Will of Robert Brett

[originQuest]

You really are a star, aren't you?!

Thank you for this - I didn't realise it was available online! Wow.

This will isn't quite what I was expecting as I can't see a mention of a son Thomas, which is strange.  I DO see however, these beneficiaries:

Wife (unnamed)
Daughters Elinor, Margaret, Frances
Son John
Daughters Mary, Alice
A son (can't read name - not Thomas?!)
Elinor's three children
God children
Alice Taylor
Can't read the last one ...

See I can read bits of some old documents ...

Can you see any other beneficiaries or fill in the blanks that I can't please?

EDIT! I now see Thomas Brett junior and John Edwards mentioned - executors?  Would this be his son?

[Bookbox]

A son (can't read name - not Thomas?!)

That line appears to read ...
It(em) I leave my sonne bakers 2 Children 3s. 4d apeece

I can't see any more beneficiaries beyond those you've listed.

As the testator is designated Thomas Brett the elder, it seems very likely that Thomas Brett junior is his son, but the relationship isn’t stated.

[originQuest]

It is difficult to read, isn't it?

Thank you - it is interesting as the family tree as I currently have it, has a son Thomas ... with two children.  But that doesn't say Thomas!

Hmmmm.  Thank you for this.

[Bookbox]

Perhaps others might like to decipher that line?

[goldie61]

I'd agree definitely not Thomas, originQuest and Bookbox.
Certainly looks like 'bakers' .
Do you know if he has mentioned all his other children in this will, or have some others been omitted?
I don't think there was a rule that said you had to mention and leave all of them something!
I certainly have some who didn't include all their children, or were cut off with the classic 'shilling' for some reason or another.

[originQuest]

Thank you - I wish I could work out that name for definite.  But it does look like 'bakers'.

I too have other wills were children were not mentioned.  And yes, a few 'shilling' ones too haha.

This will is interesting as it mentions children hitherto unknown to me.  They don't seem to appear in the parish registers.

[originQuest]

Hmmm going back to the burial of the Thomas Brett in Malpas in 1657 ... can anyone see where he was living at that time?  I'm looking on the parish register but it really isn't clear.

Thank you.

[goldie61]

Can you post a clip of the register origin?

[goldie61]

Ok. Got it on FindMyPast
It says 'Thomas Brett of wickentree in Bickley......'

Google maps says Bickley is 3 miles East of MAlpas.

Searching for 'wickentree' gives you lots of hits for Wickentree farm, Norley, which is some 15 miles north of Bickley. So at first I thought unlikely, and there would probably be another farm, say, called Wickentree.

However, have you seen these on NAtional Archives?
http://discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk/details/rd/42210340-8c9b-4b88-bb03-3ee2839dfadc

http://discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk/details/rd/3ef85db3-1e8b-44fa-8889-aa0a927b357d

There may be other documents there too.

A bit later than you're looking at, but mentions Bickley and Cholmondley, which is even nearer to Norley. (Pronounced Chumley, don't you know?! )  So maybe ...............