Sarah Walker Sailed to America in 1635

March 6, 2013

Walker Coat of Arms

My 10th great grandmother was 17 years old when she sailed from London to Salem, MA.  She married John Brown soon after arrival in America and moved to New Hampshire.  Her husband, who had been a baker, became a ship builder and a very wealthy man. Her sons were all farmers who fought against the Native people in King Philip’s War.

John Brown was born about 1589 in London, England. He emigrated on APR 17 1635 from London, England. *Genealogy of John Brown : “He sailed out of London on the ‘Elizabeth’, 17 April, 1635.” He immigrated in JUN 1635 to Boston, MA. (2646) *Genealogy of John Brown : They arrived in Boston in June 1635 and he remained, as tradition says, in Salem, Massachusetts, until 1638. He died on FEB 28 1687 in Hampton, NH. He is my 9th great grandfather. 9th great grandfather 

*Genealogy of John Brown : “John Brown was born in London, England, in 1589 of Scottish parents. For several years he ran a bakery in London and at age fourty-six years decided to go to American Plantations. He sailed out of London on the ‘Elizabeth’, 17 April, 1635. Among his fellow passengers were Sarah Walker, age 17, (later to become his wife) and her brother, James Walker, age 15, who was formerly employed by John in the bakery. John registered at customs as a baker and they registered as servants. Sarah had been in the employ of William Brazey, a linen Draper in Cheapside. 
They arrived in Boston in June 1635 and he remained, as tradition says, in Salem, Massachusetts, until 1638. Then John went to Hampton, New Hampshire, where he was one of the first settlers to receive a grant, a tract of four acres, for a house lot, lying near a branch of the river afterwards called Brown’s River. [ Note: This referrs to Browns River, along the Seabrook / Hampton Falls border.] 
In 1640 he married Sarah Walker. She was born in 1618, and presumably, left London as a servant to John.” “…the fact that John Brown signed his own name, instead of a mark, shows that his education was not limited, and since he was a single man of fourty-six years when he came to this country, it is presumed that he did not leave London entirely destitute of property but was a man of considerable wealth. This may be one reason why Sarah married a man so much older than herself…” 
”John built the first ‘barque’ (small boat) ever built in Hampton in 1641 or 1642 at the river near Perkins Mill.” “… it would seem that this barque was the one that John Green Wittier mentions in his poem, ‘The Wreck of River Mouth’.” 
”John was a sober, industrious, hard-working and enterprising man, having made purchases of large additions to his four acres of land in various transactions in the different parts of town. He became one of the largest land owners and the third man of wealth in Hampton, being owner of four farms. He bought of John Sanders in March 1645 house and houselot with 12 acres of upland in the north field next to Morris Hobbs, six acrea of fresh meadow lying by the Great Boar’s Head next to William Fifield’s meadow. 
Even though John was a selectman in 1651 and 1656, he never seemed to have taken an active part in town or church affairs. From the records of the court, it appears that John and his sons were engaged considerably in stock, and in 1654 they sued Thomas Swetman for a debt due for two fat oxen, for the want of which money they claimed to have been much damaged. 
In 1673 and 1674 he and his eldest son, John, brought suit against the’prudential men’ and also against the Town of Hampton for not causing a road to be built to his farm near the Falls River toward Salisbury, Mass. (now Seabrook, NH). The courts decided in his favor and Landing Raod was built. 
All five of John’s sons were farmers and were all engaged in conflict with the Indians in King Philip’s War.”… 

*History of Hampton : “John Brown, born in England in 1588 or ’89, emigrated in 1635, and is said to have settled in Hampton as early as 1639. A tract of four acres, for a house-lot, lying near a branch of the river, afterward bearing his own name, was granted to him, though he seems not to have settled there. His residence was on a ten-acre lot bought of John Sanders, on which Zacceus Brown, a lineal descendant of the seventh generation, now resides. He afterward, by purchase, made large additions to this lot, and obtained various other tracts in different parts of the town.” 

Note: This refers to Browns River, along the Seabrook/Hampton Falls border. 

*E-Mail : “John Browne of Hampton, said to be the son of Sir Angus Browne of Scotland, came to the American colonies from London, England, where he was a baker of considerable means. Embarked on the ship “Elizabeth de London” in April 1635. While on board, he met Sarah Walker, age 17, with her brother, James, age 15, also of London. Reached Salem, Mass. in June 1635. After a few weeks residence there married Sarah and went with the first company of settlers to Hampton, N.H. Was one of richest men in the community. Was a ship builder and made several voyages to England to induce colonists to come to New England.” He was married to * Sarah Walker in 1640.
“In 1669, her brother, John, became violently ill and she cared for him in her home for several years. Sarah died 28 December, 1678 at the age of thirty-five years, being one of the fourty victims of smallpox in Charlestown.”