Deputy
Deputy or depute may refer to:
* Steward (office)
* Khalifa, an Arabic title that can signify "deputy"
* Deputy (legislator), a legislator in many countries and regions, including:
** A member of a Chamber of Deputies, for example in Italy, Spain, ...
to the
Provincial Congress of New Jersey
The Provincial Congress of New Jersey was a transitional governing body of the Province of New Jersey in the early part of the American Revolution. It first met in 1775 with representatives from all New Jersey's then-thirteen counties, to supersed ...
in 1775 (at Trenton) and 1776 (at New Brunswick). As Deputy to the Provincial Congress of New Jersey, Abia Brown represented
Sussex County, New Jersey
Sussex County () is the northernmost county in the U.S. state of New Jersey. Its county seat is Newton.Casper Shafer. This position of "Deputy" was then a geographic representative position, and not to be confused with a modern-day bailiff or a law enforcement agent present mainly to keep order.
Abia also served as a justice of the peace for Sussex County in 1772 which at the time was a position of greater stature than present day judicial positions by the same name.Southwestern historical quarterly, Volume 7 By Eugene Campbell Barker, Herbert Eugene Bolton, Texas State Historical Association, University of Texas at Austin. Center for Studies in Texas History. Abia was appointed Justice of the Peace by the Governor of
New Jersey
New Jersey is a U.S. state, state located in both the Mid-Atlantic States, Mid-Atlantic and Northeastern United States, Northeastern regions of the United States. Located at the geographic hub of the urban area, heavily urbanized Northeas ...
province. Abia also served on the Counsel of Safety during the Revolutionary War.
Family and religion
Abia was father to
Mary Brown Austin
Mary Brown Austin (1768–1824) had dramatic influence on early Texas history. Perhaps her most important contribution to history is writing a letter to her son, Stephen, two days before the death of her husband, Moses Austin, imploring Stephen F ...
, father-in-law to
Moses Austin
Moses Austin (October 4, 1761 – June 10, 1821) was an American businessman and pioneer who played a large part in the development of the lead industry in the early United States, especially in southwest Virginia and Missouri. He was the fa ...
, and maternal grandfather to both Stephen F. Austin and Emily Margaret Brown Austin. On March 12, 1765, Abia married Margaret Sharp (born in Piles Grove, Salem County, in pre-revolution New Jersey). Abia was born in the Township of Nottingham, New Jersey, Nottingham in the County of Burlington, in pre-revolutionary New Jersey, and died in New Jersey.
Abia's father was Preserve Brown Jr., (whose father was Preserve Brown) and his grandmother was Mary French, daughter of Richard French and Mary Sykes. Abia's parents and grandparents were Members of the Society of Friends and attended Quaker meetings at the Meeting House in Chesterfield. Abia's father-in-law was Joseph Sharp, also Quaker, leading to a conclusion that Abia's wife Margaret was also Quaker. These facts lead to an intriguing question about the lapse of direct formal Quaker practice in favor of Episcopal, Anglican, or non-denominational practice among immediate descendants of Maria Brown Austin. One explanation is the influence of Moses Austin, who was not Quaker, and another is the physical remoteness from the Quaker structure and population in Pennsylvania and New Jersey.
Other name
Some sources refer to "Abia Brown" as "Abiah Brown", with an "h" at the end of the first name.Documents relating to the Colonial History of the State of New Jersey: Calendar of New Jersey Wills Volume VI 1781-1785, p. 61.