My Family Tree

Marriage of Harriet and William not found in PEI Marriage Registers. Baptismal record for one of their children says "born of the lawful marriage of William Brown and Harriet McArthy."

From Genealogy Notes From Lots 14 & 16 Provided and typed by Dorothy Farish, based on information is taken from an old copybook written by Father William Cameron. He wrote down the family history told to him by hi grandmother, Nellie Brown - see The Island Register:

"Alexander Brown was an officer and came to Prince Edward Island in the American War of Independence. He got a grant of land in Lot 16, and married Margaret MacWilliams , a Scotch girl. He died at Brown's Creek and is buried across the river. There were three boys - the oldest was William , the second was Hugh, and the third was James . A daughter, Margaret , was born after her father's death. She married Rod MacNeill, a ship builder living in Lot 16. Alex Brown's widow married George Blood, a Protestant who turned Catholic.

William Brown , the oldest son of Alex and Margaret, married Harriet McArthur , daughter of Neill McArthur, whose mother was a Catholic. The mother before her marriage to Neill was a Mrs. Roche. Her first husband and a son burned to death in a vessel on the sea. They formerly came from Quebec. Neill met her in Gaspe. At the time he met Mrs.Roche she had five children - 3 girls and 2 boys. [Neil's marriage to the widow Roche was found in the Drouin Collection, as well as the death of Captain Roche and his son in a fire on a ship]

(Father Willie's grandmother (Nellie Brown) was a bridesmaid at the wedding of William and Harriet)

William and Harriet had the following children :

Anne Maria , who never married. She died in 1902.

Alexander , who died unmarried.

Helena , who died unmarried.

Hugh , who died unmarried.

William , who married Helen (or Ellen) Gorman, daughter of Thomas Gorman, Trout River, Tyne Valley. (PEI Baptismal Index)

Margaret , died unmarried.(PEI Baptismal Index)

Henrietta , who married James Gorman. They lived in Lot 7.(PEI Baptismal Index)

Veronica , who married John McIntyre. He used to keep a hotel. (Some of their children were baptized in the Brae - see the PEI Baptismal Index)

Ellen Virginia , died unmarried. (newspaper notice)

Her twin, James , married Maggie E. McDonald, daughter of Captain Hugh McDonald.

Bernard , who married Veronica McDonald, daughter of Captain Hugh McDonald." (PEI Baptismal Index)

The 12 member household of William Brown, a farmer in Lot 13 in the 1861 census is likely this family. They were all Roman Catholic, and there was a man over 60. All had been born on the Island.

The Islander – Jul 1, 1870
Died.

At Lot 13, on Monday, the 14th June, Miss Ellen Virginia Brown, aged 24 years, daughter of Mr. William Brown.

On Thursday, the 16th June, after an illness of twelve months, which she bore with Christian resignation, Mrs. Henrietta Brown, wife of Mr. Wm. Brown, and mother of the above, aged 64.

William was not in the 1881 Census.

In 1881, Hugh and Ann Maria were in Lot 13.