PABEDFOR-L Archives

From: "David & Kathy Wells" <>
Subject: William Brown & Joshua Brown, Bedford Co, PA
Date: Sat, 24 Jul 2004 21:10:39 -0500

All of you who are researching William Brown that married Ruth Lane. Do any of you have access to the old records of Cumberland/Bedford/Huntingdon Counties in Penn? I found a very important patent/document on Joshua Brown (that married Charlotte Morris) in Bedford County, and I found it at the Blair County Genealogical Society, Roller Hojeth Memorial Library, 431 Scotch Valley Rd., Hollidaysburg, PA 16648. It shows that Joshua Brown had 2 brothers Daniel & James Brown.(See number 1 & 2 below). All 3 are combined on this original land Warrant dated October 31, 1785. I also see that William Brown, and Joseph & Thomas Brown also got a land warrant the same year, and that William's was only 7 days after Joshua, Daniel & James. (see number 5 below) - land patenst: Wm. Brown Nov 7, 1785; Joseph Brown Sept 12, 1785; Joseph Brown Jun 28, 1785; Thos Brown Jan 12, 1785.

Has anyone tried to get a copy or have a copy of Williams land patent? If so, did you get it from the State Archives or from the Blair co. Gen. Soc.? Notice the one below (#1) has much more information on it and shows the relationship between Joshua & 2 brothers. The one I got from the Archives (#2) only shows Joshua Brown. I would love to know how the one at the Blair Co. Gen. Soc. reads. Could it link him to any other Browns?

Also notice #3 below, mentions Joshua Brown and the little Aughwick Creek. Wasn't Williams property on the Aughwick?

I will list some of my proof on Joshua Brown below. those of you with information on William, please see if any of this lines up with William.
Hope to hear from you all, Kathy Wells.


1) *** I have a copy of the original land warrant dated Oct 31, 1785. I got it from Blair County Genealogical Society, Roller Hojeth Memorial Library, 431 Scotch Valley Rd., Hollidaysburg, PA 16648. It is titled exactly like this: "1785 Oct 31", "Dan'l, Joshua & James Brown". This is the information on it: Daniel Brown makes application for four hundred acres of land on the Hills adjoining the mouth of the three spring creek on the north side of said creek in Shurlock twp (probably supposed to be Shirley Twp). Joshua Brown makes application for four hundred acres of land laying on [?Broad Coles Junn?] Spring branch and adjoining a tract known by the name of McGaws land in Shurlock Twp. James Brown makes application for two hundred and ninty acres of land laying on the north side of the McGaws & [Pickets? plows] at the foot of Jacks Mountain in Shurlock Twp. Signed by justices of Bedford Co. Oct 6, 1785-Hugh Davison.
2) I also have a copy of the above original land warrant dated Oct 31, 1785 that was obtained from the Penn Archives in Harrisburg. For some reason it is a little different than the one above. Warrant # 181 dated Oct 31, 1785 Bedford County, 400 acres. It does not mention the other 2 Brown boys. It just lists Joshua Brown. It reads: Joshua Brown patented 25th March 1868 to Thomas Hooper, Asaph (Freas?), & Jabez (Burd?). The rest is just as the one above. This must be his son Joshua Brown Jr. because the original Joshua Brown was deceased by this time. Possibly they couldn't locate the original patent, and Joshua Jr. was trying to sell the property.
3) "History of Huntingdon & Blair Counties"/J. Simpson Africa Pg 363 says "Maddensville......There was at that time an old saw-mill half a mile up the Little Aughwick, with a small clearing around that and the house of Mr. Brown." that is all in that paragraph. Then on another paragraph it says "Among the early settlers in the vicinity of Maddensville was Joshua Brown, who owned a tract of land up the LITTLE AUGHWICK Creek, now owned by the Madden brothers. Mr. Brown died in the fore part of 1882, aged ninety years." (this was apparently referring to Joshua Brown Jr., son of our Joshua Brown & Charlotte Morris who died September 17, 1884 at about 85 years old.)
4) 1782, March 14, Hopewell Twp, Cumberland co, PA. -(The County of Huntingdon was officially established on September 20, 1787 as a large region of Central Pennsylvania. Previously part of Bedford County and the earlier Cumberland Region) -"Indictments 1750-1800 Cumberland Co, PA"/Marri Lou Scribner Schaumann, pg 76, #982 - Joshua Brown of Hopewell twp. assault & battery on William Highland on March 14, 1782.
5) 1785, Oct 31 -"Pennsylvania Archives", 3rd Series, Vol 25, pg 457 - Bedford Co. Warrantees of Land, lists: Joshua Brown Oct 31, 1785; Daniel Brown Oct 31, 1785; James Brown Oct 31, 1785; Wm. Brown Nov 7, 1785; Joseph Brown Sept 12, 1785; Joseph Brown Jun 28, 1785; Thos Brown Jan 12, 1785; Richard Brown Jun 28,1774; Wm. Brown Aug 6, 1773; Wm. Brown Aug 3, 1773; Rebecca Brown Aug 3, 1773;

-----1788 Dublin Twp, Huntingdon Co, PA - "Pennsylvania Archives", 6th Series, Vol. 3, pg 450-451, A list of persons names subject to Malitia duty, Dublin Twp, Huntingdon Co, 1788, #53 is Joshua Brown. (1788 is officially after the Rev War for DAR). Notice he is in Huntingdon Co, now, probably was Bedford County previously. (The County of Huntingdon was officially established on September 20, 1787 as a large region of Central Pennsylvania. Previously part of Bedford County and the earlier Cumberland Region)

-----1800 Springfield Twp, Huntingdon Co, PA census - pg 137 - Joshua Brown (1 male 26-45, 4 males under 10, 1 female 26-45, 1 female under 10); Wm. Wagner (father of Abraham) nearby, also several Gutshalls, Ramsays, Lane, Maddin, Corbins & more. (Also, there is no Joshua Brown in Washington Co, PA now, was it this Joshua Brown?)
------1810 Springfield Twp, Hunt. Co., PA census - Huntingdon Co, PA census pg 17A J. Brown 00101020; Pg 22B shows a J. Brown 0010122101; and on pg 24b is a J. Brown 001010120; Not sure if any are Joshua Brown.
-----1820 Springfield Twp, Hunt. co. PA census, pg. 9 - Joshua Brown (1 male over 45, 2 male 16-26, 1 male under 10, 1 female over 45, 1 female 16-26, 3 female under 10-26); nearby Wm. Wagner;

----"Your Family Tree", Pennsylvania Genealogy & History Quarterly, Volume XV, summer 1969, Number 3, pg 84 shows Joshua & Charlotte Brown buried in Old School Baptist Cemetery. Also several of their children are buried there also. It gives Charlotte's death date and birth date, but I don't see her birthdate on the pictures of her cemetery marker, just her age down to the exact day. Her 'bible record' gives a different birthdate. I am going to use the one on the 'bible records'.
-----Bible Records of the Wagner family, written by Harrison B. Wagner, a son of Abraham Wagner & Charlotte Brown, names all of the children of Abraham and Charlotte, and also names all of the children of David Stevens & Elizbeth Fisher, and Jesse Stevens & Rebecca Wagner and other families. This shows the closeness of the Stevens, Lanes, Browns & Wagners.
-----"Commemorative Biographical Encyclopedia of Juaniata Valley..etc." published in 1897 - pg 158 --------Article starts with Joshua Brown Jr., talks about Joshua Brown Sr. being a native of Lancaster Co, PA. It states he married Charlotte Morrison, and talks about all of their children and who they married, including Charlotte marrying Abraham Wagner. I don't know who wrote or submitted the information for this article but I'm not sure if they knew for sure where Joshua Brown Sr. was from. Because on pg 165 is another article----starts with Hiram Brown and says his grandfather Joshua Brown was a native of Maryland and thought Joshua had a brother in North Carolina. It also mentions his children and whom they married, etc. Which one was correct????
------Penn Land Office, Harrisburg, Pennsylvania. Patent Book H-62-353 - "A warrant was issued to Joshua Brown on October 31, 1785 for a tract of 400 acres in Shirley Township, Bedford County (now Huntingdon County). A survey was made April 27, 1786 Of 403 acres and 76 perches adjoining lands of John Howard and Samuel Denning. By various conveyances this tract became vested in Thomas Hooper, Asaph Price and Jabez Beers and a patent was issued to them on March 23, 1868 for this tract 403 acres 76 perches then in Cromwell Township, Huntingdon County. Huntingdon County Court House, Huntingdon County. No recorded deeds were found for Joshua Brown. There is no record of letters of administration being issued but the following Orphan's Court records were found."
------F-266 " August Term 1845 Petition of Robert Madden, alienee of Calab Brown eldest son and heir of Joshua Brown late of Springfield Township. Joshua Brown died intestate leaving a widow, Charolette, who since deceased and eleven children: Caleb, Hannah who is married to Richard Hite, who is now dead, John, Richard, Joshua, Jeremiah, Rebecca who is now married to William Corbin, Elizabeth who is married to John Lamberson, Washington, Charolette who is married to Abraham Wagner, and Sarah who is married to ? Link. Petitioner has purchased the interest of all the heirs. Deceased died seized of two tracts of land, #1 about 25 acres in Springfield Township adjoining lands of Francis Scott, Richard Brown and others, cleared and cultivated with a log dwelling house and stable erected thereon. #2 tract in Springfield Township adjoining lands of William Ramsey, Francis Scott and others of which about10 acres cleared and cultivated and on which a small dwelling house and a sawmil!
l are erected. Evaluation of real estate requested."
------F-284 - "November Term, 1845 Return of the inquisition filed on the real estate of Joshua Brown, late of Springfield Township. Dec. inquisition taken at home of John Lamberson to partition and evaluate the real estate on Friday 31st of October, 1845, before John Armitage, High Sheriff of Huntingdon County. By 12 free, honest and lawful men of his bailiwick. The said lands should convently accommodate two of the heirs of Joshua Brown deceased, without spoiling the whole, #1 tract of 25 acres would accommodate one heir and they evaluate same at 162.50. #2 tract of about 70 acres would accommodate another heir and they evaluate same at 169.50. On November 20, 1845, the court confirmed said valuations and ordered all persons interested to appear in court the second Monday of January Next."
------F-290 - "January Term A846 Proof being made at the November term of court of heirs of Joshua Brown, deceased, Springfield Township, who died intestate, to appear in court and to accept or refuse the real estate of intestate at evaluation thereof Robert Madden, alienee of Caleb Brown and John Brown, the two eldest sons of intestate, agree to accept the whole of the real estate at evaluation to wit 25 acres valued at 162.50, also another tract of about 70 acres with improvements valued at 169.50. Thereon January 13, 1846 the court decrees said real estate to Robert Madden, providing his paying or entering into recognizances with sufficient sureties to pay, to the other heirs of said intestate, their equal proportionate shares of said evaluation within one year from this date, with interest, and Jacob E. Bare being offered as such surety, was approved. Recognizance of Robert Madden and Jacob E. Bare to the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. Robert E. Madden and Jacob E. Bare !
came into court and acknowledged themselves to owe and stand indebted to the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania in the sum of $300.00. on this condition, that if the said Robert Madden shall pay to the heirs and legal representatives of Joshua Brown late of Springfield Township in the County of Huntingdon, decd. their several shares of the appraised value of the real estate of said decd. this day accepted by him, the said Robert Madden as the alienee of Caleb Brown and John Brown the two eldest of the said deceased at the valuation thereof and within one year from this date with interest. Then this recognizance to be void, else to be and remain in full force and virtue. Taken and acknowledged in open court this 13th day of January A.D. 1846 attest: Robert Madden Jacob E. Bare "


Kathy & David Wells
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