Joseph Brown Revolutionary War Study

At the time of the Revolutionary War (1775-1783), there were at least three Joseph Brown's living in the Chester area of Merrimack County, New Hampshire.[1] Joseph Brown was a common name in New Hampshire at the time and there were several of that name who served in that war. Unfortunately this makes it very difficult to determine if any Joseph Brown from Chester served in that war, let alone which one(s) or where and when. Although there are some surviving records it is confusing to assign most of them to any one of the Joseph Browns.

The most revealing records available, apart from personal remembrances and genealogies are Revolutionary War pension records submitted in the early 1800's by surviving widows. These are now held in the National Archives. There were at least four pension applications filed for various Joseph Browns for service in the Revolutionary War from the state of New Hampshire. However, only one can be found from the Chester area for a Joseph Brown. This pension application, granted in 1838 (W.20783), was made by Lydia (Mace) Brown, the widow of soldier Joseph Brown (1758-1802) of Chester, New Hampshire. This Joseph Brown was the son of Dr. Samuel Brown (1720-1804). This Joseph Brown's application for pension lists eight separate Revolutionary War services: six weeks from April 1775 to May 1775 under Lieutenant Gregg; nine months in Captian George Reid's Company, Colonel John Stark's regiment and was in the battle of Bunker Hill; three months early in 1776 in Captain Moses Baker's company, five months in 1776 in Captain John Dearborn's company, Colonel Wyman's regiment; two months in the Spring of 1777 in Captain Outts Cilley's company; then three months later in 1777 in Captain Stephen Dearborns's company, Colonel Stickney's regiment; six weeks, starting in July or August of 1778 in Captain Joseph's company, Colonel Nichols' regiment; and three months from July of 1780, in Captain Benjamin Whittier's company, Colonel Nichols' regiment.

It should be noted here that apart from the 1838 pension for Joseph Brown (1758-1802) no early reference material or genealogies can be found that identifies or suggests which Joseph Brown served which service in the Revolutionary War. Later genealogies and references, including DAR applications however, show each of the known three different Joseph Brown's from Chester with Revoutionary War service.

Individual Service Record #146 (J) (NARA Publication # M881): (PayRoll Records) Private in Captain Steven Dearborn's Company Thomas Stickney's Regiment in General Stark's Brigade of the New Hampshire Militia which company marched from Chester in the State of New Hampshire and joined the Northern Continental Army, 1777, Served 2 months and 8 days, from July 21, 1777 and discharge Sept 28, 1777. PDF here.

In the book the History of Old Chester a Joseph Brown is listed in the Pay-roll records of Captain Stephen Dearborn's Company, Thomas Stickney's regiment, in Genral Stark's brigade, which company marched from Chester, in the State of New Hampshire, and joined in the Northern Continental army, 1777, from July 19 to September 18. This regiment served in the Battle of Bennington, August 16.[2]

In the book the History of Old Chester a Joseph Brown is listed as serving in Capt. Livermore's Co., Third Regimrent, of July 1, 1781 for 6 months.[3]

In the book the History of Old Chester a Joseph Brown is listed as serving in Capt. Joseph Dearborn's Company, Col. Moses Nichols' regiment; marched to Rhode Island, entered Aug. 5, discharged 28th + 2 day's travel home.[4]

Volume XVII of the New Hampshire State papers, lists a Joseph Brown of Chester, NH, Private in Captain William Boyles Company of Colonel Reynold's Regiment of the Newhamptonshire Militia, service starting September 17, 1781. It does not list discharges conclusively.[5]

There is a 1931 DAR application (2nd Supplemental), approved in 1935, for a Grace Corazzi Keller (Nat # 104428) for Joseph Brown Sr., (Ancestor #: A015688) a descendant of Jenny Brown, his daughter, for his Revolutionary War service in the New Hampshire Militia, from Chester, in Captian Livermore’s 3rd Regiment. The application sited the History of Old Chester book as evidence.

There are two DAR applications accepted for membership based on the service of Joseph Brown Jr., (Ancestor #: A015687) both submitted from Vermont. One (Nat # 179780) a descendant of Robert Brown his son. the other (Nat # 578919) through Jacob Brown another son. Private, Guard, 1) Lieutenant John Lane, Colonel John Webster, 2) Major General Folsom.