Sir Thomas Browne, Sheriff of Kent

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Sir Thomas Browne MP, medieval Chancellor of the Exchequer of England.

Career

Sworn to the peace in Kent in 1434. He was Justice of Peace for Kent from 1436 to 24 Dec. 1450. He was Member of Parliament (MP) between 1439 and 1444 for Dover. He was High Sheriff for Kent in 1443-4, and then MP between 1445 and 1446 for Kent. He was present at Parliament in 1447 and 1449 as Under Treasurer. He was MP between 1449 and 1450 for Wallingford. He was knighted 1449/51. During the reign of King Henry IV, his highest post was that Chancellor of the Exchequer which post he held between 1440 and 1450. He was later Justice of Peace for Surrey from 20 July 1454 till death. He was executed on the gallows at Tyburn on 29 Jul 1460.

He was Knighted in about 1449-1451. He became wealthy by receiving a license to export uncustomed wool in 1440. He had a 12 lb pension out of the Tweed Fisheries and his post of Clerk of Issues of the Exchequer. He was the Sheriff of Kent between 1440 and 1460 plus he was also Treasurer of the Household to H.R.H. Henry VI.

Property

Beechworth or Betchworth Castle, Dorking, Surrey. which he purchased from his father in law Thomas FitzAlan. Tonford Manor, Thanington, Kent, called Toniford, Tunford etc, came into possession of the manor from Sir Thomas Fogge, (died anno 9 Henry IV.) by the Browne's who in the 27th year of Henry VI. obtained a grant of liberty to embattle and impark, and to have free warren, &c. within this manor. Morris Court, Bapchild, Kent.situated within the Ecclestical jurisdiction of the diocese of Rochester, and deanry of Sittingborne. Eythorne Manor, Kent Thomas obtained the grant of a fair at the neighbouring village of Wimlingswold, to be held on the feast of St. Margaret the Virgin, (20th of July), but it is now held yearly on Old May-day. Hoptons Manor, in the parish of Alkham, Kent. Kingsnoth Manor, Kent in the 27th year of Henry VI. reign, Thomas obtained a licence for a fair in this parish, on the feast of St. Michael, and that same year he had another to embattle his mansion here and to inclose a park, and for freewarren in all his demesne lands within this manor. Westbery Manor, Watringbury, Kent. Richard Fishborne, sold the manor in the 33d year of Henry VI. reign to Thomas Browne. Swanscombe Manor, Greenhithe, Kent Tong Castle & Manor, Tong, Kent the property which had been in possession of Richard, Duke of York, but was attainted in anno 38 Henry VI., and granted by Henry VI. to Thomas Browne, prior to his knighthood, and being made comptroller and treasurer of his household. Thomas soon afterwards obtained a grant of a fair at this manor, on St. Jame's day yearly, and another for liberty to embattle his mansion, and to impark his lands here.

Family

Thomas was born about 1414. He was the son and heir of Robert Browne and a nephew of Stephen Browne MP He married Eleanor daughter and coheir of Thomas Fitzalan (third son of Lord Maltravers) in 1434. Eleanor later remarried Sir Thomas Vaughan in 1461. Thomas had seven sons and several daughters [nb: birth order uncertain]:

• * Sir George Browne, Knt, was M.P. Surrey. Knighted after the Battle of Tewkesbury.
• * Thomas Browne
• * Robert Browne Of Chilham, Kent, Eng; m Anne
• * Sir Anthony Browne; Standard bearer for Eng;
• * William Browne (of Tavistock, Devon)
• * Leonard Browne
• * Edward Browne
• * Katherine Browne m Humphrey Sackville of Buckhurst, Sussex (1426 – January 24, 1488).
• * Jane Browne

Sources:

Colonel the Right Honourable Josiah C. Wedgwood D.S.O M.P. collab Anne D. Hart M.A..'' Biographies of'' ''the Members of the Commons House 1439-1509''. London: H.M.S.O, 1936. Vol.2 pp 123-4.

Parishes: Bapchild', The History and Topographical Survey of the County of Kent: Volume 6 (1798), pp. 122-132. URL: http://www.british-history.ac.uk/report.aspx?compid=62953&strquery=... brown.
http://www.tudorplace.com.ar/BROWNE1.htm

http://www.thepeerage.com/p18440.htm#i184395

ISSUE OF THOMAS ARUNDEL BY Joan Moyne 1. [146: WILLIAM (-<1437 o/seas)]

2. [146: Alianor; d&h; m1 (7s+2d) c1431 THOMAS BROWNE (-Jul 1460 bhd) knt; of Betchworth Castle, jure uxoris; [048 Of Kent; Tres of household of Hy VI]; In 1440 and 1460 Sheriff of Kent; On 20 Jul 1460 convicted of treason; s of RICHARD BROWNE knt; She m2 1461 THOMAS VAUGHAN; [eml (1425-1483)] Esq of the body of Ed IV; of Tretower; he and GEORGE s of Sir TOMAS BROWNE are mentioned in "Battle of Tewkesbury, A Roll of Arms" by Geoffrey Wheeler, 1971]

More details of Sir Thomas Browne

Grocer, citizen of London, acquired properties in Kent; comptroller of the household

1428 Edward Guildford released to Walter Hungerford, William Darel, Thomas Browne, and John Forescue the Manor of Eygthorne, to the use of Thomas Browne

1431 [067 has 1434] Married Eleanor d&h of Sir Thomas Fitz‑Alan of Beechworth/Betchworth Castle, (the br of John, Earl of Arundel) and had issue.

1433, July 11 Perhaps the Thomas Broun who was, with others, ordered to sell the wine and merchandise taken of the captured Spanish ship Manequeneth

1434 June 8 With others, given a commission to muster men at arms at Dover.

1434 July 12 With others, given a commission to muster men at arms at Dover.

1434-35 Acquired Harbledowne, Tennington, and West Bere, Kent from John Fogge

1435 March 30 Perhaps the Thomas Broune merchant to ship wool to Calais for the king

1437, Oct 10 Justice

1437 Nov 27 Comm to make inquisition in Kent

1438 Feb 12 Comm to make inquisition in Kent

1438 May 12 Pardon with John Broun and four others after entering 100 acres in Parish of la Rivere by Dover bought from Thomas Thorold and entering it without licence.

1438 May 26 Comm re inquisition into the state of Newenton by Hethe, etc

1438 Dec 12 Comm to make inquisition in Kent

1439 Mar 19 One of the commissioners for Kent to raise a loan for the king.

1439-40 MP for Kent

1440 July 24 Licence to sell wool abroad, in consideration of his recent misfortunes and impoverishments in Kent

1440 Aug 18 Licence for life to trade over-seas

1442 Mar 30 Comm to raise loan for king in Kent

1443 Feb 16 Comm to make inquisition in Kent

1443 Mar 18 Acquired the marriage and wardship of John s&h of Thomas Torell (Tyrell*) of Shelley/Shellow, Bowells, Ongar, Essex

1443 May 8 Comm to make inquisition in Kent

1443-44 Sheriff of Kent

1444 July 11 Acquired, with others, marriage of Robert s&h of Robert Kirkham

1445 Acquired West Bere from John Scott

1445 Oct 8 Licence to trade with aliens etc

1445-46 MP for Kent

1446 June 1 Comm to raise loan in Kent for king

1446 Dec Exchequer clerk

1447 c. Feb Under treasurer of the exchequer

1447 Feb 8 Granted stewardship of lordships of Mylton and Merden Kent after death of Dk of Gloucester (who d 23 Feb 1446/7, whilst under arrest)

1447 July 18 Appointed under-treasurer of the exchequer

1449 July 8 Granted right to hold annual fairs at Eythorne, Kent; Kyngesnede, Kent; Swanscombe, Kent; Wymblyngweld, Kent; Tong, Kent; Betchworth, Surrey

1449 July 12 Granted exemption from assizes etc.

1449 Sep 25 Comm to raise a loan for the king in Kent

Parl. of Nov 1449 The staplers of Calais continued their campaign against the hated licences to bypass Calais in o/seas trade, and Henry VI reluctantly agreed to annul all but those granted to the queen, Suffolk, Thomas Walsingham, Thomas Browne, John Pennington, (these last 3 were members of the royal household) and the prior of Bridlington

1450 Slandered by the populace

Jul 1453 July Admitted to the council

July 1453 Joined the council of Hy VI, which also included Sir Thomas Tyrell, Whittingham and Thorp

1458 On commission at Rochester to inquire into the quarrel between Richard Nevill Er of Warwick and the citizens of Lubeck

1458 Ganted (Royal?) Swanscombe manor, plus grant of a fair, Kent but soon afterwards it returned to Dk of York.

1459 June 1x 1461 July 20 Thomas’ wife Eleanor was devised, Manors of Pluckley and Waldershare (Waldeshare) in Tenterton/Tenderden from Joan Knowght, (-Will 1 June 1459) g-dau and heir of Richard Malmayn and dau of Henry Knowght. Eleanor is incorrectly called a widow.

1459 c.Dec Granted Swanscombe manor

1460 Sheriff of Kent

c1460 At latter end of Hy VI Browne acquired Caldham/Coldham, and Hoptons Manor. Alkham and Morehall Manor, Cheriton all of, or near Folkestone. From Robert Brandred and Morris-court, Bapchild (which may have been acquired by the Brownes before 1412); Tong manor (royal grant?); and Eythorne manor (050 states this was acquired 7 Hy VI, 1428-9) acquired from Sir Walter Hungerford and Batfriston manor, Wyborne's estate acquired from John de Monyngham; manor of Hartangre, Barson parish; Land called Walsted' and Huddes' at Lindfield, Sussex. For Betchworth and land in Surrey see ipm, Dorking and for London the inquisition both below.

Jul 1460 Temp bat of Northampton, the Lancastrians held up in the Tower of London were Lords Scales (Thomas de Scales k 25 Jul 1460 attempting to escape from tower), Moleyns (Robert Hungerford who m Eleanor d&h of Wm de Moleyns, escaped from the Tower but bhd 18 May 1464), Lovel (John Lovel, released, d 1464/5), Vesci (Henry Bromflete, released from Tower; d 1468/9), and De la Warr (Richard West, released from Tower, d. 1475/6), as well as household figures like Sir Edmund Hampden, Sir Thomas Browne, Sir Gervase Clifton, and Sir Thomas Tyrell. The Tower, besieged by Ld Cobham and the sheriffs, surrendered on 19 July, and in the last week of July a Sir Thomas Browne with at least 6 others were condemned and beheaded at Tyburn

20 July 1460 Tried and convicted of high treason, beheaded and attainted

c1461 His widow m2 Thomas Vaughan of Tretower, Wales, later KB.

• ______________________
• Sir Thomas Browne (1402 – 29 July 1460) was a Member of Parliament and Chancellor of the Exchequer. He was beheaded for treason on 20 July 1460.
• Thomas Browne was born in 1402, the son and heir of Robert Browne and a nephew of Stephen Browne MP.[citation needed] He was sworn to the peace in Kent in 1434.[citation needed] He was Justice of Peace for Kent from 1436 to 24 December 1450.[citation needed] He was High Sheriff of Kent in 1439 and Member of Parliament for Dover in the same year, and Knight of the Shire for Kent in 1445.[1] He was present at Parliament in 1447 and 1449 as Under Treasurer.[citation needed] He was MP between 1449 and 1450 for Wallingford.[citation needed]
• He served as Treasurer of the Household to Henry VI.[1] He was knighted 1449/1451.[citation needed] During the reign of King Henry VI, his highest post was that of Chancellor of the Exchequer, which he held between 1440 and 1450.[citation needed] He was later Justice of Peace for Surrey from 20 July 1454 till his death.[citation needed]
• Browne was convicted of treason on 20 July 1460, and immediately executed. According to some sources he was beheaded, [1] while according to other sources he and six others were executed at Tyburn.[citation needed]
• Property
  • Betchworth Castle, which Browne purchased from his father in law, Thomas FitzAlan.
  • Tonford Manor, Thanington, Kent, called 'Toniford', 'Tunford' etc., which came to him from Sir Thomas Fogge, (died anno 9 Henry IV) through the Brownes, who in the 27th year of Henry VI obtained a grant of liberty to embattle and impark and to have free warren etc. within this manor.
  • Morris-Court, Bapchild, Kent, situated within the ecclestical jurisdiction of the diocese of Rochester and deanery of Sittingbourne.
  • Eythorne Manor, Kent. Browne obtained the grant of a fair at the neighbouring village of Wimlingswold, to be held on the feast of St. Margaret the Virgin (20 July), but which is now held yearly on Old May-day.
  • Hoptons Manor in the parish of Alkham, Kent.
  • Kingsnorth Manor, Ulcombe, Kent. In the 27th year of the reign of Henry VI, Browne obtained licence for a fair in this parish on the feast of St. Michael, and that same year had licence to embattle his mansion there and to enclose a park, and for freewarren in all his demesne lands within the manor.
  • Westbury Manor, Wateringbury, Kent, which Browne purchased from Richard Fishborne in the 33d year of Henry VI's reign. Now called Manor Farm.
  • Swanscombe Manor, Greenhithe, Kent.
  • Tong Castle and Manor, Tong, Kent, which had been in possession of Richard, Duke of York, but was taken by the crown in anno 38 Henry VI,[2] and granted to Browne prior to his being knighted and appointed comptroller and treasurer of the King's household. Browne soon afterwards obtained a grant of a fair at this manor on St. Jame's day yearly, and another for liberty to embattle his mansion and to impark his lands here.
  • The manor of Barfreston, Kent [2]
• In about 1437, Browne married Eleanor FitzAlan, daughter of Sir Thomas FitzAlan, third son of John FitzAlan, 2nd Baron Arundel (d. 14 August 1390), and Elizabeth le Despenser (d. 10 or 11 April 1408), by whom he had seven sons and two daughters:[3][4]
  • William Browne[1] (of Tavistock, Devon).[citation needed] see pedigree of William Browne, poet, as given in http://www.presscom.co.uk/leepriory/leebrowne.html
  • Sir George Browne, beheaded in 1483.[1] His estates were confiscated, but were afterwards restored to his heirs in 1485 by Henry VII.[5]
  • Thomas Browne.[1]
  • Sir Anthony Browne.[1]
  • Robert Browne, esquire,[1] of Luddenham, Kent, Comptroller of the Household to Thomas FitzAlan, 17th Earl of Arundel, who married a wife named Anne, by whom he had a daughter, Eleanor Browne, who married firstly, before 9 December 1509, Thomas Fogge (d. 16 August 1512), esquire, sergeant porter of Calais, younger son of Sir John Fogge, and secondly Sir William Kempe (d. 28 January 1539) of Olantigh, Kent.[6][7][8][9]
  • Leonard Browne.[1]
  • Edward Browne.[1]
  • Katherine Browne, who married Humphrey Sackville, esquire,[1] (1426 – 24 January 1488) of Buckhurst, Sussex.[citation needed]
  • Jane Browne.[citation needed]
• From: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thomas_Browne_(died_1460)

The precise birth order of his children is not known, but Sir George is cited in both this Wikipedia and his own as the second son, who became the heir on the death of an older brother.

• _____________________________
• Sir Thomas Browne1
• M, #184395, b. 1410, d. 20 July 1460
• Last Edited=17 Aug 2007
• Sir Thomas Browne was born in 1410 at Bettsworth Castle, Surrey, England.2 He married Eleanor Fitzalan, daughter of Sir Thomas Fitzalan, circa 1431.2 He died on 20 July 1460 at Eythorne Eastry, Kent, England, beheaded for treason.2
• He held the office of Sheriff of Kent in 1440.2 He held the office of Treasurer of the Household to King Henry VI.1 He held the office of Sheriff of Kent in 1460.2
• Children of Sir Thomas Browne and Eleanor Fitzalan
  • 1.Robert Browne2 b. 1435
  • 2.Katherine Browne2 b. 1435
  • 3.Thomas Browne2 b. 1437
  • 4.Sir George Browne+1 b. 1439
  • 5.William Browne2 b. 1441
  • 6.Sir Anthony Browne+1 b. 29 Jun 1443, d. 19 Nov 1506
  • 7.Jane Browne2 b. 1445
• Citations
• 1.[S15] George Edward Cokayne, editor, The Complete Baronetage, 5 volumes (no date (c. 1900); reprint, Gloucester, U.K.: Alan Sutton Publishing, 1983), volume II, page 28. Hereinafter cited as The Complete Baronetage.
• 2.[S2313] Rob Underhill, "re: Stanley Family," e-mail message to Darryl Roger Lundy, 9 June 2007. Hereinafter cited as "re: Stanley Family."
• From: http://www.thepeerage.com/p18440.htm#i184395
• _____________________
• Thomas BROWNE (Sir Sheriff)
• Born: 1402
• Died: 1460, Beechworth Castle, Surrey
• Notes: Treasurer of the Household to Henry VI.
• Father: Robert BROWNE (Sir)
• Mother: ¿?
• Married: Eleanor FITZALAN 1437
• Children:
  • 1. Anthony BROWNE (Sir)
  • 2. George BROWNE (Sir)
  • 3. William BROWNE
  • 4. Thomas BROWNE
  • 5. Jane BROWNE
  • 6. Catherine BROWNE
  • 7. Robert BROWNE (Sir)
• From: http://www.tudorplace.com.ar/BROWNE1.htm#Thomas BROWNE (Sir Sheriff)1
• __________________________
• A genealogical and heraldic history of the extinct and dormant baronetcies ... By John Burke, Sir Bernard Burke
• http://books.google.com/books?id=LKIKAAAAYAAJ&pg=PA87&lpg=PA87&dq=G...
• Pg. 87
• SIR ANTHONY BROWNE, created a knight of the Bath at the coronation of RICHARD II. married, and had two sons, Sir Richard, his heir, and Stephen, lord mayor of London in 1430. The elder
• SIR ROBERT BROWNE, living temp. HENRY V. was father of
• SIR THOMAS BROWNE, treasurer of the household to HENRY VI. and sheriff of Kent in 1444 and 1460. He m. Eleanor, daughter and sole heir of Sir Thomas Fitz-Alan, of Beechworth Castle, brother of John, Earl of Arundel, and had issue,
  • I. GEORGE (Sir), his heir.
  • II. William, whose son removed to Tavistock. This line is extinct.
  • III. Robert (Sir), knt. m. Mary, daughter of Sir William Mallet, knt., and had an only daughter and heiress, Eleanor, wife, first, of Sir Thomas Fogge, and secondly, of Sir William Kempe.
  • IV. Anthony (Sir), standard-bearer of England, esquire of the body, governor of Queenboro' Castle, and constable fo the castle of Calais. From this eminent person derive the LORDS MONTAGU, the heiress of which distinguished family, the Hon. ELIZABETH MARY BROWN, wedded WILLIAM STEPHEN POYNTZ, esq. M.P. (See BURKE'S Extinct Peerage and Commoners.)
  • I. Catherine, m. to Humphry Sackville of Buckhurst.
• Sir Thomas was s. by his eldest son,
• SIR GEORGE BROWNE, knt. of Beechworth Castle, sheriff of Kent in 1481, who espousing the cause of the Earl of Richmond, was included in the proclamation for apprehending the Duke of Buckingham and his associates, and being soon after taken, suffered decapitation in London anno 1483. he m. Elizabeth, daughter of Sir William Pason, and widow of Richard Lord Poynings, and was s. by his son,
• ______________________
• Links
• http://www.theweald.org/N10.asp?NId=20170011
• ______________________

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From WikiTree, "Thomas Browne, 1402-1460), posted at https://www.wikitree.com/wiki/Browne-206

• Sir Thomas Browne, Sheriff of Kent, Burgess for Dover, Treasurer of the Household, Steward of Milton & Marden was born circa 1402 at of Tong, Eythorne, Tunford in Thanington, & Kingsnorth, Kent, England.
• He married Eleanor FitzAlan, daughter of Sir Thomas FitzAlan, Earl of Arundel and Joan Moyne, circa 1437.

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Unknown author, Foundation for Medieval Genealogy, Vol. III (4), p. 303-324. "Among the Royal Servants: Welby, Browne, Quarles and Related Families". Written by David H. Kelley, Don C. Stone, & David C. Dearborn

https://our-royal-titled-noble-and-commoner-ancestors.com/p6119.htm... - TPD 5/2/22