Chad Browne
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Reverend Chad Brown I (also known as Chaddus Browne) (c. 1600–1650) was one of the first ministers of the
First Baptist Church in America The First Baptist Meetinghouse, also known as the First Baptist Church in America is the oldest Baptist church in the United States. The Church was founded in 1638 by Roger Williams in Providence, Rhode Island. The present church building was ere ...
and one of the earliest proprietors of
Providence Plantations Rhode Island ( ) is a state in the New England region of the Northeastern United States. It borders Connecticut to its west; Massachusetts to its north and east; and the Atlantic Ocean to its south via Rhode Island Sound and Block Island S ...
. He was also the progenitor of the Brown family of Rhode Island, known for its association with
Brown University Brown University is a Private university, private Ivy League research university in Providence, Rhode Island, United States. It is the List of colonial colleges, seventh-oldest institution of higher education in the US, founded in 1764 as the ' ...
.


Settlement in Providence

Chad Brown was born in Wycombe,
Buckinghamshire Buckinghamshire (, abbreviated ''Bucks'') is a Ceremonial counties of England, ceremonial county in South East England and one of the home counties. It is bordered by Northamptonshire to the north, Bedfordshire to the north-east, Hertfordshir ...
, England, and married Elizabeth Sharparowe on September 11, 1626, in
High Wycombe High Wycombe, often referred to as Wycombe ( ), is a market town in Buckinghamshire, England. Lying in the valley of the River Wye, Buckinghamshire, River Wye surrounded by the Chiltern Hills, it is west-northwest of Charing Cross in London, ...
,
Buckinghamshire Buckinghamshire (, abbreviated ''Bucks'') is a Ceremonial counties of England, ceremonial county in South East England and one of the home counties. It is bordered by Northamptonshire to the north, Bedfordshire to the north-east, Hertfordshir ...
, England. He emigrated to
New England New England is a region consisting of six states in the Northeastern United States: Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, and Vermont. It is bordered by the state of New York (state), New York to the west and by the ...
on the ship ''Martin'' with Elizabeth and their son John. The family arrived in Boston in the
Massachusetts Bay Colony The Massachusetts Bay Colony (1628–1691), more formally the Colony of Massachusetts Bay, was an English settlement on the east coast of North America around Massachusetts Bay, one of the several colonies later reorganized as the Province of M ...
in July 1638. He soon moved to
Providence Plantations Rhode Island ( ) is a state in the New England region of the Northeastern United States. It borders Connecticut to its west; Massachusetts to its north and east; and the Atlantic Ocean to its south via Rhode Island Sound and Block Island S ...
which was recently purchased by
Roger Williams Roger Williams (March 1683) was an English-born New England minister, theologian, author, and founder of the Colony of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations, Providence Plantations, which became the Colony of Rhode Island and Providence Pl ...
from the
Narragansetts The Narragansett people are an Algonquian American Indian tribe from Rhode Island. Today, Narragansett people are enrolled in the federally recognized Narragansett Indian Tribe. They gained federal recognition in 1983. The tribe was nearly la ...
. Sometime between 1639 and 1644, Brown and 12 others signed an agreement sometimes called the Providence Compact, an agreement of "second comers" as distinguished from the original proprietors. He was also one of 39 who signed an agreement for a government in Providence in 1640. Brown became known as an arbitrator of disputes in the settlement, and he was also the town's initial surveyor. He owned a lot on "Towne Streete" (now South Main street and
Market Square A market square (also known as a market place) is an urban square meant for trading, in which a market is held. It is an important feature of many towns and cities around the world. A market square is an open area where market stalls are tradit ...
) along with the land where University Hall now stands at
Brown University Brown University is a Private university, private Ivy League research university in Providence, Rhode Island, United States. It is the List of colonial colleges, seventh-oldest institution of higher education in the US, founded in 1764 as the ' ...
. The site was chosen by his descendants to establish the university in Providence on College Hill. Brown also served on a committee determining the governance of the settlement while Roger Williams was in England from 1643 to 1644 gaining an official charter.


Children

His children were: * John Brown I, born on March 9, 1627, England; d. September 13, 1677; m. Mary Holmes in 1643. * Daniel Brown I, b. about 1645; d. 29 September 1710; m. Alice Hearndon. * Phebe Brown, b. British Colonies; m. (1) Thomas Lee; m. (2) Greenfield Larrabee. * James Brown I - b. British Colonies; d. 1683; m. Elizabeth Carr. Rhode Island's Brown University is named for Nicholas Brown, Jr., a descendant of Chad and Elizabeth Brown through James Brown II and his son Nicholas Brown, Sr. * Jeremiah Brown I, b. British Colonies; d. 1690; m. (1) Mary Gardner; m. (2) Mary Cook * Judah Brown * Chad Brown II, d. May 10, 1663. * Mary, d. May 10, 1643. * Debrah, d. May 10, 1645.


Pastorship of First Baptist Church

In 1639, Rev. Chad Brown assumed the leadership of the
First Baptist Church in America The First Baptist Meetinghouse, also known as the First Baptist Church in America is the oldest Baptist church in the United States. The Church was founded in 1638 by Roger Williams in Providence, Rhode Island. The present church building was ere ...
, which had been briefly pastored by Roger Williams. During Brown's pastorship, the church worshipped in a grove or orchard and in the houses of its members, and he remained pastor until his death sometime before 1650. His remains were initially interred near the corner of College and Benefit Streets, but they were moved in 1792 to the North Burying Ground.The History of the State of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations: Biographical, Volume 6, by the American Historical Society, Inc., 1920. The History of the State of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations: Biographical Pages 188 - 191 His wife was listed a widow in the September 1650 Tax List.


References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Brown, Chad English emigrants People from colonial Rhode Island 17th-century Baptist ministers from the United States Brown family Clergy from colonial Massachusetts History of Christianity in the United States Burials at North Burying Ground (Providence) People from Wycombe District 1600s births 1650 deaths