a merchant of very wonderfull richness - All Saints, Stamford Lincolnshire
William Browne c1410 - 1489 and wife Margaret 1489 lye on the south chapel floor in their original place where he asked in his will of 17th February 1489 to be buried . General wool merchant, Mayor, Justice of the Peace, Sherriff, Benefactor. Acquired during his lifetime around 200 properties and 10,000 acres of land including the Manor of Lilford He and his brother John 1475 www.flickr.com/gp/52219527@N00/B6W946 restored, embellished and enlarged the 13c church of All Saints c1475 after major damage by lancastrians during the Wars of the Roses..
Browne's hospital www.flickr.com/gp/52219527@N00/N8Uh6c , an almshouse in Broad Street adjacent to where he lived and which is still in use today was founded in November 1493 on his instructions after his death by his widow Margaret, Thomas Stokke, clerk, her brother and other executors which was dedicated to pray their souls and also for the Queen, Sir Reynold Bray and wife Katherine, Thomas Stokke and William Elmes,
William who died on 14th April 1489 stands on 2 woolsacks, over his head is his motto "X me spede" (Christ speed me) and at his feet the family crest of a stork on a woolsack. Over Margaret are the words "Dere Lady help at need"
A long inscription translates -
"Since Thou alone art King of kings, Lord of lords
All that is and will be shall be subjected to Thy will
My body entered the earth, but my spirit to Thee
hastens to run. Thou God, accept me,
Who put my hope in Thee, Son of God, gentle Father
and Holy Ghost thundering from on high - accept and receive me, I have sinned, I have done much evil, and rue this
Thou God accept and receive me who is calling out to Thee !
Enter not, Lord, in judgement, unless beforehand
Thou deignest to give me of Thy redeeming grace, which is enough and since for the sake of the salvation of our souls
Thou, King, wast on earth, receive me, my God! "
William was the son of John Browne 1442, wool merchant, and wife Margery / Margaret 1460 www.flickr.com/gp/52219527@N00/z1Zb1N
He m Margaret 1489 heiress daughter of Agnes 1465 & John Stock / Stokke / Stokes of Warmington
Children
1. Elizabeth c1441-1511 m John Elmes 1497 of Henley-on-Thames, merchant of the Staple of Calais (parents of Margaret Elmes 1571 www.flickr.com/gp/52219527@N00/30591z )
2. Agnes died young
Elizabeth inherited the majority of his wealth and land, estimated to be around 6,000 acres in total and 50 houses (at today’s value worth around £50 million), the balance of land having been endowed to the Alms houses / Hospital. One of the manors inherited by Elizabeth was the Manor of Lilford, which the Elmes family owned until 1711. The wealth of William Browne was thus the basis on which Lilford Hall was built by his grandson and executor William Elmes in 1495, and indeed its' extension in 1635.
www.pegasus-onlinezeitschrift.de/2010_1/erga_1_2010_lamp-...
www.lilfordhall.com/ElmesFamily/William-Browne.asp - Church of All Saints, Stamford Lincolnshire
a merchant of very wonderfull richness - All Saints, Stamford Lincolnshire
William Browne c1410 - 1489 and wife Margaret 1489 lye on the south chapel floor in their original place where he asked in his will of 17th February 1489 to be buried . General wool merchant, Mayor, Justice of the Peace, Sherriff, Benefactor. Acquired during his lifetime around 200 properties and 10,000 acres of land including the Manor of Lilford He and his brother John 1475 www.flickr.com/gp/52219527@N00/B6W946 restored, embellished and enlarged the 13c church of All Saints c1475 after major damage by lancastrians during the Wars of the Roses..
Browne's hospital www.flickr.com/gp/52219527@N00/N8Uh6c , an almshouse in Broad Street adjacent to where he lived and which is still in use today was founded in November 1493 on his instructions after his death by his widow Margaret, Thomas Stokke, clerk, her brother and other executors which was dedicated to pray their souls and also for the Queen, Sir Reynold Bray and wife Katherine, Thomas Stokke and William Elmes,
William who died on 14th April 1489 stands on 2 woolsacks, over his head is his motto "X me spede" (Christ speed me) and at his feet the family crest of a stork on a woolsack. Over Margaret are the words "Dere Lady help at need"
A long inscription translates -
"Since Thou alone art King of kings, Lord of lords
All that is and will be shall be subjected to Thy will
My body entered the earth, but my spirit to Thee
hastens to run. Thou God, accept me,
Who put my hope in Thee, Son of God, gentle Father
and Holy Ghost thundering from on high - accept and receive me, I have sinned, I have done much evil, and rue this
Thou God accept and receive me who is calling out to Thee !
Enter not, Lord, in judgement, unless beforehand
Thou deignest to give me of Thy redeeming grace, which is enough and since for the sake of the salvation of our souls
Thou, King, wast on earth, receive me, my God! "
William was the son of John Browne 1442, wool merchant, and wife Margery / Margaret 1460 www.flickr.com/gp/52219527@N00/z1Zb1N
He m Margaret 1489 heiress daughter of Agnes 1465 & John Stock / Stokke / Stokes of Warmington
Children
1. Elizabeth c1441-1511 m John Elmes 1497 of Henley-on-Thames, merchant of the Staple of Calais (parents of Margaret Elmes 1571 www.flickr.com/gp/52219527@N00/30591z )
2. Agnes died young
Elizabeth inherited the majority of his wealth and land, estimated to be around 6,000 acres in total and 50 houses (at today’s value worth around £50 million), the balance of land having been endowed to the Alms houses / Hospital. One of the manors inherited by Elizabeth was the Manor of Lilford, which the Elmes family owned until 1711. The wealth of William Browne was thus the basis on which Lilford Hall was built by his grandson and executor William Elmes in 1495, and indeed its' extension in 1635.
www.pegasus-onlinezeitschrift.de/2010_1/erga_1_2010_lamp-...
www.lilfordhall.com/ElmesFamily/William-Browne.asp - Church of All Saints, Stamford Lincolnshire