Henry Brown was born 6 November 1841 in Belleville, Hastings Co., Ontario a son of Thomas and Mary Johnston Brown.
Source: Index – Baptisms, Marriage & Death Records of St. Thomas Anglican Church, Belleville, Ontario, 1821 to 1874, by McMillan University and the Quinte Branch of the Ontario Genealogical Society. Sex 11, birth 11/6/1841, year 841, baptism 30 June, 1842.
Henry married Catherine Mary Clark about 1863. I have not been able to locate a marriage for them in the records for the area.
Catherine was born 25 May 1839 in England. She immigrated from England about 1845 per the census. It looks like her mother Anne was living next to them in 1871 as a widow.
Henry and Catherine had the following children, see the census listed below for more details of this family.
- Emma P. Brown born about 1864 in Rawdon. She married a Bryon O. Lett born about 1855 in Sidney, probably the township in Hastings? His parents were Andrew Lett and Sarah M. Baker.
Byson O. Lett, 29, Residence Rawdon, born Sidney, Bachelor, Farmer, father Andrew O. Lett, mother Sarah M. Baker. Spouse Emma P. Brown, 20 yrs, living Rawdon, born Rawdon, Spinster, father Henry Brown and mother Catherine Mary Clark. Witness Sarah Mukejohn and Ella Lott and Wilbert Gavinson and John Brown of Rawdon. Marriage Dec 21, 1884, St. Mark Church 12 Con. Rawdon. Groom Methodist. Bride Ch of Eng. Charlotte Harris.
Source: Ontario Canada Marriages 1801-1928, Brown and Lett Marriage, page 104, Schedule B – Marriages, #004273, No. 11.
- John Brown born 28 September 1866, he married an Olive Beatrise Gunter born 18 March 1873 in Ontario, Canada. They had one son, Arthur Ross Brown.
Brown John, age 29, living Rawdon, born Rawdon, Bachelor, farmer, father Henry Brown, mother Mary C. Clark. Olive Beatrice Gunter, age 24 living Trenton, Ont, born Cashel Twp., Single, school teacher, father P.M. Gunter, mother Nancy.
Source: Ontario Canadian Marriages 1801-1928, John Brown to Olive Beatrise Gunter, Rawdon, Hastings Co., Ontario, page 541, Schedule B.
3. Francis Brown born about 1869. She is in the 1871 census but missing in 1881.
4. Mary Matilda Brown born about 1870. She married an Angus Carmichael on 24 Nov. 1891 in Rawdon, Hastings Co., Ontario per index only. So the Maud Carmichael in the 1911 census is probably her child. I cannot get a fix on them in the census but I have found an Angus and Mary Matilda Brown Carmichael buried in Maple Grove Cemetery in Belmont, Peterborough Co., Ontario. No tombstone is online at this time to verify.
5. Emily Brown born 1870. She is 1-year-old in the 1871 census but by the 1881 she is 16 years old.
6. Edith Brown born 1 April, 1871 married John Gay. They settled in Campbellford, Northumberland, Ontario. See census information below for more information.
John Gay, 28, married Rawdon, PofB Huntingdon, Bach. Merchant & Cheesemaker, Father John Gay, mother Jane, spouse Edith Brown, 25, lives Rawdon, born Rawdon, Single. Father Henry Brown and Catherine Mary Clark. Witness J.A. Johnston, Billa Gay of Rawdon. Dof Marriage June 18th, 1896, Rawdon, Ont. Episcopalian, Rev. C.M.Harris.
Source: Ontario Canada Marriages, John Gay to Edith Brown, June 18, 1896, pg. 458 Schedule B. Marriages – #005452.
7. William Chapman Brown born 23 May 1874 in Ontario. He became a physician and is listed on his father and mother’s death certificates as their physician and on his mother’s as the informant.
He married Whilellmina Matheson in Toronto on 6 May 1908.
Brown, William Chapman, age 34, Marriage May 6, 1908, Toronto, Bachelor, Physician, father Henry Brown, mother Catharine Clark, Ep. Spouse Whilellmina, Matheson, age 32, born Ontario, single, father James Matheson, Mother Hannah Betts, Meth. Witnesses R.D. Collins of Toronto and Christine Cairncross Toronto, married by E.A. Chown, L. Registered May 7, 1908.
Source: Ontario Canada Marriages, Wm. C. Brown to W. Matheson, May 6, 1908, Toronto, York Co., Ontario, page 307, Marriages, No. 914, #001921
8. Arthur Brown born 13 Jan 1876 in Ontario. He married C. Grace MacDonald and had three children: Eva (1915), Ronald (1917) and Margaret (1919). They are buried in the Twelfth Line Cemetery in Rawdon Twp., but no stone has been posted. Their daughter Margaret is also buried there.
9. Maud Mabel Brown born 8 Jan 1879 in Ontario, she married James Robert Gay on 21 August 1907.
Gay, James Robt, 28, Aug 21, 1907 Belleville, PofB not given, Bachelor, Bookkeepr, father John Gay mother Jane Shaw, Methodist. Brown, Maud Mabel, 28, Belleville, birth place not given, Single, Professional Nurse, Father Henry Brown, mother Katherine Clarke, C of E. Witnesses: L.G. Green, Belleville, Lulu Brown, Belleville, Ont. Rev. A.S. Dickinson L, Oct. 13, 1910.
Source: Ontario Canadian Marriages, James R. Gay to Maud M. Brown, August 21, 1907, Belleville #010963.
In 1911 she was with her parents in Rawdon. She had her son Lorne with her. Later in the 1921 census she was with James and they had migrated to Essex, Essex Co., Ontario. They had the following children: Sterling (1915) and Grant (1920). See census below for more detail. It looks like they are buried in the Greenhill Cemetery in Essex but no tombstone has been posted for James, Maud and their son Stirling at this time.
10. Lulu Brown born 12 May 1881 in Ontario. She was a nurse. Lulu was living with her mother in 1921.
Let’s take a further look at Henry and Catherine in the census:
Henry Brown appears in the 1861 Canadian Census with his mother Mary and step-father Thomas Vance. He is also with his other siblings both Brown and Vance. He is listed as being 19 years old. See the preceding post for details of this census.
Henry is living in Rawdon Twp., Hastings County in the 1871 Canadian Census:
page 28, Line 18, 108/109 110, Brown, Henery, M, 28, born Ontario, C of England, Irish, Farmer, M; Brown Mary, F, 30, M, born England, C of England, English, no occupation, M. Brown, Emma, F, 6, born Ontario, C of England, Irish.
Line 4, ____, 111, Clark, Anne, F, 50, born England, English, widowed. Clark, Emma, F, 12, born Ontario
Source: 1871 Canadian Census, Rawdon, North Hastings, Ontario, 62 N. Hastings, No. 3/B Div. enumerated by James Cooke, page 28 and page 29.
The following decade later in 1881 Henry is still living in Rawdon Twp.
Line 6, 80, 84, Brown Henry, M, 40, born Ontario, all C of England, Irish, farmer, M
Brown, Mary, F, 41, born England, English, M
Brown, Emily, F, 16, all children born Ontario, Irish
Brown, John, M, 13, listed as farmer but crossed off.
Brown, Matilda, F, 11
Brown, Edith, F, 10
Brown, William, M, 6
Brown, Arthur, M, 5
Brown Maud, F, 3,
Source: 1881 Canadian Census, Rawdon Twp., Hastings North, Ontario, page 19, District 122 North Hastings,
Henry is still in Rawdon Twp. in 1891:
Line 9, 3?/44/42 Brown, Henry, M, 49, M, born Ontario, parents born Ireland, CofE, farmer.
Brown, Catherine M., F, 51, M, Wife, born England, parents born England, C of E.
Brown, John, M, 23, S, Son, Born Ontario all children born Ontario, all children father born Ontario, mother England. All children C of E.
Brown, William, M, 16, S, son, farmer
Brown, Arthur, M, 14, S, son
Brown, Matilda, F, 21, S, daughter
Brown, Edith, F, 20, S, daughter
Brown, Maud, F, 12, S, Daughter
Brown, Lulu/Huler, F, 9, S, daughter
All can read and write.
Source: 1891 Canadian Census, Rawdon Twp., Hastings North, Ontario, Page 9, No. 5 Rawdon, enumerated 16 April, 1891, by John Bateman.
Moving on to 1901 we find that Henry and Catherine have remained in Rawdon Twp. Their son, John Brown, has established a family near them.
Line 23, 124, 180, Brown, Henry, M, W, Head, M, Nov. 6, 1841, 59, born Ontario, Irish, C of E for almost all, farmer, 12, 184
Brown, Catherine M, F, W, wife, May 25, 1839, 61, born England, English.
Brown, William C. M, W, son, May 25, 1874, 26, All born Ontario, All Irish, student.
Brown, Arthur, M, W, son, June 13, 1876, 25
Brown, Maud, F, W, daughter, Jan. 9, 1879, 22
Brown, Lulu, F, W, daughter, May 12, 1881, 12
Burkins George, M, border, Dec 25, 1877, 23, English, Presby, operator
line 30 125, 181, Brown, John, M, W, Head, Sept. 28, 1866, 34, Irish, farmer, 2, 460.
Brown, Olive B., F, W, wife, March 18, 1873, 28, German
Brown, Arthur Ross, M, W, son, April 11, 1899, 1, Irish
Source: 1901 Canadian Census, Rawdon Twp., Hastings North, Ontario, page 13, District 71, S Dist# M, PD #5, enumerator J. W. Heagle.
Life gets very interesting for Henry and Catherine in 1911 and we have daughters who have moved in with their children:
Line 38, 40, 40, Brown, Henry, Con 12, Lot 12, M, M, Head, married, Nov. 1861, 69, Irish, all Anglican, farmer, 3000, 25.35.
Brown, Catherine M. F, wife, married, May, 1839, 72, English, occupation unreadable, 81,80
Below all listed as single, all born Ontario, and all Irish.
Brown, Arthur, M, son, Jan 1870, 35, farmer, 1000, 12.96,
Gay, Maud, F, daughter, Jan, 1879, 32
Brown, Lulu, F, daughter, May 1891, 30
Carmichael, Maud, F, grand-daughter, Jan. 1906, 5
Gay, Lorne, M, grandson, Feb. 1909, 2.
Source: 1911 Canadian Census, Rawdon Twp., Hastings West, Ontario, page 4, 80 Hastings West, SD#25, ED# 6, enumerated by D. W. Robbins
We have some interesting developments in this family. We have a daughter living at home and several grandchildren. What happened?
It looks like Maud Brown Gay returned home with her son Lorne. She did marry a James Robert Gay on 21 August 1907 in Belleville – see above.
Her sister Edith also married a John Gay, who is the brother of James. See the above marriage information.
Edith and John Gay are in the 1901 Canadian census with two children:
Line 27, 6, 6, Gay, Jno. M, Head, M, 27 Feb. 1867, 34, Cheeseman
Gay, Edith, F, Wife, M, 1 April 1871, 24,
Gay, Lulu, F, daughter, S, 9 July 1898, 3
Gay, Henry S, M, Son, S, 10 Nov. 1899, 2
All born Ontario, All Irish, All Canadian, Methodist
Source: 1901 Canadian Census, Rawdon Twp., Hastings Co., Ontario, 71 Hastings North, SDist M, Polling 4, Rawdon Tp. page 1, Edmund Canerly, April 8, 1901.
We also find them in Campbellford, Northumberland, Ontario in the 1911 census:
Line 32, 63, 65, Gay, John, Front St., M, head, M, Jan 1848, 43, born Ontario, grocery store, $3000, $48.00
Gay, Edith, F, wife, M, April 1871, 40, born Ontario, none
Gay, Lulu S, daughter, S, July 1892, 18, born Ontario, student
Gay, Henry J., son, S, Nov. 1898, 12, born Ontario, student
Gay, James A., son, May 1903, 7, born Ontario, student
All Irish, Methodist
Source: 1911 Canadian Census, Campbellford, Northumberland, Ontario, Dist#101, SubD#32, Front St., Ernest F. Skitch, page 6.
Returning to the parents in 1921 we find Catherine is alone and widowed, however, her son Arthur is nearby.
Line 20, 23, 76, Brown Arthur, O, BB, —, B, 6, Head, M, married, age 45, all others are born in Ontario, All C of E. farmer, own farm.
Brown, Grace, wife, F, married, 30
Brown, Ronald, son, M, Single, 4
Brown, Eva, F, daughter, Single, 6
Brown, Margaret, daughter, Single, 2
Line 24, 77, Brown, Catherine, Head, F, Widowed, 82, born in England parents born in England, came in 1845, no occupation
Brown, Lulu, daughter, F, S, 40, nurse.
Source: 1921 Canadian Census, Rawdon Twp., Hastings, Ontario, page 7, 90 Hastings, ED#15, enumerated by W. S. Stiles
Henry Brown and Catherine Mary Clark Brown are buried in the Twelfth Line Cemetery in Rawdon Twp., no tombstone has been posted online at this time. This information is per the Angelfire Hastings County cemetery website. This website has pop up ads that are annoying, but it is a helpful website: The website has been removed from the internet.
http://www.angelfire.com/wa3/greenwoodontario/TwelfthCemetery1.html
Henry Brown died on 28 June 1920 in Rawdon Twp.
Brown Henry, Male, Irish, married, 78 years 7 born, Nov. 6, 1841, Farmer, farming, 40 years at place, 78 years in Ontario. Father Thomas Brown, Ireland, mother Mary Johnston, Ireland, name of informant Mrs. John Wood, Ivanhoe, sister. PofB Con. 12, Rawdon, date of b. 6 Nov. 1841, W. H. Litt, Marmora, date of death June 28, 1920, sick from 1919 to June 21, 1920, cirrhosis of the liver and Chronic Nephritis, pardence failure. W. Chapman Brown M.D. 386 Blvd St. W. Toronto.
Source: Ontario Deaths, page 379, Deaths, #018510, No. 1
Catherine followed on 12 March 1928 in Rawdon.
Brown, Catherine Mary, Con 12, Female, English, Widowed, 88 yrs, 9 mos. Born England, May 25, 1839, Farmer’s wife, Farming, 60 years at place of death, 84 years in Ontario. father John Clark, England, Mother Anne [Uncles], England, informant W. Chapman Brown 386 Bloor St. W. Toronto, Son, 12th Con. Rawdon, buried Mar 15, 1928, Maratt & Co., Marmora, died March 12, 1928, sick from Feb 23 to Mar 8 with Angina Pectoria and influenza 14 days. Physician W. Chapman Brown M.D.
Source: Ontario Deaths, page 142 Deaths, #017378, No. 2.
There is more to do on this family of Henry and Catherine Brown such as follow the children out on the census, obtain further information about the cemeteries and make sure these are the correct children especially for the ones that do not have enough information and only appear in the census. I think this is a good start.
The Boardmans and Browns of Winnipeg, A Canadian Story... 