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Richard Gillett

Male - Aft 1641


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  • Name Richard Gillett 
    Born , , England Find all individuals with events at this location 
    Gender Male 
    Died Aft 1641 
    Person ID I2161  Petersen-de Lanskoy
    Last Modified 27 May 2021 

    Father Gillett,   b. , Somerset, England Find all individuals with events at this location 
    Family ID F1167  Group Sheet  |  Family Chart

  • Notes 
    • RESEARCH_NOTES:
      1. Mentioned in the will of his brother William. From the booklet "Search for the Passengers of the Mary & John, 1630," vol. 13, "New Ancestral Discoveries -1990," The Mary & John Clearing House, 1990, Burton W. Spear, 5602-305th Street, Toledo, OH, 43611, copy in the Windsor, CT, Historical Society Library, p. 23: "Abstract of Will of William Gylette of Chaffcombe, Somerset (Taunton Wills 1641, File 13) Printed in NYGBR vol. 41, 1910 p. 282-3:
      'My daughters, Habish & Mary; land which my son, Nathan made over to me by letter of attorney. My son, William, the next reversion of said land, shall surrender his estate (therein) unto Thomas, when requested there unto, I give & bequeath unto my son, Jeremiah, my chatell (lease) of Courtground. To all my children, I give two silver spoons apiece. I give and bequeath unto my son, William and his heirs, my land called Bowers (lease) on condition that he do pay out the same one annuity of twelve pounds; vizt; to my daughters, Habiah, 4 pounds; to my daughter, Mary, 4 pounds, and to my sons, Jeremiah, 40 shillings. To Thomas, Jeremiah, Mary and Habiah, each of them one chayre and one frame stool. The rest of my goods I give to my son, William, whom I make executor, and Mr. Joseph Greenfield, Mr. Luffe, my brother, Richard and my kinsman, Henry Hutchings, Overseers. No witnesses.' "

      2. From a booklet "Gillett," 1970, by Wilma Gillet Thomas, copy at the Windsor, CT, Historical Society. Within the booklet is a copy from "The American Genealogist," p. 171; however, no volume or date is given. The author is George McCracken:
      "Now, through the kindness of Patricia Conver (Mrs. S.C.) Spencer of Carthage, Missouri, we are privileged to print new information on the Gillet family of Chaffcombe, Somersetshire, ancestral to the Connecticut Gilletts, which was received in 1978 from Mr. Derek M.M. Shorrocks, M.A., Somersetshire County Archivist, Somerset Record Office, Obridge Road, Taunton TA2 7PU, England...
      Mr. Shorrocks, well aware that the rector's will mentions a brother living in 1641 named Richard, calls attention to a the fact that among other Gillett references in the Bruton parish registers were two men of this name, one who married Joan Esberg on 11 Aug. 1567 (a possible pair of candidates to be parents of the rector) and another whom married Ursela Shute on 12 June 1638. One marriage is too early, the other too late, to be that of the rector's brother."

      3. The publication "Search for the Passengers of the "Mary & John" 1630," by Burton W. Spear (Toledo, OH; The Mary & John Clearing House, 1989-2004), 2:87-88 [Also found verbatim in same publication 3:16-17]:
      "MORE INFORMATION ON THE ANCESTRY OF JONATHAN & NATHAN GILLETT
      In an article in The American Genealogist, Vol. 55, No. 3, p. 170, new information from England expands the Gillett ancestry in England. This article again disputes the French Huguenot ancestry of this family, as does others. One argument against the Huguenot ancestry is that the Gillett name was in the west counties of England before there were Protestants anywhere. There was a will of John Gyllet of Cranebourn, Dorset in 1502. In the 17th century the name may have been pronounced, "Gullett", and then later there was a shift of emphasis from the first to the last syllable, and then it began to sound French.
      Rev. William Gylett, father of the emigrants, Jonathan & Nathan, was the rector of Chaffcombe, Somerset, England. The Chaffcombe parish records begin only in 1678, but the Bishop's Transcripts survive for the years 1611, 1621, 1623, 1634, 1638 & 1639, and they were all signed by Rev. William Gylett. They list the following baptisms: Elias, 11 Feb. 1611/2, s. of William Gylet, Thomas, 27 Mar. 1621, s. of William Gylett, parson & Andrew, Apr. 1623, s. of William Gylett, rector. This is the first record of Andrew. Previous to this recent TAG article, the will of Rev. William Gylett of 1641, was the primary source for information on the English roots of the emigrants, Jonathan & Nathan.
      Rev. William Gylett had a brother, Richard. In the Bruton parish records there was a Richard Gylett, who m. Joan Esberg, 11 Aug. 1576, who possibly could have been the parents of Rev. William Gylett. Another Richard Gylett m. Urselah, 12 June 1638, who could have been the son of Richard, brother of William.
      Also, there was a will, dated 1 July 1600, probated, 16 July 1600, for Richard Gillett of Caudle Haddon, Dorset, husbandman. He listed sons, Richard & William, which would satisfy the chronological & geographical requirements of the father of William Gylett.
      The following ancestry combines the previously published information and the will of Rev. William Gylett & TAG 55:3.
      REV. WILLIAM GYLETT- He became rector of Chaffcombe, Somerset on 4 Feb. 1609/10. He had a brother, Richard Gylett and a kinsman, Henry Hutchins. After his bequests his will states, "The rest of my goods I give to my son, William, whom I make my executor, Mr. Joseph Greenfield, Mr. Luffe, my brother Richard & my kinsman; Henry Hutchins, overseers. His will was proved, 16 Apr. 1641 (Taunton wills, 1641, file 13). His inventory was taken by two parishioners, Thomas Palmer & Lawrence Seley. It listed 259 pounds, 14 shillings & 8 six-pence, which included 13 pounds of silver plate & an equal sum of books. To each of his children, "in England", he left two silver spoons apiece and one "chayre" and one frame stool..."

      4. The publication "Search for the Passengers of the "Mary & John" 1630," by Burton W. Spear (Toledo, OH; The Mary & John Clearing House, 1989-2004), 25:35-36, "GILLETT, JEREMIAH ( - ), GILLETT, JONATHAN ( -1677) & GILLETT, NATHAN ( -1689) all of Windsor, CT. Volume 18, p. 59":
      "Three Gillett brothers came to New England in the early 1630's. Jonathan probably came first on the "Mary & John" in 1630. He returned to England and married Mary Dolbiar in 1634 in Colyton, Devon and soon after came again on the "Recovery of London". His brothers, Jeremiah & Nathan possibly came with him in 1634 or soon after. The English Gillett ancestry appeared in the Search series, volume 18, pp. 59-65. It has been known, for many years, that their father was Rev. William Gylett, rector of Chaffcombe, Somerset; rom 1610 until his death in 1641, but nothing about his wife or anything prior to 1610 has been known about him. Robin Bush has now found his whereabouts as early as 1599 and the name of a wife.
      Provisional Gillett Ancestry.
      1. Pos. John Gillett of Chillington, Somerset, where Rev. William Gillett first appeared as the curate. A John Gillett was listed on the Lay subsidy rolls there of 1582, 1601 & 1603 and presumably was the John Gillett whose will (now destroyed in 1942 in the German bombing of Exeter), was proved in 1618. Another John Gylett of Chillington was paying tax in 1628/9 and who may have been the John Gillett who appears in an undated rental of the manor of Street & Leigh (spanning the borders of Chaffcombe & Winsham of c. 1628. (DD/TOR 224). In the same volume (a Street & Leigh manor court book), Bush found a prosecution on 27 April 1614 of John Gillett retaining Andrew Brangwell in his service beyond the age of 17. Children:
      a. Richard Gillett- Mentioned in the will of his brother, William in 1641.
      b. William Gillett- See below.
      2. Rev. William Gillett- Born say 1574. He first appears in the records in 1599, when he signed a Chillington bishops transcript, as curate there (he was clearly not a graduate). Chillington is 3 miles NE of Chaffcombe. He was ordained a priest by the Bishop of Bath & Wells on 28 Sept. 1600 & licensed as curate of Kingstone, Somerset (2 miles N. of Chillington) on 13 Oct. 1601, where he served until he was instituted as rector of Chaffeombe (2 miles NB of Chard) on 4 Feb. 1609/10, a post he held until his death shortly before 2 April 1641 (his inventory). A marriage license was issued on 18 Sept. 1609 for William Gillett, clerk, curate of Kingstone & Habiathia Pye of Donyatt (4 miles N. of Chaffcombe virgin, to be married at Donyatt, bondsman Roger Gillett of Chillington, yeoman (Somerset R.O. D/D/OI 18). There are no early parish registers for Chillington or Donyatt and the Bishops Transcripts are of no help so the baptisms of the Gillett brothers could not be found. In his will, William Gillett named all of his children (except Jonathan), his brother, Richard and a kinsman, Henry Hutchins. Children of William Gillett:
      a. Jonathan Gillett- Born prob. in Kingstone, before 1610.
      b. Jeremiah Gillett- Born prob. in Kingstone, before 1610.
      c. Nathan Gillett- Born prob. in Kingstone, before 1610.
      d. Elias Gillett- Bpt. 11 Feb. 1611/12, Chaffcombe. Alive in 1641.
      e. Thomas Gillett- Bpt. 27 Mar. 1621, Chaffcombe. Alive in 1641.
      f. Andrew Gillett- Bpt. April 1623, Chaffcombe. Pos. d.y.
      g. William Gillett- Named in 1641 will of his father.
      h. Habiah Gillett- Named in 1641 will of her father. Clearly named after her mother.
      i. Mary Gillett- Named in 1641 will of her father.
      For material previously published by the Mary& John Clearing House on the Gilletts, see the following Search series volumes:
      Volume 5, pp. 49-81 Four generations of descendants of Jonathan.
      Volume 5, pp. 83-90 Four generations of descendants of Nathan.
      Volume 13 pp. 58-71 American descendants of Jeremiah.
      Volume 18 pp. 59-63 English ancestry of Gillett brothers.
      For more information on these families see the Addendum."

      5. The publication "Search for the Passengers of the "Mary & John" 1630," by Burton W. Spear (Toledo, OH; The Mary & John Clearing House, 1989-2004), 18:59-61, "GILLETT, JONATHAN (a.1607-1677) OF WINDSOR, CT, NATHAN GILLETT ( -1689) AND JEREMIAH GILLETT ( - )":
      "Three Gillett brothers, from Chaffcombe, Somerset (2 mi. NE of Chard), sons of Rev. William Gylet, came to New England and were in Windsor, CT in the 1630's. Jonathan came on the "Mary & John" in 1630. He returned to England to marry and returned with is wife on the "Recovery of London" in 1634. His brothers Nathan and Jeremiah probably came on one of these ships also.
      Their paternal grandfather has not been found but there are some clues. In the will of the father Rev. William Gylett, 1641, he lists a brother, Richard.
      The claim that the Gilletts of Somerset have a French Huguenot ancestry has been widely disputed. The name was in the West Country before the French Protestants arrived, including a John Gyllett in Cranbourn, Dorset (14 mi. S of Salisbury, Wilts), whose will (PCC 12 Blamyr) was probated 29 Oct. 1502.
      Will of Richard Gillett of Caudle Haddon (not found), Dorset, husbandman dated 1 July 1600, probated 16 July 1600 (PCC 55 Wallopp) (TAG 42:160-161)
      To be buried in churchyard of Caudle
      To son William - 10 pounds
      To son Edward - 5 pounds at end of his apprenticeship
      To daughter Mary - 10 pounds at marriage
      To children of son Richard - 10 shillings between them
      To son-in-law William Sheppard and to his son William
      Residue to wife Alice and son John, executors
      Witnesses: William Appkyn, William Adames, Richard Same, Robert Grannte and William Swett, curate of that place.
      In TAG 42:160-163, George McCracken says the above will would satisfy the chronological and geographical requirements for the will of the father of Rev. William Gytlett this testator had sons William and Richard. The latter, however, was not a beneficiary of the will and is mentioned only as father of grandchildren who were. The presumption is reasonably strong that this Richard was dead in 1600, but his children received not the 10 pounds which William and Mary receive but only a twentieth as much, that to be divided among them, so it seems possible that Richard was still living, had already married, at which time he had received his portion, though this is not stated in so many words.
      1. Rev. William Gylett - Born about 1575. His will proved 16 Apr. 1641 (Taunton, Wills, 1641, file 13). He mentions brother Richard Gylett and kinsman Henry Hutchins. He became rector of Chaffcombe, Somerset (2 mi. NE of Chard), 4 Feb, 1609/10 and he served there until his death. The Old Rectory, in which he lived, is a beautiful thatch-roof cottage, used today as a private residence (for photos, see Search Series, Vol. 12, p. 110-111). Also, the silver Elizabethan Chalice, dated 1584, he used is still in the Chaffcomb Church. The lid, when inverted, becomes a patten for holding the bread. The font is Norman so would also have been used by Rev. Gylett. His whereabouts before 1609 are unknown but evidently married ___, about 1600 and he had at least six children born before moving to Chaffcombe.
      Abstract of will of William Gylett of Chaffcombe, Somerset dated 1641 and proved 16 Apr. 1641 (Taunton wills, 1641, file 13)
      Land to daughters, Habiah and Mary, "which my son Nathan made over to me by letter of attorney
      My son William
      To my son Jeremiah my chatell (lease) of courtground
      To son William and his heirs my land called Bowers (lease)
      To Thomas, Jeremiah, Mary and Habiah, each a chair and stool
      Residue to son William, executor
      Overseers: Mr. Joseph Greenfield, Mr. Luffe, my brother Richard and my kinsman Henry Hutchings
      Witnesses: None
      The records of the manor of Chaffcombe Buller, where the Gilletts held some leases are incomplete but there are three items of interest (Ref: DD/55 Bunelle 30):
      10 Aug. 1676: William and Jeremiah Gillett who held by copy of court roll for their lives successively a cottage, 2 acres of land and certain demesne land, viz. 2 closes called Morell and Millmore of 5 acres, other closes called Parkemead, Spires Meade, Court Garden, and three Parocks, containing 16 acres, surrendered the same and William Gillett took a new grant from the steward for the lives of himself and his son William, at a rent of 16s a year.
      17 Oct. 1687: Lease to William Gillett of Chaffcombe, yeoman, who held a lease for 99 years or the lives of himself and his son, Elias, of four closes of land of 10 acres called Murrens in Chaffcombe, and took a lease of the reversion on the life of Mary, daughter of Elias Gillett, rent 16s.
      28 Oct. 1687: Lease to Elias Gillett of Misterton, clerk, of a roofless tenement in the manor of Chaffcombe Poulett of 20 acres, formerly occupied by Edith Sealye, to be held for 99 years or the lives of Mary Gillett, his wife, and Philippa and William, his children, 20s.
      Children
      a. William Gylett - Born before 1609. Died after 17 Oct. 1687. In 1641 his father left him land called "Bomerslease". Child: i. Elias Gillett, D.a. 1687.
      b. Jonathan Gillett - See below.
      c. Nathan Gillett - See below.
      d. Jeremiah Gillett - See below.
      e. Hebiah Gillett - Born before 1609. Alive in 1641.
      f. Elias Gillett - Bpt. 11 Feb. 1611/12, Chaffcombe. He m. ___. He attended New Inn Hall; Oxford, matriculated 7 May 1632 (age 20); B.A. 7 June 1632; MA. 23 Apr. 1635. He allegedly succeeded his father in Chaffcombe, but the latter was immediately succeeded by Peter Cox on 22 Nov. 1642. Child: i. Elias Gillett Jr. - He attended Christ Church, Oxford; ordained deacon 19 Sept. 1675 and priest 20 Dec. 1679; rector of Misterton, Somerset (10 mi. E of Chaffcombe) 15 Feb. 1680/1. He remained there until he died. Bu. 21 June 1703, Chaffcombe.
      g. Thomas Gillett - Bpt. 27 Mar. 1621, Chaffcombe. He received some of his father's land after 1641.
      h. Andrew Gillett - Bpt. Apr. 1623, Chaffcombe. Nothing more known."