Biography: Peter Arrell Browne IV was born in Rockbridge County, Va. in 1838 [although sometimes listed as Philadelphia, Pa.], the son of a lawyer, Horace Gustavus Browne, Esq. [of Philadelphia], and a southern belle, Louisa Meriwether Bowyer [of the "Thorn Hill" estate near Lexington, Va.].

Sadly, Horace passed away from unknown causes in April of 1838, robbing Peter of a chance to ever meet his biological father. In 1846, his mother married again, this time to a professor at VMI, Raleigh Edward Colston.

[...Fast forward to Peter's adulthood...]

On 2 October 1860, he wed Mary Helen Scott [of Baltimore, Md.], and the couple settled into their new Philadelphia home. They didn't stay long, however. Only months after joining the Philadelphia Bar [admitted 15 December 1860], the Civil War broke out, and Mary's father, Thomas Parkin Scott, Esq., was arrested for being a southern sympathizer. Not surprisingly, the couple moved south to Baltimore and Peter at once took an active interest in the southern cause. Perhaps this was due — at least in part — to his Virginia upbringing; his stepfather (the man who raised him) was a Brigadier General in the Confederate Army, after all!

In Baltimore, he became a prominent member of society and a well-respected lawyer. He practiced as an attorney and served as the auditor of the Baltimore City Circuit Court. [He's even listed as a real estate agent in the 1867-'68. Baltimore City Directory.]

After the Civil War, he helped to reorganize the 5th Regiment Infantry of the Maryland National Guard, and served in that unit with his son Horace during the Baltimore & Ohio Railroad strike & riots at Camden Station in the summer of 1877. He was a 3rd Sergeant in Company "A" at the time of his death in 1878, and was buried in Green Mount Cemetery with a full military escort.

With his wife, Mary, he fathered ten children (Thomas Horace Bowyer, b. 1862; Thomas Parkin Scott, b. 1864; Julianna Louise, b. 1865; Mary Helen, b. 1867; Peter Arrell V, b. 1867; Caroline Mary, b. 1869; Emily Harper, b. 1871; Frances Scott, b. 1874; Mary Josepha, b. 1876; and Mary Euphemia, b. 1876). Out of those ten, only T. Horace Bowyer, T. Parkin Scott, Julianna Louise, and Frances Scott lived to adulthood.

Real Estate Listing in the 14 July 1866 edition of The Baltimore Sun:

FOR SALE OR LEASE, FOR A TERM OF YEARS. A SMALL MILL. situated on the Maiden Choice Branch, one mile from the city limits, near the First Toll Gate on the Frederick Road. The building is of stone, 34 by 30 feet, in good order.—There is a new, substantial Stone Dam, with a fine pond of two or three acres, and a fine race. This is a rare chance, seldom offered to Millers and Manufacturers. Apply to P. A. BROWNE, at the office of T. P. SCOTT. NO. 16 St. Paul street; or to MICHAEL HURLEY, on the premises. [Classified Ad 4]

His death notice from the 10 April 1878 edition of the Baltimore American and Commercial Advertiser:

BROWNE.—Suddenly, on April 7, P. A. BROWNE, in his 39th year. [This is worded incorrectly; it should be "in his 40th year," because he was 39 years old when he died.]

Article in the 10 April 1878 edition of The Baltimore Sun:

Military Funeral.—The late P. Arrell Browne. who was third sergeant of company 1, Fifth Regiment, was buried with military honors yesterday in Greenmount. Company 1 and the band and drum corps constituted the funeral escort. Rev. R. B. Paine, of Mt. Calvary Church, officiated, and a salute was fired by a detachment of sixteen men. The honorary pall-bearers were Henry M. Warfield, Gen. J. R. Herbert, Pierre C. Dugan, Capt. W. S. Anderson, James McElroy, George Philpot, Thomas Harris and John B. Williams. Six sergeants of the regiment served as the acting pall-bearers. [Front Page 1]

Article in the 12 April 1878 edition of The Baltimore Sun:

Appointment of auditor.—The Supreme Bench, Chief Judge Brown, Judges Dobbin, Garey and Gilmor, held a specially called meeting yesterday afternoon in the Circuit Court Room and appointed Col. Henry D. Loney an auditor of the Circuit Court. His selection was made by Judge Gilmor, and concurred in by the other judges. Col. Loney fills the place vacated by the death of P. Arrell Browne. There are two auditors, the other being James W. McElroy. These auditorships are among the best paying places held in Baltimore, it is stated. The work, however, is laborious and demands a steady assiduity. It consists mainly in stating accounts in cases before the Circuit Court. Mr. George Philpot, who is very familiar with an auditor's duties from assisting Mr. Browne, was a good deal mentioned for the place to which Col. Loney was appointed. [Front Page 1]

Note: His headstone erroneously lists his birthday as Aug. 17, 1840 — clearly incorrect since his biological father died in April of 1838. Census records infer a date that is consistent with August of 1838. Also, his official government death certificate, filled out in April of 1878, lists his age as 39, which suggests that the correct date is indeed August of '38; not August of '40.