Brownell was born at Sangerfield, Oneida, New York, on 6 August 1797. He was the son of
William Durfee and
Nancy Wilbur. Brownell Wilbur Durfee married
Fanny Munger, daughter of
Abraham Munger and
Phoebe Hopkins, on 17 October 1818 at Lebanon, Madison, NY. Brownell Wilbur Durfee married
Jemima Munger, daughter of
Abraham Munger and
Phoebe Hopkins, on 24 July 1826 at Lebanon, Madison, NY. Brownell Wilbur Durfee married
Lucy Niles, daughter of
Joseph Hopkins Niles and
Nancy (Unknown), on 25 November 1827 at Ogden, NY. Brownell Wilbur Durfee married
Julia A. Bignall on 6 December 1840 at Rochester, Monroe, NY. Brownell Wilbur Durfee died on 26 September 1860 at Woodstock, IL, at age 63.