Robert Brown was born in 1740 in Dublin, Ireland. Robert emigrated to the American colonies by 1768 and became a storekeeper in Swedesboro. Rachel Denny was born 1749 and baptized at the Raccoon Swedish Lutheran Church. Her Denny ancestors came to Gloucester County in 1690.
In 1772, Robert and Rachel married at the Raccoon Church. The Browns were settled down to raise a family. Robert’s store was very successful, and he was recognized as a community leader.
In 1772, the pastor at Raccoon Church, Rev. John Wicksell, proposed a new school at Swedesboro for educating children. Rev. Wicksell selected Thomas Denny and Robert Brown as managers of funding and construction. Eleven years later, Rev. Nicholas Collin proposed a new Swedish Lutheran Church in Swedesboro, and Robert Brown was one of the building fund managers.
Combat with the British Army began in April 1775 at the battles of Lexington and Concord. The breakaway New Jersey Legislature proposed the formation of militia companies for each county in June 1775. Robert Brown signed up for the Gloucester County militia and was appointed captain.
The Revolutionary War started in 1775 in Massachusetts, and by the summer of 1777 it had moved to Philadelphia. During the Battle of Brandywine, on Sept. 11, 1777 residents in New Jersey could hear the rumble of cannon fire.
Significant military activity began in Gloucester County in October 1777. The British Army captured Fort Billingsport in Greenwich Township on Oct. 2,1777. After that, Fort Billingsport was defended by squads from the British Army and New Jersey Loyalist troops. One officer of the Loyalist troops was Jacob Coxe from Woolwich, a person who probably knew Robert Brown.
Before the attack on Fort Mercer at Red Bank on Oct. 22, 1777, Captain Brown was stationed with his militia company in defense of Woodbury. The Hessian soldiers were defeated at Fort Mercer and withdrew. In the winter 1777-1778, violent acts were committed by British, Hessians, and New Jersey Loyalists against the civilians of Gloucester County.
In February 1778 General George Washington sent General Anthony Wayne to requisition food from Salem and Cumberland Counties. General Wayne passed through Swedesboro with the British in hot pursuit, causing a commotion in the middle of the night.
The county militia retaliated against British sympathizers and detained several at the Swedesboro Schoolhouse. On April 4, 1778 a squad of the New Jersey Loyalists from Fort Billingsport marched out to intimidate the rebels.
There was a skirmish in Swedesboro. During the skirmish, the firing of guns was widespread in the town. The schoolhouse was burned. A number of civilians were attacked, and their houses were looted.
The Loyalists singled out the family of Robert Brown for harsh treatment. Brown’s family was attacked because he was a former British citizen turned rebel, he was a leader of the Gloucester County militia, and his property and store were targets of high value.
Rachel Brown and her children watched in horror as the family home and store were destroyed.
By the end of June 1778, the British Army had evacuated Philadelphia and the irregular fighting in Gloucester County had ceased. Robert Brown needed to rebuild his business in Swedesboro, and chose to end his military service.
The schoolhouse at Swedesboro was rebuilt after 1778. Brown’s children would have been educated there.
The new church in Swedesboro (Trinity Episcopal Church) was finished in 1786 under the leadership of Rev. Collin and Robert Brown. When he died in 1798, Robert Brown was buried at Trinity.
He had become one of the wealthiest men in Gloucester County. He was the leading merchant, and also was essentially the Bank of Swedesboro, since he had allowed store credit for many people in Woolwich. Rachel Brown died in 1822 and was buried next to her beloved.
The horror of war events had shaken the Browns, but with the passing years, peace and tranquility had returned to Swedesboro.
By Russell Shiveler, Swedesboro Woolwich Historical Society
