Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1906-05-16

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the Scraps, in which "John" Brown took
part; such the commander whom he
served. In stature short and thick-set
with crisp, black hair and keen, piercing
black eyes, stern, set countenance which
IN later years made him the terror OF the
small boys Of Manset, and nature totally
unacquainted with fear, one can picture
Brown skilfully managing the ships
tackle or welding cutiass with deadly
precision.
Brown was born m England. He came
TO America when a young man. OF his
early life little Is known. Among the
things which he brought from England,
however, is family Bible, of which he
was proud, taking great pains to preserve
It most carefully. This he left to his son,
William, who appreeiating its worth, also
regarded II rs an object of especial solicit
tude. II is in existence yet.
He must have joined the navy at its in
ception, for he enlisted in the crew of the
Lexington, which was one of the six ves-
sells which comprised the first fleet ever
set sfioat by America. When the Lexing-
ton was captured by a British sloop-of-
war in European waters and all the crew
became prisoners, he was among the num-
Der. The crew of the Richard, with the
exception Of fiity Americans whom Jones
picked up in France and twenty American
sailors whom he found adrift at Nantes,
was made up Of exchanged American pris-
oners. About half OF these were the rem
nsnt OF the LexinVton's crew; the rest
were men captured on privateers. Since
John Brown was on board the Lsxing-
ton and taken captive, 1t seems more than
likely that he was one OF the prisoners
whom Jones succeeded in exchanging, and
that thus he became enlisted ON the Bon
homme Richard.
At the close OF the Revolutionary war
he received his honorable discharge from
the government service. He brought
homo his cutlass and uniform. The
sword to-day hangs on the walls OF his
great-grsndson's home in Manset. The
coat OF his uniform is of gray cloth, or
nsmented with figures of black soldiers
and lined with red.
On the roster Of the Richard there are
two John Browns mentioned under the
list OF patty officers and able seamen, one
OF them being captain of the foretop. In
the records OF Jones accompanying the
roster, which are on file in Washington,
il is stated that both these men joined the
ship ~ Fugere, bat the residence of
neither is given, thus making 1t impos-
sibIe to esiablish John Browns identity
as seaman or officer. The fact, however,
that he was the possessor Of uniform,
would indicate that he held some office.
He may have been captain OF the fOretop.
WENT TO MT. DESERT ISLAND.
Brown went to Salem after the war
There he met and married widow with
one chiii, who adopted the name of his
steptather. Mrs. Brown was of French
parentagc. From Salem he took his family
TO Msrblehesd. There was born his
daughter, sally Hicklor Brown, ON April
30, 1857 Between this date and 1923 he
took his family TO Mount Desert island to
live, for in the earliest town records is
found the birth OF his second child, son
named Jonathan Brown, on Dec. I, 1898;
also a son, William, born on July 4, l79S.
During the days OF Browns residence on
the island there were only thirteen houses
on the southwest portion where he built
his home, and the only roads were bride
paths across the hills. On the wooded
shore OF the part OF the island now know
as Southwest Harbor, some distance from
the water, Brown cleared plot where he
built his house. There was mis- home for
the rest OF his life. Most of his time,
however, was spent, as formerly, on the
sea, for he was fisherman. He made
many trips to Labrador and other distant
points, and was counted as a brave seaman
among his fellows. In the brief intervals
between voyages one can fancy HIM at
tending some OF those old plantation
meetings, calling ON his neighbors to see
how they had been getting on during his
absence, working on his farm and visiting
the old store and sail loft at the harbor to
stock up with supplies for another voyage.
In the records OF the plantation, and
later town, his name does not appear as
officeholder or active participant, which
sent from home much OF the time on his
long fishing trips.
VIGOROUS OLD WOMAN.
Browns wife was particularly vigor-
Gus woman. When about eighty years old
she started one day from her home to
walk over Beach mountain to make call
on a "neighbor" who lived on the other
side Before reaching the mountain she
stopped at the house of friend to rest
bit ere she began the ascent. This good
woman urged her not to undertake so long
and arduous journey, saying that she
was too old, whereupon Mrs. Brown sprang
to her feet with an ejaculation of disgust,
al am Just as strong as / ever wasl" and
proceeded to go through with the figures
OF the ''minooet," as she called 1t, with all
the vigor of young girl. This greatly