Family Tree Maker's Genealogy Site: Genealogy Report: Descendants of Isaac Haire Brown

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Descendants of Isaac Haire Brown

Generation No. 1

1. ISAAC HAIRE¹ BROWN^1,² was born 1806 in Scotland, and died 1884 in Sherrill, Texas County, Missouri. He married MARY MOONEY³ 1828 in Davidson County, Tennesse. She was born 1810 in Tennesse, and died 1881 in Sherrill, Texas County, Missouri.

Notes for ISAAC HAIRE BROWN:
In the beginning, our real name was Scottish, MacDiernie, pronounced Mac-Deer-Knee, from the Campbell's of Breadalbane (Breeda'brin) Clan. Only family stories are left of the first ancestor in America, Isaac Haire Brown.

Isaac Brown worked on various farms in Scotland, learning to be a farmer. He was assigned to an apprenticeship, which he hated. So, he fled the country, looking for better opportunities in America. He changed his name to Brown, fearing that he would be caught and punished for not staying in Scotland. Family stories say that he was stowed away on a ship to America, but if he was, his name would not have been logged in the Captain's log book. Some family members believed he changed his name when he was discovered on the ship. But no record has been found to prove when the name change happened or why? But other members say that he was kept on board the ship to load and prepare the ship for the return to repay his passage, then released.

Once in America, Isaac joined a group of men who fought against the Indians. During a battle, he was shot and left to die. But a tribe of Indians, thought to be Cherokee, since he was in the Tennessee area, found him and brought him back to good health. While with the Indians, he fell in love with the Chief's daughter. Only name that is known for her is Mary. Some family believe her name to have been Mary Mooney. But during whose times, the white population did not believe in the marriage of white people to Indians, so no record was ever made of their marriage.

Census records prove the family lived in Davidson County, Tennessee until 1849. The couples first ten children were born in Tennessee. Issac was a well educated, which is proven by him naming his children from history names and non-fiction books.

Then in 1849, Issac H. Brown went to Missouri with his wife, Mary, their nine children and one grandson. Isaac's first son, Ptolema had stayed in Tennessee at that time with his family, but in early 1859 Ptolema with his family settled in Missouri with his father.

Their eleventh child, Marcius Brown was born in Rolla, Phelps County, Missouri. Reason are unknown why the family moved to Missouri, probably to find land like most did during those times.

Isaac and two of his sons, Lycurgus and Ptolema, bought 800 acres of land in Township 33, Range 9 and 10. It was in this area, that the Blooming Rose Post Office was first established. On July 25, 1856, Isaac H. Brown became the first post master for Blooming Rose, Missouri. Blooming Rose was in Texas County on the farm that he owned at the time. There was also a school in that area.

In the fall of 1859, the Brown family sold the land in Licking, Texas County, Missouri. Ptolema went to Arkansas, Lycurgus went to Illinois, and Isaac and his other sons bought land in the north part of Texas County, Missouri. They owned land in both Texas and Phelps County.

The Civil War broke up the Brown family. The story has been told by neighbors that the Bushwhackers were so bad that Isaac buried his money in fruit jars in the apple orchard and left the country. Her later returned and the neighbors could see a lantern light in the orchard at night. They thought he was trying to find his money.

The 1870 census has Isaac and Mary living north of Licking with their grandson, Liberthides and his wife, Nancy. Isaac son's, Leonidas H. with his wife Anna Louisa Howard and Marcus Sabines with his wife Lavenia C. Campbell were living on joining farms.

The 1880 census lists Mary an invalid with cancer. No other record can be found on Isaac, until his death in 1884 in Sherrill, Texas County, Missouri. No family member has found his burial location. Family members believe that Isaac and his wife, Mary, were buried on their family farm in Missouri. Marcellus sold Isaac and Mary's home in 1884.

-Source, Boyd Neal Brown, son of Clinton Marcellus Brown
-Source, Ewell Lonnie Brown, son of Elbert Lional Brown
-Source, Georgia Adams, daughter of Felix Grundy Brown

Personal letter about Isaac Brown written by Neal Brown:
Neal Brown
10627 Pedro Way
Rancho Cordova, California 95670
March 12, 1999

Lonnie Brown
8105 Chapin Road
Fort Worth, Texas 76116-6905

Dear Lonnie,

Trying to gather up some information for you to help with the story I have to tell you about Isaac H. Brown. This is not about his life, but how he got here.

You will find that most everyone that has done research on Isaac B. Brown, indicates that he was born in Tennessee and more specifically Warren County. I think the first reference is the 1840 census in Warren County. Tennessee and then in Texas County, Missouri in 1850. Isaac B. and family moved to Missouri about 1849. Poleman P. Brown stayed in Warren County as he had just married Martha Ann Wamack. No one has provided proof that Isaac was actually born in Tennessee.

Now, for my view on Isaac B. and I do not have full proof either, but I do believed it has considerable merit and with the possibility it can still be proven. A story handed down through my family is that Isaac H. was born in Scotland with the name MacDiernie or something similar. He was assigned to an apprenticeship which he hated and ran away at the age of 14. He was a stowaway on a ship that came to the USA and changed his name to Brown as he was afraid he would be caught and punished. He came to fight Indians and was wounded in a battle and left behind. Indians found him and took him to their village and nursed him back to health. He fell in love with the Chief's daughter and they were married. The tribe was said to be Choctaw, but I believe it to be more likely Cherokee or Chickasaw as it was in the Tennessee area. Hardly anyone that has worked on the family believes this, as all the census' state he was born in Tennessee with a birth date of 1806. In one census, a son Lycourgus, said his father was born in Scotland, which gives support to the story.

In a search for passengers arriving, an Index was found with Isaac Brown, age 20 years old, farmer, arriving in New York 30 September 1827 on the ship Manchester which sailed from Liverpool, England. The ships passenger manifest was found showing the ship actually arrived 24 August 1827 without an Isaac Brown listed. I checked with the National Archives and was told that if he were a stowaway, he would never be considered a passenger and would be in the Captain's log as a crew member, stowaway, or a workaway. I believe he was kept on board the ship to load and prepare the ship for the return to repay his passage, then released.. That is why the delay.

The National Achieves also advised that they might have the ships logbook, but after checking, advised that they did not have it.

I have found an Isaac Brown in Davison County, Tennessee census of 1830 with children of 1 male and 1 female under 5 years of age. This looks like it could be Ptolema, born 30 August 1829 and his sister Juan born in 1830. The only name we have for Isaac's wife is Mary. Nothing else. The family is next found in Warren County, Tennessee in the 1840 census with children of 4 males and 3 females. This again matches what we know. In 1850, Ptolema and his bride, Martha Ann, were in Warren County, Tennessee and Isaac and the rest of the family were in Texas County, Missouri.

My brother wrote about this story in a Letter to Georgia Adams who is a daughter of Feliz Grundy Brown and currently, at the age of 96 is living in Colorado. Felix is my dad's brother. A copy of this letter is enclosed.

Isaac's birthday is 1806 has been consistent in the census. The story says he left age 14 years or in 1820. Nothing was found, but when an Isaac Brown arrived in 1827 at the age of 20 years, that does match his birth date. I believe that he probably did run away at age of 14 years, but worked on a farm in either Scotland or England for 6 years learning farming. He is listed as a farmer on the documents.

I know this is not solid proof and I have continued searching for the Captains log book or the ships owners records. This would prove the stowaway or work away status. This is not an easy task. About his name change, the family story didn't know when he changed his name. With the about records he must have changed his name when he was discovered on the ship. I have read an account regarding the ships captain, William Lee Jr. and that he was a decent man and I'm sure that Isaac was treated Fairly.

Various other family members recall the story of an Indian. We have not been able to find a marriage record of Isaac H. and Mary. It is believed that when a white man married and Indian, it was not considered as such by the white population and not record made. No one has found when they died or where they are buried. It is believed that they may have been buried on the land where they living. The last record was in the 1880 census and Mary had cancer of the womb. Isaac H. was 74 and Mary was 70 years old.

Copies of documents are enclosed. You make the decision as to which is the correct as neither one has sufficient proof.

Sincerely,
Neal

December 21st 1969

Dear Georgia,

It seems only yesterday that I received your letter, but time sure flies fast. Two months in fact.

Your letter was a lovely letter full of news and hope of finding more of our Kin.

Maybe I can help you in some way to continue the search.

You see my father told me a story when I was a small boy, when I asked him how we were named Brown. Then I asked him again when I was in my teens, also again a short time before he died. The story was always the same. Some things that I can't remember, as hard as I have tried the last two months.

In the beginning our real name was Scotch, MacDiernie, pronounced Mac-Deer-Knee. Does that sound funny? I don't think so.

The story that I remember is this: MacDiernie ran away from the apprentice school in Scotland. He was 14 years old at the time then he stowed away on a ship and came to the United States.

He joined some group to fight the Indians, was wounded and left to die. A tribe of Indians found him and brought him back to good health again. He lived with the Indians for awhile and married one of them. Being afraid that some one would find him and send him back to the school, he changed his name from MacDiernie to Brown.

That is the story that our Grandfather told my father.

I believe the story because while I was in Canada I checked with some scotch people and they checked a list of names they had and assured me that there was the name MacDiernie listed. Our Clan is the The Campbell's of Breadalbane (Breedal'brin).

Maybe this will help you, but I forgot the name of the Indians also whether it was our Great Grand Father or not. Maybe our Great Great Grand Father, I can't remember.

If this will help you, it will make me happy.

I am glad you had a nice trip to our state and hope you can come again. I enjoyed seeing you very much and I wouldn't of missed the trip to Yachats for anything. Our son is stationed in Da Nang, south Vietnam at the U. S. Naval Support Activity and 1st Marine Air Wing. Its more or less a supply Base.

Thanks a lot for the Christmas Card and picture. It is real good.

Please write soon. I'll try to answer sooner.

Love,
Fred

Texas, MO 1850 Federal Census:
6A 19 BROWN ARCHIMEDES 17 TN pg0001A.txt
27B 33 BROWN ELIZA 12 TN pg0019A.txt
27B 32 BROWN ELIZABETH 16 TN pg0019A.txt
6A 22 BROWN ELSIMORE O. 12 TN pg0001A.txt
6A 26 BROWN FASCILNA 3 TN pg0001A.txt
6A 16 BROWN ISAAC H. 44 TN pg0001A.txt
6A 18 BROWN IVAN F. 19 TN pg0001A.txt
27B 34 BROWN JACKSON S. 10 TN pg0019A.txt
18A 36 BROWN JAMES K. PLK 3 TN pg0010A.txt
27B 30 BROWN JOHN 40 TN pg0019A.txt
27B 31 BROWN LARICA 35 TN pg0019A.txt
6A 20 BROWN LILLICUNA 16 TN pg0001A.txt
6A 27 BROWN MARABINES 7 mo MO pg0001A.txt
6A 25 BROWN MARCELLUS 5 TN pg0001A.txt
6A 24 BROWN MARY 7 TN pg0001A.txt
6A 17 BROWN MARY 40 TN pg0001A.txt
18A 35 BROWN MARY S.J. 4 TN pg0010A.txt
6A 23 BROWN METHROBARJAMES 10 TN pg0001A.txt
27B 36 BROWN OCTAVIA B. 2 MO pg0019A.txt
18A 34 BROWN SARAH 20 TN pg0010A.txt
27B 35 BROWN SEBRINA 7 MO pg0019A.txt
6A 21 BROWN SY**** 14 TN pg0001A.txt

1870 Texas Co., MO Census Sherrill Township, Missouri
251 BROWN, J. H. (?) 64 m w Farmer 2500 600 TN
Mary 59 f w kh TN
Leonadis 17 m w farm lab. MO

Abner WOMACK to Hiram CHRISTIAN, Sept. 11, 1841, Bk. P, P. 174 50 a. for $150. In District 14, on the waters of Collins River. Bounded by Isaac Brown and Hiram Cantrell. Witnesses: Burgess Womack and R. P. Womack.

More About ISAAC HAIRE BROWN:
Occupation: 1856, Isaac H. Brown was the first Post Master in Blooming Rose, Missouri.
Residence: Isaac H. Brown came to Missouri 1849 or 1850.

Notes for MARY MOONEY:
According to some family stories, Mary Brown was a Cherokee Indian. One source says her name was originally Washtella. This could be correct, but it seems more likely to be the corrupted Anglicanization of a genuine name that was pronounced similar to this.

Children of ISAAC BROWN and MARY MOONEY are:

2.	i.	PTOLEMA PHILADEPHUS² BROWN, b. August 30, 1829, Davidson, Warren County, Tennessee; d. November 02, 1903, Soldier's Home in St. James, Phelps County, Missouri.
3.	ii.	JUAN FERNANDEZ BROWN, b. 1830, Davidson County, Tennessee; d. March 07, 1854, Texas County, Missouri.
4.	iii.	ARCHIMEDES BROWN, b. March 22, 1834, Warran County, Tennessee; d. March 14, 1865, the Civil War in Murfreesboro, Tennessee.
	iv.	SELTICANA BROWN, b. 1835, Tennessee; m. EVANS.
	v.	LYCURGUS BROWN⁴, b. 1836, Warran County, Tennessee; d. May 22, 1887, Macoupin County, Illinois; m. MARTHA P. ARMOUR⁵, Abt. 1860, Missouri; b. 1840, Illinois.

Notes for LYCURGUS BROWN:
The 1880 census lists a mother-in-law, Elizabeth Armour, age 65 yrs, living with Lycurgus and Martha Brown in Plainview, Macoupin Co., Ill. That would place her birth at 1815.

Notes for MARTHA P. ARMOUR:
The 1880 census lists a mother-in-law, Elizabeth Armour, age 65 years, living with Lycurgus and Martha Brown in Plainview, Macoupin County, Illinois.

Marriage Notes for LYCURGUS BROWN and MARTHA ARMOUR:
No children can be found from this marriage.

5.	vi.	ELSANOR ODENSIA BROWN, b. December 29, 1838, Tennessee; d. March 03, 1910, Piasa, Macoupin County, Illinois.
6.	vii.	MITHERO BERZANES BROWN, b. April 21, 1840, Warren County, Tennesse; d. October 08, 1910, Alamogordo, Otero County, New Mexico.
7.	viii.	MARY A. BROWN, b. December 04, 1843, Tennessee; d. April 17, 1887, Texas County, Missouri.
8.	ix.	MARCELLUS BROWN, b. February 21, 1845, Tennessee; d. 1933, Macoupin County, Illinois.
9.	x.	FASCELLINA BROWN, b. April 05, 1847, Warren County, Tennesse; d. April 03, 1885, at home in Vernon County, Missouri.
10.	xi.	MARCIUS SABINUS BROWN, b. November 05, 1849, Rolla, Phelps County, Missouri; d. August 17, 1912, Calera, Bryan County, Oklahoma.
11.	xii.	LEONIDES HANNIBAL BROWN, b. August 27, 1852, Garden Grove, Texas County, Missouri; d. September 09, 1896, Blue Springs, Gage County, Nebraska.

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