History of Swansea, Massachusetts, 1667-1917; - citizen hylbom blog

Personal Sketches 201
left, as above mentioned, to the care of his father, He was a strict Puritan
and a devout man, standing high in community and colony affairs. John
Brown 3 was born about 1657 in Rehoboth, married Ann Dennis, of
Norwich, Conn., and had two children,—John 4 and Samuel. He died in
1724. He was a man of positive nature, unflinching in the discharge of
everything he deemed a duty. It is said of him that he was so enraged at
his son (John) when he joined the Baptist Church that, supposing the
latter's residence to be partially on his land, he was going to pull the part to
which he laid claim away from the other, thus aiming to destroy the house,
but a survey made to ascerteiin the fact showed that no portion of the house
touched his land. Whether the tradition be true or false, it tells the character
of the men of that perilous pioneer period. Athletic, strongminded,
and positive in character, they were well fitted to develop civilization from
the unpromising and savage surroundings, and to contend ably with its
foes. Among these settlers the Browns were leaders, and their dilBferent
generations were prominent in church and local matters. From 1672 to
1692 the deputy for several years was a Brown. John Brown 4 was born
April 23, 1675, in Swansea, married Abigail, daughter of James Cole, July
2, 1696, and died April 23, 1752, leaving at least one son, John 5. The
lands bequeathed to Mrs. Brown by her father were transmitted from their
purchase from the Indians to generation after generation for more than
two centuries, and never were conveyed by deed until their purchase by
H. A. Gardner, 1874. John 5 was also prominent, held a captain's commission^
and was an earnest and consistent man. We extract from church records in
Swansea: "The Church of Christ in Swansea, soon after December, 1719,
built a new meeting-house on land given said church by Capt. John Brown
and William Wood for that purpose. " Lieut. John Brown 5, was born in
Swansea in 1700, married, in 1722, Lydia, daughter of Joseph Mason. She
was born in Swansea in 1704. They had five children, one of whom was
WiUiam.
John Brown 5 was a large farmer, owning slaves. He was well to do,
and was honored with various offices. He is recorded as Lieut. John Brown.
We extract again from the church records: "June 14, 1753, James Brown
was on a committee to receive in behalf of the church a deed of some land
which our beloved brother, John Brown, proposes to give to said church
for its use and benefit forever. " He died May 18, 1754. His wife died Feb.
17, 1747.
William Brown (sixth generation) was born April 14, 1729, in Swansea,
was a farmer, and much employed in pubUc matters; he surveyed land for
years, settled many estates, was a man of distinction and ability, and much
esteemed by his townsmen. He owned a handsome property in land and
slaves. He married in 1753, Lettice, daughter of Hezekiah Kingsley, who
was born in 1732. They had eight children,—Elizabeth, married Edward
Gardiner (they were grandparents of Mrs. Marcus A. Brown); Joseph
(died aged twenty, a British prisoner on one of the terrible prison-ships)
Luranella, married Reuben Lewis; Amy; Betty, married Aaron Cole;
Mary, married Benjamin Butterworth; Sarah, William 2. Mr. Brown
died in 1805. His wife survived him two years. William Brown, Jr.
(seventh generation), was born on the old home in Swansea, a short distance
south of Touisset, Sept. 13, 1776. He was reared a farmer, and
inherited the entire landed estate of his father (about one hundred and
forty acres). He was an unassuming, hard-working man, very social, with
a remarkable memory (a faculty possessed by many of the family in a
large degree). He could repeat whole chapters from the Bible, and had no
need to refresh his memory of any event by memoranda. He devoted
himself to agriculture; married Freelove, daughter of Aaron and Freelove
(Mason) Wood, of Swansea, in 1799. She was born Sept. 28, 1780. They had
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