Connecticut western news., 1886-06-09
WEDNESDAY, JUNE 9, 1886.
AN OLD-TTME CANAAN FAMILY
And What Became of Then

Previous and during the Revolution ary war there resided in Canaan, Conn.,, Jacob and Hannah Brown, a worthy couple respected by their neighbors and towns-people in general. This couple had three children, Erastus, Chloe and Jacob, while there may have been oth- CTS of whom the writer has obtained no trace. Erastus Brown was born in Csn- aan in the year 177O About 1902 he married Esther, a daughter of Elisha Stoddard of Woodbury, Conn. At this time the father, Jacob, ST., was dead and the family began to look around for a new home, especially as several of their neighbors were immigrating to Berkshire county, or the West. Jacob, Jr., removed west, while Erastus, who had the care of his mother and sister, February 12, 1903, purchased a farm of 56 acres in Afford, Berkshire county, some 20 miles north of his native town. Three days after this purchase Erastus conveyed by deed 10 acres of this farm to his mother for her maintenance dur ing her life. Shortly after this transac- tion Erastus, with his wife, widowed mother and sister, with the household goods of those days, moved to their new farm, where they resided in a double log house. Being industrious people they were greatly prospered in this of the household on January 20, 1904, %> Eckl, daughter, who was named Amanda. Time passed pleasantly and nothing ap- peared to destroy the happiness of the household until April IF, 1906, when Esther was removed from time to eter- nifty, at the age of 36 years, and was buried with many tear in the little cemetery few rods south of the family residence. She was prepared for death, for well-authenticated tradition says she was noble Christian woman of consid- erable talent as Q speaker in the social meetings of the Methodist Episcopal church, of which she was member. A large slab of marble, which now rests against maple tree where 1t has fallen, records her virtues. With her dying breath she left to the care of her hus- band the little daughter, Amanda.
 Erastus Brown was also Q devoted member of the Methodist church, To- cal preacher of more than ordinary abil- ity and withal @ poet. As a poet he wrote and published several produc- tions; the most important of these were entitled The Exiles of Eden Invited to Christ, "'' Saw ye my Saviour, ''Elegy in memory of his wife, The authors expert ence in song of praise and stanzas in memory of several young people drown ed on Lake Bucl in 1872 No doubt, feeling lonely, though residing with his mother and sister, Erastus Brown mar ried for his second wife Miss Matilda Miner, who was also a Methodist, a daughter of Rufus Miner of Afford This union in few years resulted in the birth of nine children, but 1t is not our purpose to mention these.
 Hannah Brown, the mother of Bras tus, continued to reside with her son till her death, January 2, 1922, at the age of 91. She likewise was member of the Methodist Episcopal church in Afford, where her name may be found on the class records of 1907 and 1872. As for Chloe Brown, the sister of Erastus, but little is now known, except her death, March 26, 1925, aged 61 years She never joined the church, but during her last sickness she thought she be- came Christian. She was buried, as was also her mother, in the little yard previously mentioned, where their moss covered and crumbling tombstones may be found.
 estate in Afford and removed to Auster- itz, Columbia county, N. Y., where he resided till 1845, when he immigrated west, where his death occurred at Ere. mont, Ind, in the year 1S47. AS for his second wife, We have not learned what became of her.
 And now for the sequel of our sketch Amanda, the little daughter of Erastu: and Esther Brown, who at the early age of two years was left by the dying mother to the care of the father and grandma ther, grew to womanhood and in a few years married Franklin Bramble, a na tive of Lyme, Conn. They went to re side in Norfolk, Conn.,, where Mir Bram ble was in business several years. They were religious couple and 1t is stated that the first Methodist meeting held il Norfolk was at their house, which were regularly continued for 10 or 12 years or until church was built. This wa! when the circuit system prevailed in tht Methodist denomination and the house of Bramble became house for the cir cult preachers, sometimes several being there together.
 To this couple were born Grove l.. ani Mary E. Bramble. In July, 1S46, Mary married Rev David Lyman of the New York conference. She died in Spring field, Mass, February IT, 1872, aged 4 years. One who remembers her say! she was blessed wife and mother. A. for Grove L., he is school teacher anl much respected citizen in Housatoni, village. Great Burlington, Mass Hi father, Franklin Bramble, died II Springfield, Mass. in 1871 ,aged Il years and IS buried in Norfolk, Conn., Hi. wife, Amanda, for some time has resided in the family of her son at Rousatonic where she has been tenderly cared for until Wednesday evening, June ?, wher she exchanged earth for heaven, at the age of over S2 years Her funeral oc cured Friday afternoon, brief service being held at the residence of her son and in the village church, with a goo6 attendance, including the pastors of the Methodist Episcopal and Congregations churches. That afternoon the body ot this good "mother in Israeli was taker to Norfolk and buried beside her hus band, there to await the resurrection when with her kindred, who sleep in the little graveyard at Afford and elsewhere she will arise to life of blessed immor taity. H.c.w. n0ys hs will Jump from the Brooklyn
 Bridge
 William Metcalf of Manchester, Eng. the champion swimmer of the Clyde