Re: Browns from Connecticut and New Jersey
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In reply to:
Re: Browns from Connecticut and New Jersey
Griffin Kessler 12/22/05
Griffin,
The following are my notes for my earliest Brown in Kent, CT who was Benjamin Brown.I am having trouble tracing him back farther.He purchased his property from Moses Brown of RI.Moses is undoubtedly from the Chad Brown lineage.Chad gave the money to fund Brown University.When were your wife's Brown's in Kent?I do have a history of Kent that has been reprinted.Let me know if I can look up anything for you.Sorry the notes are so extensive.
Brett
1.The first record we have of Benjamin in Kent is from the Land Records Book 8 Page 502 when he purchased Lot 1, West of Ousatunac from Moses Brown of Providence, RI for 120 pounds dated 21 Jan 1785 [the original documents are difficult to read and the following are transcriptions to the best of my ability] recorded 28 Jan 1785:
"To all people to whom these presents whall come that I Moses Brown of Providence in the county of Providence and state of Rhode Island and Providence Plantation Merchant send greeting.
Know ye that I the said Moses Brown for and in consideration of the sum of one hundred and twenty Pounds Lawfull Money to me in hand before the Ensealing hereof well and Truly paid by Benjamin Brown of Kent in the County of Litchfield in the State of Connecticut yeoman the Receipt whereof I do hereby acknowledge and myself therewith fully satisfied Contented and Paid and thereof and of Every part and Parcell thereof do Exonerate acquit and Discharge him the said Benjamin Brown his Heirs Executors and administrators forever by these presents Have Given granted Bargained Sold Aliened Enfeoffed conveyed and confirmed and by these presents do freely fully and absolutely give grant Bargain Sell Alien Enfeoff Convey and Confirm unto him the said Benjamin Brown his heirs and assigns forever one certain Lott or Tract of Land Lying in the Township of Kent in the County of Litchfield in said Colony of Connecticut and is Lot No 1 in the Plann of the Lots Laid out Surveyed and annexed to the said Township of Kent on the West Side of Ousatonac [Housetonic] River bounded as followeth to wit
Beginning at the North East Corner at a heap of stones in the South Line of Shearon [Sharon] Township 4 rods West of the aforesaid River by the West Side of a Highway thence Running West 10 [degrees] North one Mile to a Rock with stones on it in said Shearon Line thence South 10 [degrees] West 124 Rods to a heap of stones by the North side of a Highway No 5 then East 12 [degrees] North 25 Rods by said Highway to a Whiteoak tree Marked and stones laid to it then South 47 [degrees]East ____ by said Highway acording to the various Corses thereof 190 rods to a great Black Oak with stones Laid to it then South 47 [degrees] East 88 rods to the North East Corner of Land lately owned by Welch and Noble a heap of stones by the aforesaid River thence North Easterly by said River 156 Rods to a Highway then West 4 rod from the River to a heap of stones thence North Easterly upon the River Leaving 4 rods for a Highway to the first Station containing 350 acres with allowance for said Highway running through the same being the same Lot No 1 I purchased of Isaac and Eunice Knight as per Deed Recorded in said Kent 7 page 1 & 2 and is the same the Said Benjamin Brown _____
To Have and to Hold the said granted and Bargained premises with all the appurtenances Priveledges and Comodities to the Same Belonging or in any wise appertaining to him the Said Benjamin Brown his Heirs and assigns forever to his and their only proper use Benefit and Behoof forever and I the said Moses Brown for myself my Heirs Executors & Administrators Do Covenant promise and grant to and with the said Benjamin Brown his Heirs and assigns that at and before the Ensealing hereof I am the True Sole and Lawfull owner of the above Bargained premises and am Lawfully Seized and possessed of the same in my own proper Right as a Good Perfect and absolute Estate of Inheritance in fee simple and have in my Self good Right full power and Lawfull authority to grant Bargain Sell Convey and Confirm the Said Bargained premises in manner as aforesaid and that the said Benjamin Brown his Heirs and assigns shall & may from time to time and at all times forever hereafter by force and Virtue of these presents Lawfully peaceably and Quietly Have Hold use ocupy Possess and Enjoy the said Devised and Bargained premises with the appurtenances free and Clear and freely and Clearly acquitted Exonerated and Discharged of and from all and all Manner of former or other gifts grants Bargains Sales Leases Morgages Wills Intails Jointures Dowers Judgements Executiones and Incumbrances of what name or Natures Soever that Might in any Measure or Degree obstruct or Make Void this present Deed Furthermore I the Said Moses Brown do for myself my Heirs Executors and administrators do Covenant and Engage the above Devised premises to him the Said Benjamin Brown his Heirs and assigns against the Lawfull Claim or Demand of any person or person Whatsoever forever to Warrant Secure and Defend by these presents In Witness whereof I the Said Moses Brown hereunto set my hand and seal this twenty first Day of the first Month in the year of our Lord 1785
Signed Sealed and Delivered
in presents of
Moses Brown
John Lawton
Nicholas Davis
Providencess at Providence January 28 1785
Personally appeared Moses Brown and acknowledged the withinInstrument to be his free act and Deed Hand and Seal before me
Theodore Foster Justice Peace"
2.The 1790 census for Benjamin Brown in Kent indicates that there are 4 free white males over the age of 16 and 6 females for a total of 10. My records indicate that there are 9 individuals so it would appear that there is one female unaccounted for.
3.Per Kent, CT Land Records Book 10 Page 376 Warranty Deed from Benjamin Brown to Charles Grandison Brown, Chester Brown andEleanor Brown dated 30 Sep 1802, recorded 25 Apr 1804:
"To all people to whom there presents shall come greeting.Know ye that I Benjamin Brown of Kent in Litchfield County & State of Connecticut for the consideration of the love & good will I bear to the grantees, & of five dollars rec'd to my full satisfaction of Charles Grandison Brown & Chester Brown my grandsons, sons of my son George Brown deceased do give grant bargain sell & confirm unto the saide Charles Grandison & Chester & their heirs a certain parcel of land in said Kent bounded as follows
Beginning at stones __ a chesnut tree in the East line of the old highway 6__.Northerly of the mouth of the Stuart Crook so called Thence in the line of said highway Northerly 28 rods to stones by a stonewall Thence North 49 West 13 rods 19 links to stones on a rock at the end of a stone wall Thence North 76 West 62 1/2 rods to a rock by a chestnut tree __ Thence North 58 [degrees]45 West 126 rods to stones on a rock near a chestnut tree marked supposed to be in the line of the old highway Thence Southerly in the line of said highway in the various courses to an old black oak stump with stones laid round it Thence South 39 [degree] 45 East 80 rods to the first mentioned highway Then by said highway to the first bound - said courses by the ___ as it now stands.Excepting & reserving the privilege of runing the water across the meadow by the house to the North part of the ___ where it is now ___ into my land - & the privilege of passing & ___ across said land in the most convenient place to & from my land, reserving also what apple trees are in the ___ on said land & fit to ___ out.And whereas I designed the above described land for my son George deceased, & he not having a conveyance thereof in his life time I consider it reasonable that his widow shall have her dower out of said land I therefore convey the same to the grantees above named in such marriage with this exception that the said widow of my son George deceased Elenor Brown shall have & enjoy the one third part of the premises to her use & benefit during the term of her natural life & then to remain to the grantees aforesaid in fee simple.The same being the whole of the estate Intended to give my son George & his heirs & this deed is given on the condition that the heirs of my son never claim anything more of my estate
To have & to hold the above granted & bargained premiss with the appentenures ___ unto them said Charles Grandison & Chester their heirs & assigns forever to them & their own proper use & behalf. and also I the said Benjamin do for my self my heirs executors & administration convenant with the said Charles Grandison & Chester their heirs & assigns that at & until the ____ these presents I am ____ seized of the premises as a good indefeasible estate in fee simple & have good right to bargain & sell this? ___ in manner & form as is above written & that the same is free of all incumbrancess whatsover.And further more I the said Benjamin do by these presents bind myself & my heirs forever to warrant & defend the above granted & bargain ___ to the said Charles Grandison & Chester their heirs & assigns against all claims & demand whatsoever.In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand & seal the 30th day of Sept. 1802.
Benjamin [ his X mark] Brown
Signed Seald & delivered in presence
of Nathaniel Brown
Brazillai Hosson
Litchfield County __ Kent Sept. 30th 1802 Personally appeared Benjamin Brown the signer & ___ of the foregoing instrument & acknowledged the same to be his free act & deed.
Before me Barzillai Hosson Justice of peace
Rec'd & recorded April 25th 1804
Julius Caswell Register
4.Per Kent Land Records Book 10 page 377 of a Warranty Deed from Benjamin Brown to Moses Eaton dated and recorded 25 Apr 1804 [not found in the microfilm index of land records of Kent]:
"To all people to whom these presents shall come Greeting know ye that I Benjamin Brown of Kent in Litchfield county & State of Connecticut for the consideration of five hundred dollars Rec'd to my full satisfaction of Moses Eaton of said Kent do give grant bargain sell & confirm unto the said Moses Eaton his heirs & assigns a certain tract or parcel of land in said Kent bounded as follows,
Beginning at the North East corner at a heap of stones in the South line of Sharon township 4 rods West of Ousatonic river by the West side of a highway Thence runs West 10 [degree] North One mile to a rock with stones on it in Sharon line Thence South Easterly in the Eastern line of land I sold Nathan Skiff to a white oak tree & stones by it on the North side of highway No 5th Thence by said highway Eastward to a rock & heap of stones by a ___ tree to land deeded by me to Charles Grandison Brown & Chester Brown Thence by said land in the line thereof so given as aforesaid to said Charles Grandison Brown & Chester Brown to a heap of stones by the corner of the stone wall by the highway four rods West of said river Thence Northwest in the line of said highway to the first mentioned bound Containing about Two hundred acres be the same more or less.Also the prividege of runing the water across the land __ said Charles Grandison & Chester through the meadow by the house to the North part of the lot ___ now turned into the aforesaid land, with the privilege of water & passing & repassing which ___ in __ deed I now convey to said Eaton To Have & to hold the above granted & bargained with ___ Him the said Moses Eaton his heirs & assigns forever to his & their own proper ___ .And also the said Benjamin Brown do for myself my heirs executors & administrators covenant with the said Moses Eaton his heirs & assigns that at & until the ___ these presents I am well seized of the ___ as a good and sizeable estate in fee simple I have good right to bargain & sell the ___ fee as above written & that ___ is free of all incumbrances whatsoever.And furthermore I the said Benjamin Brown do by these presents bind myself & my heirs forever to warrant & defend the above bargained ___ to him the said Moses Eaton his heirs & assigns against all claims & demands whatsoever.In witness whereas I have hereunto set my hand & seal the 25th day of April AD 1804
Benjamin [his X mark] Brown
Signed sealed & delivered in presence of
Barzillai Hosson
William Brown
Litchfield County fs Kent April 25th 1804 Personally appeared Benjamin Brown signed & sealed of the foregoing instrument & acknowledged the same to be his free act & deed before me
Brazillai Hosson Justice of peace
Rec'd & recorded April 25th 1804 Inst Julius Caswell Register