The age discrepancies between the census reports potentially represent a combination of possibilities and allow for years of serious and even a little bit of fun conjecture.
Boston Ferrell died on September 18, 1928(?). The 1930 U.S. Census Report, dated April 2, 1930 shows the Brown family as indicated below.
William and Martha Brown’s Family in 1930
Ancestors | Age | Occupation | Able to Read? | Able to Write? |
1 William Elliott Brown | 39 | Miller - Foundry | Yes | Yes |
2 Martha Ellen Brown | 39 | None | Yes | Yes |
3 Virginia R Brown | 19 | None | Yes | Yes |
4 William E. Brown, Jr. | 17 | None | Yes | Yes |
5 Martha Ellen Brown | 14 | None | Yes | Yes |
6 Robert L. Brown | 11 | None | Yes | Yes |
7 Lawrence Brown | 9 | None | Yes | Yes |
8 Benjamin Brown | 6 | None | No | No |
9 Russell Brown | 2-9/12 | None | No | No |
1 Fannie Brown | 4/12 | None | No | No |
In 1932, William and Martha Brown’s family included the birth of their youngest child, Merrell. On January 1, 1933, the Brown family included nine children. The family is shown below.
William and Martha Brown’s Family January 1, 1932
Ancestors | Age | Occupation | Able to Read? | Able to Write? |
1 William Elliott Brown | 41 | Miller – Foundry | Yes | Yes |
2 Martha Ellen Brown | 41 | None | Yes | Yes |
3 Virginia R Brown | 21 | None | Yes | Yes |
4 William E. Brown, Jr. | 19 | None | Yes | Yes |
5 Martha Ellen Brown | 16 | None | Yes | Yes |
6 Robert L. Brown | 13 | None | Yes | Yes |
7 Lawrence Brown | 11 | None | Yes | Yes |
8 Benjamin Brown | 8 | None | Yes | Yes |
9 Russell Brown | 4 | None | No | No |
1 Olivia Fannie Brown | 2 | None | No | No |
1 Merrell Brown | 1/12 | None | No | No |
The 1940 U.S. Census Report is not available yet; there is a 74-year confidentiality hold on all census reports. The 1940 U.S. Census report will be available in 2014.
On May 27, 1936, William Elliott Brown, Sr. died. Robert Brown and Lawrence Brown died in childhood. Martha remarried twice after the death of her husband William. She married Willie ‘Pop’ Hill and together they raised her youngest children. At some time Martha and ‘Pop’ Hill divorced. Martha then married Benjamin Yancey.
This is a sketchy and rough beginning of our family history; it is a living document. The life of this document can be extended by each of us. We can build upon this family history by interviewing family members who can provide contributing facts about Martha, William, their children, and their children’s descendants.
At this time, not much is known about William Elliott Brown’s parents: William Brown and Rosa Johnson. We know William Elliott Brown was a highly skilled miller and brass worker. He taught piano at night and was reported to have a clientele of students. He also taught his older children piano which explains the beauty of some of the Browns’ musical and vocal gifts. William was reportedly the choir director at Six Mount Zion Baptist Church.
Our family’s lineage through Benjamin and Louisa Ferrell began on a farm in Beaver Dam, Hanover, Virginia. Together they worked on land and raised skilled and hard working children. It was reported via the U.S. Census that no member of Benjamin and Louisa’s household could read or write. However, from the census reports and Richmond City directory, they obviously instilled a strong work ethic in their children that carries down through our lineage. And we must proudly honor and carry our work ethic and our ability to read and write the English language in their stead.
