Christopher Browne

Abt 1465 - Abt 1537  (~ 72 years)

• Name	Christopher Browne  [1]
  Born	Abt 1465	England   [1]
  Gender	Male
  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.
  Died	Abt 1537  [1]
  Person ID	I2396	Our Family
  Last Modified	27 Sep 2016

  
  

  Father	Christopher Browne,   b. Stamford, England ,   d. Abt 1518
  Mother	Agnes?
  Married	Y  [1]
  Family ID	F854	Group Sheet  |  Family Chart

  
  

  Family	Anne
  Married	Y  [1]
  Children	1. Christopher Browne,   b. Abt 1490, Swan Hall, Hawkedon, County Suffolk, England ,   d. Abt 1573  (Age ~ 83 years)   2. Robert Browne,   b. Swan Hall, Hawkedon, County Suffolk, England   3. Thomas Browne,   b. Swan Hall, Hawkedon, County Suffolk, England   4. Elizabeth Browne,   b. Swan Hall, Hawkedon, County Suffolk, England   5. Margaret Browne,   b. Swan Hall, Hawkedon, County Suffolk, England   6. Agnes Browne,   b. Swan Hall, Hawkedon, County Suffolk, England
  Last Modified	18 Dec 2016
  Family ID	F853	Group Sheet  |  Family Chart

  
  

• Event Map		Born - Abt 1465 - England  = Link to Google Earth
  Pin Legend	: Address       : Location       : City/Town       : County/Shire       : State/Province       : Country       : Not Set

  
  

• Sources

  [S291] Watertown, MA.