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Note: "In the year 1704, during the reign of Queen Anne, of England, contemporaneous with the early life of the American Colonies, there was passed in England an act called the "Test Act", which imposed upon certain loyal citizens an obligation quite unbearable to them. This Act required the Scotch people living in the North of Ireland to swear allegiance to the established Church of England, a requirement most obnoxious to our Scotch Presbyterian forebears, and proved to be a short sighted policy on the part of England, for the result was a migration in large numbers of exceptionally high type of men and women from the North of Ireland to the New World." (From the Booklet "McFaddin, 1730-1930.) David G Brown, born in Kentucky 1790-1800 was probably of Scotch- Irish descent. His grandson William E Brown, who served two hitches in the US Army 1898-1906, listed his fathers nationality as Irish on his enlistment papers. It is interesting that the family lived near Ireland, Indiana (Dubois Co) for over a hundred years. David G Brown served in the U.S. States Mounted Rangers, Fort McDonald (Mud Holes), Dubois County, Indiana in 1813. This was service during the War of 1812 with Britain. He served two terms as Coroner, 1824 & 1826, Dubois County, Indiana. He was a farmer and an entrepreneur. At this time he is the EARLIEST KNOWN FAMILY MEMBER with the name BROWN! January 2000 BB. On John and my trip to Dubois County, Indiana in April 1998, we visited the site of Fort McDonald and the ( Mud Holes.) The fort was simply a block house built by the earliest settler, McDonald and some of his Neighbours. It was used by these people as a place of protection from Indian raids. This site is on the Buffalo Trace, the path use by Buffalos traveling from the plains States to the blue grass and salt licks of Kentucky over hundreds of years. The Mud Holes was a place along the creek where the buffalo wallowed to coat themselves with mud as protection from the insects. The strongest bull buffalo drove all others away until he had completed his "wallow". People going west used this "Buffalo Trace" as a trail (road) since all animals always find the easiest route. This is the way David G Brown came out of Kentucky into southern Indiana as a young man seeking his fortune. David G Brown served as Coroner, Dubois County, Indiana 1824-28. This would have been about the time he married Nancy Brittain, sister of Smith Brittain, who married Sarah Brown, sister of David G Brown. We find that his first born child was Mary Ann, born May 29, 1826. David and Nancy probably married in first half of 1825, or in 1824? May Term 1840, Dubois County, Indiana, record of testimony, page 46: David G Brown and wife Nancy sold to William Harris and T. Woolridge, property. Date of transaction was August 20, 1836. Document is difficult to read but appears to be a lot or lots in the town of Jasper, IN. Amount paid appears to be $10.00. Document in Deed Book, Dubois County, Indiana: January 1843, Smith Brittain signed as security for David G Brown on mortgage. Also, David G & Nancy Brown sold 80 acres of land in section 36, about a mile south west of Haysville, IN., December 15, 1843 , to George Barnhill for the sum of Three Hundred dollars. It would appear that David was hard pressed for money and had to sell his farm? It is interesting that David's farm borders the buffalo trace. It was not far from Ft McDonald and Sherritt cemetery. This property was located in section 36 about a mile SW of Hayesville. On the 1850 Dubois County census there is a Mary, born 1831, who was wife of John Anderson. This is John Anderson, Jr's. second wife. His first wife was Mary Ann Brown, daughter of David & Nancy Brown. Unfortunately, Mary Ann Brown Anderson, born May 29, 1826, died November 11, 1848, just ten months after her marriage to John Anderson These two households are shown on 1850 census, Bainbridge Township: Thomas Anderson, age 23. Sarah (Brown) Anderson, age 19. Rebecca Brown, age 8 and sister of Sarah (Brown) Anderson. John Anderson, age 28. Mary Anderson, age 19. Update July 13, 1998: Mary Ann Brown Anderson, wife of John Anderson, born May 29, 1826, died November 11, 1848. Buried in the Hillsboro/Hobbs Cemetery near Ireland. No other information on her. We suspect she died in child birth? We have court documents, July Term 1848, Dubois Co, IN, which show that a John Anderson Jr was appointed Guardian for: William Jackson Brown, Martin Vanburen Brown, Nancy H Brown, Rebecca R Brown, Sarah J Brown. This raises the questions, where was Mary Brown if she was one of the children? Is John Anderson, Jr, guardian the same man as John Anderson, husband of Mary Brown? Time may give answers? Update: Mary Ann Brown married John Anderson, Jr., January 20, 1848. This is reason for appointing her husband guardian of all of her underage brothers and sisters. This July term 1848 court document, was very helpful in identifying William Jackson as previously unidentified oldest son. It also gave Martin's middle name, Vanburen. Probate documents on estate of William Brittain, father-in-law of Sarah J Brown Brittain, between November Term 1845, and February term , 1846, shows that David G Brown died sometime during those 2-3 months. In the November 1845 term, David G Brown was appointed Administrator of estate of William Brittain. In the February 1846 term, David G Brown's is confirmed as deceased and a new Administrator is appointed. Probate Book "A", February 1846 term, page 374. The reason David G Brown was appointed as administrator for William Brittain's estate was because John G Brittain, William's son, was removed by the court because of fraud. William Brittain was David G Brown's father-in-law. January Term 1846, Nancy Brown and Smith Brittain named on Administrators Bond, Estate of David G Brown deceased. Dated January 24, 1846, Probate Book "A", page 360. This means that David G Brown died between November 1845 and January 1846. Smith Brittain was Nancy's brother. July Term 1846, Nancy Brown, Administrator estate of David G Brown, Dubois County, Indiana, files her report of final Settlement of estate. She paid out the following: To John Luclay for making coffin, $4.50. to Makin & Johnson for funeral clothing, $3.35. She paid herself as widow of David G Brown, $150.00 as statute provided. It was stated that there was no real estate belonging to deceased. Nancy B Brown was discharged as Administrator. July term, Probate Book "A", page 409. In the Wilson Historical Notes, Dubois County, IN we find burial place of David G and Nancy Brown: Forrest R. Anderson interviews John Walts, March 2, 1939: "Mr Walts recalled that west of Haysville there was a spot where the "Browns" are buried. They were the grandparents of David R. and Clarence Brown. He said he could definitely locate the spot, but that it had been under cultivation several times, and there are now no markers on the site." What a pity! We suspect that David G & Nancy Brittain Brown may have been buried somewhere on their previously owned eighty acre farm, section 36, about a mile SW of Hayesville, IN. BB June 1998 .
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