William Brown, of Portsmouth

Note: William Brown should not be confused with William Brown of Bristol, who lived during a similar time period.

Biography

https://www.wikitree.com/wiki/Brown-77576

William Brown was born, probably before 1648 in Portsmouth, to Nicholas Brown. His mother is unknown.

He married Sutton (Unknown), probably about 1674. They had, all probably born in Portsmouth:[1]

1. Martha, b. abt 1675
2. Jane, b. abt 1677
3. Tobias, est. b. abt 1679

He was admitted freemen in Portsmouth on April 28th, 1669.[2] Nicholas and William Brown were both mentioned in the town records on June 7, 1675.[3]

William died before March 1681 and Sutton married John Bailey before September 6, 1681.

In March of 1681, "John Bailey" and "widow Sutten Browne" were indicted for fornication. The bill was quashed September 6, 1681, probably due to their recent marriage, as Sutton was then described as "widow Sutten Browne now wife of John Bailey".[4]

The will of Nicholas Brown, William's father, dated 16 November, 1694, gives to:[1] "...Martha and Jane Brown, daughters of William... grandson Tobias, the son of William...", and the 1733 will of John Bailey, the husband of Sutton, gives to in addition to his named Bailey sons and daughters "...Each of my Two Daughters In Law (Viz't) Martha Simms and Jane Rogers...".[5]

Origins

"This Old Monmouth of Ours": pg.,206: Abraham's father Nicholas Brown was of Portsmouth, R.I. but removed to Monmouth County, New jersey, where he d. in 1694. His wife is believed to have been Francis, widow of Geo. Parker. In the early generations at least his descendants contributed notably to the upbuilding of both Monmouth and Burlington. Nicholas' children were:

• Nicholas (Jr.) of Shark River, Monmouth, N.J. d.1714
• Abraham who d. 1714
• Jane, who m. James Babcock
• William, was of Portsmouth, R.I. Children were: Martha (15). Jane (16). Tobias (17)

Sources

• ↑ 1.0 1.1 Wilbour, Benjamin Franklin. Little Compton Families (Genealogical Publishing Co., 1997, 1998, 2000, 2003): Vol. 1 Page 73
• ↑ Early Records of Portsmouth: Page 147
• ↑ Early Records of Portsmouth: Page 184
• ↑ Newport, Rhode Island; General Court of Trials; imaged, FamilySearch; Accessible at a Family History Centre; DGS 008137149 ("Court records A-B 1671-1741"): Volume A, Page 58/60
• ↑ The Rhode Island Historical Magazine (Newport Historical Pub. Co., 1882): Vol. 3, No. 4, Page 233-241, The Will of John Bailey
• The Early Records of the Town of Portsmouth (E. L. Freeman & Sons, Providence, R. I., 1901)
• Acknowledgements
• "Who Was She?" - Sutton, wife of John Bailey. Rhode Island Roots, vol. 15 (1989), page 80.
• Additions and Corrections to Austin's Genealogical Dictionary of Rhode Island. The American Genealogist, vol. 30, page 124.