Will of Robert Brett

[Bookbox]

Will of Thomas Brett, husbandman of Heathaston(*), county of Chester, 1579
vexed with sickness but of whole and perfect memory, to be buried in the churchyard at Malpas

Wife – Ales
6 children – Phelipe, Thomas, Jone(?), Katherin, Ales, Margaret
Katherin Brette, daughter of Hughe Brette of Prestayne
Franncis Flyte
Godchildren (unnamed)
John Moors (no relationship)
Executors – Thomas Bathe, Wyllyam Johnson, wife Ales
Witnesses – Arthure Burroughe, Robert Flyte, Elenor Webster, John Brette, Richard Hocthkynson

(*) The place is clearly written Heathaston in the will, but Cheshire Archives (and FindMyPast) state Hatherton, perhaps from the probate or another source.

[originQuest]

Dear Bookbox,

Thank you so much for this - very kind of your indeed.  I've transcribed many wills myself but I find working on the 16th/17th Century documents very difficult so my sincere thanks.

Also, I had thought that John Brett, d 1613 would be a son of Thomas d 1578, but now I wonder if they were brothers?

It seems that Thomas' son Philip, married John's daughter, and there is a marriage in the Malpas parish that seems to fit.

I too descend from a Thomas Brett, who was buried in Malpas in 1643 (will is in the Wales, strangely), but how he fits into this myriad of Thomas Brett's isn't quite clear yet ... THANK YOU!

[originQuest]

Katherin Brette, daughter of Hughe Brette of Prestayne

What place name would that be today do we think?

[Bookbox]

My first thought was Presteigne, on the Welsh border ...

http://www.genuki.org.uk/big/eng/HEF/Presteigne

... but it's a long way from Malpas. A Cheshire expert will probably come up with a better candidate.

[originQuest]

Thank you - the Welsh connection might be more likely than first imagined.  The following chap was buried in Malpas, in 1643, despite living in Wales:

Thomas Brett, The Elder
This record is held by National Library of Wales: Department of Collection Services

See contact details

Title: Thomas Brett, The Elder
Reference: C/1643/2
Description:

Will. Inventory.


Diocese: Chester


Parish: Is-coed


County: Flintshire
Date: 1643
Held by: National Library of Wales: Department of Collection Services, not available at The National Archives
Language: English
***************************

Would need to get a copy of that will soon as it will really help piecing this together.  At the moment, it is difficult to get my head around this family fully as there are some gaps in the mid 1600s.

Thank you again.

[originQuest]

Hmmm just been looking at this will, which seems to pertain to a burial in Malpas in 1657.  I can make out on the last page that this man's wife and children are mentioned but no names?

Are they mentioned earlier on?


Cheshire Wills and Probate Transcription
Print transcription .
First name(s)    Thomas
Last name    Brett
Occupation    Yeoman
Residence    Malpas, Ederson
Probate year    1661
Will    Yes
Codicil    No
Inventory    Yes
Administration    No
Notes    Will Supra SEE Will Contested 1661
County    Cheshire
Country    England
Record set    Cheshire Wills and Probate
Category    Birth, Marriage & Death (Parish Registers)
Subcategory    Wills & probate
Collections from    United Kingdom

[Bookbox]

Are they mentioned earlier on?

Not as far as I can see.

The testator was buried on 4 Dec 1657, and the inventory was drawn up on 23 Jan 1657/58. According to the Cheshire Archives catalogue, the will was contested, and probate was granted in 1661. Depending on your level of interest, it may be worth asking the archives for any further documentation for this probate that is not available on FindMyPast.

[originQuest]

Thank you Bookbox - my reading of these old documents is rudimentary at best but I couldn't see any names.

Wow, I will have a look into this at Cheshire. 

Thank you for this help - most invaluable!

[Bookbox]

Title: Thomas Brett, The Elder
Reference: C/1643/2
Will. Inventory.
Diocese: Chester
Parish: Is-coed
County: Flintshire
Date: 1643
Held by: National Library of Wales: Department of Collection Services
***************************
Would need to get a copy of that will soon as it will really help piecing this together. 

There should be online access to the above will. You can search here ...
https://www.llgc.org.uk/discover/nlw-resources/wills/