Taken from an article written by M.W. Zimmerman and published in the Greenbrier Independent 12/6/1883 One of the Brown settlements and centers was on Culverson's Creek at the head of Fort Donnally valley. It was made by "OLD TOMMIE BROWN" (Thomas Brown, born in Virginia about 1773 and married to Sarah Cavendish 1804, Greenbrier VA) of Botetourt County VA (but not proven yet), whose father came from Ireland with the Honorable William Hunter Cavendish who represented Greenbrier several times in the Virginia Assembly. "OLD TOMMIE" located the farm now owned by his son, Robert A. Brown -- where eight of his nine children were born. His son William, who died in Missouri, was born in Botetourt Co.. Garland (my GGG Grandfather born 1812) another son, is living near the site of the Donally Fort. Hunter died recently in Nicolas County. Virginia married Wm McFerrin. Tinsley lived and died on Little Sewell Mountain. Margaret married Oregon Bobbitt. Rebecca lived until a ripe old age but died unmarried And Nancy is the second wife of Capt. James Cox of Lewisburg The mother of these c! hildren was a daughter of Hon. William H. Cavendish and through her, his family of Browns are connected with Lord Cavendish who was assassinated in Peonix Park at Dublin Ireland on the 16" day of May 1882. Hon. William H. Cavendish and the father of Lord Cavendish were brothers Another of these early Browns settlements was made on the farm now owned by JOHN M. BROWN which lies between Falling Springs and Renick's Valley. This settlement was made by WILLIAM BROWN, a Scotch-Irishman from Pennsylvania, and the houses now clustered about this early location are known to our people as "BROWNSTOWN" This "Old Captain BEILLY (sp) BROWN served as a soldier during the seven years of the Revolutionary War and was Captain of General Lafayette's bodyguard in that struggle for American Independence. His family consisted of four sons: James moved to Putman County, William K. to Missouri and George to Ohio. Samuel, the father of John M. Brown of Brownstown, died at the old homestead. John, the remaining son, was the father of Hamilton G. Brown. He (John) was born in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, in 1774 and when he was two years old he heard the cannon fired as the Declaration of Independence was being read to the people. Before leaving this family the wonderful activity of "Capt Billy Brown", Brown's wife must not be overlooked . When she was 90 years old she would take a sickle and out reap the sturdiest lad or lassie in the field. Tis said that the grain seemed to nartually (sp) to fall into the curve of her sickel (sp) which fashioned in and out like a streak of polished lighting More to Come Paul BrownGet more from the Web. FREE MSN Explorer download : http://explorer.msn.com