7. Brown (Browne)Family
       
           The earliest record of this family discovered so far is of Arthur Brown of Melcheborne, County Beds, England, when on June 12, in the year of Elizabeth (1570) his son Chad was apprenticed to Leonard Omston of Northampton as a currier for eight years. It is possible this Chad who die Sep. 2, 1650, was the father of the immigrant to America.

      REV. CHAD BROWN, born 1600 in England, died 1665 probably in Providence, RI, married Sep. 11, 1626 at High Wycombe, Buckinghamshire, England, Elizabeth Sharparowe, who died in 1672. They came to America on the "Martin " in 1638 from England and fled, with Roger Williams, from the persecution of the Colony of Massachusetts to Pocasset (now Providence), RI.  The land assigned to him included what is now the grounds of Brown University.  He was a signer of the "Rhode Island Compact."  He is regarded as the first "elder"  or regular minister of the First Baptist Church of Providence, founded by Roger Williams.  A very successful arbitrator, he had the reputation of being a peace-maker, a Councilman and original landowner of Providence.
      Children:
        JOHN, born 1630
        Jeremiah
        Judah (alias Chad)
        Daniel, who died 1710
      JOHN BROWN, born 1630 in England, died 1706, married Mary Holmes, born 1631, died 1690, the daughter of Rev. Obadiah Holmes
      (See Holmes Family Addendum)

           A man of influence, he took an active part in the affairs of the Colony and held positions of trust and honor, one being a Deputy of the Court (1663- 1664).
      Children:

        Sarah
        John
        James
        Obadiah
        Martha
        MARY, born ca. 1652/3
        Deborah

      MARY BROWN, born ca. 1652/3, married Arthur Aylworth the progenitor of the Aylworth family in America.
       (See general text, First generation)
      Another source is: www.cpinternet.com/~rootie/brown.html

       Ref: (1 v.1-7), (5), (13), (23), (24 b), (72 v4), (74 v67).