Susan (Froneberger) Brown (1841 - 1934)

Born 14 Oct 1841 in Gaston, North Carolina

Ancestors

Wife of Robert Gilbreath Brown — married 28 Dec 1865 in North Carolina

Descendants

Died 17 May 1934 at age 92 in Cherryville, Gaston, North Carolina

Problems/Questions Profile manager: Mel Green [send private message]

Biography

Susan was born 14 October 1841^[1] in Gaston County, NC. Her father was a farmer in Gaston near Crowders Mountain.

Sometime between 1860 and 1862 she literally married the boy next door, William Gamble, whose parents owned the farm next to theirs. William was the first soldier from Gaston County killed in the Civil War. He died at the battle of Hanover Court House 27 May 1862. His sister-in-law was Rachel Jane Brown (Gamble), and after the war Susan married Rachel's brother, Robert Brown on 28 December 1865.^[2] They settled near his parents in Cherryville, Gaston County.

With Robert she had several children: John ("Brethy"), Willie who lost his hearing as a small child - probably from meningitis, Mary Margaret Jane who died young, Clemmie, Ed ("Meek"), and Emma. Emma had a twin brother who was stillborn and according to family legend had some kind of deformity.

Clemmie and Emma never married but stayed with their parents their whole lives. Both Brethy and Willie had their first wives die due to complications from childbirth, and those grandchildren ended up living with Robert and Susan too.

The story goes that Susan one day at about 50 decided she had heart trouble and got into bed and didn't really work again. Her daughters, Clemmie and Emma, and later her grandaughters Aubra and Mabel had to pick up the slack. She lived to be 93, so it clearly worked!

She died 17 May 1934 in Cherryville^[3] and is buried in the St. John's Church Cemetery there. ^[4]

Census Records

In 1850 Susan was a nine-year-old living with her parents, Daniel and Margaret and several siblings in southern Gaston County.^[5]

In 1860 she is still with her parents in the Crowder Mountain area of Gaston.^[6] The family preceding theirs in the census is that of Joseph Gamble and includes son WIlliam age 20 who would become Susan's first husband.

By 1870, he and wife Susan were living in Cherryville, Gaston County in the house that they would live in the rest of their lives. With them are their two eldest sons, John "Brethy" and Willie.^[7] By 1880, the rest of their children have been born: Clemmie, Ed "Meek", and Emma. ^[8]

In 1900 Susan and Robert had living with them their two unmarried daughters and Brethy's young son Herschel and daughter Mabel.^[9] Brethy's wife died soon after Mabel's birth and both children were raised by their Aunt Clemmie and Emma. By 1910, Willie had returned home with his four children: Aubra, Paul Byron, Robert, and Bill (their mother had likewise died shortly after Bill's birth.)^[10]

As of 1920, Aubra and Herschel had both left the nest, but the rest of the grandchildren remained, along with grown children Willie, Clemmie and Emma.^[11] In 1930, only Clemmie and Emma and grandson Bill remain with Grandpa Robert and Grandma Susan.^[12]

Sources

1. ↑ "Susan L. Froneberger, tombstone," St. John's Lutheran Church, Cherryville, Gaston County, North Carolina, read and photographed by Mel Green, 12 January 1999.
2. ↑ "Robert G.Brown Family Bible," New Testament, New York: American Bible Society, 1849, in possession of Barbara S. Green, 3232 Seven Springs Rd, Hillsborough, NC 27278.
3. ↑ Ancestry.com. North Carolina, Death Certificates, 1909-1975 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations Inc, 2007
4. ↑ Ancestry.com. Web: North Carolina, Find A Grave Index, 1716-2012 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2012. link
5. ↑ Ancestry.com. 1850 United States Federal Census [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2009. Images reproduced by FamilySearch. Year: 1850; Census Place: Gaston, North Carolina; Roll: M432_630; Page: 408A; Image: 426
6. ↑ Ancestry.com. 1860 United States Federal Census [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2009. Images reproduced by FamilySearch. Year: 1860; Census Place: Gaston, North Carolina; Roll: M653_898; Page: 40; Image: 44; Family History Library Film: 803898
7. ↑ Ancestry.com. 1870 United States Federal Census [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2009. Images reproduced by FamilySearch. Year: 1870; Census Place: Cherryville, Gaston, North Carolina; Roll: M593_1138; Page: 662B; Image: 18; Family History Library Film: 552637
8. ↑ 1880 United States Federal Census Author: Ancestry.com and The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints Publication: Online publication - Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations Inc, 2010. 1880 U.S. Census Index provided by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints © Copyright 1999 Intellectual Reserve, Inc. All rights reserved. All use is subject to the limited Repository: Ancestry.com, http://www.Ancestry.com 1880; Census Place: Cherryville, Gaston, North Carolina; Roll: 964; Family History Film: 1254964; Page: 4D; Enumeration District: 085; Image: 0011
9. ↑ 1900 United States Federal Census Author: Ancestry.com Publication: Online publication - Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations Inc, 2004.Original data - United States of America, Bureau of the Census. Twelfth Census of the United States, 1900. Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, 1900. T623, 18 Repository: Ancestry.com, http://www.Ancestry.com 1900; Census Place: Cherryville, Gaston, North Carolina; Roll: 1196; Page: 3B; Enumeration District: 0075; FHL microfilm: 1241196
10. ↑ 1910 United States Federal Census Author: Ancestry.com Publication: Online publication - Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations Inc, 2006.Original data - Thirteenth Census of the United States, 1910 (NARA microfilm publication T624, 1,178 rolls). Records of the Bureau of the Census, Record Group 29. National Archives, Was Repository: Ancestry.com, http://www.Ancestry.com 1910; Census Place: Cherryville, Gaston, North Carolina; Roll: T624_1112; Page: 1A; Enumeration District: 0053; FHL microfilm: 1375125
11. ↑ Ancestry.com. 1920 United States Federal Census [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations Inc, 2010. Images reproduced by FamilySearch. Year: 1920; Census Place: Cherryville, Gaston, North Carolina; Roll: T625_1299; Page: 13B; Enumeration District: 73; Image: 627
12. ↑ Ancestry.com. 1930 United States Federal Census [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations Inc, 2002. Year: 1930; Census Place: Cherryville, Gaston, North Carolina; Roll: 1691; Page: 14A; Enumeration District: 0004; Image: 720.0; FHL microfilm: 2341425

See also:

• Ancestry.com. North Carolina, Death Indexes, 1908-2004 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2007. North Carolina Archives and Records Section. North Carolina County Records, 1908-1967. North Carolina State Archives, Raleigh, North Carolina.