Person:Matthew Brown (11)

Matthew and his family were living in Guilford County, North Carolina in the 1760's. He owned 343 acres of land on both sides of Reedy Creek and 640 acres on the plantation where he lived. This was the land he purchased after the American Revolution from the state of North Carolina. He was probably living on this land before he bought it in 1778, 1784 and 1787. The land office had been closed from 1772 to 1778 because of the unrest with the British. It was reopened in 1778 and the state began to sell the land that they had confiscated from the Tories. Matthew Brown's land was located in the middle part of the county where the Scotch-Irish Presbyterians had settled. It was only a few miles from the Duff lands in the county. Although he was not found in the early church records, it would be safe to say the he was a Presbyterian.

His will is recorded in Guilford County, North Carolina, Will Book A, page 31.

IN THE NAME OF GOD, AMEN, I, Mathew Brown of Guilford County, State of North Carolina, being weak of body but of sound mind and perfect memory, thanks be to God and calling to mind the mortality of my body and knowing what is appointed for all men once to die, do make and ordain this present to be my last will and testament. That is to say principally I give and recommend my soul to God who gave it to my body. I recommend to the earth to be buried in a decent Christian manner at the discretion of my Executors never doubting but at the general resurrection, I shall receive the same again by the mighty power of God and as touching what worldly Estate as it hath pleased God to bless me with in this Life. I devise and dispose of in the following manner and form.

First: I order that all my just and lawful debts be paid out of the money and chattels.

I likewise order that a plantation lying on both sides of Reedy Fork Creek containing three hundred and forty three acres be sold by my Executors and the money from the sale of the same to be equally divided amongst my three sons: viz: my son John Brown, one part; my son Robert Brown, one part; and my son Thomas Brown, one part.

Rem: I give and devise to my son, William Brown, three hundred acres on the west end of the plantation that I reside upon with all the improvements. I likewise devise to the said William Brown all my stock of horses, cows, sheep and hogs.

Rem: I give and devise to my son, Mathew Brown, three hundred and forty acres of land lying on the east end of the plantation I now reside upon. Likewise I devise to my son, Mathew Brown, two cows and calves and my own bed and furniture.

Rem: I give and devise to my daughter, Jean Bail, the sum of twenty shillings.

Rem: I give and devise to my daughter, Margaret Duff, one doubloon in gold. The sum of twenty shillings left to Jean Bail and the doubloon left to Margaret Duff by that with all my funeral charges to be levied and raised off that part that I have bequealled to my son, William Brown.

I do also constitute the following: John Peasley and my son William Brown my sole Executors of this my last will and testament and I do hereby utterly annul and revoke and disallow all and every other former testaments, wills, bequeaths and legatees and Executors by me in this life before named, willed and bequeathed, ratifying and confirming this and no other to be my last Will and Testament.

In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal this third day of February in the year of our Lord one thousand seven hundred and eighty seven.

Mathew Brown

Signed, sealed, published, pronounced and declared by the said Mathew Brown as his last Will and Testament in presence of us who have hereunto set our names, Sampson Stewart, Andrew Mark.

The date of Matthew Brown's death is not known. It is assumed that his wife died before February 1787 since she is not mentioned in his will.