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From: "John and Barbara Ekiss" <>
Subject: [NYSUFFOL] Joseph Brown family
Date: Fri, 6 Oct 2000 09:04:07 -0700


Joseph Brown b. 3 Oct 1733 at Oyster Ponds, married Meheitable VAIL who was
born 30 May 1738 at Orient. They both are buried in the Congregational
Church yard cemetery at Mt. Sinai.
Joseph and Mehetable were the proud parents of 18 children!
1. Elizabeth b 3 Sept 1755 mar. Goldsmith DAVIS
2. Joseph 5 July 1757-1800 mar. Miriam DAVIS
3. Jeremiah b 9 Jan 1760
4. Benjamin b. 24 Mar 1761
5. David b. 9 Aug 1762
6. Nathaniel b. 25 Sept 1763
7. Daniel b 17 Feb 1765 mar. Charlotte ROE
8. Isaac, surveyor of Hamilton Co. NY
9. Samuel b 19 July 1767 mar. Clarissa MILLER
10. James 11 Feb 1769-1796 mar. Martha ROE
11 Charlotte b. 6 Mar 1770
12 Mehitable b. 27 Mar 1771 mar. Timothy MILLER
13 Joshua b 2 Nov 1772
14 Youngs 3 Feb 1774
15 John b 20 Mar 1776
16 Hannah 12 Apr 1777-1838 mar. Samuel SKIDMORE
17 George b 6 Apr 1778
18 Dorothy b. 15 Mar 1780

Joseph and Meheitable were busy conceiving, raising and providing for their
family in
Brookhaven. Though family concerns occupied much of his time, Joseph was
considered one of the town leaders.

Joseph and Mehetable's ancestors had settled on the island so many years
past that Joe did not feel
much loyalty to the Parliment back in England that set up the laws by
which he had to live far away across the Atlantic Ocean. By June of 1775,
these restrictive laws were more than an annoyance, the laws were impeding
on everyday life. The town leaders gathered on the 27th and Joseph was one
of 16 men who placed their signature on a document to support the
Continental and Provincial Congresses.

Not all the men of town agreed with the beliefs of this Committee of Public
Safety so life continued much as it had been with little done by the
townspeople for either side of the conflict. That is until news was received
of the battle on Lexington Green in 1776. Again Joseph was called
to the meeting and again he supported colonial rights to independence.
Little did they know on the night of this second meeting that soon their
lands would be bloodied, that friends, neighbors and relatives would flee to
CT or that their homes would be confiscated and occupied by soldiers.

The needs of 15 children kept Joseph from actually picking up his gun and
going off to fight for his beliefs. He carried on as best he could.
Records are lacking on the family during these years.

Shortly after the close of hostilities, Joseph died. Life on Long Island
gradually returned to normal but not in the household where the father was
gone. Some of the older children soon left to begin new lives elsewhere.
Isaac and Joshua left with Joshua WELLS to survey part of the Adirondack
region for a new town. James and Joseph died. Daniel moved to Broome Co.
Youngs was apprenticed to a tailor, the girls married and Mehetable stayed
there on the island until 1816 when she was placed to rest next to Joseph in
the churchyard.



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