FAMILY
Clement Browne was born about 1574. Though we do not know who his parents were, I suspect he may be a descendant of the London gentleman John Broun who purchased land in Stockbury during 1491. There are few references to this family in the parish register prior to the 1670's, which makes me think they may have been absentee landlords. The West Kent Quarterly Sessions QM/SI/1607/1/8 of 10 DEC, 1606, mention a Margaret Browne and Margaret Sherwood, both of Stockbury, spinsters, in the night time at Stockbury stole one pair of "stockyns" worth 6d. and one pair of shoes worth 4d. belonging to Cicilly Gilbert in the house of the said Cicilly.[Both acknowledge the indictment and whipped]
On July 16, 1599, Clement married Charity Muddle at the Church of All Saints in Hollingbourne. She came from a Thurnham family which also owned 10 acres at Stockbury. Charity’s father Richard died in 1600, he left Charity £3 6s 8d. She died at the age of 24, and was buried in the Churchyard of All Saints at Hollingbourne on 9 March 1602.
Two months after Charity's death, on May 3, 1602, Clement married Jane Packe at the Church of St Mary Bredman in Canterbury.
A YEOMAN OF HOLLINGBOURNE
In his will, Clement is described as a yeoman from Hollingbourne.
On May 6, 1602, Clement Browne, yeoman and Michael Norrice, tilemaker, both of Hoillingbourne gave sureties for Edward Croumpe of Hollingbourne, labourer, in £20, to appear, do and receive and to keep the peace towards Arthur Craye of the same, yeoman.
CHILDREN BY CHARITY MUDDLE
George Browne baptised at the Church of All Saints in Hollingbourne on 19 July 1601. When George’s maternal grandmother, Elizabeth Muddle, died in 1608 she bequeathed George twelve pence. George died at Hollingbourne, at the age of 14, and he was buried in the Churchyard of All Saints at Hollingbourne on 4 April 1616.
CHILDREN BY JANE PACKE
CLEMENT BROWN'S WILL
Clement Brown was buried at All Saints at Hollingbourne on 20 April 1616. According to the terms his will, proved by the Consistory Court of Canterbury on 28 May, 1616, his widow Jane could keep the profits of his houses and lands until the youngest was 22 years old. Then she was divide the properties between his children. One of Clement's first wife's brother, William Muddle of Hollingbourne, was made an overseers of this will. There appears to have been some complications. Jane was not on the scene in 1632, when her sons Nicholas and Thomas Browne sued the widow Margaret Peck regarding this inheritance.