Genealogy Data Page 839 (Notes Pages)

Genealogy Data Page 839 (Notes Pages)

For privacy reasons, Date of Birth and Date of Marriage for persons believed to still be living are not shown.

Brownlee, James (b. 4 JAN 1745, d. 1822)

Note: James Brownlee was born January 4, 1745, in Lanarkshire, Scotland, and after coming to America learned the trade of a millwright, which be followed for several years in eastern Pennsylvania, they settled on a farm in Canton township, Washington county, where the remainder of his life was passed. In early manhood he was united in marriage with Jane Leman, a member of a pioneer family of Washington county, who had emigrated from Ireland. The following children were born to their union: John, born October 15, 1777; Archibald, born February 28, 1779; James, born September 27, 1780; Hugh, born July 23, 1782; Elizabeth (Mrs. David Brownlee), born May 17, 1784; William, born January 13, 178B; Thomas, born December 1, 1787; Samuel born August 9, 1789; Joseph, born August 8, 1791; Jane (wife of Kenneth McCoy), born April 20, 1793; and David, born April 8, 1797.

The home of Mr. Brownlee was situated two miles west of Washington borough. He was a member of and ruling elder in the Seceder church at North Buffalo. In politics he was a Whig. He died in 1822, and was buried in the North Buffalo cemetery.

James Brownlee emigrated to this country from Scotland, and settled east of the mountains in Pennsylvania. He was a millwright by trade, and came to this county with several others. After staying through the winter they returned to the East, concluding that they were too far beyond the bounds of civilization. He returned a year or two later, and purchased land near Sugar Hill of Hugh Wiley on the 2d of January, 1792. He married Jane, a daughter of John Leman, and settled on the farm, where they raised a large family of children, many of whom settled in the township and county. The old homestead has been in the family many years, and occupied until recently by the heirs of Samuel Brownlee.

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Brownlee, William (b. 14 MAR 1749, d. 5 FEB 1829)

Note: William Brownlee (1749-1829) served as private in Capt. William Leet's company, 3rd battalion, Washington County militia. He was born in Scotland; died in Washington County, Pa.

He was a farmer with 300 acres in Canton Township, Washington County, Pennsylvania. He was a private in the Revolutionary War. He purchased land on a tract called "Virtue in March of 1785. He and Margaret are most likely buried in the Old North Buffalo Cemetery. Not much remains but there is a headstone with Margaret Brownlee and one with William ... and a footstone that says W.B. and a footstone that says M.B. His death is announced in the Washington Examiner of 14 February 1829. Died on Sunday morning last, William Brownlee an aged and very respectable citizen of Canton township of this county. From Carole Spencer, This info is from a DAR application #119360. Services of William Brownlee. William Brownlee of Washington Co., PA served as sargent in Capt. John McGuire's company. His pay commenced 8 Mar 1777. He was commissioned Ensign 8 June 1777 and Quartermaster of the regiment 15 Sep 1778. He was transferred to Captain Samuel Lapsley's company of Col. Nathaniel Gist's Regiment Continental troops about April 1779, promoted from Ensign to Lt. 1 Feb 1778. His name appears as that of a Captain-Lt. on pay rolls of the Colonel's company, same regiment for Oct. and Nov. 1779. He was retired 1 Jan 1781. William Brownlee laid claim to lands on Buffalo Creek, PA--then VA--for services rendered during the Revolutionary War. The date of entry of this land as shown by the PA Archives was 25 May 1780. Date of survey 1 Mar 1785. The patent to the land was given 26 Sep 1787. Mr. Norman Clark an attorney in Washington Co., PA has the patent to this land in his possession (this was in 1915). The above info came from the following sources. Records on file Adjutant Generals Office, War Department, Washington, D.C. Records of Revolutionary War by W.L.R. Saffel, pages 399 and 501. Heitman's History page 104. PA Archives Third Series Vol 26, page 537. Copy of the original last will and testament of William Brownlee on file in the Registrar's Office, Washington Co., PA. The book, "Watson's Body of Divinity," willed by William Brownlee to his son, Archibald, which is in the possession of my Grandmother, Katharine Brownlee St. Clair who is the Grand daughter of Archibald Brownlee. Records in possession of the Brownlee family. (Again, this was in 1915). His will is found in Willbook 4 in Washington county, Pennsylvania, dated 1 May 1826 and probated 11 November 1829, William Brownlee, Canton township, page 465. Exec, William Brownlee and Ebenezer Brownlee Witnesses, James Brownlee, Margaret Brownlee, James Brownlee (did not appear) Beneficiaries: Sons: Ebenezer, James, Archibald, (recieved land in Mercer county, near New Castle) William (Mercer county), John Daughters: Margaret Brownlee, Jane Clark, wife of Thomas Clark, Sarah Smiley, wife of William Smiley, Martha, Isabel Brownlee, Kasiah Brownlee, wife of Archibald Brownlee.

William Brownlee, a brother of James, took up a tract of land, the warrant for which bears date March, 1785. It was surveyed November 19th of the same year, and named "Virtue," containing three hundred acres adjoining John Virgin, William McCombs, and Dr. Henry Moore. He married Margaret, a daughter of John Leman, by whom he had a large family.