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Peter Browne (Mayflower Pilgrim)
Encyclopedia
Peter Browne often modernized as Peter Brown, was a Pilgrim Father, a Mayflower
passenger on its 1620 voyage that initiated the settlement of New England
, and a signer of the Mayflower Compact
, the first document of democratic and republican governance in the future United States of America.
Peter Browne was probably born in January 1594 in Dorking, Surrey
, England
to William Browne. He was baptized in the local parish
on January 26, 1594. While his brothers John (who joined him in 1632 in Plymouth Colony), Samuel, and James became weavers
, his vocation is believed to have been a carpenter
, machinist
, or similar. In 1619 or 1620 he was likely enlisted by William Mullins, as part of the "London contingent," whose trades and skills were necessary for the voyage of the Mayflower and the Speedwell
and the creation of the colony.
On September 6, 1620, Peter Browne boarded the Mayflower at Southampton, Hampshire
, England. With 102 fellow Mayflower passengers and crew, he intended to travel to "the Northern parts of Virginia" and establish an English colony near the mouth of the Hudson River
. Due to severe weather conditions, the ship was forced to anchor off of Cape Cod
, where the first disembarkation occurred and where the Pilgrims determined to bind themselves as a democratically governed and administered colony loyal to England through the signing of the Mayflower Compact
by all eligible men on behalf of themselves, their families, and their fortunes and property. Peter Browne was one of the 41 men who signed it on November 11, 1620.
A January 12, 1621 incident is recorded in Mourt's Relation
whereby Peter Browne and John Goodman became lost in the woods after their dogs began to chase a deer. After a sleepless night, during which time both Browne and Goodman believed they heard lions (possibly mountain lions or other large mammals such as bears
or coyotes), they successfully reoriented themselves and returned safely to the site of the village on the shore. Being among the half of the Pilgrims who survived the first winter, Browne was present at the First Thanksgiving in the fall of 1621, the event that set the precedent for the American Thanksgiving
holiday.
By the middle of the 1620s, Browne had married Martha, the widow of ship's master Ford of the Fortune, who was a passenger of that second ship to arrive at Plymouth. They had two daughters. By 1630, Martha was deceased and Peter Browne remarried to a woman called Mary. They also had two children together.
determined that money was to be set aside for his daughters from his first marriage, whose care was taken up by neighbor John Donne.
Though often stated in biographies of John Brown
, the renowned 19th century abolitionist, it has been definitively proven that the Brown family of Ancient Windsor, Connecticut
are not descendants of Peter Browne the Mayflower Pilgrim.
Many of the current descendants of Peter Browne have been located in the Tinkhamtown section of Mattapoisett, Massachusetts
since the late 18th century.
Mayflower
The Mayflower was the ship that transported the English Separatists, better known as the Pilgrims, from a site near the Mayflower Steps in Plymouth, England, to Plymouth, Massachusetts, , in 1620...
passenger on its 1620 voyage that initiated the settlement of New England
New England
New England is a region in the northeastern corner of the United States consisting of the six states of Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, and Connecticut...
, and a signer of the Mayflower Compact
Mayflower Compact
The Mayflower Compact was the first governing document of Plymouth Colony. It was written by the colonists, later together known to history as the Pilgrims, who crossed the Atlantic aboard the Mayflower...
, the first document of democratic and republican governance in the future United States of America.
Origin and Early Years
Surrey
Surrey is a county in the South East of England and is one of the Home Counties. The county borders Greater London, Kent, East Sussex, West Sussex, Hampshire and Berkshire. The historic county town is Guildford. Surrey County Council sits at Kingston upon Thames, although this has been part of...
, England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
to William Browne. He was baptized in the local parish
Church of England
The Church of England is the officially established Christian church in England and the Mother Church of the worldwide Anglican Communion. The church considers itself within the tradition of Western Christianity and dates its formal establishment principally to the mission to England by St...
on January 26, 1594. While his brothers John (who joined him in 1632 in Plymouth Colony), Samuel, and James became weavers
Weaving
Weaving is a method of fabric production in which two distinct sets of yarns or threads are interlaced at right angles to form a fabric or cloth. The other methods are knitting, lace making and felting. The longitudinal threads are called the warp and the lateral threads are the weft or filling...
, his vocation is believed to have been a carpenter
Carpentry
A carpenter is a skilled craftsperson who works with timber to construct, install and maintain buildings, furniture, and other objects. The work, known as carpentry, may involve manual labor and work outdoors....
, machinist
Machinist
A machinist is a person who uses machine tools to make or modify parts, primarily metal parts, a process known as machining. This is accomplished by using machine tools to cut away excess material much as a woodcarver cuts away excess wood to produce his work. In addition to metal, the parts may...
, or similar. In 1619 or 1620 he was likely enlisted by William Mullins, as part of the "London contingent," whose trades and skills were necessary for the voyage of the Mayflower and the Speedwell
Speedwell (ship)
The Speedwell was a 60-ton ship, the smaller of the two ships intended to carry the Pilgrim Fathers to North America...
and the creation of the colony.
The Mayflower and Plymouth
Hampshire
Hampshire is a county on the southern coast of England in the United Kingdom. The county town of Hampshire is Winchester, a historic cathedral city that was once the capital of England. Hampshire is notable for housing the original birthplaces of the Royal Navy, British Army, and Royal Air Force...
, England. With 102 fellow Mayflower passengers and crew, he intended to travel to "the Northern parts of Virginia" and establish an English colony near the mouth of the Hudson River
Hudson River
The Hudson is a river that flows from north to south through eastern New York. The highest official source is at Lake Tear of the Clouds, on the slopes of Mount Marcy in the Adirondack Mountains. The river itself officially begins in Henderson Lake in Newcomb, New York...
. Due to severe weather conditions, the ship was forced to anchor off of Cape Cod
Cape Cod
Cape Cod, often referred to locally as simply the Cape, is a cape in the easternmost portion of the state of Massachusetts, in the Northeastern United States...
, where the first disembarkation occurred and where the Pilgrims determined to bind themselves as a democratically governed and administered colony loyal to England through the signing of the Mayflower Compact
Mayflower Compact
The Mayflower Compact was the first governing document of Plymouth Colony. It was written by the colonists, later together known to history as the Pilgrims, who crossed the Atlantic aboard the Mayflower...
by all eligible men on behalf of themselves, their families, and their fortunes and property. Peter Browne was one of the 41 men who signed it on November 11, 1620.
Mourt's Relation
The book Mourt's Relation was written primarily by Edward Winslow, although William Bradford appears to have written most of the first section...
whereby Peter Browne and John Goodman became lost in the woods after their dogs began to chase a deer. After a sleepless night, during which time both Browne and Goodman believed they heard lions (possibly mountain lions or other large mammals such as bears
American black bear
The American black bear is a medium-sized bear native to North America. It is the continent's smallest and most common bear species. Black bears are omnivores, with their diets varying greatly depending on season and location. They typically live in largely forested areas, but do leave forests in...
or coyotes), they successfully reoriented themselves and returned safely to the site of the village on the shore. Being among the half of the Pilgrims who survived the first winter, Browne was present at the First Thanksgiving in the fall of 1621, the event that set the precedent for the American Thanksgiving
Thanksgiving (United States)
Thanksgiving, or Thanksgiving Day, is a holiday celebrated in the United States on the fourth Thursday in November. It has officially been an annual tradition since 1863, when, during the Civil War, President Abraham Lincoln proclaimed a national day of thanksgiving to be celebrated on Thursday,...
holiday.
By the middle of the 1620s, Browne had married Martha, the widow of ship's master Ford of the Fortune, who was a passenger of that second ship to arrive at Plymouth. They had two daughters. By 1630, Martha was deceased and Peter Browne remarried to a woman called Mary. They also had two children together.
End of Life
The administration of the estate of Peter Browne on October 10, 1633, indicates that he died sometime since the last reference to his property in the records. It is widely believed that he succumbed to the same sickness that spread through Plymouth Colony in the summer of 1633. He was survived by his second wife Mary who acted as the executrix of his estate. The Plymouth General CourtPlymouth General Court
The Plymouth General Court was the original colonial legislature of the Plymouth colony from 1620 to 1692...
determined that money was to be set aside for his daughters from his first marriage, whose care was taken up by neighbor John Donne.
Descendants
Peter Browne had four children, only three of whom survived to adulthood. By his first marriage to Martha, widow Ford, he had daughters Mary and Priscilla. By his second marriage to Mary, he had daughter Rebecca and the child who did not survive. His daughters were:- Mary Browne, who married Ephraim Tinkham and later relocated to Middleboro.
- Priscilla Browne, who married William Allen, but had no children.
- Rebecca Browne, who married William Snow and later relocated to SandwichSandwich, MassachusettsSandwich is a town in Barnstable County, Massachusetts, United States. The population was 20,675 at the 2010 census. The Town Hall is located right next to the Dexter Grist Mill, in the historic district of town....
.
Though often stated in biographies of John Brown
John Brown (abolitionist)
John Brown was an American revolutionary abolitionist, who in the 1850s advocated and practiced armed insurrection as a means to abolish slavery in the United States. He led the Pottawatomie Massacre during which five men were killed, in 1856 in Bleeding Kansas, and made his name in the...
, the renowned 19th century abolitionist, it has been definitively proven that the Brown family of Ancient Windsor, Connecticut
Windsor, Connecticut
Windsor is a town in Hartford County, Connecticut, United States, and was the first English settlement in the state. It lies on the northern border of Connecticut's capital, Hartford. The population was estimated at 28,778 in 2005....
are not descendants of Peter Browne the Mayflower Pilgrim.
Many of the current descendants of Peter Browne have been located in the Tinkhamtown section of Mattapoisett, Massachusetts
Mattapoisett, Massachusetts
Mattapoisett is a town in Plymouth County, Massachusetts, United States. The population was 6,463 at the 2008 census.For geographic and demographic information on the village of Mattapoisett Center, please see the article Mattapoisett Center, Massachusetts....
since the late 18th century.