NOTE: THIS IS A WORK IN PROGRESS!
A. Before 1780 – Pre Revolution
Not much was known about the Brown Family before 1780. The earliest references to the family were two brothers and three sisters: Matthew, Sally Margueretha, Frances, John and Lucinda. No mention was made of birth dates. Marriage dates and spouses are listed as follows:
Matthew 1792 Sarah Simpson
Sally Margueretha* 27 Nov 1798 John Huffman
Frances 17 Apr 1806 John Buford (Burford)
John 28 Dec 1809 Jemima Myers
Lucinda 1827 Isaac Vandiver
* 2nd marriage 1819 Samuel Selch
The above can be considered the point of beginning both after and prior to the above events.
Since Grandma and Grandpa Brown ( James Walter & Martha Blackwell Brown) had worked with Geraldine Parr and she had worked with Herman Boles who may have worked with his Mother ( Aunt Frank & Grandpa Brown’s older sister), it seemed like a very good genealogical record had been established. Many of the dates recorded have been verified by examining microfilm of the actual record in the Mercer County Courthouse, in Harrodsburg, Kentucky.
The major question posed at this point was who the parents of this group were. When marriages were consummated it was necessary to provide witnesses to verify age and other information as required by the legal jurisdiction. In searching the microfilm record of marriages nothing has been found relating to Matthew’s marriage in Mercer County, so he may have been married in another county.
There is, however, a probate record of of Sarah Brown about 1865 recorded in Mercer County, Kentucky. This could have been Sarah Simpson Brown. A review of the names of the people purchasing various items of her estate reveals that many of John Brown’s family members purchased items.
Sally Marguerthea Brown married John Huffman, who had previously been married to Elizabeth Garshweiler (16 Jan 1792). John was apparently somewhat older than Sally since a note was found dated 26 Nov 1798 to the Court requesting John be permitted to marry Sally. See below: (Image)
See pages 3 and 4 for the marriage documents for John’s marriage to Elizabeth in 1792 and Sally in 1798.
The documents leading to the marriage of Sally and John established 3 points;
- 1) Sally was under age, probably under 21.
- 2) William Brown was the father of the Family
- 3) William did not witness the documents. however he did witness the marriage of son John & Jemmima Myers 28 Dec 1809.
William also married Margaret Stevensen, 24 Feb 1797 (See Page 5) FIND DOCUMENT *Note: Samuel Scott was a witness
In 1804 a will was entered for probate in Garrard County, KY executed by Samuel Scott 20 May 1796 in Mercer County, in which he includes the name of his deceased daughter, Isabel Brown, and her children. He also includes the name of his son-in-law William Brown. Samuel Scott also appointed his son John Scott of Fayette County, and son-in-law William Brown, of Mercer Conuty, as sole executors of his will (See Page 6)
IMAGES:
Marriage of John Huffman to Elizabeth Garshweiler
Marriage of John Huffman to Sally Marguerthea Brown
IMAGE of History of Garrard County CAPTION: Samuel Scott was one the first Justices of the Peace in Mercer County, Kentucky.
Source: History of Garrard County, Kentucky and its Churches by Forrest Calico, 1927. Pages 38 & 39.
We now much search further and learn the basis for the use of the Treasury Warrant.
Samuel Scott – Father-in-Law of William Brown
Samuel Scott also received title to 400 acres surveyed 20 Oct 1780 and title was issued by Benjamin Harrison 1 Jun 1782. The land was located in the same area as George Scott and William Brown’ land.
Samuel came to Kentucky in 1779 and ran a waystation on the trace from Boonsborough to Harrodstown, not far from where Bryantsville now stands.
Samuel Scott also had a land entry in Book “A”, Page 13, 9 Feb 1780, 400 acres on Dick’s River.
UPDATED SOURCE: “Kentucky: Secretary Of State – Land Office”. 2020. Web.Sos.Ky.Gov. https://web.sos.ky.gov/land/lincoln.aspx; citing: Entry #: 463, Book: 1 Page: 11, Date: 2/9/1780, Name: Scott, Samuel, Type of warrant: Settlement, Acres: 400, Watercourse: Dicks River. Located on a Dry Branch.
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Land Entry
23 May 1780 — William Brown filed an entry for 296 acres on the waters of the Dick’s River, “adjoining an entry of William Gaines of 200 acres in the Bent of Dicks River to include a Sinkhole Spring.” This record is held the office of the Jefferson County Clerk, Louisville, KY, and also available online through the Kentucky Secretary of State Land Office website.[ref]”Lincoln County Land Entries.” Book 1, page: 47, entry: 463. Kentucky: Secretary Of State – Land Office; database with images (web.sos.ky.gov/land/lincoln.aspx).[/ref]
| Entry #: 463 (Image) | Date: 5/23/1780 |
| Book: 1, Page: 47 | Name: Brown, William |
| Acres: 296 | Patent: OK 2267.0 |
| Watercourse: Dick’s River | Adjoining an entry of William Gaines of 200 acres. |
Treasury Warrant
7 FEB 1782 — William Brown paid for and received a voucher from the treasurer of the Commonwealth of Virginia for 904 acres of land. Treasury Warrant number 10,885 was issued to William Brown by the Commonwealth of Virginia for the sum of £1445.16 (1445 pounds & 16 shillings) on the basis of this voucher.
For reference:
In 1782, £1445.16 pounds was equivalent to approximately $1,870.72
Conversion by Historical Current Conversions
In 2020, £1445.16 is equivalent to approximately $231,601.06
NOTE: William Wilkes Brown obtained a copy of the original voucher issued to William Brown, certifying his payment of 1,445 pounds and 16 shillings to the Treasurer of Commonwealth of Virginia for nine hundred and four acres, in a letter from the Commonwealth of Virginia, Virginia State Library, dated 28 Dec 1982.
Survey No. 2267 was issued on the basis of the Treasury warrant.
Survey 2267
TRANSCRIPTION:
Surveyed for William Brown 296 acres of Land by virtue of an Entry made on Treasury Warrant situate lying & being in the County of Mercer & and Bent of Dick’s River.
BEGINNING at two white oaks at the Sink Hole Springs thence N31° E to two Ashes on the Cliffs of Dicks River thence along the River on the Cliffs & down the several meanders thereof N22° W 20 poles thence North 40 poles thence N15° E 14 poles thence N40° E 90 poles to a White Ash & Cedar thence leaving the River N88° W 245 poles to three Dogwoods on the Cliffs of the River, thence with several meanders thereof S70° W 60 poles, thence South 24 poles, thence S45° E 140 poles, thence S20° E 24 poles, thence South 8 poles, thence S10° W 4 poles, thence S36° W 30 poles to two poplars, thence West 30 poles to two White Oaks & Dogwood on the Cliffs of the River, thence leaving the same South 52 poles to a Gum White Oak & Red Oak in Jone’s Sims, thence with his line East 88 poles to a Red Oak & White Oak corner to William Gaines, thence with his line North 68 poles to an Ash & White Oak another corner to said Gaines therewith another of his lines East 36 poles to a stake, thence leaving Gaines line S26° E 35 poles to a Walnut by the Sink Pond, thence S77° E to the Beginning.
Var 3 3/4E°
Surveyed May 30th 1792
IN Thomas SWC
According to notes made on the reverse side of the field survey, the original treasury warrant could not be located, so it was not referred to by number in either the survey or title. However, the Treasury warrant was in the documents of George Scott, to whom William Brown assigned land to in YEAR. George Scott’s brother, Samuel Scott, was the father of Isabella Scott, and father-in-law of William Brown.
Land Patent
Title was conveyed by James Garrard at the Frankfort, KY land office on 30 May 1798.
The land which William Brown was granted is visible on Google Maps satellite view – along with traces of the original land boundary lines, and the “Sinkhole Spring.”
To see the land William Brown occupied in 3D – an immersive, surreal experience – check out the location on Google Earth!
Other Land Patents Drawn on Treasury Warrant No. 10855
If you review the handwritten notes on the back of the Treasury warrant, it shows who William Brown assigned land to over the years.
The following surveys and land patents were all drawn on William Brown’s Treasury warrant No. 10,885:
- OK – 3032.0
- OK – 3823.0
George Scott – Brother of Samuel Scott
William Brown assigned 225 acres to George Scott. It was surveyed by Sam Grant on 3 Oct 1783 in Survey Number OK-3823.0. He received the title 7 Jun 1786, signed by P. Henry.
Brown assigned 225 acres to George Scott (though it was surveyed as being 245 acres). It was surveyed by Sam Grant on 3 Oct. 1783. He received the title 7 June 1786 which was signed by P. Henry.
George Scott enters a claim for 225 acres to be surveyed,. The was granted to him by William Brown, based on the original Treasury Warrant No. 10,885.
It was surveyed on 3 Oct 1793, in Survey OK – 3823.0
George Scott had also previously received title to 400 acres through a preemption. That land was surveyed on 20 Oct 1780, and title was issued by Benjamin Harrison on 1 Jun 1782. The land was located in the same area as George Scott and William Brown’ land.
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Image of marriage, William Brown to Margaret Stevenson