Career
As Deputy to the Provincial Congress of New Jersey, Abia Brown represented Sussex County, New Jersey along with Casper Shafer. This position of "Deputy" was then a geographic representative position, and not to be confused with a modern-day bailiff or a law enforcement agent present mainly to keep order. Abia also served as a Justice of the Peace for Sussex County in 1772 which at the time was a position of greater stature than present day judicial positions by the same name.
Abia was appointed Justice of the Peace by the Governor of New Jersey province.
Abia also served on the Counsel of Safety during the Revolutionary War. On March 12, 1765, Abia married Margaret Sharp (born in Piles Grove, Salem County, in pre-revolution New Jersey).
Abia was born in the Township of Notingham in the County of Burlington, in pre-revolutionary New Jersey, and died in New Jersey. These facts lead to an intriguing question about the lapse of direct formal Quaker practice in favor of Episcopal, Anglican, or non-denominational practice among immediate descendants of Maria Brown Austin.
One explanation is the influence of Moses Austin, who was not Quaker, and another is the physical remoteness from the Quaker structure and population in Pennsylvania and New Jersey.
Some sources refer to "Abia Brown" as "Abiah Brown," with an "h" at the end of the first name.