Francis Brown

"FRANCIS BROWN. (1802- ) Francis Brown was born in Lexington, Mass., Aug. 29, 1802, and was the son of James and Pamela (Munroe) Brown. His paternal grandfather was one of the wounded 'Minute Men' in the Battle of Lexington, and his grandfather on the maternal side was an officer in the Army of the Revolution, and was killed in the battle at Monmouth. Having received his early education at the schools of his native town, he removed, in 1822, to Boston, where at length he became General State Inspector, afterward engaged in business, and, still later, devoted himself more exclusively to the management and care of the property and interests of the widow and orphan. Like his friend Lewis G. Pray, Esq., he served his fellow-citizens at various times, and in some cases for many successive terms, as a member of the Common Council, of the Board of Education, and of the State Legislature. But especially was he associated with Mr. Pray in Sunday school work. Like him, he was an agent of the Sunday School Society. For thirty years they were together teachers or superintendents of the Sunday school of the Twelfth Congregational Society in Boston, and for the greater part of that time were prominent officers of the church. In connection with his much-loved labors for the young, Mr. Brown prepared and published, under the title of 'Pathway of the Saviour,' a series of lessons on the history and journeyings of Christ. At the request of his associates, he wrote, and afterward printed, an 'Anniversary Poem,' and also, from time to time, hymns for special occasions, some of which have been adopted for wider use. He contributed several to Mr. Pray's Sunday School Hymn-Book, of 1844... Other hymn and service books may have since been published better suited to the demands of a later period; but a large measure of gratitude and honor is due to those who gave the first impulse to this kind of service long years ago, and who, amid the daily toils of business life, breathed forth not a few of the first acceptable songs that were written amongst us for the children in our churches."

--Alfred P. Putnam, Singers and Songs of the Liberal Faith (Boston: Roberts Brothers, 1875), p. 153. https://catalog.hathitrust.org/Record/103020200

https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/162442973/francis-brown