John Brown and Elizabeth Perry

St Dionis Backchurch

John Brown (b. ~1710) married Elizabeth Perry (bap. 27 Mar 1714 in Woolwich, Kent), eldest daughter of Philip Perry and Elizabeth Flemming, at the church of St Dionis Backchurch, located in the heart of the City of London on 13 Feb 1734 (Julian) 1735 (Gregorian). The record reads, "John Brown of the Parish of St Dunstan Stepney in the County of Middlesex Batchelor & Elizabeth Perry of the same parish Spinster were married (by Licence) on Thursday the 13th day of Feb 1734/5."

The records of seven children can be attributed to this couple:

1. Sarah Brown b. Friday, 11 Jan 1740, bap. 5 Feb 1740 (at 25 days old) at St Dunstan's, Stepney. Sarah, daughter of John Brown of Poplar Brewer & Elizabeth
2. Elizabeth Brown b. Wednesday, 3 Jul 1745, bap. 11 Jul 1745 (at 8 days old). In the records of St Dunstan's, Stepney, it says 'Elizabeth, daughter of John Brown of Poplar Brewer & Elizabeth at Poplar'. Being baptised 'at Poplar' may have been at Poplar Chapel (St Matthias Old Church).
3. Susanna Brown b. Tuesday, 21 Apr 1747, bap. 19 May 1747 (at 28 days old) at St Dunstan's, Stepney. Susanna, daughter of John Brown of Poplar Brewer & Elizabeth.
4. John Ephraim Brown b. Wednesday, 14 Feb 1750, bap. 5 Mar 1750 (at 19 days old) at St Dunstan's, Stepney. John Ephraim, son of John Brown of Poplar Brewer & Elizabeth.
5. Helen Brown b. Saturday, 12 May 1753, bap. 6 Jun 1753 (at 25 days old) at St Dunstan's, Stepney. Helen, daughter of John Brown Poplar Brewer & Elizabeth.
6. Catherine Brown b. 26 Apr 1755, bap. 28 Apr 1755 (at 2 days old) at St Dunstan's, Stepney, Catherine daughter of John Brown of Poplar, Brewer and Elisabeth. (Listed as Kitty in the Will of her Uncle Ephraim Seehl)
7. Ann Brown b. 9 Aug 1758, bap. 27 Aug 1758 (at 18 days old) at St Dunstan's, Stepney, Ann daughter of John Brown of Poplar, Brewer and Elisabeth.

The baptisms all list their father as John Brown of Poplar, Brewer. Additional evidence that these are the children of this family: Sarah was the name of Elizabeth's aunt and sister; Elizabeth is obviously her own and her mother's name; Susanna was another of Elizabeth's sisters; John, clearly for his father, but Ephraim after his uncle, Ephraim Seehl, married to his mother's sister, Sarah; and Helen was the widow of Elizabeth's brother, Philip Perry.

John Brown was alive when he was witness at daughter Elizabeth's marriage to John Perry on 19 Mar 1765, but we know he died before 29 Apr 1775, because a Codicil to the Will of his brother-in-law, Ephraim Reinhold Seehl, of that date stated he had died. Brown is not the easiest name to research, however, one would expect a man of his standing to leave a Will, so I began looking there, within the window between those dates, and indeed, found the Will of John Brown of the Hamlet of Poplar in the Parish of Stepney, Brewer, dated 7 Apr 1768 and proved on 22 Apr 1768, who left all of his estates together with his household furniture, stock in trade, plate, ready money ... to his dear beloved wife Elizabeth Brown, who he also appointed sole Executrix. He specified that bequests of £300 each should be given to their two youngest daughters, Catherine and Ann, upon Elizabeth's death, but otherwise, gave her full discretion 'to dispose of whatever she shall be possessed of in such manner as she shall think proper'. In the parish records of St Dunstans, Stepney on 15 Apr 1768, is the burial of "John Brown of Poplar, at Ditto". This means, first of all that he clearly died between the 7th and 15th of April 1768, and that he was buried at Poplar Chapel (St Matthias Old Church), as were so many other members of the Perry family.

Locating the death of Elizabeth Brown (née Perry) is another day's challenge.