Thomas Brown Jr.

     Thomas Brown Jr., son of Thomas Brown Sr., was born circa 1745.¹ In 1768 Thomas Brown Jr. appeared on a tax list in Archibald McKissack's District, Bladen County, North Carolina, with Thomas Brown Sr. and Edmund BROWN. "Thomas Brown and two sons, Edmond and Thomas," were taxed for three white polls.¹

Thomas Brown Jr. and Thomas Brown Sr. appeared on a tax list in 1770 in Bladen County, North Carolina. Recorded by Abram Barnes, Esq. was "Thomas Brown, Senr., Thos. Brown [Jr.] and Richd. King", three white polls. Also listed nearby were "Edmond Brown", Dempsey Barefield, Charles Barefield, Rodger Barefield, and Jonathan Taylor, all listed as 1 white poll each.²

Thomas Brown Jr. and Thomas Brown Sr. were included on a tax list in 1771 in Archiblald McKessaak's District, Bladen County, North Carolina. It was recorded as "Thos. Brown Senr. & son Thos.' 2 whites and 1 "Negroe wench Pender."³

Thomas Brown Jr. and Edmund BROWN were included on a tax list in 1772 in Capt. Cain's District, Bladen County, North Carolina. Both "Edmond Brown" and Thomas Brown Junr." were listed separately for one white poll each. Also listed were William Taylor, Dempsey and Miles Barefield.⁴

Thomas Brown Jr. and Thomas Brown Sr. were included on a tax list in 1772 in Archiblald McKessaak's District, Bladen County, North Carolina. They were listed as "Thomas Brown Senr & Son Thomas." 2 white polls and 1 female slave.⁵

Thomas Brown Jr. and Edmund BROWN appeared on a tax list in 1774 in Archibald Kissack's District on Drowning Creek, Bladen County, North Carolina. Each was taxed for his "self" or one white poll. In this same district were Charles Barefield, "Miles and James Barefield and Ezekiah Cowart," "David Barefield and Thomas Low," and Dempsey Barefield.⁶

Thomas Brown Jr. and Edmund BROWN appeared on a tax list in 1776 in Abraham Barnes' District, Bladen County, North Carolina.⁷

Thomas saw military service on 27 February 1776 in Bladen County, North Carolina, as a private under Capt. Nathaniel Richardson and Col. Thomas Robeson, Jr. in the Bladen County Regiment. He fought at Moore's Creek Bridge.

Charles Barefield bought warrant #356 issued 10 Nov 1778 by Thomas Robeson to Zachariah McDaniel for 150 acres on south side of Ashpole Swamp which joins Thomas Brown's upper line, includes own improvements and entered 3 Aug 1778.

Thomas Brown Jr. was granted land 21 January 1785 in Marlboro County, South Carolina. He was granted 400 acres by his excellency Benjamin Guirard. He sold the land to William Lyster 7 Feb 1791 who later sold it to Lamuel Boykin and from him to Hartwell Ayer in 1813. The land was on Cottingham's Branch.⁸

Two Criminal Actions took place in Richmond County in December 1785, in the first State vs.Jno. Leverett it was alleged that John Leverett, late of the county of Richmond, in that county on 27 Dec 1785 did "with force and arms" assault Thomas Brown did "beat and wound" him seriously.

The second case was State vs. Thomas Brown, alleging that Thomas Brown late of Richmond county, a day later, 28 Dec 1785, did "with force and arms" assault John Leverett and did "beat and ill treat" him seriously.

Thomas was involved in a third Criminal Action in April 1786, State vs. Thos. Brown, Misdemeaner. It was said that Thomas Brown, late of Richmond county, now resident of South Carolina, on 20 Mar 1786 did "undertake to execute the office of constable and did execute a ____ to the great damage" of Benjamin Arnold.

The final Richmond county Criminal Action involving Thomas. took place In the court of December 1788, Officer vs. River Jordan, Thomas Brown, Bail of Robert Speed, it was commanded that the Sheriff of Richmond county collect two pounds seven and a penny specie from the "goods and chattels, lands and tenements" of River Jordan and Thomas Brown which the Inferior Court of Pleas and Quarter Sessions the Officer found against them for debts and cost of the suit of the State against Robert Speed. Thomas Brown and River Jordan were convicted and liable for the money.⁹

There was a Thomas Brown of the McColl, South Carolina area who was a Baptist minister. In 1788 he and a Benjamin Moseley went to Robeson county, North Carolina and established the first Baptist church in that county. [Note: Robeson formed from Bladen in 1787[. This was the old Saddletree Baptist Church. He and Moseley were missionaries out of the old Beauty Spot Church, now First Baptist of McColl.

The History of the Kehukee Baptist Association, 1803, gave the information about Thomas Brown and Benjamin Moseley coming from South Carolina and organizing the Saddletree Church. History of First Baptist defines them being from First Baptist McColl/Beauty Spot. Also from Beauty Spot, John Hawthorn and family migrated to south central Robeson county about the time of the Revolutionary War. He was captain of a lighthorse company in that place. Shortly after 1788, John's son William Hawthorn began a member of the old Saddletree Church. He was ordained to the ministry from that church in 1798. He later went to Georgia in 1806 and became a primitive preacher there.¹⁰

Thomas Brown Jr. appeared as head of household on a census enumerated 1790 in Richmond County, North Carolina. The household was listed as Two males of 16 or older, two males under 16 and one female.¹¹

Thomas Brown Jr. appeared on the 1800 Federal Census of Capt. Ashford's District, Bladen County, North Carolina, Thomas Brown, Jr., 1 male 16-25, 1 male 45 up Thomas, 1 female under 10, 1 female 10-15, 1 female 16-25, and i female 45 or older. It might have been Sr. rather than Jr., it was hard to read.

Thomas married Jennet McPherson on 21 October 1815 in Richmond County, North Carolina. Daniel Snead was the bondsman. They married "late in life". Her parents immigrated from"Glenurcha" (Glen Orchy in Argyllshire) in 1774 aboard the ship Ulysses and landed at Wilmington with their two young children, William aged 9 and Janet aged 10. They bought land and settled next to Alexander McPherson on Beaver Creek in Cumberland county.

Thomas Brown Jr. died in 1816 in Richmond County, North Carolina.

His estate was probated on 26 December 1816 in Richmond County, North Carolina. We the under assigners being appointed a committee to lay off an allowance to JENNET BROWN, widder of THOMAS BROWN deceased, do report as follows. Nineteen and one half bushels corn, 250 lbs. of good pork, one bushel of salt, six lbs. of coffee and twenty five of sugar thirty lbs. of neat cotton, twenty five lbs. soap, one prime cow and calf, one large top-stack and shucks, one small pot and skillett, one washing tub and washing pale, one bread tray and sifter & two knives and forks, two plates, two cups and saucers, one tin cup and coffee pot, one spinning wheel and cards, one small tin pan & pitcher, two teaspoons, one small pewter dish, two tablespoons, a wether, & two hoggs, year olds. This is 26 Dec. 1816. THOMAS PATE, D. SNEAD & ISAAC WILLIAMSON.¹²

A List of THOMAS BROWN's estate calculated each article showing its own amount. JENNET BROWN purchased two beds and furniture, one lot of books, one pepper box and one chest, one horse and bridle and saddleand two bushels of wheat. TOBIAS CALDER purchased one dish and four plates, one sitting chair, one club axe and one loom. WILLIAM WALLACE bought two pans. DANIEL BEESELY purchased four cups and four saucers, one boll and tin tumbler and one bee gum. AARON WALLACE took home four knives and forks, three spoons and four teaspoons, one pair of plow gears and one sitting chair. WILLIAM JOHNSON bought one bedstead, cords and map. ARCHIBALD COLHOUN needed one pair of cotton cards, and HENLY BROWN purchased one sythe & cradle, a small wheat patch and two bushels of peas and two padlocks. JOHN McLAUCHLIN wanted one small box, DANIEL CARMICHAEL (Maj.) purchased one cup-board, DANIEL McDONALD bought two baskets, while MATTHEW NORTON paid $2.50 for one table. ALEXANDER McNAIR purchased two benches & DANIEL McNAIR left the sale with one cutter plow for which he paid $2.40. DANIEL SNEED purchased one side of tanned leather for $2.52½ and 465 lbs. blade fodder. DUNCAN McLAURIN bougnt one cow and steer, and a one year old steer. WILLIAM McPHERSON purchased one cow and calf. BURFORD BROWN paid four dollars for one hog, and one lot of rotten corn. PETER JOHNSON wanted three head of sheep. JOHN WILLIAMSON bought two bushels of wheat. WILLIAM BROWN purchased three head of hogs. Total amount of the sale was $205.23. This sale was on the 28th day of Dec. 1816. JENNET BROWN, Administrator. [Note: Henly Brown was a son of Daniel Buford Brown who married Rebecca Williamson, daugther of Isaac Williamson]¹²