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Note: f Judah Brown and Susanna his wife was born on the 15th day of November 1751." Judah was one of 10 children and was raised by his parents in the town of Scituate which was located to the northwest of Providence.
He married Jemima Gates of Preston about 1773 when he was 22 years of age in the Preston area of Connecticut which is about 25 miles from Scituate Rhode Island. Jemima was born in Preston and was the daughter of Simeon and Olive Gates. In 1775, Judah and Jemima were living in the town of Preston in New London County, Connecticut and their eldest child Elisha Brown was born there in January of 1775. Judah is listed on the Grand List of the North Society of Preston (a list of a persons value of land and stock for tax purposes) as Judah Brown: value of 25 pounds. His mother-in-law Olive Gates is also listed with a value of 6 pounds. Her son Robert Gates's value was 40 pounds.
"During this time, tensions had been mounting regarding the British and the Colonies who wanted home rule. In January, the General Assembly of Connecticut ordered the Selectmen of the Towns to provide a double quantity of powder, balls and flint and ordered the militia of the towns to muster and drill once a week during the three months following. The situation culminated on 19 April 1775 when a detachment of British troops marching out from Boston to seize military stores alleged to have been collected at Concord Massachusetts for hostile purposes, was met upon the road by Provincials and fighting encurred. These skirmishes were the start of the War for Independence of the Colonies.
An immediate Alarm went out in all directions. The men from the militia's of the towns in Connecticut shouldered their muskets and started marching, joining together on the roads as they marched. Judah Brown was among them." The above information is from the book "The Record of Connecticut Men during the War of the Revolution, published 1889 by the Adjutant General of CT. Page 5 states, "List of the Men who Marched from the Connecticut Towns for the Relief of Boston in the Lexington Alarm, April 1775. From the Town of Preston: "Judah Brown." About 100 men marched from the town of Preston. "The duties of the militia during this alarm was temporary and brief however their high spirits and willingness to defend the colony were indicative of their committment to the cause of independence." The term Minutemen developed during this time and describes the many men who volunteered in local militias at a short notice and engaged in battles in their part of the country. Minutemen volunteers from local militias fought during the war in addition to the regular Continental Army enlisted men."
In February of 1777, Judah and Jemima Brown's daughter Lucy was born in Preston. In 1778, the British captured Newport, Rhode Island. Judah Brown served in the militia that marched to engage the British at Newport. The same book, "Record of Connecticut Men in the War of the Revolution" mentioned above states the following on page 530. "In August 1878, a body of militia under Brigadier General John Tyler served under General Sullivan and engaged in the attempt to dislodge the British at Newport. It was present at the battle of Rhode Island August 29, 1778." On page 534 listed under Captain Wheelers Company is "Corporal Judah Brown". The Company served from August 3 to September 12 during this crisis.
Judah's service record obtained from the National Archives states: Judah Brown, rank Corporal, served in Captain Thomas Wheeler's Company commanded by Samuel Chapman Esq., Colonel of Foot of General Tyler's Brigade of Militia, State of Connecticut, under the command of the honorable Major General Sullivan, in the New Port expedition, State of Rhode Island, in August and September 1778. The Company pay Roll of the company listed above dated Stonington, New London County 4 March 1779. Judah Brown entered the service 3 August 1778 and was discharged 12 September 1778. Days of service during this expedition was 43 days. The wages per month were 2 pounds 4 shillings. Total amount of wages paid were 3 pounds 3 shillings".
At some point between 1777 and 1779, Judah Brown and his wife Jemima had moved from the town of Preston to the neighboring town of Norwich as their daughter Olivia was born there in March of 1779. In August of 1781, Judah and Jemima had a son born and they named him Judah Medbury Brown. Sadly, one year after his son Judah was born, Judah Brown died at the young age of 30 years. His children ranged from 1 year to 6 years of age at the time.
The original handwritten diary of Jabez Finch, a resident of Norwich during this time, is now at the Massachusetts Society of Mayflower Descendants in Boston and portions of it were printed in the Mayflower Descendants Journal. The preservation of this original diary enables the following to be known about Judah Brown. It is transcribed exactly as Jabez wrote it 221 years ago.
"December 1780 - Wednesday ye 27th. Is an excessive cold day. Mr Andrus help'd us kill a two year old heffer and two hogs. I workt late in ye evening at cutting and salting meat. Thursday ye 28th is a very cold day. In ye morning Dan Brewster was here. At about 10 o'clock I set off from home and went down thro ye woods to Judah Browns, where I concluded a Bargain with him to keep old Mr. Bill 6 months. From there I went to Roger's down by ye ferry...but we were all prevented (of crossing) by ye ice in ye river, so I returned back.
February 1781 - Tuesday ye 20th. I spent most of ye day with ye Selectmen in preparing some accounts in order to send them to Hartford. Ye Treasurer was also with us most of ye day. Towards night I set off for home and came by ye way of Judah Brown's to see old Mr. Bill who appears to be near his end.
February - Thursday ye 23rd 1781. Is an excessive rainey day; In ye morning I went from home down to Uncle C's, to Asa Brewster and James Avery's then went over to Judah Brown's to visit old Mr. Bill, found him greatly decay's since Tuesday evening.
1781 March - Monday ye 5th. I went to town and attended a meeting of ye Selectmen. Ride (horse) to ye Landing in company with Uncle C. We there met his Excellency General Washington with his Attendants on their way to Newport. Towards night there fell a considerable snow. (Note: it is assumed that most of the townspeople including Judah Brown and his family were also at the landing that day to see General George Washington pass through their town of Norwich as so much of the hopes of the people for independence rested upon his leadership).
(About 1 year later) May 1782 - Wednesday May 1st. I attended a meeting of ye Selectmen and also a town meeting. I spent most of ye forenoon with Captain Andrew Perkins in making provision for Judah Brown who has got ye Small pox.
June 1782 - Wednesday ye 5th. In ye morning Captain Andrus was here on some business of his Brother Asa's. I this morning heard of ye death of Judah Brown who has for a long time been sick of ye Small Pox and died in last night. This report toward night contradicted J. Brown said to be a little better.
1782 Monday ye 10th. I met ye Selectmen at ye Landing and assisted in laying out some highways over beyond ye wharf... As I was going to ye Landing this morning I hear'd of ye death of Judah Brown who died and was buried yesterday." (Note: Jabez Finch entered in his diary on June 5th and 10th that he heard of Judah's passing. This would indicate that he entered it on the 5th then did not write in his journal for a while. When he resumed writing and was trying to remember back events he must have entered it again as June 10). Also in his diary in the year 1782, Jabez mentions a few times he went to visit the small pox people and mentions visiting the small pox house. This infers that because small pox was highly contageous, there was a house in Norwich that those who had the disease were moved to in order to esentially quarantine them.
Jabez Fitch also mentions Judah Brown's father Captain Judah Brown in an entry he made in one of his diaries 26 years earlier. Jabez was a soldier in the French and Indian War. " Year 1755 - About this time ye soldiers were marching for ye Crownpoint Expadition.. this spring, General Braddic came over with an Army Intending an Expadition against Ohio...Ye latter end of August our army sent home for reenforcements...September ye 1st I went to Stonington for fear of a press to Uncle Baldwains, ye next day set out early in ye morning, got in company with Avery Denison and William Williams who were going to Boston with a drove of sheep. I traveld with them to Judah Browns in Cituate, lodgd there that night, ye next day I day parted with them." (Note: Cituate is Scituate where Captain Judah Brown lived).
Four years after the passing of her husband Judah Brown, Jemima remarried. The book "Early Connecticut Marriages as found on Ancient Church Records" by F. Bailey lists the following. Jemima Brown and Amos Starkweather married on 25 January 1787 at the Congregational church in Preston.
Amos had been born in 1759 in Stonington Ct., the son of John Starkweather and Elizabeth Belcher. Amos Starkweather also served in the Revolutionary War as a Minuteman. Information is from the book "The Record of Connecticut Men during the War of the Revolution, published 1889 by the Adjutant General of CT. states that he was in Captain Hewit's company of Col. Latimer's regiment of Militia who went with another Connecticut Regiment to re-enforce General Gates at Saratoga and fought two battles there. After the surrender of the British General Burgoyne, General Gates spoke of them as "two excellent militia regiments from Connecticut." Amos also served in Captain William's Company of Militia in the battle of New Haven Connecticut in July 1779.
Shortly after her re-marriage, Judah Brown's widow Jemima and her new husband Amos Starkweather, moved from the Preston/Norwich area of Connecticut to the town of Norwich in Vermont. On 26 June 1786, Amos Starkweather of Norwich, Vermont bought 50 acres of land in Norwich for 90 pounds of silver money from R. Morgan, (Norwich deed book Vol 1 pg 326). Five years later, the family moved to Bethel Vermont. On 24 Oct 1791 Amos Starkweather of Norwich, Vermont bought land on the third branch of the White River in Bethel for 45 pounds. On 5 Nov 1794, Amos Starkweather of Bethel, Vermont sold his 50 acres of land in Norwich for 120 pounds, (Norwich deed book vol. 1 pg.464). The following summer Amos of Bethel, Vermont sold his land there for 50 pounds. The deed is signed by Amos Starkweather and the mark of his wife Jemima Starkweather. They moved to Northfield, Vermont where they lived until they died.
In the 1790 census of Norwich Vermont, Amos Starkweather is listed as having in his home: one male over 16 who would be Amos Starkweather; two males under 16 who would be Jemima's sons Elisha Brown age 15 and Judah Medbury Brown age 9; and three females one would be Jemima. The daughters would be Olivia Brown age 12 and Lucy Brown age 14. Not counted are the son John Starkweather age 1 and daughter Elizabeth Starkweather who would be 3. Perhaps a census taker error.
Jemima and Amos Starkweather had four children born to them, Elizabeth Starkweather in 1787, John Starkweather 1790, Simeon Starkweather about 1793 and Orafeen (Orra) Starkweather in 1797.
The History of Northfield, Vermont by J. Gregory lists Amos Starkweather as having two children in South Village School in 1803.
Amos and Jemima Starkweather are listed in the 1810 census of Northfield, Vermont pg 382. In the home is one male and one female over 16 who would be Amos and Jemima. There is one female under 16 who whoud be Orra and one male under 16 who would be Simeon. Living next door to them is their son John Starkweather and his wife. No children are listed. Jemima's son Judah Medbury Brown who was 29, is listed in the 1810 census of Randolph, Vermont.
In the History of Northfield, Vermont pg 119, by Gregory published in 1878, there is a bio sketch on Amos. It reads: "Amos Starkweather was born in Connecticut and his first settlement in Vermont was Norwich. After residing there a few years he came to Bethel Vermont and from there removed to Northfield in 1796. He was a farmer by occupation and located on the farm adjoining Deacon William Winch's known now as Starkweather Hill. Two of his children were Captain John Starkweather and Orra Starkweather wife of Eleazer Nichols".
It is important to transcribe here the following entry in the Norwich, Vermont Town record book as it is a key document which substantiates the family composite and the residences of this family on which the preceding research information was based on. On 10 March 1792, Amos and Jemima Starkweather recorded with the town clerk of Norwich, Vermont their family vital statistics: "Elisha Brown, son of Judah and Mima Brown born 22 January 1775 at Preston. Lucy Brown their daughter born February 22, 1777 at Preston. Olivia Brown their daughter born 22 March 1779 at Old Norwich. Judah Brown, their son born 23 August 1781 at Old Norwich. Elizabeth Starkweather, the daughter of Amos and Mima Starkweather born 13 November 1787. John Starkweather born 23 March 1790. (Note: Mima was a nickname for Jemima; the two Starkweather children were born in Norwich, Vermont. "Old Norwich" is what the people of Norwich, Vermont called Norwich Connecticut. Two other children were born after this registration: Simeon Starkweather and Orra Starkweather.
Judah and Jemima Brown's two sons Elisha Brown and Judah Medbury Brown eventually moved to the pioneer frontier of western New York about 1816. Judah and Jemima's daughter Olivia Brown married Dudley Chase who was a renowned Judge in Randolph, Vermont and a United States Senator. See their files for more detailed infortmation about them. Jemima and Amos's children, the Starkweathers, stayed in Northfield Vermont and raised families there.
Note: Judah Brown's birth is recorded in the Scituate Town Record Book as: "Judah Brown, son o
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