If you are interested either in DNA genealogy or in Brown family research for the southern states of the United States of America, please read on!
We are seeking Brown-surnamed males whose Brown ancestors lived in early Warren County, Tennessee or St Clair County, Alabama, or whose Brown ancestors may have had a link to any St Clair or Warren County Browns; for example, many Brown families came from western North Carolina and the South Carolina up-country. The latter category includes especially the descendants of William Brown, the Revolutionary War veteran from Augusta County, Virginia and the Waxhaws region of South and North Carolina, his sons Robert and Thomas Brown migrated to Warren County, Tennessee circa 1808.
Ditto for Browns with St Clair County, Alabama roots or possible connections. There were a number of Brown males there in the 1820s, men whose possible relations to David Brown we would like very much to clarify. Among these "mystery men" in early St Clair County, Alabama about whom we'd like to know a lot more are Guion Brown, Alexander Brown, William Brown, two other David Browns, John Brown, possibly a Cherokee leader, and maybe others.
I, Jim Brown, am a descendant of the Creek War veteran, David Brown, who lived in Warren Co TN from about 1808 until sometime between 1814 and 1819. He then lived in St Clair County, Alabama until his death in 1868. I am also a participant in a DNA-based genealogical research effort that uses Y-chromosome genetic markers in an attempt to delineate relations between and among various Brown family lines. As some readers already know, the Y-chromosome is passed virtually unchanged from father to son, and it changes only very slowly over the course of hundreds of years. So yDNA is practically "made to order" for surname studies.
Note that women do not carry the Y-chromosome, so the absence of women in "Y" surname studies is not sexist or discriminatory. It is just a fact of genetic life. As the science of DNA advances, it may in the future be possible to do useful DNA surname studies with female subjects. But unfortunately, not yet.
On the other hand, Ann Turner writes. Maternal lines could potentially be traced through mitochondrial DNA. Mitochondrial DNA is inherited from your mother's mother's mother's mother... virtually unchanged for tens or even hundreds of generations. The Y chromosome (which is what makes a baby a male child) is inherited from your father's father's father's father... for many generations, although mutations are somewhat more frequent. You may recall from high school biology that the mitochondria are the "powerhouse" of cells. They always come from the mother. Someone will start doing it at some point in time. It is done in research. Mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) tests are available right now from the same companies which do Y chromosome testing, that is:
http://www.oxfordancestors.com
http://www.familytreedna.com
http://www.ancestry.com/genetics.They haven't been widely used, though, because it's hard to organize a project where the surname changes every generation. I have had my uncle's mtDNA tested. He is in haplogroup U, what Bryan Sykes nicknamed "Ursula" in his fascinating book "The Seven Daughters of Eve." My uncle's maternal line goes back to Emaline, maiden name unknown, who married John Brown and lived in Warren County in 1850. She is the person who inspired my 1850 Warren County census database project at http://www.my-ged.com/apturner. Now if every one with a straight maternal line back to Warren County also had their mtDNA tested, I might find some candidates for Emaline's mother! Ann Turner DNACousins@aol.com GENEALOGY-DNA List Administrator
I, Jim Brown, recently got the exciting news that I have an exact DNA match with Victor Brown of Denison, TX. Vic's earliest known Brown ancestor was Alexander Brown, who lived near my ancestor David Brown in Warren Co TN in the early 1800s. Vic and I did not previously think our Brown lines were related, given the total absence of documentary evidence or other reliable proof. But now we think Vic's Alexander and my David Brown were close cousins or even brothers. So I am now firmly convinced of the impressive power of DNA in genealogical research!
Victor thinks Alexander Brown is probably a descendant of Revolutionary War veteran William Brown of Augusta County, VA and Waxhaws, South Carolina-North Carolina, but proof again is lacking. And if his Alexander is related to William, Robert, and Thomas Brown, then my David is also related. To help establish or, equally important, to disprove such a relationship, we fervently hope to find more Brown-surnamed males willing to submit DNA samples.
The DNA samples Victor and I submitted involve an entirely painless and non-obtrusive series of gentle swabs inside the cheek. The cost is modest, that is $99.00 per sample sent to the lab. The company that conducts the tests, Family Tree DNA, Inc., is fully ethical and is highly respected in its scientific field.
If any readers of this compilation are Brown-surnamed males interested in knowing more details, or if you have a close male relative surnamed BROWN who might be willing to submit a DNA sample, please e-mail me directly W5DRP@aol.com
DNA Questions and Answers with Jim Brown and Jim Patrick
Good basic info on DNA testing for genealogy can be found here: http://www.familytreedna.com/faq.html
What sort of information is available to the donor of DNA?
The project in which I am participating uses a 12-marker DNA test. When two individuals show a perfect match with this test, the geneticists and statisticians say it indicates a 90% probability of a common male ancestor within the 48 past generations and a 50% probability of a common male ancestor within 14.5 generations. Participants also have the option of "upgrading" to a 25 marker test, which decreases the 50% confidence interval to the past 8.3 generations. Not a lot to go on, if taken in isolation! But the results can be very powerful if combined prudently with other genealogical methodologies.
I realize the sample provider will be told if he's descended from the same source as your line. But what about another line?
Yes, the company doing the work will notify participants about all matches in their data base, whether or not within the participants' own self-identified lines.
Does he receive a DNA profile that can be submitted to another matching group?
Yes. For example, another researcher -- who is a true expert in the field and who is helping me -- has already taken my profile and "plugged into" a large European data base. It turns out that my profile is quite rare. The only match among 11,000 individuals in this data base turns out to be a man living in Sweden. So it's possible that my Brown line descends from Vikings or other Scandinavians who invaded the British Isles in the middle ages! (It's also possible, of course, that he's simply a Scotsman who married a Swedish girl and settled in Stockholm -- not a very interesting scenario!)
Do you know how many different labs are doing this sort of work?
The Brown-surname project I joined has established a good relationship with FTDNA, Inc., whereby we get a very substantial discount by participating as a group. Some labs are: http://www.oxfordancestors.com, http://www.familytreedna.com, and http://www.ancestry.com/genetics
Will we be advised of the lines of subsequent donors? Will we be advised of the lines of current donors?
Yes, to both questions. Participants in the Brown study have already received information about matches with men who do not have the Brown surname. Cases that obviously can arise because of adoptions or illegitimacy.
What sort of data are we required to submit?
The Brown surname project requires only a basic list of male-to-male ancestors, back to the earliest provable individual, along with whatever basic geographic info is known. Complete GEDCOMs or the like are not necessary.
Who do we get in contact with to participate?
Jim Brown W5DRP@aol.com Arlington, VA.
Descendants of Alexander Brown
Contributed by descendant Victor Brown
1 Alexander Brown b: Abt. 1797 in Rowan County, NC/TN
.. +Hannah Brown Mrs. b: in South Carolina
.... 2 Elizabeth Brown b: 1836
.... 2 Alexander Brown Jr.
.... 2 Curtis Brown b: 1816 in Warren County, TN
........ +Elizabeth Dickson b: 1823 in TN
........... 3 Issac "Ike" Brown b: 1846 in Cross Roads, Izard Co., AR
............... +Mary Ann Martin b: 1851 in Vicksburg, Mississippi
................. 4 Amanda Brown
..................... +Corles
................. 4 Martha Elizabeth Brown buried
Trimble Campground Cemetery, Dolph, AR
..................... +Davidson Alonzo buried Trimble Campground Cemetery, Dolph, AR
................. 4 James Henry Brown, 30 Nov 1882, Izard Co., AR
30 Apr 1970, Izard Co., AR
..................... +Callie Samantha Jane Carpenter, 8 May 1892 12 Oct 1967
........................ 5 Jewel Brown
............................ +Lamb
........................ 5 Leonard Martin Brown, 1916, Izard Co., AR
1985 in Izard Co., AR
............................ +Mary Eve Moody b: 1918
........................ 5 Lillie Rudean Brown
............................ +Watson
........................ 5 Estelle Elizabeth Brown
............................ +Dockins
........................ 5 Frankie Clois Brown
............................ +Moore
........................ 5 Billy Deshazo Brown
........................ 5 Herman Bennington Brown
........................ 5 Lonnie James Brown
........................ 5 Henryetta Brown, 11 Sept 1934, Izard Co., AR
12 Sept 1984, Izard Co., AR
................. 4 Nettie Brown
..................... +Phillip LeFevers
................. 4 Unknown Brown
................. 4 [6] John Brown b: June 1878
..................... +[7] Mandy Sanders
........................ 5 [8] X Brown
........................ 5 [9] X Brown
........................ 5 [10] X Brown
........................ 5 [11] X Brown
........................ 5 [12] X Brown
........... 3 Irvin Brown b: 1848 in Izard County, AR
............... +Caroline b: 1855 in Missouri
................. 4 Laura M. Brown b: 1873
................. 4 James T. Brown b: 1875
................. 4 Sarah E. Brown b: 1877
................. 4 Bob Brown b: 1879
........... 3 Caroline Brown b: 1851
........... 3 Henderson Brown b: 1853
.... 2 John Brown, February 1824, Daylight, Warren Co., TN
1904, Cross Roads, AR
........ +Betty Vickers
........... 3 Sarah Brown b: 1846 in Warren County, TN
........... 3 [1] Thomas Alexander Brown, 3 Sept 1849 in Daylight, Warren Co., TN
3 Jan 1933, Hendrix, OK
............... +Nancy Elizabeth "Lizzie" Fowler, 21 Feb 1891
30 Mar 1967, Oklahoma City, OK.
................. 4 Ellen Brown
..................... +Chapman
................. 4 James Elmer "Jim Red" Brown, d 16 Feb 1951, Snyder, TX
..................... +Chumley
........................ 5 Ralph Brown
................. 4 John Wilburn "Rooster" Brown, d. 10 Dec1950, Snider, TX
..................... +Lois Capshaw
........................ 5 Doyle Brown
........................ 5 Herman Brown
........................ 5 Leon Brown
................. 4 Betty Brown
..................... +Norman C. Andrews
................. 4 Mary Alice Brown, 1915 6 Sept 1979, Oklahoma City, OK
..................... +Everett Putnam
........................ 5 Billy Putnam b. 1941 in Colbert, OK
................. 4 Thomas Eugene Brown, 5 Oct 1918, Hendrix, OK
13 Feb 1989, Dallas, TX
..................... +Mary
........................ 5 Ellen Brown
........................ 5 Betty Brown
........... *2nd Wife of [1] Thomas Alexander Brown:
............... +Malinda Paralee Fowler, July 1849, TN - 24 Sept 1912, Cross Roads, AR
................. 4 [2] William Monroe Brown, 8 Nov 1869, Daylight, Warren Co., TN
..................... +Frances Ellen Cooper, June 1875, Union Township, AR - Abt. 1905
........................ 5 Holly Brown
........................ 5 Vada Gertrude Ann Brown b: January 24, 1893 in Pinefield, AR
............................ +C.J. Caruthers d: 1965
........................ 5 Clyde Brown b: May 1895
........................ 5 LaFayette Brown b: November 1896
................. *2nd Wife of [2] William Monroe Brown:
..................... +Maggie Staggs
........................ 5 Grace Brown
............................ +Henderson
........................ 5 Charles Brown
........................ 5 Floyd L. Brown
............................ +Martha H. Williams
........................ 5 Paul Brown
........................ 5 Nola Brown
............................ +Harvin
........................ 5 Edith Brown b: March 09, 1903 in Hot Springs, AR
............................ +Mayo
........................ 5 Leonard Hughes Brown, 18 Jun 1918, Hendrix, OK
1987, Denison, TX
........................ 5 Talmage Staggs
................. 4 Sarah "Sally" Brown b: June 1872 in Pineville, AR
..................... +Walter C. Perryman b: 1874 in Wideman, AR
........................ 5 Cecil Jack Perryman
........................ 5 [3] Gladys Perryman
............................ +Rowen
........................ *2nd Husband of [3] Gladys Perryman:
............................ +Phillips
........................ 5 Willie Mae Perryman b: August 21, 1900
............................ +Leonard Ramey
........................ 5 Hayes Pete Perryman, 21 Nov 1903, Calico Rock, AR
............................ +Voncill Lannom b: May 20, 1921 in Lawton, OK
................. 4 Gertrude Brown b: January 1880
................. 4 Minnie Brown, 20 Apr 1881, AR - 20 May 1916, Hendrix, OK
..................... +Joseph Washington Hively, 20 Nov 1881, AR - 27 Aug1917,
Hendrix, OK
........................ 5 Noel Leland Hively, 14 Mar 1905, AR - 27 July 1970,
Calico Rock, AR
............................ +Zelma Cecil Wood, 1 June 1909, AR 1982, AR
........................ 5 Lona Malinda Hively, 26 Nov 1907, AR - 5 May 1990,
Calico Rock, AR
............................ +Ernest Sanders b: November 06, 1905 d: May 15, 1973
........................ 5 [4] Clyda Mae Hively b: February 10, 1909 in Cross Roads, AR
d: May 08, 1996 in Wenatchee, WA
............................ +Charles Earl Fowler d: May 19, 1957 in California
........................ *2nd Husband of [4] Clyda Mae Hively:
............................ +Arlis Jones b: Unknown
........................ 5 Earl Hively b: 1911 d: 1918 in Cross Roads, AR
........................ 5 Nova Elizabeth Hively b: February 05, 1913
............................ +Dow Lewis
........................ 5 Nellie Doris Hively, 20 May 1915, Hendrix, OK - 2 Jun 1993,
Calico Rock, AR
............................ +Herron Thompson Whitfield b: Sept. 24, 1914, Pineville, AR
................. 4 James Curtis Brown b: April 20, 1883 in Cross Roads, AR
d: January 16, 1962 in Madonna Hospital, Denison, Texas
..................... +Margery Agatha Wyatt b: October 05, 1883 in Cross Roads, AR
d: May 15, 1967 in Texoma Medical Center, Denison, Texas
........................ 5 [5] Frank Brown d: March 10, 1971 in Denison Texas
............................ +Threshia Sartor
........................ *2nd Wife of [5] Frank Brown:
............................ +Ethel
........................ *3rd Wife of [5] Frank Brown:
............................ +mother of Children Lizzie
........................ 5 Ruth Brown
............................ +Lavoy L Bledsoe
........................ 5 Hazel Brown
............................ +Leland Parks
........................ 5 Oscar Brown d: August 19, Texoma Medical Center, Denison, TX
............................ +Nanniebelle Cooper b: March 21, 1914
........................ 5 Jeffry Brown
........................ 5 Oval Brown b: 1909 in Cross Roads, Ark d: in Denison, TX
............................ +Christine Cooper b: 1911
........................ 5 Vernon Brown b: December 19, 1914 in Hendrix, OK
............................ +Vernice Grider
........................ 5 Victor Roland Brown b: November 27, 1918 in Hendrix, OK
May 17, 1985 in Denison, TX
............................ +Frances Easter Proffitt b: March 19, 1921 in Colbert, Oklahoma
.6 Victor Brown Contributor
................. 4 George Perryman b: February 1893
................. 4 Edgar Perryman b: December 1894
........... 3 William Brown
.... 2 Issac Brown b: September 1843 in TN
........ +Margaret Brown, Mrs. b: 1850 in Mississippi
........... 3 Nettie Genella Brown b: October 1873
........... 3 Thomas C. Brown b: 1875
........... 3 Harriet A. Brown b: August 1876
........... 3 [6] John Brown b: June 1878
............... +[7] Mandy Sanders
................. 4 [8] X Brown
................. 4 [9] X Brown
................. 4 [10] X Brown
................. 4 [11] X Brown
................. 4 [12] X Brown
........... 3 Marthy E. Brown b: July 1880
........... 3 James H. Brown b: November 1882
William Brown to Ann Marie Powers Turner
Contributed by Ann Powers Turner Ann Powers Turner has a site dedicated to Warren County 1850 Census. Her Brown Ancestors inspired her to start the Correlations site, an extensive and on-going study of Warren County families and their inter-relationships starting with the complete 1850 US Census for the county. It can be reached from the Warren County, Tennessee pages http://www.tngenweb.org/warren/ under Census Ann Turners 1850 Warren County Census Project or directly http://hometown.aol.com/APTurner/wctnhome.htm.
1-- William BROWN- (d 1807 Knox County, TN)
2-- Robert BROWN (b 1758 Rowan County, NC; d 1849 Warren County, TN)
3-- William BROWN
4-- John BROWN (b 1823 Warren County, TN)
sp-Emaline (b 1828; d 1853 Warren County, TN)5-- Sarah Jane BROWN (b 1853 Warren County, TN; d 1923 Barry County, MO)
sp-William Henry SCHREINER (b 1850 Elkhart Co., IN; d 1898 Barry Co., MO)6-- Dora Elizabeth SCHREINER (b 1886 Barry County, MO; d 1969 Linn County, IA)
sp-William Edmund POWERS (b 1869 Linn County, IA; d 1960 Linn County, IA)7-- Leo Edmond POWERS (b 1906 Linn County, IA; d 1952 Maricopa County, AZ)
sp-Dorothy Mae WRIGHT (b 1919 Linn County, IA; d 1989 Anoka County, MN)8-- Ann Marie POWERS (b 1942 Linn County, IA)
sp-James Bryan TURNER (b 1939 Greene County, PA)
Transcribed with permission fromWCGA BULLETIN
FALL - WINTER 2002, Volume XI, Numbers 3 and 4, p. 13.