Abia Brown
Encyclopedia
Abia Brown served as a Deputy to the Provincial Congress of New Jersey in the years 1775 (at Trenton) and 1776 (at New Brunswick). As Deputy to the Provincial Congress of New Jersey, Abia Brown represented Sussex County, New Jersey
. This position of "Deputy" was then a geographic representative position, and not to be confused with a modern day bailiff or a law enforcement agent present mainly to keep order.
Abia also served as a Justice of the Peace for Sussex County in 1772 which at the time was a position of greater stature than present day judicial positions by the same name. Abia was appointed Justice of the Peace by the Governor of New Jersey province. Abia also served on the Counsel of Safety during the Revolutionary War.
, father-in-law to Moses Austin
, and maternal grandfather to both Stephen F. Austin
and Emily Margaret Brown Austin. On March 12, 1765, Abia married Margaret Sharp (born in Piles Grove, Salem County, in pre-revolution New Jersey). Abia was born in the Township of Notingham in the County of Burlington, in pre-revolutionary New Jersey, and died in New Jersey.
Abia's father was Preserve Brown, Jr., (whose father was Preserve Brown) and his grandmother was Mary French, daughter of Richard French or Mary Sykes. Abia's parents and grandparents were Members of the Society of Friends and attended Quaker meetings at the Meeting House in Chesterfield. Abia's father-in-law was Joseph Sharp
, also Quaker, leading to a conclusion that Abia's wife Margaret was also Quaker. These facts lead to an intriguing question about the lapse of direct formal Quaker practice in favor of Episcopal, Anglican, or non-denominational practice among immediate descendants of Maria Brown Austin. One explanation is the influence of Moses Austin, who was not Quaker, and another is the physical remoteness from the Quaker structure and population in Pennsylvania and New Jersey.
Sussex County, New Jersey
The County of Sussex is the northernmost county in the State of New Jersey. It is part of the New York City Metropolitan Area. As of the 2010 Federal decennial census, 149,265 persons resided in Sussex County...
. This position of "Deputy" was then a geographic representative position, and not to be confused with a modern day bailiff or a law enforcement agent present mainly to keep order.
Abia also served as a Justice of the Peace for Sussex County in 1772 which at the time was a position of greater stature than present day judicial positions by the same name. Abia was appointed Justice of the Peace by the Governor of New Jersey province. Abia also served on the Counsel of Safety during the Revolutionary War.
Family and religion
Abia was father to Mary Brown AustinMary Brown Austin
Mary Brown Austin had dramatic influence on early Texas history. Perhaps her most important contribution to history is writing a letter to her son, Stephen, two days before the death of her husband, Moses Austin, imploring Stephen F. Austin to carry out the dying wish of his father—that Stephen...
, father-in-law to Moses Austin
Moses Austin
Moses Austin played a large part in the development of the American lead industry and is the father of Stephen F. Austin, a leading American settler of Texas. He was the first to be allowed to gather Anglo Americans for settlement in Spanish Texas...
, and maternal grandfather to both Stephen F. Austin
Stephen F. Austin
Stephen Fuller Austin was born in Virginia and raised in southeastern Missouri. He was known as the Father of Texas, led the second, but first legal and ultimately successful colonization of the region by bringing 300 families from the United States. The capital of Texas, Austin in Travis County,...
and Emily Margaret Brown Austin. On March 12, 1765, Abia married Margaret Sharp (born in Piles Grove, Salem County, in pre-revolution New Jersey). Abia was born in the Township of Notingham in the County of Burlington, in pre-revolutionary New Jersey, and died in New Jersey.
Abia's father was Preserve Brown, Jr., (whose father was Preserve Brown) and his grandmother was Mary French, daughter of Richard French or Mary Sykes. Abia's parents and grandparents were Members of the Society of Friends and attended Quaker meetings at the Meeting House in Chesterfield. Abia's father-in-law was Joseph Sharp
Joseph Sharp
Joseph Sharp was an early settler of New Jersey, landowner, supporter of education, an iron manufacturer, an industrialist; his mill provided flour to American Troops in the War of 1812.-Influence on education:...
, also Quaker, leading to a conclusion that Abia's wife Margaret was also Quaker. These facts lead to an intriguing question about the lapse of direct formal Quaker practice in favor of Episcopal, Anglican, or non-denominational practice among immediate descendants of Maria Brown Austin. One explanation is the influence of Moses Austin, who was not Quaker, and another is the physical remoteness from the Quaker structure and population in Pennsylvania and New Jersey.