Notes |
- RESEARCH_NOTES:
1. 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."
2. Some report that Richard and Alice Gillett (or possibly Joan Engburg) are parents of Rev. William Gylett. It is my opinion at this time that the connection is probably unlikely. Some comments:
A. Richard being the father of Rev. William and Richard Gylette, brothers, is tentative and unproven thus far. Nothing is known about this family before 1609, when Rev. William Gylett became vicar of Chaffcombe, Somerset. The will of this Richard as noted below does mention sons William and Richard, but thus far it is unproven whether these two sons are the same individuals as Rev. William and his brother Richard.
The following will for Richard Sr. is 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. If the will is correct, it adds additional children Edward, Mary, John, and an unnamed daughter married to William Sheppard. The will:
"Richard Gillett of Caudel Haddon, Dorset, husbandman, dated 1 Jul 1600, probated 16 Jul 1600 (PCC 55 Wallop). Caudle Haddon not found. Will mentions: wife, Alice to be buried at Caudle, son William - 10 pounds, son Edward - 5 pounds at end of his apprenticeship (indicating that he was young), dau. Mary, 10 pounds at marriage, son Richard's children, 10 pounds between them, son-in-law William Sheppard who had a son, William, son John Gillett. Witnesses: William Appkyn, William Adames, Richard Same, Robert Grannte and curate, William Sweet of Caudle."
From the will above, it would appear that Richard, Jr. may have been deceased by 1600 since Richard Sr. bequeaths to Richard Jr.'s children. On the other hand, Rev. William Gylette mentions his brother Richard in his 1641 will - this then makes it highly unlikely that the Richard Sr. in the will could be the father of Rev. William and his brother Richard.
B. The following is 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:
There is no basis for the claim that the Gillett family of Somerset has a French-Huguenot ancestry because there were Gilletts in the area before the Huguenots emigrated to England. Nothing is known about this family before 1609, when Rev. William Gylett became the vicar of Chaffcombe, Somerset (1609-1641). In TAG Vol. 42, p. 160-163, George McCracken published five Gillett wills in their entirety..." the following "wills do not appear to help trace the ancestry of Rev. William Gylett, except that he had a brother, Richard Gylett" [as mentioned in William's will transcribed in the note above]:
i. "William Gylett, 16 Aug 1568, probated 22 Jan 1568/9. (Pcc 1 Sheffield), Admin. 14 Aug 1579. He mentioned burial in Corfe, Dorset (5 miles S. of Wareham), wife Jone, Richard Harvey, Robert Ryves & Margaret, his wife. (Note: This Margaret, dau. of William Gylett m. Robert Ryves of Randleston, who was son of John Ryves of Damery Court and Amy Harvey of Lawnsone, Dorset. (See 1623 Visitiations of Dorset, p. 80). Also mentioned, son, Zachery Gillett (only son mentioned), Matthew Harvey, daughters Elner, Margaret, and Annys. Overseers: Robert Ryves and William Cullyford (note: One of William Gylett's daus. m. Henry Collyford of Collyford, Devon and they had a son William. See Visitations of Dorset, 1623, p. 33 and 1677, p. 16). Witnesses: William Clavell (See 1623 Visitations of Dorset, p. 29) and John Ryves."
ii. "Johan [Jone, Joann?] Gylett, widow (of above), late of Wareham, Dorset, dated March 1568, probated June 1571 (PCC 27 Holney). Administration to William Clavell, brother-William Clavell (Note: He was pos. son of John Clabell, Clauill of Barneston Dorset - not found - (See 1623 Visitations of Dorset, p. 29), nephew - Thomas Clavell, John Ryves son of Robert Ryves. Witnesses: John Burges, Robert Ryves, James Arnewood, Richard Frank, Frances Burge & Agnes Smythe."
iii. "John Gillett, Thelder [the elder], of West Stafford (Dorset), dated 11 Oct 33 Elizabet, probated, 18 Dec 1591 (PCC 94 Sainberbe). West Stafford is 3 miles E. of Dorchester. Mentions wife Johane, son Jesper Gillett and his children, unmarried daus. Edith Perius (Perys) Children, son John. Overseers: Mr. Robert Miller, William Burde and John Loder. Witnesses: Richard Russell and Robert Payne."
iv.. "Richard Gillett of Caudel Haddon, Dorset, husbandman, dated 1 Jul 1600, probated 16 Jul 1600 (PCC 55 Wallop). Caudle Haddon not found. Will mentions: wife, Alice to be buried at Caudle, son William - 10 pounds, son Edward - 5 pounds at end of his apprenticeship (indicating that he was young), dau. Mary, 10 pounds at marriage, son Richard's children, 10 pounds between them, son-in-law, William Sheppard who had a son, William, son John Gillett. Witnesses: William Appkyn, William Adames, Richard Same, Robert Grannte and curate, William Sweet of Caudle."
C. 20 Mar 2008 http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.com/~bart/Gillet.htm:
"Richard Gylett born 1551(?) in Caudle Haddon, Dorset, England, married (1) Joan ENBERG 11 Aug. 1567[4] in Burton Parish, Dorset, married (2) Alice [-?-], died in July 1600, buried in the churchyard at Caudle Haddon. Joan was born ca. 1550 in Chaffcombe, Somerset.
Richard Gillett of Caudle Haddon, Dorset, husbandman, wrote his will 1 July 1600. It was probated 16 July 1600 (PCC 55 Wallopp). He bequeathed 2 shillings to the poor of Caudle; to son William, £10; to son Edward at end of his apprenticeship, £5; to daughter Mary at marriage, £10; to children of son Richard, 10 shillings parted between them; to son-in-law William Sheppard one brass pan, and to the latter's son William 2/6; residue to wife Alice and son John equally, they to be executors.[5]
Richard's children were:
i. William GILETT.
ii. Richard Gillett born 1576. By 1600 he had 2 children. In 1641 he was named one of four overseers of his brother William's will.
iii. Edward Gillett living in 1600.
iv. Mary Gillett living in 1600.
v. John Gillett living in 1600.
vi. [-?-] Gillett married William SHEPPARD before 1600."
Footnotes:
"[3] McCracken, George E., "New Gillett Information from England" (TAG, 1979), 55:173.
[4] Bishop, Rebecca A., "Ancestors of Frederick Devilo Bishop" (<http://familytreemaker.com/users/b/i/s/Rebecca-A-Bishop/GENE3-0017.html>); McCracken, George E., "New Gillett Information from England" (TAG, 1979), 55:172.
[5] McCracken, George E., "English Gillet Wills" (TAG, 1966), 42:160-161."
3. Some believe the Gyletts are of French Huguenot ancestry including this entry from "Gillette Families (Gillet-Gillett-Gillette) Including Some of the Descendants of the Immigrants Jonathan Gillet and Nathan Gillet...," comp. by Bertha Bortle Beal Aldridge, 1955: "Rev. Jacques de Galett, was at the Massacre of St. Bartholomew; fleed to Scotland where his family resided 57 years. Probably father or grandfather of Rev. William Gylett who died in 1641 in Chaffcombe, Co. Somerset. (Sources unknown). The Huguenot Emigration to America, says William Gilet, the ancestor of the Gillette family in America is believed to have come from the town of Bergerac, Guyenne, France, when in consequence of his continuing to preach the Gospel, was banished, his property convicted and his life in imminent danger. Gilet was a Bergerc name. "Jacques Gilet, de Bergaric ministers' was married to Jeanne Mestre, 11 Oct. 1701 [Kerry's note: should this have been 1601?] in the French Church, Crispin St. Spital Fields, London."
There are several mentions concerning the same Huguenot origins as noted in the following entires from "The National Cyclopaedia of American Biography." George McCracken in his article above refutes this as noted above by indicating there were Gyletts in the area before the Huguenots arrived.
A. Entry for Lewis Singer Gillette, pg. 62: "...a descendant of Jonathan Gillette, who came to this country from England or Scotland in the ship 'Mary and John', in 1630, and settled in Dorchester, Mass. The family is descended from French Huguenots who fled from France about 1580. From Jonathan Gillette, who moved to Windsor, Conn., in 1635, the line of descent is traced through his son Jonathan..."
B. Entry for Clarence Preston Gillette, pg. 407: "The Gillette family in the United States is descended from two brothers, Nathan and Jonathan Gillet, of Devonshire, England, sons of Huguenot parents who fled from their home near Burge, France, to Scotland, in 1572. The sons sailed for America in 1630 in the ship 'Mary and John' with a company of 140 emigrants, and settled at Dorchester, Mass. They removed, to Windsor, Conn., in 1636, where their descendants remained for several generations."
4. 20 Mar 2008 http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.com/~bart/Gillet.htm: Jacques de Gylette
Several articles have been written proposing that Jacques de Gylette was the progenitor of this Gillet line.[1] Jacques was born 1520 in Bergerac, Guyenne Province, France,[2] probably died in England. He was a French Huguenot. I can't bring myself to accept any of these theories as presently documented but that's not to say that Jacques could not be the father of Richard Gylette or the grandfather of Rev. William Gyllett. Others disagree.[3]
Possible wife may be Jeanne Mestre.
Footnotes:
[1] Aldridge, Bertha B., "Gillette Family Including some of the Descendants of the Immigrants Jonathan & Nathan Gillet" (1955), 12; Bayton, Susan L., "The Mary & John Gillettes" (<http://familytreemaker.com/users/b/a/y/Susan-L-Bayton/GENE2-0001.html>); Bishop, Rebecca A., "Ancestors of Frederick Devilo Bishop" (<http://familytreemaker.com/users/b/i/s/Rebecca-A-Bishop/GENE3-0017.html>); Latham, Esther Gillett, "Our Family Tree: Gillet-Gillett-Gillette Descendants of Jonathan, Nathan & Jeremiah Gillett" (1953); McClelland, William B. (http://familytreemaker.com/users/m/c/c/William -B-Mcclelland/WEBSITE-0001/UHP-0536.html <http://familytreemaker.com/users/m/c/c/William%20-B-Mcclelland/WEBSITE-0001/UHP-0536.html>); Thomas, Wilma Gillet, "The Joseph Gillet/Gillett/Gillette Family of CT, OH & KS" (1970), 1; Ward, Daniel C., "Descendants of Jacques De Gylette" (http://familytreemaker.com/w/a/r/Daniel-C-Ward/GENE5
[2] Thomas, Wilma Gillet, "The Joseph Gillet/Gillett/Gillette Family of CT, OH & KS" (1970), vi.
[3] McCracken, George E., "New Gillett Information from England" (TAG, 1979), 55:173.
5. The newsletter "Gillett Pride 'n' Joy," vol. 14, no. 1, copy from Gillett family file at the Windsor Historical Society, pp. 3-4, has an article in which a transcription for a 1502 probate record for a John Gylett of Cranebourn is given. There is no known connection to the Rev. William Gillett since the death date is obviously too early; however, Cranebourn is in co. Dorset, which is next to Somerset. Even though one cannot rule out John being a possible progenitor of the Somerset Gilletts, the probate does go to show that the surname Gillett was not unknown in England prior to the Huguenot migration from France.
For future reference, the probate contains the following legatees: son Thomas Whitacre, Richard Gyllott, nephew John Gylot, "preest my sone" Thomas Gylet, daughter Elizabeth, wife Alys, son Clement Gyllot, son John Gyllot, Hugh (the son of Ric Gyllott), John (the son of Thomas Gillott), Christine (wife of said Thomas Gylot. Witnesses Sr. Thomas Crane (?) Vicar of Cranebourne, Hugh (name illegible), William Thomas otherwise called Smyth, and others.
Some land is mentioned in "Wrokehampton (first letters of name not quite certain 'probably Watchampton') in the Countie of Dorset," which was purchased b deed of John Rede.
6. TAG 55:170-173 "New Gillett Information from England," by George E. McCracken:
"A considerable bibliography on the Gillett family of Hartford County, Connecticut, begins with two obsolete items, an article in "American Ancestry" 8:157, and another by Salmon Cone Gillette, ed. by the Rev. Henry Clay Alvord, "Descendants of Jonathan Gillett of Dorchester and Windsor" (NEHGR 47:168-177). Much more important are the following: John Insley Coddington, "Jonathan Gillett of Dorchester, Mass., Windsor, Conn., and Mary Dolbere or Dolbiar, his Wife" (TAG 15:208-2l7; see also 17:136 f.); Miss Alice Lucinda Priest, "The Brothers Jonathan and Nathan Gillett and Some of Their Descendants" (NEHGR 100:272-277; 101:43-49, 153-160, 237-242, 283-290), which contains, despite its title, rather little on Nathan. Other articles of importance are Donald Lines Jacobus, 'The "Other" Gillets' (TAG 25:174-191); also "Gill Items and Queries" (TAG 25:200-203). "Gillett Addenda" (TAG 26:52 f.); "Erratum" (TAG 27:99); "The Second Marriage Miriam (Dibble) Gillett" (TAG 32:179). See also Mrs. William C. Clark. "A Reuben Gillett Problem" (TAG 26:169 f.); "William Hooker Gillette, Actor and Playwright" (TAG 45:225-228); Which Nathan Gillett Married Hannah Buckland?" (TAG 47:70 f.); Earl Z. Arthur, "John Gillett Family of Scott, N.Y." (TAG 44:189 f.); "Mamre (Gaylord) (Gillett) Bishop of Canaan and Norfolk, Conn." (TAG 47:71 f.); also John Insley Coddington, "Jonathan Gillett" (TAG 32:179); George E. McCracken, "Early Connecticut Items-Gillett" (TAG 37:26); "English Gillet Wills" (TAG 42:160-163). See also "McArthur-Barnes Ancestral Lines" (1964) 73-85. The important will of the Rev. WilliamA Gyllett is abstracted by Lea and Hutchinson (NYGBR 41:282 f.).
In addition there are several items of considerably less importance: [Chloe Dell Mantle]: "The Gillett Family: Descendants of Horace Asahel Gillett (1804-1891) and Zilpha Ballard His Wife (1805-l862)" (Utica NY 1934), Horace Asahel being son of Asahel7(Joab6, Jacob5, Isaac4, Nathan3, Nathan2, Nathan1); Rachel Elizabeth Kuns Gillett, "History and Family Records of the Gillett Family" (1936) which starts with Hosea and Hannah whose son John, born 1825, was father to Charles Edwin Gillet, a minister of the Church of the Brethren (1857-1935); Esther Gillett Latham, of Appleton, WI, "Genealogical Data Concerning the families of Gillet-Gillett-Gillette Chiefly pertaining to the Descendants of Jonathan Gillet who came from Chafcombe, Somersetshire, England to Dorchester, Massachusetts in 1630 and removed to Windsor, Connecticut in 1636. Also the descendants of his brothers, Nathan and Jeremiah, with mention of a number of intermarried families (1953, 50 copies only dittoed) and this shows the inevitable coat of arms, swallows the Huguenot story, and starts with a Rev. Jacques de Gillet (ca. 1572). Bertha Bortle Beal Aidridge, "Gillette Families (Gillet-Gillett-Gillette), "Some of the Descendants of the immigrants Jonathan Gillet and Nathan Gillet, brothers from Chalcombe [sic], Somersetshire, England, to Nantasket, Mass., 1630, to Windsor, Conn., 1632, also the Descendants of Barton Ezra Gillet, a Descendant of Jonathan the immigrant, 1800-1955" (Victor NY 1955); Wilma Gillet Thomas, "The Joseph Gillet/Gillett/Gillett Family of Connecticut Ohio and Kansas" (Chicago 1970), which also accepts the Huguenot origin.
Now, through the kindness of Patricia Confer (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, O-bridge Road Taunton TA2 7PU, England.
The Chaffeombe parish registers begin only in 1678 but Bishop's Transcripts survive from the years 1611, 1621, 1623, 1634, 1636, 1638 and 1639, all signed by the Rev. William Gyllett, our ancestor, and among them the following Gillett items:
Elias, son of William Gylet, bapt. 11 Feb. 1611/12
Thomas, son of William Gyllet, parson bapt. 27 March 1621
Andrew, son of William Gyllet, rector bapt. April 1623
These are precious items, since they provide a baptismal date for one child (Thomas), mentioned in the will; confirm our belief that the son Elias, not mentioned in the will in 1641, though still living, was a son of this father; and give us a hitherto unknown youngest Child, Andrew, of whom nothing more is found. They also confirm our previous belief that Jonathan, Nathan, William, Habiah and Mary, were all born before the institution of their father as rector of Chaffcome on 4 Feb. 1609/10, and baptized at some other parish, where unknown as yet.
The records of the Manor of Chaffcombe Buller, within which our Gilletts held some leases, are incomplete but there are three items of interest (ref. DD/SS, Bundle 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.
The first two of these leases appear to be renewals of already existing leases and were probably occasioned by the recent deaths, respectively of Jeremiah and Elias. The third is, however, not a renewal. The William Gillett leading off the first two leases was, I believe, the same man in each case and identical with the son of that name mentioned in the 1641 will of the rector. The Jeremiah joined with him in the first lease was probably his brother of that name. Mr. Jacobus was inclined to think he had been in America and had served in the Pequot War but neither Mrs Spencer nor I are of that opinion now. We get, however, an approximate date for the death of the brother of Jonathan1 and Nathan1 of Connecticut.
The Elias recently dead when the lease of 17 Oct. 1687 was signed was neither the Elias baptized 11 Feb. 1611/12 nor the Elias who is described as of Misterton, clerk, in the third item, but a son of the William with whom he is joined in the lease. This Elias would appear to have died in 1687, leaving a daughter Mary, great-granddaughter of the first Rev. William Gyllett (d. 1641).
The Elias Gillett of Misterton clerk, was certainly a member of this family but we cannot as yet prove that he was a son of the Elias baptized 11 Feb. 1611/12 though this is the most probable connection. Elias born 1612 is recorded by Joseph Foster, "Alumni Oxonienses 1500-1744" (Oxford 1891) 2:568, as of New Inn Hall, Oxford, matriculated 7 May 1632 aet. 20, B.A. 7 June 1632, M.A. 23 April 1635, and is alleged to have succeeded his father as rector of Chaffcombe, but the father was immediately succeeded on 22 Nov. 1642 by Peter Cox (F. W. Weaver, "Somerset Incumbents" [Bristol 1889] p. 327). Foster says that the younger Elias was of Christ Church, certainly the most prestigious of the Oxford colleges, ordained deacon 19 Sept. 1675, priest 20 Dec. 1679, instituted rector of Misterton, which is about ten miles east of Chaffcombe, 15 Feb. 1680/1, in succession to Jacob Tompkins (Weaver 402; "Somerset & Dorset Notes & Queries" 7:41, 89), where he remained until he died in 1703. Mr. Shorrocks quotes the Misterton registers as stating that Elyas Gyllett vicar of Misterton was buried at Chaffcombe 21 June 1703, but that there is a gap in the Chaffcombe burials 1697-1704. According to these registers he had a son Philip baptized 10 June 1685, and a son William baptized 8 Feb. 1686/7. The mother of these two sons was named Mary, which is congruent with the third lease cited above, but the lease says "Philippa" and the baptismal register calls the child Philip a son. We think the child was more probably a son rather than a daughter. The younger son William matriculated at Wadham College, 7 March 1703/4, aet. 18, M.A. 1712, after which he disappeared from our view.
Mr. Shorrocks, well aware that the rector's will mentions a brother living in 1641 named Richard, calls attention to 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 who married Ursulah Shute on 12 June 1638. One marriage is too early, the other
too late, to be that of the rector's brother.
That this Gillett family were Huguenots has long been the favorite view of hoi polloi. I feel certain that this is false. The principal objection is the fact that the name Gillett is to be found in the west country of England at dates before there was such a thing as a Protestant in England, France, Germany or elsewhere though there were proto-protestants called Lollards in the preceding century but only in England. Consider the will of one John Gyllet thelder of Cranebourn, Dorset, in the diocese of Salisbury, dated 1 June 1502, probated 29 Oct. 1502 (PCC 12 Blamyr), one of the Gillett wills which I printed in TAG 42:160-163. There was also the institution of one Nic. Gylett as incumbent of Sts Peter and Paul, Muchelney Dorset, 28 Aug. 1512, in succession to Ric. Stabylle, and himself succeeded by Joh. Hurman on 20 Nov. 1574, after a very long pastorate which spanned the troubles of the reigns of Henry VIII and Mary I.
I am inclined to believe that the name Gillett was pronounced in the 17th century about the way we say the word "gullet" and that nobody would have thought it looked French until in the 19th century some began to spell the word Gillette at a time when there was a shift of emphasis from he first to the final syllable.
Future research ought to be concentrated on getting complete reading of all occurrences of the name in the parish registers of Bruton, Somersetshire and of Muchelney Cranebourn and Caudle Hatton, all in Dorset, in which there ought to be entries not yet brought to light."
7. 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."
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