Tryon, Anne: Who were the parents of Mary Brown/Browne? Who was the father of her children? Is there a Jewish connection?

by Anne Tryon

Who were the parents of Mary Brown/Browne? Who was the father of her children? Is there a Jewish connection?

After discovering that Mary Browne named all of her children with Hebrew names I looked into the Ancient Israelites' movement of the Lost Ten Tribes. Apparently many Hebrew found their way across Europe and over to Britain. Over many years their language changed but the basics were still used and it is stated that 75% of English words are derived from the Hebrew language. I discovered that Celts is a newer name once referred to in three forms of Hebrew.

Just as our DNA can be traced from place to place and back to an origin apparently so can the Hebrew language at least to israel ...but then where?

I now know a little about the Hebrew names given to the Brown children but cannot find out if my 4th great grandmother was Jewish. There are many woman born about this time whose names are all Mary Brown. Here is my information:

Mary Browne born 1762, died 1847, a licencee at age 27, remained active in a Public House/Tavern into her 80's. She had her first child at age 33 and her last at age 45.

Mentor Heber Ezer Uzziel Anstead Browne, was your mother Jewish, religious or just giving our family interesting names that have been passed down through your Anglo descendants?

Mentor was born in 1799 to Mary Browne, the licencee of the Paper Mills Tavern/Public House in Taverham, Norfolk, England. This Tavern was operated by John Anstead and Son. Mentor became a corn and hay dealer as well as a landlord of the Royal Oak Public House on Augustine St. in Norwich, Norfolk. Mentor's widow, Mary Ann Lovick continued with family's tavern business.

Who was Mentor's father? Mary's five children were given Hebrew names which ended with what seems to be a double surname --Anstead Browne. The last child was born the year Thomas Anstead died. Thomas was involved with Mary's workplace; however, he was married to and buried with Judith Bowles. Thomas had 20 years after Judith's death to admit to having Mary's five children. Perhaps his love for his childless young wife and the fact that his parents were still alive influenced his decision.

This is what I call a brick wall.

Other Resources:

1. A page compiled by Jonathan Neville provides a history and images of the mills of Taverham Mill over their 200 year span of activity: Taverham Mill

2. Another page from the same website extracts the story of The Maid of Taverham Mill from Mason, Joseph: History of Taverham, 2005. Anne Tryon adds that the Maiden is her 4 g great aunt, Thomas’s sister.