William
Brown
From: Marilyn
Cathers
Date: Sun, 8 Jul 2001 15:59:27 -0700
Subject: GOLDRUSH MOST WANTED - William BROWN
Searching where my great-grandfather William BROWN came from. He came to
Nevada Co., CA somewhere between 1849 and 1852. We only have the family
story. He was born in Delaware between 1817-20. His parents were born in
Delaware according to 1880 census. He and two brothers came by horseback
to CA. We never knew the brother's names. His wife, my great-grandmother,
was Victoria Cordelia LONG. She was born in Bavaria Germany in Nov 1837.
Her death certificate states father as William LONG born in France. It is
said there was a brother William LONG also that came out. The story goes
that William BROWN and two brothers came to California and then he
(William) went back to Ohio to get Victoria. Now where does Ohio come in?
I have found a family in Ohio that matches my information for BROWNS but
cannot find if their William is my William. That family is Joseph and Anna
(KELLEY) BROWN. They had a William born in Del in 1817 and then moved to
OH in 1819 and had the rest of their children. I have not yet been able to
find out if their William and other sons left for CA.
I have been trying to find William and brothers in a wagon train but so
far no luck. Victoria states in 1900 or 1910 census that she arrived in U
S in 1850 or 1851 (couldn't read it very well). By 1852, they were said to
be in Newtown area and by 1866 for sure they were on the ranch I grew up
on Deer Creek, four miles from Nevada City. I know this because I have
found the death article from Sacramento Bee dated Jan 17, 1866 for three
of their middle children who died in 1866. I have not been able to find
William, Victoria and three older children in the 1860 census in Nevada or
nearby counties. The children of William and Cordelia are: Cordelia BROWN
b.1857, William Matthew BROWN b. 1858, Thomas Jefferson BROWN b. 1859, the
three who died in 1865-6 were James BROWN about 6, Mary BROWN about 4, and
George BROWN, about 2. Then there is Emma BROWN b. 1866, Hanna BROWN b.
1868, Jeremiah BROWN b. 1869 (My grandfather), Ellen BROWN b. 1872, and
Katherine or Catherine BROWN b. 1875.
There was a fire on the ranch and all papers were lost. I would love to
find a family bible somewhere that lists William's birth or marriage to
Victoria. I do not know if they were married in Ohio or elsewhere or
exactly when. She was very young as the story goes around 14.
The three children who died, William and Victoria are buried on our old
home ranch on deer creek. Our neighbors and William's were the KENDRICKS,
WAITE, and KEENAN up the creek toward Nevada City. They all arrived on
deer creek about the same time. William was a farmer more than a miner.
My father, Leland Henry BROWN, is 81 years old, he has never known
where his people came from I would like to find his family for him while
he is still here to enjoy it. Any help I can get will be greatly
appreciated. We are now living in the state of Washington. I want to say
that when I read the queries and information about Nevada City, and Nevada
County it brings back many good memories. I remember Nevada City when it
was a normal little town instead of so much tourist stuff. Which I know is
important. I was there from my birth in 1948 until 1975 when we all moved
to Washington.
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