Roger Brownson

Roger was born in 1576 in Earls Colne Essex England and his baptism took place on September 15th, 1576.  Roger's father was John Brownson and his mother was Joan ?.  His paternal grandfather was Cornelius Brownson.  He was an only child.  He died at the age of 59 on October 22nd, 1635 in Aldham Essex England.  He was buried on October 25th, 1635 in Aldham Essex England.

• Death Notes

  Mary Underwood, his first wife,  probably died at the birth of her daughter, Mary.  Roger married second the widow Mrs. Margaret Brewer.When Roger was elderly, he removed from Earl's Colne to Aldham, Essex Co., England.  His will dated 4 August 1635 at Aldham and proved 22 October 1635 at Colchester is as follows:
  
  "To Margaret, my wife, 6L [pounds], furniture, and all that was hers before marriage.  To my daughter-in-law [stepdaughter] Mary Brewer 20s.  To Edith my daughter, wife of John Evered, L3.20s at her age of 21 or marriage.  To my two sons John and RIchard Brownson and to Mary Brownson my daughter 12d each if they ever come to demand the same.  Residue to Cornelius Brownson my son, to be executor."

• General Notes

  Roger Brownson, eldest known child of John Brownson, was baptized at Earl's Colne 15 Sept. 1576, and died at Aldham, Essex, between 4 Aug. 1635 and 22 Oct 1635. He married, first, at Lamarsh, Essex, 12 May 1600, Mary Underwood, baptized at Lamarsh 2 Feb. 1575/6, buried at Earl's Colne 18 March 1622/3, having perhaps died at the birth of her daughter Mary. Mary Underwood was a daughter of John Underwood of Lamarsh. Roger Brownson married, secondly, at an unknown place and date, Margaret ( _____ ) Brewer, widow, who survived him. Roger Brownson's second marriage is not in the Boyd Marriage Index at the Library of the Society of Genealogists, London. In 1610, Roger Brownson was admitted to a reversion of 3 acres of land called Chalkeney Crofts, and he paid a fine of £1-06-08. In 1619, Roger Brownson and Mary his wife were admitted to the house called "Humpherys," and the garden adjoining, and paid for fine £2-15-00. In 1623, Roger Brownson was admitted to "the House uppon the west in Chiffin Lane that he hath estate in only for life, then it is the Lds, and he paid for fine £3-00-00" [Manor of Colne Priory, Register of Admission Fines from 1610, Notes of Fines made by Richard Harlakenden, D/DPr. 100 Essex County Register Office, Chelmsford. In the 1623 entry the phrase "then it is the Lds" meant that after Roger Brownson's death, the property in Chiffin Lane would revert back to the lord of the manor, that is, Richard Harlakenden himself. How "Chalkeney Croft" was transferred from Roger Brownson to his brother John (1580-1638) is not explained in the existing manorial court rolls]. The will of "Roger Brownson of Aldham in the County of Essex, taylor," was dated 4 Aug. 1635. "To Margeret my wife, £6, furniture, and all that was hers before marriage. To my daughter in law [stepdaughter] Mary Brewer, 20s. To Edith my daughter, wife of John Evered of Cogshall, £3. To Susan, daughter of John Evered of Cogshall [Cogshall, co. Essex], my grandchild, 20s. at her age of 21 or marriage. To my two sons John and Richard Brownson and to my daughter, 12d. each if ever they come to demand the same. Residue to Cornelius Brownson my son, he to be executor." Signed by mark. Witnesses: William Adams, John Brownson. Proved at Colchester 22 Oct. 1635 by Cornelius Brownson, the executor named [Commissary Court of London for Essex and Herts, D/ABW.53/47, Essex County Record Office, Chelmsford]. Most of Essex was deeply Puritan in religion in the 1630's, and the terms of Roger Brownson's will should not be taken to imply that he disapproved of the departure of his children John, Richard, and Mary for New England. It is highly probable that he made some financial settlement on them before they left Earl's Colne, and that this helped to pay for their passage. The bequest of 12d. to each of them was merely a legal device, to prevent dispute about the validity of the will. 

Details of Roger's family with Mary Underwood