James Brownlee birth date and where

[MurMan7]

I suspected that the claimed status and wealth of the Torfoot Brownlee family has been overstated.  Archibald Brownlee (1709-abt. 1788), the likely maltster/maltman of Strathaven, Scotland, reportedly paid the passage for him and his family to cross the Atlantic ocean and settle in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, about 1752.  Archibald would have used the profits from his business in Strathaven, to do so.  He had a successful life in Pennsylvania:

Archibald was a yeoman, a farmer who owned his own land.  He married Margaret Hamilton.  About 1752, Archibald and his family emigrated to Pennsylvania.  The family settled in Martic Township, in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania.  In 1754, Archibald was first recorded as paying taxes in Martic Township.  He paid taxes in 1757, 1758, 1759, 1769, 1770, 1771, 1772, and 1773 (some of the tax records for Martic Township are missing).  Archibald was an investor in the Martic Furnace and Forge, in Martic Township.  The forge was built in 1751 and 1752.  This business was operated by Thomas Smith and William Smith.  Archibald Brownlee was a co-owner (including 12 other men) of 1,570 acres of land, which was part of Martic Forge.  By 1768, Archibald had sold his investment in Martic Forge.  On May 29, 1766, Archibald bought, for 162 pounds and 5 shillings, 150 Acres of land in Chanceford Township, in York County, Pennsylvania, from Elijah Sinclare/Sinclair.  Chanceford Township was across the Susquehanna River (the York County and Lancaster County boundary)  adjacent to Martic Township.  Archibald made mortgage payments on the land, until May 11, 1772.  It is not known when he sold this land.  In 1770, Archibald acquired 50 acres of land, in Martic Township.  He owned 100 acres of land by 1771.  In 1775, Archibald purchased a farm in Canton Township, in Washington County, Pennsylvania.  On March 19, 1778, Archibald sold 150 acres of land in Martic Township, to William Gorman.  Archibald and his family were members of the North Buffalo Associate Church (later United Presbyterian).  In 1786, Archibald owned 400 acres of land.  Margaret (Hamilton) Brownlee died before September 1785.  Archibald Brownlee died in 1788, in Washington County, Pennsylvania.

[MurMan7]

Here is an update to my posted biography of Archibald Brownlee (b. 1705- d. abt. 1788).  After reexamination, Archibald Brownlee was not an investor of the Martic Furnace and Forge:

Archibald Brownlee was born on September 9, 1705, in Torfoot, Lanarkshire County, Scotland.
Archibald Brownlee married Margaret Hamilton. Archibald was a Maltster in Strathaven, Lanarkshire County, Scotland. About 1752, Archibald and his family emigrated to Pennsylvania. The family settled in Martic Township, in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania. In 1754, Archibald was first recorded as paying taxes in Martic Township. In Pennsylvania, Archibald was a yeoman, a farmer who owned his own land. In Martic Township, Archibald Brownlee acquired 225 acres of land. He paid taxes in 1757, 1758, and 1759. Prior to 1766, Archibald sold his 225 acres of land to Martic Furnace and Forge, in Martic Township. The forge was built in 1751 and 1752. This business was operated by Thomas Smith and William Smith. On May 29, 1766, Archibald bought, for 162 pounds and 5 shillings, 150 Acres of land in Chanceford Township, in York County, Pennsylvania, from Elijah Sinclare/Sinclair. Chanceford Township was across the Susquehanna River (the York County and Lancaster County boundary) adjacent to Martic Township. Archibald made mortgage payments on the land, until May 11, 1772. It is not known when he sold this land. In 1770, Archibald acquired 50 acres of land, in Martic Township. He owned 100 acres of land by 1771. He paid taxes in 1769, 1770, 1771, 1772, and 1773. In 1775, Archibald purchased a farm in Canton Township, in Washington County, Pennsylvania. On March 19, 1778, Archibald sold 150 acres of land in Martic Township, to William Gorman. Archibald and his family were members of the North Buffalo Associate Church (later United Presbyterian). In 1786, Archibald owned 400 acres of land. Margaret (Hamilton) Brownlee died before September 1785. Archibald Brownlee died between 1788 and 1791, in Washington County, Pennsylvania.