He was usually known as Peter as an adult, but the 1850 census has his name as Judge, the 1860 as French, and the 1880 as “J. F.” The main pieces of evidence that ties these all together is the death certificate of his daughter Malinda, which lists her parents’ names as Judge French Brown and Manervia Clark, and that of his daughter Olive, which lists her parents’ names as Judge French Brown and Nerve Clark.

His death certificate lists Peter Brown, age 71 years 11 mos, died April 4, 1915 in Brushy Fork, Rowan Co., Ky, occupation farmer, born May 4, 1843 in Elliott Co., father Jefferson Brown, born Ky, informant Evert Brown, burial Peter Brown. (This usually indicates a burial on the home farm. His father’s name was really Nicholas, but he had an older brother named Jefferson. I have not identified the informant. I know of three Everett Browns in the area, but they were all children in 1915. He may be the Thomas E. Brown b. 1876, son of Harrison Brown. For some reason, Thomas Everett seems to have been a common pairing of given names.)

Her death certificate lists Nervie Brown, age 79 years 3 mos 4 days, died May 30, 1926 in Brushy precinct, Rowan Co., Ky, born Aug 4, 1847 in Elliott Co., father George Clark b. Richmond, Va, mother Eliza Plummer b. Richmond, Va, cause of death fluanza and pneumonia, burial Bratton Branch, undertaker Nick Brown, Hilda, Ky. The informant field is blank and the certificate is stamped as delayed, filed June 7, 1926. The attending physician was J. B. Messer, Bluestone, Ky.

I am entering the 8 Aug 1849 birthdate from the family bible record instead.

1880 census of Rowan Co., Christy Creek precinct, enumerated 1 June, lists on p. 53 as family #371/399:
Brown, J. F., 30, farmer; Minirva, wife, 28; Elizabeth, dau, 8; Malinda, dau, 6; Ida, dau, 4; Mallie, dau, 1. All born Ky Ky Ky.

1900 census of Rowan Co., Ky, Hoggtown precinct, enumerated 7 June, lists on p. 5B as family #91/92:
Brown, Peter, 56, b. May 1844, farmer; Manerva, wife, 50, b. Aug 1849, married 28 years, mother of 8 children, 8 living; Ida, dau, 22, b. Nov 1877; Malla, dau, 21, b. Jan 1878; Lillie, dau, 18, b. Mar 1882; Ollie, dau, 15, b. Aug 1884; Wheeler, son, 12, b. Dec 1887; Martha, dau, 10, b. Nov 1889. All born Ky Ky Ky.

(Note that the age and birthdate are inconsistent for Malla - a birthdate of Jan 1878 would imply an age of 22 in June 1900.)

1910 census of Rowan Co., Ky, Brushy precinct, enumerated 16 Apr, lists on p. 2A, on Jones Branch Road, as family #28:
Brown, Peter, 64, b. Ky Va Va; Minerva, wife, 55, b. Ky Va Va, married 35 years, mother of 8 children, 6 living; Lily, dau, 2• (blot), b. Ky Ky Ky; Wheeler, son, 18, b. Ky Ky Ky; Martha J., dau, 17, b. Ky Ky Ky; Ramey, Sarah, boarder, 60, widowed, mother of 3 children, 0 living.

(The ages for Wheeler and Martha are very inconsistent with the 1900 census. But they might be more correct, because the age for Ollie in 1900 is three years older than would be impled by both her marriage record and death certificate as well.)

In 1920 Manerva was listed as age 68, widowed, with her son Wheeler Brown.