West Virginia argus. [volume] (Kingwood, W. Va.) 1877-1946, 1882-11-04
A ROMANTIC OAsEIN COURT.

The story Of a Connecticut school
master who Went 10 the Mexican
War.
A dispatch from Norwich. Connecticut,
says:
a romantic case has been brought to
the attention of the Superior Court in this
county, year or two previous to the
Mexican War, Benjamin f. Brown,
competent schoolmaster, 81 years old, son
OF well-todo farmer, John Brown, of
North StoniDgton, ran away from home.
His parents never received any tidings of
him. he went to Mexico, and in the war
that began soon afterward served In a
regiment of United States dragons. AS
he spoke Spanish huently, he soon became
interpreter on Gen. Tsylor's staff. After
the close OF hostlities he went TO Corpus
Christi'and married beautiful Spanish
girl, Innocente Castillo. The couple
went to Laredo, Texas, and there lived
happily until 1866, when Brown, who had
changed his name after the close Of the
Mexican war 10 Benjamin +. Wrowan,
was murdered by brigands lie left h
wife and tour cnildren-Frank, Benz min,
Juan and Isabella. During his married
life he had spoken only Spanish in his
household, and his family, who knew
nothing of English, were unacQuai nted
with bis real name or his history prior 10
his marriage. AT about the time that
Wrowan was killed, his aged father in
North StoningtOn died, leaving his farm,
worth $4,000 or $40, 900, to six heirs, in
GLIDING the missing Benjamin and his
brother John, the latter of whom had set.
tied In StonlngtUn, Ill. In 1873 the heirs
to the North Stonington property had it
sold by order of the Superior Court, and
the portion due each was properly assign
ed, with the exception of Bebismin's
share. That was deposited in the Chelsea
Savings Bank OF this city in the name of
Jeremiah Halsey, trustee. AT the same
time copy OF the court order was sent
to the latest known address of BENJAMIN.
AS the family of the dead man were living
under false name, the orde. never reach
ed them. =
In 1881 Frank, the oldest son of Benia-
minis widow, determined to learn English
40 as to understand the contents of his
fathers papers. After getting a smatter-
ing of English he found among his faith
er's private documents letter from the
Illinois brother that furnished the hrst
clue to WrOwan's early history. The let
Ter was dated Stonington, ILL.,, Nov. 10,
1858, and was signed Your Brother
john" A. spoke of the writer's aged pa
rents In this country, and of their Lifelong
sorrow over Benjamins early disappear
snce. The boy Frank at once wrote 10
the illinois Postmaster, asking about John
!Wrowan. The reply was that there was
no such person, but that a man had lived
and died IN StoniDgton, H., named John
Brown, and that he came from North
Stonington, Conn. The boy then wrote
70 the Postmaster in North Stonington
and established, in his own opinion, the
fact that his father was b. F. Brown.
Through Mr.. Halsey, the trustee OF Ben
1amins sha-e of the Brown estate, Frank
secured the services of lawyers 10 this
city, TO press the claim of the WrOwan
family to their portion Of the Brown es-
tate. A hearing was had last week be-
fore Chief justice Park of the Superior
court, and petition la equity granted
IL s probable that the heirs of the late b.
=. Wrowan will soon come Into possess
PD Of their share Of the Brown estate