Frances Brownell (maiden name: Putnam) was born around 1799 in Massachusetts. She eventually moved to New York, and she married Jonathan Guernsey there around 1820. They had at least three children: Caroline, born around 1821; Addison, born around 1828; and Francis, born around 1839. Her husband worked as a physician, and by 1850, they owned $5,000 of real estate in Guilford, New York. Jonathan died around 1853, and she married Samuel Brownell around 1855. By 1860, they were living in Madison, New York, and they owned $80 of real estate and $8,320 of personal property. Brownell died around 1865. Frances remained in Madison, and by 1870, she owned $1,400 of real estate and $2,000 of personal property. She died in New York in 1878.