The 1600's in England was a time of great strife because the church of England, which was so designated by the King, was attempting to eliminate other religions. Judging from names in this line of Brothertons, I think we can conclude that they were religious, probably not puritans, but more likely separatists, and they probably felt the pressure from the monarchy.
In 1660 when the English marched in to take the Dutch settlement of New Amsterdam, which included land along the Hudson River north, New Netherland, it fell without a shot being fired. England then named the area New York (after the Duke of York), and let it be known in England that she would like English citizens to settle in New York.
I have found records in Huntington, LI, NY, of the Brotherton family. The town records contains entries about William Brotherton. The earliest entry is 1669 where his land is documented. An entry, dated 1689, says that his family consisted of wife Mary, son William (b May 17, 1678), son John (b May 1, 1686), and daughter Mary (b Nov 17, 1681). There was mention later of David, who was probably also his son, born abt 1690. In 1699, Mary is described as Widow Brotherton. Since there is no more mention of William after that, we might conclude that the young William did not survive to maturity. There was no indication where Old William was from or when he came, I am still looking for that info.
The pastor of First Church of Huntington from 1723 to 1779, Ebenezer Prime, kept good records of the church, although he didn't record the parents' names of the children he baptized.
From the records of The First Church of Huntington, LI, NY:
Baptized:
July 5, 1724 - Jerutha Brotherton
June 15, 1729 - Eli Brotherton
June 13, 1731 Zilpah Brotherton
June 3, 1733 - Othniel Brotherton
--- (This seemed to be a hiatus in the baptisms, I think the next 3 were Isaac's)
Nov 22, 1743 - Zophar Brotherton
Aug 10, 1746 - Ruth Brotherton
Oct 28, 1750 - Naomi Brotherton
--- (Naomi and Jemima had different parents. I think the next 6 were Eli's)
June 30, 1751 - Jemima Brotherton
-- (Abel, Othniel, and Isaac were already in Dutchess Co, according to tax rolls.)
Oct 14, 1754 - Elisha Brotherton
Aug 24, 1756 - Nathaniel Brotherton
Aug 5, 1758 - Samuel Brotherton
Oct 4, 1761 - Daniel Brotherton
Oct 23, 1763 - Hannah Brotherton
Marriages:
July, 1737 - Zerviah Brotherton to William Pleas (b abt 1720?)
Oct 7, 1741 - Isaac Brotherton to Mary Nichols (b abt 1721?)
Dec, 1749 - Abel Brotherton to Sarah Rhyon (b abt 1729?)
Joined the church:
Sept, 1748 - Benjamin Brotherton (b abt 1728?)
Sept, 1749 - Mary Brotherton (b abt 1732?)
Since Abel, Isaac, and Othniel had gone and Zophar was too young, the children from 1751 to 1763 were Eli's. Eli stayed behind with Benaiah, who died in 1763.
Using this information and various other pieces of information, I am suggesting a possible family tree for the early Brothertons. Each relationship has been suggested for a reason, and I have tried to explain those reasons so that each Brotherton descendant might decide for himself if the relationships make sense. Possibly a professional genealogist would question the relationships, but it satisfies my yearning to know more about my ancestors.
Please, please, if you have further information about anyone in this line, please let me know, especially if it conflicts with mine or suggests that these relationships are not right.
The reading I have done about the colonial period has been fascinating: "Home Life in Colonial Days," by Alice Morse Earle, and "Pioneers and Preachers," by Robert Mondy, and "The American Nation," by John Garraty.