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Nearly 40 members of the Brown family gathered Sept. 6 at historic Brown’s Chapel and the Gepp Fire Station to celebrate an ancestor who fought in the American Revolution, as the country approaches its 250th anniversary.
“Elihu Brown was 21 years old when the American Revolution broke out,” said Brown descendant K.E. Ragland. “He joined the Colonial Infantry.”
Brown was a Quaker, and most members of the Religious Society of Friends refused to take up arms. He did anyway.
“Quakers who fought were read out (disowned) by their Friends congregations,” Ragland said. “But after the war, the Quakers provided for reconciliations.”
The program also featured the restored saddle of Ned Brown, with its metal stirrups, leather strips and large saddle horn.
“This saddle would have cost him about $20,” said Lyn Cotter. “That would have been three months’ wages at that time.”
One of the leather strips had been partially cut, which Cotter said was a way to sabotage a rider. A cut strip would let the saddle come loose from the horse and cause a wreck.
“In this case, the leather strip was not cut very far,” Cotter said.
The Gepp Fire Station on Highway 87 hosted the luncheon. Family members filled long tables in the meeting room and one of the truck bays for a potluck spread laid out along the station counter.
“We are proud to offer this facility for the people,” said volunteer firefighter Robert Stone.
“We want to thank everyone for coming,” said organizer Rhonda Ross. “The programs were very good.”
The Brown family reunion is held every year on the Sunday afternoon of Labor Day weekend.
