Frederick Brown-King was born 1889 at 16 Blue Quarries Road, Sheriff Hill, Gateshead, one of five children of Frederick Brown-King, [born January 1858, Dover, Kent, died in December 1929 in Newcastle upon Tyne], and his wife Jane Hamilton McCutcheon, [born 1864, Seaham Harbour died in December 1952 at Gateshead], she was the daughter of Samuel McCutcheon and Mary Lindsay Hamilton.

They were married in 1884. Frederick Brown was an Able Seaman on the 'Alpha' in April 1881. They moved to Gateshead after 1889 from Seaham, the other four children were Christopher, born 9th November 1884 in Seaham, [died in 1962 at Perth, Western Australia, he married Edith Margaret Mole, born on the 3rd March 1885 at Hexham, daughter of Joseph Mole and Annie], in July 1910 at Sunderland. Samuel McCutcheon, born 9th November 1884 at Seaham, he died in September 1969 at 578 Chesterfield Road, Sheffield, he married Edith Florence Howard [born 1891, in Stonehouse, Devon], in St Pauls, East Stonehouse, Devon. John Lindsay born 1890, and Henry, born 1893, at Gateshead.

Samuel McCutcheon, the son of James McCutcheon, was born in 1832 in Down County, Ireland. He died in July 1911 in Easington. He married Mary Lindsay Hamilton [born 1833 in Down County, Ireland], on the 31st October 1853 in Newtownards, Ireland. They had seven children James was born about 1857 in Sherburn, Durham, Mary was born about 1860 in Sherburn, Durham, Samuel was born about 1862 in Seaham, Durham, [he married Margaret J, she was born about 1868 in Gateshead, Durham], Jane Hamilton, John Lindsay was born about 1867 in Seaham, Durham, he died on the 12th October 1945 in Harrogate, he married Deborah Jane Alderson on the 29th April 1896 in St. Hilda's Church, Darlington, Durham. She was born about 1867 in Bedale, Yorkshire, Elizabeth was born about 1870 in Seaham, Durham, and Alexander was born about 1875 in Seaham, Durham.

He was educated at Shipcote School located then at the top of Inskip Terrace, Deckham, Gateshead. His brothers also attended the same school.