Nicholas BROWN (1601 – 1694) was Alex’s 10th Great Grandfather; one of 1,024 in this generation of the Miller line.

Nicholas Brown Coat of Arms

We have five separate Brown lines and seven different Brown immigrant ancestors, by far the most of any surname.  When the surname is of English origin it is derived from a nickname concerning the complexion of an individual, or the colour of their hair. Brown is derived from the Old English brun, brūn; Middle English brun, broun; or Old French brun.

1. John BROWNE Sr. (Swansea). (1583 Hawkedon, Suffolk  – 1662 Swansea, Mass)
John BROWN Jr.  (1620 -1662 Rehoboth, Mass)

2. John BROWN (Hampton) (1589 London – 1677 Salem, Mass)

3.  Nicholas BROWN (1601 Inkberrow, Worcester – 1694 Reading, Mass)

4. James BROWNE (1605 Southhampton, Hampshire  -1676 Salem, Mass.)

5. Thomas BROWNE (1607 Christian Malford, Wiltshire – 1687 Newbury, Mass.)
Francis BROWN I (1633  Christian Malford, Wiltshire – 1691  Newbury, Mass.)

Nicholas Brown was born in 1601 in Inkberrow Parish,  Wychavon, Worcestershire that is often thought  to be the model for Ambridge, the setting of the long running radio serialisation or soap opera The Archers. In particular ‘The Bull’, the fictional Ambridge pub, is supposed to be based on a very real pub, the Old Bull, in Inkberrow. It is at this historic public house or wayside inn, a black and white half-timbered building, that William Shakespeare is reputed to have stayed while on his way to Worcester to collect his marriage certificate. His parents were Edward BROWN and Jane LEIDS. He married Elizabeth LEIDS in 1624 in England.   After Elizabeth died,  he married widow Frances Parker.  Nicholas died 16 Nov 1694 in Reading, Middlesex, Mass

Elizabeth Leids was born in 1605 in Malford, Worchester, England. Her parents were Thomas LIDE and Jane GIBBS. Elizabeth died 1 Nov 1674 in Reading, Middlesex, Mass.

Children of Nicholas and Elizabeth:

Nicholas Browne of Reading is not the same person as Nicholas Browne of Haverhill.

Nicholas a native of Inkberrow, Worcestershire, England. Came to Lynn in 1630, freeman 7 Sep 1638, removed to Reading 1644. Nicholas lived in Lynn ten years during which time he was the representative to the General Court from Lynn.

Nicholas’ will was dated 9 Mar 1673, proved 17 June 1673. He bequeathed to children: John, Josiah, Edward, Joseph, Cornelius, and Elizabeth, and to his wife Elizabeth.

Nicholas Brown and wife Elizabeth…., came on one of the early ships and were in Lyon, in 1630 and 1637.  He was Freemen in 1638 and Representative to the General Court in 1641.  In 1660 he sent his son John to England to look after the property of Thomas Leide which he had inherited as next of kin.

Nicholas removed to Reading in 1644 and was Deputy from there in 1655 – 1658 to 1661.

Nicholas was the son of Edward Brown of Inkberrow, horcs, England, and he wife Jane Leide, daughter of Thomas of Inkberrow.

Children

1. Thomas Brown

Thomas’ wife Mary Newhall was born 1637 Lynn, Essex, Mass. Her parents were Thomas Newhall and Mary Jane Pendleton. Mary died  2 Jun  1694  Newbury, Essex, Mass. and was buried Western Burial Ground , Lynn, Essex, Mass

Child of Thomas and Mary:

i.  John Brown (b. 1664 Lynn, Essex, Mass. – d. Aug 1733 Stonington; Burial: Old Taugwonk Cemetery); m. Elizabeth Minor b. 30 Apr 1674; d. 19 Jan 1736 Stonington, New London CT; Burial: Old Taugwonk Cemetery.  Elizabeth’s parents were Ephraim Minor and  Hannah Avery.  Her grandparents were our ancestors, Thomas MINER and Grace PALMER.

3. Josiah Brown

Josiah’s wife Mary Fellows was born 1642 in Ipswich, Essex, Mass. Her parents were William Fellows and Mary Ayer. Mary died in 1699 in Reading, Middlesex, Mass

4. Cornelius BROWN (See his page)

5. Ergn Brown

Ergn’s wife Sarah Burnett was born

6. Capt. John Brown

John’s first wife Elizabeth Osgood was born about 1636 in Wherwell, Hampshire. Elizabeth died 31 July 1673, Andover, Mass.

John’s second wife Anne Fisk was born 15 Jan 1646 in Malford, Worcester, England. Her parents were John Fiske and Anne Gipps. Anne died 30 May 1681 in Reading, Middlesex, Mass

John’s third wife Elizabeth Bulkeley was born 1638 in Concord, Middlesex, Mass. Her parents were Edward Bulkeley and Lucian [__?__]. She first married 7 Dec 1665 in Concord, Middlesex, Mass to Joseph Emerson (b. 25 Jun 1620 in England – d. 3 Jan 1680 in Concord, Mass.) Elizabeth died 4 Sep 1693 in Reading, Middlesex, Mass.

John’s fourth wife Rebecca Crawford was bornabout 1634. Rebecca died 8 July 1710, Reading, Mass.

John lived on the farm now [1874] owned by Dr. Francis P. Hurd. He was captain, justice of the peace, selectman, and representative. His epitaph: “Witty, yet wise, grave, good, among the best/ Was he,—the memory of the just is blest.”

7. William Brown

William’s wife Lydia Parchment was born 1635 in Boston, Suffolk, Mass. Lydia died in 1680 in Bristol, Bristol, Rhode Island.

9. Edward Brown

Edward’s wife Sarah Dix was born 1644 in Reading, Middlesex, Mass. Her parents were Ralph Dix and Esther [__?__]. After Edward died, she married 24 Nov 1685 Lynn, Mass. to Thomas Laughton (b. abt 1642, England – d. 19 Dec 1713, Lynn, Mass.) Sarah died 21 Jul 1679 in Reading, Middlesex, Mass

10. Jane Brown

Jane’s husband James Babcock was born 1641 in Portsmouth, Newport, Rhode Island. His parents were James Babcock and Sarah Brown. James died 1698 in Westerly, Washington, Rhode Island

11. Elizabeth Brown

Elizabeth’s husband Hananiah Parker was born 1638 in Lynn, Essex, Mass. His parents were Thomas Parker and Amy [__?__]. Hannaniah died 10 Mar 1724 in Reading, Middlesex, Mass

12. Joseph Brown

Joseph’s wife Elizabeth Bancroft was born 7 Dec 1653 in Reading, Middlesex, Mass.  Her parents were Lt. Thomas Bancroft and Elizabeth Metcalf.  Her grandparents were Michael METCALF and  Sarah ELWYN.  Elizabeth died 31 Dec 1732 in Reading, Middlesex, Mass.

13. Sarah Brown

Sarah’s husband Robert Burnap was born 28 Nov 1627 in Hoddesdon, Hertfordshire, England. His parents were Robert Burnap and Ann Miller. He first married 1653 in Reading, Middlesex, Mass to Ann [__?__] (b. 1631 in Reading – d. 25 Jun 1661 in Reading) Robert died 18 Oct 1695 in Reading, Middlesex, Mass

14. Mary Brown

Mary’s husband Thomas Upham was born 1668 in Malden, Middlesex, Mass. His parents were Phineas Upham and Ruth Wood. Her grandparents were Edward WOOD and Ruth LEE. Thomas died 26 Nov 1735 in Reading, Middlesex, Mass

15. Mehitable Brown

Mehitable’s husband John Townsend was born 1640 in Lynn, Essex, Mass. He first married 27 Mar 1668 in Lynn, Essex, Mass to Sarah Pearson (b. 20 Jan 1648 in Lynn – d. 9 Jul 1689 in Lynn). John died 14 Dec 1726 in Lynn, Essex, Mass

Sources:

http://trees.ancestry.com/owt/person.aspx?pid=16909362&st=1

http://www.genealogyofnewengland.com/f_72.htm#94

http://aleph0.clarku.edu/~djoyce/gen/report/rr02/rr02_335.html#P15228

http://trees.wmgs.org/getperson.php?personID=I2640&tree=Schirado

http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~lotus525/pafg522.htm#9033