John Brown was born in 1725 in Ireland.^1,2

In two letters to Colonel William Preston, his brother-in-law, John performed a patriotic service sentiment1 and paid a supply tax in 1783 in Augusta, Virginia.² 

John was a Presbyterian Reverend with a licentiate from the New Castle Presbytery, a missionary preaching in several locations, and he graduated from the College of New Jersey.^3,4 John preached several sermons to a militia company commanded by William Preston in 1755-1756 that provided “solace and motivation.”⁵ Ministers in the Church of England routinely conducted a grammar school, and John provided his residence as a facility for Staunton, Virginia.⁶ This school merged with Augusta Academy and renamed Liberty Hall, with John being a trustee and the headmaster. Later, Liberty Hall became Washington College and, afterward, Washington and Lee University.⁷

In a letter written to his brother-in-law, John writes the following: “This very moment [Britain’s] noise struck my Ears & affects my Heart, tho’ it is but what I expected. we live in a terrible world (terrible indeed) when men of the same Nation make a merit of sheding one another's Blood. I have not seen the [express] but as I am informed that the King's army in a [skirmish] some distance from Boston killed 6 of the inhabitants & wounded several [others], for which reason the N England men rose to the number of 4000 & surrounded 1200 upon a hill & killed 150 at the expence of 50 of their men perhaps you have the account more perfect than I. 3 ships of the line with 4 Companies of marines are come to Virginia to keep us in Order as it is said they have taken the magazine in W[illiams]:burg I think it is time for the Continent to do something for the deffence of Life & Liberty. I am no politician yet I can see that we are in no [posture] of deffence were we independent of England & laws military & civil, money struck to support an army, it wou’d not (I am apprehensive) be easy to subdue us or Make us slaves as is intended. As far as I am acquainted I find the spirit of resentment increased among the people, but what can they do? They are like sheep in the wilderness without a head. May the Good Lord who can bring order out of confusion order all things for his own Glory & protect his Church & people in America from all ill designing menis." (Walker, 2022, pages 64-65).

In a letter from the Draper Manuscripts, Series QQ, Volume 4, John further proves his patriotism. The following transcription is deciphered to the best of my ability with spelling and punctuation as John wrote it: “The spirit of Opposition, to ministerial Measures seem to gain Ground in the back Country as the People become by Degrees better Acquainted with the laws. Their I hear of Allegiance to their Sovereign are very high. They have also high Conceptions of Liberty; and could they once be convinced that Obedience to Ministry ceases to be a Duty when Tyrany begins, and that some Tyrannical or at least Unconstitutional steps have been taken to Enslave The People there would be no doubt of their most hearty Concurrence. Many of them are Devoured and from there brave men who so nobly Defended their Religion and Liberty in Ireland in a late inglorious and [illegible] Reign, and voices so instrumental in supporting the Revolution in that Freedom. These [illegible] almost every Descendant from the Protestant Irish so well acquainted with either by History or Tradition. Therefore they cannot bear the Thought of degenerating from their worthy Forefathers, whose Memory is, and ought to be held very dear to them. Upon the whole, I am persuaded that the Cause of Liberty in which the Colonies are engaged will find almost as many Friends as there are Inhabitants in the back Country.” (Brown, John Reverend, Draper Manuscripts, page 2063).

In 1783, he paid a personal property supply tax in Augusta, Virginia.² Some states passed special tax laws to raise money for supplies that contributed to the war effort, and these supply tax payments are considered patriotic service.⁹

John married Margaret Preston in 1755 in Augusta County, Virginia and they had the following children:^1,2

• Preston W. was born in 1768 and married Elizabeth Watts.
• Elizabeth was born in 1755 and married Thomas B. Craighead.
• Mary was born in 1763 and married Alexander Humphreys.
• John was born in 1757 and married Margaretta Mason.

The following children are mentioned in John’s Will in the Garrard County, Kentucky Will Book ^3:11

• David
• William
• Joseph
• Robert
• Charles
• Jean

Memoranda of the Preston Family mentions the following additional children that lived to adulthood:¹²

• James, who married Ann Hart
• Samuel, who married a “Miss Percy”

John and his wife Margaret both died in 1803 in Woodford County, Kentucky.1,2 John is buried in the Frankfort Cemetery in Franklin County, Kentucky.¹³

Sources:

1. NSSAR Patriot #: P-122675.
2. NSDAR Ancestor #: A015644.
3. Walker, Steven, Kentucky’s First Senator, The Life and Times of John Brown, 1757-1837, Butler Books, 2022. 
4. Ibid, page 84.
5. Ibid, page 85-86.
6. Ibid, page 86-87.
7. Ibid, page 99.
8. Draper Manuscripts, Series QQ, Volume 4, page 2063.
9.  Anderson, Mitchell Brandon.
10. Liberty Hall National Historic Site.
11. Garrard County, Kentucky Will Book C, page 167-169.
12. Brown, Orlando, Memoranda of the Preston Family, Albany, 1864, page 12.
13. Find-a-Grave Memorial ID: 18676719, Cemetery ID: 169757.