Mary CAMP

     Mary CAMP, daughter of Abisha CAMP and Sarah Rebecca LOONEY, was born in 1810 in Georgia. Mary CAMP also went by the name of Polly.

Mary married Jesse Anderson BROWN Jr., son of Jesse Anderson BROWN and Obedience LEGGETT, on 4 September 1831 in Bibb County, Alabama. The wedding was performed by Ransom McElroy, J.P. The license was filed July 30.¹ She and Jesse Anderson BROWN Jr. were members of Enon Baptist Church. For some reason they left the church in November 1831 when "Sister Mary Brown requested a letter of dismissal which was granted." However, she returned in September 1832 when the church "opened the door for the reception of members and Sister Polly Brown came forward and was received by letter." Polly also appeared on a membership list in April 1838, along with Asa A. Brown, Madison Brown, Obedience Brown, Patsey Brown, Martha Brown, Betsey Brown, Jerusha Brown, and Nancy Brown.²

Mary CAMP, Jesse Anderson BROWN Jr., and Obedience LEGGETT sold a tract of land to George Howard on 12 September 1835 in Bibb County, Alabama. The deed reads that "Jesse A. Brown and his wife Mary Brown and Obedience Brown" agreed to sell to George Howard for $400 the southeast quarter of section 9, township 23 north, range 10 east containing 160 acres. The deed contains the signatures of Jesse and Mary. Obedience signed with her mark. It was witnessed by William Caddell, clerk, who recorded the deed 14 Sep 1835.³

She was probably the female age 20 to 30 listed in the household of her husband, Jesse Anderson BROWN Jr., in the 1840 Federal Census of Bibb County, Alabama.⁴

Polly CAMP and Jesse Anderson BROWN Jr. appeared as head of household on a census enumerated 5 November 1850 in Bibb County, Alabama. The household was listed as Jesse A. Brown, age 40, farmer, born Tennessee; Polly, age 39, born Georgia; Sarah A., age 17; Obedience C., age 16; Emily A., age 14; Wyman L., age 11; Melissa A., age 9; Pardee, age 7; Holly W., age 4; and Drucilla, age 1 year. All the children were born in Alabama. Also living in the household was Obedience Brown, age 89, born South Carolina. The value of Jesse's property was listed as $800.⁵

Mary CAMP and Jesse Anderson BROWN Jr. appeared as head of household on a census enumerated 1 August 1860 in Centreville, Bibb County, Alabama. The household was listed as Jesse A. Brown, age 51, born Tennessee; Mary, age 50, born in Georgia; Sarah A., age 25; Wyman L., age 22; Malissa A., age 17; Parilee, age 16; Holly, age 14; and Amanda, age 8. Ben Rayfield, age 25, a farm laborer lived with them. The value of Jesse's real estate was $800 and the value of his personal estate was $500. Jesse and Wyman's occupation was farmer, while that of Mary and the girls was "domestic". All of the children, except Sarah, were shown attending school.⁶

Before 1866 Mary died in Bibb County, Alabama, She was not listed in the 1866 state census. He had seven children at home in that census.