Bedfordshire 17-20th C

Bedfordshire Subsidy Rolls 1622-8 record only one Brockett—Edward in Dunton cum Millo (Banks 1931 p 36). Bedfordshire Broket birth/baptisms in the half century 1600-49 show Dunton's predominance:

• 28 in Dunton
• 8 in Luton—all from the one Hertfordshire family of Edmund
• 1 in Dunstable and 1 in Sandy.

17th C birth/baptism records (IGI, excluding all 'Abt' entries)

Dates	Place	Number	Comments
1602-16	Luton	8	Letchworth family
1614-73	Dunton	39	Branch of the Hitchin clan
1639-52	Sandy	2
1641	Dunstable	1
1653-5	Little Barford	3
1656-9	Blunham	2	Also 1801-60: 18
1663	Potton	1	Dunton? Also 1706-8: 2
1699	Shillington	1	Also 1701: 1
	Total:	55

The Dunton baptism and burial registers began 1553, 43 years before the 1st Brockett entry. According to the VCH (Beds p 222) the 1st register spanned 1553-1670 and the 2nd 1701-1773. There is also a note in the transcript of the registers saying that from 1653-62 the records were neglected. However, Brocketts are recorded both 1653-62 (5 baptisms, 1 marriage and 4 burials, the last without exact dates) and 1670-1701 (1 baptism and 3 burials).

The 3 large families of the 1st half of the 17th C disappeared from Dunton by 1694.

• Could their land with its relatively poor soil not support them?
• Did the armies of the Puritans and then of Cromwell cause most to leave or die? They smashed all the windows of Dunton Church and broke tombs in the neighbouring parish. It is said that relatively more Englishmen died in the Civil War than in the 1914-18 war.
• Did plague also cut through the village?

Two Dunton Brockets moved east down to the richer soil of Guilden Morden, another to Bassingbourn, one family went south to Baldock, others would have gone to London, and 1 or 2 perhaps to America. What remained of the rest probably moved further west into Bedfordshire.

i. John 1623

On 10 May 1623 John Brokett was the first of 5 witnesses to a conveyance of a number of parcels of land in Blunham (BRO AD3195). The others were John Ellis, John Burgess, James Ellis and Edward Barratt. He signed with a flowery signature, similar to those of the Wheathampstead clan, and was most probably John of Wheathampstead Esq, who was Lord of the Manor of East Hide—part of Luton Manor—till 1647. The 2 children of Andrew Brockett baptised in Blunham in 1656 and 59 and the clan there 1801-60 would not have been descendants.

ii. Parnell RUSH—formerly Brocket, née TANNER—of Dunton

Parnell or Pernell was the daughter of John and Helen TANNER of Wilshamstead (wills written 1584 and 1604, pr 1585 and 1609, BRO ABP/W). She was married to Edward Brockett for about 14 years and to William Rushe for nearly 27 years. She married William 26 Jun 1598, 24 days after Edward's burial. Her children were then aged about 13, 9, 5 and 2. She bore William none. William was recorded as 'High Constable' in his burial record 5 Apr 1625. He was not born in Dunton. He was recorded as a gentleman there in the Subsidy Roll of 1624 (Banks 1931 p 36). The residue of his estate he bequeathed to Parnell's youngest son Robert Brockett 'my sonne whom I appoint the only Executour...' (will pr Lincoln 17 May 1625). Edward Brockett was a witness.

Parnell and Edward's 3 sons all stayed in Dunton and had large families:

1. Edward bap 1589: 9 children c 1615-35
2. John bap 1593: 11 children c 1618-35
3. Robert bap 1596: 7 children c 1632-50.

Parnell was buried Dunton 2 Nov 1639; will written 18 Oct 1639 pr 21 Oct 1641 (Archd. Beds).

iii. Edward of Dunton senior Yeoman 1589-1660

First son of Edward and Parnell. Baptised in Campton 1589; lived to c 71, will written 25 Apr 1660 pr Archd Beds 28 Jun 1661; Churchwarden 1618-1622 (Parish records); 'senr' in wife's burial record in 1660, and his own. With his son Edward he was a witness to brother Robert's will 1652. Dunton was a small settlement: the Lay Subsidy Roll of 1628/9 listed only 8 payers for Dunton cum Milloe. Edward paid 8s on 40s in lands (BRO T53/10). Neither of his 2 brothers paid, suggesting that Edward held the land.

Married 1613 Dunton Ann—b 1593/4 d 1660—d/o Robert NEGUS of Dunton, husbandman, will 18 Jan 1626, pr Archd Beds 25 Apr 1630. 9 children over 20 years, 6 sons 3 daughters—all baptised Dunton:

1. Edward bap 1614/5 bur 1661 Dunton
2. John bap 1617. The only child not mentioned in his father's will—had he died before his father, or being one of many younger sons in a small village had he perhaps moved to London and either married and/or emigrated in 1637? Gray suggested that a burial entry for 'Brocket, farmer' in Dunton 28 Apr 1644 was this John. It was perhaps equally or more likely to have been one or other of John's cousins, William or Robert, sons of John and Joan Negus. A John Brickett was recorded in the 1671 Hearth Tax for Dunstable as paying for 3 hearths in 2 houses, but although Dunstable is c 18 miles SW of Dunton, it is best to take this record at face value as a different person rather than a scribal error.
3. Robert bap 1619. There were 2 Robert baptisms in Dunton within a year of each other—1619/20, but only one subsequent burial there—1694 (the last Brockett entry in the Dunton Parish Registers). Because this Robert was mentioned in his father's will in 1660 it has been assumed that he was the Robert buried in 1694. A Robert and Mary ABBIS married 1656 in Northill—5 m W of Dunton—and had 6 children baptised in Dunton between 1656 and 1673; again it has been assumed that it was this Robert:
1. John b 4 Feb 1656/7 (?married Annis and d 1700-1)
2. Robert bap 1658 Dunton. Lacking evidence to the contrary it has been assumed that this Robert was the father of the only recorded Brockett family in the Bassingbourn parish registers, Cambs. His children's names are similar to his own siblings and relatives. Like other males in this yeoman family he married late. He was buried 8 Apr 1708, Bassingbourn. He married Jane ..., bur 12 Apr 1743 Bassingbourn. Children—all born/baptised Bassingbourn:
1. Anna b 8 May 1697
2. Hannah bap 20 Jun 1700
3. John b 13 Dec 1702 bap in his 26th year 10 Sep 1727
4. Mary bur 30 Jul 1715
5. Martha b c 1707 bap 14 Jul 1723 in the 16th year of her age.
   
3. Elizabeth bap 1660
4. Mary bap 1664
5. Ann bap 1666
6. Hannah bap 1673.
Pye confused this Robert with his uncle Robert—s/o Edward and Parnell Tanner—and so made the other Robert—s/o John and Joan Negus—the husband of Mary. In the hearth tax for 1671 Robert paid on one hearth in Dunton cum Millo (section 39).
4. Ann bap 1622 m ... CHURCHAINE
5. William bap 1624. Probably Rev William of Little Cornard, Suffolk.
6. Samuel bap 1626/7
7. Elizabeth bap 1629 m George NEGUS
8. Isaac bap 1632. Because he was mentioned in his father's will in 1660 it has been assumed that it was this Isaac who married Ellen rather than his cousin s/o John and Joan Negus.
9. Susannah bap 1635 m William REED.

Comments on the will:

1. The signature 'Edward Brockett' at the end is in a shaky, old man's hand.
2. Edward owned or rented at least 2 houses—Dunton, Newton—and 3 crops—Dunton, Straton, Newton.
3. He divided his 3 properties—in Straton, Dunton and Newton—between his sons William and Robert, leaving only 12d to eldest son Edward, c 46 years old at the time. He would no doubt have already established Edward.
4. He left cash legacies totalling £20 and 7 shillings.
5. He was a widower.
6. Jacob and Joseph Curchaine and Anne Curchaine the younger were most likely his grandchildren, the only ones mentioned.
7. He left his wife's linen to Anne Curchaine the younger.
8. ll 12 and 13 indicate that he had paid a portion for his daughter's marriage on condition that if the husband predeceased her she would receive an annual jointure of £10 p a in house and lands.
9. Witness William Barber was also a witness to Edward the younger's will in the same year.
   

iv. John of Dunton Yeoman 1593-

Second son of Edward and Parnell. Baptised 30 September 1593 Campton. Married 1617/8 Dunton Joan or Jane d/o Robert NEGUS of Dunton, as above. Name spelt Burkett in the marriage record, and Brocked in daughter Elizabeth's baptism record. John and Jane and their younger children had probably moved to Baldock by 1641, when they purchased a property there with a garden, an orchard and an acre of land for £41 (HALS 28564: 'vno mesuagio vno gardino vno pomario & una acra terre cum pertinencijs'). There were no more records of their family in Dunton after 1638/9. Over the previous 21 years Joan bore John 11 children—6 sons and 5 daughters, all baptised Dunton:

1. William bap 1618. Possible emigrant to Virginia in 1638—although would a Yeoman's eldest son have signed up to servitude? Alternatively, he may have died and been buried in Dunton 28 Apr 1644, recorded in the Parish Register as 'Brocket, farmer'. As eldest son he was perhaps most likely of the three—himself, brother Robert and cousin John—to have been styled 'farmer'.
2. Robert bap 1620, probably only a year younger than his cousin Robert. He may have died and been buried in Dunton 28 Apr 1644, recorded in the Parish Register as 'Brocket, farmer', but it has been assumed here that he moved to nearby Potton, where in the 1671 hearth tax he paid for one hearth (section 56). The IGI records the following entries for Potton: Robert bur 1696, mar Rose ... bur 1691, children:
   1. Susanna bap 1663
   2. Thomas bap 1667, bur 1715, mar 1703 Mary MAN, children:
   1. Thomas bap and bur 1704
   2. Elizabeth bap 1706, mar 1732 William MASON
   3. John bap and bur 1708.
   Also an unknown Susan was married in Potton 1649 to Robert DALE.
3. John bap 1622. Probably married Jane ... There is a slight difficulty distinguishing this John from namesake cousin John bap Dunton 1617. The following records, however, probably refer to this John:
   1. Hannah 'daughter of John Brocket of Millo' was baptised or born in Dunton 10 Sep 1654. If John were her father (following Pye), then the 1644 burial entry of 'Brocket, farmer' would have to have been another adult Brocket born before 1623. This could only mean one or other of John's 2 elder brothers, William or Robert, or else cousin John bap Dunton 1617. Parents John and Joan had probably moved to Baldock by 1641, but one or more of their eldest sons over 21 by then may well have stayed in Dunton or Millo.
   2. John Brockett of Dunton Yeoman and Jane his wife acquired a messuage in Baldock High Street and an acre of land in Willian feild for £8 in 1 Dec 1670. They sold it 3 years later for £9 (HALS 28572).
4. Edward bap 1624
5. Elizabeth bap 1627. Either this Elizabeth or her first cousin—bap 1629—married Thomas GREEN of Dunton 8 Jun 1663.
6. Joan bap 1629
7. Isaac bap 1631. It could have been this Isaac who married Ellen rather than his cousin s/o Edward and Ann Negus. If so he was father of Isaac, mentioned in Edward of Bures St Mary's will 1696.
8. Moses bap 1633 bur Dunton 1633
9. Mary bap 1634. Possible emigrant to Virginia as an indentured servant in 1652, like her brother William.
10. Rebecca bap 1636/7
11. Ann bap 1638/9.

v. Robert of Millow in Dunton Yeoman 1596-1652

Third son of Edward and Parnell. The first Brockett baptised in Dunton. Churchwarden 1635-36. Married 1st 1630 Baldock, Herts (Allen Index) Joan FAGE bur Dunton 6 April 1639, 4 children over 9 years, 3 daughters, 1 son; married 2nd 1640 St Johns, Bedford Frances WHEELER bur Dunton 1661, 3 children over 10 years, 1 son, 2 daughters—all baptised Dunton:

1. Isabel bap 1632 m 1654 Dunton Thomas COOKE (or Cocke)
2. Edward bap 1634. Aged 18 when his father made him co-executor of his will. The other executrix was not Edward's mother. Churchwarden 1648-51? Or one of the other Edwards? Edward probably moved 40 miles E to Bures St Mary, Suffolk.
3. Dorothy bap 1636
4. Mary bap 1638/9
5. Robert bap 1642/3.
6. Frances bap 1645
7. Elizabeth bap 1649/50.

Robert was sole executor of the will of his step-father Constable William Rush. Robert died aged 55 years old, predeceasing his eldest brother Edward by 8 years. The parish register burial entry calls him 'of Milloberry'. In 2002 Millowbury was a farmhouse in Millow owned by the Kendall family. His will was written within 4 or 5 days of his death, with legacies of £300 over and above the rest of his estate. The will was proved at the highest court in the land, probably for status. He was concerned for the education of his children and maintenance of their status:

vi. Edward of Millo junior Yeoman 1614/5-1661

Eldest son of Edward and Ann, he was styled 'the younger' as a witness to uncle Robert's will of 1652 and 'junior' in the records of his children's baptism and his own burial. Dunton Churchwarden 1648.

Comments on the will:

1. Bedford Record Office have both a rough and ready local original on watermarked paper and a neater court transcript on parchment. The original gives an impression of haste. Buried 21 Sept 1660, Edward probably died the very day his will was written. Probate then took 6 months. Some spellings differ; the original has been used as the base text.
2. Edward may have predeceased his father. His father's will—written 5 months before Edward's—was not proved until 3 months after Edward the son's—28 June 1661. The Dunton register records the father's burial in 1660 without a day and a month. Edward's mother had also been buried that year—before his father.
3. Unlike his father and grandfather, Edward did not style himself 'Yeoman'. Large families and daughters' dowries may have diminished the clan's earlier wealth. Dunton, however, was a small enough settlement for him to be able to request burial in the church, or churchyard.
4. Edward and Elin's twins William and Frances were minors—only 2 years old in fact. The original Dunton Parish Register entry for 20 Sep 1658 (BRO P51/1/6) read: 'Bapt. Gulielmus et Fransisca gemelli Eadvardi Brocket Jn'—in English: 'William and Frances, twins of Edward Brocket jnr were baptised'. William later apparently moved down to Steeple and Guilden Morden.
5. Witness William Barber was also a witness to Edward the elder's will earlier in the year.
   

vii. John of Shillington Labourer

17th C Shillington parish registers—which began 1543—recorded:

1. 2 Jul 1610: Elizabeth Brockett m James KEYNE.
2. 14 Nov 1649: widow Brocket buried.
3. 1696-1720: the family of John and Mary Brockett (misspelt Braket in 1697):

 
          John   m  Mary
 
      Labourer 1696 LAWRENCE
 
      bur 1720   |  bur 1710
                 |
   ______________|_______________ 
   |         |         |        |
   |         |         |        |
 
 John     Lawrence   Mary    Thomas
 
 b 1697   b 1699     b 1701  b 1708
 
          moved to
 
          Luton

18th C birth/baptism records (IGI, excluding all 'Abt' entries)

Dates	Place	Number	Comments
1701	Shillington	1	Also 1699: 1
1706-8	Potton	2	Dunton? Also 1663: 1
1720	Felmersham	1	Also 1805-8: 2
1723-7	Bletsoe	3
1730-51	Luton	6	Also 1602-16: 8
1737-77	Kempston	10
1746-75	Cranfield	7	2 families
1759-64	Odell	3	1 family. Also 1809: 1
1779-92	Bromham	7	1 family. Also 1803-74: 53
1779-99	Biddenham	7	1 family. Also 1818-67: 12
1787-91	Stagsden	3	1 family
1793-8	Souldrop	3	1 family. Also 1801-61: 12
1796-8	Houghton Conquest	2	1 family. Also 1803-5: 2
	Total:	55

Luton 1729-80

5 Sep 1729 Lawrence Brockett married Ann Briden in St Mary's. Ann was local—bap St Mary's 18 Mar 1700/1. Lawrence was baptised in Shillington 1699. Ann died 1741 and on 28 Jul 1746 Lawrence married Mary Pritchard. In subsequent records he was called Lancelot, except his burial. The relationship to Lawrence of Sarah who married 1730 and Henry who married 1741 is unknown. The male lines died out. Following are all the Luton records from this period:

      Ann    m  Lawrence/Lancelot  m2  Mary              Sarah       Henry m 1741
 
    BRIDEN  1729    bur 1772      1746 PRITCHARD         m 1730      ?bur    Elizabeth
 
   bur 1741  |                      |  bur 1780        William HART  1784    SOUNDS
             |                      |
   __________|________________      |________________                Limbury
   |       |        |        |      |      |        |
   |       |        |        |      |      |        |
 
Mary     Sarah   William  Thomas  Martha  Ann    Richard
 
b 1730   b 1734  b/bur    bur     b 1747  b 1748 b/bur
 
m 1757   ?bur    1737     1739    m 1767  bur    1751
 
Thomas   1737                     George  1749
 
ROAD                              DUNHAM

Kempston

William Brockett with property in Wootton, Kempston, voted in a county poll 24 Apr 1734 (BRO RV8 p 17). He would have been the father of Elizabeth baptised 1737 and Samuel baptised 1739, and possibly of William who married Sarah THOMPSON 1743 and had children baptised (IGI):

1. Mary 1746
2. Sarah 1748
3. Anne 1750
4. John 1755
5. James 1757
6. Susan 1760.

Wills

No Bedfordshire Broket will has been found before the 1st Dunton one in 1598. Three more were written in Dunton over the next 63 years. The next ones date 123 years later:

1. Henry Brocket of Limbury, Luton Yeoman, will pr 1784—married Luton 1741?
2. Elizabeth Brockett of Limbury, Luton Widow, will pr 1784—married Luton 1741?

1661 to c 1750 was a low point in Bedfordshire Broket fortunes.

19th C birth/baptism records (IGI, excluding all 'Abt' entries)

Dates	Place	Number	Comments
1801-61	Souldrop	12	Also 1793-8: 3
1801-60	Blunham	18	Also 1656-9: 2
1803-5	Houghton Conquest	2	1 family. Also 1796-8: 2
1803-74	Bromham	53	Also 1779-92: 7
1805-8	Felmersham	2	Also 1720: 1
1809	Odell	1	1 family. Also 1759-64: 3
1811	Sharnbrook	2	1 family
1811-28	Cardington	6	1 family
1818-67	Biddenham	12	3 families. Also 1779-99: 7
1823-78	Bedford	22
1861	Moggerhanger	1
1864-74	Clapham	2	1 family
1864-74	Stotfold	8	2 families from Guilden Morden
1865-70	Tempsford	2	1 family
1866	Stopsley	1
1868	Elstow	1
	Total:	155

Two Bedfordshire administrations/wills from the 19th C have been found:

1. Elizabeth Brockett of Blunham, administration 12 Mar 1831 by John Brockett of Blunham, Labourer
2. John Brocket of Chalton, Blunham, Labourer, will written 9 Mar 1847, pr 4 Sep 1847 Bedford.

In both halves of the century 1855-1954 London had more Brockett births, marriages and deaths in the UK than other counties or cities. Bedfordshire came next in the 1st half but its birth rate dropped by more than half in the 2nd and Brocketts left the county. Census returns 1881 and 1901 show the turn:

Progenitors of clans with living descendants:

• William and Sarah WHITE married 20 Feb 1737/38 in Biddenham
• Daniel and Mary MABBOT married 12 Oct 1795 Houghton Conquest
• John and Elizabeth PAIN, married 1804 Felmersham
• John and Maria DARLING married 15 Jan 1821 St Peter's, Bedford
• John and Ann JAMES married 22 Mar 1824 Bromham.