Henry Brown (1822-1895) | WikiTree FREE Family Tree

Henry Brown

Born 22 Nov 1822 in Croydon, Greater London, United Kingdom

Ancestors

Son of John Brown and Ann (Plowman) Brown

Brother of Margaret (Brown) Davey, William Brown, John Brown, Sarah (Brown) White, Susanna Brown, George Brown and James Brown

Husband of Harriet Sarah (Dalton) Brown — married 28 Aug 1851 (to 28 Jun 1854) in St. Leonard Foster Lane, London, England

Husband of Isabella Susanna Matthews (Cole) Brown — married 19 Feb 1867 in Niagara Falls, ON, Canada

Descendants

Father of Alfred Brown, Eliza Emily Brown, Harry William Brown, George Edwin Brown, Isabella Mary (Brown) South and Grace Annie Maud (Brown) McTavish

Died 30 May 1895 at age 72 in Niagara Falls, Welland, Ontario, Canada

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Profile last modified 23 Oct 2022 | Created 11 Feb 2012

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1 Biography
2 Sources

Biography

Henry Brown was born in Croydon, Surrey, England on November 22, 1822 to John Brown and Ann (Plowman) Brown. During his teens he was educated at Meadowhouse Academy in Croydon.

By the age of 18, Henry had crossed the Altantic Ocean from London and arrived in New York City on May 17, 1841. He sailed with the family of George and Mary Ann Dalton, along with George's 20 year old brother Fred Dalton. George and Fred Dalton were brothers to Harriet Sarah Dalton, who would become Henry's first wife ten years later.

A letter to Henry Brown dated from 1844 is addressed to him in Croydon suggesting he returned to England after his first voyage to America.

Henry's marriage registration to Harriet Sarah Dalton took place in London, England on August 28, 1851. They were cousins. Together they sailed back to America arriving in New York City on December 29, 1851.

Henry and Harriet became parents to their only daughter, Eliza Emily, on June 26, 1852. Some old genealogy notes suggest there was a boy by the name of Alfred but no documentation has been found.

By August 1853, the Browns were settled in the Niagara Falls area made evident by a letter written by Harriet to her niece Emily Dalton in England.

Something which remains unknown caused the premature death of Harriet Sarah Brown on June 28, 1854. She was only 30 years old, and, curiously, was buried near the plots of the parents of Henry's second wife in Drummond Hill Cemetery, Niagara Falls, Ontario.

At the time of the 1861 Census Henry was registered as a widower and living with his daughter Eliza. Immediately next door to the Browns was a home occupied by the Farley family and residing with them was a Isabella Cole who would marry Henry in Welland County on February 19, 1867.

Henry Brown had spent most of his life working as a carpenter and joiner, but by 1871, he opened a shop on Ferry Street in Stamford. He sold general groceries, provisions, crockery, glassware, etc. When the village of Niagara Falls was incorporated, Mr. Brown was elected to a seat at the council board, and was re-elected several years following.

Isabelle and Henry Brown would together become parents to Harry William, born June 2, 1868; George Edwin, born January 14, 1870; Isabella Mary, born August 7, 1872; and Grace Annie Maud, born November 10, 1874. They're all listed together in the 1881 Census, and the 1891 Census, along with Eliza, Henry's daughter from his first marriage to the then late Harriet Dalton.

Henry Brown died on May 30, 1895 in Niagara Falls, Ontario^[1]. According to an account from the Sexton of Drummond Hill Cemetery, "he died with a tumor on his leg or hip. He suffered long time with it." (Summary by G. Patrick MacKay.)

Biographical Sketch

HENRY BROWN, merchant, Niagara Falls South, was born in Croydon, in the county of Surrey, England, November 24th, 1822. His parents were John and Ann ‎(Plowman)‎ Brown, both natives of England. Our subject received his education in his native land, and there learned the trade of carpenter and joiner. He emigrated to Canada, arriving on this side of the Atlantic in May 1841. He settled at Niagara Falls and continued to work at his trade until 1871, when he embarked in his present business. He deals in general groceries, provisions, crockery, glassware, etc. When the village of Niagara Falls was incorporated, Mr. Brown was elected to a seat at the council board, and was re-elected several years following, performing his duties in a manner satisfactory to his fellow-townsmen, whose confidence and esteem he possesses. He was married during one of his visits to his native land, in 1851, to Harriett, a daughter of John Dalton, by whom he had one daughter, Eliza. His second wife, Isabella, a daughter of George and Ann ‎(Matthews)‎ Cole, of English descent. They have a family of four children, Harry, George, Isabella and Grace. Our subject has been for thirty-five years a member of the C. O. O. F. (Catholic Order of Foresters?) His wife and family are all members of the Baptist church.

From: Biographical Sketches section of the History of Welland County Ontario, 1887. (Transcribed by G. Patrick MacKay.)

Birth

Birth of Henry Brown^[2]^[3]

Date of Christening: Feb 9, 1823

Place: Saint John the Baptist, Croydon, Surrey, England

Father: John Brown, carpenter

Mother: Anne

Education

Date: ABT 1834

Place: Meadow House Academy

City: Croydon

County: Surrey

Country: England

Apprentice Training

This Indenture Witnesseth That Henry Brown Youngest son of John Brown of Croydon Surrey doth put himself Apprentice to George Dalton Carpenter Vc of Croydon Affore said to learn his Art and with him after the Manner of an Apprentice) to serve from the first day of February One thousand eight hundred and forty unto the full End and Term of four years from thence next following to be fully compleat and ended during which Time the said Apprentice his Master faithfully shall or will serve his secrets keep his lawful commands every where gladly do he shall do no damage to his said Master nor see it done of others but to his Power shall let or forthwith give warning to his said Master of the same he shall not waste the Goods of his said Master nor lend them unlawfully to any he shall not commit fornication nor contract Matrimony within the said Term he shall not play at Cards Dice Tables or any other unlawful Games whereby his said Master may have any loss with his own goods or others during the said Term without Licence Termwithout Licence of his said Master he shall neither buy nor sell he shall not haunt Taverns or Playhouses nor absenth himself from his said Master's service day or night unlawfully But in all but in all things as faithful Apprentice he shall behave himself towards his said Master and all his during the said Term. And the said George Dalton in consideration of the value of the Services of the said Henry Brown for the year from the date hereoff gratuitously for the second year Six Shillings week for the third year Eight Shillings per week and for the fourth year Twelve Shillings per week his said Apprentice in the art of Carpentry in all its Branches which he useth by the best means that he can shall teach and instruct or cause to be taught and instructed. (Crossed out: Finding unto the said Apprentice sufficient Meat Drink Apparel Lodging and all other Necessaries during the said Term) The Said John Brown Aggreeing to find the said Henry Brown proper tools to perform the services of the said George Dalton.

And for the true Performance of all and every said Covenants and Agreements, either of the said Parties Bindeth himself unto the other by these Presents. In Witness whereof the Parties above named to this Indenture interchangeably have set their Hands and Seals, the Fifth Day of February in the Third Year of the Reign of our Queen Victoria by the Grace of God of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, Queen, Defender of the Faith, and in the Year of our Lord One Thousand Eight Hundred and Forty. - John Dalton, Witness, John Brown, George Dalton, Henry Brown. (Transcribed by G. Patrick MacKay.)

Immigration

1840 London to NYC

Immigration: May 17, 1841 London, England to New York City aboard the 'Quebec', Henry Brown along with a number of Dalton family members (there were two others unaccounted for in our tree: an Emily Dalton, 1, who died while aboard, Eliz. Dalton, 8, and Henry Dalton, 3)^[4]

Immigration: November 12, 1851 London to New York City aboard the 'Ocean Queen', Henry Brown and Harriett Sarah Dalton ^[5]

Abstract of Deeds

On 28 Jul 1846 (Reg 7 Oct 1846) John Cole sold to Henry Brown 3000 square feet, Lot 1 Clifton St, Village of Clifton in Lot 127 Stamford Twp. for ₤125 (C91 #3108)
On 11 Nov 1846 (Reg 26 Mar 1851) John Cole sold to Henry Brown 3000 square feet in Lot 1 Ferry Road in the Village of Clifton for ₤75 (A260 #2799)

Source: http://sites.google.com/site/niagarasettlers2/stamford-settlers

Digital image of accounts receivable, Barnett "Camera Book" Account Book 1844 to 1858, viewable via Falls Museums

Marriages

Marriage between Henry Brown and Harriet Sarah Dalton^[6]

Date: August 28 1851

Place: St. Leonard Foster Lane, London, England

Groom: Henry Brown, bachelor

Occupation: Carpenter

Residence: Newgate Street

Father: John Brown (Deceased)

Bride: Harriet Sarah Dalton, spinster

Residence: Newgate Street

Father: John Dalton (Deceased)

Witnesses: Edward Brown and Jane Ede (Or is it Jane Cole - which would make perfect sense.)

The church of St. Leonard's burnt down in 1666 and was not rebuilt. Replaced by Christ Church Greyfriars, Newgate Street, it was bombed the December 29, 1940. St. Leonard's is the name of the parish.^[7]

Marriage between Henry Brown and Isabella S M Cole^[8]

Date: February 19, 1867

Place: Welland County, Ontario, Canada West

Groom: Henry Brown

Age: 43

Birth place: England

Mother: Ann

Father: John

Residence: Stamford

Bride: Isabella S M Cole

Age: 28

Birth place: England

Mother: Eliza Ann

Father: George

Residence: Stamford

Witnesses: John Davy; Eliza Brown, both of Stamford

note: transcribed Henry's name as "Harvey"

Politics

According to an account in a newspaper from January 1, 1879, Henry Brown was one of eight candidates vying for position on council representing Center Ward of the Town of Clifton. Mayor Woodruff, who has held the office for several years, withdrew in favour of Mr. Butters, the station master and freight agent of the G.W.R'y., and a gentleman of experience and ability, fully suited to fill the position to which he will be chosen.

The following nominations for municipal officers in the town of Clifton, over the river, were made Monday:

Mayor: Thos. Butters, no contest

Reeve: John Bender, John Coulson*, Chas. Flynn, M.M. Buckley

Council

North Ward: W.W. Woodruff*, Thos. Wilson*, Thos. Goodes, R.F. Carter*, R.Law

Center Ward: Uriah Bowen*, Henry Brown, Jas. Bampfield Sr., Wm. Clark, Peter Flynn*, Ed. Thomas, S.K. Binckley, John O'Rourke*

South Ward: Haggai Biggar*, Hiram Bender*, Edmund Tench, A. Carnochan*, E. Redpath*

Elected '*'

(In the Stamford Municipal election G.J. Duncan, 204 W. Reavely, was elected Reeve.)

Source: The Niagara Falls (NY) Gazette, January 1 and 8, 1879

In 1882 the Village of Niagara Falls was incorporated. Henry Brown served as councillor for the following years:

1882

Reeve: William Russell

Clerk: William Spencer

Assessor: Benjamin Spencer