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Charles Browne (abt. 1622 - 1687)

Charles Browne
Born about in Suffolk, Englandmap [uncertain]
Son of [father unknown] and [mother unknown]
[sibling(s) unknown]
Husband of — married 14 Oct 1647 (to 12 Dec 1683) in Rowley, Essex, Massachusetts Bay Colonymap
Descendants descendants
Died at about age 65 in Rowley, Essex, Massachusetts Baymap
Problems/Questions
Profile last modified | Created 1 Jul 2016
This page has been accessed 3,424 times.

Contents

Disputed Parents

John Browne and Wynefred Harper are not the parents of Charles Brown of this profile. They did have a son named Charles, but he was born about 1625 in Derbyshire and was buried 15 Sep 1662.[1]

Biography

Birth & Christening

Charles Browne was born about 1622, in England,[2] possibly in Suffolk.[3]

Immigration

According to Ancestry and genealogy of our Thomas Grover family..., Charles arrived in New England about 1640-43.[2] He was one of the early settlers of Rowley:

“CHARLES BROWNE, [arrived] 1647, [67 acres a few miles northwest of town]; had wife, Mary, daughter of William Acy, and nine children. Buried December 16, 1687. [Some of his descendants moved to Kings Town, Rhode Island.] Will recorded with Essex Deeds, 5 Ipswich, 303.”[4]

In fact, he would seem to appear in Rowley as early as 10 Jan 1643/44 in a survey of the town of Rowley where he appeared with two acres granted in the 3rd division of the Salt Marsh. This survey is many pages long but the only date given is on the first page and this was the date of recording of the allotments, not the date(s) of the grants.[5]

An arrival of 1638 to Rowley is claimed (without source) in Virkus' "Abridged Compendium of American Genealogy" but perhaps the submitter was thinking of the known arrival of Charles' wife Mary Acie with her family in that year.[6]

Likewise the "Brown Genealogy" cited here[7] while admitting that he has no documented appearance before 1647 says without source that he "doubtless came with the earlier pioneers from 1630-1635".

As Charles is not found in any written records before 1644 and a theorized earlier marriage to a Lambert is unproven and seemingly unlikely (see Research Notes) a primary source must be found to support an earlier date of immigration.

Civic Life

An educated man, Charles taught at the Rowley school, and played the drum for the town. Charles married Aug. 14, 1647, at Rowley, Massachusetts, Mary Acey, daughter of William and Margaret Acey, of Rowley. Mary was buried at Rowley, Dec. 12, 1683. Called “Old Browne” in 1684,[2] Charles died there, Dec. 16, 1687.[3]

The name of Charles Browne is mentioned in the Rowley town records thirty-one times.[7][8]

"In 1659 Charles testified against a suspected 'witch', one John Godfrey of Andover....Information on this trial is found in Witchcraft Trials, Salem, Mass.: Vol. 5, page 6."[8][9]

“Charles and his wife testified that on a Sunday six or seven years previously, while in the meeting house at Rowley, when Godfrey opened his mouth and yawned he saw a small imp beneath his tongue. Three years later, while at Brown's house, Godfrey told of a pair of witches who were approached by the devil and asked if they were aggrieved or vexed with anyone and asked what he should do to serve them.”[10]

Marriage

Husband: Charles Browne
Wife: Mary (Acye) Acie[8][11][12]
BROWN (Browne)...
Charles (Browne), and Mary _____, 14: 8m: 1647. Intention not recorded.
Note: Before 1752, "Old Style" dates were in effect, which means here that the 8th month was October, not August.

Mary Acy arrived in New England with her parents, William Acy and Margaret (Haiton) Acy, and three siblings (Ruth, Elizabeth and John). They emigrated from England on the ship John of London with the party of Reverend Ezekiel Rogers. They arrived at Massachusetts Bay Colony in December 1638 and spent the winter in Salem. In spring 1639 they moved to and founded Rowley, Essex County, Massachusetts Bay Colony:

“ WILLIAM ACY, two acres [on the path to Newbury]. Had wife Margaret and four children all brought with him 1639. His death is not of record. He made his will 22d of April, 1689, "being very aged;" it was proved 30th of September, 1690. (Essex Probate).”[4]

Children of Charles Brown and Mary (Acye) Acie

Charles and Mary had the following children, all born at Rowley, Massachusetts: [2][3][13]

  1. Mary Brown, buried 9 Dec 1683 at Rowley; called “cousin” in will of Gershom Lambert who left her 50 shillings
  2. Gershom Brown, b. abt 1647; lived, died, and was buried in Rowley, 5 Dec 1683; his estate was appraised at £224, 3s. 8d.; he mentioned his “cousin” Mary Brown in 1664 (his sister, half-sister?); he also said his “Cousin” Sarah is to be brought up by his mother — Although the Essex source refers to Sarah as Gershom’s daughter, Cousin Sarah is the daughter of Gershom’s brother Beriah Brown (1648-aft 1687) who married Sarah Harris in 1673. They had a daughter Sarah, living in 1689. Cousin Sarah was born in Rowley, and baptized Nov. 4, 1677.[13] Nieces and nephews were referred to as cousins at the time. Gershom’s Will asks that Cousin Sarah be brought up by his mother, so it appears he had taken over her care when Beriah moved to Rhode Island.
  3. Beriah Brown, b. 8 Jul 1648;[14] living in 1687; m. 6 Jan 1673 Sarah Harris; their daughter Sarah was living in 1689
  4. William Brown, b. 11 Dec 1651;[14] d. in the "Canada voyage." The inventory of his estate was presented to court, 22 Apr 1691, by his brother John Browne, the administrator; m. 11 Jan 1675 Margaret Stone
  5. John Browne, b. 1 Feb 1654;[14] husbandman, lived in Rowley; d. in or bef. 1722; m. 31 Aug 1685 Abigail Browne (or Brown) who survived her husband; John ‘s grandfather, William Acie, was living with them in 1689
  6. Samuel Brown, b. 6 Feb 1656;[14] d. bef 20 May 1660 when another son was born and named Samuel
  7. Ebenezer Brown, b. 14 Sep 1658;[14] husbandman; d. 1733, Will dated 30 Mar 1733, proved 17 Apr 1733, mentions himself as of Rowley; gives his wife, Mehitable, half his real estate and all his personal property; to his kinsman, Abraham Browne, son of his brother, John Browne, deceased, the remainder. He owned land in Rowley, Newbury, and Bradford (Essex Probate, 331: 171); m. (1) 29 Jul 1698 Mary Jewitt who was his wife in 1707; m. (2) pub. 7 Apr 1722 Mehitable Safford, widow of John Hovey of Ipswich; Mehitable survived him and m. (3) Lt. Jacob Perley of Boxford (pub. 23 Jun 1733)
  8. Nathaniel Browne, twin, b. 20 May 1660;[14] yeoman, lived in Rowley until 1707 when he sold his house, barn and land, and moved to Groton, Connecticut; m. 4 Jun 1685 Mary Wheeler; she was his wife in 1797
  9. Samuel Brown, twin, b. 20 May 1660;[14] d. childless at Rowley; he was in the Canada voyage, 1690; his brothers John, Nathaniel, and Ebenezer Browne petitioned to have John Staniford appointed administrator of his estate, 11 Oct 1693
  10. Joseph Brown, b. 29 Jun 1668;[14] living in 1687; prob. d. before 1690; unm.

Victims of a local epidemic,[13] Mary Browne, wife of Charles, was buried at Rowley, Massachusetts on Dec. 12, 1683. Their daughter, Mary Browne, was buried there on Dec. 9, 1683 and son, Gershom Browne, buried Dec. 5, 1683.[15]

Charles, called "Old Browne" in 1684,[13] died Dec. 16, 1687 in Rowley, Essex, Massachusetts Bay, Colony[8][15] and was buried in the Rowley Burial Ground.[8]

Death & Estate

"Charles Browne of Rowley in ye County of Essex. My last will & testament is as followeth,[3]

I give to my Eldest Son Beriah Browne twenty four pounds in some good pay eight pounds of it in or as good as money.
I give to my sn William Browne half an acre of land in ye Town of Rowley to be Set out to him of my homestead & the One Half of th Eight acres of land at ye rie plain & one freehold.
Item: I give to my Son John Browne one third part of ye land John being now possesed of it.
I give to my Son Samuel Browne that piece of land lying by ye Streights Seven acres & a half more or less & half of Eight acres of land at ye Rie Plain.
I give to my Son Ebenezer Browne one third part of ye land my Son Gershom bought of my brother John Acies, Ebenezer being already possessed of it.
I give to my son Nathaniel Browne a grant of Eighteen acres be it more or less Joyning o the ox pature and my other Sons Lands & the lands he is possessed of
I give to my Son Joseph Brone my house & land in the Town of Rowley bing my homestead all ye Remainder of it that is not give to my Son William & an acre & a half at Satchells of plow ground & meadow & one freehold.
I give to my grand daughter Sarah Browne a Legacy given by my Son Gershom to her & left in my hands my Will is that my Executors pay it to her in one half Corne & the other half Cattle when she comesto ye age of twenty one or do Marry
& my Son Joseph had also a Legacy given him by my son Gerhom which I declare hereby to be paid him in the lands I have given, So that he is not to Require anything of my Executors upon ye account of that Legacy he having it in ye lands by me here Given and that he shall not be possessed of it till he comes to ye age of Twenty One years
further my will is that my Sons John Browne, Nathaniel Browne, & Ebenezer Browne be my Executors & take care to pay all my debts and funerall Charges & for that End to inable them I Gie them to be Equally divided among them three all my land Meadowes and Appurtenances thereunto belonging either in the bounds of Rowley or elce where that are not already Conveyed & also all my Stockhouehold Stuff money or moneys Worth to be divided as aforesd, when my debts are paid and my obligacon to my father Acie during his life which they are to take care of if it
please God now to take me out of this World this I declare to be my last Will & Testament.
(Mark of C) (Charles Browne - seal)
This 20th of December 1687 we Saw Charles Browne Sign & Seal this instrument by Setting his Marke & Seal.
Witnesses: Richard Dumer, Jonathan Wheeler, John Sterlin. Essex Probate Records.

Research Notes

"Early Settlers of Rowley" puts forward the theory that Charles may have married a daughter of Francis Lambert, another early settler of Rowley before his 1647 marriage to Mary Acey. This is based mainly on the will of Gershom Lambert, son of Francis which lists "my cousin Mary Browne" (see page 221 of "Early Settlers"). Combined with the name of Charles first son, Gershom, this is a possibility. But, Gershom Lambert's will was pretty free with the use of words like "my brother Thomas Nelson" who was his brother-in-law, so too much should not be read into this use of the word cousin. Neither Francis Lambert nor his widow Jane Barker's wills (1647 and 1659 respectively) lists any Browne children and both Gershom and Mary were alive in those years. The 1689 will of William Acey, father of Mary Acey Browne, does not mention the first 2 Browne children (as his grandchildren) but he also fails to mention 3 other Browne children who WERE children of Mary Acey Browne so again, too much cannot be inferred (page 2 of Early Settlers). — Added by Brad Stauf
Note Added by Sara V Mosher
At the time, words “brother” and “cousin” were used for “brother-in-law”, “niece”, “nephew”, etc.
William Acey’s grandchildren, Mary Brown and Gershom Brown, died in 1683, just days before their mother’s death and before the 1689 will of William Acey.[15]
Charles Brown and John Palmer married daughters of William Acy.[16]

Sources

  1. Special Collections Leicester Pedigree of Browne, of Stretton en le Field : accessed 28 Dec 2020
  2. 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 Grover, Joel P. (Joel Perkes), 1900-; Grover, Thomas; Sherman, Sarah. Ancestry and genealogy of our Thomas Grover family : descendants of Thomas Grover and Elizabeth of Chesham, Bucks., Eng., 1514-1580; Thomas Grover and Elizabeth of Charlestown, Mass., 1638-1640; Capt. Thomas Grover and Sarah Sherman of Grafton and Montague, Mass., 1738-1775; Thomas Grover 1807-1886, Utah Pioneer of 1847, and allied... Inglewood, California : J.P. Grover, 1966-1967. Brown, pp. 406-8 (pg. 20) : accessed 17 Dec 2020
  3. 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 Some Descendants of Charles Browne Citing Brown Genealogy, Vol. II, pp. 405-6 : accessed 17 Dec 2020
  4. 4.0 4.1 The Founding of Rowley, Massachusetts, (version July 15, 2018). William Acy, Charles Browne
  5. The early records of the town of Rowley, Massachusetts, 1639-1672 : being volume 1 of the printed records of the town by Rowley (Mass.); Mighill, Benjamin P; Blodgette, George B. (George Brainard), 1845-1918 p. 33
  6. The abridged compendium of American genealogy; first families of America; a genealogical encyclopedia of the United States, edited by Frederick A. Virkus under direction of Albert Nelson Marquis p. 89
  7. 7.0 7.1 Brown Genealogy, Vol. II, Part 1, 1628-1915, Part II, Many of the Descendants of Charles Browne of Rowley, Mass. 1647-1915 by Cyrus Henry Brown, Boston: Everett Press, 1915. pp. 405-8
  8. 8.0 8.1 8.2 8.3 8.4 Charles Brown Find A Grave: Memorial #126487567
  9. The Browns (Browne-Brown): Some of the Descendants of Charles Brown of Suffolk, England and Rowley, Massachusetts, Including The Wisconsin Descendants of Adon Morton Brown and Mary Calvery Brown, by Barbara Brown Cooper, 1977 (929.273 B812o)
  10. Diana, Goddess of the Hunt — for Ancestors! Charles Browne & Mary Acie : accessed 29 Dec 2020
  11. Massachusetts Vital Records : Rowley Marriages Charles (Browne) and Mary
  12. Jewett, Amos Everett, [Editor], and George Brainard [Compiler] Blodgette. Early Settlers of Rowley, Massachusetts: A Genealogical Record of the Families who Settled in Rowley before 1700 with Several Generations of their Descendants. (Rowley, Mass.: Amos Everett Jewett (Newcomb & Gauss Co., Printers, Salem, Mass.), 1933) p. 49
  13. 13.0 13.1 13.2 13.3 Journal Article, pp. 26-8 (483-5). Part of Essex antiquarian - v. 13 (1909) - v. 13, no. 1 (Jan. 1909) Descendants of Charles Brown of Rowley, pg. 483
  14. 14.0 14.1 14.2 14.3 14.4 14.5 14.6 14.7 Vital Records of Massachusetts : Rowley Births Brown (Browne)
  15. 15.0 15.1 15.2 Massachusetts Vital Records : Rowley Deaths Brown, pg. 448
  16. Jewett, Amos Everett and Emily Mabel Adams. Rowley, Massachusetts, "Mr. Ezechi Rogers Plantation," 1639-1850. Charles Brown, pp. 22, 54, 122

See also:

Acknowledgements





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Comments: 14

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Hi Michael,

I noticed that you posted on Charles Browne (abt.1622-1687)'s profile. His profile is orphaned at this time, so no profile manager will be notified about your message. If you upgrade you will be able to adopt the profile and connect it to your branch, add your sourced information, and improve the profile. Any improvements that you make will help in the mission to create an accurate, single-family tree. Alternatively, you may be able to Click Brad's message below and contact him that way.

Please let me know if you have any questions.

Momo ~ WikiTree Greeter

posted by Momo Holmquist
Brad Stauf: As to when Charles Browne emigrated to Rowley, MA, you indicate it was in 1647 (tho you point out that clear proof is lacking). Your date may well be correct; however, I found a different date --1638 -- in "The Abridged Compendium of American Genealogy," F.A. Virkus & Company, Chicago, 1928, Volume 2, page 89 (under listing for Carleton Brown).
posted by Michael Morris
Michael, do you have an online link for that book, or have you had a chance to see what is used as a primary source for that date? When I have a chance I will take a look, I'm not sure of the general reliability and quality of the book off-hand, maybe you can check whether it's considered a reliable source by the WikiTree projects focusing on that era (PGM, Mayflower, England).
posted by Brad Stauf
Brad, i don't have a link to the Abridged Compendium, but it has apparently been republished recently. One error by me: the Charles Browne citation (cited in the Carleton Brown listing, is found in volume 3 (not 2) of the Compendium.

Mike

posted by Michael Morris
I added information to the profile, we can say now that he was there by 10 Jan 1643/44 based on Rowley town records but unfortunately VIrkus cites no source for a 1638 arrival. The "Compendium" description says that he checked and edited the genealogies submitted to him but with such a vast amount of material, obviously he couldn't check everything and didn't cite sources for much of it. The "Brown Genealogy" book asserted without source that he was probably there 1630-1635 i.e. before Rowley existed, which is possible but also unsupported. Maybe you can find a primary record showing an earlier arrival but given what has been found so far, he is still a little too late for PGM inclusion.
posted by Brad Stauf
[deleted]
I am a 10th generation descendent of Charles Browne. I am not sure when the e was dropped but everything I know the spelling is Brown and that is the spelling of my name. Beriah Brown went to NK RI. i was born in RI. A relation researched the family tree, Very interesting. I encourage everyone to examine their roots. Regardless of what you may find, it is what it is. Everyone came from somewhere.
posted by [deleted]
Wondering why he is in PGM project, since the biography says he was arrived by 1652?

He is not listed in GMD.

I'm thinking he should be removed from the project. anyone else?

I read through the linked sources and in them there is no proof he arrived before his 1647 marriage in Rowley vital records.

His town record appearances are all 1647 and after (tax lists, land grants etc) "The early records of the town of Rowley, Massachusetts, 1639-1672 : being volume 1 of the printed records of the town by Rowley (Mass.); Mighill, Benjamin P; Blodgette, George B. (George Brainard), 1845-1918" page 51 on archive.org https://archive.org/details/earlyrecordsofto01rowl/page/50/mode/2up etc. So nothing seems to warrant PGM inclusion. Also nothing solid I can find on his parentage or origins. There is a possibility he had an earlier marriage to a daughter of Francis Lambert which produced his first two children, also an early settler of Rowley but that is far from certain. I'll add it to the bio for posterity anyway.

posted by Brad Stauf
Thanks for your research, Brad.

I'm going ahead and removing PGM status from this profile.

John Browne was of the Browne family of Stretton, Derbyshire. Please see his profile for known children. I haven’t been able to find a source for the parents of Charles Browne. Should they be disconnected or marked uncertain?
posted by Sara Mosher
Sarah, in PGM if a parent(s) cannot be substansiated, they are detached and notes are written on the top of the three profiles. Links are included, so if documentation that the relationship is valid, they can easily be reattached.
How do we know the identity of his parents?
posted by Jillaine Smith
Not sure how he got attached as spouse of Sarah Cutting. I'm detaching
posted by Jillaine Smith
Brown-27465 and Brown-25614 appear to represent the same person because: Unsourced profile with no other relationships with matching the death date and death location.
posted by Marty (Lenover) Acks

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