Prior to the township's organization, the area was involved in the
War of 1812, and the
battles of Brownstown and
Maguaga took place in the area. The region now known as Brownstown was, like surrounding areas in Michigan, once a part of the French colony of New France (Mid France). The area eventually fell into hands of the British and finally came under American rule in the 18th century. The original area of land south of
Detroit was designated a township by the
Michigan Territorial Council on April 5, 1827, when Moses Roberts was elected its first supervisor. This made Brownstown one of Wayne County's nine original townships. Research from local historians has found that the township was named for Adam Brown, who was kidnapped by the
Wyandot Indians. Brown was raised by the Wyandots, married a native woman, and grew to become a tribal leader. As time passed, settlements spread out from the lakeshore to begin changing the swampy, sandhill countryside into productive farmland. Established in 1893, Kurtzhals Farm is one of the largest remaining farms in the township. ==Geography==