English School, circa 1630

The sitters are Richard Browne and his sister Margaret, the children of John Browne of Shingleton, Great Chart in Kent, and his wife Elizabeth Scott. Their father was a descendant of the Brownes of Betchworth Castle in Surrey, and son of Richard Browne, who purchased the Shingleton estate in circa 1600. Their mother was the daughter of Sir Edward Scott (circa 1578-1646) of Scotts Hall near Smeeth, Kent. Sir Edward's father was a diplomat and led embassies to Florence, Venice and Constantinople in the early years of the 17th century. Richard Browne married Elizabeth Andrews, the daughter of Sir William Andrews, 1st Bt. and his wife, Anne Temple (ancestress of Lord Cobham of Stowe). They had a single child, Elizabeth, who married Thomas, Lord Leigh of Stoneleigh in 1669, and who inherited the Shingleton estates.

Both the Browne and the Scott families died out in the ensuing century and this portrait would appear to have been inherited or purchased by the Knatchbull family in the late 18th century (it does not seem to be listed in the 1749 inventory). The connection between the families lies through the Scotts, as not only were they close neighbours (and their memorials are to be found in Brabourne Church) but also Sir Edward Scott married Mary Aldersey, the widow of Sir Norton Knatchbull (d. 1636) (see lot 105). There is an old Kentish rhyme that suggests the Knatchbull family will outlive their neighbours:

Scot's Hall shall have a fall;

Ostenhangre was built in angre,

Somerfield will have to yielde;

And Mersham Hatch shall win the Match [sic.].

The painting was photographed in the Entrance Hall at Mersham le Hatch, circa 1920.