Fourth Generation

25. REBEKAH POINDEXTER JONES^{54,55,56,57,58} was born on 4 November 1822 in Morgan County, Illinois.^{10,24,25,26,54} She died on 10 February 1912 in McDonald County, Missouri.^24,25,54

Rootsweb Archives: St. Francois County MO Marriages (1819-1836)
30 Jun 1836 Murphy Brown to Rebecca Jones

Microfilm of Marriages Volume 1 1836-1852; p. 2. 30 Jun 1836. Murphy Brown and Rebecca Jones each of St. Francois Co MO were married by William Polk, Elder

During the Civil War, Rebecca is said to have ridden a mule, carrying food to relatives in need.

1870 Census. McDonald Co, Richwood Township, Pineville P.O;. p.6, Dwelling 44
Rebecca Brown, age 48, Keeping house, $2500 of real estate, $600 personal, b. Illinois. She can read but cannot write. John R., age 24, farm labor, b. MO. Samuel [Lemuel] G. age 15, farm labor, b. MO. Isabel, age 8, b. MO.

In the 1876 MO State Census, Rebecca has Lemuel & Belle still at home as well as her granddaughter Isabell Brown, daughter of William, and a 4 year old boy named Robert Lee Wilson. [I have no idea who he might be.] Rebecca has 3 horses, 8 cows, 5 sheep, and 28 hogs; she produced 66 bu wheat and 700 bu corn.

Rebecca Brown purchased from Tom Comstock for $100: E1/2 of SE qtr of S7T23R29 80 acres. 18 Oct 1865.
12 Apr 1870, Rebecca P. Brown sold this tract for $500 to George C. Duncan. McDonald Co Deed Book D, p.137.

Deed Book G, p.603. 20 May 1879. Rebekah P. Brown and John R. Brown and his wife Margret E. and Lemuel G. Brown and his wife Isabell, and Beverly C. Barnett and his wife Eliza sold to Laura I. Brown of Barry County the following tracts: the SW 1/4 of the SW 1/4 in S8, T23, R29 containing 39.14 acres and 6.53 acres in the SW corner of the SE 1/4 of the SW 1/4 of the same section. For $100. Maranda J. Comstock and her husband Thomas were also listed in the deed but a margin note states that their names were erased. Another deed follows, dated 30 May 1879, from Miranda and Thomas Comstock of Crawford County, Arkansas, to Laura I. Brown, the same tracts of land for $1. [This must be land inherited from Murphy. Laura is a granddaughter, daughter of deceased son William Clayborn. However, it should have also included the daughter Sarah F. and her husband John Davidson ...unless another deed is recorded in the following Deed Book.]

1880 Census. Richwood twp. An 8-year-old child, Robert E. Lee Wilcox [his named appeared to be Wilson in the 1876 state census] lived with Rebecca. Daughter Belle, and sons Lemuel Green & John R. all lived right in a row.

OBITUARIES, DEATH NOTICES AND NEWS ITEMS EXTRACTED FROM THE VAN BUREN ARGUS; VOLUME 2; Fran Alverson Warren, 2001; p.9
20 FEb 1889 Mrs. Brown, the grandmother of R. Comstock, and Miss Fannie Davidson, his cousin, came home with that gentleman and remained a few days visiting their relatives.

Deed Book 31, p.159-165
Land patents of Murphy Brown's from the 1850's were filed for record. Rebecca P. Brown, John R. Brown & Maggie his wife, L. G. Brown & Isabel his wife, Laura Brown, and Bevy Barnett & Isabell his wife all of McDonald Co for the sum of $1 quit claim to Thomas Comstock: SW1/4 of SE 1/4 S8 T23 R29, 40 acres. 1879. Filed for record 27 Aug 1900.
And John R. Brown & Margaret E. Brown his wife and Lemuel G Brown & Isabell his wife, and Eliza I. Barnett & Bevley C. Barnett her husband and Rebeka P. Brown of McDonald Co and Laura I. Brown of Barry Co for $100 paid by Marandia J. Comstock of Crofford Co AR. SW1/4 of SE 1/4 S8 T23 R29 - 40 acres. 20 May 1879. Filed for record 27 Aug 1900.

1900 Census. Rebecca had grandson Harvie and his family living with her and farming. She stated her occupation was "Interest on monery". She owned her farm free of any mortgage.

1910 Census. McDonald Co; Richwood Twp, p.150b. Rebekah Brown, age 87, living with son Lemuel G. Brown.

Not only did "Becky" bury her husband and son Ezekiel: most of her 15 children pre-deceased her. Miranda, my ancestor, died 5 days before Rebecca died. Only Sarah Frances, Lemuel Green, and Eliza Isabel outlived their mother. Rebecca is said to have moved around in her later years, living with each child for awhile. She lived with Miranda and Tom Comstock for a time, but died at the home of her youngest child Belle.

REBEKAH POINDEXTER JONES and MURPHY BROWN were married on 29 June 1836 in St. Francois County, Missouri.^24,25,59 MURPHY BROWN^{25,60,61,62,63,64} was born on 11 July 1816 in Kentucky.²⁵ He died on 19 June 1863 in Rocky Comfort, McDonald County, Missouri.⁶⁵

Although the Comstock-Haggard book gives his name as John Murphy, I have found it only as Murphy/Murphey in all records.

From p.16 of Goodspeed: Transactions of the County Court. Murphy Brown, of Rocky Comfort; John Oliver and Abraham W. Testerman were elected first judges of the county with Burton McGhee, clerk; A. A. Hensley, sheriff, and Tillotson Pearson, treasurer. These formed the court at Rutledge in 1849. Oliver and Testerman opened court at Rutledge, Murphy Brown dissenting; but it is said Brown never attended at Rutledge.

1850 - Murphy Brown and family found in Census in Newton Co MO. 1860 they are in McDonald Co. Interestingly nearby in both censuses is found a William Brown with wife Elizabeth; they are of an age to be his parents. Possible brothers: Ezekiel, found living next door to Murphy in 1850. John S. age 18 living with William and Elizabeth in 1850 - in 1860 John Brown, age 29, living next door to William and has wife and child. Possible nephew: William Warren, age 13 living with William and Elizabeth in 1850; lives nearby in 1860, age 23 with wife and child. Birthplaces remain consistent for all.

Newton County section of Goodspeed gives as one of the first entries in Township 24, Range 30 - Murphy Brown, 1851. [They indeed may have moved - will need to check Newton Co deeds if they exist. Also see patents below]
R. P. Brown listed as a Taxpayer of 1861 by Goodspeed - assume this is Rebecca Poindexter Brown; this is the location of their land - T23, R29

The McDonald Co Courthouse was burned in 1865 but the following land records for Murphy Brown have been found:
Patent #MC5370_.058 July 1,1852 Newton Co MO
N1/2 SE qtr S23, T24, R30W and SW1/4 of SW qtr S24, T24, R30W 120 acres

Patent #MO5380_.460 Nov 1 1852 McDonald Co MO
E1/2 SW qtr and NW1/4 SW qtr of S8, T23, R29 117.53 acres - this patent (Certificate #11944) filed for record 27 Aug 1900, McDonald Co Courthouse.

Patent #MO5380_.461 Nov 1 1852 McDonald Co MO
W1/2 SE qtr and SE1/4 NW qtr S8, T23, R29 117.47 acres - this patent (Certificate #11945) filed for record 27 Aug 1900 at McDonald Co Courthouse.

Patent #MO5480_.137 Mar 10 1856 McDonald Co MO
SW1/4 SW qtr and SW1/4 NW qtr S8, T23, R29 78.28 acres - this patent (Certificate #17844) filed for record 17 Aug 1900 at McDonald Co Courthouse.

McDonald Co Deeds, p.306
Murphy and Rebeckah Brown sell to Thomas F. Ford for $500: S1/2 of SE qtr of S8, T23, R29 and the N1/2 of NE qtr of S19, T23, R29 160 acres Dated 28 Jan 1861; Filed for record 18 Dec 1868.

McDonald Co Probate Records
Order Book:
p.61 Friday Nov 9, 1866: Ordered by the Court that the Estates of Murphy Brown, Wm Hartman, James K. Appleby, George H. Lewis, Francis Lauderdale, J. Blevins be taken possession by the Public Administrator.
p.64 Estate of Murphy Brown, dec'd. D. P. Weems. Surviving partner of late firm Boone and Weems presents an account agains Said Estate in fourteen Dollars and Ninety two cents and Notice being serviced in open court by the Admr. of said Estate Said Summons allowed by that amt out of the fifth class of Assets.
p.85 Apr 24, 1869: Ordered by the Court that the following settlements of accounts be continued until the next term of this Court:
#8. Murphy Brown
p.86 Apr 27, 1869: Issued and delivered to Sheriff Whimpey, as follows:
#2. Brown, Murphy
p.178 Jul 12, 1869: 2nd Annual Settlement. Estate of Murphy Brown Deceased. Now at this day comes Daniel Harmon Administrator having in charge the estate of this deceased and submits his 2nd annual settlement. Was by the court examined signed and ordered to be entered.
p.252 Mon. Mar 14, 1870: Estate of Murphy Brown, Dec'd. Final Settlement. Now at this day comes J. C. Samson, Public Administrator having in charges the Estate of this deceased and submits his report for final Settlement as such showing to the Court that the estate has been fully administered and that sufficient money had been advanced by Rebecca Brown the widow of said deceased, to pay and satisfy all claims against said estate and also to pay the expenses of administration. The same is by the Court approved and ordered to be entered.

Paul Barker had checked the Courthouse on more than one occasion looking for related papers to Murphy's estate settlement. In Jun of 2002, a friend of his helping the Sheriff in Pineville to set up his office found a box of records in his storage room. It contained the following:
A List of heirs of Murphy Brown, deceased, was filed 15 Sep 1869, by J. C. Samson and included: Widow Rebekah P. Brown, and children John R. Brown, Lemuel G. Brown, Elisa J. Brown, all of McDonald Co. Child Sarah F. Davidson of Barry Co. Child Miranda J. Cumstock of Arkansas, and grandchild, Laura J. Brown of McDonald Co.
The account of David P. Weems of Weems & Bullard as presented to the Estate of Murphy Brown. The charges were made from 28 Feb through 18 Dec of 1861 and there was a balance due of $14.92 1/2. The bill along with interest was paid in full on 6 Jan 1870.
Final Settlement. Filed 14 Mar 1870 and Recorded 26 May, 1870, Book A, p.33, by H. Baker, Judge of Probate. Presented by J. C. Samson, Public Administrator in charge of the Estate of Murphy Brown, deceased.
The papers of the Weems account and the Final Settlement show evidence of being burned along one edge.
Additional papers not copied included an Annual Statement by Daniel Harmon dated 12 Jul 1869; Public notice by J. C. Samson, that his predecessor ceased to have legal force over estates on 17 Jul 1869; and a statement of real estate owned by the Estate which was all in Section 8, Township 23, Range 29, and included the South half of the NW Quarter, the South half of the SE Quarter, and all of the SW Quarter, or some 320 acres.

Mr. Brown and his son Ezekiel were "bush-whacked" while on the way to the blacksmith shop. His wife Rebecca and some of the older children went after their bodies with the wagon, took them to the cemetery and buried them in a common grave at Chitwood Cemetery near Rocky Comfort.
Goodspeed lists Murphy Brown as killed in McDonald County by Federal Scouts during the Civil War. Murphy and Ezekiel were actually murdered by a neighbor, Robert Christian, who was a Union sympathizer and eventually a Lt. in their Army. Christian himself was killed when the Confederacy tried to retake Missouri under Gen. Sterling Price in 1864.

REBEKAH POINDEXTER JONES and MURPHY BROWN had the following children:

150
i.
Richard Jones BROWN was born on 12 May 1837.^24,65 He died in October 1839.^24,65
151
ii.
Elizabeth Bridget BROWN was born on 3 January 1839.^24,65 She died on 15 February 1839.^24,65
+152
iii.
William Clayborn BROWN.
+153
iv.
MIRANDA JANE BROWN.
154
v.
Ezekiel Wilson BROWN was born on 1 November 1843.^24,61,65 He died on 19 June 1863 in Rocky Comfort, McDonald County, Missouri.^24,65
Shot by bushwhackers on the way to the blacksmith's shop.
+155
vi.
John Reed BROWN.
156
vii.
Nancy Emeline BROWN was born on 12 June 1847 in Missouri.^24,61,66 She died on 17 May 1864.^24,66
157
viii.
Mary Catherine BROWN was born on 4 December 1848.^24,61,65 She died on 1 March 1864.^24,65
+158
ix.
Sarah Frances BROWN.
159
x.
Joel BROWN²⁴ was born on 17 June 1852.^24,65 He died on 17 June 1852.^24,65
Recorded in the Family Bible simply as "A Son". Marker in Chitwood Cemetery has "Joel".
+160
xi.
Lemuel Green BROWN.
161
xii.
Monervia Magdalene BROWN was born on 10 December 1856.^24,66 She died on 19 August 1857.^24,66
She was not named on grave marker. "dau. of Murphy & Rebeckah P. Brown"
162
xiii.
Robert Thomas BROWN was born on 13 June 1858.^24,66 He died on 20 July 1858.^24,66
163
xiv.
Rebekah Ann BROWN was born on 8 June 1860.^24,66 She died on 20 September 1860.^24,66
+164
xv.
Eliza Isabel "Belle" BROWN.