San Augustine, Texas...In 1833 a South Carolina man, Robert
F. Stephens, killed his wife, fled to Texas, changed his name to David Brown, was first a teacher in San Augustine and then became one of the very prolific surveyors prior to the revolution, fought in the Battle of San Jacinto, surveyed lands during the Republic of Texas era, obtained his DAVID BROWN headright in Jefferson County, died in San Augustine in April 1847 with obituary in newspaper mentioning him as David Brown, ESQ. He had one daughter, Mary E. (Stephens) Brown) who was in Texas with him. She married William B. Frazier, Harmon Frazier's son,in 1851, and they lived in Palestine for many years - at least until about 1867. Robert aka David Brown influenced my GGGrandfather, John R. Stephens, and several other relatives to buy leagues in Texas. Five of my grandfather's leagues are recorded in the Menard County Day book "A" - the Menard County was one of the "Ghost Counties" of Texas. The only surviving heir of David Brown was "Mollie" Mary E. Frazier, his granddaughter. She is found on the census of Hillsboro, Sierra County, New Mexico, in 1900. She had removed to Pecos and Reeves counties in the 1880's to be around relatives, Judge George Frazier and family. I have acquired hundreds of legal documets which indicate that the vast holdings of David Brown were illegially transferred and/or purchased through the years - all Texas know of the land fraud stories!!! If anyone has any information about David Brown, his daughter, Mary E. and her husband William Bascom Frazier, or their daughter, Mollie, please write to me!