Moses Brown (1738-1836) was born in Providence, RI.  He was the grandson of a principal Baptist minister (James Brown 1666-1732) and the son of a prosperous merchant (James Brown, died 1739).  Moses was without a father almost as soon as he was born, and thus was raised in the family of his uncle Obadiah Brown (1712-1762), who operated a rum distillery and merchant shipping activities.   In 1760 he became a full partner and was the prime person running the spermaceti candle works factor of Obadiah Brown and Co.   When Obadiah died in 1762,  Moses Brown was the executor of the estate of Obadiah, and the company was divided among Moses and his three brothers, Nicholas, John and Joseph.  The firm was reformed as Nicholas Brown and Co., and became the foundation for the business wealth of what became the famous "Four Brown Brothers of Providence". 

At the time of the 1772 Gaspee attack, Moses Brown lived far west of the compact area of Providence.  In about 1770 with his marriage of that year, he had moved to a farm near the Seekonk River. It adjoined land of David Bucklin, the brother of Joseph Bucklin 4th  [RIHS Manuscripts, Moses Brown Papers, "Slack Meadow" description in Notes of Boundaries of Real Estate.]   This land of David Bucklin was to the east and south of Pawtucket., being on the boundary of Pawtucket and Seekonk, and on the bank of the Ten Mile River.