TI)e JoI)n gt'ovn Farm. 



THE State Legislature passed a law, signed by the Governor on March 25, 1896, 

 by which it accepted the deed of gift made Marcli 29, 1895, by Henry Clews 

 and wife, conveying to the people the Adirondack land situated in North Elba, 

 Essex County, known as the John Brown Farm. This land, which is mostly under forest 

 cover, may also be described as Lot 95, Township 12, Old Military Tract, Thorn's 

 Survey. By the terms of the Act — Chapter 1 16, Laws of 1896 — the land conveyed is 

 "dedicated" and must be "used for the purpose of a public park or reservation forever." 



John Brown lived on this farm prior to his participation in the slavery war in 

 Kansas; and his family were living there at the time of his raid at Harper's Ferry. 

 After his death his body was brought there from Virginia for burial, in accordance 

 with a request made by him shortly before his execution, which occurred at Charles- 

 town, Va., December 2, 1859. 



In 1870, an association of twenty persons was formed through the efforts of the 

 late Miss Kate Field, of Washington, D. C, for the purpose of purchasing and 

 preserving the property; and the farm which had already been offered for sale was 

 bought accordingly, $2,000 having been subscribed for the objects of the Association. 

 Through its agent, Mr. Henry Clews, of New York City, the farm was transferred to 

 the State of New York as already shown. 



The deed conveys all of Lot 95, containing 2433.1 acres, excepting one-eighth of 

 an acre. This reservation is the little burial plot, the ownership of which still remains 

 in the heirs of the Brown family, and which was not included in the land purchased. 



About forty acres have been cleared ; the remainder is covered by the forest. The 

 two-story, unpainted frame house built by John Brown in 1850 stands near the little 

 enclosure in which his remains are buried. The house and barn are in a fair state of 

 preservation, the Association having kept a resident custodian on tlie premises. This 

 custodian, Mr. Reuben Lawrence, was retained by this Commission when the property 

 was turned over to its care. 



Brown was buried in accordance with his request close by a massive rock of out- 

 cropping granite that lifts its gray, irregular surface near the porch of the farmhouse. 

 On a perpendicular wall of this rock, near the foot of the grave, may be seen the 

 letters J. B., which he cut there before he left home, as an indication where his body 

 should be laid when his restless, dangerous life should reach its end. 



At the head of the grave is an old-fashioned tombstone which Brown brought 

 from Connecticut where it had stood at his grandfather's grave. A second inscription 



