We have little firm information about Thomas BROWNING.
It's likely that the first child he baptized in Tetbury - Mary, in June 1686 - was the result of a first marriage.
There are several possible first marriages:
- Elizabeth ENGLAND on 17 Feb 1679 in Slimbridge (12 miles from Tetbury.) - Can be discounted as they baptized a daughter Elizabeth in Slimbridge in 1686.
- Elizabeth MORGAN on 24 June 1680 in Woodchester (8 miles from Tetbury, adjacent to Minchinhampton.) 1 - This couple baptized Nathaniel in Woodchester in July 1681, but may also have baptized Mary 1687 and Hannah 1688 in Rodborough (near to Woodchester) which would conflict. An Elizabeth BROWNING was buried in Tetbury on 10 May 1686. This was 5 weeks before the christening of Mary. If this was Thomas' wife then complications of childbirth were the likely cause of death.
- Hannah HIGGS in Horton, Gloucestershire on 27 Apr 1685 (12 miles SW of Tetbury.)
Thomas married Ann PARKER in November 1686 in Minchinhampton, which is 6 miles north of Tetbury. The couple had three children baptized in Tetbury: Hannah in March 1688, Thomas in May 1690 and Esther who was baptized in April 1692.
Ann died in December that year amid a high number of adult deaths between October and December 1692 that continued into the following years. 1692 was the beginning of a period known as "the seven ill years" when a malignant fever, also known as "spotted or pestilential fever" swept the country at large. It appeared to be killing adults including James BROWNING, had died a few days earlier than Ann. James may have been Thomas' brother; he had baptized two children in Tetbury in 1688 and 1691 but none later.
Thomas baptized another son, Robert, in June 1695. Presumably he had married a third time, however no clear marriage record has been found.
Thomas' origins
A Thomas BROWNING was baptized in Tetbury in 1631 by Henry BROWNING, but this seems too early and is more likely the previous generation.
More information comes from local BROWNING wills.
In the 1700 will of Isaac BROWNING yeoman of Dufton in the Parish of Tetbury:
- to first son Thomas the ground commonly called Ox-Leaze (with conditions of good stewardship)
- to youngest son Giles, Thomas' land when he died or if he defaulted, which would then pass to Giles' wife Martha, then to Giles children John, Giles, Anne and Martha, and then to John's 8 children
- to son Joseph, the four grounds called "Blackengroves", which would then pass to his wife Elizabeth, then to Joseph's children: Thomas, Jane (eldest daughter) and Ann, then to Thomas' 8 children.
- to deceased son John's 10 children one shilling
- to deceased son James' 4 children one shilling
- to "daughter wife and widow" Hester 20 shillings
Isaac's son Thomas is unlikely be this Thomas BROWNING as he would have too old to be having children in the 1690's when he youngest brother already had 8 grandchildren.
The more likely possibility is that Thomas was Isaac's grandson, i.e. the son of Joseph, with 8 children, or the son of Giles, with 8 children.
If so then the following will relates to their great grandfather. In the will of John BROWNINGE (of Hufton) written in May 1662 and proved in 22 Sep 1662 he made the following provisions:
- to son Isaac BROWNING my table and the forms in the Hall of my dwelling
- to sons John and Isaac 10 shillings apiece
- to grandchild John all my shoes and 20 pounds
- to my grandchild Thomas 40 shillings, and to my grandchild James 5 pounds
- to my grandchildren Joseph, Hannah and Hester 40 shillings apiece
- to my daughter Sarah wife of Christopher HILLIER 3 of my best kine
- to my servant Elizabeth WAKE 2 pounds, and to the poor of Tetbury 20 shillings
- to my god children Benjamin HALE, Richard HOOPER, John DOWNTON and Joyce BENNETT 5 shillings apiece
- the remainder to my son John.
The deceased was likely John BROWNING of "Huffton" who was buried in Tetbury on 10 June 1662.
Another John BROWNING was buried 16 August 1663, perhaps John senior's son. A Joseph BROWNING was churchwarden of Tetbury in 1672, and Isaac BROWNING, perhaps the other son, held that position in 1678.
Woodchester BROWNINGs
In the 1690 will of Thomas BROWNING, clothier of Woodchester, probated on 26 April 1690:
- to wife Jane their house and land
- to son Thomas the above property after his wife's death, plus arable land
- to son William two houses
- to son Nathaniel a house
- to daughter Joana a house
- to daughter Elizabeth the house where brother John is living
- wife Jane is sole executrix
brother Gawain and kinsman Anselem BROWING are witnesses
The 1647 will of Thomas of Woodchester2, which was probated in 1648, has the following provisions:
- to son Thomas the ? ?alt & that chamber so?right hath in possession & that teom? ? the entry during the to lives of the said Thomas & his new widow ...
- to son Richard the ? ? of the house & ogarden & orchard that he hath in posession
- to son John a piece of land lying between the mill modius? & the church way lead etc to Bounhill Common ...
- to Jeremy Paeton? three pounds to be given at 21
- to Samuel BROWNING three pounds to be given at 21
- to Inj?ed BROWNING's five children twelve pounds apiece
- to son Thomas' two daughters five shillings apiece
- to son [adron]'s five children eight shillings
- to Sara GARNER five shillings
- son Edward to be executor and receive all the rest of his goods and lands
