Brown Family History in Stephens County

Stephens County Historical Society is honored to announce its recent addition to Stephens County History Museum exhibits. Dale Moseley of Toccoa, Historical Society member and a descendant of Benjamin Pollard Brown, Sr., and his bride, Elizabeth Carolyn Hulsey. Dale was contacted by another Brown descendant's family member, Jim Winsness, with information about the Brown Family research that his wife had collected.

Winsness’s wife, Beverly Castleberry Winsness was the third great-granddaughter of Benjamin and Carolyn Brown, and the most recent owner of the wedding dress that was worn by her great-great-great-grandmother in 1858. The Brown families were and continue to be longtime residents of an area of land located at Currahee Mountain. Several families called the land home until the 1930’s when the land was purchased by the government to be used as a wildlife management area.

The wedding dress, now 163 years old, and a charcoal portrait of the Brown couple are on display in the museum at the depot. This will be an opportunity for many of the Brown family members to see the dress and portrait for the first time. Beverly was an avid researcher for information about her family ancestors and the land where they lived. Beverly also authored a book on Robert Brown’s history of his settling in Cherokee Lands and The Four Mile Purchase. Robert Brown was a Soldier of the American Revolution and settled in this area

Sadly, Beverly passed away in February 2019, without publishing her book about the Brown Family history. Her husband, Jim Winsness asked if the wedding dress and portrait could be preserved and placed in the museum. Moseley assured him that it would be a perfect place to display the history of this family.

If any descendants of the Brown/Hulsey families have history about the Hulsey family, especially the 1700s through 1900s, please provide copies for the Historical Society archives. Please contact Dale Moseley at 706-282-5055 or email contact@toccoahistory.com.

There will be a dedication for the wedding dress and portrait from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Saturday, December 18, 2021. The Board of Directors would like to invite descendants of the Brown-Hulsey family as our guests. The event will be held at Stephens County History Museum, located in downtown Toccoa in the historic Train Depot, 160 North Alexander Street.