Muhlenberg County Kentucky

Old Muhlenberg Map

Family Group Records B

Nathaniel Brown & Mary Artimissa McElwain

Nathaniel Brown
Born: about 1789, Maggoty Creek, Franklin Co., Virginia
Married: November 27, 1812 Franklin Co., Virginia
Died: 1845 Cypress Creek, Muhlenberg Co., Kentucky
Father: Robert Brown
Mother: Lucy

Spouse: Mary Artimissa “Polly” McElwain
Born: between 1791 - 1794 in Virginia
Died: after 1850 Muhlenberg Co., Kentucky
Father: Thomas McElwain (McElvain) Sr.
Mother: Frances Kelly Price

About 1789, Nathaniel Brown was born on the family farm on Maggoty Creek in Franklin County, Virginia, the youngest of at least seven children born to Robert and Lucy Brown of Virginia. Nathaniel's father Robert Brown died with a will probated in 1815 in Prince William County, Virginia (1815, Book K, Inventory page 398). Robert Brown may have been a member of the Virginia Soldiers of 1776. Known children of Lucy and Robert Brown are Constance Brown Dyson, Mary Brown Thompson, Samuel Brown married Martha Thompson, Sarah Brown Akers, Martha Patsy Brown Highley, Susannah Brown Highley, and Nathaniel.

Nathaniel Brown served in War of 1812 and married Mary Artimissa “Polly” McElwain on the 27th of November 1812 in Franklin County, Virginia. Mary Artimissa McElwain was born between 1791-1794 in Virginia, the daughter of Thomas McElwain (McElvain) Sr. and Frances Kelly Price of Rockingham County, Virginia. Mary's sister Nancy married John Vincent. Mary's sister Phoebe married Thomas Highley on 30th December 1810 in Franklin Co., Virginia. The Brown family, along with other families, migrated from Franklin County in Virginia to Muhlenberg County, Kentucky in 1822.

Nathaniel and Mary McElwain Brown settled near Cypress Creek in Muhlenberg County, Kentucky, now part of the Cypress Creek State Nature Preserve. Nathaniel Brown was a farmer and teacher. He is listed in 1822 Tax List from Muhlenberg County as well as included in the 1830 and 1840 census records of Muhlenberg Co., KY. In 1830, Nathaniel is listed among 6 males and 4 females. Nathaniel died on his farm on Cypress Creek in 1845 and Mary died after 1850 in Muhlenberg Co., Kentucky.

Children of Nathaniel Brown & Mary A. McElwain:

  1. Lucy Jane Brown was born 21 March 1815 and died 12 November 1853. On 13 October 1832, Lucy married her first cousin Jubal Vincent, the son of John and Nancy McElvain Vincent. Both are buried at Vincent Family Cemetery in Muhlenberg.
  2. Julia Ann Brown was born about 1818. She died after 1870 and is buried at Old Bethel Baptist Church Cemetery. She married James H. Highley 21 December 1834 in Muhlenberg Co., Kentucky.
  3. William Thompson Brown was born 30 April 1819 and died 19 December 1880; he is buried at Vincent Family Cemetery with his wife, Elizabeth Forehand Brown. Elizabeth was the daughter of James Forehand and Temperance Stewart. Their grave is surrounded by a wrought-iron fence (about two feet high) with a locked gate. Family lore is the gate was to be locked and the key thrown away after they were both buried.
  4. James Francis Marion Brown was born circa 1820 and married Sarah Tudor 27 October 1841 in Muhlenberg County, Kentucky. Sarah was the daughter of Daniel Carr Tudor and Permelia Roark.
  5. Samuel Brown (1822-1863) married Susan M. McDonald (McDonnell) 13th of October, 1842.
  6. Mary Artimissa Brown was born 13 January 1826 and died 1 April 1903 buried at Old Bethel Cemetery. She married Jeremiah Forehand 4 January 1848 in Muhlenberg County, Kentucky. They are listed in 1850-1880 Muhlenberg & McLean County census records.
  7. Thomas Brown was born circa 1827 in Muhlenberg. He married Susan E., last name unknown.
  8. Nathaniel Owen "Nat" Brown (1830- May 14, 1854 per Muhlenberg Co., Kentucky Vital Statistics 1854 Deaths) married Miss Frances Allen on 20 February 1852 in Muhlenberg County, Kentucky.
  9. Robert Brown was born about 1831, died before 1862, and was married to Martha, last name unknown. Robert Brown was in the 11th Kentucky Volunteer Infantry Regiment.
  10. John Hudson Brown was born 20 April 1835 and died 29 June 1920; buried at Old Bethel Cemetery. He married Lucyette Bibb on 25 June 1865. She was the daughter of Thomas and Cynthia Ann Bibb.
  11. Phoebe C. Brown was born about 1833. She married William H. Roark on 6 February 1851 in Muhlenberg County, Kentucky.
  12. Captain Hudson (Hutson) Brown was born in 1838 and died 1864. He is buried at Vincent Family Cemetery. He is in the 1850 census with his brother-in-law Jubal Vincent. He was enlisted as a Captain in Company F, 35th Infantry Regiment Kentucky on October 2, 1863, Union Regiment. “In 1864, Major Hudson Brown, son of pioneer Nathaniel Brown, was shot and killed by Fred Harper in front of the Reno House, near the barroom. They were both Muhlenberg men and Federal soldiers. Brown was a young man, who had just been promoted to the rank of major in the Union army.” History of Muhlenberg County by Otto A. Rothert, page 314. Other source for Hudson Brown information: J. H. Battle, Kentucky: A History of the State (1885).

Contributed by Sue Heflin Woolsey

Updated July 22, 2017