Jonathan BROWNE

   Ancestral File Number: 8PGD-86. User ID: 2330.

   General Notes:

Will Dated 19 Feb 1690/1691, Will Proved 7 Apr 1690/1691, Inventory Dated 1
Apr 1691.

His sons dropped the final e.

BOOKS
A Genealogical Register of the First Settlers of New England, John Farmer, Genealogical Publishing Co, Lancaster MA 1829, p44: ABRAHAM BROWN Watertown, freeman 1632, had sons Jonathan and Abraham, born in 1635 and 1639. His wife was Lydia. The name of Brown is frequently written in ancient records with the addition of the e, and several families, as those in Salem, have ever retained this orthography.

Genealogies, Families, and Descendants of Early Settlers of Watertown MA, Vol I, Genealogies, Henry Bond MD, Boston, Little Brown & Co, 1855
p119 "...His wid. Lydia m 27 Nov 1659 Andrew Hodges of Ipswich [proprietor of Ipswich in 1639, where his wife Ann d 15 Nov 1658]. He died Dec 1665 and his wid returned to Watertown where she d 27 Sep 1686. By wife Lydia he (AB) had 6 chil. of whom at least one, and probably two were b in England. the earliest record of a birth in Watertown was that of his dau Lydia.
2.1. Sarah b in England, m 16 Dec 1643 George Parkhurst Jr.
3.2. Mary probably b in England, m 10 Apr1650 John Lewis of Charlestown afterwards of Malden. [His first wife Margaret, by whom he had 6 chil., d 10 Apr 1649.] He d 16 Sep 1657. In 1667 she was wife or wid of ____ Cutler...
4.3. Lydia b in Watertown 22 Mar 1632/1633, m Lieut William Lakin Jr of Groton...
7.5.4. Jonathan b 15 Oct 1635.
5. Hannah b 15 Mar 1638/1639 aged 14das.
6.6. Abraham b 6 Mar 1639/1640, d 1667, Inventory dated 28 Sep 1667. He purchased land in Groton, where he proposed to settle nearhis sister Lydia. But, Mary Dix, to whom he was engaged to be married, was unwilling to go to Groton, and she 'desired Thomas Parks to go to Ipswich to treat with Mrs Hodges to see what she would do for her son Abraham Browne upon his marriage.' He went, and 'Mrs Hodges gave him (her son A) full power to settle upon her land in Watertown,' etc. He m 5 Feb 1662/1663 Mary Dix..."
"5.7 (II.) Jonathan Browne m 11 Feb 1661/1662 Mary Shattuck [Shattuck, 3.] She d 23 Oct 1732 aged 87and was buried in the Waltham graveyard. His Will was dated 19 Feb 1690-1691 and proved Apr 7 and Inventory dated 1 Apr 1691. Wife and son Abraham Exec'rs. Real estate 6 lots of land amounting to 211 acres appraised at L247. [Prob Records Vol VII 134-137.]
N.B.-His sons dropt the final e.
[Figure: Signature of Jonathan Browne]
8.1. Mary b 5 Oct 1662 m (1st) 22 Mar 1682/1683 John Warren by whom she had 2 children...He d 11 Jul 1703 and she m (2d) 14 Mar 1703/1704 Samuel Harrington.
9.2. Elizabeth b 19 Sep 1664 m 25 Mar 1687 Daniel Benjamin 9 chil.
10.3. Jonathan b 25 Oct 1666, d young.
11.4. Patience b 6 Mar 1668/1669, m in Sherburne 5 Mar 1686/1687 James Bigelow. She d soon leaving one child James bap 6 May 1688 mentioned in the Will of her father [Bigelow, 44.] 18.12.5. Abraham b 26 Aug 1671, d 27 Nov 1729.
13.6. Samuel b 21 Oct 1674, ?prob unmarried.
14.7. Lydia b 31 Mar 1677, m 18 Jan 1698/1699 Benjamin Wellington, s. p. 15.8. Ebenezer b 10 sep 1679. He probably d unmarried. [It was formerly supposed, by the writer, that this was the Ebenezer Brown who d in Newton Mar 1740, but that is improbable if not certainly disproved.] 32.16.9. Benjamin b 27 Feb 1681/1682, d 11 Mar 1753. 42.17.10 William b 3 Sep 1684, d 28 Oct 1756."
p122: "...The records of Boston and of the county of Suffolk MA show that there was an Edmund Browne, a proprietor of Boston, as early as 1647, who mar 14 Dec 1653 Elizabeth Oakley (Dau of 'Mary the relict of the late Robert Bouchier, alias Garret' [?Gannet]. She was probably a daughter by a former marriage, or a widow at the time of her marriage to Browne.) They had two children. Mary b 15 Dec 1656 and John b9 Oct 1660. He died, after an absence of several years, at Sardainham [?Surinam].
"Both of his chil. also died early and Jonathan, the son of Abraham Browne, or Watertown, inherited his land as next kin. In a deed, dated 1 Jan 1672/1673 from Jonathan to one Richard Taylor, conveying the reversion of some of Edmund's real estate, he recites that he is 'cousin and next heir of said Edmund,' and afterwards, in the same instrument he calls Edmund his uncle. In a suit for possessionof a piece of land belonging to the estate, Edmund (1682) is incidentally several times called the uncle of Jonathan...It is believed, according with the first recital in said deed, that Edmund was a nephew of Abaham, and brother to John, of Watertown, and a son of John, of Hawkedon. His birth does not appear in the table of pedigree; but the early parish register (commencing 1538) is lost. There is now none dating back beyond 1709. It was the custon, as early as 1560, for clergymento deposit certified copies of these registers each year in the Will offices. Very few of these copies are now in existence. It was amongst those remaining in the office at Bury St Edmunds, relative to Hawkedon, that were found the baptisms ofMary and John, the chil. of John and grand chil. of Thomas of Hawkedon. the births and baptisms of no other grand chil. of said Thomas have been discovered.
"We have scarcely a doubt that Edmund was the son of John, of Hawkedon. This supposition best harmonizes all known facts. The name of his son, John, for his supposed paternal grandfather- the daughter being named Mary for her maternal grandmother- is confirmatory of it. It is possible that Abraham, of Watertown was also sonof John of Hawkedon, and that his place in the table should be a degree below that of Abraham of the pedigree, with whom we have identified him, but the balance of probabilities inclines the other way..."
p124: "Abraham Browne, a younger brother, or a nephew of the Elder, Richard Browne. He was a very early settler, perhaps one of the first of Watertown, and was admitted freeman, 6 Mar 1631/1632. He was a land surveyor, and, as is manifest from the records, in the early municipal transactions of the town, he received important appointments, and trusts more numerous than were conferred upon any other person. No two men were more respected and confided in, than he and his relative, Richard Browne. The records of the town do not embrace the transactions of the first four years after the settlement. They commence in 1634, extend to 28 Nov 1643 when there occurs a hiatus of four years, and recommence 8 Nov 1647. He was selectman from 1636 to 1643, inclusive. In 1634, he was appointed, in conjuction with Robert Seeley, 'to survey all the lots that are granted'; and they were also appointed 'conservators of timber trees'- none to be cut down without their assent. In 1635, he was one of the seven freemen appointed to divide every man 'his property' of meadow and upland, that is ploughable, and the rest to lie common. In the same year, he was appointed, with John Warren, to lay out all highways, and to see that they are repaired. Also, to survey the lots granted by the selectmen. In 1638, ordered that all lots, both of freemen and foreigners, shall be measured and bounded by Abraham Browne, who shall give a note of each survey to be enrolled in the town books. In the same year, heand Thomas Bartlett were appointed to measure and lay out the remote meadows, according to their best judgments. He was also appointed, with four others, to lay out the farms as they are ordred, and they were authorized to include any rock or swamp in any survey, not counting it in the number of acres. In 1639, the highway from Dorchester Field to the Flats, as Abraham Browne laid it out, was confirmed forever. Also, the highway leading from Robert Jennison's to the river, betwixt the lands of John Barnard and Jeremiah Norcross, together with about half an acre of land on the river, for the landing of goods, was ordered to remain forever, as laid out by Abraham Browne 30 Apr 1639. Also, that when Abraham Browne shall lay out any whole squadron of the great lots, they to whom the land belongs shall make him present pay. In 1640, Abraham Browne, 'Surveyor of the Town,' was directed to survey the subdivisions of the Hither and Further Plains; and the next year (1641), he was directed to do the same. Also, it was ordered that he have 4d the acre for surveying the two plains and the remote meadows. Also, he was empowered, 1643, to warn trespassers on public timber, and to have one-fourth of the fines. 7 Oct 1641, the General Court appointed him one of the committee for laying out the 1000 acres of land granted to the Artillery Company at its first organization.
"The Court Records of Middlesex County show that 1 Oct 1650 his Will and Inventory were 'accepted at court.' And an order of court mad 6 Oct 1691 respecting the final settlement of his estate recites him as 'deceased in the year 1650.' These dates indicate, it is thought, satisfactorily, the year of his decease; though there are some circumstances that favor the belief that he died between the close of 1643 and 1648. The latest mention of his name in the Town Records, is 28 Nov 1643 which is the latest date previous to the before-mentioned hiatus of four years.It is, therefore, unknown when his public services terminated. As his name does not occur in the Records between 8 Nov 1647, when they recommence and in 1650, the supposed date of his decease, it is probable that ill health or bodily infirmityhad compelled him to withdraw from his very large participation in public business.
"No original Will of Abraham Browne has been discovered, but in the files of the County Court for 1670, is found the followeing, which, by the concluding certificate, purports to be copy of it. 'The Last Will and Testament of Abraham Browne, of Watertowne, dec'd; being of good and perfect membory but Weake, as is witnessed by us whose names are here under written. Impr: after the decease of his wife, he gave and bequeathed unto his two sonnes, Jonathan and Abraham Browne, his house and lands; but giving liberty to his wife, that if shee had need shee might sell some parcells of it. Also, he gave and bequeathed unto his two daughters, Sarah Browne and Mary Browne, each of them one ewe sheep, ahving each of them one fefore, as was testified. The rest of his goods and state he gave unto Lydea, his wife, making her his sole executrix to perform this, his Will and Testament. Witnesses, Richard Browne, John Whitney. Entered out of the original on file with the Register, at Cambridge, in the County of Middlesex in New England, and is a ture coppie (sic), being compared and examined by Thomas Danforth, Recorder.'
"This instrument resembles a synopsis, more than a literal copy of an original Will. It is not improbable that it was a nuncupative Will, and the above a copy of the declaration by the witness of its provisions.
"There was much delay and probably some difficulty in settling his estate. and the settlement seems to have been made finally, in entire disregard of the provisions of the Will. On the 6th Oct 1691 the Court ordered the parties concerned in the estate of Abraham Browne, ofWatertown, deceased in the year 1650, be sent for, to attend the adjournment of the Court, in order to a settlement of said estate; and they appointed a committee consisting of John Ward, Jonathan Remington, and Thomas Greenwood, to make proposals for said settlement. The claimants were: 1. The heirs of Jonathan Browne, deceased, the eldest son. 2. George Woodward, in right of his wife, only dau of Abraham Browne, Jr, deceased. 3. John Parkhurst, son of one of the daughters of said Abraham Browne, Sr. 4. The heirs of ?Isaac Lewis, decased, who were children of another dau of said Abraham Browne. 5. William Lakin, in right of his wife, youngest daughter of said Abraham Browne.
"Owing, as they said, to a change in the government of the Colony, by the coming over of a new Charter, the committee did not report until 22 Jan 1693/1694. They assigned 2/6 (double portion) of the estate to the heirs of Jonathan, and the other 4/6 to the other four claimants. At thesame time they recommended that these four claimants should sell their shares to Abraham Browne, eldest son of Jonathan, deceased, who was then ready to purchase; and in that manner the estate was settled.
"It appears from the schedules ofpossessions, that, besides a pond of one acre, 11 lots of land were granted to Abraham Browne, the town surveyor, and that previous to 1642, he had purchased 4 other lots, amounting to 39 acres, one of which, a 30 acre lot in the Great ____ lands, had been granted to his kinsman, John Browne. Two of the lots granted him were homestalls. The first upon which he probably settled at first, contained 10 acres, and was at the east of Mount Auburn. His second homestall of 28 acres, to which he is deemed to have removed very early, was bounded on the east by the way to the Little ____ (now Howard Street); N. by Sudbury Road (now Main Street); S. by the way to ____ Plains, sometimes called the way betwixt lots (now Pleasant Street); W. by his ____ land. Two other lots granted to him, on of 10 acres and the other of 6 acres, were con____ to this homestall of the West, and in the schedule of 1642, they were deemed part of the homestall, which was then enrolled as 40 acres. He must have purchased other adjoining lands not long afterwards, as in the final settlement of his estate in 1694, his homestall contained 60 acres. The Committee, appointed by the Court to settle the estate, ____ Inventory, in 1694 (of lands only), amounting to L187; viz: homestall 60 acres L100; remote meadow 10 acrews L12; salt marsh 4 acres L20; farm land 107 acres L15; lot on Charles River 10 acres L10.
"This is probably the only instance (unless the grant to Deacon Simon Stone be an exception) where an original grant has remained in the possession of the direct descendants of a grantee to the present time. As above stated, this property passed by inheritance and purchase, to his grandson, Capt. Abraham Browne. Although it is stated in the report of the committee for settling the estate, that Abraham 'was ready to purchase' the shares of the other claimants, subsequent transactions render it probable that he acted in behalf of the widow and other heirs of his father, and that he never became the proprietor of the whole homestall of 60 acres. From Capt. Abraham B, a part of the land belonging to him passed by Will to his son Samuel, who occupied a part of his house. After his death his son Samuel, about 1739, moved to Leicester, and not long after this, the property was mortgaged to Capt. John Homans, who probably occupied it only a few years, when the mortgage was cancelled by Jonathan, eldest son of Capt Abraham. From Jonathan it passed to his son Jonathan Jr Esq. From him it passed to his son Major Adam Brown, and it is now, at least a part of it, in the occupancy of his heirs.
"The dwelling-house, now standing, on this ancient homestall, is probably, with the exception of the ancient 'Nathaniel Bright house,' considerably older than any other in the town. The 'new part,' next the road, was built and occupied by Capt Abraham B, when he relinquished the old or south part to the use of his son Samuel. The accompanying cut is a view of this house, as at present seen from the northeast:
"[line figure 18.] "Mansion of Capt. Abraham Browne."

Barber Genealogy, Sect I Descendants of Thomas Barber of Windsor Connecticut 1614-1909, Sect II Descendants of John Barber of Worcester Massachusetts 1714- 1909, Publ John Barber White, Ed Lillian May Wilson, Haverhill Mass, Press of the Nichols Print, 1909, clxiv 659p 24cm, 10-11369, CS71.B24 1909, Descendants of Thomas Barber of WindsorConnecticut 1614-1909.
p86: "Sarah Lawrence's sister, Prentice Lawrence, married Jacob Barber (No. 239) a cousin of David. Sarah and Prentice Lawrence were descended from John Lawrence of Watertown, Mass., a summary of the lineage being asfollows:
"John Biglo, bp. Feb 16, 1617; came from England to Watertown, Mass., Aug.
30, 1642; m. Mary Warren. Their son,
"James Bigelow, m. Mar 25, 1687, Patience Browne, dau. of Jonathan and
Mary (Shattuck) Brown, who was b. Mar. 6, 1668-1669. He d. Jan 30,
1728. Their son,
"James Bigelow, bp. May 6, 1688; m. Mercy ------. He d. Aug. 8, 1718. They
lived in Weston, Mass..."

ANCESTRAL FILE
Ancestral File Ver 4.13 8PGD-86 Jonathan BROWN Born 15 Sep 1635 Watertown MA Mar 11 Feb 1661 Mary SHATTUCK (AFN:3NC2-VC) Watertown MA Died 7 Feb 1691 Water- town MA, P3NC-DK Born Abt 1633 ?Waltham MA Son of?Abraham BROWNE Jr and Mary DIX Died 25 Jun ?1758 Waltham MA Bur Waltham MA.

   Events:

1. Born; 1635, Watertown, Middlesex, Massachusetts, USA. ¹

   Marriage Information:

Jonathan married Mary SHATTUCK, daughter of William SHATTUCK, Sr and Susanna HAYDEN, on 11 Feb 1660/61 in Watertown, Middlesex, Massachusetts, USA. (Mary SHATTUCK was born on 25 Aug 1645 in Watertown, Middlesex, Massachusetts, USA, christened on 25 Aug 1645 in Watertown, Middlesex, Massachusetts, USA, died on 23 Oct 1732 in Watertown, Middlesex, Massachusetts, USA and was buried in Oct 1732 in Cemetery, Waltham, Watertown, Middlesex, Massachusetts, USA.)