Today we head back to the 1600's to talk about another ancestor who founded Rhode Island with Roger Williams.
Chad and Elizabeth (Sharparowe) Brown and their son John immigrated from High Wycombe, Buckinghamshire, England in 1638 on the ship "Martin". They arrived in the Bay Colony, Massachusetts but soon relocated to Providence, Rhode Island.
Chad Brown owned one of the original lots in Providence. He also owned the land where University Hall is located on Brown University .
Reverend Chad Brown was Providence's first surveyor and helped settle early disputes. He also signed the Providence Compact. But what he is most known for is being the pastor of the First Baptist Church in America. The church pictured below was built c. 1774 well after Chad Brown had died. When Brown was pastor the congregation met in peoples homes or in open fields in good weather.
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| Map of Providence Home Lots 1636-1650 |
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Enlarged portion of above map with highlighted ancestors: John Smith "The Miller" and Chad Brown |
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Chad Brown's Original plot of land was located on the site of Brown University's University Hall |
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First Baptist Meeting House, Providence, RI 2008 |
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Gravestone of Chad Brown (3) |
1. We are descended from Chad and Elizabeth's oldest child John. The couple had 9 children. It is through their fourth child , James that Brown University gets it's name. Find out more about Chad Brown and his family at the Wiki:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chad_Brown_(minister)
2. This is a great web page to zoom in and out of the maps and to listen to Range John Mc Niff talk about this first settlement in Providence, RI
http://www.findingrogerwilliams.com/maps/homelots
3. More information about Chad Brown's burial at North Burial Ground and at Find a Grave:
https://www.providenceri.gov/providence-parks/north-burial-ground/
https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/13701066/chad-brown
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