The Brown family of Covington County and surrounding areas was introduced in a column, which appeared much earlier, but additional genealogy has been made available for another look at this genealogy. The earliest Brown ancestor known at that time as well as today is Aaron Brown. Local researchers have not yet been able to go beyond this generation or identify the parents of Aaron.

Aaron Brown was born in 1800 in Sumter County, Ga., according to most records, but his birthplace has also been listed at North Carolina in a few instances. He was married in 1819 in Elbert County, Ga., to Elizabeth Bashaba Cook (1803-1866), daughter of Nathaniel (1775-1835) and Elizabeth (Jordan) Cook.

It appears that most of the Aaron Brown family moved to Covington County during the 1850s along with the Samuel Raley family. The oldest Brown son, William Jackson Brown, and his family were enumerated in the 1860 federal census. In 1857, he had acquired 40.06 acres of land from the government in the Horn Hill Township. In 1886, he homesteaded 159.81 acres in the Carolina Township.

The sons of Aaron Brown who were of age enlisted for service in the Confe-derate Army. In 1864, William J. Brown was assigned to Company A, Covington County Reserves. Jordan D. Brown was a private in Company I, 40th Alabama Infantry Regiment. Their younger brother, Aaron Pierson Brown was a Third Corporal in Company A, 25th Alabama Infantry Regiment.

Aaron Brown and his wife, Bashaba (Cook), reared the following 15 children: William Jackson, b. 1818, d. 1890, m. Sara Adams; Elizabeth A., b. 1820, d. 1826; Jesse Nathaniel, b. 1822, d. 1827; Patsy Adeline, b. 1825; Sara Ann Susan, b. 1827, d. 1858; Mary Ann C., b. 1828, d. 1871; Caroline E.N., b. 1831, d. 1899; Thomas J., b. 1832; James A.M., b. 1834; Jordan D., b. 1836; Bashaba Antoinette, b. 1838; John D.C.V., b. 1842, d. 1853; Aaron Pierson, b. 1842, d. 1921, m. Sarah Ann Raley; Amanda M., b. 1845, d. 1921; and Alexander Micaiah, b. 1848.

The oldest son, William Jackson Brown, was born in Sumter County, Ga. and was married to Sarah Adams. They moved their family to Covington County circa 1856, which was a time when many settlers were arriving to secure some of the good acreage made available by the government. Before his Confederate service, he was appointed Justice of the Peace for Beat Eight.

He had purchased 40.06 acres of land in the Horn Hill Township in 1857. In 1886, he homesteaded 159.81 acres in the Carolina Township.

William Jackson and Sarah Brown reared the following 10 children: Thomas Jefferson, b. 1847, d. 1923, m. (1) Eliza E. Heath (1846-1872) (2) Caroline E. Rabren; William Franklin, b. 1849; Elizabeth “Betty,” b. 1851, single; James Andrew, b. 1852, d. 1917, m. Sara Mancill (1853-1916); Mary Samantha, b. 1855, single; Sara Cecile “Sela or Aunt Shug,” b. 1858 (first child to be born in Alabama), single; Henry Washington, b. 1860; John B., b. 1862, d. 1930, m. Mary Emma Elmira “Molly” White (1877-1972); Willis Jackson, b. 1864, d. 1941, m. Alice E. White; and Robert Josiah, b. 1867.

William Jackson Brown’s younger brother, Aaron Pierson Brown, and his descendants were featured more in the earlier column devoted to the Brown family. They will be briefly covered here for additional insight to this family. Aaron P. married Sarah Ann Raley, a daughter of the Samuel Raley mentioned earlier. He settled his family on a farm located near the Heath Community on a site about where the former Davis Nursery stood. In 1906, he purchased 40 acres in the Gantt Township.

Aaron P. and Sarah Ann Brown reared the following eight children: Sarah Amanda, m. (1) Jake Neese (2) John Raley; Mollie, b. 1870, d. 1929, m. Bill Henderson; Eliza, b. 1870, d. 1929, m. Hardy Henley; Gatsy, b. 1876, m. Henry Fletcher, a Confederate veteran; Florence Delilah, b. 1873, d. 1951, single; Jimmie Berry, b. 1878, d. 1952, m. Annie Mulkey; Georgia Anderson, b. 1883, d. 1955, m. Frankie Carver Stokes; and Morgan, b. 1884, d. 1955, m. Julia A. Cockcroft.

Back to the William Jackson Brown family: The oldest son, Thomas Jackson Brown, was first married to Eliza E. Heath with whom he had the following children before her untimely death in 1872: William Thomas, b. 1869, d. 1937, m. Helen Ilene Jordan; twin infant girls, b.&d. 1872, buried in family plot in Hopewell Baptist Church Cemetery.

Thomas Jackson and his second wife, Caroline E. Rabren, reared the following nine children: Savannah, b. 1874, d. 1876; Frances Elizabeth, b. 1875, d. 1961, m. William Lazarus White; Phillip Washington “Tim,” b. 1876, d. 1946, m. J.S. or S.A. Raley; Susanna, b. 1878, m. E.F. “Bud” Gibson; Rosa Edah “Rossie Edeh,” b. 1883, d. 1939, m. William Robert Duggan; O. Savannah, b. 1884, d. 1976, m. George E. Stone (1878-1946); Abb J., b. 1887, d. 1967, m. (1) Nancy Arnassa Brooks (1891-1941) (2) Ollie S. Fuqua (1900-1995); Bonnie A., b. 1889, d. 1973, m. Hilliary H. Stone (1885-1949); and Halver Lavon, b. 1892, d. 1924, m. Margaret E. Kimbro (1893-1967).

In 1880, Thomas Jackson Brown homesteaded 161.20 acres in the Carolina Township. Many of his relatives and descendants resided in this area, especially in the Salem Community. A number are buried in the Salem Baptist Church Cemetery.

A younger brother of Thomas Jefferson Brown, Willis Jackson Brown, homesteaded 79.95 acres in the Carolina Township in 1895. He was married to Alice E. White, daughter of James Andrew and Mary (Mancill) White in 1887. They had two children: Maud R., b. 1893, d. 1908, single; infant, b.&d. 1910.

The second daughter of Thomas Jefferson Brown, Frances Elizabeth Brown, was married to William Lazarus White, son of James Andrew and Mary (Mancill) White. They reared the following eight children in Andalusia: Minnie Ophelia, b. 1895, d. 1969, m. Millard F. Parrish; Lillie Mae, b. 1897, d. 1960, m. Willie Lee Johnson; Ada, b. 1899, d. 1989, m. Ezekiel Joseph Thomas; Aggie, b. 1900, d. 1993, m. Burie Guard Parrish; Omer L., b. 1902, d. 1925, m. Alta Mae Dozier; Dennis Clayton, b. 1904, d. 1994, m. Alene DeShazo; Son, b. 1908; and Mary Ethel, b. 1910, d. 1982, m. Aaron Harvey Jay.

Those researching this family have additional genealogy on later generations. One of these, Winston Dowe Jay, shared his family records for this writing. Appreciation is expressed to him for this and the extensive work he has done to compile this lineage.

Anyone who might find an error in the above or who has additional information on this family is requested to contact Curtis Thomasson at 20357 Blake Pruitt Road, Andalusia, AL 36420; 334-222-6467; or email: cthomasson@centurytel.net.