John Brown

     John Brown was born between 1730 and 1740 at New Brunswick, Monmouth Co, New Jersey. He married Margaret Rozelle on 19 April 1763 at Martinique, West Indies.¹ John Brown died soon aft July 1779.
     According to documents on file at PANB, John Brown was a cooper by trade and had taken his wife Margaret to New Brunswick, New Jersey soon after their marriage in Martinique in 1763.
     It is likely John was serving with British forces on the island when he met Margaret. John purchased two separate lots of land in the town of New Brunswick on 25 July 1763 and on 26 September 1763 on Queen Street. His wife, Margaret, operated a little shop in New Brunswick where she sold earthenware. According to Margaret's sworn statement, John had always been attached to the British cause when the War broke out. Supposedly "he been threatened by the rebels before for not serving them..." so he gave in and served them as a Commissary in the American Army. He then deserted and joined the British army in November 1776 after their arrival in New Brunswick, New Jersey. He served them as a guide, "being well acquainted with the country and was soon afterwards employed in the Commissary Department under James Christie, the Assistant Commissary General".
     His switch in allegiance angered the rebels and he was taken prisoner by them on Staten Island in the fall of 1777. A newspaper article printed in Burlington dated 10 December 1777 states "Brown is a notorious robber, and was employed as a Deputy Commissary under Mr. Dunham; but on the British troops entering Brunswick, joined the enemy, and was one of their prime caterers in stealing cattle and provender. It were to be wished, that the poor people in the neighbourhood (sic) of Brunswick, who have been plundered of their substance by Mr. Commissary Brown, would, before the day of his trial, furnish the Attorney General with an account of what they can dispose concerning these robberies."^1,2,3,4
     Another newspaper had a letter from Major-General Robertson to Governor Livingston dated 4 Jan 1778 in New York:

     " Sir, I am interrupted in my daily attempts to soften the calamities of prisoners, and reconcile their case with our security, bu a general cry of resentment, arising from an information [----]
     That officers in the kings service taken on the 27th of November, and Mr. John Brown, a deputy commissary, are to be tried in Jersey for high-treason; and that Mr. Iliff and another prisoner have been hanged."

     Governor Livingston's answer:
"Having received a letter under your signature...I sit down to answer your inquiries concerning certain officers in the service of your king taken on Staten Island, and one Browne who calls himself a deputy commissary... Boskirk [Buskirk], Earl and Hammel, who I presume, the officers intended, with the said Browne, were sent to me by General Dickinson as prisoners taken on Staten Island. Finding them all to be subjects of this state, and to have committed treason against it, the council of safety committed them to Trenton gaol. At the same time I acquainted Gen. Washington, that if he chose to treat the first three who were Bristish officers as prisoners of war, I doubted not that the coucil of safety would be satisfied. General Washington...intends to consider them as such...Browne I am told committed several robberies in this state before he toke sanctuary on Staten-Island, and I should scarcely imagine that he has expiated the guilt of his former crimes by committing the greater one of jiing the enemies of his country. However, if General Washington chooses to consider him as a prisoner of war, I shall not interpose in the matter."

     John Brown was taken to New Jersey where he was confined until the Summer of 1778, when he was included in a prisoner exchange and returned to the British.⁵
     After being charged with high treason, his property was confiscated. It was advertised for sale on 17 February 1779 in the newspaper. In 1779 he was "sent up the North River on duty at the time Stony Point was taken [16 Jul 1779]" and after "being much exposed he caught cold" and died.

     James Kerr filed a claim of £709 sterling for his deceased Father-in-law's losses, on behalf of his wife and mother-in-law. Kerr was awarded £345 sterling.