Thomas Brownell

Thomas Brownell

• Seen as the son of Rowland Brownell and Dorothy Greene.
• Little Compton Families gives his parents as Robert Brownell and Mary Wilson of Parish of Rawmarsh, town of Ryecroft in West Riding of Yorkshire.3
• Birth: 5 June 1608 at Yorkshire, England
• Baptism: baptized in Rawmarsh Parish, Yorkshire, England.
• Emigration: He and his wife Anne left England in 1638 aboard the ship Whale. According to the ship's passenger list, they had lived in the London parish of St. Mary Colechurch before making the journey to America.
• Death: Thomas Brownell died on 24 September 1664 at Portsmouth, RI, at age 56; died in a fall from a horse. He was either thrown against or hit a tree. The broken reins of his bridle were found next to his body and there was blood and hair sticking to the tree. His skull was broken and his "brains came out", thus causing his death.
• Place of Burial: Brownell Cemetery, Portsmouth, Newport, Rhode Island, United States
• Link to grave http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=34694552&ref=wvr

Spouse

• Married: Ann Bourne on 20 March 1636/37 at St. Paul's Wharf, St. Bennet, London, England.2,1,3 .

http://www.citereh.com/p13.htm#i461

Children

• MARY, b. ca. April 1639, probably at Braintree, MA; d. 12 January 1739/1740 at South Kingstown, RI; m. 20 January 1658/1659 ROBERT(2) HAZARD, son of Thomas(1) and Martha Hazard, b. ca. 1635, probably in Nottinghamshire, England, d. 1710 at South Kingstown, RI, and had eight children.
• Sarah, b 1642, d September 6, 1676, m Gideon Freeborn on June 1, 1658
• Martha, b May1, 1643, d February 15, 1744, m (1) Jeramy Wait, m (2) Charles Dyer on March 8, 1691
• George,' b 1646, d April 20, 1718, m Susannah Pearce on December 4, 1673
• William, b 1648, d 1715, m Sarah Smiton in 1672
• Thomas, b 1650, d May 18, 1732, m Mary Pearce in 1678
• Robert, b 1652, d July 12, 1728, m Mary Ladd in 1675
• Ann, b 1654, d April 2, 1747, m Joseph Wilber on May 4, 1683

Source - A history of the Brownell family Statement of Responsibility: by William Brownell - https://www.geni.com/photo/view/6000000013080744255?album_type=photos_of_me&photo_id=6000000090156718831&position=0

Thomas and Anne Brownell were the first members of the Brownell family to emigrate to America. Most Brownells in the United States and Canada are descended from them. They arrived in New England in 1638, on board the ship Whale. According to the ship's passenger list, they had lived in the London parish of St. Mary Cole before making the journey to America.

Nice site is here:

http://brownellfamily.rootsweb.ancestry.com/

Thomas and Anne are assumed to be the Thomas Brownell and Anne Bourne who were married in the Church of St. Benet's, Paul's Wharf, on 20 March 1637/1638.

Thomas is also tentatively identified as the Thomas Brownell baptized at St. Mary's Church in Rawmarsh, Yorkshire, England, on 5 June 1608. He is also assumed to be the son of Robert and Mary (Wilson) Brownell. He had an older brother, George, baptized at St. Mary's on 23 March 1606. and a younger sister, Anne, baptized on 28 July 1611.

Anne has been tentatively identified as the daughter of Richard and Judith (Cowper) Bourne, born in London and baptized at St. Michael Cornhill on 15 February 1606.

Both Thomas and his brother, George, apparently left Yorkshire at some point and went to London, where they probably worked as drapers (dealers in cloth or clothing and dry goods) for their uncle, Thomas Wilson. Known as Thomas Wilson The Elder, he was the brother of Mary (Wilson) Brownell and was a prosperous cloth worker or fabric merchant in London. He also owned a very large estate called Ryecroft, near Rawmarsh where both he and Mary Wilson were born.

Thomas and Anne Brownell settled first in Mt. Wollaston (later known as Braintree) Massachusetts, where Thomas was a "planter" or farmer. The first record of him there is in the notebook or legal memoranda of Thomas Lechford. He sold "a house, a garden and six acres of arable land in Braintree" to Deodatus Curtis. The deed is undated, but occurs between entries of 26 May and 11 June 1640.

The only other record of Thomas Brownell in Braintree is in the Notarial Record of William Aspinwall on 22 February 1646. The record states that "I Thomas Brownell do acknowledge myselfe indebted to Robert Kearne in the just summe of 1 pound 12 shillings and 4 pence which I promise to pay to the said Robert or his assigns in his now dwelling house in Boston at or before 1 July (?)."

This second record could imply that the Brownells lived in Braintree until 1646. It is more likely, however, that this was an old debt and that the Brownells left Braintree in 1640 when the house and land were sold.

Mary, the eldest of Thomas and Anne Brownell's nine children, was probably born during the time they lived in Braintree. Her date of birth is given as April 1639. There is, however, no record of this birth as the recording of births in Braintree did not begin until 1643 and were very sketchy for the early years, few births being actually recorded. Coincidentally, the first birth recorded in Braintree was that of Solomon Curtis, the son of Deodatus Curtis and his wife Rebecca, in 1643. If the Brownells lived in Braintree until 1646, two additional children would have been born there­Sarah ca. 1641 and Martha 1 May 1643. Neither birth is recorded there or elsewhere.

On the afternoon of 24 September 1664, Thomas Brownell was killed in an accident while on his way from his farm at the northwest end of Rhode Island to Portsmouth. (The Brownells, as was typical of most settlers at that time, probably did not live on their farm. They would also have had a small lot in Portsmouth where they built their home and lived, going to their farm during the day to work.) Aged 56, Thomas left behind a wife, Anne, and nine children, ranging in age from nine to twenty-five years.

According to the testimony of Daniel Lawton, Brownell had stopped at the home of Lawton's father, Thomas Lawton, and upon leaving, invited Daniel, aged 21, to ride with him the rest of the way to Portsmouth. The ride soon became a race when Thomas put his horse to a gallop as they came down the hill near William Wodel's property, located about halfway between the Brownell farm and the town of Portsmouth. The younger man soon caught up with and passed Thomas.

As he continued the race to Portsmouth, Lawton looked back to see where Brownell was. Seeing his riderless horse running towards a swamp he immediately turned his horse around and caught Brownell's horse.

He then retraced his way until he came upon Brownell lying on the ground near a tree. He called out to him, but received no response and so dismounted to check on him. Taking him by the arms and seeing the great amount of blood on the ground, Lawton realized that Thomas Brownell was dead.

The following day a coroner's jury, with Samuel Wilbur as foreman, made an inquest into the accident. Testimony was taken from Daniel Lawton and details about the scene of the accident were given.

The jury's conclusion was that Brownell, riding furiously down the hill, was either thrown against or hit the tree. The broken reins of his bridle had been found next to the body and there was blood and hair sticking to the tree. HIs skull was broken and his "brains came out," thus causing his death.

(The above narrative is based on the following records found in Rhode Island Historical Society Collections, Vol. XXV [July 1932], "The Lands of Portsmouth, RI, and a Glimpse of Its People," by Edward H. West, pp. 32-33, as well as in the E.E. Brownell Collection.)

Most of the references for Thomas Brownell list his wife as Ann Unknown.

Citations

• Neal, "Families of Sequoyah County OK & Others", May 31, 2003, unverified.
• Encyclopedia of Massachusetts By Henry L. Dawes Pg.95
• In memoriam, my father and my mother, Hon. Gershom Bradford Weston, Deborah ... By Edmund Brownell Weston Pg.75
• The genealogical dictionary of Rhode Island: comprising three generations of ... By John Osborne Austin Pg.29
• Genealogical Record of the Descendants By John Brownell

Died as a result of running into a tree while riding a horse. Youngest son of Robert and Mary, is the ancestor of all the American Brownells.

Sailed in 1638 from London to American on teh Ship WHALE. Buried in the Brownell Cemetary in Portsmouth They had nine children.

Robert Charles Anderson, FASG [Fellow of the American Society of Genealogists], The Great Migration Directory: Immigrants to New England, 1620–1640; A Concise Compendium (Boston: New England Historical and Genealogical Society, 2015), PAGE 46, ource and PAGE # taken from WikiTree for Thomas Brownell "Caption"---https://www.wikitree.com/wiki/Project:Puritan_Great_Migration

Inquest Into The Death of Thomas Brownell

The testimony of Daniel Lawton aged about twenty-one years or thereabouts being according to law upon oath ingaged testifieth that yesterday in the afternoon Mr. Brownell being at the deponants fathers house, Mr. Brownell asked the depondant wither he would ride towards Portsmouth town along with him, the deponant answered he would so they both ride together, and when they were come down the hill at the head of William Wodels ground, Mr. Brownell put his horse on a gallop afore the deponant, whereupon this deponant also put on his horse and presently out run Mr. Brownell and got affore him, and so continued on his gallop some distance of way afore he lookt back but at length looking back to see where Mr. Brownell was he spied his horse running alone out of the way into a swamp whereupon this deponant forth with, not mistrusting emminant danger to the man ran and turned horse and brought him into the way where presently he saw Mr. Brownell lyinge on the ground, and the deponant called but none answering he lett horse goe and went up to him and took him by the arms, whereby and also by the efusion of very much blood from him on the ground he perceived the sayd Mr. Brownell was dead. This deponant doth testify the above written.

Before us the 25th of September 1664

William Baulston, Asst.

John Sanford, Asst. (this may be John Sanford, Governor of Newport and Portsmouth

These to the Corroner Mr. William Baulston Assistant - Wee of the Inquest being apoynted and Ingaged to Sitt on the Body or Corps of Thomas Brownell of portsmouth; who was found dead on the high way against the upper end of the land of William Wodell yesterday being the 24th of this instant month.

This is our Return judgement and sence thereon, We find by Evident Signs and apeerances, as a very great Efusion of Blood, and the Raines of his bridle being broken and lying neare by him, as also an apparent signs of a Stroke on a tree neare to where he lay and some blood and hair sticking on the Sayd tree That the Sayd Brownell came by his death thus he Riding furiously with his horse down hill was throwne or dashed against the sayd tree, and his Skull Broke and to our understanding his Brains came out This wee find was the Cause of his death.

Signed with the full agreement and Consent of the rest of the Jurry

the 25th Sept 1664

Samuel Wilbure, forman

Thomas and wife Ann lived for a time in St. Mary Cole Parish, London, England.

1638- Sailed from London, England to America on the ship "Whale".

Arrived in Braintree, MA and then settled in Portsmouth, RI.

1647, May 20 Water Bailey

1655- Admitted freeman.

1655, 1661-63: Member of the General Court of Commissioners.

1664- Deputy.

Killed by running into a tree while riding a horse in Portsmouth, RI.

Siblings: George bapt. 23 March 1605/6 and Ann bapt. 28 July 1611.

Thomas is my wife Robyns` 9th great Grandfather

marriage to Ann Bourne Abt. 3/20/1636/37 circa.

immigration to U.S. Abt. 1638 aboard the ship Whale

Immigration: Abt. 1638 arrived in Boston, MA, USA aboard ship Whale _________________ Thomas Brownell

Memorial

   Photos

   Flowers

   Edit

   Share

Birth: Jun. 5, 1608 Settle, England Death: Sep. 24, 1664 Portsmouth Newport County Rhode Island, USA

There is extensive information about Thomas and his wife Anne Bourne at this web site. http://brownellfamily.rootsweb.ancestry.com/

Parents - Robert Gilberthorpe /BROWNELL/ and Mary /Wilson/

Wife - Anne /BOURNE/

Thomas and Anne had 9 children --------- 1-Mary /BROWNELL/ sp - Robert /HAZARD 2-Martha /BROWNELL/ sp - Jeremiah /Wait/ sp - Charles /DYER/ - 04 Dec 1673 3-George /BROWNELL/ sp - Susannah /Pearce/ - 04 Dec 1673 4-Ann /BROWNELL/ sp - Benjamin /Davol/ - 1668 sp - Joseph /Wilbor/ Sr. - 04 May 1683 5-William /Brownell/ sp - SARAH /SMITEN/ - 1673 6-Thomas /BROWNELL/ Jr. sp - Mary /Pearce/ - 04 May 1678 7-Robert /BROWNELL/ sp - MARY /LAND/ - 1675 8-Susanna /Brownell/ 9-Sarah /Brownell/ sp - Gideon /Freeborn/

Family links:

Spouse:

 Ann Bourne Brownell (1607 - 1666)

Children:

 Sarah Brownell Freeborn (1641 - 1676)*

 George Brownell (1646 - 1718)*

 Thomas Brownell (1650 - 1732)*

 Robert Brownell (1652 - 1728)*

 Ann Brownell Wilbore (1662 - 1747)*

*Calculated relationship

Inscription: According to grussell2005 - Stone is no longer visable. Since Thomas and Anne both died before Aquidneck Island had a stone carver, it isn't likely that their graves were ever marked with an inscribed stone (not to say that one could have been emplaced at a later date). More importantly, no inventory of Portsmouth historical cemeteries (dating back over 100 years) cite a listing for Thomas and Anne, hence my statement below. This is not to say that they are not buried in PO005, just to say there is no evidence one way or another. The original land holdings of Thomas do encompass the cemetery, but I don't believe that allows any positive conclusions other than they are probably buried somewhere on the property.

Burial: George Brownell Lot Portsmouth Newport County Rhode Island, USA

References

• RAWMARSH: The Baptism Registers for Rawmarsh, 1600-1609 link 05 06 1608 Thomas BROWNELL Rawmarsh Thomas Wright & Thomas Dyson guardians; Johanna Wainwright guardian
• From “Waters, Henry Fitz-Gilbert. Genealogical Gleanings in England, Vol. I.” Boston, New England Historic Genealogical Society, 1901. Pg. 646 GoogleBooks Thomas Wilson the elder, sometimes citizen and clothworker of London but now resident at Ryecroft in the parish at Rawmarsh and county of York, 25 February 1657, proved 14 February 1658 (English Style). “My body to be buried in the church or chancel of Rawmarsh. ... “I give to my cousin George Brownell of London twenty pounds to be paid him out of the rents of Ryecroft &c. I give unto my cousin Thomas Brownell of Portsmouth, Rhode Island in New England and to his children twenty pounds to be paid either to him himself, if he shall come over to receive the same or else to such person or persons in his behalf as he shall lawfully assign to receive the same. ...”
• “Historic Homes and Places and Genealogical and Personal Memoirs ...,” Volume 4 edited by William Richard Cutter GoogleBooks