jany 1797
According to the 1805 Georgia Land Lottery by Virginia S. Wood,
orphans of Robert Brown were entitled to a draw in Franklin
County, Georgia but drew a blank. Catharine Brown was entitled
to two draws as a widow in Elbert County, Georgia but both were
blanks. According to The Second or 1807 Land Lottery of GA by
Lucas, the orphans of Robert Brown of Keelings Militia District
received Lot 117 in District 20 of Wilkinson County, Georgia.
Robert Brown died in or before July 1801 in Elbert County,
Georgia. This is reflected in the Minutes of the Inferior Court,
1791-1830. At the July Term 1801, Caty and Abraham Brown are
appointed Administrators of Robert Brown deceased.
On September 13, 1802 Robert Brown’s estate was appraised and
inventoried. On September 15 & 16, 1802 his estate was sold at
auction. Among the principle buyers were Caty and Abraham Brown.
On November 8, 1808 the sheriff was directed to see to it that
Robert Brown’s land was divided between his heirs. This was done
in accordance with an act of the state assembly that specified
how intestate estates were to be divided. Though the document
implies that a special act was passed concerning this action,
such was not the case. The land was divided according to the law
as it was at the time. The division was to be done so each
received land of the same approximate value. That resulted in
various sizes for the lots depending on the quality of the land
distributed. The heirs were his widow, Catharine, and their
children Abraham, Elizabeth, John, Sally, Anna (probably one in
the same as Anny shown in some records), Robert, Polly and
Peggy. As stated in the document, Elizabeth was married to Silas
White and Polly was married to Joel Maxwell. The division of the
land was completed by December 23, 1809. Abraham Brown performed
most of the Administrator duties required.