Charles Albert Brownfield (abt. 1819 - abt. 1868)

Born about 1819 in Kentucky

Husband of Mary Jane (McCarty) Brownfield — married 10 Feb 1842 in Illinois

Descendants

Died about 5 Mar 1868 at about age 49 in Sainte Marie, Jasper, Illinois, United States

Problems/Questions Profile manager: Cindy Brownfield [send private message]

Biography

There appear to be 2 possible sets of parents for Charles. Some of the family show his parents to be William Brownfield Sr and Elizabeth "Betsy" Brownfield. Some of the families show no known maiden name for Betsy. Larry Reighard lists Sparrier as her maiden name. Some show her name to be Bird. Some people list Charles Brownfield and Jane (Bird) Brownfield as this Charles parents. I also find different middle initials for this Charles. It is unclear if his middle name is Albert or Elbert so we find both A and E listed as middle initial. Our family info shows middle name to be Albert. Some people list N for middle initial. I am not sure where that comes from. I am leaving parents empty for now until I can find something that helps prove who it is.

Charles was born about 1820. Charles Brownfield ... He passed away about 1868. Information in my Brownfield family files show Charles has different different parents. Our family files show william Brownfield and Elizabeth Unknown maiden name Brownfield. My Brother in law did extensive research on his family and had sources for most of it. Unfortunatly I dont have access to that information anymore we do have the following but with common naming practices Charles can belong anywhere.

CENSUS YEAR: 1820 STATE: IL COUNTY: Crawford MICROFILM#: M33-12 45 37 Brownfield William 1 male: 0-10, 1 male: 10-16, 1 male: 16-26, 1 male: 26-45, 1 female: 26-45

Based on the census records, the birth year for William Brownfield Sr can be narrowed to between 1760-1765. It is estimated that William Brownfield Jr is born closer to 1781(see his page for detail) which would mean William Sr is probably born closer to 1760 in that range.

Prior marriage: wife unknown 2nd wife: Elizabeth unknown

Special Term Probate April 9th 1838 "I William Brownfield of Jasper County and State of Illinois this twentieth day of January in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and thirty eight. Being sound mind and memory; But worn down by old age and infirmity of body, do make this my last will and testament in the name of God amen.

I do leave and bequeath unto my son Felix Brownfield all the property I have gave him heretofore he has in his possession of mine at this time.

I do leave and bequeath unto my daughter Lidia Brownfield now married to Wilkinson[note: Wilkerson] all the property I have gave her heretofore she has in possession of mine at this time. I leave and bequeath unto my five children now living with viz Charles, Jacob, John, Catherine E. and Nancy Brownfield. Each a horse creature worth sixty dollars and a second late cow when they become of age; all of my just debts is to be paid, and my improvement and the remainder of my property I leave and bequeath to my wife during life, or til she marries; and then the property is to be equally among my five children that is now living with me. I do constitute and appoint Conrad Hoover and my wife Elizabeth Brownfield executors of this my last will and testament for testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and affixed my seal day and date above written."

Seal-x William Brownfield

Attest Thomas Martin Conrad Hoover

Pg.1 of Probate Records states: "Know all men by there presents that we Elizabeth Brownfield Felix Brownfield and Gary Wilkerson of the County of Jasper and State of Illinois are held and firmly bound...." [Notes: Gary Wilkerson is Lydia Brownfield's husband. And her name in the will seems to be misspelled. Writing within quotes is as the original appears]

Pg. 2 of Probate Records states the death date: "...William Brownfield of the County of Jasper and State of Illinois died on or about the third day of March AD 1838..."

Will(p .66) can be found on Family History Library Film # - 1311897 Court Probate Order Book - Jasper County, Illinois P. 66-69, p. 81-83

On the 1840 census, two years after William dies, Elizabeth Brownfield lives between Felix Brownfield and Gary Wilkerson(husband of Lydia Brownfield) listed in the will

On the 1850 census in Jasper County Illinois, Lydia Brownfield-Wilkerson lives in between James and Nancy(listed as Mary) Brownfield-Heady and their brothers John and Jacob Brownfield in Jasper County, Illinois. Felix Brownfield is listed a few doors over on the next census record page. Most of the children listed in the will live next door to each other.

On the 1855 census, Charles Brownfield lives next door to James Heady and Nancy Brownfield-Heady who are listed in the will. They live in Richland County, Illinois.

The Brownfields appear to live where the county lines meet and may be buried in cemeteries along the border of these counties.

On the 1830 census in Lawrence County, Illinois, William Brownfield whose will is above is listed as Sr and lives next door to William Brownfield Jr and Jr's son John Brownfield who is proved to be a different John from the one in the will as the John in the will is listed as not of age yet. William Brownfield Sr must have had a prior marriage which led to William Brownfield Jr and possibly had more children from that marriage not listed in the will as the age of William Brownfield Jr is close to the current wife Elizabeth. Elizabeth must be a second wife and analyzing her age on the 1830 and 1835 census record shows her to be born between 1790-1795 and much younger than her husband.

The will is shown to be William Brownfield Sr and not Jr as well because Jr died in 1837 and on the 1830 census only has two adults and one male 10-14 living with him. William Brownfield Sr on the 1830 census lists the following in his household and he says his five youngest in 1838 when he writes his will are living with him.

1830: Census Place: Lawrence County, Illinois Name: Wm Brownfield Senior Home in 1830 (City, County, State): Lawrence, Illinois Free White Persons - Males - Under 5: 1 a son that died or other relative not named Free White Persons - Males - 5 thru 9: 3 John, Jacob, and possibly a son that died or other relative not named Free White Persons - Males - 10 thru 14: 1 Charles Free White Persons - Males - 15 thru 19: 1 Felix Free White Persons - Males - 60 thru 69: 1 father - William Sr Free White Persons - Females - Under 5: 1 Nancy Free White Persons - Females - 5 thru 9: 1 Catherine E. Free White Persons - Females - 10 thru 14: 1 Lydia Free White Persons - Females - 30 thru 39: 1 mother - Elizabeth Free White Persons - Under 20: 9 Free White Persons - 20 thru 49: 1 Total Free White Persons: 11

1835: Census Place: Jasper County, Illinois Name: Wm Brownfield Home in 1835 (City, County, State): Jasper, Illinois Free White Persons - Males - Over ten and not exceeding twenty years: 2 - John and Jacob Free White Persons - Males - Over twenty and not exceeding thirty years: 1 - Charles Free White Persons - Males - Over seventy and not exceeding eighty years: 1 - William Sr. Free White Persons - Females - Of ten years and under: 2 - Nancy and another female child that possibly died before 1838 Free White Persons - Females - Over ten and not exceeding twenty years: 2 - Catherine E. and Lydia Free White Persons - Females - Over forty and not exceeding fifty years 1 - Elizabeth Grand Total: 9 Subjects over 18 and under 45 subject to militia duty: 1 - Charles would be the one of age of military service

Felix marries in 1833 so he is out of the house and Lydia marries in 1835 so she must still be at home.

Note: Stepping backward in time, William Brownfield Sr appears to be living in Crawford County, INDIANA in 1820 which borders Kentucky. Benjamin Bogard Sr. of Crawford County, Indiana whose children Hiram Bogard(1810-1866) and Benjamin Bogard Jr(1811-1854) come to this area of Illinois are listed a few pages over. Felix Brownfield is later the administrator of the estate for Benjamin Bogard Jr(1811-1854) and marries his wife Jerusha after his death. There appears to be a pioneer migration from Crawford County, Indiana to Illinois in early 1800s for a number of families connected and living around the Brownfields. William Brownfield Jr was already in Lawrence County, Illinois in 1820 so his father came here and lived next to him in 1830. 1820 United States Federal Census Name William Brownfield Home in 1820 (City, County, State) Crawford, Indiana Enumeration Date August 7, 1820 Free White Persons - Males - Under 10 3 Free White Persons - Males - 45 and over 1 Free White Persons - Females - Under 10 1 Free White Persons - Females - 26 thru 44 1 Number of Persons - Engaged in Agriculture 1 Free White Persons - Under 16 4 Free White Persons - Over 25 2 Total Free White Persons 6

If someone finds either marriage record please submit the information please post it. Likewise if someone finds the graves please post them along with cemetery info so I can update the information on my end too. It appears the family may have been living in the areas where the four counties meet of Jasper, Richland, Lawrence and Crawford County Illinois. Above info posted by Cindy Brownfield.

Sources

• "United States Census, 1850," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:M8P1-5HJ : 12 April 2016), Charles Brownfield, Richland county, Richland, Illinois, United States; citing family 1044, NARA microfilm publication M432 (Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.).

• "United States Census, 1860", database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MXHF-X94 : 13 December 2017), Charles Brownfield, 1860.

• "Illinois Marriages, 1815-1935," database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:V2GT-VH4 : 10 February 2018), Charles N. Brownfield and Maryjane Mccarty, 10 Feb 1842; citing Jasper,Illinois; FHL microfilm 1,315,769.

• "Find A Grave Index," database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:QVV8-6YQ9 : 13 December 2015), Charles Albert Brownfield, 1868; Burial, , Jasper, Illinois, United States of America, South Bend Cemetery; citing record ID 16723475, Find a Grave, http://www.findagrave.com.

• "Illinois Deaths and Stillbirths, 1916-1947", database, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:NQF5-FH2 : 25 April 2022), Charley Brownfield in entry for Wm Brownfield, 1920.

• "Illinois Marriages, 1815-1935", database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:HSHF-JC3Z : 14 February 2020), Charley Brownfield in entry for Frank Brownfield, 1886.

• "Illinois Deaths and Stillbirths, 1916-1947," database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:NQDG-C7Z : 8 March 2018), Charles Brownfield in entry for Frank Brownfield, 23 Jul 1933; Public Board of Health, Archives, Springfield; FHL microfilm 1,675,014.

• "United States, Social Security Numerical Identification Files (NUMIDENT), 1936-2007", database, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:6K7N-TKY9 : 10 February 2023), Charles Brownfield in entry for James Oliver Brownfield, .