William Brown (abt. 1748 - 1792)

Born about 1748 in Scotland

Ancestors

Died 20 Dec 1792 at about age 44 in Fairfax, Virginia, United States

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Biography

Birth and Prents

William Brown was born into the Maryland gentry. His father was the Rev. Richard Gustavus Brown of Port Tobacco, Md. From his tombstone, we can calculate his birth to be in the year 1748 or ’49. According to Medical Men in the American Revolution, he was born in 1752 when the family was visiting relatives in Heddington, Scotland. He studied at the University of Edinburgh where he was awarded the degree of M.D. in 1770. He married Catherine Scott, daughter of the Rev. James Scott.

American Revolution

William Brown was active in resistance to British tyranny before the outbreak of war. In 1774 he as a member of the Fairfax Co. Committee for Safety. We do not know the date he began his service in the army, but it was by 9 Dec. 1775 when Col. William Woodford, commanding the 2nd Virginia Regiment, wrote from Great Bridge to the President of the Virginia Convention in Williamsburg. He said,

we are now under Arms expecting another Attack. Please forward Doctr. Brown’s Chest of Medicines & Baggage down.

William Brown continued as Surgeon of the 2nd Virginia Regiment into 1776, when he became Assistant Surgeon of the Flying Camp. On 13 May, 1777 he was appointed Surgeon General of the Hospital, Middle Department. He continued in this capacity until 6 Feb. 1778, when he was appointed Physician and Director General of Hospital. In 1778 he published the first pharmacopeia published in the United States, Fomulary of Simple Yet Efficacious Remedies. This work explained 84 internal medications and 16 surgical or external medications and was undoubtedly used by many military surgeons who did not have the advantage of university training. William Brown resigned from the army on 21 July 1780. The Continental Congress took note of his departure from service:

Resolved, that Congress entertains a high opinion of the ability, integrity and past services of Dr. Wm. Brown, Physician-General, but as circumstances will no longer permit his continuance in the service, his resignation is accepted.

Community

After the Revolution William Brown was active in the community. In 1782 was elected vestryman of Christ Church. He purchased portions of lots 65 and 66 at Prince and Fairfax in 1783. (When Alexandria was laid out, lots were ½ block.) He was the president of the trustees of the Alexandria Academy and secured George Washington’s support for that institution. He was physician of the St. Andrews Society and an original member of the Society of Cincinnati.

1792 Will and Death

Will

Charles County Maryland Will Book AF-11, 1791-1801,{Abstract by Mike Marshall}; Pages 74-86. Doctor William Brown, November 24, 1791; February 23, 1792

• I, William Brown of the town of Alexandria in Virginia being of sound judgment and understanding ... desire to be buried in accordance with rites of the Church of England and either in the burying ground at Mr. Charles Alexander's where my child was buried April 28, 1785 or in the old family burying ground at Rich Hill in Maryland. I desire both may be kept decently and properly enclosed the former at the expense of Wm Alexander and me, the later at the joint expense of Dr. Gustavus Richard Brown and me as has been respectively agreed on between us.
• Wife to have all estate while children in minority unless she remarries. … including negros, stock, movables, money and other personal property
• To son William the lots of land in the town of Alexandria bought John Mills and of Mesrs Hooe and Harrison situated on the East side of Fairfax Street with my present dwelling house and every appurtenance. Also one of my shares in the Potomac Company.
• To son Richard the tract of land in Charles County where my late father lived being one moiety of Rich Hill where one moiety was bought of one Hemsley in the year 1714 by my grandfather Dr. Gustavus Brown and whereas there is on the North side of Rich Hill a small piece of land called Lomax Addition which was also bought by my grandfather of one Smoot and which the right and title is now in my eldest brother Dr Gustavus Brown who hath promised to convey it to me… also my other share in the Potomac Company.
• To son Gustavus the land near Ravensworth in Fairfax County Virginia where I keep a quarter and have some tenants being a moiety of a tract late the property of Rev'd James Scott and giving by him to me and my wife by deed. *The other moiety of said whole tract being conveyed to Mr Gustavus Scott of Dorsett County Maryland, also my house and lot in Threlkelds addition to Georgetown with all the appurtenances. After settlement of estate debts, a third share in the Potomac Company is to be purchased for son Gustavus.
• To daughter Sarah the two small lots of land on the West side of Fairfax Street Alexandria which I bought of William Hunter and whereon Alexander Perry now lives.
• To daughters Catherine and Helen, the two half lots of land bordering on St. Asaph street and lying between Camron street and Queen Street Alexandria which I had of Mr. Charles Alexander.
• Whereas my military bounty of lands on the waters of the Ohio committed to the charge of Col. John Campbell of Louisville at the falls of Ohio to be by him located and surveyed in to five surveys of twelve hundred acres each and a lot to my several children. The first lot located at the confluence of the Ohio and Cumberland River to be given to son Gustavus. The remaining four lots to Sarah, Richard, Catherine and Helen as they come to age.
• To son Gustavus a small tract of one hundred acres situated not far distant from the above, part of a warrant from David Crawley a soldier that contains 700 acres (lot 6).
• To son William, I give no land in the Western country because his grandfather the Rev'd James Scott hath by his will given him some which he holds in joint tenancy with Mr. Gustavus Scott, son of said Rev'd James Scott.
• To daughters Sarah, Catherine and Helen, equal portions of approximately 2,100 pounds in military certificates of the state of Virginia bearing an annual interest of 6% at present…. 500 pounds at age of nineteen or on her marriage, the balance kept with my wife during her widowhood.
• To son Gustavus half a lot of ground in the town of Bath in Berkley County, No 39, which I had of Mathew Whiting Esquire. The conveyance remains to be proved by Mr. Thomas Whiting the third witness.
• Requests Mr James Russell is employed to fully document his business accounts
• Requests my friend Dr. Wilson Compton to assist in the collection and payment of debts.
• Whereas I am just entering into a partnership with Dr. Gustavus B. Campbell for carrying on the practice of Physic and business of selling drugs, if he will purchase the whole stock, the proceeds to be added to the estate.
• Executors: Wife Mrs Catherine Brown

Uncle Dr. Gustavus Richard Brown of CC Friends Bushrod Washington, George Gilpin, William Herbert and Richard Conway Esq. all of Alexandria.

• Signed: Wm Brown,
• Wit - Gustavus B. Campbell, James Russell, Robert Manning(?), John Stewart
• Codicil: Son William to receive legacies and bequests after executors are able to access his good conduct.
• Signed November 24, 1791 Wm Brown,
• Wit - Peter Wise, Charles Alexander, Gustavus B. Campbell
• Will probated on February 23, 1792 at Alexandria by Catherine Brown and witnesses Charles Simms, George Gilpin, James Keith. Charles Alexander and Peter Wise proved the Codicil.
• Recorded March 30, 1792 by Peter Wagener, Clerk of the court of Hustings for the town of Alexandria. 

Death

William Brown died on 11 Jan. 1792. According to his tombstone, he was in the 44th year of his age. He as laid to rest at Preston Plantation at the mouth of Four Mile Run. Preston was the seat of Charles and Frances Alexander, and Frances was his sister. In 1933 the bodies at Preston were reinterred here at Pohick Church. Brown was discovered to have been buried in his Continental uniform with a ribbon of some order on the breast of his uniform. The epitaph on the tombstone speaks well of him:

This tablet is inscribed by his affectionate widow ^[1]

William, b, —; d. Dec. 20, 1792; m. —.Catherine Scott.^[2]

Sources

1. ↑ https://www.fairfaxresolvessar.org/content/ffx_patriotic_patriotgravemarking/william_brown.html
2. ↑ page 165, Hayden, Horace Edwin, Virginia Genealogies: A Genealogy of the Glassell Family of Scotland and Virginia : Also of the Families of Ball, Brown, Bryan, Conway, Daniel, Ewell, Holladay, Lewis, Littlepage, Moncure, Peyton, Robinson, Scott, Taylor, Wallace, and Others, of Virginia and Maryland, "BROWN," Wilkes-Barre, Penna.: E. B. Yordy, 1885 (1891. Print.)