James Brown (1656 - bef. 1716)

Born 27 May 1656 in Wellingborough, Northamptonshire, England

Husband of Honour (Clayton) Brown — married 8 Aug 1679 in Burlington, New Jersey Colony

Descendants

Died before 1 Mar 1716 before age 59 in Nottingham Township, Chester, Pennsylvania

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Biography

James was a Friend (Quaker)

Birth

James Brown's birth on 27 May 1656 [27d, 3mo., 1656: Quaker date] was recorded in the monthly minutes of the Quaker Wellingborough Meeting in Northamptonshire, England.^[1] His birth, as well as the births of his younger brothers, was subsequently recorded in the minutes associated with the Northamptonshire Quarterly Meeting.^[2] James was the son of English Quakers, Richard and Margery Browne. While Margery is not referred to in either of the birth entries related to James, she does receive a mention in the Quarterly Meeting records of her other sons, William Brown^[3] and Jeremiah (Brown) Browne^[4] who were born around the same time. As pioneering Quakers, James and William had both emigrated to Pennsylvania by mid 1684 and despite there being numerous references to their lives there, no material has been found to suggest the two were not full brothers.

Disputed Mother

It has been supposed, and continues to be incorrectly stated on many genealogies, that James's mother was Mary Master. This case of a mistaken identity arose due to Mary Master's husband sharing the same name as Quaker Richard Browne. Quaker Richard Browne however, husband of Margery and father of James Brown, both Quakers, died in 1662 whereas Mary Master's husband, the wealthy and landed Richard Browne Esq., died sometime from 1683 onwards. The latter couple's marriage in Gloucestershire is well documented in Parish records, "Mr. Richard Browne & Miss. Mary Masters. August fourteenth [1651]".^[5]

Migration to America

Biographical information about James researched by Jacqueline Frank Strickland and found on the website, Descendants of Founders of New Jersey states;

"In summer of 1677, two hundred and thirty English Quakers sailed from London aboard the ship Kent and arrived on Chygoes Island on the east bank of the Delaware River, about fifty miles north of Salem. Their settlement was named Burlington. Over the next four years five or six additional ships followed bringing fourteen hundred or more people to Burlington and other new towns in West Jersey. Many of the immigrants were Friends, as is attested by the freeholder census of 1699 which showed more than a third of landholders in the province of West Jersey were Quakers. The highest percentage of Friends was in Burlington County. Among the passengers of the Kent were William Clayton and a very young man named James Brown."

Marriage and Occupation

James Brown married William Clayton's daughter, Honour, within the Burlington Meeting on 8th August, 1679. The original text reads;

“This is to Certifie whome it may Consirne that Jams Brone of Markers Hooke weaver & Honnor Clayton of Burllington having Declared their Intentionss of Marriage at two generall Monthly Meetings, & ffriends having Satisfaction as to their Clear: :rness of Booth partiess from Intanglements w/th any other and allso in tenderness towards them, Did Permit them to be Joyned in Marriage at a Meeting in Burlington ye 8th of ye 6th Mont[h] 1679.”

Their marriage guests included Honour’s father, William Clayton the elder.^[6] The couple had presented their intentions of marriage to the Burlington meeting the day before;

“James Broun Weaver of Upland upon ye River Dellaway & Honour Clayton did propose their Intentions of mariage being ye first time desiring ye aprobation of ye said meeting (13) At ye monthly meeting in Burlington ye 7th of ye 6th mo 1679 James Broun Weaver of Upland alias Markes hook upon ye River Dellaware & Honour Clayton of Burlington did Ppose their Intentions of Marriage ye Second time where ye Meeting pmitted them to pass & c.”.^[7]

Both Marriage entries in the Quaker minutes confirm James's trade as a Weaver and his residence at that time, at Upland, or Marcus Hook on the Delaware River.

Nottingham Lots

There are interesting anecdotes within the publication, “Bi-centennial of Brick Meeting-House, Calvert, Cecil County, Maryland: Seventh-day, Ninth Month …”, published by the Society of Friends Nottingham Monthly Meeting in1902. It mainly references James in relation to his brother William, that after first settling near Marcus Hook for example, he followed William to Nottingham sometime after 1701. William Brown’s stories told over the decades in Nottingham, Chester County, were recounted forty years after he died, by his then elderly great-nephew. A resulting compilation of family history and tradition was read at Meeting and placed on the quaker minutes of an East Nottingham Quaker Meeting in 1786.^[8] The account in the Quaker minutes forms the beginning of Gilbert Cope's book, The Browns of Nottingham and is freely accessible to read online. ^[9] There are also passages included that describe geographical features relative to William Brown’s home, a spring about a mile east of Rising Sun that was said to have been a temporary camping ground of the continent’s First Peoples enroute from somewhere near Penningtonville to the mouth of the Susquehanna River. And William was credited with felling the first tree in the new settlement in addition to hosting the first monthly meetings in his own home. Concord Monthly Meeting records of April, 1705 bear out this latter assertion thus;

“...two Friends of Nottingham desires on behalf of the rest a First Day meeting at the house of William Brown, and a Fourth Day meeting once a month, to which this meeting doth agree, leaving it to next Quarterly meeting for their approbation.

“Chichester Monthly Meeting being called, the Friends appointed to attend acquainted this meeting that Friends settled at Nottingham desired a meeting of worship every First Day at the house of William Brown and once a month on the Fifth Day, before Chichester monthly, which this Quarterly approves of until further order."

Researchers of William Brown will be interested in other biographical information in this record, for example, the group appointed to oversee the new meetings included William as well as John Churchman, Mary Bales [Beals] and his wife Katharine Brown.

Death

James Brown signed his last Will and Testament on the 15th of January, 1716 (old system: 15th day,11th month, 1715), in Nottingham, Chester County, Pennsylvania. The witnesses to the signing of the Will were confirmed on the 1st of March, 1716 (old system: 1st day, 1st month, 1716). The Will's Administrator requested James's Executors, wife Honour and eldest child, James supply an inventory of the estate to the Registry Office at Chester on or before the 18th of May, 1716 (old system: 18th day, 3rd month, 1716). Based on the two dates mentioned in the proved will, it can be confidently estimated that James Brown died at Nottingham in February, 1716. (12th month, 1715)^[10]

Research Notes

It should be noted that the will of James included no reference to a daughter named Ann, and no records of a daughter by that name have been located. For some time, Ann (Moor) Dye had been incorrectly related to both James as well as to his brother, William Brown. She now has her correct identity restored and her profile is managed by the New Netherlands Settlers project.

This account^[11] may be the source for some of the data in online trees. Seeing the way the dates are recorded, it begs the question as to whether old style dates were written as found or translated.

James was married at Burlington N.J., 6, 8, 1679, to Honor, daughter of William Clayton, of Chichester, where he also settled at first. His children were James, b. at Marcus Hook, 1, 17, 1681; William, b. 1, 13, 1682; Clayton, b. 8, 1, 1685; Jeremiah, Margery, Daniel, and Mary."

Norton Family History book states;

"The Brown family of Nottingham, Chester County, Pennsylvania (later Cecil County, Maryland) were intertwined in the early 1700s with Edward and Mary Norton. The Mercer name that runs throughout the Norton-Brown families is probably derived from Ann Mercer, the grandmother of Elizabeth Brown Norton and mother-in-law of Mary Norton Brown.

The following notes reference property transactions.

In his book, Old Roads Out of Philadelphia, John Thomson Faris (1917) states on page 59;

"The first deed for the Chichester property [the Quaker Meetinghouse]was made by James Brown "4 day of Tenth Month 1688" to William Clayton, Sr., "for the use of the people of God called Quakers of Chichester." The deed was certified by the "Clark's hand in open Court at Chichester, 10th mo 4, 1688.""^[12]

Research on one family tree states that James,

"came to America in 1678 and settled in New Jersey. After brother William came over they settled in Nottingham. He was given Land Grant by William Penn of 2000 Acres. Later when Lord Calvert of Maryland gave land grants, they overlapped, thus the Mason -Dixon Line.^[13]

Norton Family History book states;

William Brown, Sr. and his brother, James, moved in 1701 from the New Castle area to a land area in Chester County, Pennsylvania said to have been personally selected for them by William Penn himself. The land that was right on the present state line between Pennsylvania and Maryland and after the Mason-Dixon Line was surveyed in the 1760s, it was found to be almost wholly in Cecil County, Maryland. Thus although the Norton family lived in West Nottingham, Chester County, Pennsylvania, this area is now in Cecil County, Maryland. Tax lists of West Nottingham in 1722 do not show either Norton, but do list Samuel Kirk, Richard Brown, and William Brown, Jr.

These notes reference James's activities immediately after his arrival in the Colony. The Historical Society of Philadelphia states that;

"James Brown as well as his brother William were Ministers in the Quaker Church as had been their father. The family remained in the Marcus Hook area and when the Concord Meeting was established there, became charter members."

There are other sources for some of this information in addition to the article, :"Early Settlers of the Nottingham Lots", in the National Gen. Soc. quarterly Vol 70, describing how James Brown came over to America in the ship 'Kent' from London and settled first at Marcus Hook before William Penn obtained a grant for Pennsylvania; and that although individual Quakers had previously emigrated to English colonies in North America, including New Jersey, the ship "Griffin" brought the first Quakers to Salem, New Jersey, two years before the "Kent" reached the Colony.

Along with his brother James sat on a Jury in Pennsylvania in July 1684.

He sat on the first jury under British jurisdiction in this colony.

Sources

1. ↑ Ancestry.com, (2013). “England & Wales, Quaker Birth, Marriage, and Death Registers, 1578-1837”, Piece Description: Piece 1380: Monthly Meeting of Wellingborough: Births (1653-1824), [database on-line], (https://search.ancestry.com/cgi-bin/sse.dll?indiv=1&dbid=7097&h=524187&tid=&pid=&usePUB=true&_phsrc=YGR1&_phstart=successSource),

   “Name: James Browne, Event Type: Birth, Birth Date: 25 May 1656, Birth Place: Wellingborough, Northamptonshire, England, Gender: Male, Father: Richard Browne, Meeting: Monthly Meeting of Wellingborough, Piece Description: Piece 1380: Monthly Meeting of Wellingborough: Births (1653-1824)”. At image 19 of 150;

   “James Browne the son of Richard browne borne the 25th of the 3[r]d month 1656”.

2. ↑ Ancestry. Com, (2013). “England & Wales, Quaker Birth, Marriage, and Death Registers, 1578-1837”, Piece Description: Piece 0502: Quarterly Meeting of Northamptonshire: Births; Marriages; Burials (1647-1777), [database on-line], (https://search.ancestry.com/cgi-bin/sse.dll?indiv=1&dbid=7097&h=246931&tid=&pid=&usePUB=true&_phsrc=Gwv3&_phstart=successSource),

   “Name: James Browne| Event Type: Birth| Birth Date: 27 May 1656| Birth Place: Northamptonshire, England| Gender: Male| Father: Rich Browne| Meeting: Quarterly Meeting of Northamptonshire| Piece Description: Piece 0502: Quarterly Meeting of Northamptonshire: Births; Marriages; Burials (1647-1777). At image 50 of 243;

   “James Browne son of Rich. Browne was borne the 27th day of the 3 month in the year 1656”.

3. ↑ Ancestry.com, 2013. “England & Wales, Quaker Birth, Marriage, and Death Registers, 1578-1837”, Description: Piece 0502: Quarterly Meeting of Northamptonshire: Births; Marriages; Burials (1647-1777), [database on-line], (https://search.ancestry.com.au/cgi-bin/sse.dll?dbid=7097&h=246957&indiv=try&o_vc=Record:OtherRecord&rhSource=7097),

   "Name: Willm Browne, Event Type: Birth, Birth Date: 29 Mar (sic) 1658, Birth Place: Northamptonshire, England, Gender: Male, Father: Rich Browne, Mother: Marrey Browne, Meeting: Quarterly Meeting of Northamptonshire, Piece Description: Piece 0502: Quarterly Meeting of Northamptonshire: Births; Marriages; Burials (1647-1777)",

   “William Browne son of Rich. and Marg/rey Browne was borne the 29 day of the first month in the year 1658”.
4. ↑ Ancestry. Com, 2013. “England & Wales, Quaker Birth, Marriage, and Death Registers, 1578-1837”. Piece 1380: Monthly Meeting of Wellingborough: Births (1653-1824), [database on-line], (https://search.ancestry.com.au/cgi-bin/sse.dll?indiv=1&dbid=7097&h=246991&tid=&pid=&usePUB=true&_phsrc=aOg1&_phstart=successSource),

   “Name: Jeremiah Browne| Event Type: Birth| Birth Date: 19 Oct 1660| Birth Place: Northamptonshire, England| Gender: Male| Father: Rich Browne| Mother: Margerey Browne| Meeting: Quarterly Meeting of Northamptonshire| Piece Description: Piece 0502: Quarterly Meeting of Northamptonshire: Births; Marriages; Burials (1647-1777).

   ”Jeremiah Browne son of Rich: & Margerey Browne was borne the 19th day of the 8th month 1660”.

5. ↑ (Ancestry.com. (2014), "Gloucestershire, England, Church of England Baptisms, Marriages and Burials, 1538-1813", Gloucestershire Archives; Gloucester, Gloucestershire; Gloucestershire Church of England Parish Registers; Reference Number: P273 IN 1/1, [database on-line], (https://search.ancestry.com/cgi-bin/sse.dll?indiv=1&dbid=4732&h=4477594&tid=&pid=&usePUB=true&_phsrc=Dws1&_phstart=successSource), "Name: Mary Masters|Gender: Female| Event Type: Marriage |Marriage Date: 14 Aug 1651| Marriage Place: Rodmarton, Gloucestershire, England ... |Spouse: Richard Browne",

   "Mr. Richard Browne & Miss. Mary Masters. August fourteenth".

6. ↑ Ancestry.com, (2014). “U.S., Quaker Meeting Records, 1681-1935”, Haverford College; Haverford, Pennsylvania; Minutes, 1677-1777; Collection: Philadelphia Yearly Meeting Minutes, [database on-line], (https://search.ancestry.com/cgi-bin/sse.dll?dbid=2189&h=8268359&indiv=try&o_vc=Record:OtherRecord&rhSource=2189).

   “Name: James Brone [James Brown] | Marriage Date: 8 Aug 1679 | Marriage Date on Image: 08 Sixth 1679 | Marriage Place: Burlington, New Jersey | Residence Place: Burlington, New Jersey | Spouse: Honnor Clayton | Event Type: Marriage Intention (Marriage) | Monthly Meeting: Rancocas and Burlington Monthly Meeting | … | Type (Orthodox or Hicksite): Pre-Separation | Yearly Meeting: Philadelphia Yearly Meeting | Meeting State: New Jersey | Meeting County: Burlington”.

   “This is to Certifie whome it may Consirne that Jams Brone of Markers Hooke weaver & Honnor Clayton of Burllington having Declared their Intentionss of Marriage at two generall Monthly Meetings, & ffriends having Satisfaction as to their Clear: :rness of Booth partiess from Intanglements w/th any other and allso in tenderness towards them, Did Permit them to be Joyned in Marriage at a Meeting in Burlington ye 8th of ye 6th Mont[h] 1679. In ye p/sence of us ⋀ whos Names are under writen.

   William Clayton Elder | William Clayton Jun. | Joseph Clayton | Thomas Ossine | William Peachee | Barnard Devonish | John Cripps | Thomas Budd | Thomas Harding | Daniell Wills | John Dewsbury | John Wills | John Beers [sp?] | Thomas Palmer | William Wilkinsen | Hannah | Mary Clayton | Margerett Couper | Liddea Wade | Ann Peachee | Hanah Couper | Judeth Noble | Mary Colly | Martha Wagstafe”.

7. ↑ Ancestry.com, (2014), “U.S., Quaker Meeting Records, 1681-1935”, Swarthmore College; Swarthmore, Pennsylvania; Minutes, 1678-1737 (Film); Collection: Philadelphia Yearly Meeting Minutes; Call Number: MR-Ph 60, [database on-line], Ancestry.com,

   “Name: James Brown | Marriage Date: 7 Aug 1679 | Marriage Place: Burlington, New Jersey | Residence Date on Image: 07 Sixth 1679 | Residence Place: Burlington, New Jersey | Spouse: Honour Cleyton | Event Type: Marriage Intention (Marriage) | Monthly Meeting: Burlington Monthly Meeting | … | Yearly Meeting: Philadelphia Yearly Meeting | Meeting State: New Jersey | Meeting County: Burlington”.

   “James Broun Weaver of Upland upon ye River Dellaway & Honour Clayton did propose their Intentions of mariage being ye first time desiring ye aprobation of ye said meeting (13) At ye monthly meeting in Burlington ye 7th of ye 6th mo 1679 James Broun Weaver of Upland alias Markes hook upon ye River Dellaware & Honour Clayton of Burlington did Ppose their Intentions of Marriage ye Second time where ye Meeting pmitted them to pass & c.”.

8. ↑ Ancestry.com, 2014. "US Quaker Meeting Record 1681-1935", Swarthmore College; Swarthmore, Pennsylvania; Births and Deaths 1691-1883; Collection: Baltimore Yearly Meeting Minutes; Call Number: RG2/B/N681 3.1., [database on-line], (https://www.ancestry.com.au/interactive/2189/43154_1821100519_5211-00309/1107344280#?imageId=43154_1821100519_5211-00303
9. ↑ Cope, G., (1864). "The Browns of Nottingham", (Accessed: December 6th, 2019), Original document pp: 1-6, digitized images: 10/34 - 6/18. (https://archive.org/details/brownsofnottingh00cope/page/n5)
10. ↑ "Pennsylvania Probate Records, 1683-1994," images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3QS7-899B-J99X-9?cc=1999196&wc=9PMZ-BZS%3A268496301%2C280751201 : 3 July 2014), Chester > Wills 1713-1720 and 1736-1755 vol 1-3, A-C > image 16 of 603; county courthouses, Pennsylvania.
11. ↑ History of Chester County, Pennsylvania, with genealogical and biographical sketches by Futhey, John Smith, 1820-1888; Cope, Gilbert, 1840-1928.
12. ↑ https://books.google.com.au/books/about/Old_Roads_Out_of_Philadelphia.html?id=lKmgB3o53w4C&redir_esc=y
13. ↑ http://wc.rootsweb.ancestry.com/cgi-bin/igm.cgi?op=GET&db=taylor-gargaro&id=I30840

See also:

• Source: S-1634188663 Repository: #R-1697540289 Title: Ancestry Family Trees: Online publication - Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com. Family Tree files submitted by Ancestry members. http://trees.ancestry.com/pt/AMTCitationRedir.aspx?tid=42990541&pid=397 - Repository: R-1697540289 http://www.Ancestry.com

• https://www.wikitree.com/g2g/393084/colony-laurel-kentucky-another-location-completion-software G2G on why "Colony, Laurel, Kentucky" is not a valid location for 1714.

• James Brown's Religion

• Johnston, George. History of Cecil County, Maryland, and the Early Settlements around the Head of Chesapeake Bay and on the Delaware River, with Sketches of Some of the Old Families of Cecil County (Elkton, MD: Published by the Author, 1881). See Map of Chesapeake Bay and Upper Peninsula area. See Ch. XI mention of Nottingham Lots (p. 133 and ff.), mention of James and William Brown pp. 147-148, Illustration of Nottingham Lots 1702 with names, p. 149.

• Penrose, George Hoffman. A Genealogical Record of the Brown Family (Salt Lake City, UT: George Penrose, 1896). 52 pages. Source: New York Public Library, Astor Lenox and Tilden Foundations. Free copy at Archive.org. See George Brown and family on page 5.