Mary Brown Austin
Encyclopedia
Mary Brown Austin 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. Austin
to carry out the dying wish of his father—that Stephen follow through with the Empresario
grants for land settlement in Texas. As such, Mary Brown Austin had a significant role in the shaping and development of Texas.
and Margaret (Sharp) Brown, at Sharpsborough Furnace, New Jersey, on January 1, 1768. She had eight siblings and she lived the longest. Her father, Abia Brown, had served as a deputy in the provincial congresses of 1775 and 1776. Her father had significant real estate holdings related to iron mining and smelting.
After the death of her mother, Abia asked Benjamin Fuller to board Mary and one of her sisters. Fuller was connected to Abia by marriage into the Sharp family and actually was her uncle. Stephen F. Austin's middle name is credited to his great uncle, Benjamin Fuller.
Mary Brown Austin was the mother of Stephen F. Austin and Emily Austin Perry
, James Elijah Brown Austin, and wife of Moses Austin. Her grandchildren include Guy Morrison Bryan, Stephen Samuel Perry
, William Joel Bryan
, and Moses Austin Bryan
. Her daughter Emily was first married to James Bryan and later to James F. Perry.
, alongside her husband who founded Potosi.
Moses Austin
Moses Austin played a large part in the development of the American lead industry and is the father of Stephen F. Austin, a leading American settler of Texas. He was the first to be allowed to gather Anglo Americans for settlement in Spanish Texas...
, imploring Stephen F. Austin
Stephen F. Austin
Stephen Fuller Austin was born in Virginia and raised in southeastern Missouri. He was known as the Father of Texas, led the second, but first legal and ultimately successful colonization of the region by bringing 300 families from the United States. The capital of Texas, Austin in Travis County,...
to carry out the dying wish of his father—that Stephen follow through with the Empresario
Empresario
An empresario was a person who, in the early years of the settlement of Texas, had been granted the right to settle on Mexican land in exchange for recruiting and taking responsibility for new settlers. The word is Spanish for entrepreneur.- Background :...
grants for land settlement in Texas. As such, Mary Brown Austin had a significant role in the shaping and development of Texas.
Family
Mary was born to Abia BrownAbia Brown
Abia Brown served as a Deputy to the Provincial Congress of New Jersey in the years 1775 and 1776 . As Deputy to the Provincial Congress of New Jersey, Abia Brown represented Sussex County, New Jersey...
and Margaret (Sharp) Brown, at Sharpsborough Furnace, New Jersey, on January 1, 1768. She had eight siblings and she lived the longest. Her father, Abia Brown, had served as a deputy in the provincial congresses of 1775 and 1776. Her father had significant real estate holdings related to iron mining and smelting.
After the death of her mother, Abia asked Benjamin Fuller to board Mary and one of her sisters. Fuller was connected to Abia by marriage into the Sharp family and actually was her uncle. Stephen F. Austin's middle name is credited to his great uncle, Benjamin Fuller.
Mary Brown Austin was the mother of Stephen F. Austin and Emily Austin Perry
Emily Austin Perry
Emily Austin Perry was an early settler of Texas and sole heir to Stephen F. Austin. She achieved significant political, economic and social status as a woman in Texas at a time when women often were not equal to men.-Early life:...
, James Elijah Brown Austin, and wife of Moses Austin. Her grandchildren include Guy Morrison Bryan, Stephen Samuel Perry
Stephen Samuel Perry
Stephen Samuel Perry managed Peach Point Plantation, and is credited with amassing and preserving significant historical manuscripts related to Texas history....
, William Joel Bryan
William Joel Bryan
William Joel Bryan was a Texas soldier and land owner.Bryan was born at Hazel Run in Sainte Genevieve County, Missouri to James Bryan and Emily Austin Perry. He attended school at Potosi, Missouri until 1830. In 1831, William Joel Bryan's mother and stepfather James Franklin Perry followed...
, and Moses Austin Bryan
Moses Austin Bryan
Moses Austin Bryan was an early settler of Texas. Moses served as Secretary for his uncle, Stephen F. Austin.-Family:...
. Her daughter Emily was first married to James Bryan and later to James F. Perry.
Names
Mary was also known by the names:- Miss Maria Brown
- Miss Mary Brown
- Maria Brown Austin
- Mary Brown Austin
- Maria Brown Austin
- Maria (Mary) Austin Brown. She liked to be called "Maria" ' onMouseout='HidePop("66294")' href="/topics/Mariah_Carey">Mariah CareyMariah CareyMariah Carey is an American singer-songwriter, record producer, and actress. She made her recording debut with the release of her eponymous studio album in 1990, under the guidance of Columbia Records executive Tommy Mottola, whom she later married in 1993...
). - Mary Brown
- Mary Austin
- Mary
- Maria
Death
Mary is buried in Potosi, MissouriPotosi, Missouri
Potosi is a city in Washington County, Missouri, United States. Potosi is about 10 miles north of Belgrade. The estimated population in July 2008 was 2,698. It was 2,662 at the 2000 census. It is the county seat of Washington County...
, alongside her husband who founded Potosi.