John Browne

- 1442

• Name	John Browne  [1]
  Born	Stanford, England   [1]
  Gender	Male
  Biography	He was a draper and Merchant of the Staple of Calais. According to TheFreeDictionary.com: Merchants of the Staple or Merchant Staplers, English trading company that controlled the export of English raw wool. The first wool staple (i.e., a place designated by royal ordinance as a special center of commerce) was established in 1294, and the first compulsory staple, where all wool exporters were required to trade, was set up in 1314. The staple was moved from place to place according to political needs, but in 1363 a group of 26 English merchants was incorporated as the Company of the Staple at Calais with a complete monopoly of wool exports. The staple thereafter remained almost continuously at Calais until 1558, and the company's resources contributed heavily to the defense of that city against the French. The company's wealth and importance diminished with the rise of the English cloth trade and the loss of Calais to the French in 1558. The staple was moved to Bruges, and the staplers retained their monopoly until 1617, when the export of raw wool was prohibited and home staples established. They then became domestic wool brokers. The staplers were the only trading company to be organized on a commodity rather than a regional basis. Being one of the 26 merchants is quite and honor. The crown granted the organization a monopoly in exchange for the ability to collect export taxes. If trade were open to everyone, taxes would likely be harder to collect. According to Wikipedia, the organization still exists, but is just a dining club in Yorkshire. From the 11th until the 15th century, Stamford was a leader in the wool trade. At the time, it was one of the largest towns in England. So, it's not surprising that John Browne was such a powerful man in the wool business. John was an alderman (which at the time was chief magistrate) of Stanford in 1414, 1412 and 1427. Also, he had, at his own expense, the All Saints Church re-built much as it is today. According to "Early Settlers of Watertown": All Saints Church is one of the principal ornaments of Stamford. It is a large, well-proportioned structure, consisting of a nave, two aisles, and two chancels, one of which is at the end of the south aisle, and the other answering to the nave. It was built at the expense of Mr. John Browne, merchant of the staple of Calais, who, with his wife, lies buried at the upper end of the north aisle. On a gilt brass plate in the wall is this inscription: u Orate pro animabus, Johannis Browne, mercatoris stapule Calisie, et Margerie uxoris ejus qui quidem Johannis, obijt XXVI0 die mensis Julii an d'n'i MCCCCXLIJ, etque quede' Margerie obijt XXIJ die Novembris a° d'n'i MCCCCLX0 quor' animabus p'pi'cieter Deus. Amen."
  Died	26 Jul 1442	Standford   [1]
  Buried	All Saints Church, Stamford, England
  Person ID	I2425	Our Family
  Last Modified	27 Sep 2016

  
  

  Father	John Browne,   b. Stamford, Lincoln County, England
  Family ID	F1539	Group Sheet  |  Family Chart

  
  

  Family	Margery,   d. 22 Nov 1460
  Married	Y  [1]
  Children	1. John Browne,   b. Abt 1410, Stamford, England ,   d. Between 1462 and 1470  (Age ~ 52 years)   2. William Browne, Esq.,   b. Stamford, England ,   d. 1489   3. Alice Browne,   b. Stamford, England ,   d. 10 Feb 1481
  Last Modified	18 Dec 2016
  Family ID	F863	Group Sheet  |  Family Chart

  
  

• Event Map		Buried - - All Saints Church, Stamford, England  = Link to Google Earth
  Pin Legend	: Address       : Location       : City/Town       : County/Shire       : State/Province       : Country       : Not Set

  
  

• Sources

  [S291] Watertown, MA.