Buckingham County: Tannery For Sale
In 1837, Asa B. Brown, one of the trustees of the Buckingham Female Collegiate Institute, advertised his Farm and Tannery for sale in the Richmond newspapers. Located near The Institute, the advertisement described Buckingham County as a healthy and pleasant place to live.
TANNERY AND FARM FOR SALE – Wishing to move to the Northwest, I will sell the above property on reasonable terms. As I presume that none will purchase without seeing the property, therefore I shall say but little in recommending it. It lies in the county of Buckingham, Va, near the main road from New Canton to Buckingham Courthouse, convenient to the navigation of the James and Willis’ river, in the gold region, and as healthy a situation as any in the State, also in an uncommonly pleasant neighborhood, and within one mile of the Female Collegiate Institute. The tract of land contains about 250 acres, about one-third cleared and under good enclosure, about 20 acres well taken in clover. The improvements are, a tolerably comfortable dwelling house, with a new dwelling house, 40 by 20 feet, two stories high, with three porches. This building is not finished, but raised, weatherboarded, and shingled of the best materials, and timber sawed and seasoned ready to finish it. A good framed kitchen, a good framed barn, 50 by 26 feet, with a cellar under the whole of it, forming stables and cutting room. The tanyard containing 32 vats in all, with a good shop, two good and large bark-houses with a cast mill of the best kind, are in good condition. Oak bark of every description cheap and convenient. I wish to sell the above property forthwith, and should a sale be effected in time, possession will be given this fall.
ASA B. BROWN, March 28.
Why did Asa Brown decide to sell just when he was building a new dwelling house? Why go north? Did he successfully make the move? In 1840, one man named Asa B. Brown is living in La Porte, Indiana. Another is living in Kalamazoo, Michigan.
Does a Slate River Ramblings reader know more about Asa B. Brown’s story?
slate river ramblings . . . . 
Karen, Many thanks for this additional information about the Brown family. Joanne
Asa B. Brown was a GG grandfather of mine. The B stands for Brightberry. Asa married Judith Mariah Brown the daughter of Garland Brown. All were from this area before moving to Holly Springs MS in the 1840’s.
Several families from the northeast corner of Buckingham County moved to Holly Springs, including my ancestor’s sister, Mary Susan (Harris) Miller. Joanne
In my genealogy database, I find an Asa Brightberry Brown, one of 12 children of Bernard Brown (1750-1800, Albemarle Co., VA) and Elizabeth “Betsty” Jennings Dabney (1751-1826), married 22 Jun 1773, possibly in Hanover Co., VA. I have no other information about his property or move. Two of his brothers moved to Sumner Co., TN. These are the Browns of Brown’s Cove, Albemarle Co., VA. Information about his family can be found in the following sources:
Documented Notes on Jennings and Allied Families, p. 24-25. Author: Beatrice Mackey Doughtie.
Hist. of Albemarle Co., VA by Rev. Edgar Woods, p. 152.
Hist. & Geneal. of the Families of Miller, Woods, Harris, Wallace, Maupin,…p. 654-699 by Wm. Harris Miller.
Ruth Rhodes Culpepper, My Heritage, Waynesboro, VA, 1982, chapter “Brown’s Cove, Eden of Albemarle”.