The following mini biography was provided by Linde Lunney. James Brown is an ancestor of hers, probably gt.gt.gt.uncle.
James Brown was born 1762, fourth son of John Brown and Jane Moore of Ballinaloob, Kilraughts, co. Antrim. John Brown d. 1809 aged 84 and Jane Brown in 1803 aged 72.
I have a published family history called Roots in Ulster Soil, by TH and J. Mullin [yes, the same Mullins, Mrs Mullin is a third cousin of my father], and it has quite a lot about James Brown. Apparently he was educated at Glasgow university, as almost all intending Presbyterian ministers from Ireland were, and he graduated MA in 1789. He was licensed to preach by the presbytery of the Route in 1792; presumably preached here and there and perhaps taught in schools, or worked on the home farm - but on 1 December 1795 he was ordained minister of 1st Garvagh.
According to the Mullins, James Brown was described in an unpublished autobiography of Rev. William Hamilton, later of Toronto, who was related to Brown and brought up in Garvagh, as a very genial and pleasant man.
Rev. James B. married Elizabeth Adams, daughter of John Adams of Chequer Hall, co Antrim. John Adams was one of the pioneers of the industrial revolution in Antrim; the two families were probably related already.
The Browns had three sons and six daughters; John who failed in business in Randalstown from "excessive honesty", and emigrated to Augusta, Georgia, where he had numerous relatives through the Browns, Adamses and a family called Bones, who prospered greatly there. There is quite a lot of material about these related families in Augusta; several people are working on them and there are a number of articles published on them.
James and William Brown, the other two sons, also emigrated. There were two unmarried daughters, Margaret the youngest died 1833 aged 16, Elizabeth died 1889 aged 86. Jane married a Hamilton, brother of the William Hamilton who wrote an autobiography; Mary married a cousin Bones in Augusta; Matilda (or perhaps Martha; I think she was known as Matty) married Archibald Dougherty, a doctor in Garvagh; their son James Brown Dougherty b. 1844 became a minister, then professor of philosophy, then was appointed Under Secretary for Ireland and was knighted - he was more or less the equivalent in his day of Mo Mowlam or Peter Mandelson, and was very influential.
Anne, another daughter of James Brown married Rev. Clarke Huston, minister of Macosquin for 43 years; he was from near Garvagh. Anne died aged 27; she and Huston had several children, including two who became ministers, and two daughters who married ministers. Among their descendants were more ministers, missionaries and minister's wives.
A copy of a letter which James Brown wrote to his son-in-law, John Bones (who was also a nephew) in Augusta, survives in PRONI. It is dated Mount Pleasant, August 26 1835.
Dear John,
he mentions John's kindness to different branches of the family and adds
you no doubt will be surprised that I have not written you long before this. One principle apology is that three or four years ago I was long ill and frequently under the Doctor's hands, since that I have had a tremor in my hand and weakness which makes writing a labour to me, besides the young people all writing in turn were sufficient to make the communication an annoyance rather than a satisfaction.for the walking stick you sent me to be a support to me in my old age, I return you many many thanks.
Brown lived another 15 years after this letter, in which he goes on to note that they had had a dreadful cold wet spring, and says
in this neighbourhood there is no occurrence worth narrating save considerable revivals in religion. There has been ordained in the course of the last spring a minister in Kingscord, on the northwest boundary of my congregation, and they are at present building a new meetinghouse at Moneydig a place to the East of my congregation.
...Your aunt continues much in the same state as when you left us - still complaining and little change but any change that is is I think for the better.So now you see why his writing was increasingly bad.
Brown was clerk of the Route presbytery 1818-34, retired from Garvagh 1839 and died 20 May 1850. I have seen him described as an important figure in Irish presbyterianism, but I have no contemporary descriptions of his role or influence to back this up.
So it looks as though Brown was an able and well-connected man; acc. to the OS memoirs in 1836, his income was £120 and 10 shillings. The church in Garvagh was built to seat 660 people.
It should be noted that John Brown, who was minister of Aghadowey Presbyterian Church from 1813 to 1873 is apparently not related to James Brown. John Brown was from near Garvagh and is a major topic in Mullin's Aghadowey.
Lavonne Bradfield and her husband went to Bann Valley for a holiday, and transcribed all of the records they could find. A massive undertaking: she's transcribed most of them and they are included in the Bann Valley site.