Genealogy Data Page 778 (Notes Pages)

Note: Nothing is known about the ancestry of Peter Browne, but he was not a Leiden Separatist. The royal lineage that has been published is totally without basis, and no documentary evidence has ever been presented to show who the parents of Peter Browne actually were.

It has been suggested that Peter Browne may have come from Great Burstead, Billericay, Essex, but that claim is simply based on the fact that there was a Peter Brown taxed there in 1624, and since names tend to run in families maybe he was somehow related. No evidence has ever been shown to suggest the two are related, however.

Peter Browne is known to have had a brother John, who came to Plymouth and took up residence in Duxbury.

William Bradford wrote in his "increasings and decreasings" section of his journal the following about Peter Browne: "Peter Browne married twice. By his first wife he had two children who are living and both of them married; and the one of them hath two children. By his second wife he had two more. He died about sixteen years since."

By about 1626 he married Martha Ford, who arrived as one of the only female passengers on the ship Fortune in 1621. She gave birth almost immediately after arriving, but husband Ford apparently died during the voyage or shortly after arrival. In the 1627 Division of Cattle he, his wife Martha (Ford), his daughter Mary Browne, and his stepchildren John and Martha Ford were included with the Samuel Fuller and Anthony Anable families. About a year later, Peter and Martha would have daughter Priscilla, but Martha would die shortly thereafter.

Peter remarried to a woman named Mary, whose maiden name has not been discovered. With her, he had a daughter Rebecca born about 1631, and another child who was born about 1633 and died before reaching adulthood (the name of this child has not been discovered).

Peter Browne died in 1633, probably during the general sickness that occurred that autumn and also killed neighbor Samuel Fuller and several others in Plymouth. His estate inventory taken 10 October 1633 shows that he owned 130 bushels of corn, six melch goats, one cow, eight sheep, and a number of pigs, among other things.

Peter Browne died without a will. In the settlement of his estate, it mentions had he had "divers children by Dvers wives". The Court settled 15 pounds on Mary and Priscilla - daughters by his first wife. In 1644, Mary and Priscilla were placed with his brother, John Brown. The rest of his estate went to his wife, Mary, for the support of her young family.

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Settlement of Peter Browne's Estate
Court Orders, 1: 33, under date of 28 October, 1633

In this Court Mary the late wife of Peter Browne deceased who dyed wthout will presented an Inventory of the goods & Chattels of her said husb. upon oath & was referred for Administracon to an other Cour of Assistants to be held the on munday the 11th r next ensuing.

1633. Novbr 11th At a Court of Assistants held the 11th of Novembr in the ninth yeare of the raigne of our Soveraigne Lord Charles by the grace of God King of Engl. Scotl. ffrance & Ireland Defender of the ffaith &c.

It was ordered, that Whereas Peter Browne dyed wthout will having divers children by divers wives his estate amounting to an hundred pownds or thereabouts. It is ordered that Mary his wife who is allowed the Administratrix of the said Peter foorthwith pay downe fifteen pownds for the use of Mary Browne daughter of the said Peter to mr Joh. Done of Plymoth aforesaid . wth whom the said Court have placed the said Mary for nine yeares. At the end whereof the said John is to make good the said fifteen pownds to her or her heires if in case she die. Also it is further ordered that the said Widow Mary Browne pay or cause to be paid into the hands of mr Will Gilson the full sum of fifteen pownds for the use of Prisilla Browne an other of the daughters of the said Peter the Court having placed the said Prisilla wth the said Will for 12 yeares At thend whereof the said Will is to make good the same unto her as her ffathers legacy as aforesaid, & to that end the said John & Will either stand bound for other for pformance of the severall paymts as also for such other pformanes of meet drinke cloathing &c during the said terme as is meet. And for the rest of the estate the widow having two children by the said Peter together wth her owne 3d it is allowed Her for bringing up the said children. Provided that shee discharge wtsoever debts shall be proved to be owing by the said Peter, & the legacies given by the Court. ffor pformance whereof shee & mr Will Brewster bownd in two hundred pownds
[Court Orders, I:37]

Death: BET 4 APR AND 10 OCT 1633 Plymouth, Plymouth, MA

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?, Mary (b. , d. BEF 27 OCT 1647)

Source: (Death)
Title: Mayflower Increasings

Death: BEF 27 OCT 1647 Plymouth, Plymouth, MA

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Hemphill, Samuel K. (b. 1845, d. ?)

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Hemphill, Lydia M. (b. 1860, d. ?)

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Hemphill, Isabella (b. 1856, d. ?)

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