Worth COUNTY GA Biographies - Nancy BROWN 1840 - 1920 ******************************************************************************************* USGENWEB NOTICE: In keeping with our policy of providing free information on the Internet, data may be freely used by non-commercial entities, as long as this message remains on all copied material. These electronic pages cannot be reproduced in any format for profit or other presentation. The submitter has given permission to the USGenWeb Archives to store the file permanently for FREE access. ******************************************************************************************* File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by Lanette Brown Hill Dec 2002 NANCY BROWN b. July 1840 Worth County, Ga. d. 1920 Worth County Georgia WORTH COUNTY, GEORGIA Buried at Red Oak Baptist Church, Doles, Ga. (beside Spencer Brown (her brother) Nancy Brown born in the year 1840 in Meriwether County, Georgia and died in Worth County, Georgia, sometime before or during the year 1920, as she is not found in the 1920 Census of Worth County, Georgia after that date. Daughter of David S. Brown (Civil War Hero)of Worth County, Georgia. Nancy is found in 1850 Census of Meriwether Co., Ga. age 10, born in Georgia, page 0388a.txt daughter of David S. Brown Nancy Brown, daughter of David S. Brown, he was born in Barnwell, South Carolina. David traveled with his family to Meriweather County, Georgia as a small child, once grown he moved with his family to Worth County, Georgia. Nancy's mother either died or; as other researchers have stated divorced David and remarried into the Moody family in Meriwether County, while Nancy was a young girl. Later when Nancy grew up, David's second wife died and this left Nancy helping raise her brother, Spencer Brown b. 1860; and sister Mary Brown; as reflected in the census records. The Brown family owned property in Worth County, Georgia and Nancy’s father, David was a man of wealth in those days. Nancy’s father David is listed as an owner of a business in Worth County, Georgia. David was a Miller and had a Henry Reynolds working with him. The Brown family owned a store in Doles, Georgia. This family is shown owning slaves that came over with the Brown family from South Carolina and were given to David by his father, William Brown of Meriweather County, Georgia. This Brown family from all sources found, showed prosperity. Now, Our Nancy, however is seen with her sister, Loucindy, raising their younger step-brother named Spencer, after the death of David's second wife. Then, we find a census in the same year wherein, David got married again to Jane Morgan, a domestic worker. Nancy, and her mother, step-mother were indeed southern women, surprising creatures From early morn till morn again, these women worked hard, the most important and delicate concerns were at her charge and care....she was mistress, manager, doctor, nurse, counselor, seamstress, teacher, housekeeper, slave, all at once...and her life was one long act of devotion to God, devotion to her husband, devotion to her children, devotion to her servants, to her friends, to the poor, to humanity. . .she managed her family, regulated her servants, fed the poor, nursed the sick, consoled the bereaved. Our, Nancy had learned these responsibilities while growing up just as other southern women had. The Brown family was a prosperous one and her father, David was a Miller. This was a hardworking family. They didn't live in white columned houses or plantations. Their home was a modest wooden structure. I'm quite sure that Nancy helped the family with the farming chores and farm life. Water was drawn from wells, chickens had to be fed and eggs gathered. All clothing had to be hand washed and hung out to dry. All vegetables that were gathered had to be prepared for storage. The clothing had to be sewen and handmade. Quilts were prepared for the bedding and all cooking was over open fire places or iron stoves heated by wood. During the Winter it was easy to store milk or butter and meats from spoiling as it was cold outside and ice was readily available. However, during the Summer months, ice was a luxury. The mode of transportation was still horse and buggy and roads were slippery and wet, hard to travel. For entertainment families in the areas surrounding each other would get together for peanut boils, or hog killings or just for holiday dinners, singing and music was fiddles or bango's, guitars and sometimes if they were lucky a piano was available. While young, Nancy was faced with helping to raise younger siblings, loss of her mother in the home, learning to get along with new step-mothers, the responsibility of housekeeping, and working on a farm. Most the families lived off what they farmed or raised. Oh, yes, the Browns did have a country store in Doles, Ga. so we know that other items were sold such as farm tools, salt, etc. Then, the Civil War came to the State of Georgia and our country. . . Nancy found her life change suddenly. The State of Georgia was summoning all the men on the state to take up arms and fight in the cause. At the ripe age of 50 years, Nancy's father, David left to join the volunteer army. Our grand-father did the Honorable thing and joined with his fellow men to fight for a cause he believed in. We should be so proud of him. David's second wife, and daughters Lucinda & Nancy were left at home to tend to business, and raise the smaller children. The human suffering that was a result of the war is unimaginable in the United States today. The typical family farm in North Georgia had only the family members working the land. Each member had jobs for which they were responsible, even the children. Take one or two people out of the family, many fighting a war that they oppose, and what was difficult becomes almost impossible. In 1864 the inflation that tears at the fabric of southern culture was replaced by roving bands of cavalry and infantry, both Blue and Gray, who took what little remained including cattle, horses, and food. Farmers wives feared for their safety. One wrote "They steal our pigs and horses during the day, what will they steal at night?" Some turned to prostitution to get money to purchase food. And as the warriors left, the villages and farms glowed from the fires that had been set by the blue coats. Nancy lived and witnessed the Civil War and would have known the brutal events in and around where she lived. This war would have changed her home and Nancy, her step-mother, siblings and children would have found themselves adapting to these sudden changes in their lifestyle and family. Slavery was abolished and so more of the work would have become Nancy's responsibility. People found food scare, sometimes, homes, and entire communities were burned down, ravaged, and anything of value left in the homes was taken away. Any animal, especially horses, cows, and or eatable vegetable would have been a valued treasure to all the families. Nancy was so busy tending to her brother and little sister that she found no time for her life. And, all men young enough to marry were sent off to fight in the war. The only men left were the oldest men in the families. Then the devestating news came to this family. They learned in 1863, David S. Brown, while in the Civil War and guarding the prisons in Richmond, Va. contracted a disease and died. David S. Brown never lived to return home. You will not find David buried at Red Oak Cemetery, because he would have been buried in Richmond, Va. at the nearest hospital cemetery where he was at. There was no way to transport the bodies back home during the Civil War. Nancy and the others found themselves with no father to come home. They all must have been so broken-hearted. It must have been so devastating to them, to find themselves all alone and only their efforts to survive now. There were some men who did return to Worth County, Ga. and a census was taken of those men. David was not among them. State of Georgia history books tell us the gruesome stories and the incredible hardships that those wives, children had to endure back home. Many lost their fortunes and wealth and were put into ruins. Carpetbaggers swormed into the state to buy up land and property from those who could not afford to pay the back taxes. Poverty was everywhere ---- many plantation owners, and land owners now found themselves with nothing but the clothes on their backs. In Worth County, Georgia, Nancy and her sister and David's last wife's name can be found on the Salt Records. Salt was a luxury during the Civil War. After the Civil War, everyone had to start over again, and Nancy, her step-mother and the children would have found themselves rebuilding their life and home; without a husband, father or mother. The step-mother, Jane Morgan realizing that her new husband would never come home again decided to start her life again and she left and remarried after the Civil War. Lucinda and Nancy managed to hang on the BROWN family property in Worth County. However, we do know our Nancy survived as well as her siblings and made a life in Worth County. However, no marriage record can be found. We do not know if she married or not. The family remaining that would have been old enough to remember, doesn’t. And the Worth County Courthouse burned down, and also the Red Oak Baptist Church records were burned in a housefire of the Clerk’s and so our family may never really know the truth of whether she married or not. However, it states on her death certificate that she is single and it has her fathers name as Dave Brown. 1900 - Census Records of Worth Co., Ga. show Frank, Nancy & Spencer and Joseph - living side-by-side. Brown, Frank, head - b. March 1870 - 30 - married 4 years - Farmer Matilda - wife - b. Dec. 1875 - 23 married 4 yrs - 2 children William - son b. Oct. 1897 - 2 single Dollie - daughter - b. Nov. 1899 - 10 months. Brown, Nancy, head - 5 Relatives - b. July 1840 - 60 single - 3 children Cox, Thomas - son-in-law b. March 1880 - 19 married 2 yrs - farm laborer Loucindy - daughter -b. Jan. 1870 - 30 Divorced - 3 Children Elumia (Loucindy's child) b. Aug. 1887 - 12 single Ola M. - (Loucindy's child) b. Aug. 1888 - 11 single Ethell A. - (Loucindy's child) b. July 1899 - 1 single Brown (Joe) - Joseph E. Brown (Nancy's son) head - b. Oct. 1867 - 32 married 10 yrs. farmer Leola (Watson) Brown - wife - b. July 1873 - 26 - married 10 yrs 5 children; 5 living at the time. Adie A. - son - b. Jan. 1891 - 9 single Nettie A. E. - daughter - b. Nov. 1893 - 6 single Frederick Watson James - son b. June 1895 - 4 single Hardy J. - son - b. March 1897 - 3 single Nellie L. - daughter b. Jan. 1899 1 - single Note: Joe and Leola had more children after this census. Brown, Spencer (Nancy's step-brother) head- Feb. 1859 - 40 married 15 yrs. Farmer Lettie G. - wife b. Oct. 1860 39 married 15 yrs. 7 children (6 living) Delila M. - daughter - b. Feb. 1886 - 14 single Marine T. - son - b. Sept. 1889 - 10 single Ella R. M. - daughter b. Aug. 1891 - 8 single Nancy E. T. - daughter b. Jan. 1893 - 7 single Sarah G. - daughter b. April 1894 - 6 single David A. - son b. Oct. 1895 4 single Brown - named after Spencer's father David S. Brown. Nancy managed to hang onto the family homestead in Worth County, and Nancy later gave her portion of the land to Joseph E. Brown, son. Pauline Brown, daughter of Joe E. Brown and Leola (Watson) Brown, was the youngest grand-child of Nancy's when she passed away, but Pauline was old enough that she still remembers things about her grandmother. Pauline stated that she attended Nancy's funeral at Red Oak Baptist Church. Pauline said she did know that Nancy's father's last name was Brown. Pauline stated that she did not know if Nancy had ever married or not, she just was not sure because she was too young to know or even think about asking. Pauline stated that Nancy was never spoken of in their home much and information about her or her father just was not talked about. Children WERE Seen back then, not Heard from. August 2, 1996 - went to State of Georgia Archives and researched the Red Oak Cemetery Records and verified that there is no grave marker for Nancy as Pauline stated. There is two adult unmarked graves right beside Spencer (son of David S. Brown and his second wife; Mary Jump) in the graveyard. In September 1997; Pauline, Carson and Lanette drove out to Red Oak Cemetery; wherein Pauline pointed to the spot where Nancy is buried. Pauline had attended her funeral as a little girl and knew where she was buried. This spot is right beside Spencer's grave along with another grave (unknown). Nancy's burial site has been verified. Pauline remembered that everyone called Nancy - Grancy ---by the grand-children. And, so, we are here today, because of our grandmother, Nancy Brown and her courageous hard work. Perhaps, this is why I am so stubborn, and don't ever give up when I make my mind to do something. Perhaps, my courage to try harder and my independent thinking are inherited from this courageous ancestor. Perhaps, this is why I keep trying when the going get tough. I have the utmost respect for Nancy, she endured some incredible, difficult times and had a hard life growing up. But, she loved her family, and loved her children and was a good mother no matter what the circumstances in her own life. Nancy's life story is one of true character, grace, and love for God and family. A tough, hardworking woman with grit. Nancy did not let her physical flaws affect her, it just made her stronger. WORTH COUNTY, Georgia: Original Death Certificate of NANCY BROWN. Registered No. 10876 - 1649; She died on April 30, 1926 at 5 pm. Mitral Insufficiency is given as the reason she died. There was no autopsy given and there was no undertaker for her. Her daughter, Loucindy Cox (from Warwick, Ga.) was the informant on the death certificate. She was buried at Red Oak Cemetery on May 1, 1926. It states her fathers name was "Dave" Brown. It states that she was a houseworker. It did not list her mothers name. It stated that she was white and it lists her single. The certificate was certified to Probate on May 1, 1926. Mitral Insufficiency is a heart disease that affects the valves movement; causing a heart attack in patient. LAND DEED - WORTH COUNTY, GEORGIA - This Indenture made and entered into this, the First day of November, one thousand eight hundred and ninety two; between John A. Dixon of the County of Dooly and State of Georgia of the one part, and NANCY BROWN of the County of Worth, and State of Georgia, of the other part. Witnesseth, that the said John A. Dixon for and in consideration of the Sum of One Hundred Dollars to him in last part, the Receipt whereof is hereby acknowledged hath granted, bargained and sold, and by these presents do grant, bargain sell and convey unto the said John A. Dixon, his heirs and assigns, all and singular, all of that lot or parcel of land, known and described as follows: Fifty Acres. South East corner of Lot No. 101; also Twenty Acres in the South West corner of Lot No. 124; all in the 16th District of Worth County, Ga. The same to have and to hold unto the said NANCY BROWN his heirs and assigns, forever in fee Simple and the said John A. Dixon, by these presents binds himself, his he! irs, executors, and administrativors, to warrant and deferred the titles of said Lot of land to the said Nancy Brown his heirs and assigns, against himself and against the claims of all other persons whatsoever. In Witness Whereof, the said John A. Dixon hereunto sets his hand and seal, this the first day of November, 1892. Signed and Sealed and Delivered in Presence of John A. Dixon. Signature John J. Lander and S. N. Holten, J. P. 50 Acres SW Corner Lot # 101 and 20 Acres S.W. Corner Lot # 124. Sold to Nancy Brown Nov. 1, 1892. On the same date; Nancy Brown's brother, Spencer Brown also purchased from John A. Dixon additional acreage as follows. 50 Acres in the North East Corcer of Lot # 101 and also North Half of Lot # 124; all being lying in the 16th District of Worth County, Ga.