John was one of the four Broket heads of household in mid 16th C Hertfordshire. Offley was about 1 mile south of Hitchin, where his contemporaries William and Edward both held property. In 1545 he was farming in Ippolitts Parish, about 3 miles east of Offley. Paying only 3 pence tax in 1545 placed John much further down the social scale than the others but his will shows that he was part of their clan, in all likelihood William of Hitchin's younger brother.

	Contents of this page:	1. Testament and will
		2. Wife's will
		3. Son's will

1. Last testament and will of John Brokett of Offley Yeoman 1558

In dei nomine Amen The yere of oure lord god millesimo CCCCC
lviij The eight day of the monethe of September I John
brokett of Offleye in the countie of Hertford yeman being
of good and perfette memorye lawdede be god do make my
testamente and last will in manere and forme folowynge
ffirst I and principallie I bequeithe my soull to allmyghtie
god oure lady synt Mary and to all the holie company
of heven And my body to be buryede in the church of Offley
Item I geue to the churche of lincoln iiijd Item I geue to
the highe aultere of Offleye for my tithes necligentlie
forgotten xijd Item I geue to the iiij poure children in
the town of Offleye vjs viijd Item I geue to the reparacons
of Offley churche iijs iiijd Item I geue to grace broket
my doughtere fourtie pounde with that the money that
goodman Symons hathe in keping of the same xl li'
Item I geue to Rose Brokett my doughtere xl li' also And
that the seid Sumys to be paid at the days of maryag
And yf it fortune either of them to departe before the
day of maryage Then the other livynge to haue the
hole lxxx li' Item I will that Robert Wellis shall haue
x li' Item I geue to my ij doughters dwellinge at Stevyn
nage either of them ten sheipe Item I geue to grace and
Rose my doughters either of them ten sheipe Item I geue
to Richard brockett my sonne v sheipe Item I geue to my
doughtere Starken v sheipe Item I geue to Richard
boket and and [sic] to Thomas boket either of them v sheipe
Item I geue to Richard Leypare Alice Meyare and to
Katheryne Wellis and John Thresser euery one ij sheipe
Item I do ordeyn Mr Edwarde Broket esquyir my
ouereseare and he to haue for his good cownsell and
paynes aboute this my testament iiij li' out of the Sumes
of money that - he doo owe me Item I do make Joone
my wiff my onlie executrixe of this my last will to whom
I do geue the reste of my goodis dettes and any thinge
that is due to me or that here after shalbe due my
dettes paid and legacies as is aforeseid Wittnesse herof
John Turnare clarke vicare of Offleye Rogere Henly
Thomas Felion Richarde Clark with other

His will shows that:

John was a yeoman of middling means. He had a flock of 70+ sheep and at least £84 8s in ready cash.
John had the funds to lend money to a respected, senior kinsman, Edward of Letchworth Esq, whom he appointed his overseer. Edward was probably his first cousin.
John's daughter Grace was probably under 10 in 1558, b c 1550. She had been left 20s in William I's will in 1556/7.
The Bocketts of Hitchin are mentioned by Howlett 2000 p 66.

2. John's wife Johan's will

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To follow.

3. John's son's will

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The will of Richard Brockett Yeoman of Cosmer, Ippolletts (Lincolnshire Archives 1604/i/99) written 18 Jan 1603, proved Hitchin 7 Aug 1603 left bequests to his wife Johan, daughters Johan and Grace and the residue to his son and sole executor Nicholas. It wasn't this Nicholas who had an interest in a ship which transported cargo to Virginia in the 1630s.