HUGH BROWN JUNIOR:
Hugh Brown Junior was also known as Hugh Brown II. He was born on 19 July 1788 in Camden County, Georgia, about three years after his parents moved from the St. Johns River area in East Florida. He was the son of Hugh Brown Senior and Sarah, last name unknown. NOTE: There were four children (hijos=plural form) listed in the family of Hugh Brown Sr. and his wife in 1784 on the East FL Spanish census. It is impossible to determine
whether or not these children were males, females or a combination of both, making it difficult to ascertain genuine brothers and sisters of Hugh Brown Jr. There have been no records found which absolutely confirm the siblings affiliated with HUGH BROWN JUNIOR. Others have listed <possible> siblings linked to him: 1. EZEKIAL/EZEKIEL BROWN
- Ages on CCG census schedules: 1850 age 63, 1860 age 75, 1870 age 88; on all - born in Virginia. Not listed on 1880 CCG census. There is an Ezekial Brown buried at Temple Cemetery in CCG - birth date listed is 1784; death date listed is 04 August 1871. All of these dates show that this Ezekial Brown was a few years older than Hugh Jr. From BROWN family file folders at the Huxford Library & at the Bryan-Lang Library - Ezekiel Brown b. 1787 in VA,
married 1st SARAH BANDY on 05 October 1820 (CCG Marriage Book A 1819-1831 p. 28; no birth or death dates). Married 2nd SARA NORTON (no marriage dates - b. 1810 d. 1885 bur. Temple Cem.). Children of EZEKIAL BROWN & (both wives?): 1. Edwin A. Brown b. 1825 m. Eliza Haddock on 09 February 1847
2. Elizabeth Brown b. 1829 m. Isaac Tucker on 02 May 1850
3. George J. Brown b. 1832 m. Mary Brazell on 24 December 1851
4. Augustus Brown b. 1834 m. Maria McKendree
5. Sarah Brown b. 1842
6. Crawford Brown b. 09 May 1846 d. 19 April 1910 m. Lydia Caroline Rand/Lydia A. Rhan/Rahn on 17 December 1865 (CCG Marriage Book B 1831-1880 p. 173). The descendants of Ezekiel Brown settled the small community called
Browntown in Camden County. They are listed in "Camden's Challenge," pages 329 & 330. Notes of Lucile Bruce Brown & James T. Goodbread (both sets of notes in Bryan-Lang Library) propose that this may be a brother of Hugh Brown, Jr. One could equally presume that he may have been (and more likely was) a cousin or another relative. Records indicate that the Hugh Brown Senior family moved to Camden County from East Florida in the year 1785.
2. DAVID BROWN - Born 30 August 1790 in Camden County, Georgia; married in 1815 to ELIZABETH ATKINSON. She was born 10 May 1795, the daughter of Burwell Atkinson and Ann Felder. He died 28 December 1869 & she died 15 May 1878. Both buried at Homeward Cemetery west of Waverly on Waverly/Atkinson Highway in Camden County, GA. Source: "Camden's Challenge," pages 518-519.
NOTE: "Pioneers of Wiregrass Georgia," Vol. V, page 49 states that David Brown b. 1790, married Elizabeth Atkinson - was the son of John Brown; another PWG Vol. II, pages 46 & 47 lists David Brown b. 1800, married Henrietta F. - was the son of John Brown the Revolutionary Soldier ("Revolutionary Sailor" according to the James T. Goodbread file notes, who did not arrive in Camden County until 1812!). In her notes, Ruth Brown Exley of Smyrna, GA
stated, "I am inclined to believe that Hugh, John and Robert were brothers; David is undoubtedly son of John." NOTE: Paternal lineage of Ruth Brown Exley (Mrs. Slade Heyward Exley): Father - Shadrach Willard Brown; grandfather - Thomas Jefferson Brown; great grandfather - Samuel Willard Brown; great great grandfather - John Brown. Source: Letters of Ruth Brown Exley: To Edith Proctor 29 April 1942; to Lee Russell 01
June 1942 & 23 July 1942; to Mary G. Bryan (Director - GA Dept. of Archives & History) on 29 September 1953 - copies located in Brown file folder at Bryan-Lang Library. On 02 January 1958, Lucile Bruce Brown (Mrs. Nathan Atkinson Brown) of St. Simons Island, GA wrote to Miss Beebee [sic] Lang at the State Archives in Atlanta: "Since we have seen that John Brown had a son named David (proven by deeds and will) and that the David Brown who md.
Elizabeth Atkinson in 1815 was no doubt son of one of these Browns, probably Robert, it looks as though all three of these Browns --- Hugh, Robert and John had sons named David." Copy of this letter is in the Brown file folder at the Bryan-Lang Library. NOTE: In "The Brown Family," (a history compiled prior to 05 July 1970) Lucile Bruce Brown portrays David Brown as the third child of Hugh Brown Sr. & Sarah.
In the "History of County, Georgia," by James T. Vocelle, page 39: "David and Hugh Brown were among the early settlers of the county and lived near where Owens Ferry now is. Mr. David Brown married Miss Elizabeth Atkinson in 1815 and was one of the most successful planters of Camden county. Hugh Brown was also a prosperous planter and lived near Burnt Fort." In "Georgia's Landmarks, Memorials and Legends," by Lucian L. Knight, Vol.
II, page 615: "Among the early arrivals in Camden County, were David and Hugh Brown. The former married a Miss Atkinson and became a wealthy planter." NOTE: Both of these authors (Vocelle and Knight) have confused Hugh Brown Senior with Hugh Brown Junior. Hugh Brown SENIOR was an early settler and pioneer in CCG; Hugh Brown JUNIOR was born in CCG. The only source possibly confirming that Hugh Brown Jr. had at least one brother,
David Brown, is listed below: "Over a hundred years ago, there lived in Camden County two brothers, David and Hugh Brown...David was engaged to Miss Deen [sic] and Hugh to a Miss Atkinson. Miss Deen went away on a little visit and David was to go for her and bring her home. Something prevented and he could not go, so he asked Hugh to go. He gladly consented. The miles were long and horses were slow in the horse and buggy days, so there was much
courting done...Hugh fell desperately in love with Miss Deen, his brother's sweetheart. Arriving at home, he told what happened. David said, 'We will exchange, if it will be all right with Miss Atkinson.' Seeing her, the exchange was made. Hugh would marry Miss Deen, David, Miss Atkinson." Source: "Pen Portraits," page 44, placed under the section written by Maddie Brown Clark entitled "A Romance In Camden County," a
narrative by Mrs. G. V. Baker of White Oak, GA, as told to her by an elderly gentleman who was a former slave. Children of DAVID BROWN & ELIZABETH ATKINSON: 1. Burwell Atkinson Brown b. 1816 m. 1st Jane Copeland m. 2nd Margaret Liles
2. Anne Brown b. 1818 d. age 18 at Suwannee Springs, FL
3. Elizabeth Brown b. 1820 m. David Lang
4. Sarah Brown b. 1822 m. 1st Francis Chevalier m. 2nd Gideon A.
Mallette
5. Caroline Brown b. 1826 m. Henry Copeland
6. Virginia Brown b. 1833 m. Thomas D. Harrison
7. Nathan Atkinson Brown b. 1836 m. Louisa A. Tupper Nicholes/Nichols on 12 March 1861 (CCG Marriage Book B 1831-1880). Source: "The
Brown Family," compiled prior to 05 July 1970 by Lucile Bruce Brown of St. Simons, Island, GA - copy in Bryan-Lang Library. Vocelle's "History of Camden County, GA," p. 83 states that in 1820 David Brown started his "Boggy Swamp Plantation" with 500 acres. By 1837 he had accumulated so much land that he sold 2000 acres to Alexander Atkinson. In "Camden's Challenge," p. 55, 56 & 57, David Brown then bought "White Oak
Plantation" on the White Oak River where he and his wife, Elizabeth Atkinson Brown, lived for the rest of their lives. David Brown also owned "Wambassie Plantation" which was located in the area known as Brown's Neck near White Oak. 3. ELIZABETH BROWN - Married DAVID LANG
on 20 November 1847- CCG Marriage Book B 1831-1880. She was born in 1820 in CCG, the daughter of David Brown & Elizabeth Atkinson. He was born on 02 April 1815 in CCG, the son of Isaac Lang, Sr. and Catherine Wildes. According to "Pioneers of Wiregrass," by Huxford, Vol. IV, p. 176 & "Camden's Challenge," p. 409 & p. 427 Revised: David Lang, who was born 02 April 1815, "married Elizabeth Brown, dau. of Hugh,
Sr." (Both of these are incorrect - Hugh Brown Sr. died in 1812 - she was born in 1820). However, "Pioneers of Wiregrass," Vol. V, page 49 lists: Elizabeth Brown b. 1820, third child of David Brown and Elizabeth Atkinson, married DAVID LANG. NOTE: On the 1850 CCG census schedule: David Lang - age 35 and his wife, Elizabeth - age 30.
Same name listed in Brown Files of Kathleen Carmichael Adams - no dates. Children of DAVID LANG & ELIZABETH BROWN: 1. Katherine Wildes Lang "Kate" born 09 June 1850 in CCG; married John Sampler Bruce, Sr.; died 25 November 1921 at White Oak, GA; buried Homeward Cemetery, CCG.
2. Elizabeth A. Lang born ca. 1852 in CCG
3. Thomas H. Lang born ca. 1854 in CCG; married Lelie A. Nungazer on 22 October 1879 - CCG Marriage Book B
1831-1880.
4. Caroline C. Lang "Caddie" born ca. 1856 in CCG
5. Charles H. Lang born 1860 in CCG Sources: "Camden's Challenge" p. 333 & 519; 1850, 1860, 1870 CCG census schedules; "The Brown Family," compiled by Lucile Bruce Brown. HUGH BROWN JUNIOR was elected Sheriff of Camden County on 26 November 1811. He remained in this office from February 1812 through January 1814.
Source: Original County Officer Book 1799-1814 p. 895. Hugh Brown Junior was twenty-four years of age when the War of 1812 began. According to Reddick in "Camden's Challenge," p. 26, there were eight hundred reserves ready for battle in 1813. The British invaded Point Peter and Cumberland Island but the worst plunder took place in St. Marys. It is not known exactly what rank Hugh Brown Jr. held nor what his duties were in this
war but his name appears on the Muster Roll at Jefferson dated 15 March 1815 when he was discharged. Hugh Brown Junior served as a member in the House of Representatives, representing Camden County from 1814-1818 (Vocelle p. 148). He must have traveled back and forth between his home in the Sand Hills area to Milledgeville where the Georgia Legislative sessions were held. Milledgeville, on the south bank of the Oconee River, was made the
capital of Georgia in 1803. It was named in honor of Governor John Milledge who managed to clean up the scandalous land grant frauds which had taken place in Georgia during the 1790's. This city became an important merchandising and commercial center. In 1868 the capital was moved from Milledgeville to Atlanta following the Civil War. Source: "A History of Georgia," by Kenneth Coleman, pages 106-107 & 208-209. It
was during his Legislative service in Milledgeville, then the capital of Georgia, that HUGH BROWN JUNIOR met and subsequently married ELIZABETH DEAN. ELIZABETH DEAN/DEANE was born 10 April 1796 at Milledgeville, Baldwin County Georgia, the daughter of William Dean and Jane Sessions. WILLIAM DEAN
was born about 1755, exact place is unknown but some sources say possibly South Carolina; he died in Baldwin County, Georgia, in 1819 or 1820. He married JANE SESSIONS between 1790 and 1795. Jane Sessions was born about 1770, possibly in South Carolina. She died in Talbot County, Georgia on or before 06 March 1837. Their five (known) children were: 1. ELIZABETH DEAN born 10 April 1796; married to HUGH BROWN JUNIOR
on 13 April 1815 in Baldwin Co., GA. 2. NANCY DEAN born ca. 1798; married to (first name unknown) FOSSOM. (Possibly Faison or Fason). 3. JAMES DEAN born ca. 1801; married 1st to ELIZABETH B. LOWE on 10 February 1824 in Baldwin Co. GA. An obituary in the Georgia Messenger: "On 5th inst., Mrs. ELIZABETH B. DEAN, consort of JAMES DEAN, Esq., of Houston County. July 30,
1831." JAMES DEAN, ESQ. married 2nd to OBEDEANCE H. LOWE on Sunday evening 25 April 1832 in Houston Co. GA. 4. UNITY DEAN born ca. 1805; married to FRANCIS LEONARD on 24 December 1824 in Baldwin Co. GA. Moved to Talbot Co. GA - listed on 1850 Talbot Co. census - farmer with one child (other children - not found).
1. Benjamin Leonard born ca. 1831
5. MARY DEAN born ca. 1808; married to JAMES C. LEONARD on 18 November 1823 in Baldwin Co. GA. Moved to Talbot Co. GA - listed on 1850 Talbot Co. census - farmer with six children. 1. Joseph Leonard born ca. 1833
2. James Leonard born ca. 1838
3. Mary Leonard born ca. 1841
4. William Leonard born ca. 1843
5. Henrietta Leonard born ca. 1846
6. Francis Leonard born ca. 1850 Sources: "Records of Baldwin County, Georgia," compiled by Delwyn Associates pages 99,103 & 107; "Baldwin County, Georgia, Newspaper Clippings (Union Recorder), Vol. I 1830-1833," by Tad Evans, p. 127; "Marriages & Obituaries From Early GA Newspapers," Abstracted by late Judge Folks Huxford, p. 218. Brown file
folder of Kathleen Carmichael Adams containing the DAR papers (acceptance date 15 January 1970) of Mae Karen McGuire, a descendant of William Dean - NSDAR #547169; 1850 GA census schedules. During the Revolutionary War, William Dean was a Sergeant in the Light Dragoons for the State of Georgia commanded by Col. Marberry. In the 1805 Land Lottery, William Dean drew Lot No. 79 located in the 2nd District of Baldwin Co. On the Baldwin County Tax Digest of 1818,
Capt. L. Stephens Dist., he had seven slaves and 202 1/2 acres of land in Baldwin County which joined Ethridge on Camp Creek. Sources: Brown/Gelzer lineage files of Kathleen Carmichael Adams; NSDAR application papers of Mae Karen McGuire - National No. 547169; "Georgia's Roster of the Revolution," by Lucian Lamar Knight, p. 70; "DAR Patriot Index," p. 183. William Dean died in Baldwin County but it has not been ascertained
where he is buried. He did not leave a will and after his death his estate was probated. Baldwin Co. Inferior Court Minute Book 1819 page 16: Ordered that Letters of Administration on the Estate of William Dean be granted to Jane Dean, wife of said William Dean, and that the said Jane Dean enter into bond of $2,000.00, and that Robert Ivey, Zachariah Chambley, enter themselves as security and that William Griggs, Amos Young, Simon Brooke, Zachriah
Chambley and Robert Ivey, be and are hereby Appointed Appraisers or any three of them. Signed: Robert Wynn
H. Allen
William Ball Clerk: Thomas H. Kenan
August 7, 1820
Georgia Baldwin County: By the Honorable Justices of the Inferior Court of said County, sitting for Ordinary Purposes: To: William Griggs, Amos Young, Simon Brooks, Zachariah Chambley and Robert Ivey. These are to authorize and empower you, or any three of you, whose names are
above written, to appraise the goods and chattels of William Dean late of this County, deceased, in dollars and cents, so far as the same shall be produced to you by Jane Dean, Administratrix, or come to your sight or knowledge; you having first taken an Oath before some Justice of the Peace for said County, well and truly so to do, a certificate, which you are required to return annexed to the appraisement. And when you have the same appraised you are to return an inventory thereof,
signed by any three of you unto the said Court of Ordinary prescribed by law; together with this Warrant. In testimony whereof, I have officially set my hand and seal, this 7th day of August 1821. Thomas H. Kenan
Clerk, C.C. The assessment and inventory of the personal property of William Dean included eight slaves, two horses, twelve head of cattle, twenty-one hogs, poultry, oxen, carts, tools, bedding, grain, household goods. The total valuation amounted to $4,334.18. At a Public Auction held on 01 December 1821, most of
the items were purchased by Jane Dean. Sources: Baldwin County Inferior Court Appraisements, pages 125, 126, 127; "Ancestry of Elizabeth (Dean) Brown," compiled in 1957 by Elizabeth Tidd LeMaster for County Archivist, Bebe Lang - copy in Brown file folder at Bryan-Lang Library. After the death of William Dean, Jane married a second time to a Methodist Minister, Reverend Henry Hand on 09 July 1821 in Baldwin County. Jane (Sessions)
Dean Hand died on or before 06 March 1837 in Talbot County, Georgia. A copy of the will of Jane Dean Hand was obtained from the Brown file folder of Kathleen Carmichael Adams: Talbot County Will Book A pages 42, 43, 44:
Georgia
Talbot County "In the name of God Amen. I, Jane Hand, formerly Jane Dean now the wife & consort of Henry Hand..." This Will was dated August 19, 1835 and was
Probated on March 6, 1837. The Executors were Francis Leonard and James C. Leonard: To son: James Dean and sons-in-laws Francis Leonard and James C. Leonard, each $57.00 with interest from 1834 being amount due them at division of our property. To Francis Leonard, negro girl Charlotty, about ten years old, and one half of household and kitchen furniture. To James C. Leonard, negro girl named Betta, seven or eight years old and other half of household
and kitchen furniture. To son James Dean, negro boy named Dick, six or seven years old. To Daughters: Nancy Fossom and Elizabeth Brown each be paid sum equal to value of legacies of negroes to son and sons-in-law, balance to be divided so each child and sons-in-law will share equally. Signed: Jane Hand (her mark)
Witness: Edward Wright, William Fleming & Charles R. Wynn JP On 10 April 1815 in Baldwin County, Georgia, Hugh Brown and Elizabeth Dean applied for a marriage certificate. On 13 April 1815 in the same county they were married by a Justice of the Peace. Baldwin County Record Book A Page 348: Georgia Baldwin County: To any Judge, Justice of the Inferior Court, Justice of
the Peace or Member of the Gospel: You are hereby authorized to join together in Matrimony Hugh Brown and Elizabeth Deane; and for so doing this shall be your sufficient License. Given under my hand and seal this 10th day of April 1815. Abner Lycke C.C.O. Seal Georgia Baldwin County: I hereby certify that HUGH BROWN and ELIZABETH DEANE
, were duly joined in the bonds of Matrimony by me this 13th day of April 1815. Henry Cox J.P. Among miscellaneous vouchers and papers found in the file of William Dean Estate in Bladwin County: Appraised by the request of HUGH BROWN, a negro girl named Salley, about 10 years old, by Robert Ivey, Simon Brooks, and Amos Young, on December 22, 1820, at $350.00, being part of the personal property of William Dean, late of the County of Baldwin,
deceased. Georgia,
Baldwin County Whether or not Hugh and Elizabeth Brown retained a residence temporarily in Milledgeville has not been ascertained. This thought seems probable when one considers that Elizabeth's family lived there and Hugh's political involvement required that at times he must remain there for an unspecified duration. It was almost two years after they were married that their first child was born in Camden County.
A transcription of the account below was found in the Brown file folder at the Bryan-Lang Library. The original is on microfilm at the GA Dept. of Archives and History: Georgia, Baldwin County Personally appeared before me one of the Judges of the State of Georgia, Hugh Brown, Esq. Who deposeth and saith that he has for many years past heard his father say that in the year 1793, that John Hardee, Esq. resided in his house and
this deponent further saith, John Hardee, Esq. was possessed of a horse, which said horse was taken from the said John Hardee, by a party of Creek Indians. At the same time Deponents fathers horses were taken and carried off by the Creek Indians. Hugh Brown (Seal) Sworn to before me in the Executive Office, this 16th day of November, 1821.
Augustine L. Clayton On the reverse side of this document: I, John Clark, Gov. of Georgia, do certify that I have long been acquainted with Hugh Brown, Esq. late a Senator from Camden County and that when testifying, he is entitled to the fullest credence. John Clark (Seal)
I accord in certifying the above.
A.J. Clayton, Judge The chain of command for Militia Officers: Top ranking officers were Major Generals. Brigades were commanded by Brigadier Generals. Regiments were commanded by Colonels. Battalions
were commanded by Majors. Those officers constituting a Company were: Captain, Lieutenant, Ensign. On 31 March 1825 Hugh Brown Junior was listed as Major of the 8th Battalion in Camden County. Source: GA Genealogical Magazine issues 7-10 (bound), 1963, p. 485-486. In 1829, Hugh Brown Junior received a warrant for 311 acres in Camden County. The "Pine & Swamp Land" contained an alagator [sic] Pond and a portion of the post road which ran
through the angled-shaped southern tip, was surrounded by cypress and live oaks, was bordered by land belonging to Stephen Eliott, "Supposed to be Wm. Brown," Basil Low, Mills Drury, "Supposed to be Surveyed," J. Sheffield, Hugh Brown Land, "Lightwood Stumpe" and E. Parrish. Recorded in the CCG Land Plat Book F 1816-1837 p. 158; copy in the Bryan-Lang Library:
Georgia
Camden County Warrant dated September the 7th 1829 Surveyed October the 19th 1829 ~ for Hugh Brown, who Lives in this county a Tract of land containing Three hundred and Eleven acres. Beginning on a Pine Hugh Brown's corner and
running East Six Chains to a Stake on John Sheffield, Line & C, the above plat representing the Survey with the natural and artificed mark, and boundary.Chainmen
Certified by Isaac Bailey, County Surveyor
Wm. Norton
Zachariah Moty Advertised January the 14th 1830 under a warrant for 500 acres
Scale of 20 chs. per Inch.
Other Land Grants (restricted to 1000 acres maximum per person) issued to Hugh Brown Junior as listed in the "Index to The Headright And Bounty Grants of Georgia 1756-1909," p. 72: 1837 300 acres Book S.5 p. 394
1849 349 acres Book W.5 p. 508 On 13 October 1834, recorded in Camden County Deed Book M page 233: Hugh Brown purchased a tract of land from Charles N. Drury, Daniel Atkinson, John L. Taylor and Henry Miller for $150.00. The "parcel of land situate lying and being in the county aforesaid on the
north side of the great Satilla river, containing three hundred acres more or less, original granted to Mills Drury, said grant being dated the nineteenth day of November eighteen hundred and nineteen. To have and to hold Said tract or parcel of land unto him the said Hugh Brown his heirs and assigns together with all and singular the rights members and appurtenances thereof to the same in any manner belonging to his and their own proper use
benefit and behoof forever in fee simple." This deed was witnessed by John H. McIntosh, J.I.C. and Jos. M. Nungazer, J.P. and was recorded by Clerk Isaac Bailey on 26 January 1835. No matter the size, the running of a plantation was a business fraught with difficulties which required efficient organization to be economically profitable. The constant demands of these activities were only a portion of the combined obligations many people handled on a daily
basis. Although he was respected as a legislator and for years remained active in the political arena, Hugh Brown Junior was also one of the most successful planters in Camden County. In "Pen Portraits," page 40, Allie Brown Carmichael wrote, "I have in my possession an old land grant [distinctive wax seal evident] from the State of Georgia, dated 1837, to a Jacob Goodbread, for 288 acres of land. This document gives the boundaries as
lands belonging to my great grandfather, Hugh Brown."
Hugh Brown Jr. and his wife, Elizabeth, lived in the Sand Hills area near Burnt Fort. Their ten children, five boys and five girls, were born and raised in this section of Camden County: 1. JANE DEAN BROWN born 19 January 1817; married JACOB TAPLEY GOODBREAD; died 11 June 1861. 2. WILLIAM DEAN BROWN
born 23 October 1818; married HATTIE C. HOLLAND; died 16 July 1873. 3. HUGH BROWN III born 07 December 1820; married THERESA ANN JONES; died 19 January 1880. 4. JOHN H. BROWN born 23 September 1822; died 18 December 1886. 5. SARAH ELIZABETH BROWN born 15 July 1824; married NATHANIEL J. PATTERSON, JR.; died 13 June 1846. 6. MARY ANN BROWN born 01 July 1827; married NATHANIEL J. PATTERSON, JR. 7. JAMES DAVID BROWN born 18 July 1831; married 1st MARY POPE GODLEY; married 2nd CLARA ANN GELZER; died 30 April 1888. 8. GEORGIA BROWN born 18 May 1834; married ANDREW JACK READDICK. 9. VIRGINIA JANE BROWN
born 18 May 1836; married WILLIAM LANG; died 08 August 1860. 10.CRAWFORD PARRISH BROWN born 09 April 1838; married LAURA JANE PARRISH; died 07 July 1878. Sources for list of children: 1. Compiled information on Brown Lineage by Beatrice F. Lang, County Archivist for the State of Georgia, Atlanta Dept. of Archives & History - copies in Brown and Lang file folders
at Bryan-Lang Library.
2. CCG Deed Book P pages 330 & 331
3. CCG Marriage Records - Book B 1831-1880
4. CCG 1850 census
5. "Camden's Challenge," Revised: 1994, pages 326, 327, 328, 329.
6. "Pen Portraits," untitled article by Maddie Brown Clark; article entitled "The William Gowen Family," by Julia Catherine Gowen Casey; article entitled "The Brown Family of the Sand Hills," by Allie Brown Carmichael.
In the 23 July 1822 issue of the Georgia Journal an article put out by the Executive Department in Georgia, listed a settlement of claims by the citizens of Georgia, owed to them under a previous treaty with the Creek Nation. Applications with the name of the claimant, proof for support of their claim and the amount (each claimant was to receive one-fifth of the amount of their claim) was to be sent to the Executive Department:
1793/Hugh Brown/$425.00. Hugh Brown Junior must have submitted his father's name for this claim. Source: "Genealogical Abstracts From The Georgia Journal (Milledgeville) Newspaper, 1809-1840" Vol. II page 686, by Fred R. Hartz. Elections were held annually and Hugh Brown Jr. served as a State Senator from Camden County (Vocelle pages 151-152) in 1819, 1820, 1821, 1823, 1825, 1826, 1827, 1828, 1829,
1831, 1832, 1833, 1835, 1839, and 1842. When describing Hugh Brown Junior in the "History of Camden County, Georgia," on page 39, James T. Vocelle wrote, "He was a man of great intellect and became one of the most prominent citizens of the county. He has the honor of having represented the county longer in the legislature than any other man."
Hugh Brown Junior was also Justice of the Inferior Court of Camden County in 1821, 1823, 1825, 1828, 1829, 1833, and 1837. In 1841 he declined this position. Clearly, Hugh Brown Jr. was an upstanding and honorable man who attained a monumental list of achievements. However, serving as a Justice was not without its drawbacks. Hugh Brown and William B. Thomas were co-executors for the widow, Ann B. Thomas. In
accordance to her will, Hugh Brown was the guardian of her infant child, James M. Thomas. On 04 March 1839, W. B. Thomas filed a complaint alleging that Hugh Brown made unjust charges in his returns. On 02 June 1840, W. B. Thomas dismissed the complaint. Source: Georgia Genealogical Magazine, "Camden County, Georgia, Minutes, Inferior Court (Sitting for Ordinary Purposes)," 1-2 Bound 1961-1963; p. 102 & 103.
On the 1850 Camden County Census taken in September in District No. 9: Name | Age | Sex | Occupation | Place of Birth | HUGH BROWN |
61 | M | Planter | GA | Elizabeth | 54 | F | | GA | William | 31 | M | | GA |
Hugh | 29 | M | | GA | John | 27 | M | | GA | James | 19 | M | | GA | Crawford | 12
| M | | GA | Georgia | 16 | F | | GA | Virginia | 14 | F | | GA | Robt. Paxton | 75 |
M | | Virginia | James Thomas | 13 | M | | GA | Sarah Patterson | 4 | F | | GA |
Name | Age | Sex | Occupation | Place of Birth | EZEKIEL BROWN | 63 | M | Overseer |
Virginia | Sarah | 40 | F | | SC | George | 18 | M | | GA | Augustus | 16 | M | | GA | Sarah | 8 | F | | GA | Crawford | 4 | M | | GA |
Name | Age |
Sex | Occupation | Place of Birth | David BROWN | 59 | M | Planter | GA | Elizabeth | 55 | F |
| GA | Virginia | 17 | F | | GA | Nathan | 14 | M | | GA |
Some of Hugh Brown's neighbors who also lived in this district were: Peter Readdick, G. A.
Mallette, David Lang, William and Jonathan Parrish, Jackson Mizell, William Goss, Joseph Finley, James Barnard, William P. Ashley, Charles Cole, Alexander Scott, Barney Gowen, Nathaniel Patterson. Hugh Brown Junior died on 29 July 1851 in Camden County and is buried at Burnt Fort Cemetery. His grave is the third oldest marked grave in this cemetery. The inscription on his tombstone reads: Sacred to the memory of Hugh Brown born July 19, 1788 and died July 29, 1851. His
character was plain, his heart amiable. His deportment kind and affectionate, the love of kindred and regret of his friends will long hallow his grave with remembrance due to worth and virtue. Twas hard to give him up but the Lord gave and the Lord has taken away, blessed be the name of the Lord. Five months after her husband passed away, Elizabeth Brown sold some of their vast
holdings. Part of this property comprised an area of about 359 acres which her husband had purchased two years before he died. The sale included houses, outhouses, buildings, stables, yards and gardens. She undertook this transaction with her four sons, William D. Brown, Hugh Brown III, John H. Brown and James D. Brown and her two sons-in-law, Jacob T. Goodbread and Nathaniel J. Patterson. Her daughters did not sign the legal document.
Recorded in Camden County Deed Book P page 336: Georgia, Camden County: This Indenture made the first day of January in the year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and fifty-Two. Between Elizabeth Brown, Wm. D. Brown, Jacob T. Goodbread, N.J. Patterson, Hugh Brown, John H. Brown and James D. Brown, heirs of Hugh Brown, who are of age, of the first part, and
Robert Hazelhurst of the second part, Witnesseth that the said parties of the first part for and in Consideration of the Sum of Two thousand three hundred dollars to them in hand paid by the party of the Second part...All that tract or parcel of land situate lying and being in the County aforesaid on the Great Satilla River, Containing three hundred and fifty nine acres more or less and granted by the State of Georgia to Hugh Brown on the 20th November 1849.
Signed: Hugh Brown, N.J. Patterson, Jr., J.D. Brown, Elizabeth Brown, John H. Brown, Wm. D. Brown Adm., J.T. Goodbread. Witnesses: Nahan Dorggins and Alex. Hunt JP, of Columbia County in the State of Florida; & Wm.P. Ashley, Jos. Thomas JICCC, John Mizell, James Thompson JP, Wm.J. Gauss, Ths.K. Dunham JICCC, J.D. Brown, Phillip Goodbread, of Camden Co. in the State of Georgia.
According to the Camden County Minutes of the Inferior Court (sitting for Ordinary Purposes), on 01 March 1852, William D. Brown was appointed administrator for the Estate of Hugh Brown. NOTE: Possibly a will was filed - but Camden County Will Book B (1829-1852) is lost. There are no intestate proceedings or records found for Hugh Brown Junior. Source: GA Genealogical Magazine No. 2, October 1961 p. 111. SKETCHES OF CHILDREN OF HUGH BROWN JUNIOR & ELIZABETH DEAN:
JANE DEAN BROWN - Married JACOB T. GOODBREAD on 18 October 1832. He was a sheriff in Camden County, Georgia. They had twelve children (see Lineage in back of History). About 1834 or 1835 Jacob T. Goodbread built the two-story house located in Midriver - on old maps off of the Old Post Road near the site of L. T. McKinnon's general store (Personal interviews with Marguerite Godley Reddick & Jack F. Godley - both of
CCG). This old house was purchased in 1914 by Phillip Cato Brown, son of William Dean Brown and Hattie Holland - is said to be haunted by the ghost of a doctor who was shot to death on the front porch. According to Frances P. Reddick, long-time CCG resident, locals call this "The Brown House" - located just off Hwy 252 on the northwest side of the road & in a sad state of disrepair as of 1995. In "Wandering In Camden - A Settlement Called
Midriver," Part I #15 8/31/90 p. 2, Eliose Bailey Thompson wrote, "He [Jacob Goodbread] was the county sheriff from 1839-1842 when the county seat was at Jeffersonton, on the south side of the Satilla. Family tradition says that Goodbread moved from Camden to Columbia County, Florida when he was ordered to hang a man he believed was innocent." The James T. Goodbread notes in the Bryan-Lang Library explain that in 1843 the
Goodbreads moved to Columbia County, Florida where they founded Corinth Methodist Episcopal Church. Both of them are buried in the Corinth Methodist Episcopal Church Cemetery in Columbia County, FL - the present Church now stands on their former homesite. WILLIAM DEAN BROWN - Married HATTIE C. HOLLAND of Monroe County, GA. William D. Brown was the designated Administrator for the Estate of Hugh Brown Junior - CCG Deed
Book P pages 330 & 331 & pages 353, 354 & 355; CCG Deed Book Q page 542; CCG Deed Book X pages 395, 396, 397. He built a large two-story house near the Satilla River in the Sand Hills area about two miles north of Burnt Fort. From 1846-1847 he was a Justice of the Peace in Camden County - in CCG Land Court Journal 1836-1849. He was a volunteer soldier in the Civil War. W. D. Brown, Private, was listed on the Muster Roll of
Captain John Readdick's Company called The Camden County Chasseurs - list of men who served under Captain John Readdick's Company is located in Bryan-Lang Library. According to Vocelle p. 154, W. D. Brown was a sheriff in CCG from 1863-1864. On the 1860 CCG census, his occupation was listed as a farmer - his real estate was valued at $1000.00 & his personal estate was valued at $4270.00. On the 1870 CCG census, he was
a farmer with real estate valued at $400.00 & a personal estate of $200.00. When he died at age fifty-five, his wife was left with nine children to raise - "Pen Portraits" article by Maddie Brown Clark p. 43-44 (see Lineage). His tombstone at Burnt Fort Cemetery is inscribed: William D. Brown Co. B 4 Ga. Cav. CSA. HUGH BROWN III - He was listed in the household of his parents on the CCG census which
was taken on 17 August 1850. He must have traveled from Camden County to Florida between mid-August and mid-October because he was listed in the household of his sister, Jane & her husband, Jacob T. Goodbread on the Columbia County census taken on 16 October 1850. He married THERESA ANN JONES on 28 October 1851 in Lake City, FL. Nine children (see Lineage). They must have come back to CCG to live - in 1858 he
received a warrant for 191 acres of land - "Index to Headright & Bounty Grants of Georgia 1756-1909," p. 72. He was a census taker for Camden County on 03 October 1859. Hugh, Theresa and three of their children are listed on a Camden County census in Brown's District taken on 06 June 1860. He was a soldier in the Civil War - "Roster of the Confederate Soldiers of Georgia 1861-1865," Vol. III p. 191 lists, "Brown, Hugh~1st Sergeant Aug. 5,
1861. Mustered out May 10, 1862. Enlisted as a private in Co. C, 4th Regt. Ga. Cavalry (Clinch's), July 4, 1862. Roll for June 30, 1864, last on file, shows him present. No later record." According to the James T. Goodbread notes, he served in the FL 5th Infantry CO. B from 1862-1864 and was wounded at Petersburg, VA in September 1864. During the 1860's, he and his wife and family moved to Lake City, FL, about ten miles south of the
Corinth Church grounds where his sister and her husband (Goodbread) had established a home. Hugh Brown III and Theresa Ann are both buried at Oak Lawn Cemetery in Lake City, Florida. JOHN H. BROWN - "Represented Camden County for 28 years in the State Legislature," wrote Allie Brown Carmichael in "Pen Portraits," p. 40-42. According to Vocelle in "History
of Camden County Georgia," p. 149, J. H. Brown was a member of the GA House of Representatives from 1855-1856. On the 1850 CCG census he was listed in the household with his parents. On the 1860 CCG census, he was listed in the Edward Lang household in Langsbury - his occupation was a clerk. He never married - died at age 64. His tombstone in Burnt Fort Cemetery is inscribed: An honest man is the noblest work of God. SARAH ELIZABETH BROWN
- When she was sixteen-years-old, she married NATHANIEL J. PATTERSON JR. on 15 October 1840 - CCG Marriage Book B 1831-1880 p. 53. They had four children (see Lineage). A little over five and a half years after her marriage, at age twenty-two, Sarah Brown Patterson died. Her grave is the second oldest in Burnt Fort Cemetery in Camden County, GA - "Camden's Challenge," p. 533. Nathaniel J. Patterson
was a successful rice planter who lived at Jefferson. In the Land Court Journal 1836-1849, N. J. Patterson Jr. signed his name as a Justice of the Inferior Court of Camden County. He was a representative and senator and was one of the delegates at the convention in Milledgeville on 19 January 1861 who voted for the Ordinance of Secession. According to Vocelle, p. 92, "Hon. Nathaniel J. Patterson was one of the most brilliant men that Camden
county has ever produced." And on p. 93, "He was so popular among his people, that it was said that 'Nat Patterson,' as he was called, could get any office that he wanted in Camden county." MARY ANN BROWN - Married NATHANIEL J. PATTERSON JR. CCG Marriage Book B 1831-1880 p. 112 - on 24 February 1848 - two years after her sister's death. They had ten
children - all born in Camden County (see Lineage). In addition to her own children, Mary Ann Brown Patterson had to care for her sister's four children who ranged approximately ages two to eight years at the time of her marriage. "Roster of the Confederate Soldiers of Georgia 1861-1865," Vol. III p. 197 lists: "Patterson, Nathaniel J. ~ Private Aug. 5, 1861. Detailed Company Commissioner Nov. 1861. Mustered out May 10, 1862. Enlisted as a
private in Co. E, 4th Regt. Ga. Cavalry May 21, 1862, and relieved from duty by Conscript Act same date." Family listed on the 1850 & 1860 CCG census schedules. Sometime after 1870, Nathaniel J. Patterson moved his family from Camden County, GA to Jasper, Hamilton Co., FL. They are not listed on the 1870 census for Camden Co. or Hamilton Co. but are listed on the 1880 Hamilton Co. census. According to the notes of Robert B.
Bennett, Nathaniel J. Patterson gave up his rice plantations in Camden County to work in the flourishing turpentine business in Florida. They bought property in Hamilton Co. and lived on or near the banks of the Suwannee River. Nathaniel J. Patterson became a representative from the Jasper area. Both of them (and a few of their children) are buried at the cemetery at Jasper - her grave is unmarked (Source: John M. Bennett, Rockledge, FL). Other sources: Patterson
file folder - letter from Mrs. Lillias Randolph Patterson Brown in Fernandina, FL to Miss Russell dated Jan. 11, 1939 - in Bryan-Lang Hist. Library; Patterson & Bennett Genealogical Files of Robert Berry Bennett, Melbourne, FL. JAMES DAVID BROWN - Lived in Camden County, Georgia all of his life. The following sources list the name JAMES DAVID BROWN: GA Department of Archives & History - Civil
War Records; GA Department of Public Health, CCG Birth Certificate for son, Claude Eugene Brown; Parish Records of the Episcopal Church of the Messiah at Owens Ferry - marriage of son, Frank Hopkins Brown to Marguerite Jule Pacetty in 1906; CCG Episcopal Parish Baptismal Certificate for Marion Deas Brown in 1885; Gravestone in Burnt Fort Cemetery, CCG; "Pen Portraits" articles on Hugh Brown & James David Brown Families by
Maddie Brown Clark & Allie Brown Carmichael; "Camden's Challenge - A History of Camden County, Georgia," by Marguerite Reddick pages 46, 332, 333, 531. Name erroneously listed as James Dean Brown in Huxford's "Pioneers of Wiregrass" Vol. IV p. 33. Married 1st to MARY POPE GODLEY prior to 1859 in Camden County, GA (four children-see Lineage) - she is buried in an unmarked grave at Burnt Fort Cemetery. He married 2nd to CLARA ANN
GELZER on 11 August 1872 (five children-see Lineage). He died in Camden County and is buried at Burnt Fort Cemetery. Not long after his death, Clara Ann Gelzer Brown moved to Miami, Florida. All listed under a separate heading. Sources for this line: CCG Courthouse records; Dade County, FL Courthouse records; Brown/Gelzer lineage files of Marguerite Marreé Mathews, Raleigh, NC; Brown/Gelzer lineage files of Kathleen Carmichael Adams,
Cold Spring, KY. GEORGIA BROWN - Married ANDREW JACK READDICK/REDDICK on 28 February 1854 - CCG Marriage Book B 1831-1880 p. 141. She probably died sometime between 1857 & 1860. According to the 1860 CCG census, her first child was born in 1855 and her second child was born in 1857 - she is not listed on this census. (See Brown Lineage for children).
No death dates nor place of burial found. Jack Readdick, as he was called, grew up on "Readdick's Plantation" which belonged to his father & mother, Peter Readdick and Allie Agnes Wright. It was a large cotton plantation located in the Sand Hills six miles north of Burnt Fort on the north side of the Satilla River near the Old Post Road ("Camden's Challenge," by Marguerite Reddick pages 52 & 53). On p. 455 Reddick says, "Peter
Readdick was the progenitor of all the Camden County Readdicks...both spellings are seen in Camden families." Andrew Jack Readdick, a farmer, married 2nd to Caroline E. Drury - CCG Marriage Book B p. 112. "Camden County, GA Cemetery Location & Index," by Larry Durbin lists: A. J. Readdick b. 11 April 1828 & d. 07 May 1900; and Caroline E. Readdick b. 11 February 1839 & d. 03 July 1911- both buried at Black Point Cemetery in CCG.
VIRGINIA JANE BROWN - Married WILLIAM LANG. They were probably married prior to 1857- the year of the birth of their first child. She died 13 August 1860 when she was just twenty-four-years-old - six months after her third child was born. (See Lineage for children). William Lang was the son of Isaac Lang, Jr., a very successful & respected planter in Camden County, and Caroline Atkinson (daughter of Burwell Atkinson & Ann
Felder - PWG Vol. IV p.10-11& Vol. V p. 255-256). William Lang spent his childhood on his father's plantation called "Langsbury" located west of Waverly in Camden County - "Camden's Challenge," pages 48, 66, 409, & 533. On the 1860 CCG census in Hardee's District at Langsbury, J. H. Brown was listed as executor for the Virginia Lang estate. From 1862-1866 William Lang was a Justice of the Inferior Court of Camden County - list located
at Bryan-Lang Library. He was in the Civil War - 4th GA Cavalry (Shown as W. Lang on list of those Civil War Veterans buried in CCG - at Bryan-Lang Library). According to CCG Marriage Book B 1831-1880 p. 257, William Lang married 2nd on 16 September 1875 to Frances Dorinda Grooms (1854-1948). All three are buried at Burnt Fort Cemetery. CRAWFORD PARRISH BROWN - In 1860 (CCG census) he was living with his mother,
Elizabeth Brown. Married LAURA JANE PARRISH on 19 July 1863 - CCG Marriage Book B 1831-1880 p. 170. They had five children (see Lineage). In "Roster of the Confederate Soldiers of Georgia 1861-1865," Vol. III p. 192, "Brown, Crawford P.~Private Aug. 5, 1861. Mustered out May 10, 1862. Enlisted as a private in Co. C, 4th Regt. Ga. Cavalry (Clinch's), May 21, 1862. Deserted in 1864. Received at Jacksonville, Fla., a Confederate
deserter, Oct. 13, 1864." Laura Jane's father, William Henry Parrish, married Louisa Ann King, who was born on Cherry Point (& was the daughter of James King & Margaret O'Neil - see Annie Marion Brown segment). William H. Parrish owned "Parrish Plantation" which was located north of Burnt Fort, extended to Midriver and to the edge of the Satilla River. The grist mill he operated there was powered by a spring of fresh water which is still called
"Parrish Spring" and traces of his homesite in this area may still be seen ("Camden's Challenge," p. 52). Crawford Parrish Brown, his wife and child moved from Camden County to Columbia County, FL, where he was a farmer, probably between 1866 (the date of birth of their first child in CCG) and 1869 (the date of birth of their second child in FL) - PWG Vol. VII p. 309-310. Family listed on 1870 & 1880 Columbia Co., FL census schedules. William H.
Parrish, Crawford P. Brown & Laura J. Brown are buried in the Corinth Methodist Episcopal Church Cemetery, Columbia County, FL. The 1860 CCG census was taken on June 7th in Brown's District, Post Office Owen's Ferry. In Dwelling No. 44, Elizabeth Brown was listed simply as "E" Brown. The census taker listed her as head of the household, age 64, a farmer, no real estate but her personal
property was worth $1095.00; her place of birth Georgia. In the household with her were C. P. Brown age 22, farmer, personal property worth $1735.00, born in Georgia and G. E. Readdick, a male age 4, born in Georgia. Four out of the five girls in this family passed away before their mother: Sarah Elizabeth Brown Patterson, Georgia Brown Reddick, Virginia Jane Brown Lang, Jane Dean Brown Goodbread.
Elizabeth Dean Brown died on 29 June 1861 at the age of 65. She is buried near her husband's grave in Burnt Fort Cemetery. Her tombstone is inscribed with a New Testament Bible verse: Blessed are the pure in heart for they shall see God. | 
