Hi Matt,
The explanation may be more simple. My tuppenceworth, Mary Brett was a daughter of Thomas Brett by his first marriage,
Westwell baptism,
1673 Dec 23 Mary d/o Thomas & Martha Brett
Westwell marriage,
1699 Feb 1 Thomas Parsons and Mary Brett
Thus Mary Parsons is a daughter-in-law to Ann Brett!
Daughter-in-Law is commonly used to describe what we know today as a step-daughter.
What thinkest thou,
Tony
Brilliant I think you're spot on!
From the way the Will is worded it seemed clear that Mary was some kind of close relation such as a cousin or step-daughter. My only reason for the theory I had was that I hadn't found any children born to Thomas Brett and Martha. However what you've said makes perfect sense.
Do you know if Thomas and Martha had any other children at all? Also do you have any info on Thomas Parsons? If he isn't related to Richard Parsons I'd be surprised.
Do you know when Martha died? Obviously she died before 1679 as that is when Thomas married Ann Gravett (nee Jarman), do you think she might have died in childbirth?
Time to update my Brett tree again.
More details to follow later.
Matt
