Alexander Brown - A wee bit Irish

Alexander Brown - A wee bit Irish

By Teresa Martin Klaiber January 2020

Alexander Brown, was born in Ireland, according to son, Rev. Matthew Brown, family stories, and children’s census records. At least three sons were born in Ireland: Adam Brown born 8 April 1766, Samuel born about 1770, and Isaac Newton Brown born 16 April 1771.

Both Adam and Samuel migrated from Ireland to Hampshire County, Virginia, where their father  settled, then on to Ohio County, Kentucky. When Adam Brown died in Ohio County, 10 August 1853 from flux, the death register listed his father Alexander and mother as Winney Brown.  Winney is most likely short for Winifred an old English/Welsh given name.  DNA,  for this compiler, indicates that Adam is a ½ brother to later siblings, confirming, what earlier researchers suspected, that Alexander had more than one wife.

In a published sketch, it is stated that Samuel Brown immigrated to America with his father when he was twelve years old[i].  If this statement is accurate then Alexander and family migrated to America in 1782.  According to one researcher[ii] Winney Brown died in Ireland before the migration.

The first confirmed documentation of Alexander Brown is in Frederick County, Virginia on the personal property tax of 1782 with 10 white and 1 black within the household.  From experience, this compiler believes that Alexander actually arrived in America about 1781 to be established in Fredrick and paying taxes by 1782.   Historically the Irish Volunteers had organized and in December 1781 had met at a meeting place of the Presbyterian Synod of Ulster. The Brown children appear in later Presbyterian records in America.  As they settled in America they were faced with talk of the Battle of Guilford Court House in North Carolina and the surrender at Yorktown.

Conjecture repeated by some researchers say Alexander had a wife Mary Bradford. Grace Kelso Garner[iii], wrote that Nancy Caudy daughter of James Caudy, Jr. married 30 October 1781 to George Alexander Brown. She then cites the children of our Alexander Brown. In 1995, Wilmer L. Kerns wrote in Frederick County Virginia Settlement And Some First Families of Back Creek Valley that Garner was erroneous.  A deed and mortgage involving Alexander and Thomas Lewis written a year prior to Alexander’s death indicates that his wife was named Ann.[iv]  To date it is not clear who the mother of nine of Alexander’s children was.

Alexander was active in Frederick County and was witness to the will of John Buckanon in January 1789.   In 1791 Alexander Brown purchased property from William Linegar in Hampshire County, Virginia. He paid 120 pounds for 223 acres on the North River at Great Cacapon.  He settled at the mouth of the North River of the Great Cacapon on the wagon road leading from Romney (Hampshire County)  to Winchester (Frederick County).  The state road was completed from Winchester to Romney in 1786.  Brown was involved in a Chancery court case involving Isabel Feeley in 1795.[v]  By March 1792 he was established in his new home and  appears in a list of letters remaining at the post office at Winchester, Frederick County, Virginia.[vi]

Kern’s surmised that Alexander Brown was a blacksmith because he gave grandson William Day blacksmith tools in his will.  Alexander wrote his will on the fourteenth day of August 1816.  Alexander Brown stated these were the tools that he had set up William’s father with. William Day was one of the children of Alexander’s daughter Nancy Brown. Nancy had three children with Ammery Day[vii].  William’s siblings were John Day and Larkin Day.  In 1798 Thomas Henderson was cited as living in adultery with Nancy.  The Day children later utilized the Henderson surname.  Thus it is unclear, at this writing, if Brown set up blacksmith tools for Ammery Day or for Thomas Henderson.  Alexander references daughter Nancy as Day in his will so it is “assumed” the blacksmith tools were for Day.  There is documentation that Alexander Brown paid tax on a grist mill in 1814 and the property he sold to Thomas Lewis has a “merchant” mill which is mentioned further in this report.  He would be paying tax on a mill if it was on his property.  As of this report it is unclear if he is the miller.

No wife is mentioned in Alexander Brown’s will. He gave a slave each to son Adam and Samuel. Alexander then requested that his plantation be sold and the sums divided among the children. He appointed “trusty friend” George Sharf, Daniel Carmichael and John Caudy to be executors of the estate.  The appraisement was June 1817.

The estate lingered in court.  The Winchester Gazette announced a trust sale 19 Oct 1822 for 124 acres by subscriber Thomas Lewis for payment of a certain sum due to George Sharf and Daniel Carmicheal, executors of Alexander Brown.  The land was to be sold at the tavern door of said Lewis upon the premises to the highest bidder.  The land described as on the road leading from Winchester to Romney including a Merchant Mill[viii] and an excellent stand for a tavern having been occupied as such for several years.  It appears the property did not sell at that time.  Instead it was leased to John Martin & Nicholas Baker with John Brown acting as trustee prior to John’s migration to Perry County, Ohio.  They failed to make their payments.[ix] In October 1828 Matthew Brown, David Brown, John Clayton & Polly late Brown his wife, David Pugh and wife Jane late Brown, Samuel Rusk and Elizabeth nee Brown his wife appointed Isaac Brown of Perry County, Ohio to act as their attorney-in-fact.[x]  It was not until April 1834 that Adam and Samuel Brown both of Ohio County, Kentucky also appointed Isaac Brown to act as their attorney-in-fact.[xi]  Isaac Newton Brown finalized the sale of the property to John Wolford in 1837.[xii]

The will, as well as tax records, prove that Alexander Brown was a slave owner.  Son Matthew Brown was interviewed, in Bowling Green, Ohio, as the oldest man in the county. He said that when a lad he saw his father sell a woman who had two little children and saw the frantic mother begging to intercede for permission for her to come back some time and see her children.[xiii] This left a deep impression on Matthew who became a devout minister.

Children of Alexander Brown

i.  Adam Brown born 8 April 1766.  Married Marry Baldwin. Resided Ohio County, Kentucky.

ii. Samuel Brown, born about 1770  Ireland, married Hannah Taylor.  Resided in Ohio County, Kentucky.

iii. Nancy Brown birth estimated 1766-1784. M. Ammery Day, associated with Thomas Henderson. Resided in Hampshire County, Virginia.

iv. Isaac Newton Brown, born 16 April 1771 in Ireland; died 01 March 1853  Perry County Ohio; married (1) Mary Clayton 27 October 1795; born 18 February 1777 in VA; died 27 January 1822 in Perry County Ohio; married (2) Eleanor Chenoweth 27 March 1823 in Perry County Ohio.

v. Jane Brown birth estimated between 1775 – 1794.  Married David Pugh. Jane died  19 Sep. 1824 Perry County, Ohio.

vi. Mary Brown, born February 1779; died 28 August 1858 in Clayton Township, Perry County Ohio; married John Calvin Clayton Abt. 1799. Died Perry County, Ohio. She is the ancestor of this compiler.

vii. Elizabeth Brown born between 1785 & 1794. Married Samuel Rusk. Resided Perry County, Ohio.

viii. Rev Matthew Brown, born 16 June 1786 Frederick County VA; died 27 October 1884 Wood County Ohio; married Mary Constance Queen 14 April 1811.

ix.  John Brown born 1791 – 1792. Hampshire Co., Va. 1810. Said to marry 1. Polly Skinner.  John 1830 in Pike Twp., Perry Co., OH with female b 1790-1800. Marries Mary Meddleton in Perry County, Ohio in 1836.  Rev. Matthew Brown performed marriage. Migrated to Knox Co., MO between 1850 & 60.  He names a son Isaac.  (Isaac Newton Brown s/o Alexander also bore a son John Brown in 1798 Hampshire County.  Caution researchers to not confuse records). 

x. David Brown born about 1793 Hampshire County, Virginia.  Migrated to Pike Township, Perry County, Ohio.

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[i] W. H. PERRIN. J. H. BATTLE, G. C. KNIFFIN, KENTUCKY A HISTORY OF THE STATE, EMBRACING A CONCISE ACCOUNT OF THE ORIGIN AND DEVELOPMENT OF THE VIRGINIA COLONY; ITS EXPANSION WESTWARD, AND THE SETTLEMENT OF THE FRONTIER BEYOND THE ALLEGHANIES; THE ERECTION OF KENTUCKY AS AN INDEPENDENT STATE, AND ITS SUBSEQUENT DEVELOPMENT. , F. A. BATTEY AND COMPANY, 1888.[ii] Hal Harrocks[iii] Early Settlers of Western Frederick and Eastern Hampshire County[iv] Virginia, Hampshire dbk 19 p. 288-290 Alexander Brown and wife Ann to Thomas Lewis of Hampshire County, VA.[v] Library of Va., Chancery Record Index. Frederick 1795-014 LVA reel 175 206 329[vi] Bowen’s Centinel and Gazette. 12 March 1792[vii]Amory Day sold pp to Ransom Day for 35.83 in 1815.  The items included beds, blankets, spinning wheel…tools. Hampshire dbk 19 p 139-40.[viii] Map of Mill Sites c. 1859  shows “a” mill on the road from Romney at North River.  HistoricHampshire.org    James Caudy property was also on North river and he is known to have had a mill in 1813/14.[ix] Virginia, Hampshire dbk 26 p 360[x] Virginia, Hampshire Dbk 26 pp320-321[xi] Virginia, Hampshire Dbk 29 page 326[xii] Virginia, Hampshire dbk 41 page 124.[xiii] Wood County Sentinel, 2 April 1881.

Richard & Elijah Adams part of Local History

Compiled by Teresa Martin Klaiber

Over the past several years the Adams family has crossed my desk, involved in different venues, more than a few times.

Richard and Elijah Adams were sons of Pleasant Adams [1803-1884] who died in Carter County, Kentucky. Pleasant had a total of 16 children and many descendants. At least 14 of them were alive and able to attend his funeral along with their families.

Richard Adams [b. 3 Jan 1829 in what was then Lawrence County, KY] married Sarah Elizabeth Devore 1 July 1855 in Carter County and settled in Flatwoods, Greenup County which became Boyd County in 1860. That alone is a mouth full.

Caught in the swirl of the Civil War, trying to establish a living farming, Richard Adams became indebted to William M. Baldwin. In a petition of equity filed in Greenup County, Kentucky one Alfred Hastings had been granted a judgment against Baldwin. In order to avoid sale of Baldwin's property, the sheriff had made arrangements for a settlement. The problem was that William M. Baldwin had been within the lines of the Rebel Government "voluntarily" for some time. Thus the county turned to Adams, who was indebted to Baldwin, to meet the judgment of Hastings. No further action seems to have occurred and Richard settled into a life in Flatwoods, Boyd County.

Richard's 1/2 brother Elijah was only 13 years old [b. 26 January 1849] and still living in Carter County during the court battle. Elijah would grow up and stay in Carter County for many years. He was residing with his father, Pleasant in 1880 but we can assume that the family communicated with Richard Adams family. After Richard's wife died in 1871, he had married Margaret Crooks and the family resided in Upper Ashland.

Much as been written about the murder of the Gibbons children in Ashland, Kentucky, Christmas Eve, 1881 that would become known nationally as the Ashland Tragedy. Three men were arrested. The accused [Ellis, Neal, Craft] were transported to Maysville. On 11 January they were returned to Ashland where the Grand Jury had already been appointed. Among the 16 on the Grand Jury sat Richard Adams. The Jury sat for 5 long days before returning an indictment for conspiracy and murder on Neal and Craft. The Grand Jury was dismissed and another appointed for Ellis a week later.

The papers went wild, the residents far and wide talked and were enraged. Without a doubt the Adams family had much to talk about. Ellis was lynched. As time moved forward National Guard came from Louisville to Catlettsburg to protect Craft and Neal. There was a change of venue to Carter County which upset the people more. There was a delay and the prisoners were to be taken to Lexington for their own protection. The people were furious. The steamboat Granite State commanded by Capt. William Kirker would take the prisoners and National Guard on their journey 1 November, 1882.

A train arrived in Catlettsburg bearing two hundred men and boys from Ashland some with old shotguns and pistols. They demanded the surrender of the prisoners and were refused. The Guard dragged a cannon on board and started down river. It is said a telegram notified Ashland that the Granite State had left and would soon be passing Ashland. Citizens gathered on Front Street and along the bank of the Ohio River. Among those watching was Richard Adams.

Richard gave his testimony of what he saw that day in the 16 November 1882 Ashland Daily Newspaper:

"A number, perhaps twenty-five or thirty, went on the ferry-boat, but some ten or fifteen came back off the boat before she pushed out. the ferry-boat pushed out, but she did not go very fast. The steamer whistled. I saw no signal from the ferry-boat. I was on an elevated place and could see both boats, and was not excited. The steamer had almost passed the ferry-boat, which ran out a piece with the bow down the river. The boats were 150 to 260 yards apart. I heard two or three reports of small guns, then a volley from the steamer, which drove everything from the bow of the ferry-boat back, and for a while the smoke was so thick that I could not see the ferry-boat. The next volley fired by the military was on the people standing where Col. Reppert was killed. I got down on my knees in the ditch and as I raised up another volley was fired. I then heard some one say there was a man dead. I saw Mrs. Serey after she was wounded. I did not see Col. Reppert until after the second volley was fired. Half the balls seemed to strike the bow of the ferry-boat."

When the smoked cleared 21 had either died or were injured. Col. Lewis W. Reppert who Richard Adams spoke of was shot through the heart and died that day. He was buried in Ashland, Cemetery. Mrs. Jackson Serey was shot in the shoulder and breast and struggled with her wounds for some time.

Was Elijah Adams in Ashland when these awful events happened? He certainly had first hand information from his brother. Elijah Adams has been credited with writing what is probably the first version of a ballad, Ashland Tragedy. The ballad does not include the story of the fateful day with the Granite State. Ballad historians continue to debate who wrote what. One story says that Elijah got his story from James Hunter "a resident of Ashland." Actually I find James Hunter residing in Carter County. It is more likely that Elijah Adams got most of his information from his own brother.

At least one account states that Elijah Adams was "sometimes called Professor Adams" stating that he had taught school in his day. Census records show him as a farmer and even as a grocery store salesman but if he taught school, other than music,I have not located a record as of this writing.

Elijah Adams would become well known for yet another tragic ballad and story. In 1892 Lottie Yates was murdered in Carter County by her estranged husband Austin Porter. Yet another mob scene in Eastern Kentucky ensued and Porter was hung from a bridge. Elijah Adams wrote the Ballad of Lottie Yates. When Elijah Adams died 11 January 1916 in Mason County, West Virginia his talent for music was finally acknowledged on his death certificate with a simple entry under occupation "Music teacher."

Elijah's brother Richard lived for a little over two more years and died 8 April 1918 at Oakview in Ashland, Boyd County, Kentucky.