Henry Brown

BIOGRAPHY

Henry Brown was a Civil War veteran buried in Mount Holly Colored Cemetery in Mount Holly Springs, Cumberland County, Pennsylvania^[1]. Brown was born in 1844 and lived in South Middleton County, Cumberland County, Pennsylvania with his family according to the “1860 United States Federal Census.”^[2] According to the 1860 Census Record, he was one of seven children birthed by John and Margaret Brown and held the occupation of Laborer. His siblings’ names were Sarah Brown (15), Mary Brown (13), Hetty Brown (11), Alfred Brown (6), John Brown (5), and a baby, George Brown (1)^[3]. There are no records regarding his parents’ place of birth nor of his specific birthdate. According to his muster sheet he was mustered in Carlisle on September 3rd, 1864 for the 127th USCT Regiment Company I for substitute duty for S. W. Sterett^[4]. According to the Muster-In Roll, he was 18-years old and held the title of Private, however the 1860 Census states that he was about 16-years old so it’s very likely that he was between the ages of 18 to 20-years old when he enlisted^[5]. Brown was honorably discharged with Company I of the 127th U.S.C.T. on September 8th, 1865 in Brazos, Texas and had to pay $4.90 for losing his portion of a shelter tent^[6]. Following his discharge, there were no additional records of Henry Brown until the 1880 Census Record. In 1880, there was a 36-year old individual by the name of Henry Brown living in Mount Holly Springs who was married and held the occupation of Laborer^[7]. In 1876, he was elected as secretary of the “Colored” Republication Voters of Mt Holly Springs.^[8] This census provided the birthplace of Henry Brown’s mother and father, both being Pennsylvania. According to this record, he was married to Mary Jane Brown and had 3 children, Hetty M. Brown (12), Joseph Brown (5), and Thomas Brown (3). There are no records of Brown’s death date, place, or cause of death. There is a map from Mount Holly Springs that marks his home following the war^[9].

^[1] U.S. Find A Grave Index, 1600s to Current for Henry Brown, 2011.

^[2] 1860 United States Federal Census for Henry Brown, 830.

^[3] Ibid.

^[4] 127th USCT Muster al Descriptive Roll for Henry Brown, 1864.

^[5] 127th USCT Co. I Muster In Roll, 1864.

^[6] U.S. Find A Grave Index, 1600s to Current for Henry Brown, 2011.

^[7] 1880 United States Federal Census for Henry Brown, 292C.

^[8] “The Colored Republican Voters…,” The Sentinel, October 19, 1876.

^[9] 1872 Atlas: “Part of Mount Holly Springs”, 95.