Christopher Browne

Notes:

Biography:
He was a church warden in 1564. His will was dated 24 Nov. 1568 and was proved at Bury St. Edmunds 31 May 1574. According to "Early Settlers of Watertown":
Christopher's Will is dated Nov. 24, 1568; proved May 31, 1574. It makes no mention of his wife, who was probably deceased. He gives legacies in money to his son Thomas, dr. Joan Baylye. his godsons [grandsons] Ambrose and William Baylye, sons of Thomas [Thomas Baylye's Will is dated 1559, witnessed by Christopher and Robert Browne] ; and to his son Robert Browne, he gives " the lease of my fearme in as large and ampple manner as I hav it," and also all the rest of his estate, real and personal, and appoints him executor. Witnesses are John Andrear [? Andrew], Thomas Hamonde, Robert Brydges, James Hawton, and Robert Shaw, Clerk.
Neither the Deans nor Swans are mentioned in this Will. It is not improbable that his elder brother, Robert, was still living, and in possession, but without heirs male, so that his son Thomas was heir presumptive to the Deans and Swans, under the first Christopher's Will. His son Thomas being thus provided for, would account for his younger son Robert being made principal legatee and executor.

Family/Spouse: Unknown. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

1. Thomas Browne was born about 1515 in Swan Hall, Hawkedon, County Suffolk, England; died about Dec 1590; was buried on 23 Dec 1590.
2. Robert Browne was born in in Swan Hall, Hawkedon, County Suffolk, England; died about 1 Jun 1629; was buried on 7 Jun 1629.
3. Joan Browne was born in in Swan Hall, Hawkedon, County Suffolk, England.

Notes:

Biography:
For reasons we don't know, Christopher moved to Hawkedon, County Suffolk. He was the first to reside at Swan Hall, Hawkedon. According to "Early Settlers of Watertown":
The estate, or home estate, of this branch of the family consisted of two tenements, called the Deans, and the Swans, contiguous, and lying in the two adjoining Parishes of Somerton and Hawkedon. The property is thus described and bequeathed in the Will of Christopher Browne (A. D., 1531) : " I gyve and bequethe to Anne my wyef, all that my tenement wth thappurten'nces lying in the pi'che of Hawkedon and Somerton, callyd the Deene, and all that tenement with thappurten'nces called Swaynes. To have and to hold the sayde ij Tenements callyd the Deene, & Swaynes, with all their appurtenences to the sayde Anne during hyr lyef withoute any impeachment of wast, and after the decease of the sayde Anne, all the sayde ij Tenements wth all ther appurten'nes to remayne to Robert Browne, my sonne. and to the heyres male of his body,” and for lack of such issue then to his son Christopher [X Stofer] Browne and his heirs male, and for lack of such issue then to his son Thomas and his heirs male; and for the lack of such issue then to go " to my heirs and assigns forever." He makes bequests of money to his said sons Robert, Christopher, and Thomas, and to his daughters Elizabeth, Margaret, and Agnes, and to his godson [grandson?] Christopher Browne. The Will is witnessed by Robert Browne, filius et heres testoris; Robert Checkley, clericus [minister of Hawkedon], Thomas Hy'on, Johnes Cawston.
Mr. Somerby says, "Hawkedon is a scattered village on a pleasant acclivity, near a rivulet, 9 miles S. S. W. of Bury St. Edmunds. The church is a fine specimen of ancient architecture, with a tower and five bells. The Parish contains 339 souls, and 1210 acres of tand. It is in two manors, viz., Hawkedon Hall, the seat and property of J. Trask, Esq., and Thurston Hall, of which H. J. Oakes, Esq., is lord. Swan Hall, another mansion, now a farm-house, with a large estate, belongs to G. W. Poley, Esq. This was formerly a seat of the Browne family. It is probable that the estate was sold in order to be divided among the fire sons of Thomas Browne, and thus passed out of the possession of that family. A small work on the County of Suffolk says, Swan Hall, another ancient mansion, now a farm-house, ‘was formerly a seat of the Abbot family.' This was after it passed out of the possession of the Brownes.
"Swan Hall is about a mile from Hawkedon, and is now (1852) occupied by a farmer, Simon Moore. It is probably one of the oldest residences in the County of Suffolk, being several hundred years old. It is built of oak, and covered with plaster, excepting some of the principal beams, which are elaborately carved. The principal part of the building was taken down about forty years ago, and the beautiful panelling, caving, &c., &c., of the interior, distributed among individuals in the neighboring parishes. The part of the building which remains, does not give one any idea of its former extent. I succeeded nevertheless in producing a sketch which will afford an almost perfect idea of the building as it was originally. I found an old lady at Hawkedon, who resided at the Hall at the time when the principal portion of it was demolished, and she remembers particularly that it was precisely like Thurston Hall, which is in the neighborhood, and retains all its original features. From this Hall I finished my sketch. The old lady spoke of the elegant stained glass window in the Grand Hall, a small portion of which, when the Hall was demolished, was transferred to the chancel window of the church, and also of the elaborate carved work, both within and without, not a vestige of which remains, except the beams on the front end. She does not know what became of it, but believes a portion was taken to Charity Hall, some miles distant"
He was church warden there in 1504. His will was dated 27 May 1531 and proved at Bury St. Edmonds, 3 July 1538.

Christopher married Anne. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Other Events:

• Name: Anne Browne

Notes:

Biography:
He lived in Stamford and Tolethrope in Rutland County. His will was written in 1616 and proved in London on 15 February 1519. According to "Early Settlers of Watertown":
This Christopher Browne was Sheriff of Rutlandshire, 8th and 16th Hen. VII. (1492 and 1500) and 1st Hen. VIII. (1509). He came over with Hen. VII., and assisted him against Richard III., for which good service King Hen. VIII., on the 6th day of July, in the 18th year of his reign, granted to his eldest son, Francis Browne, of counsel to Lady Margaret Beaufort (mother of Hen. VII.), Countess of Richmond and Derby, a patent, exempting him from holding the office of Sheriff or Escheater, and authorizing him to appear with his head covered in the presence of the King, his heirs, and successors, and of all great men, lords spiritual and temporal, and all other persons whomsoever of the kingdom. [Fuller's Hist. of the worthies of England.] That part of the arms, which appear in the 1st quarter, viz., per bend Argent and Sable, 3 mascles bendways counterchanged, and the crest, were, in 1480 (20th Edw. IV.), granted to this Christopher Browne. [See Blore's Rutland, p. 219, where the grant is set out at length.]
In the 5th year of Hen. VII. (1569), a fine was levied between Christopher Browne and others, plaintiffs, against Thomas Burton and Margaret, his wife, deforcients of a moiety of the manor of Tolethorpe and tenements, with the appurtenances.

Christopher married Agnes?. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Other Events:

• Name: Agnes? Browne

Notes:

Biography:
He was a draper and merchant and was alderman in 1448, 53 and 62.

John married Agnes. Agnes died in 1470. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Other Events:

• Name: Agnes Browne