A GOOD NAME IS RATHER TO BE CHOSEN THAN GREAT RICHES, AND LOVING FAVOR RATHER  THAN SILVER AND GOLD

This is a work in progress ... No exact statements are being made ...   Information may change as new information becomes available.

As I welcome all information on this family, If you would like to contribute  photographs or documented sources please E-mail.

FAMILY BROWNSON/BRONSON/BRUNSON OF EARLS COLNE, ESSEX, ENGLAND

Present research has offered three Brownson families

Nationality English: Found to be in Cheshire from ancient time before arrival  of Duke William of Normandie in 1066

Nationality Irish: One of original fourteen Tribes (merchants), interpreted as  Browne, found residing in Cathair na Gaillimhe, province Connacht, County  Galway, Ireland, when Strongbow, Earl of Pembroke arrived in 1169 /1170

Nationality Scottish: The family of our interest 

Brownson/Brunton, / Brunten / Bruntinwere first found located in Lodainn an Ear  (Haddingtonshire), Scotland, where they were seated from very ancient times,  some documentation indicating before the Norman Conquest of Duke William ...  This family is believed to have originated in the 'North Country,' definitive  of Finland, Norway or Sweden.

During research two "basic" Brunson family Coat-of-Arms were located.

Origin: Scotland

Coat of Arms: Gold with three red eagles

Crest: A beacon with flames of fire

Motto: Fax mentis incendium gloriae (The Torch of Glory Inflames the Mind)

Origin: Irish

Coat of Arms: A gold shield with a black two headed eagle

Crest: A black griffin's head

Motto: Fortiter et fideliter (Boldly and faithfully)

Each being located in Wasserburg in the church of Saint Emeran, at Ratisobon,  Germany.

Arms are awarded to particular individuals or family units. Usually, the eldest  living son of each generation inherits arms at the death of his father. If  there are no surviving sons, then another relative may formally lay claim to  the Arms. A Coat of Arms is obtained by one of two methods; by applying for a  grant of new Arms, or by proving direct descent from someone who was legally  entitled to the use of the Arms. Under most heraldic rules, only first sons of  first sons of the recipient of a Coat of Arms are permitted to bear their  ancestor's Arms. Younger sons may use a version of their father's Arms however,  the rules of heraldry say they must be changed (differenced) somewhat. If the  bearer of a Coat of Arms (called an Armiger) dies without male heirs, his  daughter may combine her father's Arms with that of her husband, a process  called impaling.

As a member of this family do you have the legal right to claim it as our own?  Under 'rules of heraldry' the answer, of course, would be no for the family of  Edward Ray Deering Brunson, as the rule of 'first son of first son' would not  apply in this case, nor for several hundred of years distant.

The "History of Hyde" offers the first Brownson was the Page boy of Mary Queen  of Scots, a Douglas, who assumed the name Brownson when Mary Stuart, (Mary,  Queen of Scots) was beheaded 8 February 1587.
 Extended research has not been able to substantiate this story! Members of Family Brownson however, resided in Parwich, Derbyshire  before some removing to Ashton-under-Lyne where they were prominent businessmen  and tailors. One branch of the family traveling to India and were tailors in  Bombay.

Author's suggestion:

Lodainn an Ear (Haddingtonshire), where Family Brownson are first found, and  Lodainn an lar (Linlithgowshire), birth place of Mary Stuart, separated but by  invisible line, may indeed have had an acquaintanceship between Families  Stuart, Douglas and Brownson, as some Family Brownson members appeared to have  followed Mary Stuart while she resided in England.
 Knowing her fate, she may have made prior arrangements with Family Brunson for  the award-ship of Douglas in attempt for his safety.

Some researchers offer Douglas, now Brownson, was non-other then Richard  Brownson, because of ages I will disagree with this theory. However,  this would be a most interesting study.

This Family Tree/History will begin with John Brownson, Sr., born during the  reign of Edward VI, son of Henry VIII and Jane Seymour. 
 There is indication this John's father may be Cornelius Brownson, born about  1515 in Earls Colne, Essex, England, and died after 1560 in Parwick,  Derbyshire, England (Earls Colne, Essex, England Register ERO D/ACW7/324,  Document 3600579) would be the supporting document, His wife is unknown.  Further research indicates Cornelius' father may be Cornelys Brownson, born  about 1480 in Earls Colne, Essex, England Earls Colne, Essex County, England  Register (ERO D/P209/1/1, Document 6500005) would be the supporting document,  wife also unknown ... 
 Further research is certainly most warranted by those having an interest.

First known members of this family to arrive in the Colonies (Massachusetts)  were John, Richard and Mary, children of Roger Brownson and Mary Underwood.

Some researchers suggest John, accompanied by younger brother Richard and  sister Mary, removed to the colonies aboard British Ship Defence in 1635, while  other sources suggest travel with the London Company in 1628 aboard the  Hercules, yet others offer travel aboard the Griffin in 1633.

I am in possession of the Hercules, Griffin and Defence passenger/crew Master  Rosters and Surname Brownson / Bronson / Brunson or variation are not included. Please refer to 'notes' for John, Richard and Mary for the author's suggestion.

The majority of New England settlers during this early period settled in Boston  however, there is no trace of Family Brownson in Massachusetts Bay records,  therefore this family may have removed to the new settlement of Hartford,  Hartford County, Connecticut, and may have been some of the first settlers  there, led by Reverend Thomas Hooker, in May or June of 1836.

Documented evidence:  

The Family surname, often spelled "Brownson / Brunson / Bronson" in early  Hartford records, displays John enlisted for service in the Pequot War in 1637,  then receiving several parcels of land by the division of February  1639 /1640 ...

1649 - 1650 John Brunson is listed in Farmington, Hartford County, Connecticut,  with duty on the Grand Jury in March 1649 (Farmington was founded from Hartford  circa 1641) ...

October 1657 - Medical Journal of Governor Dr John Winthrop, Jr., makes mention  of four children (patients) of John Brunson; Sarah Brunson age 18, John Brunson  age 15, Isaac Brunson age 12 and Abraham Brunson age 10. 
 In 1669 Winthrop referenced son Jacob being 28 years of age and remained a  bachelor ...

10 April 1658 - Farmington, Hartford County, Connecticut Minister recorded  Richard Brunson's children -- Abigail age 14 about Sept 8th 1657, John Brunson  12 years August 1657 (children by Richard's first wife).  Children by second wife; Cornelius born circa 1647-8, and baptized 19 July  1653, died May 1732 Woodberry, Connecticut, Hannah born circa 1649-50 and  baptized 19 July 1653, died before 5 Feb 1712 (New Haven Probate), Elizabeth  born Farmington, Connecticut circa 1651-2 and baptized 19 July 1653, Edith  baptized 22 Apr 1655, Mary baptized 12 Feb 1658, Samuel born circa 1665 ... He  died in Wethersfield, Connecticut 23 Jan 1741-2 at age 76 ...

28 Nov 1680 - Inventory for Estate of John Brunson has the property divided  amongst seven surviving children; Jacob, Isaac, Mary Ellis, John, Abraham,  Dorcas Hopkins and Sarah Kilbourn ...

27 Feb 1684 - Will of Richard Brunson (proved October 1687) of Farmington,  Hartford County, Connecticut, lists unnamed Wife, son Samuel, two sons having  already received their inheritance, and daughters Hannah, Eddy, Abigail, and  Mary ...

13 March 1707-08 - Jacob Brownson's Will includes second wife Mary, sons Samuel  and Roger, then gives remainder of land to four sons; Samuel, Jacob, Roger,  Isaac, and two daughters, Elizabeth Harris and Rebeckah Dickinson.

John Brownson/Brunson of South Carolina was determined to be son of John  Brownson, by conveyances in Farmington, Hartford County, Connecticut Land  records dated 20 May 1739, 28 May 1739, 18 June 1739, 21 June 1739 and 25 June  1739 ...

The various South Carolina heirs conveyed their rights to land in Farmington  and Wethersfield, Hartford County, Connecticut, which descended from "honour"  predecessor John Brownson, formerly of Farmington, deceased, to John Brunson of  Prince Frederick Parish, South Carolina, then Craven County, South Carolina,  who conveyed this property 25 September 1739 to his cousin Aaron Brownson,  Samuel, and Richard of Kensington in Farmington, Connecticut ...

Under date of 24 Sept 1739 is the statement that John Brunson of Prince  Frederick, Craven County, South Carolina, appeared in Farmington for purpose of  signing this deed.

From recordings of documentation, John Brunson of South Carolina removed  himself to Connecticut in Sept 1739 to settle the claims of the branch of his  Family. It is interesting all parties to the deed were descendants or husbands  of descendants of John Brunson, and only one being descended from Richard  Brunson ...

The Richard Brunson Family branch produced several ministers of the Baptist and  related religious sects.

Edward Ray Deering Brunson is related to John Brownson, Sr., as follows:

GGGGGGGG Grandfather - John Brownson, Sr. / Joan Unknown
 GGGGGGG Grandfather - Roger Brownson / Mary Underwood
 GGGGGG Grandfather - Richard Brownson / Abigail Wilbourne
 GGGGG Grandfather - John Brunson / Hannah Scott
 GGGG Grandfather - Isaac Brunson / Margaret Unknown
 GGG Grandfather - William Brunson / Sarah Frierson
 GG Grandfather - Peter Edgar Brunson / Helena Unknown
 G Grandfather - Harvey Peter Brunson / Mary Elizabeth White
 Grandfather - Mortimer Orlanda Brunson / Emily Unknown
 Father - Eligah Mortimer Brunson / Alice Martha Farmer
 Son - Edward Ray Deering Brunson / Alma Rose Miles

I suggest Richard Brownson is the Immigrant for Edward Ray Deering Brunson  Family

This is a work of Marsh McCartney Walton. 
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