Person Page - 199

     Thomas Upham married Mary Brown, daughter of John Brown and Sarah Barsham, on 4 October 1704 at Int.

     Nanthaniel Brown was born on 22 April 1688 at Reading, MA.¹ He was the son of John Brown and Sarah Barsham.¹ Nanthaniel Brown Removed to Killingly, Windham C. Capt. Brown settled in the northern part of the township then known as Thompson Parish and as Thompson Township.

He was an influential man in his day, and one of the most prominent citizens of Thompson Parish. He was chosen Captain of the 3rd Company or train band, of Killingly, in 1732, and in the same year was a member of the first school committee of Thompson Parish. in 1711. He married Deborah Bryant circa 1713 at dau of Simon Bryant. Nanthaniel Brown died on 14 August 1746 at bur. West Thompson Cem., Killingly, Windham, CT, at age 58.

     Stephen Brown was born on 21 May 1693 at Reading, MA.¹ He was the son of John Brown and Sarah Barsham.¹

     Deborah Bryant married Nanthaniel Brown, son of John Brown and Sarah Barsham, circa 1713 at dau of Simon Bryant. Deborah Bryant died circa 1745.

     Bethiah Brown is the daughter of Nanthaniel Brown and Deborah Bryant.¹

     Sara Brown is the daughter of Nanthaniel Brown and Deborah Bryant.¹

     Briant (Brynt) Brown was baptized bap 27 Jan 1717 at Killingly, Windham, CT. He was the son of Nanthaniel Brown and Deborah Bryant.¹ Briant (Brynt) Brown married Hephzibah Chandler in 1739. Briant (Brynt) Brown Briant seems from the records to have been a citizen of some considerable standing and prominence in the community. In 1764 he wa Representative to the General Assembly at Hartford. In 1757 he wa appointed Chairman of the Committee of Three "to join Pomfret gentlemen in reparing the bridge call Danielsons,"and in 1774 he wa a member of the Killingly Committee to send relief t the citzens of Boston during its blockade by the British. He left a will on 19 February 1784. He died on 4 March 1784 at Thompson, Windham, CT.

     Hephzibah Chandler was born on 12 August 1720 at of Pomfret, CT. She married Briant (Brynt) Brown, son of Nanthaniel Brown and Deborah Bryant, in 1739. Hephzibah Chandler left a will on 6 May 1806. She died on 19 June 1810 at Thompson, Windham, CT, at age 89.

     Mary Brown was born on 5 April 1719.¹ She was the daughter of Nanthaniel Brown and Deborah Bryant.¹ Mary Brown married Israel Joslin Jr. on 20 November 1739.¹

     Israel Joslin Jr. married Mary Brown, daughter of Nanthaniel Brown and Deborah Bryant, on 20 November 1739.¹

     Zeruiah Brown was born on 12 February 1721.¹ She was the daughter of Nanthaniel Brown and Deborah Bryant.¹

     Capt. Stephen Brown was born on 16 May 1725.² He was the son of Nanthaniel Brown and Deborah Bryant.² Capt. Stephen Brown married Mary Lyon on 17 October 1748 at Promfrett, CT. Capt. Stephen Brown died in 1803 at Windham, CT.

     Hannah Brown was born on 16 May 1727 at Killingly, Windham, CT.¹ She was the daughter of Nanthaniel Brown and Deborah Bryant.¹ Hannah Brown married John Jeffrey on 23 December 1745.¹

     John Jeffrey married Hannah Brown, daughter of Nanthaniel Brown and Deborah Bryant, on 23 December 1745.¹

     Mehitable Brown was born on 3 May 1730 at Killingly, Windham, CT.¹ She was the daughter of Nanthaniel Brown and Deborah Bryant.¹ Mehitable Brown married Joseph Pudney on 5 June 1747.

     Joseph Pudney married Mehitable Brown, daughter of Nanthaniel Brown and Deborah Bryant, on 5 June 1747.

     Deborah Brown was born on 17 September 1732 at Killingly, Windham, CT.¹ She was the daughter of Nanthaniel Brown and Deborah Bryant.¹

     Nathaniel Brown was born on 2 March 1735 at Killingly, Windham, CT.¹ He was the son of Nanthaniel Brown and Deborah Bryant.¹

     John Brown was born on 11 June 1738 at Killingly, Windham, CT.¹ He was the son of Nanthaniel Brown and Deborah Bryant.¹

     Mary Lyon married Capt. Stephen Brown, son of Nanthaniel Brown and Deborah Bryant, on 17 October 1748 at Promfrett, CT.

     Capt. Stephen Brown was born on 17 May 1748. He was the son of Capt. Stephen Brown and Mary Lyon. Capt. Stephen Brown began military service on 1 May 1775 at CT 1st Lieutenant 3d Connecticut, 1st May to 7th December, 1775; Captain 20th Continental Infantry, 1st January to 31st

December,1776; Captain 4th Connecticut, 1st January, 1777; killed 15th November, 1777, in the defence of Fort Miffin, PA.

“American State Papers…”, Lowrie and Franlin, Washington, 1834 v.9:172

Regiment “Connecticut Line” 1777-1781 Captains, p. 188;
Fourth Regiment Connecticut Line Formation of 1777-1781, p. 182

Knowlton’s “Rangers” 1776”, pp. 121-122, 129

Colonel Durkee’s Regiment 1776, p. 106. He ended military service on 1 January 1777 at Fort Mifllin; The Siege of Fort Mifflin or Siege of Mud Island Fort from September 26 to November 16, 1777 saw British land batteries commanded by Captain John Montresor and a British naval squadron under Vice Admiral Lord Richard Howe attempt to capture an American fort in the Delaware River commanded by Lieutenant Colonel Samuel Smith.


During this Siege many Americans were wounded and lost their lives, including that of Capt. Stephen Brown on 16 November 1777.

As the British marched triumphantly into Philadelphia during the last days of September in 1777, a strategic dilemma faced General William Howe, commander of the army. Surrounded by rebel forces from the north, east and west, his troops were in desperate need of supplies—gunpowder, clothing, food, and munitions. Without these items the capture of Philadelphia might become meaningless and the British would be unable to pursue and destroy Washington’s Army before winter.
South of Philadelphia in the Delaware Bay sat a fleet British ships carrying the army’s much needed supplies. General Howe gave orders to sail the fleet up the river to provide new provisions to his occupying troops.
The Americans had secured a British built fortification, sitting on Mud Island, just below the city and across the river from New Jersey’s Fort Mercer in 1775. By the fall of 1777 approximately 200 men were garrisoned at this fort, now known as Fort Mifflin, charged with the duty of holding the British off “to the last extremity” so that Washington and his exhausted army could successfully move into winter quarters.

It was here, on the frozen, marshy ground within the walls of a stone and wood fort, the American Revolution produced a shining moment. Cold, ill and starving, the young garrison of (now) 400 men at Fort Mifflin refused to give up. The valiant efforts of the men at Fort Mifflin held the mighty British Navy at bay providing Washington and his troops time to arrive safely at Valley Forge where they shaped a strong and confident army. This battle escalated into the greatest bombardment of the American Revolution and one that many say changed the course of American history.

For nearly six weeks in the fall of 1777, American troops in Fort Mifflin and Fort Mercer frustrated British naval attempts to re-supply their occupying forces in Philadelphia. Early in the morning on November 10, 1777, the British took definitive action to reach Philadelphia via the Delaware. Daybreak brought a rain of cannon fire upon Fort Mifflin beginning the largest bombardment of the Revolutionary War.

Under the direction of French Major Francois de Fleury, an engineer and tireless worker, the Americans worked each night to repair the damage of the day.

On November 15th, finally clear after days of rain and high tides, the British sailed the Vigilant and the Fury, with nineteen cannon up the back channel to the west of Fort Mifflin. In the main channel of the Delaware three ships armed with 158 cannon anchored directly offshore of the fort, while to the east three additional ships armed with 51 cannon completed the naval assault.

Against this show of force, Fort Mifflin could respond with only ten cannon. It was reported that during one hour, 1000 cannon balls were fired at the fort. As the battle progressed, British Marines climbed to the crow’s nest of the Vigilant and threw hand grenades at the soldiers in the fort.
Exhausted, cold and out of ammunition, Major Simeon Thayer evacuated Fort Mifflin’s garrison to Fort Mercer with muffled oars after nightfall on November 15. Forty men remained at the fort and set fire to what was left before making their way across the Delaware to join their comrades. They crossed to New Jersey around midnight leaving Fort Mifflin ablaze, but the flag still flying. He died on 16 November 1777 at age 29.

     William Barsham died 3 or 13 Jul 1684 at Watertown, MA.¹ He married Anabel Smith, daughter of John Smith alias Bland, by 1635.¹ William Barsham was born circa 1610.¹

     Anabel Smith was the daughter of John Smith alias Bland.² Anabel Smith married William Barsham by 1635.¹ Anabel Smith died on 28 August 1683.¹

     Lt. Bryant/Briant Brown was born on 7 February 1745 at prob. Killingly, Windahm, CT. He was the son of Briant (Brynt) Brown and Hephzibah Chandler. Lt. Bryant/Briant Brown married Mary Dunbar in November 1766 at Haddam, CT. Lt. Bryant/Briant Brown died on 15 February 1798 at Windsonr, VT, at age 53.

     Mary Dunbar married Lt. Bryant/Briant Brown, son of Briant (Brynt) Brown and Hephzibah Chandler, in November 1766 at Haddam, CT.