The 1491 Purchase.
The origins of the Brown family's holding in Stockbury appear to go back to a London gentleman named John Broun, who was one of a dozen men who purchased the manor and its' lands in 1491.
Broun grew up during the closing years of the Wars of the Roses. He and his colleagues purchased Stockbury manor from John Bourchier, one of the nobles who fled across the English channel in 1483 to join Henry Tutor. He remained there as a surety for a 40,000 livre loan advanced by the French court, when the Tutor's tiny army returned to England. They overthrew Richard III at Bosworth Field and Henry Tutor took the throne as Henry VII.
This is an abstract of the real estate transaaction:
County: Kent.Place: Westminster.Date: One week from St John the Baptist, 6 Henry VII [1 July 1491].Parties: Robert Tate, John Warde, Henry Colette, knight, John Tate the elder, William Isaak', aldermen of London', John Broun', gentleman, Robert Fitzherbert, Thomas Creme, William Sparke, citizens and drapers of London', Richard Drylond', gentleman, Stephen Baker' and Henry Wodecok', querents, and John Bourghchier', knight, and Elizabeth, his wife, deforciants.
Property: The manor of Stokebury, excepting 1 acre of land of the same manor. Action: Plea of covenant.Agreement: John Bourghchier' and Elizabeth have acknowledged the manor to be the right of Robert, John Warde, Henry, John Tate, William, John Broun', Robert, Thomas, William, Richard, Stephen and Henry, as that which the same Robert, John Warde, Henry, John Tate, William, John Broun', Robert, Thomas, William, Richard, Stephen and Henry have of their gift, to hold to Robert, John Warde, Henry, John Tate, William, John Broun', Robert, Thomas, William, Richard, Stephen and Henry and their heirs, of lord king and his heirs for ever.Warranty: Warranty by John Bourghchier' and Elizabeth for themselves and their heirs.For this: Robert, John Warde, Henry, John Tate, William, John Broun', Robert, Thomas, William, Richard, Stephen and Henry have given them 500 marks of silver.Note: This agreement was made by the command of the lord king.
Standardised forms of names. (These are tentative suggestions, intended only as a finding aid.)Persons:Robert Tate, John Ward, Henry Colet, John Tate, William Isaac, John Brown, Robert Fitzherbert, Thomas Cream, William Spark, Richard Dryland, Stephen Baker, Henry Woodcock, John Bourchier, Elizabeth Bourchier
Places:London, Stockbury
THE BROWN FAMILY IN STOCKBURY
There are few Brown entires in Stockbury's register prior to the 1670s, which leads me to suspect the family's principle residence was elsewhere.
I was not able to pick up the genealogical trail for another century, with Clement Brown.