Family Tree Welborn » William Brett (± 1577-1624)

Personal data William Brett 

• He was born about 1577 in Toddington, Central Bedfordshire, England.
• He died on September 20, 1624 in Toddington, Central Bedfordshire, England.
• A child of Robert II Brett and Elizabeth Brett (Highgate)
• This information was last updated on July 17, 2018.

Household of William Brett

He is married to Mary Brett (Toddington).

They got married.

Child(ren):

1. Mary Isham (Brett)  ± 1603-1682 

Notes about William Brett

William Brett
Gender: Male
Birth: circa 1577 Toddington, Central Bedfordshire, England,
Death: September 20, 1624 (43-51) Toddington, Central Bedfordshire, England,

Son of Robert Brett, II and Elizabeth Brett
Husband of Mary Toddington and Sarah Boswell

Father of Mary Isham; Edward Brett; Rose Rebecca Nichols; Katherine Elizabeth Isham; Elizabeth Brett; William Brett; Randall Brett; John Brett; Frances Brett and Benjamin Brett

Brother of John Brett; Robert Brett; Elizabeth Dell; Catharine Leigh; Elizabeth Pearson; Richard Brett, "of Quayton," county Bucks, Doctor of Divinity; William Brett and Catherine Freeman

https://www.geni.com/people/William-Brett/6000000003615527535

William Brett, Esq.1,2,3
M, #19634, b. circa 1572
Father Robert Brett b. c 1538
Mother Elizabeth Highgate b. c 1542
William Brett, Esq. was born circa 1572 at of Hearne, Toddington, Bedfordshire, England.3 He married Mary circa 1595.2,3 William Brett, Esq. left a will on 20 June 1624.
Family Mary d. a 1624
Child
Mary Brett+2,3 b. c 1604, d. b 22 Dec 1682

Citations
1.[S61] Unknown author, Family Group Sheets, Family History Archives, SLC.
2.[S16] Douglas Richardson, Magna Carta Ancestry, 2nd Edition, Vol. II, p. 462.
3.[S4] Douglas Richardson, Royal Ancestry, Vol. III, p. 402.

From: http://our-royal-titled-noble-and-commoner-ancestors.com/p654.htm#i19634
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The visitation of London in the year 1568. Taken by Robert Cooke, Clarenceux king of arms, and since augmented both with descents and arms (1869)
https://archive.org/details/visitationoflond00cook
https://archive.org/stream/visitationoflond00cook#page/47/mode/1up
Pg.47
Brett.
Alexander Brett of Whitstanton in com. Devon mar. da. of Rosemaderos., parents of John, Symon, Robert (m. Elizabeth Bush) Brett
Robert Brett of Lincolnshier gent. son of _ (Rosemaderos) & Alexander Brett, m. Elizabeth da. of Edward Bush of Sison 3 brother to the Bushes of Hohum, parents of Robert (m. Elizabeth Highgate), Margaret (m. _ Veale) Brett
Robert Brett 1 sonne Citizen & Marchantaylor of London. son of Elizabeth (Bush) & Robert Brett of Lincolnsheir gent.; m. Elizabeth da. of Reginald Highgate of Essex, parents of John, William, Robert, Richard, Elizabeth, Catherine Brett.
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Somersetshire wills By Frederick Brown, Frederick Arthur Crisp 1st Series.
http://books.google.ca/books?id=PElFAAAAYAAJ&q=brett#v=snippet&q=brett&f=false
Pg.66-67

ELISABETH BRET,3 of Edmonton, Middlesex, widow. Will dated Oct. 1, 1598, proved Oct. 16, 1599. [76 Kidd.] To be buried in St Augustine's in Paules Gate, near my husband, Robert Brett. Black gowns to Mr Justice Owen & his wife, & to Randolph Wooley, Merchant Taylor. My son William Brett, & his son Randolph Brett. My son Robert Brett. My son Richard. My daughter Katherine Lodge. Margaret, wife of my son John Brett, & Margaret his daughter. Residue to my said son John Brett, Exor.
ROBERT BRETT, of Edmonton, Middlesex, gent. Will dated June 15, 7 James, proved Feb. 7 1611-12. [15 Fenner.] my brother Sir John Brett, Knt. My brother William, My sister Katherine Lodge.
3 She was widow of Robert Brett, citizen and Merchant Taylor of London. Vis. Lond., 1658.
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The origin of badges and emblems, are traced to the earliest times, although, Heraldry, in fact, cannot be traced later than the 12th century, or at furthest the 11th century. At first armorial bearings were probably like surnames and assumed by each warrior at his free will and pleasure, his object being to distinguish himself from others. It has long been a matter of doubt when bearing Coats of Arms first became hereditary. It is known that in the reign of Henry V (1413-1422), a proclamation was issued, prohibiting the use of heraldic ensigns to all who could not show an original and valid right, except those 'who had borne arms at Agincourt'. The College of Arms (founded in 1483) is the Royal corporation of heralds who record proved pedigrees and grant armorial bearings. The surname of BRETT was originally 'le Bret' a man of Brittany in France. The name has been in Ireland since the 12th century. Early records of the name mention Edward Brit listed in the Domesday Book of 1086. Tihellhus Brito, ibid. Alan le Bret, was documented in the year 1177 in Ireland. William le Bret, was recorded in 1256, Dublin. Ireland was one of the first countries to evolve a system of hereditary surnames: they came into being fairly generally in the 11th century, and indeed some were in use before the year 1000. When the sparse Irish population began to increase it became necessary to broaden the base of personal identification by moving from single names to a more definite nomenclature. The prefix MAC was given to the father's christian name, or O to that of a grandfather or even earlier ancestor. At first the coat of arms was a practical matter which served a function on the battlefield and in tournaments. With his helmet covering his face and armour encasing the knight from head to foot, the only means of identification for his followers, was the insignia painted on his shield and embroidered on his surcoat, the draped and flowing garment worn over the armour.

Select Brett Surname Genealogy
Bretons were Celtic-speakers from present-day Brittany in France. They brought the Brett name with them when they came over with William the Conqueror or in succeeding centuries. In France and among Normans, however, the Bretons had a reputation for stupidity. In some cases the Brett name and its variants may have started out as a derogatory nickname.

Brett enjoyed a revival in reputation later in the Middle Ages as a first name. Brett could mean a native of Brittany. It could also mean a native of Britain. This latter use here spread first in England and then overseas where its original connotation gradually got lost.

Select Brett Resources on The Internet
Bretts from Sligo. Brett family genealogy.

Select Brett Ancestry
England. The Breton name first appeared in public records in England after the Norman Conquest in Devon. Ansger the Breton held lands there in the Domesday Book. William le Bret owned this land in the late 1100's. Richard le Bret from Somerset was one of the killers of St. Thomas a Becket at Canterbury in 1170 (although the suspicion was that he was a Saxon rather than a Breton).

A Brett family established themselves at Whitstaunton near Chard in Somerset in the 1400's. However, Lady Anne Brett lost her lands and her "fair old stone mansion" during the reign of Henry VIII. Sir Edward Brett from this family was buried in Bexley church in Kent. A decorated soldier, he fought for the Royalists during the Civil War and later on the Continent for William of Orange.

More Bretons settled in East Anglia where the Brett name became quite widespread. Le Bret families held lands near Boston in Lincolnshire and in Aveley in Essex from the 1200's. In Norwich, St. George's church records show Richard Brett marrying Elizabeth Leive in 1552; and the Brett name can be found around Norfolk parishes in the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries. One Brett institution, sadly, is being wound up. Jonathan Brett had started his family furniture business in Norwich in 1870. There was a time when every British embassy in the world had at least one piece of Brett furniture. But these days are long gone.

The largest number of Bretts in England were and still are to be found in Kent, particularly around Tenterden and Ashford. Percival Brett was the mayor of Tenterden in 1609. His family remained influential in that town for the next two hundred years. A Brett family dates from the 1540's at Spring Grove in Wye. Many of them were clergymen, in their time Catholic-leaning. Thomas Brett in fact resigned from his post in 1714 when the new Protestant oath took effect.

There were also Brett clergymen from London, starting with the Rev. Richard Brett in the late sixteenth century. An erudiite man who a wide range of interests, he is buried in Quainton church in Buckinghamshire where he had ministered for forty three years.
The progeny of Rev. Joseph Brett, a vicar of London in the early nineteenth century, presents a more unorthodox picture. His son William rose to be Lord Esher, a lawyer with possibly a rakish side to him (he married Eugenie Meyer, the illegitimate daughter - it was said - of Napoleon Bonaparte). Their son Reginald was a close confidant of the Royal Family who helped to edit the papers of Queen Victoria. But he was also said to have carried on a series of chaste pederastic friendships with adolescent boys throughout his life. His daughter Sylvia Brett, who had a troubled early life (twice trying to kill herself), ended up marrying his Highness Rajah Vyner of Sarawak and living a glittering socail life.

Ireland. The name Milo le Bret dates from 1199 when he was granted lands in Dublin and in Rathfarnham in nearby county Louth. In succeeding centuries, the Bretts were considered among the leading landed gentry of Louth.

In the early seventeenth century, the Taaffe family had moved into Sligo on the west coast where they quickly became one of the largest of the new landlords. The Bretts followed them. Jasper Brett built a fortified home at Deroon. Although the family was staunchly Catholic, they somehow managed to survive the Cromwell incursions and the subsequent Catholic penal laws and continued to practice their faith. Eighteenth century Brett priests included Father John, who spent most of his working life in Italy, and Father Charles, who ministered at Ballysadare until his death in 1768. Brett names continue in and around Achonry.

America. There arrived in America in the 1630's two Bretts, one into Virginia and the other into New England. The first, Mary the sister of Sir Edward Brett, had married William Isham and they were one of the first families of Virginia. The second, William Brett from Kent, settled in Bridgewater. He became an elder in his church and was respected as a "grave and godly man."

Canada. Many Irish Bretts emigrated to Canada in the nineteenth century. Jane and Elizabeth Brett arrived there in the 1820's. Their son Robert prospered as a merchant and banker in Toronto. Another first generation Robert Brett practiced medicine, moved west, and later became active in Alberta provincial politics.
Jasper and Celia Brett settled in Essex County, Ontario. Their name is still prominent there, as owners of The Essex Free Press. It has been operating as a family-run newspaper for over a hundred years, presently under Laurie Brett, the great granddaughter of the founder.
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"If either of my daughters should marry contrary to their mother's liking then she or they shall have but L100."

More: https://books.google.com/books?id=kwk1AAAAIAAJ&pg=PA396&lpg=PA396&dq=hearne,+toddington+bedfordshire&source=bl&ots=4X7YlT1Xin&sig=udsccoFUbSxxZsPNYdjRVXFQ64g&hl=en&sa=X&ei=TdYsVeP8OYzEggTw3YGwBg&ved=0CE8Q6AEwCQ#v=onepage&q=hearne%2C%20toddington%20bedfordshire&f=false

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Timeline William Brett

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