The First Table

(Jacob and George Brown Families)

Shortly after their arrival a piece of pine plank was discovered floating down the river, which they managed to secure. This was a prize, and from it was manufactured the first table, around which they daily gathered to break bread, and thank the “Giver of every good.” This table is now in the possession of Mrs. Mary How, of Brownville.

After a time some rough-hewed planks were put up as shelves, being fastened to the log wall by wooden pins; here the dishes were safely placed, and the hearts of mothers and daughters rejoiced over the convenient arrangement.

How this large family could find sufficient room in this log hut, twenty feet square, is a problem difficult to solve; but here they lived and thrived, keeping “open house” for all the hungry and benighted land-jobbers, surveyors, hunters, or fishermen who chanced to come that way; and they were not “few and far between,’ for it is said so great was the draft made on their eatables that more than once a barrel of flour was consumed in three days. Not much variety of food had these early settlers. Their meat was mostly pork and what game the woods afforded, with fish from the river. Mainly the changes were rung on “bread and peas and pork, and pork and peas and bread.” Provisions at that time were chiefly brought from Kingston by means of a boat owned by the colony.

During this first winter this little colony was entirely shut in from the outside world. General Washington died December 14, 1799. In the following April, Jacob Brown, hungry for news, sent a man on foot to Whitesboro, the nearest post-office. The messenger returned, bringing the papers dressed in mourning for the death of the “Father of his Country.”

The same season the body of a two-story log house, twenty-five by thirty, was put up on the site of the brick block now owned by Colonel Lord. This was not ready for occupation till the spring of 1801, when it was used as a store by Jacob Brown and his father, who kept a small stock of goods for the accommodation of the settlers.

About this time (1800) Jacob Brown brought to his new home a bride. Her maiden name was Pamelia Williams, daughter of Captain Judge Williams, of Williamstown, and sister of Judge Nathan Williams, of Utica,--a lady who proved herself in every way worthy of her distinguished husband, and who still survives him; in the possession of physical and mental powers to a remarkable degree. Until within a few years she had resided in the old family mansion, built by her husband, and for many years the home of her son-in-law, the late colonel Edmund Kirby. She now lives with her granddaughter (Mrs. William Everett), at Rye, New York.

Accompanying the Brown family to this new country was the George Brown already mentioned, the father of Henry, and Thomas, and George Brown, Esqs. He took up land known since as he Henry Brown farm, just outside the village.

Hon. Lysander Brown, of Watertown, relates this incident connected with the pioneer life of his grandmother, Mrs. George Brown: “The Indians were quite common at the time of the first settlement; and though avowedly peaceful, were disposed to be quite saucy. One day one came to the residence of George Brown, who was absent, and demanded ‘something to eat’ of his wife. The latter began to get it, but was not spry enough to suit the warrior, who suddenly flung his tomahawk across the room, sinking it deep in the jamb of the door. ‘Ugh!’ he exclaimed, ‘that is the way we serve white men; Indian want to eat quick.’ It may be believed Mrs. Brown lost no time in complying.”

About this time came Thomas Y. How, from Trenton, New Jersey. He was a graduate of Princeton, and brought with him his patrimony of ten thousand dollars. He loaned large sums to the Browns to aid in carrying on their enterprises. Mr. How’s thorough culture as a student, and his finished, courtly manners, made him an agreeable companion, and a valuable acquisition to the colony, but as a business man he was not successful. He took up one hundred acres of land on Perch river flats,--now known as the Adam W. Walrath farm. This land Jacob Brown engaged to clear for him; and employed for this purpose one John Brown (the father of Aaron and George Brown), known as “Honest John Brown,” and, after clearing of this land, as “How-job” John Brown. Jacob Brown, in writing to his brother, John (a bookseller in New York), July 9, 1802, says, “We this year pay a debt of $2000 to my good friend How; for clearing and putting in crop of his one hundred acres will amount to that sum. The work is now in a very forward state.”

(Also see Early History of Brownville for more biographical material on the Brown Families)

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Transcribed by Holice B. Young from Jefferson Co. History by L. H. Everts.