Hello Donata...I'll try to get your copies in the mail on Monday, next. You
will see my interest in Valentine Shockley and my Brown line. Valentine
married the mother (widow Martha Gibson Shaw) of my g grandmother, Artalissa
Shaw m my g grandfather, Christopher Brown, and my gg grandfather, Wm
Brown, supposedly married them. I would love to get my hands on Valentine's
wedding certificate to see if it was written/completed by my Wm Brown.
William was noted as not being able to read or write in the 1850 census, but
yet he preached by appt almost every weekend, frequently staying at Jesse
Stout's home overnight and holding services in the home of Jesse's father.
I don't know what denomination, didn't seem to have an official church
building - but maybe a meeting house, and no pay received for service.
Apparently, this was a principle of the religion and also personal opinion
of Wm Brown. I've been told that the Fairview Christian Friend's Church
wasn't built until 1890, and John Taylor, ordained by Wm Brown, was the
minister there in 1895.
Virginia Brown Fyfe