THE BROWN GENEALOGY, by Cyrus Henry Brown, page 9, 10.
In Vol. 1, page 9, states he was the son of Nicholas Brown. This is not correct as he states in his Vol. 2.
Mary Newhall, b. about 1637, m. Thomas Browne, of Lynn, who was b. about 1628, according to his deposition taken July 11, 1666.
(Essex Co. Court Papers, B. XIII, L. 62.)
He d. Aug. 28, 1693. His widow, Mary, was appointed administratrix, Oct. 9, 1683, on the same day the nuncupative will of Thomas Browne was taken down (on file in the office of the Register of Probate in Salem).
He names his eldest son, Thomas, and his sons Joseph, John, Daniel, and Ebenezer, and dau. Norwood.
Two depositions cited by Waters, pp. 15 and 16, show her age. Her name first appears in records as wife of Thomas Browne in 1658. "Her husband was a dish-turner and was said to be of Grawton, Middlesex, in June 1663 when he bought of William Longley his house lot (6 acres), bounded E. with lands of Richard Haven, W. with land of John Newhall, S. by Mill Street, and N. by the common." - Waters, page 16.
The Norwood referred to in the will of Thomas Brown was his dau. Mary (9), who m. Thomas Norwood, Aug. 24, 1685, and had six children: Francis, Ebenezer, Mary, Thomas, Mary, and Jonathan.
Their children, b. Lynn, Mass.
Eight of this family of children died young and unmarried. Seven of them reached maturity. Four of them remained in MA, while three of them came to Stonington, CT, before 1688.
They purchased and received large tracts of land, most of which was located in the present town of North Stonington, bounded as follows: the western boundary was nearly all on Ossekonk Swamp, the northern bounds of which extended from the Ossekonk brook on the west of Shunnock River on the east, joining on the north the lands of the late Stephen Avery and lands of the Main family, to lands of the Randall family; easterly on the Randall land to the Richardson's possessions; on the south by the Palmer family land and Miner territory; and on the west by the Wheeler family land up to the said Ossekonk Swamp.
Subsequent sales and purchases made by the Brown brothers and the distribution of these lands as they and their successors have departed this life, have greatly changed their original possessions, and other families now dwell upon the same.
John Brown (8) located his residence west of the site of the old Roswell Brown tavern years before the New London and Providence turnpike was built.
On the above tract of land described is one of the oldest burying grounds in the town, on the south of the cedar swamp from which this burying ground takes its name. Before the New London and Providence turnpike was built a road passed by this ancient burying ground, but after the building of the "pike" it was discontinued, making it one of the most secluded places that can be found to bury the dead.
No interments have been made there for many years. Here are interred many of the early settlers, without headstones, and without any doubt two of the pioneers, Thomas (2) and John (8), though it is to be regretted no headstones mark their last resting-place. This burying place is on lands they originally purchased. Here are interred Ichabod Brown (309) and his wife Lucy (Palmer) Brown and many of their children, and all marked with marble headstones; also Roswell Brown (171), who married Esther Williams (31); Thatcher Brown (175), who married after the death of his brother Roswell, his widow Esther Brown, nee Williams; Jedediah Brown (238) and his three wives. The name Williams, that of the great-grandmother of the compiler, is perpetuated by her descendants through many families down to Number 697.
The remains of many have been removed to the Union Cemetery, and to Elm Grove Cemetery, Mystic, Conn.; and it is hoped that all others that are marked with headstones will be removed at no distant day to the Union Cemetery.
Researching this line is Nancyann Norman at [email protected]
Researching this line is Sue at [email protected]
Researching this line is Laurie Barrett [email protected]
Researching this line is Margie Strang at [email protected]
Researching this line is Leo Brown at [email protected]
Sources: Brown Genealogy by C.H. Brown; Genealogical and Biographical Record of New Lond County, Conn.; Bible Records (film 862,766, Vol.10, page 9; Founders of Early American Families; NEHGR, v78, p85; A Witter Family History by Edwin D. Witter Jr. (1988); History of the Town of Stonington; AF.
Brown Genealogy and Wheeler's History of the Town of Stonington, County of
New London, Connecticut, erroneously say Thomas Browne was born in Lynn, Mass. Film 862,766, Vol. 10, P. 9 (Bible records copied from older record), says he and Mary Newhall were married in 1652.
Birth in England comes from an LDS archives record. Will in a Brown, Vol. I, appendix indicates the 1693 death date.
Genealogical and Biographical Record of New London County, Connecticut,
says Thomas Browne accompanied his father, Nicholas, to America from England.
He should not be confused with the Thomas Browne from Malford, weaver, who came over about 1635 and is listed in Genealogy of the Puritans. Our Thomas would have only been 7 years old then, and no father is mentioned in the
Thomas the weaver reference.
Brown Genealogy says Thomas Browne was a dish-turner. Home Life in Colonial Days says, "The dish-turner and cooper were artisans of importance in those days; piggins, noggins, runlets, keelers, firkins, buckets, churns, dye-tubs, cowles, powdering-tubs, were made with chary or no use of metal." Unknow what most of those items were or which pertained to a dish-turner.
Founders of Early American Families: Thomas Browne. Lynn, MA, 1653. Groton, MA, 1663. Died Lynn [had become Reading by then] 28 Aug. 1693. Turner. Constable. An AF record puts death as Aug. 28, 1686, in Lynn, but by then Lynn had become Reading (1644).
All of Thomas Browne's children were born in Reading, Mass., which until
1644 had been Lynn or Lynn Village. Most sources say they were born in Lynn.
NEHGR, v78, p85: Thomas Brown of Lynn, born about 1628, married Mary
Newhall, born about 1637 and died 28 Aug. 1693.
A Witter Family History: Thomas Brown, born about 1628 in Lynn, Mass., or
England. Died 28 Aug. 1693 in Lynn, Mass. Married Mary Newhall in 1653 in Lynn.
