Elizabeth Browne was a niece of Nathaniel Ward, an original settler of Hartford, CT. Nathaniel Ward was the son of Edward Ward of Little Wrathing, Suffolk Co., England.43
Elizabeth married second Robert Hinsdale as his second wife about 1668. The marriage was an unhappy one and they soon parted, and she returned to her home in Hadley. At a court held 30 Mar 1674 they were "presented for living assunder contrary to law," also charged "with lacivious and wanton carrage." On examination Elizabeth refused to answer, and it appears that she was cleared of any wrongdoing. Robert Hinsdale said he "did it as being her head and having the rule of her in the pointe and that he did it for her correction of her disorder towards him." Although he was a respected man in the community, the court held he had "broken the perfect rule of divine law and the law of the Colony in the intent if not in the letter in the first living assunder," and ordered him "whipped ten stripes on the naked body;" and imposed a fine for which his sons became responsible and which the court refused to remit after his tragic death. They moved to Pocumtuck (Deerfield), MA where descendents of both were already living. Robert was killed, along with three of his sons, with Captain Thomas Lathrop, on September 18, 1675 in the ambush at Bloody Brook, MA.43
Elizabeth married third Thomas Dibble of Windsor, CT on 25 June 1683; and she died in Windsor on 20 Sept 1689.43 |