Person Page - 412

     John Browne was born before 1610.¹

John married Phebe Harding on 26 March 1634 in Town of Plymouth, Plymouth County, Massachusetts. John and Phebe had at least two children:
     - Remember. Born ca. 1648. Married ca. 1668 Josiah Wormall
     - Mary. Married Thomas Willet 6 July 1636.^2,3

John is said to have come over some years after his brother, Peter Browne, died in 1633.⁴ John was described "of Duxborrow" when he was named the guardian of Mary Browne in 1644.⁴ On 10 Oct 1644, the Plymouth Court of Assistants ordered John Doane to pay John Browne of Duxborrow two cowes at 13 pounds and fourty shillings in swyne and wheate to cover the fifteen pounds given him as guardian of Mary Browne; and the said John Browne is to keep the said two cowes and their encrease for their milk, with the rest of the stock as aforesaid, untill said Mary shall be marryed or thought fitt to marry.⁵ On 28 Oct 1645, the Plymouth Court of Assistants made John Browne the guardian of his niece, Priscilla Browne, and awarded him the fifteen pounds set aside for her in the will of her father.⁴

John died before 5 June 1684.⁶

     Phebe Harding was born in 1616?.¹

Phebe married John Browne on 26 March 1634 in Town of Plymouth, Plymouth County, Massachusetts. John and Phebe had at least two children:
     - Remember. Born ca. 1648. Married ca. 1668 Josiah Wormall
     - Mary. Married Thomas Willet 6 July 1636.^2,3

     Peter Browne was born before 1600 at England.¹

Nothing is known of Peter Browne's background. He has not been found in any Leyden record, so he must have joined the Pilgrims in England.

Peter Browne has been identified as a passenger in the Mayflower in Governor Bradford's account written in 1651 which states "Peter Browne married twice. By his first wife he had two children who are living and both of them married; and the one of them hath two children. By his second wife he had two more. He died about sixteen years hence".

Peter Brown was one of the 41 signers of the "Mayflower Compact" at Cape Cod on 11 November 1620.

In the "1623 Division of Land" Peter "Browen" received one acre of land as a passenger on the Mayflower, indicating that he had not married by that date. He must have married widow Martha Ford shortly thereafter. The widow Ford received four acres in that division.

]In the "1627 Division of Cattle" Peeter Browne, Martha Browne, and Mary Browne received shares. John Ford and Martha Ford (Martha's children by previous marriage) also received shares in the same lot.

]Peter was one of the Purchasers who assumed Plymouth Colony's debt to the Merchant Adventurers in 1628.

]Some time between 1628 and 1630 Peter's wife Martha died and he married Mary who has not been identified.

Peter Browne is in the 1633 list of Freemen of the Colony and on 25 March 1633 he was taxed.

]The claim that Peter Brown of Windsor, CT is Peter Browne's son is very doubtful. Peter Browne's land was divided in thirds between his three daughters (sic, actually between his two daughters and his widow). If Peter's son was alive in 1647, when he was barely a teen, he surely would have received a share of the state.

It has also been said that Peter had a son, Peter, by his second wife who was the ancestor of John Brown of Osawatomie and Harper's Ferry. I've found no other references to this line.^2,3 Peters first house and "meerstead" was on the south side of Leyden St. in Plymouth, near the water-side. Later he moved to Duxbury.⁴

Peter married Martha [--?--] Ford circa 1623 in Town of Plymouth, Plymouth Co., Massachusetts.⁵

Peter married Mary [---?---] Browne circa 1630.⁶

It has been said that Peter had a son, Peter, by his second wife who was the ancestor of John Brown of Osawatomie and Harper's Ferry. I've found no other references to this line.⁷ Peter died between 25 March 1633 (tax list) and 28 Oct. 1633 when Mary Browne his widow presented an inventory of his estate. He probably died from the epidemic that occurred that year. Peter apparently died between 25 March 1633 (when he was taxed) and 28 Oct. 1633 (when his estate was inventoried)..⁸ After Peter Browne's death, his estate was adminitered by an unknown person . The full text of the Court's order reads: "That whereas Peter Browne dyed without will, having divers children by divers wives, his estates amounting to an hundred pounds or thereabouts, it is ordered, that Mary, his wife, who is allowed the administratix of the said Peter, forthwith pay downe fifteen pounds for the use of Mary Browne, daughter of the said Peter, to Mr. John Done, of Plymouth aforesaid, with whom the said Court have placed the said Mary for nine yeares; at the end whereof the said John is to make good the fifteen pounds to her or her heires, if in case she die. Also it is further ordered, that the said widow Mary Browne pay or cause to be paid into the hands of Mr. Will. Gilson the full sum of fifteen pownds, for the use of Prisilla Browne, another of the daughters of the said Peter, the Court having placed the said Prisilla with the said Will. for 12 yeares, at the end whereof the said Will is to make good the same unto her, as her father's legacy, as aforesaid; & to that end the said John & Will either stand bound for other for p'formance of the severall payments, as also for such other p'formance of meet, drinks, cloathing, etc, during the said term, as is meet.
And for the rest of the estate, the widow having two children by the said Peter, together with her own third, it is allowed her for bringing up the said children, provided that shee discharge w'soever debts shall be proved to be owing by the same Peter, and the legacies given by the Court. For p'formance whereof shee & Mr Will Brewster bound in two hundred pounds.".⁹

     Martha [--?--] Ford was born before 1600 at in England.¹

Martha married Unknown Ford circa 1615? In in England.²

Martha's maiden name is unknown. She married ? Ford with whom she came to Plymouth on the ship Fortune in November 1621. The passengers who arrived on the Fortune are said to have been principally composed of those persons who had originally embarked the previous year in the Mayflower and Speedwell, but remained behind in England when the Speedwell had to be abandoned. As far as is known, Martha Ford was the only woman on the ship, but among those passengers who remain unnamed (seven), some may have been wives.

Martha was delivered of a son the first night that she landed "and both are doing well" She settled in Scituate where she married Peter Browne about 1623.³

Martha married Peter Browne circa 1623 in Town of Plymouth, Plymouth Co., Massachusetts.⁴

Martha died circa 1628? In in the Town of Plymouth, Plymouth Co., Massachusetts.⁵

     Mary [---?---] Browne was born circa 1610?.¹

Mary married Peter Browne circa 1630.² Mary was appointed by the Plymouth Court of Assistants on 11 November 1633 to administer the estate of an unknown person who died intestate. The full text of the Court's order reads: "That whereas Peter Browne dyed without will, having divers children by divers wives, his estates amounting to an hundred pounds or thereabouts, it is ordered, that Mary, his wife, who is allowed the administratix of the said Peter, forthwith pay downe fifteen pounds for the use of Mary Browne, daughter of the said Peter, to Mr. John Done, of Plymouth aforesaid, with whom the said Court have placed the said Mary for nine yeares; at the end whereof the said John is to make good the fifteen pounds to her or her heires, if in case she die. Also it is further ordered, that the said widow Mary Browne pay or cause to be paid into the hands of Mr. Will. Gilson the full sum of fifteen pownds, for the use of Prisilla Browne, another of the daughters of the said Peter, the Court having placed the said Prisilla with the said Will. for 12 yeares, at the end whereof the said Will is to make good the same unto her, as her father's legacy, as aforesaid; & to that end the said John & Will either stand bound for other for p'formance of the severall payments, as also for such other p'formance of meet, drinks, cloathing, etc, during the said term, as is meet.
And for the rest of the estate, the widow having two children by the said Peter, together with her own third, it is allowed her for bringing up the said children, provided that shee discharge w'soever debts shall be proved to be owing by the same Peter, and the legacies given by the Court. For p'formance whereof shee & Mr Will Brewster bound in two hundred pounds.".³

Mary died after March 1634. She probably died before 27 October 1647 as there is no mention of dower rights in a deed of that date..⁴

     Unknown Ford was a leather dresser of Southwark who either died at sea or shortly after the Fortune arrived in Plymouth in 1621 Extensive research has failed to locate the marriage of a Ford to a maiden named Martha, but this surname is very common in most counties in England.

A William, son of William Ford, leather dresser, was baptized in 1615 and, as Southwark furnished a number of emigrants in both the Fortune and in the Anne, this may be a clue to the origin of Unknown Ford.
Unknown Ford was also known as Unknown Ford. He was born before 1600.¹

Unknown married Martha [--?--] Ford circa 1615? In in England.²

Unknown died in 1621?.³

     Stephen Harding was born circa 1623 at Northampton, Northamptonshire, England.¹

Stephen was a blacksmith.² Circa 1647 Stephen moved from his father's house in Weymouth to join a party migrating to the settlement in Swanzey, RI(?) Established by Roger Williams. He was admitted to membership in the first Baptist Church in Swanzey.³

Stephen married Bridget Estance in 1648 in Providence, Providence County, Rhode Island.⁴ Stephen had land laid out at Providence, Providence County, Rhode Island, in on 28 March 1664. On 27 October 1665, he had a grant of 25 acres of the common land for 10s. On 7 August 1665 he purchased from John and Mary Jones a "right of commoning" in Providence on the east side of the Nacunkeake but the deed was not recorded until his estate was settled in 1710. On 16 November 1674 Stephen, then styled "Senior" bought from Thomas Estance 1/4 of a "right of common" in all the undivided lands of Providence. On 24 May 1675, he purchased from William Hopkins 70 acres in Providence "measured by an 18-foot pole" and deeded this plat to his son John on 24 August 1682. On 1 July 1679, he and his son Stephen were taxed together 7s, 6d. Prior to 19 April 1680 he gave to his son Stephen a house, orchard, lands and meadow near his brother Abraham's. On 15 January 1695, Stephen signed a deed for 8 acres of land to his son Abraham - previously sold and paid for - specifying that he had not time to sign it in the lifetime of his son but that he now does so so "that it might hold good to the estate of Abraham." On 10 April 1693, he and his wife Bridget deeded to son Abraham all homestead estate not heretofore given, including house, etc, and at their death he is to have entire possession and to "take a special care to see after the estate of his father that they fall not into any strait or wants, but will lawfully and faithfully provide for themselves, as may be for their support and comfort in their old age, and as persons of rank and quality, both in sickness and in health." ⁵.²

Stephen died on 20 February 1698 in Providence, Providence County, Rhode Island. Administration of his estate was granted to his son John of Newport on 12 April 1698 who presented an inventory of the estate valued at 44#, 16s, 6d..⁶