BROWNS IN RHODE ISLAND
Source: Carl Boyer 3rds book Notes by Firehair:
Browns are a basic part of the Tribes of New England, especially of the
Narragansett Tribe of Rhode Island.
These are early records, meaning, the racial designation is ambiguous, left
in the eyes of the beholder. Keep in mind the sparcity of "Blacks" in New
England during this time frame, and the decison of the Supreme Court of
Massachusetts, during the Mashpee Land claims, that race could not be used
as a claim against culture, and that "Indians had been often designated as Black,
Negro, colored since long before the Revolution".
Firehair
"New England Colonial Families" - autographed copy in possession of Sheila
Spencer Stover/aka Firehair.
Pg. 73
114. Charles Brown - colored, born abt. 1765, died in Bristol, Rhode Island 12 Oct 1820, aged 55 (4:165)
115. Charles Brown, colored, born about 1824, died in Bristol, Rhode Island, 11 Aug 1837, aged 13. (4:45)
116. Dan Brown, a Negro, was born Swansea, Massachusetts, 29 August 1762 (Carter). He was listed in the 1790 census as head of household of two persons.
117. Hannah Brown, a Negro of Tiverton, Rhode Island was married there by Restcome Sanford, Justice, 24 oct 1765 (2:52), to Anthony Johnson, a Negro of Newport, Rhode Island.
118. Nancy Brown, "of colour" of Dartmouth, Massachusetts, married, according to intentions recorded there by 22 Dec 1822, James Crowell, a Negro of Dartmouth.
119. Newport Brown, a Negro of Taunton, Massachusetts, married there, 27 March 1794, Patience Rhodes, a Negro, in Taunton.
120. Prince Brown lived for a time in Barrington, Rhode Island. His wife's name was "Waddie". In the 1790 Census eight were listed in his household. One child, Pero, was b. 2 April, 1766, md. Jennie.
121. Pero Brown, born Barrington Rhode Island, April 1766. Wife's name, Jennie, child born Barrington, (1:16) Reuben, b. 15 June 1790.
Thanks, Firehair. For those of you who haven't met her, Firehair is very active in researching New England Indians, and is a co-founder [with Grey Wolf] of Remnant Nations. Her email address is ShngSprt@aol.com. I hope to add more records of people who were designated as colored, mulatto, Negro and Indian. Some of the town histories and vital records books had a separate section in the back for the records of the non-whites. If anyone has any such lists, I'd love to have a copy to put up here. Thanks, SueWE