Francis Brown & Jane

1st generation

Francis Brown d. 1750 | his parents
& Jane | her parents
of Bertie Precinct

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This is my working hypothesis – the way I see it as of this moment!!

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These Browns were neighbors of my ancestors including James Jones.

North Carolina Star, New Bern, NC – 9 Jan 1824
“Died in Hertford County on the 14th ult., Capt. Benjamin Brown, aged 95 years.”

Children of Francis Brown and wife Jane:
1. Anne Brown ca 1720 —
2. Francis Brown ca 1721
3. Mary Brown
4. William Brown
5. John Brown
? married Abigail Segar
daughter of Christopher Segar and wife Ann Hunt
6. Sarah Brown
7. Jane Brown
8. Elizabeth Brown
9. Benjamin Brown [youngest son] ca 1729 – 14 Dec 1823 Hertford Co

9 Sept 1742 francis Brown proved his Rights to wit francis Brown, Jane Brown, Francis Brown Jr, Mary Brown, William Brown, John Brown, Sarah Brown, Jane Brown, Elizabeth Brown, Benjamin Brown, James Fairchild: whites Bertie Ct Records

Will of Francis Brown, the elder written 7 Nov 1748 – proved May Ct 1750
Son Francis Brown – plantation which I purchased of Daniel Brown, to be divided from where I now dwell.
Son William Brown – 160 acres adj the mouth of the Plumbtree Branch adj. John Wynn, Flatt Swamp.
Son John Brown – all my land on Cyprus Swamp estimated at 440 acres.
I have already given gifts to my daughters Anne, Mary, Sarah, Jane, and Elizabeth.
Remaining estate to my youngest son Benjamin Brown, reserving its use and possession for my wife Jane during her widowhood.
Ex. friend John Wynns
Wit: Isaac Hill, Dan’l VanPelt, George [x] Rives
Probate indicates Francis Brown, Junr qualified as exr.

Chowan Deed Bk B#1-473 Edward Davis of Albemarle Co. to Francis Brown of Albemarle Co. 9 July 1717 12£ 300 acres on We Ca Kon Creek and Chinkapin, joining William Curtis?, William Bush, and a branch as by patent to the afsd Davis 16 7ber 1716 Wit: John Bush, Francis Mclendon, John Dickenson Reg 17 Aug 1717.

Chowan Deed Bk B#1-30 Att a Court held for ye sd [Chowan] Prect. ye 15 8ber 1717 at the House of William Branch – – Last Will and Testament of William Hooker proved by ye Oaths of William Crawford and Francis Brown.

Bertie Co Deed Bk C-295 Francis Brown & wife Jane to Richard Brown Nov 10, 1730 6£ for 100 acres on Chicopen Creek. Adj Francis and Richard Brown. Wit: Thomas Maclandon, Nicholas Fairless.

“Judging solely from the proximity of he and his brothers to the neighbors of my James Sparkman of Hertford on 1757 tax rolls, I suspect that this son of Francis married Abigail Segar, daughter of Christopher Segar and Ann Hunt, and was the sister to Nancy Segar who married James Sparkman. This John Brown may have been deceased by 1779, as he does not appear on surviving 1779, 1782 and 1784 tax rolls, but on 1782, under a “Not Listed” notation reference is made to one “Jas. Brown son of John”, and in 1784, “Jas. Brown son of J.” with 100 acres and 1
free poll is the next entry after that for James Sparkman.”
What resource materials for 18th Hertford might I be missing? Would desperately like to locate something useful with the lack of pubic records. I did note that you had a Hertford will from the 18th century that evidently came from the records of a law office in the early 19th.
Where did you find that? e-mail from Ken Sparkman

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2nd generation

William Brown ca 1725 – | his parents
& wife | her parents
of Bertie County NC

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This is my working hypothesis – the way I see it as of this moment!!

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Children of William Brown:
1. Benjamin Brown ca 1760 –
a. Thomas Brown ca 1793 –
2. William Brown II
married 1795 Debbie Stone
?a. William Jackson Brown 20 Jan 1800 –
i. Starkey Brown 1837 – CSA
married Bertie Co 31 Mar 1857 Priscilla Belch
1. Elisha Thomas Brown

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3rd generation

Benjamin Brown ca 1760 – ? | his parents
& ? | her parents
of Bertie Co NC

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This is my working hypothesis – the way I see it as of this moment!!

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Children of Benjamin Brown:
1. Thomas Brown ca 1793 –
2. Charlotte Brown ca 1784 –
3. Mary Brown
4. Winnifred Brown
5. Deilia Brown

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4th generation

Thomas Brown ca 1793 – ? | his parents
& ca 1814 ? | her parents
of Bertie Co

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This is my working hypothesis – the way I see it as of this moment!!

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Children of Thomas Brown and wife ?
1. Sarah Brown ca 1815 –
2. Penelope Brown 1819 –
3. Benjamin Brown 27 Jan 1820 – April 1860
married Chytha Harrell
4. Silvia Ann Brown 1823 –
5. Mary Elizabeth Brown 1829 –
married Godwin Byrd
6. Andrew Jackson Brown 1831 – CSA
married Bertie Co 21 Jan 1866 Basha Perry
7. Jacob Brown 1834 – CSA

note from Linda Brown Banks – Love your website I may have some information on the family of Francis Brown whom I am trying to connect, my father has a family bible from his grandfather Starkey Brown  It’s noted in the Bible that Starkey’s father was William Jackson Brown, although the census shows Starkey living with a Thomas Brown.

The first entry is written, William Jackson Brown,
b. January 20, 1800. After that is listed Starkey Brown, his birth date, and marriage to Priscilla Belch, and my grandfather’s Elisha Thomas Brown’s birth date. I will have to look at it again next time I visit my father in Virginia.

1850 Census Bertie County #638 listed next to Joseph H Etheridge
Thomas Brown 56 m farmer NC I [cannot read or write]
Sarah ” 34 f NC I
Penelope ” 30 f NC I
Silvye ” 27 f NC I
Mary E ” 21 f NC I
Andrew J ” 19 m student NC
Jacob ” 16 m student NC
Starky ” 13 m student NC
Charlotte ” 65 f NC [his sister]

Agriculture Schedule listed next to Joseph H Etheridge
Thomas Brown 20 farm Imp; 3 horse; 3 cows; 1 ox; 2 cattle; 20 swine; 110 val; 300 bu corn; 8 bu peas; 20 bu sw potatoe; 1 1/2 tons of hay; 55 home manufacture

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5th generation

Benjamin Brown 1820 – 1860 | his parents
& ca 1843 Chytha Harrell 1817 – 1905 | her parents
& Mr. Felps
of Bertie Co NC

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This is my working hypothesis – the way I see it as of this moment!!

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April 1860 – Benjamin Brown was drowned in the Chowan River.
Children of Benjamin Brown and Cynthia Harrell:
1. Thomas Watson Brown 11 Nov 1844 – 1865 Plymouth NC civil war
2. Sarah Ann Brown 2 July 1848 –
3. Nancy C Brown 18 Dec 1852 –
married Frank White
4. Benjamin Brown 5 Mar 1855 – 27 Aug 1942
married Signora Elizabeth Mitchell 8 Feb 1860 – 12 Feb 1940
5. Emma E Brown 11 Sept 1857 – 12 Oct 1881
married John Baker

1850 Census Bertie Co #620
Benjamin Brown 29 m laborer NC could not read or write
Chytha ” 30 f NC
Thomas ” 5 m NC
Sarah ” 2 f NC

Comment from Amy Brown 14 April 2020
Hi Sally – I enjoy very much all the information on your site, especially since I live in Trap on a family farm that has been in the Brown family for several generations, and am researching my husband’s family. Do you have any information about the life of Benjamin Brown’s wife, Cynthia Harrell? Benjamin drowned in 1860….Cynthia’s name is spelled in in multiple ways in the few records I have found. Sentha, Cyntha, Cynthia. She was from Chowan County, and she is buried across the street as Senthy Brown Felps April 9 1817 – March 4 1905. No one seems to know how she became a Felps. Census records don’t shed any light. Do you have suggestions re how I can find more information about her life? I am also interested in how her daughter, Sarah Brown, died shortly after her marriage to John Baker. I am assuming it was in childbirth but not certain because I can’t find a death certificate or any records.
Thank you for doing all this amazing research and sharing it online.
Amy Brown

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6th generation

Benjamin Brown 1855 – 1942 | his parents
& Signora Elizabeth Mitchell 1860 – 1940 | her parents
of Bertie Co NC

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This is my working hypothesis – the way I see it as of this moment!!

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Signora Elizabeth Mitchell was born 8 Feb 1860 in Nansemond Co VA the daughter of Bryan[t] Mitchell and his wife Martha Todd both native to Bertie Co NC.
Her father was a farmer.
She died 12 Feb 1940.

Benjamin Brown was born 5 Mar 1855 in Bertie Co NC the son of Benjamin Brown and wife Cynthia Harrell.
He died 27 Aug 1942.
Both are buried in Isaac Brown Cemetery-Brown Rd.

Children of Benjamin Brown and Signora Elizabeth Mitchell:
1. Laura Ann Brown 11 Dec 1879 Bertie Co NC – 22 Mar 1958 Bertie Co NC
buried Mars Hill Cemetery
married 1st Tulie Brown 30 May 1878 – 30 June 1905 Bertie Co
buried Brown Cemetery- Brown Rd
a. Bruce Oswald Brown 26 Oct 1902 Bertie Co – 13 Aug 1985 Bertie Co
b. Tulie Lucile Brown 6 Oct 1904 – 11 Nov 1908
married 2nd 27 Oct 1907 Wyatt Hinton McGee 1879 Greenville NC – 10 Oct 1957 Suffolk VA
a Signora Elizabeth McGee 1 Dec 1910 – 28 Mar 1991 Hertford Co
b. Wyatt Hinton McGee II 20 Nov 1913 – 9 Aug 1966 Ahoskie
c. Irwin Brown McGee ca 1916 –
d. Richard Usry McGee 13 July 1920 – 27 Nov 1990 Northampton Co NC
2. Martha Emma Brown 22 Feb 1882 – 8 May 1971 Portsmouth VA
married Dec 1900 William Addison Forsythe 26 Mar 1877 NC – 6 Oct 1937 Portsmouth VA
a. William Claxton Forsythe 7 Sep 1901 Portsmouth – 31 May 1985 Portsmouth VA
b. Earl Effus Forsythe 6 Mar 1903 Bertie Co – 13 July 1976
married 6 Oct 1927 Jarrett 4 July 1904 – 2 Feb 1968
c. Elsie Laws Forsythe 3 Feb 1905 – 26 Mar 1977
d. Benjamin Brown Forsythe 20 Oct 1910 – 24 Jan 1987
e. Gertrude Inez Forsythe 16 Oct 1913 Portsmouth VA – Sept 2000 Richmond VA
f. Forsythe
g. Forsythe
3. Thomas Cleveland Brown 13 Jan 1885 – 27 Mar 1965 Bertie Co
married 5 Nov 1905 Nancy [Nannie] Virginia Miller 11 Mar 1888 – 16 Nov 1951 Bertie Co

4. George Henry Brown 8 Dec 1887 – 12 Nov 1955 Bertie Co
married 20 Feb 1910 Glennie Bunch 26 Mar 1889 – 4 Jun 1975

5. Eunice Earl Brown 23 Nov 1889 – 18 Jan 1982 Bertie Co
married 27 Dec 1908 Ernest Cleveland Lee 9 Sept 1884 Bertie Co – 26 July 1957 Bertie Co
6 children
6. Benjamin Zebedee [Dee] Brown 14 May 1893 – 31 May 1971 Bertie Co
married 27 Dec 1914 Minnie Britton Brown 3 July 1891 Bertie Co – 1 May 1976 Bertie Co
daughter of Josiah Brown ca 1850 – aft 1920
a. Josiah Benjamin Brown ca 1916 –
b. Coy Lindsey Brown 28 June 1918 –
married 19 April 1947 Sally Cora Griffen Norfleet 19 Mar 1922 –
c. Helen Malinda Brown 8 Apr 1921 – 26 Sept 1996 Hertford Co
d. Lonnie Gray Brown ca 1924 –
e. Howard C Brown ca 1927 –
f. daughter [Storey]
7. Nora Addie Brown 31 Aug 1895 – 1 Jan 1965 Rocky Mt NC
married 25 Sept 1911 Wilbur Scott Swain 25 Oct 1889 Chowan Co – 14 June 1957 Rocky Mt
2 children
8. Luther Brown 17 Nov 1898 Bertie Co – 14 Sep 1989 Ahoskie NC
married 1918 Johnnie Lydia Leggett 3 Mar 1899 Bertie Co – 6 June 1999 Ahoskie

9. Dewey Brown 31 Oct 1900 – 23 Dec 1905 Bertie Co

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Bryan[t] Mitchell ca 1823 – ca 1865 | his parents
& 1854 Martha Todd ca 1829 – | her parents
& ca 1867 Henry W White ca 1817 –
of Bertie County NC

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Bryant Mitchell married Martha Todd in Bertie County NC 24 Jan 1854.
Gavin H Mitchell was his bondsman.

Bryant Mitchell was the son of King Mitchell and his wife Rebecca of Bertie County NC
*This Bryant has been confused with Bryant the son of Segar of Hertford Co

This Bryant Mitchell is always listed in the census as a farmer.
In 1850 Bertie Co he is listed with his mother and siblings
Bryan Mitchell 26 farmer
Rebecca ” 60
Mary ” 29
Elizabeth ” 24
Frances ” 21
Henry ” 18
Darius ” 15
In 1860 Nansemond Co VA he is listed with his wife and children
Bryant Mitchell 37 m NC farmer
Martha ” 30 f NC
Louis ” 2 m VA
Signora ” 5/12 f VA
In 1870 his widow and children are listed with Henry W White 53 in Bertie Co
White, Henry W 53 m w farmer
” Martha S 42 f
” Ely 19 m farm laborer
” James V 17 m ” ”
” Martain 13 m ” ”
” Duran 12 m ” ”
” Charles Q 9 m ” ”
” Martha J 7 f ” ”
” Zachariah 2 m ” ”
Mitchell, Signora E 10 f at home
” Frances J 7 f ” ”
” George B 5 m ” ”
Todd, Elizabeth 21 f house keeping

1880 Bertie co Colerain twsp
White, Martha 52 f wd keeping house
” Frances 17 f
” George 15 m
” Zachariah 12 m
” Henry 9 m

Children of Bryan[t] Mitchell and Martha Todd:
1. Louis Mitchell ca 1857 –
2. Signora Elizabeth Mitchell 8 Feb 1860 VA – 12 Feb 1940
married Benjamin Brown 1855 – 1942
3. Francey J Michell [f] ca 1862 –
4. George B Mitchell ca 1864 –
Child of Henry W White and Martha Todd:
1. Zachariah White ca 1868 –
2. Henry White ca 1871 –

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King Mitchell ca 1785 – Sept 1849 | his parents
& Rebecca Hughs ca 1790 – | her parents
of Bertie County NC

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Will of King Mitchell Bertie Co NC 8 Jan 1849 – Nov Ct 1849
wife Rebecca, son Darius, Daughters Mary, Betsy, and Frances, son Henry Clay and Bryan Mitchell. daughter Lavinia, son Jeremiah, son Darius and daughter Mary Exrs. Test: H. Nicholls, Jona S Tayloe, Thos. E Fanning. [NCHGR 2-531]

King’s mother also left a will
Will of Rachel Mitchell Bertie Co NC 23 Feb 1844 – May Ct 1847
Grand-son Gavin W Mitchell, daughter Rachel Cowan, granddaughter Lavinia Mitchell, son King Mitchell Exr. Test: Charney Cole, Matthew T Mizell. [NCHGR 2-531]

In 1850 Bertie Co he is listed with his mother and siblings
Bryan Mitchell 26 farmer
Rebecca ” 60
Mary ” 29
Elizabeth ” 24
Frances ” 21
Henry ” 18
Darius ” 15

Gavin W Mitchell 29 farmer
Rachel Cowan 55

1850 Mortality Schedule Bertie Co
King Mitchell 64 m mar NC Sept farmer con-fever 13 days ill

Agriculture Schedule 1850
Bryan Mitchell 25[125]ac 150 fm val; 15 farm imp.; 1 horse; 3 cow; 3 cattle; ? sheep; 30 swine; 105 val. 200 bu corn; 10 bu peas; 6 bu sw pot; 1 3/4 tons hay; 5 lbs honey; 8 home manufacture; 70 slaughter

Gavin W Mitchell 140[627]ac. 767 farm val; 30farm imp; 3 horse; 10 cow; 9 cattle; 12 sheep; 75 swine; 262 val; 250 bu corn; 24 lbs wool; 50 bu peas; 2 tons hay; 5 lbs honey; 16 home man; 136 slaughter

1820 Bertie County
King Mitchell 4 boys under 10, 1 m 26-45; 1 daughter under 10, 1 f 26-45 he is in agriculture

1830 Bertie County
King Mitchell 1 0/5, 2 5/10, 1 10/15, 1 40/50, f 2 0/5, 2 5/10, 1 30/40

1840 Bertie County
King Mitchell 1 0/5, 1 5/10, 1 11/15, 1 50/60, f 2 10/15, 1 16/20 1 40/50

Children of King Mitchell and wife Rebecca:
1. Jeremiah Mitchell ca 1811 –
2. Lavinia Mitchell ca 1819 –
married Bertie Co 14 Oct 1855 John Powell ca 1834 –
a. G L Mitchell ca 1857 –
3. Mary Mitchell ca 1820 –
4. Bryan Mitchell ca 1823 – ca 1865
5. Elizabeth [Betsy] Mitchell ca 1825 –
6. Frances Mitchell ca 1828 –
7. Henry Clay Mitchell ca 1831 –
8. Darius Mitchell ca 1835 –