Brown Family History

Written by Sherri Camperchioli

November 2002

To date the Brown family has been traced back in Pennsylvania to this individual- 

Jesse Brown b.09-Feb-1769; d.28-May-1826

married Pauline (Allen) b.08-Mar-1768; d.09-Jan-1842 (daughter of Samuel Allen and his first wife)

Land Patent, recorded at Harrisburg, date 18-Mar-1811 for 138a 108 rods of land, priced $18.58, at what became knows as Browns Corners, Plymouth Twp. (this part of Plymouth Twp. later became Jackson Twp.).  Both Jesse and Pauline Brown are buried in Huntsville Cemetery.  Jackson Twp., Luzerne County, PA.

Children of Jesse and Pauline:

·        Justice Allen Brown

·        Selinda Brown

·        George Clinton Brown

·        Truman Beeman Brown

·        Sylvia Brown

·        Daniel Lyman Brown

·        Sally Brown

·        Milton Brown

·        Maria Pauline Brown

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Truman Beeman Brown, b.23-Apr-1796; d.13-Jun-1850

Married 03-Jul-1823 Julia Ann (Swetland) b.29-Aug-1805; d.02-May-1887

daughter of Joseph and Salome (hall) Swetland

Children of Truman and Julia:

·        Charles Brown, b.15-Jun-1833; d.23-Nov-1889; m Elizabeth ;    b.1835; d.1907

·        Miner Brown, b.1835;d.1912; m Louisa (Steele); b.1834; d.1913

·        Joseph Brown, b.22-Mar-1842; d.04-Jun-1907

·        Chester Brown; m Miranda

The 1860 Jackson Township census of Luzerne County, PA list the Browns as follows-

Julia Ann Brown age 55

M-Miner age 23 occupation Blacksmith born PA

F-Mari Ann age 23 born PA

F-Phaba age 33 born PA

M-Joseph age 17 born PA

M-Madison age 11 born PA

*Note Truman Beeman Brown is no longer listed.  Its said he died in 1850, before this census was taken.

On the next page of the same cenus we find Stephan Steele and his family.  This is believe to be the listing of Louisa, Miner Browns future wife.

Stephan Steel age 55 occupation Farmer born PA

F-Melinda age 50 born PA

F-Loisa age 27 born PA

M-Jacob age 21 born PA

F-Mary E. age 16 born PA

M-George P. age 12 Born PA

M-Harrison age 10 Born PA

F-Lydia Steele age 77 Born in Conneticut

Miner Brown, was born in Jackson Township, in an area known as Browns Corner, located in Luzerne County, Pennsylvania.(Brown's Corners is now called Chase Corners. Roads leading there are: Chase Road, Huntsville Church Road, Hillside Road, Mountain Road. The nearby towns are Dallas, Shavertown, Trucksville, all within ten miles. Wilkes-Barre is about 15 miles away)

 The 1870 Schickshinny, PA Luzerne County census shows Miner Browns family listed as follows-

Brown,   Miner                     male age 30                           

                Louisa                    fem. age 32

                Frances                  male age 6

                Gordon S. (?)         male age 1

Its said that my direct link, Truman Stephen Brown, was born in Shickshinny, PA in 1864.  The boy listed Frances would have been born in that year.  But I dont know if Frances would have been called Truman?  However this is the only Brown family I found in Shickshinny during this period.

A request to the Luzerne County Courthouse for a birth certificate was returned with a letter stating We dont have any birth or death records prior to 1893.  All earlier ones were destroyed in a fire many years ago.  We only have 1893 to 1905.  Sorry that we cant help you."

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I believe that an 1880 Hartley Township, Union County, Pennsylvania census shows the POSSIBLE first link I can find of Truman S. Brown.  Listed on that census as the 16 year old son of Minor and Louisa Brown.  Same family more children now.  The listing is as follows-

Brown,   Minor                     male age 45                            Occupation Blacksmith      

                Louisa                    wife age 45

                T.S. or P.S. (?)       son age 16

                George                   son age 11

                Nathaniel               son age 9

                Minnie                   daughter age 6

                Julian (?)                daugher age 4

                Hendrick (?)          son age 1

The T.S. could also be an F.S.  My review of the enummerators handwriting seems to point towards T.S.  Probably the Frances in the 1870 census.  Still dont know why the difference in name.

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In 1900 this Brown family is still in Harley Township, Union County, PA.  Listed in that census as follows-

Brown,  Miner          b. 1835 age 65          Occupation Blacksmith

                Louisa      b. 1834 age 65         mother of 8 children, 6 living

                Avery (?) N.      b. 1873 age 27           Blacksmith

                Linnie                b. 1876 age 23           Housekeeping

                Hendrick S.      b. 1879 age 20           Blacksmith

This census lists Miner and Louisa married 39 years, putting their date of marriage around 1861.

I also find in 1900 Michigan census, City of Kalamazoo, County of Kalamazoo, Truman with his own family -

Brown, Truman    b.Feb.1864 married 13 years age 36 occupation Blacksmith, parents both born PA as well has himself.

Edna       b. Aug. 1867 age 32 Her place of birth Michigan, her parents New York

Charles   b. Apr. 1889 (?) age 11 born in Michigan, father PA Mother MI

Newell (?)Charles Lodger listed as a laborer fron Michigan

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In a 1910 Kingston Township Census,  now in Luzerne County, PA we find

Brown,   Miner              age 75                        Blacksmith Own Shop

               Louisa            age 75

               Hendrick S.   age  32     Single     Machinist Making Planers Woods

**I CANNOT locate where Truman is during 1910. 

I do find a Charles listed as follows in Detriot City, Michigan County of Wayne in the 1910 census-

Brown, Charles C. Lodger age 22 birthplace Michigan, birthp. Father PA, birthp. Mother Michigan

This could be Truman and Ednas son as listed in the 1900 census.

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In a Detriot, Michigan  County of Wayne 1920 census I find Truman again listed as follows-

Brown,      Truman S.           age 55    

                   Edna                    age 52     wife

Loveland, Rowina B.           age 16     cousin

In 1920 I still find Charles C. in Detriot City, Michigan  now married with his own family

Brown,   Charles C.              age 32

                Margaret                age 32     wife

                Eugene T.              age 5       son

                Charles A.             age 3       son

                Margaret E.           age 2       daughter

They have one more child in 1925 that they name Truman Stephen.  I have a copy of Charles Carter Browns birth certificate that says he was born in the county, township and city of Allegan, Michigan.  05-April-1888.  On this document it has the full name of Charles Carter Browns father as Truman Stephen Brown, born in Shichshinny, PA  - occupation Blacksmith age a last birthday, 24 years.  Mother listed as Edna Estella Carter born in Allegan, Michigan.

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