Joshua inherited land from his father, Jeremiah, located partially in Little Compton, County of Newport, and partially in Dartmouth, County of Bristol. He was responsible for providing firewood, corn, rye, pork, flax, sugar, and “five punds in old Tennor Currant” (money) to his mother, Deborah, during her widowhood. Deborah died 1 Jul 1779.681

1775-1776:
“Joshua and his family came to the Dover [Beekman Patent, Dutchess County, New York] area about 1775 when he was listed on a farm together with Nathaniel Briggs. This farm was in lot 12 and was first settled by Jeremiah French ca. 1762. The farm was 175 acres and was east of the 10 Mile river adjacent to lot 11 and the Oblong line. The rental was 18 bushels per year and they signed the lease 1 May 1773. [Livingston Rent Book, NYHS, 127] These two men also took a lease at the same time on a 170 acre farm which adjoined to the north. They were taxed together at £4 in June 1775 in Pawling.”679,686

“This farm had been settled as early as 1738 by Jan Oosterhoupt who had d. 29 Jan. 1759, age 55. [Old Gravestones of Dutchess County, DCHS, 65] Gabriel Dutcher had been on this farm and Jeremiah French after him before Joshua Brownell and Nathaniel Briggs evidently sub-let them in 1773. By 1776 Johannes Langdon had taken over both of these farms. The rent book notes: ‘1776 this farm together with the on on p 127 were sold by the sheriff to John Langdon’ [Livingston Rent Book, NYHS, 167] These two farms were sold because Jeremiah French was a Loyalist and the farms were confiscated. There are no deeds or mortgages for Joshua Brownell.”679

1778:
Joshua Brownell of Dutchess Co. is a Loyalist and is “compelled to fly for Refuge in Protection to the Royal Army” in April 1778. Brownell fled eventually to Queens County, Province of New Brunswick, but seems to have spent some time in service to the Royal Army.679,687

1783-1784:
Joshua Brownell resided in Saint John, New Brunswick from 15 July 1783 to 25 Mar 1784.687

1786:
On 15 Apr 1786 two Captains from the City of Saint John, New Brunswick submit a Memorial for Joshua Brownell to the to the Commissioners appointed by the British Parliment to inquire into the losses of American Loyalists. The claim is for the loss of a good mare, saddle and bridle “being plundered by the Rebels [when Brownell was] in his Majestys Service.” Brownell estimates his loss at £80 New York currency. However, the claim is rejected on 1 Nov 1786. Apparently the claim is not submitted to the Commissioners in time, as Joshua is “incapable of preparring or delivering” the claim “within the time allowed by said act for the Receiving such claims.”687

According to Marion S. Collyer, Joshua “was a Loyalist and went to Nova Scotia, also Long Island”598 (See Letter to E. E. Brownell from Edward A. West concerning Joshua Brownell property and stay in Nova Scotia.688) She also notes that she thinks there might have been a “parting of the ways” as son, Daniel, was a Patriot in the Revolutionary War.598

Ancestry.com DNA Shared Ancestor Match for Laurel Reed Berbach (L_ReedBerbach) and Howard Edward Reed (reedhe665):

Joshua Brownell
5th Great-grandfather

17 Oct 2017, E.R. (Managed by MLCH522), Distant cousin (5th-8th cousin), moderate confidence (L) (HE)
17 Oct 2017, F.C. (Managed by MLCH522), Distant cousin (5th-8th cousin), moderate confidence (L) (HE)