Herbert Esley BROWN (1893-1949), son of James Theodore "Doke" BROWN (1867-1933) and Margaret Malore WHITLOCK (1874-1924), married January 9, 1913, Opal Lauretta CLAYBOURN. b. Marion County, IL (1895-1941), daughter of Reuben Cicero CLAYBOURN (l85~l92l) and Mary Ann Eldorado WILHAMS (1857-1914). This marriage united the familes of English and Scotch-Irish pioneer settlers of Jefferson County eight grandparents. Nine great and five great great grandparents having settled between 1828 and 1856 in Rome, Field and Mt. Vernon Townships.

All known antecedents were in Virginia and Carolinas by the time of Revolution and migrated to Illinois via Tennessee.

In 1828, Sarah "Sally" (CLAYBOURN) BROWN 1780-1853), widow of James BROWN. (b. lreland. Smith Co ., TN 1813), settled in Rome Township with some of her family, including son William Josiah (b. TN 1808-1865), who m. l830 Elizabeth McMEENS (b. TN 1815-1897), daughter of Joseph and Celia McMEENS. 

William's son James BROWN (1832-1901) m. second Susan Piety HUTCHISON (b. TN 1836-1919), one-quarter Indian (paternal grandmother- Cherokee), daughter of William HUTCHISON (b. 1804).  HUTCHISONs settled Mt. Vernon Township 1846.

James' and Susan's son, James "Doke" BROWN, m. "Maggie" WHITLOCK, daughter of George Lansing WHITLOCK (b. Virginia 1834) and Margaret PATTON. George's parents: Robert Randolph WHITLOCK (1813-1875) and Frances BEADLES (b. 1812). Robert's parents: Thomas Wellington WHITLOCK (1790-1856) and Sarah (?). The WHITLOCKs' family is traced to Isle of Wight County, Virginia, 1638 and thence back to England. 

Reuben Cicero CLAYBOURN was the son of William Divine CLAYBOURN (1819-1896) and Alla Frances HAWKER (1820-1863).Mary Ann Eldorado WILLIAMS was the daughter of James Jackson WILLIAMS, son of Moses and Margaret (FOSTER) WILLIAMS of Virginia, and Sophronia Jane BRYANT, daughter of Nathaniel and Mary Ann (McGUIRE) BRYANT.
—Rose Marian (BROWN) WILLIAMS

Source: Facts and Folks, Jefferson Co, Il 1978
Submitted by: Misty Flannigan
Dec 27, 1997