John Brown Farm and Gravesite

John Brown Farm and Gravesite is a NY State Historic Site not far from the village of Lake Placid, NY. John Brown, the abolitionist, is buried here along with two of his sons and ten others who followed him in the cause of freedom. Plaques memorializing them and the women of the Brown family are mounted on a large boulder within the gates of the gravesite.

The farm which John Brown purchased for $1 an acre in 1849. 
 

John Brown and his sons, Oliver and Watson, are buried in these graves.

 

The names of John Brown and Oliver Brown are inscribed on the the gravestone of John Brown's grandfather which had been moved to this site.

 In Memory

of

Capt. John Brown

Who died at

New York on Sep’r ye

3 1776 in the 48^th

year of his age

John Brown

Born May 9, 1800

was executed at Charles

ton A.D. Dec’r 2, 1859

Oliver Brown

Born May 9, 1839

Killed at Harper’s Ferry

Oct. 17, 1859

 Oliver Brown

Son of

John and Mary A.

1839 – 1859

His remains

with those of other associates of

John Brown at Harper’s Ferry

Brought here and reburied on Aug. 30, 1899

They all died for their adherence

to the cause of freedom.

 

Watson Brown

Son of

John and Mary A.

1835 – 1859

Remains buried here

Oct. 13, 1882

He died for his adherence

to the cause of freedom. 

Opposite the graves is this large boulder with two plaques:  

 John Brown of Osawatomie

Here Lies Buried

John Brown

Born at Torrington, Connecticut

May 9^th 1800

He emigrated to Kansas in 1855 where he took an active part in the contest against the pro-slavery party. He gained in August 1856 a victory at Osawatomie over a superior number of Missourians who had invaded Kansas (whence his surname “Osawatomie.”)

He conceived the idea of becoming the liberator of the negro slaves in the south and on the night of October 16, 1859 at the head of a devoted band of 22 followers he seized the United States Arsenal at Harper’s Ferry, Virginia, with the view of arming the Negroes who might come to his fortified camp. In the fight with the United States troops and civilians which followed he was overpowered and taken prisoner October 16, 1859, was tried by the Commonwealth of Virginia, at Charlestown, Virginia, and was executed December 7, 1859.

Here lie buried with him twelve of his followers:

Watson Brown (son of John Brown) of North Elba, N.Y.

Oliver Brown (son of John Brown) of North Elba, N.Y.

William Thompson, of North Elba, N.Y.

Dauphin Adolphus Thompson, of North Elba, N.Y.

John Henry Kagi, Adjutant

William H. Leeman, Lieutenant

Jeremiah G. Anderson, Lieutenant

Steward Taylor

Dangerfield Newby, Negro

Lewis S. Leary, Negro

The above ten were killed at the Harper’s Ferry fight.

Aaron D. Stevens, Captain

Albert Hazlett, Lieutenant

The above two were taken prisoners and hanged March 16, 1860.

The following men of John Brown’s band escaped but were captured and hanged December 16, 1859.

John C. Cook, Captain

Edwin Coppoc, Lieutenant

Shields Green, Negro

John A. Copeland, Negro

The following men of John Brown’s band escaped:

Owen Brown, Captain (son of John Brown)

Francis Jackson Merriam

Charles Plummer Tidd, Captain

Barclay Coppoc

Osborne P. Anderson, Negro

John Anderson, Negro

  

 

Sacred to the memory of the women of the John Brown Family, and others who so gallantly aided their men folk, in their struggles against slavery in the United States of America and shared with them the bitter cup of sacrifice, meriting special mention among these are:

(1) Diane Lusk Brown, 1^st wife of John Brown, and mother of their seven children;

(2) Mary Day Brown, 2^nd wife and widow, and mother of thirteen of his children;

(3) Ruth Brown Thompson, daughter of Brown, and wife of Henry Thompson, crusader against slavery in Kansas;

(4) Anne Brown Adams, Sarah Brown, and Ellen Brown Fablinger, daughters of Brown, whose tender devotion to their widowed mother, gave her great comfort;

(5) Martha Brewster Brown, wife of Oliver, son of John, killed at Harper’s Ferry;

(6) Isabella Thompson Brown, wife of Watson, son of John, killed at Harper’s Ferry;

(7) Mary B. Thompson, whose husband, William, and brother-in-law, Dauphin, were both killed at Harper’s Ferry.

These noble women, by their hallowed devotion to the cause of freedom, and by their willingness to sacrifice to the death for it, have enshrined themselves in the hearts of all freedom-loving peoples: they are among the good and great women that have contributed much to the greatness of our America.

Erected by the members and friends of The John Brown Memorial Association in the Summer of 1940.

J.W. Shirley, Pres.

H.P. Johns, Vice Pres.

J.C.O. Temple, Sec.

R.W. Henry, Treas.

Inez Carter Pres. Lake Placid Chapter

 

I'm always on the lookout for wildflowers and this field of Camphorweed (just beyond John Brown's house) was absolutely breathtaking!