John BROWNE

Notes:

Name:
John Browne and his wife Dorothy came from London on the Elizabeth in 1635. (Hotten 68) He was first at Plymouth, then at Taunton by 1643, and finally at Rehoboth by 1647.

He should not be confused with another John Brown (of Watertown,MA), who also had a wife named Dorothy.

Among Plymouth's early residents, who varied widely in social standing, John Browne came with a great deal of respectability. Almost immediately upon his arrival in the New World, he was appointed Assistant to the governor of Plymouth Colony and went on to serve in a number of prestigious leadership positions. His full biography can be found in Anderson's Great Migration series, Vol I [1999], pp.420-429.

Children: James Brown, John Brown Jr, and Mary Brown Willet.

His will was dated Apr 7,1662, and proved Apr 19,1662. He died less than two weeks after the death of his son John Browne Jr. In John Sr's will are mentioned wife Dorothy, son James, daughter Mary(wife of Thomas Willett), and grandchildren John Browne, Joseph Browne, Nathaniel Browne, Lydia Brown, and Hannah[sic - Anna] Brown. Also mentioned is a granddaughter Martha Saffin, wife of John Saffin. John Browne Sr was a very wealthy man, evidenced by the fact that he left one grandson alone over 700 acres of land.


The Great Migration:

ORIGIN: London
MIGRATION: 1635 on the ELIZABETH
FIRST RESIDENCE: Plymouth
REMOVES: Taunton by 1643, Rehoboth by 1647
RETURN TRIPS: England 1656 (probably), and return to new England by 1660
OCCUPATION: Baker (in England). Magistrate
CHURCH MEMBERSHIP: Morton speaks in general terms of John Brown's religious activities (Morton 171-72)
FREEMAN: 5 January 1635/6. In lists of 7 March 1636/7 (as "gen.") and of 1639 (as Assistant)In Rehoboth section of 1658 list of Plymouth Colony freemen
EDUCATION: His inventory included "a parcel of books" valued at L412s. His wife signed her will by mark. Her inventory included "a parcel of books" as one item in a group of items values at L712s.
OFFICES: Plymouth Colony Assistant, Plymouth Council of War, Commissioner from Plymouth to the United Colonies.....


BIRTH: By about 1591 based on estimated date of marriage
DEATH: Rehoboth 10 April 1662
MARRIAGE: By about 1616 Dorothy (?). She died at Swansea 27 January 1673/4 and was buried there 29 January 1673/4 ("Mrs. Dororthy (sic) Brown the wife of Mr. John Brown Senior deceased the twenty seventh day of january 1673 being the ninety and eighth year of her age or thereabouts and was buried upon the 29 of January 1673"

ASSOCIATIONS: On 17 April 1635, "Jo(hn) Browne," aged 40, was enrolled at London as a passenger for New England on the ELIZABETH (Hotten 68). On 15 April 1635, "James Walker 15 years & Sarra Walker 17 years servants to John Browne a baker & to one W(illia)m Brasey linendraper in Cheapside" were enrolled at London as passengers for New England on the ELIZABETH (Hotten61).

The deed of 23 November 1655 tells us that John Brown of Rehoboth was uncle to the above James and Sarah Walker, which makes it likely that he was identical with the "Ho(h)n Browne a baker" who was in 1635 master of James Walker. Furthermore, since we known that John Brown of Rehoboth was not in New England until 1635, the probability is hight that the "Jo(h)n Browne", aged 40, who boarded the same ship with James and Sarah Walker on 17 April 1635 is the same man. If this identification is correct it would appear that John Brown travelled separately from his wife and children.

James and Sarah Walker may have been children of the widow Walker who appeared at Rehoboth with her son Phillip Walker some years later (Early Rehoboth 3:26-27), which would make John Brown or his wife sibling to widow Walker or her husband.

Family/Spouse: Dorothy ?. Dorothy was born in 1583 in England; died on 27 Jan 1673 in Watertown, Middlesex Co., Massachusetts; was buried in Little Neck Cemetery, Barrington, Rhode Island. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

1. Mary BROWNE was born in 1614 in England; died on 08 Jan 1669; was buried in Little Neck Cem. Riverside, Providence, RI.
2. John BROWNE, Jr. was born between 1614 - 1623 in England; died in Mar 1662; was buried in Ancient Little Neck Cemetery, East Providence, Providence Co.,Rhode Island.
3. James BROWNE was born in 1623 in England; died on 29 Aug 1710 in Swansea, Bristol County, Massachusetts; was buried in Ancient Little Neck Cemetery, East Providence, Providence Co.,Rhode Island.