Home > United States of America > Rhode Island > Washington County > North Kingstown > Beriah Brown Cemetery > Beriah Brown II

Beriah Brown II

View larger map

Birth	:	16 Jan 1714 Rhode Island, USA
Death	:	8 Jul 1792 Rhode Island, USA
Burial	:	Beriah Brown Cemetery, North Kingstown, Washington County, USA
Coordinate	:	41.5870000, -71.5014800
Description	:	Beriah Brown was born January 16, 1714/5, the son of Alexander and Honour (Huling) Brown. He first married Elizabeth Smith and second, in 1771, Elizabeth Babcock (1725–1815), daughter of George and Susannah Babcock.1 By his first wife, he had three sons and three daughters.2 Although he may never have been aware of it, Beriah Brown was descended from Richard Smith through a maternal line. He was Wilkins Updike's third cousin; they both descended from Richard Smith through his daughter Katheryne's marriage to Gysbert Opdyck in 1643. For this reason, it is entirely appropriate that his desk should come to reside at... Read More	Beriah Brown was born January 16, 1714/5, the son of Alexander and Honour (Huling) Brown. He first married Elizabeth Smith and second, in 1771, Elizabeth Babcock (1725–1815), daughter of George and Susannah Babcock.1 By his first wife, he had three sons and three daughters.2 Although he may never have been aware of it, Beriah Brown was descended from Richard Smith through a maternal line. He was Wilkins Updike's third cousin; they both descended from Richard Smith through his daughter Katheryne's marriage to Gysbert Opdyck in 1643. For this reason, it is entirely appropriate that his desk should come to reside at Smith's Castle. Beriah Brown was first elected sheriff of Washington County in 1746, and held the position for 38 of 46 years until his death in 1792.3 He was involved in two prominent capital cases, one at the beginning and one near the end of his career. On the road below Tower Hill on midnight, January 1, 1751, Thomas Carter of Newport stabbed and killed William Jackson of Virginia for his money.4 At the time, Brown was not yet sheriff and not responsible for apprehending Carter, but he entered office soon after to preside over the May 10 execution. The Rev. James McSparran, a frequent visitor to the Updike house, delivered a lengthy sermon at the execution based on the quote from Saint Matthew V, 21, "Ye have heard that it was said by them of old time thou shalt not kill." Carter was one of the last in Rhode Island to be "hanged in chains"—that is, hanged, then the body mounted in chains or irons and kept on display as a warning to others. Thomas R. Hazard (1797–1886) wrote that Carter was "hanged in gibbets, where the body remained until it dropped piecemeal from the irons to the ground beneath, where I have heard say the soil and verdure were for years after made rank and dark with blood." Beriah Brown paid John DeGrand, the executioner, 50 pounds for his services. Sheriff Brown presided over another murderer's execution at the end of his career, that of Thomas Mount in 1791. Most of Brown's duties, however, were much less dramatic but nonetheless critical to those he served. Beriah Brown died on July 8, 1792 at the age of 77. His desk is not mentioned specifically in either his will or the inventory of his estate. In his will, he gives to his wife Elizabeth "all the household furniture that she brought me when I married her with two cows and the use of the best Rooms in my house where I now live." The desk may have been part of Elizabeth Brown's inheritance; a receipt in the Beriah Brown papers at the Rhode Island Historical Society (RIHS) archives, signed by Elizabeth Brown and dated April 8, 1793, notes "Then received of Beriah Waite & Beriah Brown Junr the Executors of the Last Will and Testament of Beriah Brown Esqr Late Deceased Two cows one mare and Rideing Chare Together with all and every matter of household furniture Given me by my Late Husband Beriah Brown Esqr." Source: http://www.smithscastle.org/collections/text/BeriahBrownDesk.htm

frequently asked questions (FAQ):

Where is Beriah Brown II's memorial?
Beriah Brown II's memorial is located at: Beriah Brown Cemetery, North Kingstown, Washington County, USA.
When did Beriah Brown II death?
Beriah Brown II death on 8 Jul 1792 in Rhode Island, USA
Where are the coordinates of the Beriah Brown II's memorial?
Latitude: 41.5870000
Longitude: -71.5014800

Family Members:

Parent

Alexander Brown

(unknow - 1758)

Honor Huling Brown

(1692 - unknow)

Spouse

Elizabeth Smith Brown

(1719 - unknow)

Siblings

Abigail Brown Phillips

(1713 - 1760)

Children

Honor Brown Gardiner

(1740 - 1760)

Beriah Brown III

(1744 - 1819)

Christopher Brown

(1751 - 1778)

Flowers:

Nearby Cemetories:

1. Beriah Brown Cemetery
North Kingstown, Washington County, USA
Coordinate: 41.5870000, -71.5014800

2. Benjamin Fowler Lot
North Kingstown, Washington County, USA
Coordinate: 41.5923890, -71.5005280

3. Brown-Briggs Lot
North Kingstown, Washington County, USA
Coordinate: 41.5793300, -71.5062790

4. Arnold Cemetery
North Kingstown, Washington County, USA
Coordinate: 41.5962130, -71.5039000

5. Briggs Lot
North Kingstown, Washington County, USA
Coordinate: 41.5955048, -71.5190353

6. John B Jacoy Lot
North Kingstown, Washington County, USA
Coordinate: 41.5908370, -71.4803110

7. Anthony Shaw Lot
Exeter, Washington County, USA
Coordinate: 41.5955280, -71.5220560

8. Jonathan Nichols Lot
East Greenwich, Kent County, USA
Coordinate: 41.6047130, -71.4955630

9. John Rathbun Lot
North Kingstown, Washington County, USA
Coordinate: 41.5687980, -71.5092150

10. Richard Briggs Lot
East Greenwich, Kent County, USA
Coordinate: 41.6067800, -71.5086400

11. Hunt-Hall Cemetery
North Kingstown, Washington County, USA
Coordinate: 41.6028180, -71.4818910

12. Carr Cemetery
North Kingstown, Washington County, USA
Coordinate: 41.5702220, -71.4824720

13. Richard Sweet Lot
East Greenwich, Kent County, USA
Coordinate: 41.6025470, -71.5225870

14. Fones Burial Ground
North Kingstown, Washington County, USA
Coordinate: 41.6010560, -71.4779440

15. Pardon Mawney Lot
East Greenwich, Kent County, USA
Coordinate: 41.6102050, -71.4999720

16. Place Lot
East Greenwich, Kent County, USA
Coordinate: 41.6093200, -71.5122100

17. Jonathan Sherman Lot
East Greenwich, Kent County, USA
Coordinate: 41.6093300, -71.5122100

18. Briggs-Jacoy-Corey Lot
East Greenwich, Kent County, USA
Coordinate: 41.6099052, -71.4917679

19. Rhode Island Hist Cemetery East Greenwich #537
East Greenwich, Kent County, USA
Coordinate: 41.6121390, -71.5072500

20. Captain John Wells Lot
East Greenwich, Kent County, USA
Coordinate: 41.6038290, -71.5271890

21. Carr-Rathbun Lot
East Greenwich, Kent County, USA
Coordinate: 41.6098330, -71.5179720

22. Hunt Cemetery
North Kingstown, Washington County, USA
Coordinate: 41.6066550, -71.4776950

23. Ebenezer Brown Burial Yard
Exeter, Washington County, USA
Coordinate: 41.5651390, -71.5246940

24. Himes Lot
North Kingstown, Washington County, USA
Coordinate: 41.5593020, -71.4953320