William Brown

12 May 1727–18 February 1792 (Age 64)
Little Compton, Newport, Rhode Island, British Colonial America

The Life Summary of William

When William Brown was born on 12 May 1727, in Little Compton, Newport, Rhode Island, British Colonial America, his father, John Brown Sr., was 22 and his mother, Sarah M. White, was 18. He married Elizabeth Thomas on 4 October 1746, in Tiverton, Newport, Rhode Island, British Colonial America. They were the parents of at least 6 sons and 2 daughters. He died on 18 February 1792, in Little Compton, Newport, Rhode Island, United States, at the age of 64.

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Family Time Line

William Brown
1727–1792
Elizabeth Thomas
1730–1781
Marriage: 4 October 1746
Thomas Brown
1746–
William Brown
1748–1749
Sylvanus Brown
1749–1803
Elizabeth Brown
1750–
William Brown
1755–1829
Mary Brown
1756–
George Brown
1757–1843
John Brown
1761–1840

Spouse and Children

  • Marriage
    4 October 1746Tiverton, Newport, Rhode Island, British Colonial America
    • Children

    (8)

    +3 More Children

    Parents and Siblings

    Siblings

    (9)

    +4 More Children

    World Events (4)

    1763 · First Synagogue in America
    Age 36
    The first Jewish Synagogue in America was built in Newport, Rhode Island in 1763. It still stands today, making it the oldest synagogue in the United States.
    1776
    Age 49
    Thomas Jefferson's American Declaration of Independence endorsed by Congress. Colonies declare independence.
    1780 · French Occupy Newport
    Age 53
    During 1780 to 1781, over 12,000 French troops occupy Newport, Rhode Island.

    Name Meaning

    English, Scottish, and Irish: generally a nickname referring to the color of the hair or complexion, Middle English br(o)un, from Old English brūn or Old French brun. This word is occasionally found in Old French, Middle English and Old Norse as a personal name or byname (Middle English personal name Brun, Broun, ancient Germanic Bruno, Old English Brūn, or possibly Old Norse Brúnn or Brúni). Brun- was also an ancient Germanic name-forming element. Some instances of Old English Brūn as a personal name may therefore be short forms of compound names such as Brūngar, Brūnwine, etc. As a Scottish and Irish name, it sometimes represents a translation of Gaelic Donn (see below). Brown (including in the senses below) is the fourth most frequent surname in the US. It is also very common among African Americans and Native Americans (see also 5 below).Irish and Scottish: adopted for Ó Duinn (see Dunn ) or for any of the many Irish and Scottish Gaelic names containing the element donn ‘brown-haired’ (also meaning ‘chieftain’), for example Donahue .Irish: phonetic Anglicization of Mac an Bhreitheamhnaigh; see Breheny .

    Dictionary of American Family Names © Patrick Hanks 2003, 2006.

    Possible Related Names

    Dunn
    Brunson
    Browning
    Browne
    Burnett
    Erjavec
    Borron
    Broun

    Sources (10)

    • William Brown, "Rhode Island Town Births Index, 1639-1932"
    • William Brown, "Rhode Island Marriages, 1724-1916"
    • William Brown in entry for Sylvanus Brown, "Rhode Island, Vital records, 1846-1898, 1901-1953"

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