19

CHAPTER I.

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THE BROWNLOW FAMILY.

THE first of the Brownlow family to obtain any position of prominence was Richard Brownlow, Chief Prothonotary of the Court of Common Pleas for forty-seven years during the reigns of Elizabeth, James L, and Charles L, who from the considerable emoluments of his office acquired a large fortune, which he spent in the purchase of Belton, near Grantham, and other estates in Lincolnshire, a great part of which came to the Custs through the marriage of Anne Brownlow, the heiress of her family, to Sir Richard Cust, as mentioned in the last chapter.

The ancestry of Richard Brownlow cannot be traced with any certainty beyond his father John Brownlow of High Holborn and his grandfather Christopher Brownlow of Derbyshire, who lived at the end of the fifteenth or beginning of the sixteenth century. At this time, or a few years later, numerous branches of the Brownlow family were living in Lancashire, Derbyshire, and Nottinghamshire, to some of whom Richard Brownlow was probably related. The family seems long to have existed in England, for in 1325 a certain. William de Brounley was one of those who accompanied Edward 11. on an expedition to Flanders.*

All that can be done now is to mention shortly those branches of the Brownlow family with whom it appears likely that Richard Brownlow was connected, and we should note here that the name appears spelt in an endless manner of ways in the older records, of which Brownley, Brounley, and Bronley are common varieties.

In Derbyshire a certain Henry Brownlow owned land at Biggin in Duffield parish in 1526, according to the Records of the Duchy of Lancaster whose descendants were still at Biggin in 1601,† and some of the family lie buried in the neighbouring Church of Kirk Ireton. According to a pedigree in the "Visitation of Lincolnshire for 1634" there was also a John Brownlow of "Berrisford, co. Derby," about 1550, who had a son Henry Brownlow and a grandson Nathaneele Brownlow of Belton in the Isle of Axholm who there is reason to think was related to the Prothonotary Brownlow, as he stood godfather to one of his grandchildren in 1632, as will be shewn later. It seems quite possible that Christopher Brownlow was a brother or near relation of Henry Brownlow of Biggin, and that John Brownlow of Berrisford was also of the same family.

* Rymer's 'Foedera,' vol. iv., p. 161.
† 'Calendar Ducatus Lancastriae,' vol. i., p. 188; vol. ii., pp. 31-144; vol. iii., p. 413.

20

RECORDS OF THE CUST FAMILY.

The Brownlow family, if originally of Derbyshire, appear to have early migrated into Nottinghamshire, and the many branches of the Brownlows in this county appear to have always considered themselves to belong to the same family as the Prothonotary, and to have the right to bear his arms, Or, an escutcheon within an orle of martlets sable.

This was first brought to my notice in a manuscript book compiled in 1855 by the late Rev. John Brownlow, a Roman Catholic priest, which his cousin the late Bishop of Clifton kindly lent to me. The object of this book was to prove his descent and that of the Bishop from Christopher Brownlow of Derbyshire already mentioned. Although there was much that was interesting in this book respecting the Brownlow family, including extracts from many parish registers and other records, yet it failed in my opinion to prove this descent.* Mr. Brownlow was only able to prove his descent as far as a certain Richard Brownlow of Ordsall, called "Welbeck Brownley," who was baptized at Nottingham October 24th, 1569, and buried at Tuxford December 26th, 1639. Mr. Brownlow was persuaded that this Welbeck Brownley was the son of "Brian Bromley" of Ordsall, who wits married there on July 26th, 1568, to Margaret Graunt, and he mentions that Ordsall, which is a mile from Retford, was three miles from Haughton Park, of which place, as we shall see later, Christopher Brownlow's wife of the name of Lee was the heiress. It is impossible to say whether this hypothesis of Mr. Brownlow's has any foundation beyond the fact that the Brownlows of Ordsall and Retford used the arms of the Prothonotary, which were formerly to be seen in Ordsall Church on the monument of Richard Brownlow of Thrumpton, grandson of Welbeck Brownley, who died January 31 St, 1706. Although these arms have now disappeared, it is a fact that at the present time there exists, belonging to the Church, a large silver flagon, 13 inches high, on which is the same Brownlow coat with the greyhound crest, with this inscription:-

The Gift of M^rs ANN TURNELL Widd: Only Daughter & Heir of M^r RICH^D BROWNLOW of THRUMPTON dec^d for the Use of the Communicants of the Parish Church of ORDSALL for Ever.

Mrs. Turnell's monument states that she died November 6th, 1727.†

Another branch of the Brownlows of Nottinghamshire settled in Ireland early in the seventeenth century, which is now represented by Lord Lurgan. The Brownlows of Lurgan always believed themselves to be related to the Brownlows of Belton near Grantham,‡ and for many

* A pedigree of the Bishop of Clifton's family will be found at the end of this chapter.
† This inscription has been kindly furnished by the Rev. L. Walter Stott, LL.D., Rector of Ordsall, who says that the arms of Brownlow are no longer to be seen on Richard Brownlow of Thrumpton's monument.
‡ This family tradition was told me many years ago by my aunt Lady Elizabeth Brownlow, whose mother Elizabeth, Countess of Darnley, was one of the Brownlows of Lurgan.

21

THE BROWNLOW FAMILY.

years carried the same arms and crest. In 1839, when a peerage was granted to Mr. Charles Brownlow of Lurgan, it being found impossible to prove his right to bear these arms, the Heralds only granted him the old Brownlow coat with a difference in the field, viz., Per pale Or and Argent, an escutcheon within an orle of martlets sable.

This Irish branch can be traced back to John Brownlow of Epworth and Nottingham, who was possibly a son of John Brownlow, Mayor of Nottingham several times between 1567 and 1590.* Be this at it may, young John Brownlow was married at St. Mary's Church, Nottingham, by Archdeacon Welles on April 30th, 1589, to Douglas, daughter of Thomas Roper of Heanor, co. Derby.† John and Douglas Brownlow went to live at Epworth in the Isle of Axholm, co. Lincoln, where we learn from the parish register that their eldest soil John was buried January 17th, 1589-90, and that their second soli William (afterwards Sir William Brownlow, Knight) was baptized October 16th, 1591. Here also we find that the young mother died a few months later, and was buried as "Duglas wife of John Bronley " February 23rd, 1591-2.

After his wife's death John Brownlow would appear to have returned to Nottingham; but it was not till twenty-three years later that he sold his house at Epworth. In the Epworth Manor Court Rolls on April 13th, 1615, appears this entry:-

"John Brownlow and William Brownlow his son surrendered a messuage and curtilages near the Court House in Epworth to Thomas Poste."

Long before this John Brownlow and his son William, taking with them "six carpenters, one mason, a taylor, and six workmen," had gone to Ireland as "Undertakers in the Plantation of Ulster,"‡ where they obtained grants of the forfeited O'Neil lands of 1500 acres at Doughcoran and 1000 acres at Ballememony on the south shore of Lough Neagh.§ In a list of the Undertakers who left England in "Sir Francis Anderson's Consort we find the name of "John Brownlowe of Nottingham, 150l. per annum."|| John Brownlow seems to have died before 1619, when William Brownlow was in possession of both Doughcoran and Ballymemony. In 1629 Sir William Brownlowe, who had been knighted in 1622, obtained a grant of these lands, "to be erected into a manor to be called the Manor

* See Records of the Borough of Nottingham; Historical MSS Commission; Duke of Rutland's Papers, vol. i., p. 142.
† A Roper pedigree will he found at tile end of this chapter. In a Chancery Suit dated November 23rd, 1600, John Brownlow and hi,, brother-in-law Robert Roper, Counsellor-at-law, are plaintiffs. The suit was respecting the trusts of the will of their uncle Robert Roper, which was proved in 1598-9 by his widow, afterwards the wife of John Cholmeley. William Brownlow, uncle to John Brownlow, is mentioned in this suit. (Chancery Proceedings, Elizabeth, B, b. 21-63).
‡ Carew Papers, vol. 630, p. 42.
§ Calendar Irish Patent Rolls, 8 James L, part 2.
|| Calendar State Papers (Ireland), James L, 1610, p. 549.

22

RECORDS OF THE CUST FAMILY.

of Brownlow Derry."* Sir William, who married Elinor, daughter and coheir of John O'Dogherty of Derry, died January 2nd, 1661-2, and was succeeded by his grandson Arthur Chamberlain, the son of his eldest daughter Lettice by her first husband Patrick Chamberlain, who assumed the name and arms of Brownlow, and from him the present Lord Lurgan is descended.

The Brownlows of West Stockwith, Newark, and Belton in the Isle of Axholm, all apparently closely connected together, remain to be mentioned. William Brownlow, who lived on the banks of the Trent at West Stockwith in 1593,† married, at his parish church of Misterton in 1575, Dorcas Heryng, probably the daughter of Alderman Thomas Heryng of Newark, by whom he had two sons: John, who seems to have lived at Newark, of which place a John Brownlow was Alderman in 1612, who was buried there February 20th, 1626-7, as "Mr. John Brownley, Alderman." Arthur, the other son, is not mentioned after his 'baptism in 1579, but we may remark that his uncommon Christian name only appears once more in the Bro~vnlow family in the person of Arthur Chamberlain, the grandson of Sir William Brownlow of Lurgan, and suggests some possible connection between them.

About the same time, a few miles to the north in Lincolnshire, there was living at Belton in the Isle of Axholm another William Brownlow, who on March 2nd, 1600-1601, had, with his wife Joan and his son and heir Vincent, licence to alienate seventy acres of pasture at Owston, about five miles from Belton.‡ Joan Brownlow must have died soon after this, as her husband William Brownlow was married a second time in Belton Church February 3rd, 1602-3, to Margery Dowgood. On this occasion he settled oil his second wife four cottages and fourteen acres of land, which after her death in 1617 reverted to his son by his first wife Vincent. William Brownlow was buried at Belton March 9th, 1615-16. Vincent Brownlow his son seems to have been in some way connected with Newark, as he was married there on May 24th, 1604, to Alice, daughter of Robert Parkinson of Foston. The Inquisition taken after his death, August 21st, 1623, shews that lie was seized of a capital messuage called Bracton and twenty-three acres of land in Belton, which was held at the date of the Inquisition by Alice Brownlow his widow, who afterwards married Nathaneele Brownlow. Vincent Brownlow left a son William, eight years of age, who died before 1655, when his sister Joan (who was married first to Robert Rudhall and secondly to Daniel Whitehead), with her daughter Frances Rudhall, sold the four cottages and fourteen acres of land which had come to her from her father Vincent Brownlow. Vincent Brownlow would appear to have left his property to his wife for life, for when the Visitation of 1634 took place this property was in the hands of

* Morrin's Irish Patent Rolls, p. 454.
† 'Cal. Ducat. Lancastriae,' vol. iii., p. 315.
‡ From information supplied to me by the late Mr. Arthur Larken.

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THE BROWNLOW FAMILY.

Nathaneele Brownlow already mentioned, who, had married Vincent's widow Alice Parkinson. It is very likely that Vincent and Nathaneele were cousins, as one of the sons of the latter was named Vincent. In 1632 "Mr Nathaneele Brownlowe of Belton in the isle of Axholm" is mentioned by Sir William Brownlow, Bart., in his family Bible as the godfather to his seventh child Katherine. After 1634 nothing more is heard about the Brownlows of the Isle of Axholm excepting that "Alice Brownloe, widow," was buried August 28th, 1644, shewing that Nathaneele was already dead.

After considering all that can be found respecting the early history of the Brownlow family as connected with Richard Brownlow the Prothonotary, we are forced to the conclusion that nothing definite can be said as to whence John Brownlow of High Holborn, his father, came, nor as to which branch of the family he belonged. One interesting question as to the surname of the wife of John Brownlow, and also that of his mother, remains to be considered before proceeding in the next chapter to the better-known history of his son the Prothonotary.

What has been generally received as to Christopher Brownlow of Derbyshire's wife is the statement in the Visitation pedigrees of Lincolnshire and Middlesex that she was an heiress of the name of Lee, described as of "Aughton Castle in the co. of Derby," whose arms were Argent, a fess between two leopards' faces in chief and a crescent in base sable. Some copies of the Visitation of 1592 in the British Museum give her arms with a third leopard's face in base instead of a crescent, and one copy of the Visitation of Lincolnshire in 1562 describes her as of "Haughton Castle in com. Nottingham."* No place of the name of Aughton seems to have existed in Derbyshire, nor can any family of the name of Lee be traced as living there, while it is certain that a family of this name held the manor of Southwell in Nottinghamshire in 1542,† close to which is the village of Halloughton or Halton, and at no great distance is a Haughton or Hawton near Retford and Newark. It would therefore seem probable that this Lee heiress was one of the Southwell family. This idea is strengthened by the fact that Segar, in his grant of arms to Richard Brownlow in 1602, gives the arms of this lady as Gules, on a jess cotised or three leopards' faces of the field, closely resembling the arms mentioned by Thoroton ‡as being on Gervas Lee, Esq., of Southwell's monument in the neighbouring church of Norwell, Azure, on a jess cotised or three leopards' heads gules.§

* Harleian MSS. 1190,1550,1551.
† Edward Lee, Archbishop of York, granted to the King his manor of Southwell in 1542. His name was on a pillar called Lee's pillar in Southwell Church, put up by Gervas Lee in 1608. This Gervas Lee was afterwards fined £500 for a scurrilous ballad against the chapter of Southwell. See further particulars as to the Lee family in Rastall's 'History of Southwell, 1787.'
‡ Thoroton's, Notts,' pp. 319-351.
§ Edmondson's 'Heleraldry' also gives the arms of Lee of Southwell as Gules, on a fess cotised or three leopards' heads of the field.

24

RECORDS OF THE CUST FAMILY.

As to the question of the surname of John Brownlow's wife, all the copies of the Lincolnshire Visitations in the British Museum call her " Jane da. of . . . . Botheway of . . . . by his wife da. of Sr John Zouche of Stoughton Grange in coin. Leicester."* There appears no evidence whatsoever in support of this assertion, which is omitted in the more correct Visitation of 1634, and it will probably be safe here also to adopt Segar's view that her name was Jane Arden, to whom he assigns the arms of the Ardens of Alvanley, Gules, three cross-crosslets fitche and a chief or. It is certain that from this time forth the Ardens are often mentioned as cousins to the Brownlows, and as late as May 7th, 1684, Edward Arden assigns an annuity of £20 out of Haia Park, given to him by the first Sir John Brownlow in 1660, to his cousin the second Sir John Brownlow, by a deed now at, Belton which has a fine seal, with the same Arden arms as in Segar's grant with the crest of a plume of feathers used by the Ardens of Alvanley. Segar's Confirmation of Arms and Crest to Richard Brownlow, dated 1602, now at Belton is beautifully emblazoned with a border of gold scroll work. It was exhibited in the Heraldic Exhibition of the Society of Antiquaries in 1898, where it was much admired.† At the head are four small shields on which are emblazoned the arms of four generations of the Brownlow family impali n g the arms of their respective wives as follows:-

1. BROWNLOWE, Or, an inescutcheon within an orle of martlets sable impaling PANELLY, Azure, across atty fleury or. On a scroll beneath, BROWNLOWE and PANELLY.
2. Quarterly 1 and 4, BROWNLOWE; 2 and 3, PANELLY impaling LEE, Gules, on a bend cotised or three leopards' faces of the field. On a scroll, Xpor BROWNLOWE and LEE.
3. Quarterly as No. 2, impaling ARDEN, Gules, three cross-crosslets fitche and a chief or. On a scroll, JO. BROWNLOWE, JANE ARDEN.
4. Quarterly as Nos. 2 and 3, impaling PAGE, Argent, a chevron azure between three estoiles gules.

At the side is emblazoned a large shield with these arms: Quarterly 1 and 4, BROWNLOWE; 2 and 3, PANELLY, over which is a helmet with the greyhound crest as granted by R. Cooke in 1593. The latter part of the wording of this grant is as follows:-

And for that Richard Brownlowe of th' ynner Temple Esquire and at this present cheife Prothonotary of the Court of Common Pleas is a man every way for his vertue, good service and deseart taken and reputed amongst the number of the best accompted Esquires & Gentlemen of this Realme, Fynding his Atchyuement of Armes borne by his said Ancestors as by the recordes thereof, remayning in the

* Some years ago I made an exhaustive search in the Zouche pedigrees and other records, and found no trace anywhere of the Botheway family.
† This beautifully emblazoned and illuminated grant was reproduced in the illustrated catalogue or the Heraldic Exhibition of the Society of Antiquaries held in 1898.

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THE BROWNLOW FAM1LY.

Office of Clarencieux late King of Armes more playne it doth & may appeare, And being required by the &aide Richard Brownlowe to make searche for the better and more perfect exemplifying of his saide Coate of Armes, I have therefore thought good and by auethority of my Office, doe blaze and confirme his saide Coate of Arms and Cognissance together with the Coate of Panelly quarterly as followeth Viz. in the first for Brownlowe, Ore an Inescuchion with an orle of Martlets sables, in the second for Pauelly azure a Crosse patye flourty gould. And to his Creast & Cognissance on a Chapeau gules lyned Ermyns a Greyhounde passant goulde with a collar of the first, mantled sables doubled Ore as more playnly appeareth depicted in the margent ....

Notwithstanding this grant it should be mentioned that the Panelly coat has never since been used by any of the Brownlow family, and the grounds on which Sir William Segar assigned it to Richard Brownlow remain unknown.

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THE BROWNLOW FAMILY.

APPENDIX TO CHAPTER 1.

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EXTRACTS FROM COURT ROLLS OF EPWORTH MANOR.

Communicated by Sir A lfred Scott Gatty, Garter King of Arms.

At a Court Holden 8 October 1601. William Gregory, Gent., surrenders all those lands within a close late Thomas Monson's, Gent., with a cottage and selion of three Roods lying in the stoole in Belton, to William Brownley, Gent.

At a Court Holden 11 January 1603-4. William Brownlow, Gent., who held fourteen Acres meddow and four cottages one of which is in the occupation of James Thornton, another in the occupation of Thomas Mawe, another of Richard Cumworth, the other of Robert Hallwell, in the parish of Belton, surrendered the game to Margaret his wife for life, with remainder to his heirs.

At a Court Holden 1 February 1604-5. Alexander Kitchen and Dorothy his wife surrenders a cottage and one croft of arable (2 acres) in Brakeham to the use of William Brownlow, Gent., and Margery his wife.

At a Court Holden 13 April 1615. John Brownlow and William Brownlow his son surrendered a messuage and cartilage near the Courthouse in Epworth to Thomas Poste.

At a Court Holden 19 February 1650-51. Vincent Brownley alias Brownlow, who held four cottages and fourteen acres in Belton Braken, has died so seized, and William Brownley alias Brownlow is son and heir, and was admitted, and he surrendered said premises to William Steele, Gent., and it is shewn that William Brownlow did not pay the fine and died without issue, whereupon Jane, late wife of Daniel Whitehead, is found to be daughter and heir to said deceased. £4.

At a Court Holden 10 October 1655. Jane Whitehead, widow, daughter of Vincent Brownlow alias Brownley, and Alice Rudhall, daughter of the said Jane and Robert Rudhall, surrendered four cottages, etc., in Belton to Richard Kinman and Anne his wife.

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ABSTRACT OF INQUISITION AFTER THE DEATH OF
VINCENT BROWNLOW.

Inquisition Post Mortem, 21 James L, Virtute Officii.

Inquisition taken at Gainsborough 21 August 1623, before George Metham, Esq., Escheator Virtute Oflicii, after the death of Vincent Brownlow, late of Bracon in the parish of Belton in the Isle of Axholm, Gentleman. The jurors say on their oath that the said Vincent Brownlo was seised in demesne as of fee in and of-

I. One Capital Messuage, One Barn, One Dovecote, and a close of ]and adjoining the said messuage called Uppclose containing two acres.
II. Another close of meadow of six acres called Pond Close.
III. Another close of land called Wheat Close containing five acres.
IV. Another close of pasture called Calfe Close of three acres.
V. Another close of pasture called Dovecoat Close containing two acres.
VI. Another close of land called le Est Stoole containing five acres. All which premises are in tenure of Alice Brownlo, widow, late mile of the said Vincent, and lye in Bracton aforesaid.
V11. One Cottage with a croft of land and four selions of land in Belton field called Northcroft containing two acres, late in occupation of John Northeby and now in that of Thomas Davy.

All the above premises were held at the death of the mid Vincent Brownlo of [word erased] as of the manor of Epworth in the Isle, by Knight's service part of fee unknown, and by a rent of 43d, worth 12s, and are now held of Charles Prince of Wales.

The said Vincent Brownlo died 16 July last past, and William Brownlo is his son and heir and now aged eight years or thereabouts.

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30

RECORDS OF THE CUST FAMILY.

EXTRACTS FROM REGISTERS MADE BY REV. JOHN BROWNLOW.

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KIRK IRETON DERBYSHIRE

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ST. NICHOLAS, NOTTINGHAM.

Eight other entries of Brounloes, 1622-1639.

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ST. MARY's, NOTTINGHAM.

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MISTERTON.

* The Rev. John Brownlow believed this Rychard to be son of Brian Brownley of Ordsall, and to have been the Richard Brownlow of Ordsall known as Welbeck Brownley, who was the ancestor of he Bishop of Clifton.

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THE BROWNLOW FAMILY.

NEWARK

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ORDSALL.

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TUXFORD.

Twenty-seven other Brownley entries.

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EXTRACTS FROM OTHER REGISTERS.

EPWORTH, LINCOLNSHIRE

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* See note to registers of St. Nicholas, Nottingham.

32

RECORDS OF THE CUST FAMILY.

BELTON IN THE ISLE OF AXHOLM

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BALDERTON, NOTTS.