The Brown Family
in Hamilton, Wentworth, Ontario, Canada

And their ancestors:
The Brown Family in Tandragee, Ballymore, Armagh, Ireland

Contents

Click on any of the following to be taken to that section or page.

Introduction

Welcome to my family history website.  This page covers the ancestors and descendants of John Stewart Brown and his wife, Harriet Ellen Jones of Hamilton, Ontario, Canada.  If you are just arriving here for the first time then you may wish to start here.

Please Note: This page is intended only as a narrative historical overview of this family.  There is additional detailed information available for almost ever person presented on this page.  To avoid the unnecessary work of double-entering such things as vital statistics, the additional information can be found in the accompanying GEDCOM database.  Please make sure you click on the INDEX button at the bottom of the page so you don't miss out on potentially valuable additional information.

Acknowledgments

The research presented on this page is not mine alone.  It contains information submitted by all the Fellow Researchers listed below.  I am indebted to them for their generous contributions.  This page is intended as a place for researchers to freely and cooperatively share our research with each other.  It would be too cumbersome a task to reference each piece of data as to which researcher it has come from.  The information shown on this page should be understood as a product of ALL of the Fellow Researchers.  I am merely the editor and not the sole author. - Ryk

My grandmother always told me that I was "as British as possible" with my four paternal ancestral branches coming from Ireland, Scotland, Wales, and England. 

The four ancestral lines of this family are:

1. The Brown family in Tandragee, Armagh, Ireland.  This is the family of John Stewart Brown's father, Chief Constable Thomas Albert Brown, MBE.  The Brown paternal lineage were small-town merchants from Armagh, Ulster, Ireland where their ancestry can be traced back to the mid-1700s. However present research indicates that this family was probably originally from Scotland.  Further information can be found below on this page.
2. The Stewart family in Hamilton, Ontario, Canada.  This is the family of John Stewart Brown's mother, Jane Ord Stewart.  Prior to moving to Hamilton, the Stewart maternal lineage of the Brown family were pioneer farmers in Puslinch Township, Wellington County, Ontario from the early 1800s. However this family originally comes from the Highlands of Perthshire, Scotland where their ancestry can be traced with certainty to the notorious Ardvorlich Stewarts of Loch Earn, then further to King Robert Stewart II of Scotland, grandson of Robert the Bruce, and even further still.  More information on this family can be found by clicking on the family name.
3. The Jones family in Flintshire, Wales.  This is the family of Harriet Ellen Jones' father, Sgt. Richard Evan Jones.  The Jones paternal lineage were industrial working-class folks from Flintshire, Wales where their ancestry can be traced back to the late 1700s. More information on this family can be found by clicking on the family name.
4. The Liptrot family in Bolton, Lancashire, England.  This is the family of Harriet Ellen Jones' mother, Sarah Anne "Annie" Liptrot.  The Liptrot maternal lineage of the Jones family were an industrial working-class family from Lancashire, England where their ancestry can be traced back to the early 1800s.  More information on this family can be found by clicking on the family name.

The Origin Of The Surname Brown

The name Brown is the third most common surname in the English language. The name Brown has three known origins:

1. The first is a characteristic surname derived from the colour brown. It was likely used to describe an ancestor who had brown hair, brown eyes, a ruddy complexion, or possibly wore brown clothes.

2. In Northern Ireland it is also commonly an Anglicization of the Scots Gaelic Mac a'Bhruithin, (pronounced "machk-a-broo-in" or "machk-a-vroo-in", with the "ch" sound as in loch), which means "son of the judge".  As our Browns were Presbyterians (likely of Scots origin) in Northern Ireland this etymology could very well apply to us, however we have no evidence to confirm it.

3. Dorward's Dictionary of Scottish Surnames records (and other sources support) that Brown was one of the two surnames (the other being Smith) commonly chosen by Gaelic speaking Highlanders who were trying to integrate into English speaking areas but whose Gaelic patronymics were either too difficult to pronounce, or, among the anti-Gaelic racist attitudes of the day, considered to be unacceptable.  Certainly with the surname Smith, there are simply too many Smiths to account for the name being solely occupational in origin.  Similarly, the characteristic etymology on its own seems insufficient to account for the widespread commonality of the surname Brown in Scotland.  (A similar etymology can be shown for the Welsh surnames of Evans and Jones.)  This etymology also holds high promise as the origin of our Browns.

The Origin of Our Brown Family

It is impossible to show which of these etymologies pertains to our own Brown family.  However evidence below would suggest that the second or third etymologies are to be preferred at this time.  Thus it is suggested that the most likely origin of our Brown family was that of displaced Highland Scot settlers or soldiers who were brought to Ulster, Ireland as part of the British government's imposed settlements in that area.

Family tradition in our branch asserted that our surname was originally spelled "Browne" and that John Brown dropped the "e" upon coming to Canada because "Browne looked to English".  However my recent investigations in Ireland have revealed this tradition to be incorrect, or, more likely, misunderstood.

In October 2005 I had the privilege of visiting Tandragee, County Armagh, Ireland and all evidence there shows the Brown surname was spelled without the "e" in our family.  Thus the family tradition that the "e" was dropped upon emigration could not be correct.  Strangely though, another Brown family in Canada, also originally from Tandragee (and probably related), held the same tradition about the final "e".  In my review of Irish evidence there are clearly Brown families in the area both with and without the final "e".  What appears to be the case is that the Brownes with an "e" were indeed English and Anglican, whereas the Browns without the "e" were Presbyterian and originally Scots in origin.  Thus the family tradition appears to be just somewhat misunderstood, in that the two spellings do indeed seem to reflect a distinction between the Brownes of English origin and the Browns of Scots origin, but that such a spelling difference already existed in Ulster prior to immigration to Canada.

Click here to learn more about surnames.

Which Flag?

Which flag does one use to represent an ancestral family who came from Ulster, Ireland in the late 19th century?  Anywhere other than Northern Ireland, this would be a simple question to answer.  However, political sensitivities in Northern Ireland make it an extremely complicated issue. 

The Tri-Colour flag has only been officially used since 1937 but has been in unofficial use since the 1840s.  It was intended to represent the two diverse historical traditions of Ireland: the green for the native Roman Catholic, Gaelic-speaking Irish; the orange for the Anglophone Protestant supporters of William of Orange; and the white to represent peace and unity between these people.  Thus, this flag was intended to convey a positive and unifying message to a bitterly divided people.  However such a peace and unity has never fully existed.  Ireland, although now experiencing peace, is still divided into two countries.  The Tri-Colour is the official flag of the (southern) Republic of Ireland and thus has become co-opted as a symbol for Irish Roman Catholic Patriotism and anti-Protestant racism.  It has lost its original symbolic intent of peace and unity.  It has become the flag of one of the "sides".  In Northern Ireland the Tri-Colour is used as a symbol of protest or rebellion against the British Government and a symbol of a hoped-for political reunion between Northern Ireland and the (southern) Republic of Ireland.  Thus for many Protestants in Northern Ireland, the Tri-Colour flag has taken on the taint of anti-Protestant racism.  For many Northern Irish Protestants who have lived through The Troubles, the Tri-Colour is an offensive flag.

The "Red Hand" flag was the official flag of the civil government of the province of Northern Ireland from the time of partitioning until that government was abolished in 1973 and the United Kingdom imposed direct rule, at which point the Union Jack was clarified as the official flag of Northern Ireland.  The Red Hand flag has unquestionably been co-opted by militant Protestant groups in Northern Ireland and without doubt is viewed by Roman Catholics as a racist anti-Roman Catholic symbol.  So, although this flag would probably accurately reflect the genuine anti-Catholic racist sentiments of my ancestors, I do not share those anti-Catholic views, and I would not want to be seen to be promoting such sentiments.  Furthermore this flag was not adopted until after my ancestors left Ireland (which, at the time, was still just "Ireland" and not yet divided into North and South).

The Act of Union in 1801 brought Ireland into the United Kingdom, and resulted in the final version of the Union Jack shown here, which includes the diagonal red cross of St. Patrick, representing the inclusion of Ireland in the UK.  Thus, the technically correct flag for emigrants from Ulster in the late 19th century would be the Union Jack.  However, in Northern Ireland, the Union Jack has also taken on deeper political overtones.  For many native Roman Catholic Irish, the Protestants of Northern Ireland are not Irish; they are British interlopers -- descendants of those who "stole" their land hundreds of years ago.  This is compounded by one of the strange, but enduring characteristics of Northern Irish Protestants that they themselves adamantly assert that they are indeed not Irish; they are British.  Which has raised the question for many historians of "just how long does one have to live in Ireland before one is considered Irish?"  Thus, the Union Jack, although technically the correct flag to use for all of Ireland in the late 19th century (when our Browns emigrated) is itself not free from racist political overtones.

My desire here is to make a cultural statement, not a political statement, and certainly not a racist statement.  When it comes to Northern Ireland, that is an impossible goal.  My challenge is further complicated by the fact that on every other page of this website, where ancestors have emigrated from the UK, I have desired to differentiate between English, Scottish and Welsh emigrants by use of their respective national flags.  So which flag is the "correct" "national" flag for a Northern Irish emigrant to distinguish that person from someone emigrating from elsewhere in the UK?  As you can see, it is nearly impossible to answer that question without being seen to be making a racist political statement one way or the other.  Such is the sad, but true, situation that was, and to a lesser extent, still is, Northern Ireland -- it is nearly impossible to remain neutral.  Political sentiments force one to take a side without even trying to do so.  Thus I have opted to use the "technically" correct flag -- the Union Jack, even though that flag fails to accomplish my goal of symbolizing the cultural origins of my ancestors.

Tandragee, Ballymore Parish, County Armagh, Ulster, Ireland

By the late 18th century our Brown family were settled in the village of Tandragee, Armagh, Northern Ireland.  Just how long our ancestors had been in Tandragee prior to that time has not been determined.

Tandragee is a small town in Ballymore parish in County Armagh in the province of Ulster, Ireland, in what is today the United Kingdom state of Northern Ireland.  The name 'Tandragee', in Irish, is Tóin re Gaoith.  My best attempt at a translation is "back of the wind".

The history of Tandragee is, to a certain degree, a microcosm of the history of Ulster itself.  To understand the history of Tandragee and the Scots-Irish culture from which our family came, one really needs to understand a bit of the history of the province of Ulster and the Plantations.  Such a history is difficult to present as many sources are so politically charged that it can sometimes be hard to distinguish history from political rhetoric.  I'll do my best here. 

The Early Ulster Plantations

Ulster comprises the six counties of present-day Northern Ireland (Antrim, Armagh, Down, Fermanagh, Londonderry, and Tyrone) and the three bordering counties of Cavan, Donegal and Monaghan in the southern Republic of Ireland.  From the earliest times there has always been a great deal of interactive traffic between northern Ireland and southwest Scotland as the two lands are separated by less than 20 miles of water.  In fact the Gaelic-speaking Scots themselves were originally from Ulster, as the ancient Kingdom of Dalriada, which became the Kingdom of the Scots, was founded some 1600 years ago by Ulster Irish settlers.  The language of Scots Gaelic evolved from the Irish Gaelic of these settlers.  The lands appear to have remained somewhat close to each other, as, through the early history of Scotland, whenever a royal or noble person was in trouble, it seems like they always fled to Ulster.

In the 16th century, while Protestantism swept through England and Scotland, Ireland remained largely untouched by the religious revolution and remained Roman Catholic.  At the end of the 16th century a failed uprising by many of the Ulster earls led to their replacement by English nobility.  By the early 17th century, the native Irish Catholic population of Ulster had been diminished by ongoing warring, while at the same time Lowland Scotland was over-populated.  In an effort to deal with the overcrowding and consequent lawlessness on their lands, two Scots lairds, Hugh Montgomery and James Hamilton arranged with the Irish chieftain, Conn O'Neill, to settle large numbers of Lowland Scots on O'Neill's lands, primarily in the counties of Antrim and Down (however it is noted that there was a Scottish settlement in the village of Clare in County Armagh (not to be confused with County Clare in Southern Ireland) not far from Tandragee.  The first large scale settlement of Scots began in 1605.  These settlements were known as the "Ulster Plantations".  These new Scottish settlers were primarily Protestant (Presbyterian).  In many cases the native Irish Roman Catholics were forcibly evicted from their lands in order to make room for the incoming Scottish Presbyterians.  Understandably there was great resentment among the native inhabitants.

Meanwhile the new King James I of England (who was also King James VI of Scotland) was beginning to fear both uprisings in Ireland and political unrest in Scotland.  He felt that the idea of forced plantations in Ireland might solve both his problems.  He began an intensive government program of settling Scots Presbyterians in Irish Roman Catholic Ulster.  These settlers were settled into newly designed planned towns.  These forced settlements and resettlements led to a volatile ethnic, religious and economic disparity with Scottish Presbyterian settlers living in the newly constructed town settlements, Irish Roman Catholic farmers in the surrounding lands, many of whom had been forcibly resettled, and English Anglican landlords and nobility trying to govern over these people.  Ethnic and religious tensions ought to have been expected.

The Settlement of Tandragee

In the case of Tandragee, we see this situation lived out.  Tandragee was one of these "planned towns" described above.  The Project for the Plantation of Ulster of 1609 provided for four corporate towns in County Armagh.  One of these was Tandragee, however Tandragee was never incorporated.  It was planned on the lands of the former ancient kingdom of Oirthir (Orior) which had been ruled for centuries by the Uí Annluain (O'Hanlon) Clan.  Sir Oghie O'Hanlon was the last of his long line to live in the ancient O'Hanlon Castle at Tandragee.  Following the 1598 rising, he and his family and followers were banished to Sweden.  His estates were divided among various English Plantation grantees and in 1610, Sir Oliver St. John of Wiltshire was granted a substantial estate of 1000 acres of O'Hanlon land in Ballymore parish, including the former O'Hanlon Castle.  English settlers began to build houses on the estate around it.

Eventually Sir Oliver St. John was raised to Lord Deputy of Ireland and in 1617 he was created Viscount Grandison of Limerick.  By 1619, he had 17 families planted in Tandragee.  By 1621, he had rebuilt the castle, which became known as St. John's Castle, and he oversaw the building of 20-30 English-style houses and a watermill.  At this time, the settlers of Tandragee were entirely English.

Sir Oliver St. John, Lord Grandison, died in 1631 and his title passed through his niece to the present Earls of Jersey.  His property in Ballymore passed to his great-nephew, Capt. John St. John, who resided in St. John's Castle, Tandragee. 

In 1639, the 'Black Oath' was introduced and required all Protestants living in Ulster to bind themselves to obey all Royal commands. The 'Black Oath' was designed to prevent the Presbyterian Scots in Ulster from aiding their fellow Scots in the Covenanter uprisings back in Scotland.

The Irish Rebellion 1641-42

In 1641, the Irish launched a rebellion under Sir Phelim O'Neill against the Protestant population of Ireland. Religious prejudices on both sides have led to two very different accounts of this rising.  But it would seem that the Ulster-Scots were in a hopeless position, having been gradually disarmed by the English to prevent them from aiding their Covenanter kin in Scotland.  The uprising claimed thousands of lives.

As part of this rebellion, in 1641 in Tandragee, Patrick Oge O'Hanlon captured the castle and town, presumably in the name of his displaced family. 

In 1642, the star general of the British Army, General Monroe, was sent to Ulster to quell the rebellion.  Monroe was Scottish and the majority of his army of 10,000 were Scottish Highlanders.  Meanwhile, Sir Phelim O'Neill gave instructions for the assembling of Irish troops at Tandragee in an effort to oppose the approaching Scottish army.  Monroe successfully occupied Tandragee for three days, burning the mills and several houses, in an event that came to be known as 'The Invasion of Tandragee'.  Patrick O'Hanlon fled and was eventually killed.  However this did not extinguish the desire of the O'Hanlons to reclaim their ancestral lands and lesser skirmishes between the O'Hanlons and the St. Johns continued for at least another generation.  General Munroe returned through Ballymore in 1646, but bypassed Tandragee, on his way to Benburb where he was later defeated by O'Neill.  Many of Monroe's Highlanders remained and settled in Ulster following the rebellion.  Prior to this time, the Ulster-Scots settlers had been almost entirely Lowland. 

Meanwhile, in England, civil war was breaking out at the same time as the Protestant English Parliament clashed with the Roman Catholic King Charles, thus distracting and weakening the British presence in Ireland.

Resettling Ballymore and the Later Plantations

Ballymore is Gaelic for "great town".  Ballymore parish was re-settled after the British Civil War of 1641-42 during the restoration of the British monarchy under Charles II.  Prior to this time Armagh had been settled primarily by English.  Thus, most Scots in the area came after 1642, however the establishment of a Presbyterian Church in the nearby village of Clare in 1633 shows that there were at least some Scottish settlers in Armagh prior to the Rebellion.

The 1680's saw renewed migration of Scottish Presbyterians to the north of Ireland to escape the brutal suppression of the failed Covenanter uprising.  This brutal suppression became known as 'The Killing Times'.

The Battle of the Boyne, in 1690, with William of Orange's Protestants defeating the Catholic Jacobites, and the peace that followed it brought a new era of prosperity to Tandragee.  Local industries like milling and turning were revived and the weaving of linen became a staple industry.  The smelting of iron appears to have died a natural death, but is still commemorated by a tract of woodland known in the locality as Forge Wood.

The final large scale movement of Scots to Ulster happened in the 1690's following the Battle of the Boyne when whole new towns and villages sprang up as Scots moved across the Irish sea to avoid famine in Scotland. There were no more wholesale plantations after this period as economic conditions in the north of Ireland were no better than Scotland, although there was still regular smaller scale movement between Ulster and Scotland.

By the end of the plantation period an estimated 80%+ of the Protestant settlers in Ulster were Scots, the rest being English along with smaller numbers of French Huguenot, Welsh, Manx, German, Dutch and Danish. These other immigrants were eventually absorbed into the Ulster-Scots ethnic mix.

The English administration persecuted the Scottish Presbyterians whom at times they regarded as more troublesome than the Irish Catholics. Marriages carried out by Presbyterian clergy were not legally binding and Presbyterians could not hold public office.  While a number of Scots converted to the Anglican Church of Ireland and a number returned to Scotland, the vast majority remained in Ulster and maintained their Presbyterian faith.

Tandragee in the 18th Century

In the early years of the 18th century, the settlers in Tandragee decided to build a new church in Ballymore, near St. John's Castle, whose mansion had previously been used as the place of Anglican worship. 

It is not known exactly when the first Presbyterians began to worship in Tandragee.  The earliest records date back only to 1825, however evidence suggests that some form of Presbyterian "meeting house" existed prior to 1825, but there are no records of any gatherings.  There is a big gap between 1642 and 1825.  Nearby Clare Presbyterian Church dates back to 1633 and it is likely that prior to 1825 any Presbyterians would have worshiped either at Clare or at the Church of Ireland parish church in Ballymore.

In 1732 an English Protestant schoolmaster was installed to teach the English tongue in Ballymore parish.  This implies that many of the parishioners were familiar with the Irish language (or possibly Scots Gaelic too, in the case of Highland soldiers who may have settled in the area).

In the early 18th century tanneries were common in the woodlands around Tandragee.  By 1740, Tandragee was "a tolerably good village". 

In 1766, Ballymore parish was populated by 615 Protestant and 286 Roman Catholic families.

In 1789, a school was opened in Tandragee.  And in 1796, soap making had become another local staple industry.

"The Troubles"

With the ethnic and religious situation described above it was almost inevitable that clashes between Catholics and Protestants would break out and that these clashes would take on a religious, not just political, character.  By the late 18th century there was great agitation in the country.  In 1786, differences between the Protestant 'Peep o' Day Boys' and the Roman Catholic 'Defenders' came to a head at Tandragee and a desperate fight took place.  In 1787 another skirmish took place after which it is said that many well-to-do families "got up and left the country".  Further disturbances between Protestants and Catholics occurred in 1789, 1791, 1792, 1793.

In 1793, an Irish Militia Act required the listing, by parish, of all men between the ages of 18 and 45.  These men were conscripted for service abroad for a term of three years.  Exemption from service could be purchased.

In 1794 and 1823 Roman Catholic Defenders burned houses in the area.  In 1795, troubles again arose, resulting in the Battle of the Diamond, which gave birth to the (Protestant) Orange Order.  Tandragee became a stronghold for the Orange Order and still remains so to this day (2004).

Troubles throughout Ulster culminated in the Civil War of 1798.  Tandragee escaped direct harm in this battle, although it is said that citizens of the town could be found on both sides of the fighting.

Tandragee in the 19th Century

In 1804, Tandragee, situated in rich countryside and within one mile of the Newry Canal, was inhabited by wealthy bleachers.  Tandragee's linen market was very successful.  By 1814 there were 222 houses in Tandragee with a population of 1,081.  By 1821 the population had increased to 1158 with 217 occupied houses.

In 1815, the Presbyterian minister of nearby Clare opened a private school in Tandragee.  It seems reasonable to suggest that this may coincide with the earliest Presbyterian meetings in Tandragee.  In 1819, the parish church was rebuilt and a public school was built, housing 60 pupils.

In 1823, there was a considerable disturbance in Tandragee and surrounding districts between Protestants and Catholics and a house and byres were burned.

Schools are well documented from 1824 onwards and in 1827 a Presbyterian congregation was established as an outgrowth of the nearby Clare congregation.

In 1831, a group of men from Tandragee deliberately disrupted celebrations of St. John's Eve.  During the disturbance on man was killed.  Later that year there was an Orange Lodge demonstration in Tandragee in which 10,000 people attended.  They are said to have "exhibited not less that 1000 guns openly and a great number of pistols."  In 1833 there was a procession after an Orange meeting at the castle gates which turned into a public riot.  In 1834 there were more troubles again.

In 1836 the number of families worshipping in the Presbyterian congregation in Tandragee was 159, but only 53 actually resided in the town of Tandragee, the remainder were from adjacent lands.

By 1837 Tandragee was flourishing.  The linen industry was extensive and there were several large flax mills which employed some 6000 people in the immediate area.  There was also a meal mill on the nearby River Cusher.  However, by 1846 the linen industry was in decline.  There were also two hotels by this time.

During the years 1847-1855 there were no records kept for the Presbyterian congregation in Tandragee.  Author Robin Greer suggests that this was due to great hardships suffered by the community from the Great Potato Famine of 1845-49 and the Crimean War of 1853-56.  Later records imply that during this same period the minister of the congregation went without stipend for the equivalent of nearly six years.  His stipend at the time was £40 annually.  (In 2005 this would be equivalent to about £4000 or about $10,000 Canadian in modern currency.)

In 1861 the population of the town of Tandragee was about 2000 inhabitants.  In 1863, Tandragee was first lit by gas.  In 1888 there was also a successful spinning mill in town.  In 1874 the Presbyterian congregation comprised about 65 households.  In 1888 the census of the Presbyterian congregation was 248 adults and 206 children.  In 2004 the membership is about 260 families.

Brown Family Connections in Tandragee

As our Brown ancestors were Presbyterian, it is most likely that they were Scots in origin.  Our Browns were also staunch members of the Orange Order.  In 1928 on the occasion of the 100th anniversary of the congregation a John George Brown of Maryland left a donation of £100 to the congregation. And the congregational War Memorial for 1939-45 lists a W. Brown.  The following persons are listed in the Armagh Muster Roll of 1630: George Brown, John Brown, Alexander Browne, George Browne, John Browne, Martin Browne, Nathaniel Browne, Richard Browne, Robert Browne.  However there is no indication where in Armagh any of these people lived.  (http://www.from-ireland.net/censussubs/armaghmuster1630.htm#br) 

Photos

Here are some other photos from the area around Tandragee from our trip in October 2005.

The Brown Family in Tandragee, Armagh, Ireland

John BROWN

Our story begins with a John Brown whose identity is really only theoretical. He is suggested here as an early ancestor of the following John Brown, with several intervening generations missing. Although the surname Brown is a very common surname and is found with two spellings: Brown and Browne. As noted above, family traditions in two independent Canadian descendant branches suggest that the spelling with the "e" was preferred those of English origin while the Scots preferred the spelling without the "e". As our Browns were without an "e" it would suggest that they were not English. However spelling is not a reliable means for determining ethnic origins.

The fact that our Browns were Presbyterian is a far more reliable indicator of their origins.  Although it is true that there were conversions in Ireland from Catholicism and Anglicanism to Presbyterianism, these conversions would have been proportionally small when compared to the number of Presbyterians who were of Scottish origin.  Thus the fact that our Browns were Presbyterian, and the fact that they had a racist dislike of Catholics and English, make it highly unlikely that they were of native Irish origin or English origin, but almost certainly they were originally Scottish.

The earliest records of settlers in Armagh are the 1630 Armagh Muster Rolls, which list several of the surname Browne and two of the surname Brown, namely John Brown and George Brown. It is theorized that these two could be brothers of Scots origin and that either of them could be the progenitor of our Browns (John to be the preferred one). Evidence to support this theory is merely circumstantial.

This John Brown is suggested as a possible ancestor of:

1. John BROWN b: ABT 1740 in County Armagh, Ulster, Ireland.  Firmer evidence begins with this John Brown, whose identity is also unproven. He is suggested from evidence found in the Flax Growers List of 1796 as one of the four John Browns listed in County Armagh (respectively found in the following parishes: Armagh, Derrynoose, Keady, and Loughgilly).  This John Brown is asserted as the father of:
   1. John BROWN b: ABT 1775 in County Armagh, Ulster, Ireland.  This John Brown's identity is also unproven. He is suggested from evidence found in the Flax Growers' Bounty List of 1796, the Tithe Applotments list of 1823, and onomastics. It is suggested that he was born in County Armagh and that sometime between 1796-1830 he settled in Tandragee. The Tithe Applotments show two John Browns in 1830 in Ballymore parish. believed to be the only Browns in Ballymore. One is shown as living in Ballynaleck and the other in Tannyoky. As no such place as Tannyoky has so far been identified, it is suggested that Tannyoky is a corruption or copying error for Tandragee.  John's place and date of death are unknown, but it seems likely that he died in Tandragee and that his stone no longer exists or his grave was never marked.  This John Brown is asserted as the father of:
      1. John BROWN b: BET 1800 AND 1805 in in or near Tandragee, County Armagh, Ulster, Ireland.  The existence of this John Brown is uncertain. He is suggested from evidence found in the 1830 Tithe Applotment list as being the second of only two John Browns listed in Ballymore Parish at that date. It is suggested that he died or moved away from Ballymore prior to 1848 as no John Brown is recorded in Griffith's Valuation list for 1848.
      2. Robert BROWN b: 1812 in or near Tandragee, County Armagh, Ulster, Ireland.  Provable evidence of our Brown ancestry begins with this Robert Brown.  His story is continued below.

Robert Brown & Ruth Brown

Firm evidence for our Brown ancestry begins with this Robert Brown.  He was born in 1812 probably in, or at least near, Tandragee.  Certainly he lived his life in Tandragee and he is buried in a very prominent location in the Tandragee Presbyterian Kirk yard along with his wife and several generations of descendants.  Robert Brown married ABT 1845 in likely Tandragee, County Armagh, Ulster, Ireland to Ruth Brown, although no record of their marriage has yet been found. (PRONI records are yet to be searched.)  It is not known what Ruth's maiden name was.  She is listed on the grave stone as Ruth Brown, but that is mostly likely only her married name.  It is extremely likely that Robert and Ruth Brown had more children than are noted here. The children listed below are only those listed on the grave stone in the Tandragee church yard (plus my own known line). The names and later whereabouts of the other children are unknown.  (See above for photos of Robert's grave stone.)  Robert and Ruth Brown had the following known children:

1. Prissella BROWN b: 1840 in Tandragee, County Armagh, Ulster, Ireland.  She married John Johnson MAYES b: 1841 in County Armagh, Ulster, Ireland. 
   1. Samuel Johson MAYES b: BET 1860 AND 1889 in Tandragee, County Armagh, Ulster, Ireland.  Samuel married Ida Elizabeth RENNIE b: ABT 1885 in Tandragee, County Armagh, Ulster, Ireland.  They had the following children:
      1. William James MAYES b: 1908 in Tandragee, County Armagh, Ulster, Ireland.  William married Jean MALCOLMSON b: Private.
         1. Samuel Johnson MAYES b: Private. Samuel married and began his family in Tandragee.  He immigrated to Toronto, York, Ontario, Canada in the mid-50s.  His marriage and descendant information is private.
         2. William James MAYES b: ABT 1930 in Tandragee, County Armagh, Ulster, Ireland. 
         3. Katherin MAYES b: ABT 1931 in Tandragee, County Armagh, Ulster, Ireland
      2. Samuel Johnston MAYES b: AVT 1912 in Tandragee, County Armagh, Ulster, Ireland.  Samuel remained in Ireland.
      3. Robert John MAYES b: ABT 1915 in Tandragee, County Armagh, Ulster, Ireland
   2. William James MAYES b: 1863 in Tandragee, County Armagh, Ulster, Ireland.  William died young and never married.
2. John BROWN b: BET 1841 AND 1844 in Tandragee, County Armagh, Ulster, Ireland and probably died young.  No documentary evidence has yet been found to confirm the existence of this John Brown. He is suggested by onomastics only
3. Thomas BROWN b: 1844 in Tandragee, County Armagh, Ulster, Ireland.  He died at age 37 and is buried with the rest of the family in Tandragee.  He was presumably unmarried, however it is possible that a widow and children could have emigrated.
4. Robert BROWN b: 1850 in Tandragee, County Armagh, Ulster, Ireland.  He died at age 23 and is buried with the rest of the family in Tandragee.
5. John BROWN b: 3 SEP 1854 in Tandragee, County Armagh, Ulster, Ireland.  He married Sarah CORK and immigrated to Canada.  Their story continues below.

The Mayes family, descended from Prissella Brown, above, were the last known members of this family to have resided in Tandragee.  No members of this family were still living in Tandragee in October 2005 at the time of our visit.  In questioning the Session Clerk of the congregation, he knew of no living members of this family remaining in the parish.  Thus none could be interviewed who might know more about this family.  However, thanks to this web-site I have now made contact with a Mayes descendant of Prisella Brown.  Our combined research is ongoing.

John Brown & Sarah Cork

John BROWN was born 3 SEP 1854 in Tandragee, Ballymore Parish, County Armagh, Ulster, Ireland as the son of Robert Brown and Ruth Brown shown above.  John married before 1874 presumably in Tandragee, County Armagh to Sarah CORK who was born 20 APR 1854 in Ireland.  Sarah's birth family has not been identified.

John Brown and his family immigrated to Canada and settled in Hamilton, Ontario in 1889 (or 1892 according to another accounting). John is recorded as a baker in an early Hamilton Directory.  It is possible that he was a baker back in Ireland and its possible that his father Robert was also a baker -- but we don't know for certain.  John and his sons were staunch Presbyterians and members of the (anti-Catholic) Irish Protestant Benevolent Society.

John Brown and Sarah Cork had the following children:

1. Robert BROWN b: ABT 1874 in Tandragee, County Armagh, Ireland.  He purportedly moved to Michigan and was never heard from again.  His existence is supported only by family tradition and onomastics.  No documentary evidence has been found to verify his existence.
2. William John BROWN b: 15 OCT 1875 in Tandragee, County Armagh, Ireland married on 26 JUN 1907 (or 1909) in St. Peter's Anglican Church, Dorchester, Middlesex County, Ontario, Winnifred Merril Drake and moved to London, Middlesex, Ontario. William worked as a linesman for the telephone company.  They had three daughters:
   1. Merril Elsie BROWN b: Private
   2. Winnifred Sarah BROWN b: Private
   3. Jean Adeline BROWN b: 8 AUG 1916 in London, Middlesex County, Ontario.  Jean was the rebel in the family and was the only sister of the three who married. She received her gold medal and music teaching certificate in voice from the Toronto Conservatory of Music and sang with the Toronto Opera Company. She also sang with Wesley United and First United Churches (Toronto?).  She married on 22 MAY 1942 to Cyril STENNETT and had children.  Their descendant information is private.
3. Minnie BROWN b: 27 FEB 1877 in Tandragee, County Armagh, Ireland married in in St. Andrew's Presbyterian Church, Hamilton, Wentworth County, Ontario to Robert KELLS of Hamilton.  They moved to Cornwall, Ontario where she fell out of touch with the descendants of Thomas Albert Brown.  In the 1911 census she is found residing with her parents, but without her husband.  It is possible that she was just visiting from Cornwall.  It is believed they had no children.
4. Anne C. BROWNE b: 4 MAY 1878 in Tandragee, County Armagh, Ireland married on 28 AUG 1907 in St. Andrew's Presbyterian Church, Hamilton, Wentworth, Ontario to Frank SLINGERLAND and moved to Niagara-on-the-lake, Welland County, Ontario.  They had one son:
   1. Freddie SLINGERLAND b: Private
5. Chief Thomas Albert BROWN , M.B.E. b: 12 APR 1880 in Tandragee, County Armagh, Ireland married on 19 OCT 1904 in Central Presbyterian Church, Hamilton, Wentworth, Ontario to Jane Ord STEWART of Hamilton.  This is the author's family and their story continues below.
6. James S. BROWN b: 16 MAY 1882 in Tandragee, County Armagh, Ireland never married.  James was a very colourful character of whom much is told below.

It is not known why the family moved from Ireland to Canada, although with the level of poverty in Ireland at the time and the increasing tension between Irish patriots and British loyalists, they most likely emigrated in hopes of a more prosperous and more peaceful life.

The Brown Family in Hamilton, Wentworth, Ontario

It's regrettable that this family history project has to begin on such a sour note as that which follows, because there are some wonderfully positive stories in this family and in the other branches.  However chronology and patrilineal ordering dictates that I must begin with an unpleasant story.

It seems that the Browns were neither a close nor healthy family. For all the public glory brought by Thomas Albert Brown in his professional achievements and his many awards as a public figure, there was an equally inglorious private shame at home, which I have tried to deal with as honestly and graciously as possible in the individual note files for the fathers and sons in this family.

John Brown was known to be a violent father and there is evidence to indicate that his father, Robert Brown, was also. In fact, evidence suggests the lineage of family violence probably extended even further back than we now know. John's sons, Tom and William Brown were described as "overly strict disciplinarians", and Tom was known to have been violent at home. Jim Brown (a.k.a. "Col. William") was disowned by his brother Tom. Their brother Robert left the country never to be heard from again.  And their sister Minnie moved to Cornwall, Ontario and lost touch with the family. Only William, Tom, and Annie remained in contact with each other as the children grew up and had families.

In the two brothers Tom and Jim Brown, this family produced two of the most interesting, different, and opposite characters to ever come from the same parents. Tom was the very proper, authoritarian, high achieving, and highly decorated Chief of Police. Jim was the longhaired, rebellious, charismatic, swindling, and entertaining carnival snake-oil salesman. Even though they lived as close together as Brantford and Hamilton, they never spoke to each other for their entire adult lives. Tom even denied the existence of his brother Jim, and family members were not permitted to speak about Uncle Jim in Tom's presence. Tom's disowning of Jim was so thorough that Tom's descendants never even knew Jim existed until I started research on this project. It was only through contact with William's descendants that I learned of the existence of the very colourful Uncle Jim.

Jim "Col. William" Brown was completely cut-off by his brother Tom. Tom's descendants never even knew of Jim's existence. Their brother William's daughters remember that it was not permitted to speak of Jim in Tom's presence. Even Jim's nephew Stewart Brown never knew of his Uncle Jim's existence.

It is speculated that the rift between Jim and Tom may have begun over Jim's dubious military service. Jim claims to have been a member of the Canadian Mounted Rifles and present at the coronation of King Edward VII. He claims to have fought in the Boer War, having served the entire campaign. All of this is possible. Tom certainly served in the military, but Tom never saw any action.  One theory is that Tom was jealous because Jim saw action and Tom did not. The more likely theory is that Jim's military record is purely fictional and that he combined the identities of his brothers William and Tom to create his sideshow persona. It is known that Tom was present at the coronation of Edward VII. Was Jim present also, or did he "borrow" that story? If he did indeed "borrow" part or all of his military record from his brothers William and Tom, then this would certainly have offended his proper public figure of a brother, Tom, the Chief of Police. The real truth may never be known and may be a combination of both theories.

Jim never married, nor had children (that we know of!).

Tom Brown & Jean Stewart

Tom's career however was remarkable. He rose from a rookie constable to Chief of Police and guided the Hamilton Police Force through some of its most difficult and changing years. Meanwhile at home his violent temper far exceeded what would have been considered acceptable standards of corporal punishment even for that day.

The Brown family initially attended Central Presbyterian Church in Hamilton and it was there that Tom, the youngest of the Brown boys, met Jane Ord "Jean" Stewart, the daughter of a local grocery store owner, Hugh Stewart. Jean's family was descended from early pioneer settlers of Scots-English origin from Puslinch Township, Wellington County, Ontario (near Guelph). Her family story can be found on the Stewarts of Hamilton Page.  They married at Central Church in Hamilton in 1904. Jean was five years older than Tom which may explain why she lied about her age at their wedding, claiming to be younger than Tom.

Tom and Jean had three daughters and one son -- two of whom remained in Hamilton, one who moved to Alberta and the other who moved to New York. Although these siblings were separated by great distances they did remain in contact with each other much more so than their father's family.

1. John Stewart BROWN, who went by "Stewart", b: 28 JUN 1905 in 173 Walnut St. S., Hamilton, Wentworth, Ontario. He married on 5 APR 1930 in Ryerson United Church in Hamilton, Wentworth, Ontario to Harriett Ellen JONES.  This is the author's family.  Their story continues below.
2. Margaret Ruth BROWN b: 12 APR 1907 in Hamilton, Wentworth, Ontario. She married on 5 JUN 1926 in Hamilton, Wentworth, Ontario to Fred E. PARKINSON and had children.  Their descendant information is not published for privacy reasons.
3. Mary Helen BROWN b: 4 DEC 1912 in Hamilton, Wentworth, Ontario. She married George ROBSON and had one known child.  Their descendant information is not published for privacy reasons.
4. Florence Jean BROWN b: 9 AUG 1917 in Hamilton, Wentworth, Ontario. She married about 1939 in Hamilton, Wentworth, Ontario to Basil DEAN who was born 1915 in Newbury, Berkshire, England.  They moved to Calgary, Alberta and had children.  Their descendant information is not published for privacy reasons.

Though the family were staunch Presbyterians they eventually ended up at Ryerson Methodist (United) Church in Hamilton's east end, under the assumption that in 1925 all the Presbyterian Churches and Methodist Churches were going to be uniting together. It was at Ryerson United Church that Tom and Jean's son, (John) Stewart Brown, met one of "the Jones girls". The Jones girls were three sisters, Edna, Harriett, and Hilda, whose industrial working-class Methodist family had emigrated from Bolton, England in 1907. The Jones sisters caught the eyes of three friends and classmates in the Senior Boys Sunday School Class at Ryerson Clay Zurbrigg, John Stewart Brown, and Bill Hunter. 

Stewart Brown and Harriet Jones

John Stewart Brown, son of Thomas Brown, married on 5 APR 1930 in Ryerson United Church in Hamilton, Wentworth, Ontario to Harriet Ellen JONES.  Harriet Ellen Jones was born 13 OCT 1906 in Bolton, Lancashire, England as the daughter of Richard Evan Jones and Sarah Anne Liptrot.  The ancestry of Harriet Jones can be found on the Jones Family Page and on the Liptrot Family Page.  Stewart and Harriet had the following children:

1. Beverly Anne BROWN b: 10 APR 1932 in Hamilton, Wentworth, Ontario. She married Norman James SOUTER and they adopted two children.  Their descendant information is not published for privacy reasons.
2. Kenneth Richard BROWN b: 18 APR 1937 in Hamilton, Wentworth, Ontario. He married to Jacqueline Rose ANGUS and had children, including this author.  Jackie Angus' history can be found on the Angus Family Page.  The remainder of this family's descendant information is not published for privacy reasons.

Research Leads

William and Elizabeth Brown in Hamilton, 1901

The following family is found in the 1901 census.  It is not known if they are related.

William and Elizabeth BROWN, living in Hamilton City, Ward 6.  William was born 22 JUL 1849 in Ireland and immigrated in 1866.  William was a moulder and a Protestant.  Elizabeth was born 27 JUN 1851 in rural Ontario of Irish ethnicity.  They are listed as lodgers in the house of Mary Garnet.

William James Brown, 45, born Ireland, widowed, moulder, son of Robert and Sarah, married 1893 in Hamilton, Wentworth, to Elizabeth Leonard, 40, widowed, dtr of Moses and Elizabeth, witnessed by William Moore and Wm J Leonard.  No children found.

William and Elizabeth Brown in Hamilton, 1911

Not the same William and Elizabeth shown above.  This family is found in the 1911 census living in Hamilton.  It is not known if they are related. 

William and Elizabeth BROWN, living at 174 Duke Street in Hamilton.  William was born SEP 1866 in Ireland and immigrated in 1890.  William was a carpenter and a Presbyterian.  He was working for a house builder. Elizabeth was born JUN 1872 in Ontario of Scottish origin.  William Brown has not been identified in the 1901 census.  Married 19 SEP 1906 in Hamilton, Wentworth, Ontario. 

Wm John Brown age 39 at marriage, carpenter, born Co. Armagh, Ireland, son of Wm Brown and Mary jane Kennedy, Presbyterian.  Eliza Donald, age 34, born Hamilton, dtr of Alexander Donald and Eliza Coulter.  Witnesses: Logie Donaldson and Mary Ogilvie.

Eliza Donald, b 25 JUN 1872 in Hamilton, Wentworth, dtr of Alexander Donald and Eliza Jane Coulter

They had the following children:

1. Donald BROWN, born APR 1908 in Ontario (Born 17 APR 1908, Henry Donald Brown, son of William John Brown, carpenter, and Eliza Donald, res 174 Duke St. Hamilton)
2. Marjory? BROWN, born JUL 1909 in Ontario (Marjory Lillian Brown, b 21 JUL 1909, ditto)
3. William BROWN, born DEC 1910 in Ontario

Can-Am Border Crossings

1. Robert C. Brown, age 24, soldier, son of George Brown in Portadown, Armagh, Ireland (about 10 km north of Tandragee), arrived 3 JUN 1919 at Quebec, Canada, sailing from Liverpool on the Melita, arrived , bound for San Francisco, California, USA.
2. Robert F. Brown, age 24 years 8 months, born Ireland, machinist, last residence Saskatoon, SK, son of Thomas Brown of Crossmayley, Co. Armagh, Ireland, entered at Noyes, Minnesota, bound for Detroit, Michigan.
3. William Brown, 29, Irish, toolmaker ~~~ engineer, and wife Jean Brown 27, entered Detroit, Mich, USA, MAR 1909, from Hamilton, ON, brother of Charles Brown of 29 Stinton St, Hamilton ON, bound for ~~~ Michigan.

Diary of Grace Brown, Tandragee!

Tandragee Baptist Church

IN
LOVING MEMORY OF
WM. BROWN
WHO
FELL ASLEEP IN JESUS
6TH MAY 1883

http://www.bob-sinton.com/headstones/tandragee-baptist/view.php?cid=22&id=1468&name=William%20Brown

www.thesilverbowl.com

Links

Fellow Researchers

People researching this family include the following.  If you wish your name added to the fellow researchers' list, please contact me.

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Legend

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ABT = "about" and is used in three ways:

1. Where it precedes a precise date of birth, such as "ABT 3 DEC 1855", then it means that the person was baptized on 3 DEC 1795, but his/her exact date of birth is unknown.

2. Where it precedes a semi-precise date of birth with the month only given, such as "ABT DEC 1855", then that means that the birth is recorded in the civil birth registrations for the quarter ending with that month.  Thus the person's birth was registered sometime between the beginning of October 1855 and the end of December 1855, but no baptism record has been found nor any more precise birth record.

3. Where it precedes a year only, such as "ABT 1855", then it means that there is no information on the person's birth date at all and an educated guess has been made that he/she was probably born sometime around 1855.

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This page was last updated on July 22, 2008