Cheraw gazette. [volume] (Cheraw, S.C.) 1835-1838, 1837-06-21
From the Boston Centinel and Gazette.
THE BROWN FAMILY.

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Messrs. Editors.-I sit down on a rainy
day, which forbids my intended excursions
abroad, to amuse myself by collecting SUM-
dry "reminiscences Of times gone by, gather
ed from respectable persons. They are
specially connected with the productive
sioop, The Four Brothers, Of Providence
of Colonial date.-An oc,ogenarian friend
I-ReY. Joseph Grafton of NeWrsn--lately
deceased, and of most respectable standing
in life, is my remotest authority, and have
many others who have given me their aid
to my object The sloop appears to have
been used in trade by four united brothers.
She was employed for several years after
the Joint commencement in business abou.
1866. Our merchants in remote times had
more connexion with vessels OF small size
and tonnage, at least in the early years Of
business, and sometimes to late period
Bu. with economy, prudence. and industry,
handsome fortunes were made gradually,
not precipiately; and these were generally
continued to their families and their sons,
of like character and temperament. The
four sons alluded to, sprarg from a pious,
active and useful clergyman, contemporary
with the famed Roger Williams-There
grandfather was also clergyman. Their
names W &c Nicholas, John. Joseph and
Moscs,-Nhilst connected with their hum
bic slocp concern, which was perhaps un.
I'll Or near the commencement Of the revolu.
tionary war,they had acquired SUCH galns,that
the firm ofNicholas Brown & Brothers was
erased, and separate and fair individual
establishment followed. They were the
active and efficient fathers and builders of
the place of their nativity. Commerce and
trade prospered under them, and under
other individuaIs---the Arnolds, &c. well
knowh-with whom they cherished an hon.
orable friendship. Under their joint indus.
try and wing of protection, Providence and
her increasing families were seen to pros
per. John Brown, distinguished for mus
cular strength and activity frequently uni
ted with the humble laborers in moving the
large and heavy hogsheads, casks and
pipes. which were spread on the wharf,
and pumping the water into his vessels, for
the supply of the ships company. He
was of the earliest who embarked in the
East India trade $50 called) and formed a
wharf or wharves for large ships running
deep water. For several years he is sup
posed to have furnished the means of live
lihood, annually, to one thousand souls or
more. In the midst of his active career he
died, at about 63, and his business died
with him. Joseph divided his attention be-
tween trade and books, and became an hon.
orablc and useful Professor of Astronomy
and Philosophy to the infant College at
Providence, receiving little or no pecuniary
recompense from the pupils. Nicholas, the
eldest, and the head of the earliest firm,
was also an active and successful merchant
in his own private line, in his last days con.
nected with the late George Benson, dis
nncuished for his skill in bookkeeping, ac.
counts, &c. Nicholas died the first of the
brothers. A. D. l79l, at the age Of sixty.
two. Suffice it to say, that he lived in the
affections of many, beside the happy circle
of his own family, in clerical and in civil
life. At his lamented death, there was
but one opinion in all classes Of the COM
munitv, that fairer and more estImable
citizen did not survive him. The writer of
this article had opportunities of knowing
him, and is constrained to say. that more
virtuous man he never knew; he has long
been in his estimate one Of those mer-
chants "whose merchandise and hire were
holiness to the Lord He was to P:ovl.
dence what Thomas Oliver was to Boston
a century ago. Moses Brown, the young.
est of the family, survived until few
months since, and died, having enjoyed and
exhibited sound mind in sound body,
until his last sickness in 1886, aged ninety
eight He read much and had happy ia
lent of communicating practical knowledge
applicable to the virtue oftle mind, and the
health of the body. He Withdrew from
commerce many years since, and has de-
voted himselfin in connexlon with his worthy
and only son deceased, Obediah, and SON.
n.law. to the encoura ement of manutac-
lures upon large scale. Himself and
his son contributed literally to the rails
ing and endowing in providence OF sort of
Friends College, to the supposed amount of
seventy thousand dollars. So it is affirm
ed.
Butt principal glory ofthe joint owners
Of the sIoop Four Brothers remains untold.
There was spirit in the firm. which, with
their rising prospects, would not permit
them to Give for themselves" a College
for Rhode Island Colony was suggested IN
their hearings. They consulted and acted
with sevcr,l other honorable ne lol the
place, and by their influence and largeness
of subscription, Providence College, now