Petition of Martha Hamrick Brown

 
William Lafayette Brown, Sr. was born about 1807 in Georgia to John H. Brown and Sarah Rivers. About 1802 John H. Brown and Sarah Rivers Brown migrated from Chesterfield County, South Carolina to Georgia and then onto Lauderdale County, Mississippi.

William L. Brown married Martha Hamrick, daughter of John and Katherine Hamrick, on December 25, 1828. The marriage is recorded in the Family Bible of John C. and Katherine Myers Hamrick. Between 1828 and 1853, ten (10) children were born to this union.

On 19 August 1853 in the prime of his life, William L. Brown, at age 46, died. His widow, Martha Hambrick Brown, and oldest son, John L Brown petition the courts for Letters of Administration. ¹
 


The State of Mississippi}
Lauderdale County}         To the Honorable Jubal B. Hancock Judge of Probate court Lauderdale County and said county. The petition of Martha Brown & John H. Brown residents of said county respectfully shows that William Brown late of said County departed this life the 19^th August and leaving no will so far as your petitioner knows or believes. That said intestate died possessed of real Estate and about 6 negro slaves and a stock of horses, cattle & hogs, some farming utensils, some debts due him. That your petitioners are the Widow and sone <sic> of said deceased. That beside your petitioner the said deceased left nine other heirs, distributes to wit; Catherine Dear wife of John Dear and Sarah Jane wife of John Warner, William L., Martha, Almira, Emeline, Margaret, Frances, one an infant not named [Dorothy], children of said deceased. Your petitioner therefore prays that letters of administration may be granted then and they offer Arthur Brown and Thomas Hambrick securities on their bond, John Malone, Isaac Luttles and John Gillespie they name as … and again duly bound your petitioner will ever pray & etc.
                                                                                    Martha Brown
                                                                                    John Brown
Sworn to and subscribed Sept. 12, 1853
J. B. Hancock, Judge of Probate
Filed 12^th Sept. 1853, Recorded 13^th Sept. 1853
Benj. L. Parke, Clerk
 
William Lafayette Brown is my 1st cousin 5 times removed. 




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[1] Mississippi, Probate Records, 1781-1930, Lauderdale, Probate records 1851-1855 vol D-E; Image 351 of 632, Book "E", page 28, 29 & 30.
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