Reverend Chad Brown I (also known as Chaddus Browne) (c. 1600–1650) was one of the first ministers of the

First Baptist Church in America The First Baptist Church in America is the First Baptist Church of Providence, Rhode Island, also known as the First Baptist Meetinghouse. It is the oldest Baptist church congregation in the United States, founded in 1638 by Roger Williams in Pr ...

and one of the earliest proprietors of Providence Plantations. He was also the progenitor of the Brown family of Rhode Island, known for its association with

Brown University Brown University is a private research university in Providence, Rhode Island. Brown is the seventh-oldest institution of higher education in the United States, founded in 1764 as the College in the English Colony of Rhode Island and Providenc ...

Settlement in Providence

Chad Brown was born in Wycombe,

Buckinghamshire Buckinghamshire (), abbreviated Bucks, is a ceremonial county in South East England that borders Greater London to the south-east, Berkshire to the south, Oxfordshire to the west, Northamptonshire to the north, Bedfordshire to the north-ea ...

, England and married Elizabeth Sharparowe on September 11, 1626 in High Wycombe,

, England. He emigrated to New England on the ship ''Martin'' with Elizabeth and their son John. The family arrived in Boston in the

Massachusetts Bay Colony The Massachusetts Bay Colony (1630–1691), more formally the Colony of Massachusetts Bay, was an English settlement on the east coast of North America around the Massachusetts Bay, the northernmost of the several colonies later reorganized as the ...

in July 1638. He soon moved to Providence Plantations which was recently purchased by

Roger Williams Roger Williams (21 September 1603between 27 January and 15 March 1683) was an English-born New England Puritan minister, theologian, and author who founded Providence Plantations, which became the Colony of Rhode Island and Providence Plantation ...

from the Narragansetts. Sometime between 1639 and 1644, Brown and 12 others signed an agreement sometimes called the Providence Compact, an agreement of "second comers" as distinguished from the original proprietors. He was also one of 39 who signed an agreement for a government in Providence in 1640. Brown became known as an arbitrator of disputes in the settlement, and he was also the town's initial surveyor. He owned a lot on "Towne Streete" (now South Main street and

Market Square The market square (or sometimes, the market place) is a Town square, square meant for trading, in which a market is held. It is an important feature of many towns and cities around the world.University Hall now stands at

. The site was chosen by his descendants to establish the university in Providence on College Hill. Brown also served on a committee determining the governance of the settlement while Roger Williams was in England from 1643 to 1644 gaining an official charter.

Children

His children were: * John Brown I, born on March 9, 1627, England; d. September 13, 1677; m. Mary Holmes in 1643. * Daniel Brown I, b. about 1645; d. 29 September 1710; m. Alice Hearndon. * Phebe Brown, b. England; m. (1) Thomas Lee; m. (2) Greenfield Larrabee. * James Brown I - b. England; d. 1683; m. Elizabeth Carr. Rhode Island's Brown University is named for

Nicholas Brown, Jr. Nicholas Brown Jr. (April 4, 1769 – September 27, 1841) was an American businessman and philanthropist from Providence, Rhode Island, who was the namesake of Brown University. Early life Nicholas Brown Jr. was the son of Rhoda Jenckes (1741– ...

a descendant of Chad and Elizabeth Brown through James Brown II and his son

Nicholas Brown, Sr. Nicholas Brown Sr. (July 26, 1729 – May 29, 1791) was a Providence, Rhode Island slave-trader, merchant, civic leader and co-signer of the charter of the College of Rhode Island in 1763. In 1771, Nicholas Brown Sr. was instrumental in convinci ...

* Jeremiah Brown I, born in 1634, England; d. 1690; m. (1) Mary Gardner; m. (2) Mary Cook * Judah Brown * Chad Brown II, d. May 10, 1663. * Mary, d. May 10, 1643. * Debrah, d. May 10, 1645.

Pastorship of First Baptist Church

In 1639, Rev. Chad Brown assumed the leadership of the

, which had been briefly pastored by Roger Williams. During Brown's pastorship, the church worshipped in a grove or orchard and in the houses of its members, and he remained pastor until his death sometime before 1650. His remains were initially interred near the corner of College and Benefit Streets, but they were moved in 1792 to the

North Burying Ground The North Burial Ground is a cemetery in Providence, Rhode Island dating to 1700, the first public cemetery in Providence. It is located north of downtown Providence, bounded by North Main Street, Branch Avenue, the Moshassuck River, and Cem ...

.The History of the State of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations: Biographical, Volume 6, by the American Historical Society, Inc., 1920. The History of the State of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations: Biographical Pages 188 - 191 His wife was listed a widow in the September 1650 Tax List.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Brown, Chad English emigrants People of colonial Rhode Island 17th-century Baptist ministers from the United States Brown family Massachusetts colonial-era clergy History of Christianity in the United States Burials at North Burying Ground (Providence) People from Wycombe District 1600s births 1650 deaths