Holbrook line: Henry Brown, Immigrant

I've written earlier of Henry Brown's parents, William and Jane Mills or possibly Burgis of Rusper, Sussex, England.  Henry was one of their seven children and was christened on December 28, 1626.  Henry was with his parents on the voyage to America in 1645, when his mother and a sibling died during the ocean crossing.  Henry was just 18 years old, and now he would have to help his father settle, as well as his two remaining sibilings.  William settled on Long Island but Henry went to Providence, Rhode Island.  This leads me to wonder what his religious beliefs were, and whether he was more comfortable under the religious freedom that Rhode Island offered, or whether his reason for going there was something entirely different. 

Henry probably had received a good education in England, as his grandfather was a pastor.  From the number of offices Henry held as an adult it is apparent that he also was regarded as a man of common sense.  He was made a freeman in 1655, and at various times from 1656 to 1684 he was commissioner, constable, on the grand jury, town treasurer, deputy, assistant, and on the town council. It appears that he left his home in 1675 or 1676, during King Philip's War.  He would have been about 50 years old, so possibly he served in the militia during that time although I haven't found his name on a militia list.  He may have aged out by the time of the war. 

He married Waite Waterman, the daughter of Richard and Bethiah Waite Waterman probably before 1670.  He sold a house, one of the original home lots that had already been through several owners, in 1668 so it's possible this was in preparation for his marriage.  Or perhaps Waite didn't care for the location for some reason.  It was at almost the very north end of town and she may have wanted to live closer to her parents, who were aging. 

Henry and Waite had at least five children, including son Richard who was born in 1676.  Waite died sometime in or before 1682, leaving a family of young children.  Henry remarried in 1682 to Hannah Field Mathewson, daughter of John Field and widow of James Mathewson.  They had one child together. 

We know that Henry was taxed at a rate of 8 shillings in 1687 and was on the list of those from whom a poll tax was due in 1688.  After that, there is little notice of Henry in the records I've consulted. 

He wrote his will on September 22, 1698 and was dead by February 20, 1702/03, when the will was probated.  Unfortunately, I've not found a copy of the will, which I would dearly love to see.  Did he love books as much as his father did?  What religion did he profess?  How had he made a living all these years?  And was he a happy man?  All we really know is that he was well respected in the community, and that he had a wife, and children.  Yet, he is part of our family and we can respect him, just as his community did.  

The line of descent is:

Henry Brown-Waite Waterman
Richard Brown-Mary Pray
Deborah Brown-Othniel Brown
Sarah Brown-Enos Eddy
Enos Eddy-Deborah Paine
Joseph Eddy=Susan Lamphire
Susan Eddy-Hiram Stanard
Louis Stanard-Mary Alice Hetrick
Etta Stanard-Loren Holbrook
Gladys Holbrook-Richard Allen
Their descendants