Brown was the captain of the
England, to which three HBC sailors deserted to while the
England was docked at
Victoria. Notice of the desertion was sent to
Fort Rupert, Brown's destination, and the sailors
took to the woods,
intent on meeting the
England at a different port, but the men were killed by local First Nations, likely members
of the Kwaguʼł Tribe, apparently on
Blenkinsop's orders. According to
Morseby, as seen in a transcribed enclosure to
Parker, John to Peel, Sir Frederick 28 November 1851, CO 305:3, no. 10075, 215, Brown told
Blenkinsop, who was temporarily in charge of the fort in
McNeill's absence, that the offering of a reward
for their Heads
was
a rash thing.