This was sent to me by another researcher who says the people discussed in this letter are relatives of Joseph Emerson Brown, Governor of Georgia.....Lana in Alabama, USA ------------- A xerox copy of the original letter furnished by Mrs. Evelyn McAnally, Columbis, Tenn. The original letter is in the Joseph Emerson Brown Papers, The University Library, Univ. of Georgia, Special Collections, Athens, Ga. The letter was addressed to Joseph E. Brown, Milledgeville, Ga. Giles County, Tennessee April 26th 1859 Joseph E. Brown Honerd Friend I received yous of the 16th instant and was much gratefyed to hear of your health and the welfare of your family. I am still in the Enjoyment of good health at preasent but met with a serious deficulty on the 12th of August last (.) being ould and stiff in going out of the door my shew hung on the Upper step and I pitced forward on a stone pavemant and my right hench bone struck the kirbing of the pavement and dislocated the they and mashed me so that I was confined to the house for ten weaks, but have Recovered so that I can Creap a bout with onley a staff, and if not deceived I feel thankful to my Grate Creator for his maney merceys to so unprofitabel a servant as I have been. My Daughter whome I live with and my children in Texas and Mississippie are all in their Common health as Enquires. My Fathers name was James Brown and he was the third son of William Brown and as you wish to know aboute your ancestrey I can give it f ( or ) a hunrd and fifty years (.) Your Great Great Grand Mother which was my Grand Mother, her maiden name was Margaret Fleming commonly called Peggy ( .) she married William Brown and lived in the north of Ireland and so near Londarey that she could hear the Bels a toling in the Cittey from the (ir ) own house (. ) I believe her fathers name was Joseph ( . ) I know she had two brothers come to America one of them was Joseph and the other William so that you and my self Derived our names from Joseph Fleming ( . ) My grand mother Brown lived to be one hunrd years and six months ould and she has been dead over fifty years. Grand Father Browns children names David Fanny Elizabeth Joseph James William nd Jane ( . ) One of David Brown Grandsons lives in Maury Cty Tennessee and his youngest son is an Excellent Doctor and has a fine practis vearey pious and belongs to the Cumberland Presbyterian Church ( . ) Aunt Fanney married George Hamilton and she had Eight sons and two Daughters ( . ) all lived to Raise respectable Famelys and as far I know are all dead ( . ) Some of them moved to Elinise maney years a gow and I heard the ( y ) were dead that moved there and all that stayed hear are dead ( , ) Uncel Josephs famely I suppose you know more about that I do ( . ) My fathers famely is all dead but myself ( . ) Probably you do not know of Cousin David Browns famel ( y ) he has two Daughters lives in Lodderal County ( . ) the ouldest married a man by the name of Reed he inclines to desipation ( . ) the other married a man by the name White he has a fine farm and plenty of hands has Raised a large famely and nearly all belong to the Baptis Church ( . ) Aunt Jane my Fathers younges sister married Rees Porter ( . ) she has Eight sons no Daughters all of which is now dead Exsept the youngest ( . ) his name is Thomas C. Porter he has some office in New Orleans is a man of Bussiness has been there several years ( . ) he had a brother that was named for my father ( . ) he was certainly one of the most Powerfull men in the Pulpit of his day he professed in the Revival of 1800 was a fine looking man and had a fine Education and went into the work with all his powers of Eloquence had a fine harmonious voice and strong set of lungs and was among the veary first Prechers ordained by the Cumberland Presbyterian Church and I have no doubt that maney hundred if not thousands will bless god threw Eternity that he sent Porter to declare his will to them ( . ) he died near five years past and went to his Reward in the good world ( . ) Aunt Elizabeth married a man by the name of John Duffy she never had aney children and she lived to be ninety three years ould and died in the triu ( m )ph of a living faith ( . ) Uncel William Brown had only four children three sons and one daughter he was a veary zelous Baptist to he became ould and then Joined the Universilist and died under a cloud ( . ) his children done no good delighted in hunting and drinking but was honest in there transactions ( . ) as you wish to know where our ancestor landed when he came to America I cannot say but I suppose where Phillidelphia now stands for it then was but a veary small villege ( . ) the ( y ) whowever settled on the Shanadow River in Virginia and moved from there to Guilford County in North Carolina and lived in the same neighborhood to Uncel Joseph Brown ( . ) moved to Noley Chukey in now Washington County Tennessee and from there to Pendleton ( . ) I believe I have answerd as far I know all your Enquiries, and if we should neaver meet in this world I hope we shall meet where diseas and death can neaver come, but while I live I shall be pleased to hear from you or aney of my connections but Especially aney of the famely of the Brown ( . ) altho I neaver can reward Uncel Jopsephs for their kindnes to me and my two littel sisters that was manifested to us this day seventy years ( , ) for it was the 26th of April 1789 I got to Ucel Brown with my littel sisters from the Indian captivity ( . ) I hope you may be abel to Read this scrall ( . ) I know the ( y ) settled on Shandow River but what part of the River I do not know ( . ) When I was on my ( way ) home from the Citty of Washington in 1823 I crosed the Shanadow I seen the largest apple trees I Ever seen ( . ) While I was waiting for the ferry bote I went over the fence and some of them six feet round as high as my head and after I crosed the River I stayed all night and they had cut down one that was in the way of a new building and the stu ( m )p of that was near three feet over ( . ) the peopel thare could not tel who planted the orchard ( . ) I think it was Rockbride County ( . ) I concluded that it was quite probabel Uncel Porter had planted the orchard for he took grate delight in an orchard ( . ) you will pleas give my Respts to Cousen Violet Reeds famely or Doctor George Browns famely when you see them ( . ) I am as Ever your&c Joseph Brown