CORNELIUS2 BROWNE (Nicholas1) was born about 1637, probably in England or
Lynn, Mass., and died intestate at Reading, Mass., before 1703, when his
estate was divided (Middlesex Probate, 2972). He married, first, at Reading, 6 March 1664/5, SARAH LAMSON (Reading VRs), who was born at Ipswich, Mass., and died at Reading, 4 October 1683 (Reading VRs), the daughter of William and Sarah Lamson. Her mother, as widow Sarah Lamson, married, second, 10 April1661, Thomas Hartshorne of Reading (James Savage, Genealogical Dictionary of New England, III:50). Cornelius Browne married, second, at Reading, 20 November 1684, SARAH SOUTHERICK, who died before 1698, when Cornelius married, third, at Reading, 26 September 1698, MARY (DUSTIN) COLSON, the daughter of Josiah Dustin of Reading, and widow of Adam Colson of Reading. She was the mother of David, Elizabeth and Mary Colson (Hist. Sketch of Anc. Redding, 1:148; Eaton, Hist. of Reading, 63).
Cornelius Browne had built his house in Reading by 1667 (Records of the
Town of Reading, I:67), but did not transfer to the Reading Church [from
Lynn], until 3: 12: 1670, with his brothers, Josiah, Edward and Joseph (Eaton, Church Records of the Old Town Of Reading.... 7-8). He served the Town of Reading as "Hog Constable" in 1683/4 and 1692/3; as surveyor in 1694/5, and as tythingman in 1698/9 (Records of the Town of Reading, 1:88, 117, 123, 132).
In addition to his house lot, Cornelius inherited in 1673 from his
father, Nicholas, half of the "Wigwam Farm," 50 acres north of the Ipswich
River, and two acres of Meadow, agreeing to pay his mother 20 shillings
per year upon demand (Hist. Sketch of Anc. Redding, 1:150-161). He also
received grants of land from the Town in the general divisions in 1684, 1686
and 1691 (Records of the Town of Reading, 1:91, 102, 115).
On the 26th Or March 1689, Cornelius deeded to his son, Cornelius, Jr. of
Reading, "in consideration of fatherly love," 50 acres of land in Reading,
bounded by Josiah Browne and Crimson's meadow (Middlesex Deeds, 12:239). On July 18th Of the same year, he deeded to his son, Samuel Browne, "in
consideration of fatherly love," his farm lot, formerly his dwelling place,
for 3 pounds per year for life. Witnesses were Joseph and Nicholas Brown (his brothers) and Peter Emerson (his brother-in-law) (ibid., 21:244).
After Cornelius's death in 1703, an agreement on the division of his
estate was signed by his children (Middlesex Probate, 2972):

"To Cornelius [Jr.], that part of the farm he now lives on and given him
by deed of gift by our father, and also that part of the farm on the north
side of the County highway that goeth to Salem, and also one-half of our
father' s Pine Swamp and father's Cedar Lot...

To Samuel, the remainder of the aforesaid farm, as by deed of gift by our
father...

To William, our father's two lots of Common rights and also the other
half of our father's Pine Swamp lot...

To our brother-in-law, Jeremiah Gould, our father's land on the north
side of the Ipswich River, both upland and meadow..."

On the 23rd of June 1703, Mary (Dustin) (Colson) Browne of Reading, "late widow of Cornelius Browne, formerly widow of Adam Colson, late deceased," received by agreement, "the southerly half of the lot that was our honored parent and predecessor, Josiah Dustin of Reading, deceased," and also "to Mary Colson (mother) for her natural life, one half lot that was our honored Grandfather, Josiah Dustin," and also, "Mary Colson shall have the Negro called Dick, alias Richard Bordman, at the price of 40 pounds, David is to have for his own the Negro called Tom." The agreement was signed by Mary
Brown, Elizabeth Colson, Lydia Colson, and Adam Hart, guardian for Mary Colson (Hist. Sketch of Anc. Reading, 1:148, 149).