~MY ANCESTOR~

The daughter of THOMAS & MARY BROWNING, she was baptized on November 7, 1637 at the First Church of Salem in the Mass. Bay Colony. Vital records of Salem show that she was born on the same day.

She married EDMUND TOWNE on March 25, 1652 at Topsfield, Essex Co., Mass. where they settled.

Mary & her husband inherited from her father, half of his land and houses in Topsfield. She made her will on Feb. 1, 1709/10 in which she disposed of the this land in Topsfield from her father to her four sons -- Thomas, William, Joseph, and Samuel. She left personal prooperty to her five daughters -- Mary, Sarah, ABIGAIL, Rebecca and Elizabeth. Son, Joseph, who was appointed administrator, died before her death. Thomas & William Towne were appointed executors when her will was probated on Dec. 16, 1717.

The Vital Records of Massachusetts does NOT show Mary Browning's Birth date... it DOES show her baptismal date. Mary was not born, nor was she baptised on the 7th of Nov 1637.... the record in the vital records book show "bp" before the day of 7 11m 1737... bp is the abbreviation for baptism (Salem Births, pg 132)....further the date format is in the ancient format...the 7th day of the 11th month of 1647 is not 07 Nov. To calculate dates in this format is it imperative that one calculates dates not from our 01 Jan format but what the equivalent of our 01 Jan was at that time....Our Gregorian Calendar (1752 to present) begins the new year on 01 Jan . The older Julian Calendar (which could be up to 10 days longer usually began on or about what is considered our 25 Mar... now calculate 7 days and 11 months from 25 Mar and you have a baptismal date NOT of 07 Nov 1637 but one of 01 Feb 1637,,, Mary Browning, therefore, was baptised on\about our 01 Feb 1637 NOT 07 Nov 1637....and was likely born in January 1637. There are many differences between the two calendars, but this is a very simplified explanation to correct Mary inaccurate birth/baptismal dates above.