RHEA-L Archives

From: "Robert P. Rhea" <>
Subject: [RHEA] Rev. John Brown
Date: Thu, 24 May 2001 23:14:39 -0500

Norma Lewis & List,

There were apparently two ministers named John Brown. The one who
married Hugh Rhea and Rebecca Smiley (the Smileys were near neighbors to
the Rheas) was a Presbyterian minister, called in 1753 to serve the
combined New Providence and Timber Ridge churches. which initially met
together at the South Mountain Meeting House near the present New
Providence Presbyterian Church just north of Brownsburg in Rockbridge
County near its northern boundary with Augusta County. The call was
signed by William and Robert Reagh/Reah, and each pledged for his
support, William having the second highest pledge of one pound, seven
shillings, eight pence- worth over $300 in today's economy.

Rev. John Brown was a "New Light" Presbyterian, a more evangelistic
segment of Presbyterianism that resulted from the "Great Awakening"
spearheaded by such men as Calvinist Jonathan Edwards and George
Whitfield, a Church of England minister. John Brown enrolled in the
college of New Jersey (Princeton) in 1748, was licensed to preach in
1749, and ordained in 1753.

Timber Ridge Presbyterian Church is located about seven miles north of
Lexington, VA, near U.S. 11. In 1767, after preaching for the two
congregations, Rev. Brown left Timber Ridge and completed his ministry
at the New Providence Church, retiring in 1795.

John Brown was married about 1754 to Margaret Preston, sister to William
Preston, and niece to James Patton, a pioneer settler and developer of
Augusta County. They had seven children. The Prestons, as you know,
married into the Rev. Joseph Rhea family- to his son, Matthew, and
daughter, Margaret.

Sincerely,

Robert Perry Rhea

Reference: Katharine L. Brown, New Providence Church 1746 - 1996 A
History. Pub. by New Providence Presbyterian Church, Raphine, Virginia
24472.

This thread:

• [RHEA] Rev. John Brown by Norma Lewis <>

  • [RHEA] Rev. John Brown by "Robert P. Rhea" <>