FATHER

Roger Brownson

MOTHER

Mary Underwood

WIFE

Francis Hills

CHILDREN

1. Mary Bronson
    christened 12 Dec 1627 to Jn and Fran Brownson, Earl's Colne, Essex, England

2. John Bronson
    christened 17 Feb 1628 to John and Frances Brownson, Earl's Colne, St Andrew, Essex, England
    Buried: 23 Mar 1628

3. John Bronson
    christened 28 Dec 1631 to John Brownson and Francis Brownson, Earl's Colne, Essex, England
    Buried 23 Mar 1632

4. Dorcas Bronson
   christened. 19 Dec 1633 to Jn Brownson, junior and Fran Brownson, Earl's Colne, Essex, England

5. Sarah Bronson
   b. abt. 1639

6. Jacob Bronson
   b.  17 Jan 1641 Hartford, Hartford, CT

6. John Bronson
   b 16 Jan 1644 Farmington, Hartford, CT

8. Isaac Bronson
   b Nov 1645 Farmington, Hartford, CT

9. Abraham Bronson
   christened. 28 Nov 1647 (no parentage recorded) Farmington, Hartford, CT

John Bronson
by Susan Brooke
Sep 2021

 "John Bronson was baptized 21 September 1602 at Lamarsh, Essex, England.  He was called John Brownson, Jr. in the records of births and burials of his children in England to differentiate him from his uncle, John Brownson (1580-1638) who remained in England. (1) He married Francis Hills on 19 November 1626 at Halstead, Essex, England." (2)

John Bronson immigrated in 1635 to New England, landing in Boston, probably October 8, 1735 on the ship "Defense". He came over with his wife, daughters Mary and Dorcas, and his brother Richard and his sister Mary. They were probably part of the 100 pilgrims who set out in 1636 from Cambridge, MA without roads or shelter and traveled overland to Hartford, CT. His house was on Neck Road, in the northern part of Harford.  Another of our ancestors, Andrew Warner, was also a part of this expedition.

In 1637 he was part of an army of ninety white men under Captain John Mason, and seventy friendly Mohegan Indians under Uncas, who fought the Pequot Indians. The Pequots had been on a murder path for three years and would not listen to reason. John Bronson was given right in the undivided lands because of his services in the Pequot War. (3)

Some think John, now married, moved to Farmington, CT as early as 1641. He was settled on that land by 1644. (4). He was among the first to set up a saw mill. His house was on a "road running out of the village in an easterly direction and a half mile distant. It stood near what is sometimes called Diamond Glen Brook, having the mountain to the south and highways on all other sides. His brother Richard lived nearby." He was active in his church, deputy to the General Court and an active business man. He served on the Grand Jury March 7, 1650.

On May 16,1670 Cherry and Will, the Indians, with three of the Milford Indians, were adjudged to pay John Brunson 20 shillings for the "sider" they had stolen from him. (5)

He died Nov 28, 1680. "Porter says he died at Wethersfield, but the Estate is accredited to Farmington. One report says that he was buried in the grave yard back of the First Church in Hartford." He gave away much of his land to his sons while living. When he died his estate valued at £312-01-06. He had 25 sheets, a Table Cloath, 13 Napkins, 1 chest, 2 boxes. Plus some swine, cattell and sheep. Two barrells of Cyder. Plus several acres of land. The inventory was exhibited in Court by Jacob and Isaac and Dorcas Hopkins. (6)  His son Isaac Bronson had previously received 1/5th of his father's land.  When the final estate was recorded Isaac received an additional £36 17.

Sources

(1) Our Bronson Family

 (2) England, Boyd's Marriage Indexes 1538-1850

(3) Coomb's Family History by Jan Gregoire Coombs, 2013

John was a member of the Hartford militia in 1637 when it was called upon to protect their settlement in the Pequot War, but later moved his family to Waterbury for a time before helping to form the new settlement of Farmington, on land Hartford purchased from Indians in 1641.  John's name often appeared on town records.  He served on the grand jury in 1650, in 1652 he helped organize the Farmington Church and was one of its "seven pilars." Later that year he became a constable of Farmington and in that capacity was responsible for collecting  "ye rate" (tax) for "ye Fort at Seasbrook" from fellow townsmen.

(4) Our Bronson Family

In February 1639, he had several parcels of land assigned to him by the land division which occurred. One of these was land on which he had his home.
John’s house lot was in the “Soldiers’ Field”, so called in the north part of the old village of Hartford on the “Neck Road,” supposed to have been given for service in the Pequot War. The property was bounded on the east by the Neck Road; on the north by Richard Church’s land; and on the south by William Heaton’s land. There is, at the Connecticut Archives in Hartford, an 1838 map made from the old records showing Hartford in 1640. John Brownson’s lot #34 was on the edge of town; only Richard Church’s lot #35 separated him from the Cow Pasture. And there he lived in 1640.
On 9 November 1640, John Brownson and Andrew Warner were both fined five shillings for “putting their hogs over the Great River, and five shillings for every day they left them there.”

John Bronson (Brownson) settled on his land in Farmington in 1644. He was given the land by his father, Roger. In 1670, John Brownson built his house on the south side of the Ould Mill road near the present junction where Hatter's Lane becomes Diamond Glen Road and meets Colton.

(5) Our Bronson Family

(6) 278 PROBATE RECORDS. VOL. IV. WILL of John Brunson Page 52. Brunson, John, Farmington. Died 28 November, 1680, Invt. £312-01-06. The children: Jacob, Isaac, Mary Ellis, John Brunson, Abraham Brunson, Dorcus Hopkins, Sarah Kilbourn. Court Record, Page 32—2 December,1680: Invt. now exhibited in Court by Jacob & Isaac Brunson & Dorcus Hopkins. This Court grant Adms. to the children of th Dec. and appoint Marchall Grave to assist them in the division. There being no will made by the deceased, and finding the sayd John Brunson had in his lifetime allotted to his foure sonns each of them a fifth part of his lands in Farrmington, This Court confirms the same to them and to their heirs forever; & whereas John had received short of Brothers £8, it is now considered in the distribution, as also what his daughters have formerly received, and the distributions as followeth £ s d To Jacob Brunson Eldest son 72-02-00 To John Brunson 44-17-00 To Isaac Brunson 36-17-00 To Abraham Brunson 36-17-00 To Mary Eldest daughter 35-16-00 To Dorcas 41-I6-00 To Sarah 45-16-00 And this Court orders that there be payd towards the Maintenance of the Widdow, yearly, the sum of £10 in good current pay, during the time of her natural life, to be paid by the children in proportion, and more if necessity arise. Page I 79- ( Vol. X) 5 March, 1727-8: Whereas it is represented to this Court byGeorge Rilbouru, Thomas Hopkins, John Bracy, Daniel Steele & Hezekiah Hopkins, Heirs by Marriage and descent from John Brunson, formerly of Farmington. deed, that there is considerable Estate in Land of the sd. Deed that has not yet been Dist., and necessary to be apprised in order to be Dist. to and amoug the heirs of sd. John Brunson, This Court grant Adms. on the sd. Real Estate which has not yet been Dist. unto the sd. Thomas Hopkins and John Bracy, and order that they make an Invt. thereof and exhibit the same to this Court as soon as may be, for Dist.

(7) Estate of John Bronson