Jesse Anderson BROWN Jr.

     
     Jesse Anderson BROWN Jr. was born on 20 July 1810 in Stewart County, Tennessee, son of Jesse Anderson BROWN and Obedience LEGGETT.¹ He was a farmer.
     Jesse Anderson BROWN Jr. appeared on a census, enumerated 1 June 1830, in the household of Jesse Anderson BROWN and Obedience LEGGETT in Bibb County, Alabama.²
     Jesse was arrested on 25 April 1831 in Bibb County, Alabama. The case, "State of Alabama vs. Ichabod Henderson and Jesse Brown", claimed that Jesse and Ichabod "assembled together in a warlike manner with force and arms and terrorized the citizens of Bibb County." They were arraigned before a grand jury and went to trial by jury. Both were ordered to pay .01 cent and court costs to the State of Alabama.³
     Jesse married Mary CAMP, daughter of Abisha CAMP and Sarah Rebecca LOONEY, on 4 September 1831 in Bibb County, Alabama. The wedding was performed by Ransom McElroy, J.P.⁴
     Jesse Anderson BROWN Jr. and Mary CAMP were members of Enon Baptist Church. For some reason they left the church in November 1831 when "Sister Mary Brown requested a letter of dismissal which was granted." However, she returned in September 1832 when the church "opened the door for the reception of members and Sister Polly Brown came forward and was received by letter." Polly also appeared on a membership list in April 1838, along with Asa A. Brown, Madison Brown, Obedience Brown, Patsey Brown, Martha Brown, Betsey Brown, Jerusha Brown, and Nancy Brown.⁵
     Jesse Anderson BROWN Jr. witnessed the probate of the estate of Jesse Anderson BROWN in April 1834 in Centreville, Bibb County, Alabama. David L. Brown, the administrator of the estate presented his account of the proceeds of the estate sale totaling $112.87. The money was divided as follows: To Charles Elliot for medical services $4.75, to David R. Boyd for medical services $11.62, to Elisha Wilson for medical services $28.25, to the officers of the county for their services $15.56, to Lewis Kennedy as counsel for administrator $10 and said administrator be allowed to retain for his services $16, leaving in the hands of said administrator $26.69 to be distributed among sundry creditors in proportion of their claims. The administrator was ordered to pay the following claims: to Jesse Brown, Jr. $15.04, to David L. Brown .80 cents, to David Ward .83 cents, to George Leith .32 cents, to B. Griffin $1.33, to C. C. Bailey $6.78, to Mathis C. White .28 cents, to Absolum Pratt $1.18, and to Evan Foshee .30 cents.⁶
     Jesse Anderson BROWN Jr. and Obedience LEGGETT were granted land 24 September 1834 in Six Mile, Bibb County, Alabama. The grant was for section 9, township 23, range 10-E near the present site of Enon Baptist Church. Joshua Brown also received a land grant this same day in Tuscaloosa County. Their relationship is unknown.⁷
     Jesse Anderson BROWN Jr., Mary CAMP, and Obedience LEGGETT sold a tract of land to George Howard on 12 September 1835 in Bibb County, Alabama. The deed reads that "Jesse A. Brown and his wife Mary Brown and Obedience Brown" agreed to sell to George Howard for $400 the southeast quarter of section 9, township 23 north, range 10 east containing 160 acres. The deed contains the signatures of Jesse and Mary. Obedience signed with her mark. It was witnessed by William Caddell, clerk, who recorded the deed 14 Sep 1835.⁸
     Jesse Anderson BROWN Jr. appeared as head of household on a census enumerated 1 June 1840 in Bibb County, Alabama. The household was listed as one male age 20-29 [Jesse]; one male age 15-19 [???]; one male age 5-9 [???]; one male under 5 [Waymon]; one female age 20-29 [Polly]; two females age 5-9 [Sarah, Obedience]; and one female under 5 [Emily]. Also living with them was one female age 60-69 [Obedience Leggett]. They owned no slaves.⁹
     Jesse was appointed Justice of the Peace on 28 April 1847 in Bibb County.¹⁰
     Jesse was found in an 1848 Tax List for Bibb County, District two. He was taxed for land in section 11, township 23, range 10 east. It was valued at $225. There was another name in this entry as land owner, __ Carter. Jesse was also taxed for one poll and one wood clock.¹¹
     Jesse Anderson BROWN Jr. and Polly CAMP appeared as head of household on a census enumerated 5 November 1850 in Bibb County, Alabama. The household was listed as Jesse A. Brown, age 40, farmer, born Tennessee; Polly, age 39, born Georgia; Sarah A., age 17; Obedience C., age 16; Emily A., age 14; Wyman L., age 11; Melissa A., age 9; Pardee, age 7; Holly W., age 4; and Drucilla, age 1 year. All the children were born in Alabama. Also living in the household was Obedience Brown, age 89, born South Carolina. The value of Jesse's property was listed as $800.¹²
     Jesse Anderson BROWN Jr. and Mary CAMP appeared as head of household on a census enumerated 1 August 1860 in Centreville, Bibb County, Alabama. The household was listed as Jesse A. Brown, age 51, born Tennessee; Mary, age 50, born in Georgia; Sarah A., age 25; Wyman L., age 22; Malissa A., age 17; Parilee, age 16; Holly, age 14; and Amanda, age 8. Ben Rayfield, age 25, a farm laborer lived with them. The value of Jesse's real estate was $800 and the value of his personal estate was $500. Jesse and Wyman's occupation was farmer, while that of Mary and the girls was "domestic". All of the children, except Sarah, were shown attending school.¹³
     Jesse Anderson BROWN Jr. appeared as head of household on a census enumerated 1866 in Bibb County, Alabama. The household was listed as 1 male 10-20 [Holly], 1 male 20-30 [Waymon], 1 male 50-60 [Jesse], 2 females 10-20 [Drucilla & Almira Jane], and 2 females 20-30 [Mary & Melissa]. There was one male disabled in the war [Waymon]. The family lived in township 23, range 10 east.¹⁴
     Jesse was appointed Notary Public on 1 October 1868 in Centreville, Bibb County, Alabama.¹⁵ Jesse was elected sheriff of Bibb County in 1869, serving until 1872. According to polical legend, Jesse, a Democrat, resorted to a trick to defeat Republican John Latham during the dark reconstruction years. Jesse publicly professed to be a Republican convert, winning election, then when the chancery court met the following May, refused to call the racially mixed jury expected of a Republican.^16,17
     Jesse Anderson BROWN Jr. appeared as head of household on a census enumerated 1 June 1870 in Centreville, Bibb County, Alabama. The household was listed as Jackson Brown, age 59, sheriff, born Tennessee; Jane, age 39, keeping house, born Tennessee; Amanda [Almira?], age 21, born Alabama; Washington Adams, age 14, white male, born Alabama; and Edward Adams, age 12, white male, born Alabama. His son "Henry" Brown was living next door.¹⁸
     Jesse Anderson BROWN Jr. died before 1880 in Bibb County, Alabama. He was buried in Brown Family Cemetery, Bibb County, Alabama. There is no tombstone. In fact, although there appears to be about 50 graves in the cemetery, there is only one tombstone remaining.