Biography
George S. Brown was born to a free black family in Newport, Rhode Island in 1801. The family soon moved to Connecticut where George was raised in Calvinist-leaning household. At age 14 he heard the travelling preacher Lorenzo Dow at a camp meeting in Mansfield, Connecticut and made a decision to pursue the professional of preacher.
By 1827 he had settled in Kingsbury, New York where he joined the Baptist church but after meeting with Methodist Episcopal circuit rider William Ryder he converted to the Methodist sect and in 1833 received a license to preach. During this time he learned the trade of the stone mason and became quite well know for his skills in building walls. He expressed an interest in becoming a missionary in Liberia, an African country created by anti-slavery advocates in the U.S. who felt African-Americans should be sent back to Africa.
He traveled to Vermont where he was to study with Rev. Tupper of Monkton. While in Vermont he started preaching in Ferrisburgh where he attracted more attention than the local circuit rider and was ultimately sent back to New York as a trouble-maker. He attended Cazenovia Seminary before being assigned as a missionary to Liberia.
From 1836 to 1844 he served on-and-off as a missionary in Liberia. Apparently he was an effective preacher but very bad politician. He found himself in the middle of a feud between two white missionary leaders that ended in his censure and ultimate ejection from the church. During this time he married twice and had a daughter who died young. In 1844 he sailed for home, determined to clear his name and rejoin the church. Lacking sufficient funds, his wife remained in Africa.
Back in the U.S. he faced a racist wall of silence from the Methodist church. Though he did find friends to advocate for him in upstate New York, the elders refused to hear his petition. He ultimately engaged a lawyer and sued one of the Methodist leaders for libel. With legal victory almost assured the defendant chose to settle the case. Brown rejoined the church but was deemed a trouble-maker and pariah. It was at this time he ended up in northern Vermont.
From 1854 to 1858 he served the Methodist meeting of Wolcott. During that time the congregation grew such that they designed and built a church. Rev. Brown oversaw the planning and building of the church, probably laying the stone foundation himself. At this same time his wife passed away in Liberia - he, sadly, was never able to reunite with her after leaving in 1844.
In 1858 he was hired away to build the walls of an estate in Michigan. Upon completion he moved back to the Glens Falls area of New York where he continued to preach until his death in 1886. A state historic site marker stands in front of his Wolcott church, memorializing this remarkable man.Education
Cazenovia SeminaryOccupation
Stone Mason
Methodist Preacher