Peter Brown Family History

Thomas Browne (1662) & Susan Linn

peter pedigree tree
General History

Thomas Browne & Susan Linn were my one of my 9th generation ancestors.

Key Dates:

Thomas Browne was baptised on 6th July 1662 in West Hoathly, Sussex. He was the son of Thomas Browne & Anne of West Hoathly.  He married Susan Linn on 11th July 1689 in Fletching, Sussex (Note: SxF show date as June) and then lived in Fletching.


Susan Linn was baptised on 5th November 1662 in Horsted Keynes, Sussex. She was the daughter of William Linn & Mary. Her name is shown as Frusan in the parish records for the children’s baptisms rather than Susan, but for her marriage she is shown as Susan Lynne.

Children Click to return to 'Top of Page'

Thomas and Susan had 4 known children.

Elizabeth Mary Thomas Elizabeth
  1. Elizabeth Browne  was baptised on 13th May 1690 in Fletching, Sussex (name not shown). She was buried on 21st May 1690 in Horsted Keynes but actually died in Fletching. ('Elizabeth daughter of Thomas & Frense, died in Fletching').
  2. Mary Browne was baptised on 14th November 1691 in Fletching, Sussex. Details of Mary Brown are shown separately as she is a direct ancestor.
  3. Thomas Browne was baptised on 22nd June 1695 in Fletching, Sussex. He possibly firstly married Jane Roots on 13th August 1721 in Lindfield, Sussex and married secondly Catherine Grimshaw on 13th October 1722 in Cuckfield, Sussex.
  4. Elizabeth Browne was baptised on 20th October 1698 in Fletching, Sussex.

Personal History Click to return to 'Top of Page'

No information available

Verification & Concerns Returns to 'Top of Page'

  1. Very few Brown’s were born in Fletching so the family grouping is correct. No Thomas Brown’s were born in Fletching or Horsted Keynes in the period prior to the marriage so an issue arises in identifying the correct Thomas Browne.
  2. An analysis of all Thomas Browne’s born up to 1673, (sources 1-6), with burials and marriages has been produced to help resolve the issue and this shows that there were two possible Thomas Browne’s that could fit the head of this family group . West Hoathly parish is adjacent to both Horsted Keynes and Fletching parishes. With a minimum marriage age of 16 and the maximum age at birth of youngest child would be 60, Thomas had to be born between 1638 -1673.
    1. 6/6/1662 born in West Hoathly son of Thomas & Ann. He is the most likely person being the same age as Susan, his wife.
    2. 12/5/1646 born in West Hoathly son of Andrew & Mary. He would be 17 years older than Susan at the marriage date (aged 43) and aged 54 at the birth of youngest child so thought to be unlikely.
  3. No ‘Lynne’s or Linn’s’ were found in Fletching Parish Records, but were identified in the Horsted Keynes records and family memebers recorded as born in Fletching but baptised in Horsted Keynes.Very few Linn's found in adjacent parishes so Susan is definitely correct.
  4. The first child (shown as Elizabeth) had no name provided in the baptismal parish record of Fletching. However her death is recorded in Horsted Keynes with the comment “daughter of Thomas & Frense having died in ‘Fliching’”. This is consistent with the mother Susan’s family who appeared to live in the parish of Fletching, but used the Horsted Keynes parish church. This implies both families lived very close to the parish boundary.
  5. In general the family name BROWNE was used up to about 1700 and then BROWN became standard
Documents Returns to 'Top of Page'
No information available
Sources Click to return to 'Top of Page'
  1. Parish Registers – West Hoathly
  2. Parish Registers – East Grinstead
  3. Other Sussex Parish Registers – Ardingly, Bolney, Chailey, Crawley, Cuckfield, Ditchling, Fletching, Horsted Keynes, Hartfield, Ifield, Lindfield,  Maresfield, Newick, Rotherfield, Slaugham, Withyham, Worth
  4. Other Surrey Parish Registers – Bletchingly(some), Burstow, Caterham (some), Charlwood, Crowhurst, Godstone, Horley, Horne, Limpsfield (some), Lingfield, Nutfield(some), Oxted, Rusper, Tandridge (some).
  5. Other Kent Parish Registers – Ashurst, Cowden, Edenbridge, Speldhurst
  6. Sussex Record Society – Marriage Licenses at Lewes 1586-1642,1670-1732, 1772-1837 (Volumes 1, 6, 25,26)
  7. Lewes Will Microfilm
  8. Sussex Family History Group-Sussex Marriage Index CD
  9. Family Search.org (Latter day Saints): For initial identification of details only
  10. Sussex Family History Group - Baptism records