Beale Brown 1720s Bertie County
I know very little about this guy… just wetting a finger and holding it up to see if any wind is blowing.
A couple of deeds reference him as “adjoining” land near Meherrin River. Not sure where. Other deeds reference Ahoskey Swamp… which is south of there near Wiccacon Creek area.
Now for some of my rocket genealogy… 3 generations are shown in these references… so he was not a young pup in 1720.
His father was one William Brown (who dies before 1719). Also in 1719 a son of Beale Brown named William is mentioned. (three generations… and the son William appears to be of age).
Chowan Co, NC Deed Book F #1 pg 123 Edward Howcott of Chowan Prect and Tamar his wife to John Parry of the upper Parish of Nansemond in Va. 17 Apr 1721 50£ sterling money of Great Britain 250 acres on Wicacon pocosin joining the Pequosen and is the land formerely surveyed for George Gladstaine and by him assigned to William Browne and the sd. Browne dying, the sd. Land descended to his son Beale Browne and the sd. Beale assigned to the above sd. Howcott. Wit: Thomas Spires, Abraham Hill. Reg. Chowan Ct. Apr. 1721. Test: Thomas Henman, Clerk. M M Hofmann’s abstract
Bertie Co, NC Deed Book B pg 166 Beale Brown & wife Sarah to James Howard 13 May 1726 100£ for 450 A. known by name “Little Ahoskey.” Adj. John Perry on Ahosky Marsh. By patent dated 18 Oct 1721 to William Brown; now held by his son, Beale Brown. Wit: John Dickenson, James Holland, Rd. Horsley/ August Ct. 1726. Bell’s abstract
Bertie Co, NC Deed Book B pg 169 Beale Brown & wife Sarah to James Howard 12 May 1726 5 sh. For 450 A. lease for land known as “Little Ahosky” Adj. John Perry on Ahosky Marsh. By patent dated 18 Oct 1721 to William Brown; now held by his son, Beale Brown. “- – -and paying thereof the rent of one pepper corn on the last day of the said term – – -” Wit: John Dickenson, James Holland, Rd. Horsley/ August Ct. 1726. Bell’s abstract
Per Hathaway… William Sr was dead prior to 1719… son Beale Brown apparently swaps some land near Ahoskey Swamp with Edward Howcott… (same day; same witnesses)
Beale A. Brown, to Edward Howcott. 200 acres north side Ahotakey Swamp; Oct 17, 1719. Test, John Hardy, Rebecca Hardy
Edward Howcott to Beale Brown. 640 acres at Melton’s cabin; Oct 17, 1719. Test, John Hardy, Rebecca Hardy.
And here is the grandson in a will…
Benjamin Ricks will Chowan County
March 31,1719. November 30,1721. Brothers: James, Robert, Abraham and Isaac Ricks. Nephew: Robert Ricks, Jr. (land on Notaway River). Sister: Jane Ricks. Other legatees: Patience Ricks (niece) and William Brown, son of Beale Brown. Wife and Executrix: Sarah. Witnesses: Bridget Rogers, Mary Rogers, John Phipps. Proven before C. Eden, Governor.
“Item- I give and bequeath unto William Brown the son of Beale Brown two cows and two calvs and one feather bed and _____ and the plantation wherein I now dwell to the said William Brown and his heirs lawfully begotten or to be begotten by the sd William Brown and for want of such issue then the said plantation to go to Patiance Ricks daughter of the said Abraham Ricks her heirs and assigns for ever after the decease of my loveing wife Sarah Ricks” (from will online at NC Archives)
Does that mean this William Brown married the niece Patience Ricks?
Caution- (brazen, wild speculation)… Beale’s wife was named Sarah (per a deed reference)… Rick’s wife was also a Sarah. Could Beale’s wife be a Ricks? Could this William be a young lad and grandpa is just setting him up?
In any event if this son is of marrying age, say 20, then Beale Brown is likely born by 1680 or earlier… his father William by 1660?
My interest is to separate this Brown clan from the John Browne 1639-1713? that I chronicle. I don’t see an obvious connection and I have another William Brown I attempt to connect as a son… so this Beale Brown simply doesn’t fit.
This map shows “roughly” where the original Beale Brown property was (middle of map)… my hunch is he settled around Kirby’s Creek and the Meherrin River to the north of Ahoskey Creek. Perhaps Benjamin Ricks was also in that area?
https://andersonnc.wordpress.com/roanoke-r-to-chowan-1863-civil-war-map/
This mention in NC Archives… no further info…
File No. 133, Beal Brown
Office of Secretary of State
230 acres, Book 3, Nov 7, 1723
S.E. side of a branch of Horse pasture creek
This tidbit from the Colonial Records adds some weight to the area of Meherrin River… the Meherrin Indians were in the area of where the bend of the river turns to flow into the Chowan… Beale must have been fairly near for this to take place:
At a Council held at the Council Chamber in Edenton the 3d day of August Anno Dom 1726
Read the Petition of the Meherron Indians Complaining against divers of the Inhabitants of this Government for molesting them in their settlements and taking up their Lands And at the same time was Read also the Petition of Beal Browne Edwd Powers in behalf of themselves and others living near the said Indians for molesting them
Ordered That the Parties on each side Do attend this Board at their Sitting in October next And that in the mean time Neither of the sd Parties give one another any Disturbance in their Settlements.
—————
I found a mention at Familysearch.org:
Edgecombe County Probate Records, Estates 1730-1747 page 11
Estate of James Millikin dec’d… no date…1737?
List of debtors
“Beall Brown for L 14 Bills Do. for 1000lb pork”
James Millikin was a merchant and Indian Trader who lived near the modern town of Halifax… he died around 1737.
If Beale Brown did not have a son by the same name then by 1747 he was in Edgecombe County… if he was born ca. 1680, then he would be pushing 70 years old…
1747 – May 22, Robert Hilliard and wife Elizabeth of Edgecombe to
Nathaniel Edwards of same, £60, 300 acres on N side Fishing Creek,
joining Henry West, Beal Brown and the creek, part of 640 acre grant
to Henry West 17 Oct 1735. Wit Thomas Turner, Stephen Weaver, Walter
McFarlen. Recd May 1747. (Edg 81=3-84 – Daniel Website)
Brown is mentioned in several later deeds but my hunch is it is only references to his property… such as this in 1764:
Hal 814=8-408 Nimrod Ferguson and wf Rebeckah (x) of Hal to Thomas Meggs of Brunswick VA 14 Mar 1764, £100, 300a part of 540 pat to Henry West 17 Oct 1735, jng Fishing Ck, Harry West, Beal Brown. 430a jng Ferguson’s own corner, John Hardy, David Ward. wit Jos Eelbeck, Burwell Lamm(?). wf relinq 14 Mar 1764
Hal 1581=11-192 Thos Meggs and wf Catharine (x) to Egbert Haywood of same 7 May 1770, £130, 630a jng Fishing Ck, Henry West, Beal Brown, John Hardy, David Ward, Silvanus Stanton. wit James Auld, John Auld, Mial Scurlock. wf relinq, exam by Saml Weldon Esq. recd Nov 1770.
Of course I do not know if he had a son by the same name? His son William, in my eyes, is still mixed in the soup of Browns of Colonial eastern NC.
Andersons of Colonial N. Carolina 
My first thought was that Patience Ricks is the wife of Wm. Browne, son of Beale. Either that or she is his only sister, who married a Ricks. I can’t imagine leaving that to anyone else.
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elenalareina
August 1, 2013 at 5:47 pm
That “Ricks” connection may provide some clues…I just today pulled up the will and noticed the detail of the son William.
http://mars.archives.ncdcr.gov/BasicSearch.aspx
It seems that Benjamin Ricks may have been in the area of Kirby’s Creek and south of the Meherrin River… this is from a 1724 record:
North Carolina—ss.
At a Council held at Edenton April the 9th Anno Dom 1724
Present
The Honoble George Burrington Esqr Govr
Chris. Gale Esqr Membr of Council
J Lovick Esqr Membr of Council
Ed Moseley Esqr Membr of Council
Fran Foster Esqr Membr of Council
John Blount Esqr Membr of Council
Thos Pollock Esqr Membr of Council
Thos Harvey Esqr Membr of Council
Arth Goffe Esqr Membr of Council
Read the Petition of William Ricks shewing that in March in the year 1720 Esther Kirby obtained a patent for Six hundred and forty acres of Land lying in Bertie precinct which Land not being seated according to Law prays a Lapse patent for the same &c which is granted &
Ordered That the Secty Issue a patent for the said Land in the said Ricks’s name
Read the petition of William Ricks shewing Benjamin Ricks in March 1720 obtained a patent for 640 Acres lying in Bertie precinct on the South side of Meherine which is not Cultivated as the Law directs therefore prays a Lapse patent for the same &c
Ordered That a patent Issue as prayed for
Read the Petition of Esther Ricks Shewing that Esther Kirby by patent date in March 1721 obtained a patent for 640 Acres which Land not being Cultivated as the Law directs praying a Lapse patent for the sd Land
http://docsouth.unc.edu/csr/index.html/document/csr02-0247
My hunch is that Beale Brown was in that area from other deed references… so the land around Ahoskey Creek may not be where he lived?
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anderson1951
August 1, 2013 at 5:59 pm
It seems there were two Esther Kirby’s that received patents for 640 acres in Chowan precinct: 1) Esther Kirby Senr ” a tract of land containing 640 acres lying in Chowan precinct on ye So. side of Meherine beginning at a white oak Henry Weeler’s (Wheeler’s?) corner tree…” no date listed and 2) Esther Kirby Junr “a tract of land containing 640 acres lying in Chowan precinct on ye So. side of Meherine beginning at a pine Esther Kirby’s Senr corner tree…” dated March 1, 1719/20. Esther Kirby Senr might have been the widow of Thomas Kirby of Chowan precinct (will dated May 7, 1718; proved June 16, 1719) and Esther Junr his daughter who perhaps married William Ricks?
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John F. Speight
July 18, 2016 at 6:27 pm
Think this might be part of the 1706 patent?
Chowan #509 pg. 97 Beale Browne of Chowan Prect. And Sarah Browne to Edward Howcott of the Prect. Afrsd., Gentleman 10 Jan 1720 15L good and lawful money of the Province 450 acres on Ahoskie swamp, joining Edward Howcott, Joseph Jones and Charles Jones being land formerly taken up by James Gladestains Wit.: Mon. Moore, John Lillington, John Nairne Sara Browne, wife of Beale Browne, relinquished dower Reg, Chowan Ct. 19 Jan. 1720 Test,: Thomas Henman, Clerk
(note: a “James” Gladestains can not be found and perhaps an abstract error and should be “George?”)
Chowan #530 pg. 123 Edward Howcott of Chowan Prect., and Tamar his wife to John Parry of the upper parish of Nansemond Co., VA. 17 Apr, 1721 50L. Sterling money of Great Britain 250 acres on Wicacon pocosin, joining the Pequosen and is the land formerly surveyed for George Gladstaine and by him assigned to William Browne and the sd, Browne dying, the sd. Land descended to his son Beale Browne and by the sd Beale was assigned to the above sd. Howcott Wit.: Thomas Spires, Abraham Hill. Reg. Chowan Ct. Apr. 1721 Test.: Thomas Henman, Clerk
There is something strange that I find associated with this “Gladstaine” fellow that I can’t put my finger on. He was a deputy to Col. Edward Moseley and left a in 1712.
Gladstaine, George. Scuppernong, county not””given.
November 6, 1712. Legatees: Edward Phelps and Mary Lawson.
Witnesses: Robert Hickson, John Hastel, Samll Briffet. Original
missing. Recorded in Book 1712-1722, page 44.
Chowan #1494 pg. 286 Edward Howard of Chowan Prect., Planter to James Howard of Chowan Prect., Planter 19 Apr, 1722 30lb. Sterling Money of Great Brittain 300 acres, joining Northerly on Ahottskey Marsh and Black Walnut Branch all Houses, Out houses etc. and is the land Surveyed by George Gladstain now pattented by the sd. Edward and is the Plantation wheron the sd. James Howard now dwells Wit.: Thomas Spires, John Raspberry I his mark, John Welch Ack. Att a Ct. Continued and held for Chowan Prect. 19 Apr. 1722 and John Rasberry ack. Right of Dower by Vertue of a Power of Attorney from Mary Howard wife of the sd. Edward Test.: W.Badham, D.C.C Reg 24 Aug. 1722
This tract of land was devised to wife Sarah Howard of James Howard in his will written 9 Oct 1729 in Bertie Co., NC with provisions and appears to be the land sold to John Jenkins, wheelwright in 1734. The earlier deed describes it as joining Northerly on Ahoskie, but the 1734 transfer describes it on NS Cashy Swamp (“Speights Land”). In the will, mentions Balck Walnut Branch and the sale does not appear to follow the provisions set forth by James Howard, but son James and wife Sarah were appointed Executors. This John Jenkins married Anne Speights who was a daughter of Francis Speight and granddaughter of Francis Speight.
Bertie; 1734, Nov
James Howard, Sarah Crew & Thomas Crew to John Jenkins/Jinkins, wheelwright. 40 pds. for 300a. “Wee James Howard, Sarah Crew, and Thomas Crew in Right of his wife, Sarah Crew, Exec. RS. of the Last will & Testament of James Howard dec’d late of Bertie Precinct…sell land as decreed on NS Cashy Swp. by patent d. 1726, commonly known as “Speights Land”. Richard Rowland, jurat, Catherine Rowland. Nov Ct. 1734. John Wynns D.C/C (D:141)
The King connection is of interest to me for these two deeds:
Chowan #1031 pg. 503 John Waters of the upper Parish of Nansemond Co., (Va.) to John King of the same place 18 Mar. 1716/1717 a quitclaim 100 acres more or less on Bennetts Creek, joining Bay Branch and is the land surveyed by George Gladstone deputy to Col. Moseley Wit.: John Sutton, William Lassiter (WL his mark), Mary Sutton + her mark Reg. 31 8ber 1717
Chowan:
Beal Brown of Chowan Prect. to Christian King of Nansemond Co. Va. 30 July 1722 50 pds., 640 acres on the south side of Ahoskey Marsh, joining the upper side of a Reedy Marsh, all houses, orchards, etx. part of a patent for 840 acres granted to Edward Howcott 1 Apr 1720. Wit: Edmond Jenkins, Edward Howcott, John Nairne. Ack. 1 Aug. 1722 before me C. Gale, Ch. Just. Reg. 22 Aug 1722 (Bk.C. p.266)
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Stephen
April 7, 2023 at 1:25 pm