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OLD AARON BROWN HOUSE NEAR BROWNVILLE
Aaron Brown, soldier of the W a r of 1812, native of • Calvin Locke $300 for 61.59 adjoining acres.
A half dozen years earlier both these parcels had
Pennsylvania and probably a relative of Major General
Jacob Brown, built this native limestone house about belonged to the Le Bays and after Aaron Brown sold the
1830 or 1831 on the west side of the Perch Lake road not combined property to James Osborn in 1857 the latter
purchased an adjacent ten acres from William J. Hunter
far outside of Brownville village.
Upon becoming 65 he apparently decided to retire Sept. 7, 1858. On March 31, 1866, James and Delilah D.
from farming, disposing of the house and its 126.69 acres Osborn sold the house and 136.69 acres to Alfred G.
of land March 10, 1857, to James Osborn for $5,300 and Taylor, a native of England, who had come to Dexter in
purchasing a house in the village April 6 from Dr. William 1850 to work in the woolen mill. Taylor paid $5,500 and
Penn Massey on the west side of Washington street, just Aug. 21, 1896, joined witli his wife, Hester, in selling it to
north of the railroad tracks and of Dr. Massey's stone their son, Frank D. Taylor. After the latter died the Jefmansion now owned by John J. Warren: Aaron Brown ferson County National bank, Francis G. Taylor and
and his family which consisted of his wife, Martha, three Martha T. Wilson of the town of Brownville as executors
daughters, Martha J., Eliza M. and Lucy A., resided in the sold the place to Merritt B. Gilmore of the same town and
Washington street house until Feb. 19, 1870, when he sold on Dec. 19, 1938, Mr. Gilmore disposed of it to James E.
it to Magdalena Conklin for $1,200. It is likely that the and Hester I. Gilmore, the present owners.
family then moved elsewhere for none of the cemetery
It is of interest to note that during the early history
records in the town of Brownville shows the burial of an of Jefferson county there were apparently three Aaron
Aaron Brown.
Browns who played a part in its development. One of
Aaron Brown Avas born in Pennsylvania in 1792 and these purchased land at Watertown Center in 1806 and
his wife was born the following year in Massachusetts. He became one of the original trustees of the First Presbywas only 20 when he became a Minute Man June 18, 1812, terian church. Little record is left of him. Another Aaron
and served one monlh in Capt. Azariah Thomas' company Brown was born in Connecticut in 1785, later was located
of Colonel MacComber's regiment in the W a r of 1812. in Washington county, New York, came to Adams in 1806
Also he served a month from Oct. 15, 1814, as a private in and shortly thereafter settled in Lorraine, became asCapt. George Brown's company of Col. Calvin Britain's semblyman in 1830 and, died in May, 1870. He was the
108th Infantry regiment. For his military service he was grandfather of Clarence A. Brown, city, and Henry M.
given two land grants, one of 40 acres and one of 120 Brown, Utica, and the father of Attorney Levi H. Brown
acres. On March 3. 1830, he paid the Mechanic's Fire and the grand-uncle of Senator Elorr B. Brown and Abner
Insurance company of New York trustees $458.75 for 65.1 B. Brown.
acres on the Perch Lake road and Oct. 31, 1831, paid
—Photo and Caption by David F. Lane
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