William Merritt Brown was born 10 Jun 1806 Greene Co Ga to Ezekiel Brown & Elizabeth Merritt. He married in Greene 15 Jul 1824 to Amanda E Gray (buried: Gray-Harris Cemetery, Carsonville, Taylor Co., GA), daughter of Archibald Gray & Mary Riley, and they moved to Crawford Co. Ga by Dec 28, 1825 when it opened as a county, along with his Father-in-law, his Uncle-in-law Robert Howe, and other family members.
William and Amanda produced 8 children, four boys and 4 girls who later made their mark, in their areas. George A became a Judge in Sumter, Emily Amanda and husband Thomas Abercrombie Raines-Medical Director of Ga in Crawford, William A Jackson in Washington DC as Solicitor General, James Franklin a Dr in Screven Co, Mary Elizabeth & husband Dr. William J Reese in Marion, Reuben in Columbus, Muscogee, Mary Eugenia Nesbitt and husband Dr. William H Drane in Marion & Sumter, & Cynthia Ann Gray and husband William Michael Henderson in Screven.
He was Justice of the Peace by 1832, and a trustee of Hamburg Academy as it opened in 1834.
His public political career was launched as Democrat Representative at the States Right Convention Jun 9 1835,
By 1836 was actively engaged in the Creek Indian War from
Hickory Grove, Crawford, Ga. as reported in the COLUMBUS INQUIRER, and quickly went from Pvt to Major, where a long dispute was opened to the public between him and his commanding officer Capt. William A Carr, who was a candidate for the legislature.
In 1843, Bill was elected to the House of Representatives.
The SOUTHERN RECORDER reported his participation in the grand jury presentments to the Superior Court as they chastised a citizen for his frequent violations of the Sabbath, and employed his wagons & Slaves in the business of life.
By 1844- Col Brown and others were aides to the Governor and ready to march for the war in Mexico. Along with other citizens that same year he was an avid supporter of Henry Clay through the clay club.
He was in the legislature in 1845-46 as a Senator from Crawford and again 49-50
Jul 17 1849 found him a citizen of Marion Co, Ga, when he was appointed Marshall of Ga and the Savannah Republican reported that he was "well known in the western part of the state as a gentleman of intelligence, and integrity, one of the best appointments that could be made for Georgia."
In 1851, He and a later in-law Seaborn McMichael were the representatives from Marion to the Continental Union Convention at Milledgeville
Aug 7, 1852 found him a delegate to the Candidate Convention, Macon, Bibb, Ga per the FEDERAL UNION newspaper for the Whig Convention.
The 1854 List of the Grand (Masonic) Lodge of Georgia, Jackson Lodge, Hickory Grove, Crawford, list him as still an active member.
In 1855-MARION COUNTY HISTORY puts him among the wealthiest citizens in the district.
His grandson William Nathaniel Brown and Mary Jane McMichael who were later married at his plantation in Marion, called it finest and prettiest in Pineville Ga, and the county, with race track and a lot of race horses, as well as over 200 slaves. MARION COUNTY HISTORY says he welcomed strangers and friends to his home on a regular bases, and it was a meeting place for political and social groups.
1857-finds him listed as Senate Pro-Tem of Marion Co
In 1861 he was elected to the Union Ticket. His views were well known as being for the United States to stay together. He later received a pardon from the President Oct 28 1865.
In 1862 the MARION COUNTY HISTORY reported May 1-that 126 of the men furnished with the Co H 59th Company included his sons Lieut Reuben Brown, and son Colonel Jack Brown according to GEORGIA WEEKLY TELEGRAPH. His son George entered Co K 4th Inf. Sumter Guards. His son Captain James Franklin Brown was in Co K 12th Regiment, Marion and mustered out Co G 59th Regiment.
In 1863, as again a candidate for Congress, he withdrew from the 3rd Dist. Race for personal reasons which included the executorship of his Father's estate.
In 1868 he was elected as a Senator to represent the 24th Dist. of Marion, and in 1869 was appointed by the US Congress Joint Select Committee as head of a committee to "inquire into the condition of affairs in the late insurrectionary states so far as regards the execution of the laws, and the safety of lives and property".
Sept 17 1869 the GEORGIA WEEKLY TELEGRAPH reported his actions as an administrator of James Perryman, and Mar 6, 1870 the COLUMBUS INQUIRER listed him as a Delegate of the Railroad Meeting.
His busy life ended abruptly April 29 1870-when as the head of a committee in Americus, Sumter, Ga to help settle the problems of the war, he was "murdered, Poisoned" per the MACON TELEGRAPH, SUMTER REPUBLICAN, COLUMBUS INQUIRER- by some narcotic which paralysis him. He was found at 5 AM the next day, at Doctor T E Smith's door in an insensible state.
The TRI WEEKLY REPUBLICAN reported his death on May 13th with a flowery Tribute from the Americus Masonic Lodge saying among other comments that "he had a strict integrity in all his business relations, and a high toned, generous, gentleman, genial companion and useful citizen, and his loss a great , irreparable calamity to the entire state." Marion County Death Index listed him in 1870-as deceased-murdered, poisoned. No record has ever been found of anyone being
prosecuted. He is probably on his farm in Marion County, Georgia.
Enformant: Gerry Hill (#46882543) ~ 2011
Son of Eziekel and Elizabeth "Betsy" (Merritt) Brown
Husband of Amanda (Gray) Brown ~ married June 15, 1824, Greene Co., GA
Their children were ...
1. Dr. James Franklin Brown, #26576858 (m. Anne Elizabeth Henderson, #26756857)
2. Mary Eugenia Nesbitt Brown, #30492487 (m. Dr. William H. Winfrey Drane, C.S.A. #30492563)
3. Cynthia Anne Gray "Annie" Brown, #31660307 (m. William Michael Henderson, C.S.A., #10903166)
4. George A. Brown, C.S.A. (#31737683), married Julia P. Raines (#30492601), daughter of William Nataniel (#22840472) and Rebecca W. (Jackson) Raines (#22845492)
William and Amanda produced 8 children, four boys and 4 girls who later made their mark, in their areas. George A became a Judge in Sumter, Emily Amanda and husband Thomas Abercrombie Raines-Medical Director of Ga in Crawford, William A Jackson in Washington DC as Solicitor General, James Franklin a Dr in Screven Co, Mary Elizabeth & husband Dr. William J Reese in Marion, Reuben in Columbus, Muscogee, Mary Eugenia Nesbitt and husband Dr. William H Drane in Marion & Sumter, & Cynthia Ann Gray and husband William Michael Henderson in Screven.
He was Justice of the Peace by 1832, and a trustee of Hamburg Academy as it opened in 1834.
His public political career was launched as Democrat Representative at the States Right Convention Jun 9 1835,
By 1836 was actively engaged in the Creek Indian War from
Hickory Grove, Crawford, Ga. as reported in the COLUMBUS INQUIRER, and quickly went from Pvt to Major, where a long dispute was opened to the public between him and his commanding officer Capt. William A Carr, who was a candidate for the legislature.
In 1843, Bill was elected to the House of Representatives.
The SOUTHERN RECORDER reported his participation in the grand jury presentments to the Superior Court as they chastised a citizen for his frequent violations of the Sabbath, and employed his wagons & Slaves in the business of life.
By 1844- Col Brown and others were aides to the Governor and ready to march for the war in Mexico. Along with other citizens that same year he was an avid supporter of Henry Clay through the clay club.
He was in the legislature in 1845-46 as a Senator from Crawford and again 49-50
Jul 17 1849 found him a citizen of Marion Co, Ga, when he was appointed Marshall of Ga and the Savannah Republican reported that he was "well known in the western part of the state as a gentleman of intelligence, and integrity, one of the best appointments that could be made for Georgia."
In 1851, He and a later in-law Seaborn McMichael were the representatives from Marion to the Continental Union Convention at Milledgeville
Aug 7, 1852 found him a delegate to the Candidate Convention, Macon, Bibb, Ga per the FEDERAL UNION newspaper for the Whig Convention.
The 1854 List of the Grand (Masonic) Lodge of Georgia, Jackson Lodge, Hickory Grove, Crawford, list him as still an active member.
In 1855-MARION COUNTY HISTORY puts him among the wealthiest citizens in the district.
His grandson William Nathaniel Brown and Mary Jane McMichael who were later married at his plantation in Marion, called it finest and prettiest in Pineville Ga, and the county, with race track and a lot of race horses, as well as over 200 slaves. MARION COUNTY HISTORY says he welcomed strangers and friends to his home on a regular bases, and it was a meeting place for political and social groups.
1857-finds him listed as Senate Pro-Tem of Marion Co
In 1861 he was elected to the Union Ticket. His views were well known as being for the United States to stay together. He later received a pardon from the President Oct 28 1865.
In 1862 the MARION COUNTY HISTORY reported May 1-that 126 of the men furnished with the Co H 59th Company included his sons Lieut Reuben Brown, and son Colonel Jack Brown according to GEORGIA WEEKLY TELEGRAPH. His son George entered Co K 4th Inf. Sumter Guards. His son Captain James Franklin Brown was in Co K 12th Regiment, Marion and mustered out Co G 59th Regiment.
In 1863, as again a candidate for Congress, he withdrew from the 3rd Dist. Race for personal reasons which included the executorship of his Father's estate.
In 1868 he was elected as a Senator to represent the 24th Dist. of Marion, and in 1869 was appointed by the US Congress Joint Select Committee as head of a committee to "inquire into the condition of affairs in the late insurrectionary states so far as regards the execution of the laws, and the safety of lives and property".
Sept 17 1869 the GEORGIA WEEKLY TELEGRAPH reported his actions as an administrator of James Perryman, and Mar 6, 1870 the COLUMBUS INQUIRER listed him as a Delegate of the Railroad Meeting.
His busy life ended abruptly April 29 1870-when as the head of a committee in Americus, Sumter, Ga to help settle the problems of the war, he was "murdered, Poisoned" per the MACON TELEGRAPH, SUMTER REPUBLICAN, COLUMBUS INQUIRER- by some narcotic which paralysis him. He was found at 5 AM the next day, at Doctor T E Smith's door in an insensible state.
The TRI WEEKLY REPUBLICAN reported his death on May 13th with a flowery Tribute from the Americus Masonic Lodge saying among other comments that "he had a strict integrity in all his business relations, and a high toned, generous, gentleman, genial companion and useful citizen, and his loss a great , irreparable calamity to the entire state." Marion County Death Index listed him in 1870-as deceased-murdered, poisoned. No record has ever been found of anyone being
prosecuted. He is probably on his farm in Marion County, Georgia.
Enformant: Gerry Hill (#46882543) ~ 2011
Son of Eziekel and Elizabeth "Betsy" (Merritt) Brown
Husband of Amanda (Gray) Brown ~ married June 15, 1824, Greene Co., GA
Their children were ...
1. Dr. James Franklin Brown, #26576858 (m. Anne Elizabeth Henderson, #26756857)
2. Mary Eugenia Nesbitt Brown, #30492487 (m. Dr. William H. Winfrey Drane, C.S.A. #30492563)
3. Cynthia Anne Gray "Annie" Brown, #31660307 (m. William Michael Henderson, C.S.A., #10903166)
4. George A. Brown, C.S.A. (#31737683), married Julia P. Raines (#30492601), daughter of William Nataniel (#22840472) and Rebecca W. (Jackson) Raines (#22845492)
William Merritt Brown was born 10 Jun 1806 Greene Co Ga to Ezekiel Brown & Elizabeth Merritt. He married in Greene 15 Jul 1824 to Amanda E Gray (buried: Gray-Harris Cemetery, Carsonville, Taylor Co., GA), daughter of Archibald Gray & Mary Riley, and they moved to Crawford Co. Ga by Dec 28, 1825 when it opened as a county, along with his Father-in-law, his Uncle-in-law Robert Howe, and other family members.
William and Amanda produced 8 children, four boys and 4 girls who later made their mark, in their areas. George A became a Judge in Sumter, Emily Amanda and husband Thomas Abercrombie Raines-Medical Director of Ga in Crawford, William A Jackson in Washington DC as Solicitor General, James Franklin a Dr in Screven Co, Mary Elizabeth & husband Dr. William J Reese in Marion, Reuben in Columbus, Muscogee, Mary Eugenia Nesbitt and husband Dr. William H Drane in Marion & Sumter, & Cynthia Ann Gray and husband William Michael Henderson in Screven.
He was Justice of the Peace by 1832, and a trustee of Hamburg Academy as it opened in 1834.
His public political career was launched as Democrat Representative at the States Right Convention Jun 9 1835,
By 1836 was actively engaged in the Creek Indian War from
Hickory Grove, Crawford, Ga. as reported in the COLUMBUS INQUIRER, and quickly went from Pvt to Major, where a long dispute was opened to the public between him and his commanding officer Capt. William A Carr, who was a candidate for the legislature.
In 1843, Bill was elected to the House of Representatives.
The SOUTHERN RECORDER reported his participation in the grand jury presentments to the Superior Court as they chastised a citizen for his frequent violations of the Sabbath, and employed his wagons & Slaves in the business of life.
By 1844- Col Brown and others were aides to the Governor and ready to march for the war in Mexico. Along with other citizens that same year he was an avid supporter of Henry Clay through the clay club.
He was in the legislature in 1845-46 as a Senator from Crawford and again 49-50
Jul 17 1849 found him a citizen of Marion Co, Ga, when he was appointed Marshall of Ga and the Savannah Republican reported that he was "well known in the western part of the state as a gentleman of intelligence, and integrity, one of the best appointments that could be made for Georgia."
In 1851, He and a later in-law Seaborn McMichael were the representatives from Marion to the Continental Union Convention at Milledgeville
Aug 7, 1852 found him a delegate to the Candidate Convention, Macon, Bibb, Ga per the FEDERAL UNION newspaper for the Whig Convention.
The 1854 List of the Grand (Masonic) Lodge of Georgia, Jackson Lodge, Hickory Grove, Crawford, list him as still an active member.
In 1855-MARION COUNTY HISTORY puts him among the wealthiest citizens in the district.
His grandson William Nathaniel Brown and Mary Jane McMichael who were later married at his plantation in Marion, called it finest and prettiest in Pineville Ga, and the county, with race track and a lot of race horses, as well as over 200 slaves. MARION COUNTY HISTORY says he welcomed strangers and friends to his home on a regular bases, and it was a meeting place for political and social groups.
1857-finds him listed as Senate Pro-Tem of Marion Co
In 1861 he was elected to the Union Ticket. His views were well known as being for the United States to stay together. He later received a pardon from the President Oct 28 1865.
In 1862 the MARION COUNTY HISTORY reported May 1-that 126 of the men furnished with the Co H 59th Company included his sons Lieut Reuben Brown, and son Colonel Jack Brown according to GEORGIA WEEKLY TELEGRAPH. His son George entered Co K 4th Inf. Sumter Guards. His son Captain James Franklin Brown was in Co K 12th Regiment, Marion and mustered out Co G 59th Regiment.
In 1863, as again a candidate for Congress, he withdrew from the 3rd Dist. Race for personal reasons which included the executorship of his Father's estate.
In 1868 he was elected as a Senator to represent the 24th Dist. of Marion, and in 1869 was appointed by the US Congress Joint Select Committee as head of a committee to "inquire into the condition of affairs in the late insurrectionary states so far as regards the execution of the laws, and the safety of lives and property".
Sept 17 1869 the GEORGIA WEEKLY TELEGRAPH reported his actions as an administrator of James Perryman, and Mar 6, 1870 the COLUMBUS INQUIRER listed him as a Delegate of the Railroad Meeting.
His busy life ended abruptly April 29 1870-when as the head of a committee in Americus, Sumter, Ga to help settle the problems of the war, he was "murdered, Poisoned" per the MACON TELEGRAPH, SUMTER REPUBLICAN, COLUMBUS INQUIRER- by some narcotic which paralysis him. He was found at 5 AM the next day, at Doctor T E Smith's door in an insensible state.
The TRI WEEKLY REPUBLICAN reported his death on May 13th with a flowery Tribute from the Americus Masonic Lodge saying among other comments that "he had a strict integrity in all his business relations, and a high toned, generous, gentleman, genial companion and useful citizen, and his loss a great , irreparable calamity to the entire state." Marion County Death Index listed him in 1870-as deceased-murdered, poisoned. No record has ever been found of anyone being
prosecuted. He is probably on his farm in Marion County, Georgia.
Enformant: Gerry Hill (#46882543) ~ 2011
Son of Eziekel and Elizabeth "Betsy" (Merritt) Brown
Husband of Amanda (Gray) Brown ~ married June 15, 1824, Greene Co., GA
Their children were ...
1. Dr. James Franklin Brown, #26576858 (m. Anne Elizabeth Henderson, #26756857)
2. Mary Eugenia Nesbitt Brown, #30492487 (m. Dr. William H. Winfrey Drane, C.S.A. #30492563)
3. Cynthia Anne Gray "Annie" Brown, #31660307 (m. William Michael Henderson, C.S.A., #10903166)
4. George A. Brown, C.S.A. (#31737683), married Julia P. Raines (#30492601), daughter of William Nataniel (#22840472) and Rebecca W. (Jackson) Raines (#22845492)
William and Amanda produced 8 children, four boys and 4 girls who later made their mark, in their areas. George A became a Judge in Sumter, Emily Amanda and husband Thomas Abercrombie Raines-Medical Director of Ga in Crawford, William A Jackson in Washington DC as Solicitor General, James Franklin a Dr in Screven Co, Mary Elizabeth & husband Dr. William J Reese in Marion, Reuben in Columbus, Muscogee, Mary Eugenia Nesbitt and husband Dr. William H Drane in Marion & Sumter, & Cynthia Ann Gray and husband William Michael Henderson in Screven.
He was Justice of the Peace by 1832, and a trustee of Hamburg Academy as it opened in 1834.
His public political career was launched as Democrat Representative at the States Right Convention Jun 9 1835,
By 1836 was actively engaged in the Creek Indian War from
Hickory Grove, Crawford, Ga. as reported in the COLUMBUS INQUIRER, and quickly went from Pvt to Major, where a long dispute was opened to the public between him and his commanding officer Capt. William A Carr, who was a candidate for the legislature.
In 1843, Bill was elected to the House of Representatives.
The SOUTHERN RECORDER reported his participation in the grand jury presentments to the Superior Court as they chastised a citizen for his frequent violations of the Sabbath, and employed his wagons & Slaves in the business of life.
By 1844- Col Brown and others were aides to the Governor and ready to march for the war in Mexico. Along with other citizens that same year he was an avid supporter of Henry Clay through the clay club.
He was in the legislature in 1845-46 as a Senator from Crawford and again 49-50
Jul 17 1849 found him a citizen of Marion Co, Ga, when he was appointed Marshall of Ga and the Savannah Republican reported that he was "well known in the western part of the state as a gentleman of intelligence, and integrity, one of the best appointments that could be made for Georgia."
In 1851, He and a later in-law Seaborn McMichael were the representatives from Marion to the Continental Union Convention at Milledgeville
Aug 7, 1852 found him a delegate to the Candidate Convention, Macon, Bibb, Ga per the FEDERAL UNION newspaper for the Whig Convention.
The 1854 List of the Grand (Masonic) Lodge of Georgia, Jackson Lodge, Hickory Grove, Crawford, list him as still an active member.
In 1855-MARION COUNTY HISTORY puts him among the wealthiest citizens in the district.
His grandson William Nathaniel Brown and Mary Jane McMichael who were later married at his plantation in Marion, called it finest and prettiest in Pineville Ga, and the county, with race track and a lot of race horses, as well as over 200 slaves. MARION COUNTY HISTORY says he welcomed strangers and friends to his home on a regular bases, and it was a meeting place for political and social groups.
1857-finds him listed as Senate Pro-Tem of Marion Co
In 1861 he was elected to the Union Ticket. His views were well known as being for the United States to stay together. He later received a pardon from the President Oct 28 1865.
In 1862 the MARION COUNTY HISTORY reported May 1-that 126 of the men furnished with the Co H 59th Company included his sons Lieut Reuben Brown, and son Colonel Jack Brown according to GEORGIA WEEKLY TELEGRAPH. His son George entered Co K 4th Inf. Sumter Guards. His son Captain James Franklin Brown was in Co K 12th Regiment, Marion and mustered out Co G 59th Regiment.
In 1863, as again a candidate for Congress, he withdrew from the 3rd Dist. Race for personal reasons which included the executorship of his Father's estate.
In 1868 he was elected as a Senator to represent the 24th Dist. of Marion, and in 1869 was appointed by the US Congress Joint Select Committee as head of a committee to "inquire into the condition of affairs in the late insurrectionary states so far as regards the execution of the laws, and the safety of lives and property".
Sept 17 1869 the GEORGIA WEEKLY TELEGRAPH reported his actions as an administrator of James Perryman, and Mar 6, 1870 the COLUMBUS INQUIRER listed him as a Delegate of the Railroad Meeting.
His busy life ended abruptly April 29 1870-when as the head of a committee in Americus, Sumter, Ga to help settle the problems of the war, he was "murdered, Poisoned" per the MACON TELEGRAPH, SUMTER REPUBLICAN, COLUMBUS INQUIRER- by some narcotic which paralysis him. He was found at 5 AM the next day, at Doctor T E Smith's door in an insensible state.
The TRI WEEKLY REPUBLICAN reported his death on May 13th with a flowery Tribute from the Americus Masonic Lodge saying among other comments that "he had a strict integrity in all his business relations, and a high toned, generous, gentleman, genial companion and useful citizen, and his loss a great , irreparable calamity to the entire state." Marion County Death Index listed him in 1870-as deceased-murdered, poisoned. No record has ever been found of anyone being
prosecuted. He is probably on his farm in Marion County, Georgia.
Enformant: Gerry Hill (#46882543) ~ 2011
Son of Eziekel and Elizabeth "Betsy" (Merritt) Brown
Husband of Amanda (Gray) Brown ~ married June 15, 1824, Greene Co., GA
Their children were ...
1. Dr. James Franklin Brown, #26576858 (m. Anne Elizabeth Henderson, #26756857)
2. Mary Eugenia Nesbitt Brown, #30492487 (m. Dr. William H. Winfrey Drane, C.S.A. #30492563)
3. Cynthia Anne Gray "Annie" Brown, #31660307 (m. William Michael Henderson, C.S.A., #10903166)
4. George A. Brown, C.S.A. (#31737683), married Julia P. Raines (#30492601), daughter of William Nataniel (#22840472) and Rebecca W. (Jackson) Raines (#22845492)
Family Members
Advertisement
Records on Ancestry
Sponsored by Ancestry
Advertisement
