1470 John Browne, Mercer, was elected Alderman of Farringdon Within in London on September 22. [1]
1486 John Browne was knighted on January 6. [2]
1497 John Browne wrote his will on November 3. [3] " Sir John Browne.—Will dated November 3, 1496; proved January 26, 1497. He describes himself as Knight, citizen, and Alderman of London ; desires to be buried in the parish church of St. Mary Magdalene, in Milk Street; names his late son Richard as being buried in the church of St. Thomas of Acres; specially mentions the town of Lowyk, in Northumberland, and bequeaths a sum towards the parish church there, and to "my poor kynnefolk dwelling within the said county"; and moneys to various persons to pray for his soul, among them being Maister George Werke, clerk, and Alice his sister; Thomas and Rauffe a Werke; James a Werke, his wife and children; Margaret Haydock, widow; Sir John Fenkell, Knight, and my lady his wife; Edward Fenkell, &c. Names his wife's sister, Elizabeth Belknap, late the wife of Richard Hatton (Haddon?), mercer, and "my cosen her son Doctour Hatton, and Margarete Hosier, wife of John Hosier, mercer," and "my wife's brother, Thomas Belwoode." Leaves bequests to the four children of his son William (naming his late wife as "Kateryn, daughter of Lady Sbaa "), also to John West, mercer, and his children; George Nevill, mercer, &e. His "cosen" William Browne, mercer, of Stebonhethe (Stepney), is left overseer of the will. Executors, his wife Anne, and his sons William and Thomas." [4]
1497/98 John Browne died on January 1. [5]
1497/98 The will of John Browne was proved on January 25. [6]
Research Notes:
John Browne was elected Alderman of Farringdon Within in London in 1470. He was sheriff in 1472-1473 and Mayor of London 1480-1481. He was elected Alderman in Cheap in 1488. John Browne was Auditor 1475-7, and he was Master of the Mercers in 1472, 1477, 1485, and 1492. [7]
"1470. Sir John Browne. He was father of William Browne (Mayor 1513-4), and uncle of William Browne (Mayor 1507-8). It is a curious coincidence that both William Brownes died in their respective years of office as Mayor. John Browne was ancestor of the Earls of Pomfret, the Lords Petro and the Cave-Browne-Cave Baronets." [8]
"1473. Sir Edmund Shaa. One of the chief adherents of Richard Duke of Gloucester (Richard III.) and brother of the preacher who asserted the invalidity of Edward IV.'s marriage and consequent illegitimacy of Edward V. in a sermon at St. Paul's Cross. He is said to have been one of Richard's Privy Council. He founded Stockport Grammar School. He also left money in his Will for the rebuilding of Cripplegate. He was father-in-law of William Browne (Mayor 1513-4). [9]
"1505. William Browne (ii.). Son of Sir John Browne (Mayor 1480-1). He married the daughter of Sir Edmund Shaa (Mayor 1482-3) and afterwards the daughter of Henry Kebyll (Mayor 1510-1), the latter of whom upon his death became the third wife of Lord Mountjoy, and the ancestress of the Lord Mountjoy who subdued Tyrone's rebellion and was created Earl of Devonshire. Browne's daughter by his first wife married Sir John Mundy (Mayor 1522-3). His daughter by his second wife married Sir William Petre, Secretary of State to Edward VI. and Mary, from which marriage the Lords Petre are descended." [10]
"1513. Sir John Mundy. Grandson of Sir Edmund Shaa (Mayor 1482-3) and son-in-law of William Browne (Mayor 1513-4). He was committed to prison in 1533 (after he had passed the Chair) for 'disobedyence to my Lorde the Mayer and my maisters the Aldermen.'" [11]
[1] Alfred B. Beaven, The Aldermen of the City of London temp. Henry III.-1912 (London: Eden Fisher, 1913), 14, [HathiTrust], [HathiTrust].
[2] Alfred B. Beaven, The Aldermen of the City of London temp. Henry III.-1912 (London: Eden Fisher, 1913), 14, [HathiTrust], [HathiTrust].
[3] Prerogative Court of Canterbury Wills, 1384-1858, 18 Horne, [AncestryImage].
[4] James Roberts Brown, "Jno. and Wm. Browne, Sheriffs and Lord Mayors of London," Notes and Queries, Seventh Series, Volume Fifth (London: John Frqancis, 1888), 151-153, [GoogleBooks].
[5] Alfred B. Beaven, The Aldermen of the City of London temp. Henry III.-1912 (London: Eden Fisher, 1913), 14, [HathiTrust], [HathiTrust].
[6] Prerogative Court of Canterbury Wills, 1384-1858, 18 Horne, [AncestryImage].
[7] Alfred B. Beaven, The Aldermen of the City of London temp. Henry III.-1912 (London: Eden Fisher, 1913), 14, [HathiTrust], [HathiTrust].
[8] Alfred B. Beaven, The Aldermen of the City of London temp. Henry III.-1912 (London: Eden Fisher, 1913), 166, [HathiTrust], [HathiTrust].
[9] Alfred B. Beaven, The Aldermen of the City of London temp. Henry III.-1912 (London: Eden Fisher, 1913), 166, [HathiTrust], [HathiTrust].
[10] Alfred B. Beaven, The Aldermen of the City of London temp. Henry III.-1912 (London: Eden Fisher, 1913), 168, [HathiTrust], [HathiTrust].
[11] Alfred B. Beaven, The Aldermen of the City of London temp. Henry III.-1912 (London: Eden Fisher, 1913), 168, [HathiTrust], [HathiTrust].