Elizabeth (Sisson) Browne (abt. 1661 - abt. 1729)

Born about 1661 in Anne Arundel County, Province of Maryland

Ancestors

Wife of Charles Stevens Jr — married 1680 in Province of Maryland

Wife of Thomas Browne — married 13 Feb 1704 in St. Anne's Parish, Anne Arundel County, Province of Maryland

Descendants

Died about 1729 at about age 68 in Annapolis, Anne Arundel County, Province of Maryland

Problems/Questions Profile manager: Dave Robison [send private message]

Biography

Birth and Parents

Elizabeth Sisson was born before 1663 in Anne Arundel County, Maryland. Her father was John Sisson, who died 16 March 1663 in Anne Arundel County. Her mother was Franes Gorsuch, born 1646 in Walkern, Hertfordshire, England and died after 1663 in Anne Arundel County. ^[1]

Elizabeth's father John Sisson died while she was underage. Her second husband Thomas Browne identifies her maiden name in a 1710 land transfer document: ^[2]

Know alll men by the presents that we Thomas Browne Junr and Eliz. his wife formerly Eliz Sisson for available consideration to us in hand paid have as by the prosents we do assign sell and make over until amos garrett and his eirs all our right title Interst claim and .. of in and unto as certain certificate of Survey dated the 21st of May 1666 for two hundred acres of land called the orphans inheritance and then laid out for above named Eliz Sisson the orphan of John Sysson witness our hand and seales the third day of August 1710.

Thomas Browne, Eliz Browne

Witness William 'Sevens,Edward Hale.

Birth Year Estimation

If one estimates that women are often three years younger than their husbands, then her first husband's estimated birth year of 1658 would be matched with a birth year of 1661 for Elizabeth.

Death of Father

In 1663 Elizabeth's father died. She is named in his will:

Sison, John,A. A. Co.,------ 16th Mar., 1663. ^[1]

To wife Frances, execx., plantation.

To eld. dau. Jean Sison, personalty.

To Eliza: Sison, land, including island bought of Edward Lloyd.

To brothers Benjamin Sison and Cornelius Howard, personalty.

Overseers: Cornelius Howard afsd., and Richard Higgins.

Test: Wm. Wilson, Wm. Grymes. 1. 197.

1679 Elizabeth's First Marriage to Charles Stevens

About 1679 in Anne Arundel County, Maryland, Elizabeth married Charles Stevens. He was born before 1659 and died 6 August 1706 in Anne Arundel County, Maryland. ^[1]

Charles' Birth and Parents

The date and place of the birth of Charles Stevens, Jr, are unknown. Charles Stevens, Jr., was the son of Charles Stevens and Susannah Norwood, circa 1670.

On May 30, 1666 Charles was named as a son of Charles Stevens in a demand for land. Maryland Patents Liber 9 f. 448 Hall of Records Annapolis, MD. ^[3]

Charles' mother, Susannah Norwood, was not born when his grandfather John Norwood immigrated to Virginia about 1643, placing her birth in 1644 shortly after her parents arrival. To have four children in a compressed time, she needed to marry by the age of 12 or shortly thereafter -- 1655. All four of Susannah's own children were born by the time Susannah and Charles Stevens, Sr, immigrated to Maryland about 1659. And Charles Stevens, Sr. was dead by 1662.

This would place the birth of Charles Stevens as about 1658, which is the estimate of Marion Callum. ^[4] It is also the estimate of Roberts. ^[5]

However, he appears to have owned land and been married in 1672. If that indicates he was at the age of majority at the time, age 21, his birth would have been no later than 1651.

Having Charles Stevens Jr born in 1651, however, raises questions about whether his mother was Susannah Norwood or an earlier wife of Charles Stevens, Sr.

Children

Marshall estimates the births of their children occurring between 1683 and 1700.

Death of Charles

Elizabeth Stevens was entered as the administratrix of Charles Stevens of Anne Arundel County, Maryland in the Court Session of November 12, 1703. Sureties were William and Charles Stevens. ^[6]

Elizabeth was already using her second married name, Elisabeth Brown, at the time an account was given of Charles' estate:

• Charles Stevens 25.340 A AA £227.6.6 £142.0.3 Aug 6 1706
• Cash in the hands of: David Dennis.
• Payments to: Mr. Amos Garrett, Richard Warfield, Edward Hall, Samuel Norwood, Amos Garrett on account of Henry Pinkney due to John Munday & Co.
• Administratrix/Executrix: Elisabeth Brown. ^[7]

Residence

Charles lived in Anne Arundel County, and may have had connections across the Chesapeake Bay in Dorchester County.

1703 Death of Charles Stevens

Charles Stevens, Jr, died before 22 Sep 1703 in Anne Arundel, Maryland. ^[3]

Charles Stevens died before Nov. 12, 1703 when Elisabeth Stevens was named the administratrix of Charles' estate in Anne Arundel County. William and Charles Stevens are named as securities. ^[6]

1703 Will

Four children are named in his will: William, Mary, Sarah & Elizabeth. Prerogative Wills Liber 3 ff 220-221 Hall of Records Annapolis, MD & Prerogative Wills Liber 3 f. 173 Hall of Records Annapolis, MD. ^[3]

None of these children are noted as underage; so William was born earlier than 1682 (age 21) and the girls were born earlier than 1687 (age 16).

Estate

Charles Stevens 25.340 A AA £227.6.6 £142.0.3 Aug 6 1706

• Cash in the hands of: David Dennis.
• Payments to: Mr. Amos Garrett, Richard Warfield, Edward Hall, Samuel Norwood, Amos Garrett on account of Henry Pinkney due to John Munday & Co.
• Administratrix/Executrix: Elisabeth Brown. ^[1]

In this document, Samuel Norwood is perhaps a relative of Charles' grandfather, John Norwood. Noticeable by their absence is any reference to Charles' children, who are not named either indviidually or as a group. And this document is the only document giving a name to his wife Elizabeth, who by now has remarried and is Elizabeth Brown.

Timber Neck, 303 acres of land surveyed for their father, was in possession of Elizabeth, Sarah & Mary Yeidhall. Mary was named as the daughter of Charles. & the three girls shared equally in the estate. ^[3]

1704 Elizabeth's Second Marriage to Thomas Brown

On 13 February 1704/5 in St. Anne's Parish, Anne Arundel County, Elizabeth Sisson Stevens married Thomas Browne who was born before 1668 in Anne Arundel County, Maryland and died after 1715 in Anne Arundel County. ^[1]

On 13 February 1704 Thomas Brown married Elizabeth Stephens, widow. (4 AA-390) ^[8][9] Note -- the year 1704 (Old Style) became 1705 when today's calendar was adopted and New Year's changed from March 25 to January 1.

In February 1704 in St. Anne's Parish, Annapolis, Maryland there appeared to be three marriages of related persons: ^[10]Note -- the year 1704 (Old Style) became 1705 when today's calendar was adopted and New Year's changed from March 25 to January 1.

• 13 February 1704: William Yieldhall and Mary Stephens. Mary was the daughter of Charles Stevens, born about 1658 and his wife Elizabeth, born about 1661. ^[11]
• 13 February 1704: Thomas Browne, born 1648 and Elizabeth Stephens, widow of Charles Stevens. ^[12]
• 19 February 1704: John Stephens, likely son of Charles Stevens and Elizabeth, and Sarah Brown. John's birth is estimated as 1680 and Sarah's as 1690. The relationship of Sarah Brown to Thomas has not been established, but she would be in his children's generation.

Elizabeth was already using her second married name, Elisabeth Brown, in 1705 when an account was given of Charles' estate. She is named as Elizabeth Brown in Charles account administration. (4 AA-390) ^{[13] [9]} Note -- the year 1704 (Old Style) became 1705 when today's calendar was adopted and New Year's changed from March 25 to January 1.

1707 Charles's Hills

By 1707 Elizabeth had married Thomas Brown who was in possession of a 271 acre plantation called Charles's Hills which was surveyed for Charles Stevens March 17, 1678. This tract of land lay on the west side of the Severn." ^[3]

Orphans at the home of Thomas Brown

Children were thought of as "orphans" when their father was dead, although their mother might be living. Hence four children -- Benjamin, Samuel, Elizabeth and Sarah Stevens -- were listed as orphans living at the home of their stepfather Thomas Brown in an abstraction from court records of the period: "Benj. Stevens, Sam'll, Elizabeth and Sarah Stevens (living) at Thomas Brown's ^[14] The court record must be dated after the death of Charles Stevens, and before his children reached majority.

1715 Death of Thomas Browne

The will of Thomas Browne of Anne Arundel County, Maryland was dated 22 March 1714/15, recorded 4 June 1715. It refers to "my son John Stephens" which in this case would refer to "step-son." ^[15]

1715 Son Thomas Brown conveys land

On Oct. 4, 1715 Thomas Brown of Anne Arundel County, planter, son and heir of Thomas Brown, etc gives 2,283 acres of land that he inherited from his father and some that he bought to his brother John Brown. ^[16]

1729 Death of Elizabeth

Marshall states that Elizabeth died after 1710 in St. Anne's Parish, Anne Arundel County, Maryland. ^[1]

In Amos Garrett's inventory of Aug. 23, 1729 money was paid to people including to Elizabeth Brown wife of Thomas Brown. If Thomas was dead she would be Elizabeth Brown, widow of Thomas Brown-so they both were alive on Aug. 23, 1729. ^[1]

Children

There is no clear documentation for the children of Charles Stevens, Jr. It is evident that Charles had at least four other children not named in his 1703 will. If he was born in 1658 and married at the age of 21 (1679), then his children were born between the year 1680 and the year of his death, 1703.

Charles Stevens' will names four children, William, Mary, Sarah and Elizabeth. ^[3] Charles Stephens IIII and John Stephens are also clearly his children. Assume William was the eldest son because he inherited property in the will; Assume Mary was the eldest daughter because she was married at the time of the will. In addition, Benjam and Samuel are named as Stephens orphans during Elizabeth's marriage to Thomas Browne.

1. William Stevens, b. Abt 1683, d. 16 Mar 1737, Anne Arundel County, Maryland - probate ^[1] Named in will. In 1707 his son William was in possession of a 72 acre tract called What-You-Please between South River & the Severn which was surveyed for his father. ^[3] To hold land you had to be 25 years old so William was born about 1680.
2. Charles Stephens III, b. Abt 1683, d. 25 Apr 1751, Anne Arundel County, Maryland - admin ^[1] In 1719 a Charles Stevens was surety for the bond of William Yieldhall as administrator for the estate of John Stephens, and Charles then helped inventory the estate. This could not be Charles Stevens, Jr, who died in 1703. The involvement of this Charles with the estate of John Stevens in 1719 suggests he was a brother of John Stevens, a brother-in-law of William Yieldhall, and a son of Charles Stevens, Jr.
3. John Stephens, b. Bef 1685, d. 6 Dec 1719, St. Anne's Parish, Anne Arundel County, Maryland - inventory ^[1] Married 19 Feb 1704 to Sarah Brown. (4 AA-390) ^[17] When he died in 1719, Sarah renounced administration of the estate in favor of William Yieldhall, who posted bond the next day; Charles Stevens was a surety for the bond. ^[6] In December, John Stevens' estate was inventoried by William and Charles Stevens of Anne Arundel County. ^[18] On 19 Feb 1704 John Stephens married Sarah Brown. ^[19] Eight years later, however, John is married to Sarah, and the St. Anne's Parish records contain several of their children: John Stevens and Sarah parents of John Stevens son b. 24 Mar 1714/1715^[20] This John Stevens (of John and Sarah) was in turn baptized 23 Jun 1717^[21] John Stephens and Sarah were the parents of:
   1. Charles Stephens son b. 2 Mar 1712;
   2. Susanna Stephens dau b. 18 Sep 1708;
   3. Comfort Stephens dau b. 8 Mar 1713. ^[22] Married Augustine Gambrill.
4. Mary Stevens, b. Bef 1688 [natural]^[1] Married William Yieldhall on Feb. 13, 1704/1705 (4 AA 390) -same date as her mother married her third husband Thomas Brown, Jr. ^[23]
5. Elizabeth Stevens, b. Abt 1693, Anne Arundel County, Maryland, d. Bef 1763, Anne Arundel County, Maryland ^[1] "Orphan" under age 18 in 1704 so born not earlierthan 1686. ^[14] Married Robert Shipley by Oct. 12, 1710 making her 18 when she married Robert. ^[24]
6. Sarah Stevens, Sarah Stevens, b. Bef 1700, Anne Arundel County, Maryland, d. Bef 1740, Anne Arundel County, Maryland ^[1] "Orphan" under age 18 in 1704 so born not earlier than 1686. ^[14] Named in will. ^[7]Sarah Stevens, daughter of Charles Stevens, married on 28 Jul 1716 Richard Barnes (making her 22 when she married Richard), the son of James Barnes and Ketura (Roturah) Shipley. Richard Barnes was born about 1699. She died before 1740 and he died after 18 Oct 1751. Richard Barnes and Sarah Stevens had the following children: Richard Barnes Jr. and Benjamin Barnes. Benjamin was married to Catharine before 1740. Benjamin was born on 3 Oct 1716 and baptized on 29 Jul 1717 in St Anne's Parish, Anne Arundel Co., MD with the notation that the family had come from Baltimore Co.
7. Benjamin born say 1688. Not listed by Marshall. ^[1] "Orphan" under age 21 in 1704. ^[14] This would be the Benjamin named in the 1724 will ^[7], but little else is known of him.
8. Samuel born say 1690. "Not listed by Marshall. ^[1] Orphan" under age 21 in 1704. ^[14]

Research Notes

Was Elizabeth a Shipley?

Perhaps because of other relationships between the Stevens and Shipley families, a birth name of Shipley has sometimes been assigned to Elizabeth. No basis for this has been discovered.

Shipleys of Maryland refers to Charles Stevens of Dorchester County as the father of Elizabeth Stevens who in about 1710 married Robert Shipley, born about 1678, but does not name a wife for Charles Stevens, which one might expect if she were known to be a Shipley. ^[24]

Was Elizabeth First Married to a John Sisson?

An earlier version of this profile stated that Elizabeth's first marriage was to John Sisson. It now appears that this was her father, not her husband.

There was a John Sisson who arrived in Maryland in 1659 who may or may not be the same person. On 20 August 1710 Mr. Amos Garrett of Annapolis reported ownership of 200 acres of Providence which had been assigned to him by "Elizabeth Browne, wife of Thomas Browne Jr, and widow of John Sisson for whom the land was origianlly surveyed." ^[25]

Was daughter Elizabeth born in Dorcester County on the Eastern Shore?

The Shipleys of Maryland, 2002. Baltimore, Maryland, Gateway Press, 2002. Volume I. Robert Shipley's entry is .13 on page 8. Named in will. Elizabeth Stevens, is described in Shipley, ^[24], as daughter of Charles Stevens of Dorchester Co. See indenture made by William Stevens (her brother) Oct 12 1710 (Shipley, p. 7). At what point would Robert Shipley have moved to Dorchester County and at what point would he have moved back -- or have two different people been made into one here? Elizabeth STEVENS was born Abt 1700 in Dorchester, MD. She married Robert SHIPLEY Abt 19 Mar 1704 in Anne Arundel Co., MD, son of Adam SHIPLEY and Lois HOWARD. He was born 1678 in Anne Arunel Co., MD, and died 3 Jul 1763 in Anne Arundel Co., MD.

Were Charles and Elizabeth the parents of Susannah Stevens?

• Susannah Stevens b: ABT 1681^[7] and married Richard Shipley, brother of Robert. Susannah Stephens is not listed by Rutherford. Other sources claim Susanna to be daughter of Benjamin of John. When her husband Richard wrote his will in 1724, he named Susannah as co-executor along with Benjamin Stevens. This has led to speculation that Benjamin was her father -- and there was a Benjamin in St. Mary's County with a daughter Susanna. However, that relationship has difficulties and the most logical explanation is that Benjamin would be a brother of Susannah and therefore her closest male relative to look out for her interests.

There is an unrelated Stevens or Stephens family in Virginia in which Charles is a popular name.

Was Elizabeth an ancestor of Abraham Lincoln?

Gary Roberts, in Ancestors of American President, wrote that Elizabeth, wife of Charles Stevens, Jr, was a possible ancestor of President Abraham Lincoln. ^[5] This relationship was based on a line of descent through the Shipley family, which has subsequently disproved. Roberts gives her name as (prob.) Elizabeth Unknown, married (1) (prob.) Charles Stevens, Jr.; married (2) Thomas Browne. The daughter of Elizabeth Unknown and Charles Stevens, was Elizabeth Stevens who married Robert Shipley. ^[5]

Sources

1. ↑ ^{1.00 1.01 1.02 1.03 1.04 1.05 1.06 1.07 1.08 1.09 1.10 1.11 1.12 1.13 1.14} Mike Marshall. Early Colonial Settlers of Southern Maryland and Virginia's Northern Neck Counties. Profile for Elizabeth Sisson Accessed xxx jhd
2. ↑ Maryland State Archives, Land Office. (Patent Record) 1700-1713 DD5,1 SR7378 Liber DD, no. 5 [msa.maryland.gov/megafile/msa/stagsere/se1/se223..... Original p. 633. PDF page 328 of 441]
3. ↑ ^{3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 3.4 3.5 3.6} William Kenneth Rutherford and Anna Clay Zimmerman Rutherford. Genealogical History of our Ancestors. By the authors, 1977. Vol 1, p. 770
4. ↑ G. Marion Norwood Callam, Norwoods III, pg182, cited by Kitty Crowley, http://www.oocities.org/~rnorwood/captj001.htm#t3
5. ↑ ^{5.0 5.1 5.2} Roberts, Gary Boyd; Ancestors of American Presidents, Boston: New England Historic Genealogical Society, 2009, p. 51; p. 330-331
6. ↑ ^{6.0 6.1 6.2} V. L. Skinner, Jr. Abstracts of the Testamentary Proceedings of the Prerogative Court of Maryland. Volume XI: 1703-1704, 1708-1709; Libers 20, 21 (pp 1-206). Page 11 Accessed 17 December 2021 jhd
7. ↑ ^{7.0 7.1 7.2 7.3} Mike Marshall. Early Colonial Settlers of Southern Maryland and Virginia's Northern Neck Counties. Profile for Charles Stevens
8. ↑ Barnes, Marriages, p. 23
9. ↑ ^{9.0 9.1} Robert W. Barnes. Maryland Marriage Evidences 1634-1718. Baltimore: Genealogical Publishing Company, 2010. Page 48
10. ↑ Wright, p. 73
11. ↑ Robert Barnes. Maryland Marriages 1634-1777, Baltimore: Genealogical Publishing Company, 1975. page 202, Yealdhall, William, 13 Feb 1704, Mary Stephens. 4 AA 390. Accessed 23 Sept 2022 jhd
12. ↑ Robert Barnes. Maryland Marriages 1634-1777, Baltimore: Genealogical Publishing Company, 1975. page 23, Brown, Thomas, 13 Feb 1704 Eliz. Stephens, widow, 4 AA 390. Accessed 23 Sept 2022 jhd
13. ↑ Barnes, Marriages, p. 23
14. ↑ ^{14.0 14.1 14.2 14.3 14.4} Milner Ljungstedt, editor. The County Court Notebook: A Little Bulletiln of History and Genealogy. Washington, DC, Columbia Printing Company. Volume IV, #3 A List of Orphans of Anne Aroundel County Liber T. B. 1, June 1925, page 21.
15. ↑ Maryland, Wills and Probate Records, 1635-1777, p.54 Thomas Browne
16. ↑ Hester Dorsey Richardson. Side-lights on Maryland History With Sketches of Early Maryland Families. Baltimore: Williams and Wilkins, 1913. Volume II Page 291 Accessed 24 September 2022 jhd
17. ↑ Barnes, Marriages, page 170
18. ↑ Milnor Lungstedt, ed. Maryland's Next of Kin in The County Notebook, Bethesda, Montgomery County, Maryland, Vol 3, #6,. November 1924 page 42 Accessed 13 December 2021 jhd
19. ↑ Wright, St. Anne's Parish, p. 73
20. ↑ Wright, St. Anne's Parish, p. 77
21. ↑ Wright, St. Anne's Parish, p. 80
22. ↑ Wright, St. Anne's Parish, p. 74
23. ↑ Barnes, Marriages, p. 202.
24. ↑ ^{24.0 24.1 24.2} Shipleys of Maryland. The Shipleys of Maryland 2002. Baltimore, Maryland: Gateway Press, 2002, Volume I, p. 8
25. ↑ Peter Wilson Coldham. Settlers of Maryland 1701-1730. Baltimore: Genealogical Publishing Company, 1996. Page 59 Accessed 23 Sept 2022 jhd

Bibliography of Frequently Cited Sources

• Barnes, Robert. Maryland Marriages, 1634-1777. Baltimore: Genealogical Publishing Company, 1975.
• Skordas, Gust, Assistant Archivist, State of Maryland. The Early Settlers of Maryland: An Index to Names of Immigrants Compiled from Records of Land Patents, 1633-1680, in the Hall of Records, Annapolis, Maryland. Baltimore: Genealogical Publishing Company, 1968.
• Wright, F. Edward. Anne Arundel County Church Records of the 17th and 18th Centuries. Westminster, Maryland: Family Line Publications. No date.

See also:

• Charles Stevens, Jr's family on The Peerage
• Geni profile