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William Braunche (branch2E)

Father: Richard Braunche (branch3E)
Mother: Elizabeth Beauforest

b. 1524 in Abingdon, Berkshire, England [Rowland]

d. burial February 7, 1602 in North or Jesus Aisle of St. Helen's Church, Abingdon, Berkshire, England. His family paid two shillings for the tolling of the knell with the greate Belle at his funeral and six shillings and eight pence for his grave. [West]

m. August 2, 1553, Elizabeth Waltham. They had no issue. [McKenzie]

m. 1556 in St. Helen's Church, Abington, England, Katherine Jennings, b. 1535 in Cornwall, England, d. buried August 25, 1597 in St. Helen's Church, Abingdon, Berkshire, England. Daughter of Thomas Jennings and Alice Bright of Cuham. [McKenzie]

Issue [McKenzie]

Thomas Braunche, christened July 29, 1557 in St. Helen's Church, Abingdon, Berkshire, England, d. buried February 2, 1603 in in St. Helen's Church, Abingdon, Berkshire, England

May 21, May 1583, Margaret Coxwell

Elizabeth Braunche, bc. 1559, d. 1565 in Abingdon, Berkshire, England

Richard Braunche, b. christened September 16, 1560 in St. Helen's Church, Abingdon, Berkshire, England, dc. 1602

Mary Braunche, b. 1561

m. John Wright and left issue

Anne Braunche, b. christened September 19, 1562 in St. Helen's Church, Abingdon, Berkshire, England

m. Mr. Fowler and others. No issue.

Eleanor Braunche, b. christened October 20, 1564 in St. Helen's Church, Abingdon, Berkshire, England. Never married.

Lionel Braunche (branch1E), bap. August 18, 1566

Barbara Braunche, b. christened July 10, 1569 in St. Helen's Church, Abingdon, Berkshire, England

Martha Braunche, b. March 1, 1578, d. buried December 9, 1625

m. Robert Payne

William Braunche, b. 1579 in Abdingdon, Berkshire, England. He matriculated in New College on October 13, 1598 and graduated in 1592 and proceded to his Master's degree on January 31, 1705/06. After graduation he disappears and no further trace of him is found.

Katherine Braunche, b. 1582 in Abingdon, Berkshire, England

Information:

William was a woolen draper by trade. He lived and carried on his trade in a house and shop on Littlebury Lane, now Bury Street, which he held on lease from the Corporation. He also leased a small wooded copse in the neighboring parish of Sunninwell called Bagley Close. [West]

1555:
In 1555 the town of Abingdon was incorporated a borough by charter from Philip and Mary and although, not named as an officer or principal burgess, William soon joined the ranks of the town's governing body as one of the twelve principal burgesses. On the death of Richard Large, one of the original nominated principal burgesses early in 1558, William Braunche was duly elected in his stead on May 30, by the rest of the Corporation, and tooke a Corporal oathe for the observation of all laudable costomes as others have done before him, and paid the customary entrance fine of 40 shillings. From that date, his progress is steady. He served four times as Mayor of the town, in 1563, 1564, 1572, 1582/3 and from May to September 1588 to complete the term of William Kysbie who died in office. [West]

1556:
William inherited the Red Bull Inn in Littlebury Lane, Abingdon, Berkshire, England from his brother Thomas. This was the Inn that in 1732 his grandson Christopher Branch (branch201) came from Virginia to sue his uncle Thomas for. Thomas had conveyed it to his brother-in-law Robert Payne and he to his son Richard. In a bold move Richard conveyed it to Christ's Hospital and leased it back. Christopher lost his case. [Ranch]

1557:
William was appointed as a governor of Christ Hospital, a position he held for 44 years, until his death. Christ Hospital was established in 1553, as a successor to the Fraternity of the Holy Cross with which three geneerations of Brunches had been connected. William's father, Richard (branch3E) had been Master of that fraternity for many years, until his death in 1544. The Fraternity was dissolved in 1547 by Henry VI and its possessions were confiscated.
The new hospital, (not it should be added, a hospital in the medical sense, but a hospitium, a place for the giving of help to the poor and needy, in the mediaeval sense); succeeded to all such properties of the old Fraternity as had not been granted away by the Crown since 1547 and to the secular and alms-giving duties, formerly performed by the brethren and sisters of the Holy Cross. The Master and Governors resumed control of the Long alley almshouses and their inmates, carried on the maintenance of the road and bridge across the river and gave relief to any poor or needy inhabitants of the town.
One of the main accomplishments of Christ Hostpital during the time that William was a governor was the creation of Abington School, which continued to exist into the twentieth century. There are documents in his own handwriting preserved today at the Hall of the Hospital. [West]

1593:
William was elected Member of Parliament for the borough (if elected is the right word for the appointment of their representavie by the handful of men who made up the Corporation) and took part in the deliberations held at Westminster between February 19 and april 10. [West]

1599-1600:
William gave all his property to his eldest son, Thomas, reserving to himself only one room in his house, his keep and a small annual sum of money. These facts are disclosed by his will but the precise details of the property and goods involved are not known as the orignal of the deed of gift is not now extant. [West]

March 1, 1601, proved in Prerogative Court of Canterbury on April 24, 1602:
William had the year before gifted his property to his eldest son Thomas. William's will itemizes individual bequests to his children and friends. Including his famous "black sheep" one to his son Lionel (branch1E).

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