Rev John of London and Grimston bap 1612 d 1663

The son of John of Caswell Esq, baptised in Wheathampstead 1612, is the only known Gentleman John Brockett who could have married Mary Blackwell in 1635. The signature on the marriage licence is the same as on his will signed 1646, and his will clearly shows that he was the son of John of Caswell. It was proposed that this John was the John Brockett who emigrated on the Hector, arriving Boston 1637 (Madsen 1983), but in fact he was a Clerk in Sion College London and Rector of Grimston, Norfolk—c 6 m E of King's Lynn near the Wash—dying 1663. Although married twice, he apparently had no children, or at least none that survived.

1. Cambridge 1634

In April 1634 John became a student at Christ's College Cambridge, where he would have studied liberal arts:

The University record reads (Venn & Venn 1922):

Fellow-Commoners were wealthy students from monied, landed families. The phrase 'One of these names' means the Venns interpreted some non-University references to suggest that someone called John Brockett—but not necessarily this John Brockett for certain—was Rector of Graveley with Chesfield, and he or another was Rector of Hertingfordbury.

They were in fact wrong suggestions. John Brockett Rector of Graveley and/or Hertingfordbury could not have been John son of John of Caswell. Nine years before John matriculated at Christ's a distant cousin and namesake had gained an MA from another Cambridge College (Venn & Venn 1922):

1. One matriculated 1554.
2. One matriculated 1584 at Oxford and went on to study at Gray's Inn.
3. One was admitted to Peterhouse in 1617, but died that year and was buried at Little St. Mary's, Cambridge Aug 19, 1617. [Who was he?]
4. One was admitted to Peterhouse Mar 18, 1617/8, changed to Sidney Sussex College the next year and graduated as BA 1621-2 and MA 1625, cited above.
5. One was admitted to Christ's 1634—son of John of Wheathampstead/Caswell Esq—cited above.
6. One was admitted to King's 1692/3.

Nos 1, 2, 3 and 6 are not relevant here, but had the Venns not thought he had died 1630 they probably would have suggested that John no 4 became Rector of Graveley with Chesfield as well as of Hertingfordbury. Other records confirm that this John—son of Edmund—was a clergyman at both Hertingfordbury and Graveley.

Because the Venns mistakenly thought that John s/o Edmund had died in 1630, they attached his post-1630 details to John s/o John of Wheathampstead/Caswell. In reality John s/o John became a Clerk at Sion College, London and Rector of Grimston, Norfolk.

John and John Mott each pledged £100 to secure a licence for John to marry Mary Blackwell (HALS). This was a large sum of money.

i. Bond

ii. Condition

iii. Notes

The transcription is from the original held in HALS. These documents were standard forms, issued by the Diocese on a regular basis. In tightly-knit communities, consanguinity at marriage was a major concern, hence the practice of Banns. Marriage licences were an alternative to Banns, which some perceived as a little vulgar. They also enabled people to get married elsewhere than their own parish.

St Michaels is the main parish church in St Albans, a couple of miles south of Sandridge Parish—which adjoins Wheathampstead—and about 6 m N of Bushey. Sandridge Parish Registers record the marriage for the same day: 14 August 1635 Mr John Brocket and Mary Blackwell. The Registers span 1559-1840 and these are the only Broket and Blackwell entries. The wedding was the same day as the licence and it was not in their own parish, but as the licence said, parental consent ought to have been given.

Mary would have died during the next 7 or 8 years because John's will shows he was married to Anne by 3 Jun 1646.

3. Saunceys 1638

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On 20 Jan 1638 John and his father conveyed the manor of Sansey to James Ellis Esq and Alexander Humfries Gent (PRO CP25/2/430; VCH Herts 1908 vol 2 p 302 n 75):

Latin

English translation

1. hec est finalis concordia facta in Curia domini Regis apud Westmonasterium in Octavis sancti Hillarij Anno regnorum 2. Caroli Dei gratia Anglie Scotie Francie & Hibernie Regis fidei Defensoris &c a conquestu tridecimo ... 4. ... Inter Iacobum Ellis Armigerum & Alex' Humfries Generosum quer' et Iohannem Brokett 5. seniorem Armigerum & Iohannem Brokett Iuniorem filium & hered' apparen' dicti Iohannis Brokett senioris 6. deforc' de Manerio de Sansey cum pertinencijs ac de sex mesuagijs decem cotagijs duobus molendinis 7. aquaticis vno columbar' decem gardinis decem pomarijs trescentis & septuaginta acris terre triginta 8. acris prati quadraginta acris pasture & quinque solidat' reddit' cum pertinencijs in Whethamsted 9. Harpeden & Kympton … 17. ... quingentas libras sterlingorum

1. This is the final agreement made in the Lord King's court at Westminster 20 Jan in the year of the reign 2. of Charles, by the grace of God, King of England, Scotland, France and Ireland, defender of the faith etc after the conquest the thirteenth ... 4. ... between James Ellis Esq and Alexander Humfries Gent purchasors and John Brockett 5. senior Esq and John Brockett junior son and heir apparent of the said John Brockett senior 6. vendors of the Manor of Sansey with appurtenances and 6 messuages, 10 cottages, 2 watermills, 7. 1 dovecote, 10 gardens, 10 apple orchards, 370 acres of land, 30 8. acres of meadow, 40 acres of pasture and 5s rent, with appurtenances in Wheathampstead 9. Harpenden & Kimpton ... 17. ... for £500 sterling

A treaty alledgedly existed c 1639 between Samuel Baker snr and John snr and jnr re the purchase of the Manor [singular] of Sancey, Rothamstead & Chivills. The Manors of Saunceys and Rothamsted were combined at this time (VCH Herts 1908 vol 2 p 302) but Chivills, acquired by Sir John I by 1555, was linked to Symondshyde (VCH Herts 1908 vol 2 p 102 n 74).

4. Brocket v Baker 1639-1653

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John specifically figured in this long-running dispute in:

1. 1642-3 when he sold his reversionary interest in the estate
2. the 1650s when he and his father are alledged to have created secret estates and antedated the deeds.

5. Grimston, Norfolk 1646

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John Brokett MA was instituted to the rectory and living of Grimston on the resignation of the last parson, Thomas Thorowgood (NRO DN/REG 18). He subscribed on 16 Jun 1646 (NRO DN/SUB 1/1 p 160):

'Subscription'

From 1558 all clerks were required to swear an oath of allegiance to the crown and in 1571 all clerks before their ordination or institution to a new benefice were to declare their assent to the three Articles of Religion: recognition of royal supremacy, use of the Book of Common Prayer and adhesion to the 39 Articles of 1562. To these requirements was added an oath against simony and other oaths before institution.

John was Rector here till his death in 1663.

6. John's will

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Just prior to his institution to Grimston, on 3 Jun 1646 when he was 34, John wrote his will and it remained the same till it was proved in Norwich 26 Feb 1663. It shows that in 1646 he was a Clerk of Sion College with a Chamber there, probably an 'assistant':

Along with its attachment, inventory and seals, John's will shows him as a comfortably-off land-owning gentleman Clerk. He made small bequests to his brother Edmond, sister Elizabeth—almost 20 at the time—and cousin Benjamin Hare. John and Richard Hare were among the defendants in a Broket v Broket case brought by Edmond's widow Judith. Otherwise John left everything to his wife Anne, his sole executrix. The IGI records a marriage of John Brockett 21 May 1646 at St Mary Aldermary London to Mrs Ann THOROWGOOD. Was she the daughter of the previous Rector of Grimston? 'Mrs', ie Mistress, was usd by unmarried daughters of the minor gentry.

The royal date suggests that John didn't have Puritan leanings, like his contemporary distant relative, Rev John of Bentworth, whose will mentioned no king.

Attached to the will is a smaller sheet naming property he owned in 1646:

June the third 1646 For Example I giue The Inheritance of 30 li per annum of Free hold - land in the parish of Bushey &c The profits Rents & Errerages of a Leace of 50 l per annum in Milton &c All bonds in my little Trunke within the Iron Chest, as John Walls, Josiah Wards, Peter Stubbers &c As also all Bills as John Whites &c All Goods in my Chamber in Sion Colledge & else wher as Hangings Plate Beds bookes &c The whole Estate settled vpon me by Dame Margaret Lady Leigh Drawne vp by the advise of Mr Kirkham Counceller by the hand of Mr Stubbs Atturney, whether Leases Bonds Goods &c [signature Jo. Brokett]

The Bushey land perhaps came through marriage to Mary Blackwell.

Each page of the will and the attachment were signed by John:

NRO PRCC/OW 1663 no 111 p 2, reproduced with kind permission from the Norfolk Record Office

in clearly the same hand as that of the 1635 bond:

Each page was also sealed with his seal measuring about 1.5 cm in diameter and containing a shield quarterly of 4—the essence perhaps of the 18 of his contemporary 3rd cousin Edward of Wheathamstead Gent 1606-69:

Below is what can be deciphered from the Probate Inventory of John's possessions (NRO DN/INV 50B/102), sums translated into modern £ s d. Total value: £683 17s. Compare the inventory of gentleman farmer Robert of Bramfeld d 1582 valued at £72 14s 10d.

John's Parsonage had 9 bedrooms—his own would have been the Parlor Chamber, large enough to take a table, 8 chairs, 3 stools and other items in addition to the bedstead—and in the yards and stables were various animals, including 8 horses, a colt and a foal, 11 cows, 2 bullocks, 2 bulls and 4 calves, 13 swine plus 29 beehives.

Grimston in the County of Norfolk Thursday the xxviiijth January Anno 1663/4: A True and perfect Inventory of all the Goodes and Chattelles plate Moneys App[ar]ell and Howsehold stuff with Corne & Graine &c. Left in the Respectiue P[ar]sonage howse and now Apparent vppon the Groundes And in the Barnes App[er]taining to the said howse and the severall Roomes ... in Grimston, Aforesaid which did belong vnto [Mr] John Brokett Late Minister or Rector their . (now deceased) Invented As Follows Imprimis For all his wearing App[ar]ell — £25 Item In Ready Money — £80 Item Plate: A Siluer Tankarde : Suger box : Cawdle Pott : twoo porringers Seauene Siluer Spoones : A sealed Ring with his Armes / ... &c. — £30              In the Parlor Pickteres and Mappes — £7 A paire of Virginalles — £2 A Squaire Table A Leafe Table and twoo Liuery Cubbardes — £2 Fower Leather Chaires twoo other Chaires fower Stooles with ... Coueres an old Green Couche and halfe a dozen Greene Cushinges — £2 10s A paire of Andirones fiue pannes & Tonges a ... Bellowes & small Tonges — 10s Twoo ... Curtinges with Roddes two Carpittes &c green Cuberd Clothes — £2 10s              In the Twoo Closettes A little leafe Table and a three Cornered Liuery Cubbard An old buffitt Stoole and A Childes Chaire — £10              In the Pantry A ... for Lynnen a powdering Tubb a ... Tubb a ... a ... ... ... ... ... ... Plates — £2              In the Hall A Square Table a long Table twoo old formes and an old Chest — £2              In the Kitching Pewter and Brasse — £4 10s An Iron Pott A Jacke a fire Creadle Cobb Irone fire pann & Tonges A ... &c and Racke dripping pannes twoo Musquettes and a ... A ... ... a pewter ... twoo old Chares and a ... boxe — £4 10s              In the Larther A ... ... dresser board and meale tubbes — 10s              In the Kitching Chamber A Liuery beadstead and bead full furnished — £5 A trundle beadstead bead & bedding — £1 10s A Liuery Cubbard a table twoo Chaires a Chest a Shelfe a halbart & 'old' sword — £2 10s              In the Maides Chamber An old beadstead and bead full furnished : A Skreene — £3              In the ... Chamber An old beddstead two olde beddes twoo boulsteres blankettes & a Couerlette — £2              In the old Studdy Chamber Twoo old bedsteades an old feather bead boulster & blankettes — £1              In the Hall Chamber ./ A Liuery beddstead and bead full furnished: hanginges A liuery Table a Chest a Forme and twoo old Stooles — £6              In the Greene Chamber ./ An old beddstead and bead full furnished — £6 Sixteene pickteres in frames — £1 10s A Liuery Table twoo old Chaires and an old Stoole — 10s              In the Parlor Chamber ./ An beddstead and bead full furnished with a Counterpaine of needleworke — £30 A twoo Armed Chaire sixe small Chaires & three Stooles with Coueres of needlework— £4 A suite of hanginges of Tapstery .xj. pickteres : Curtinges & Roddes for the windowes — £30 A Cabbonette a Creadle Rugg of Camelles haire & twoo wrought Coueres for pillowes — £10 A Table frame twoo boxes a Chest and twoo Trunkes — £2 Sixe paires of Sheetes ... of which three paires of holland — £4 10s Nyne fine pillowbeares & sixe Co.. pillowbeares — £3 5s Twoo Long boa.. Clothes & twoo short ones Seauen Cubard Clothes — £3 Twoo Diaper Clothes fower Dozen napkines six Towelles — £4              In the brinkowse A brewing Copper a ma.. & G.. Fatt A Cooler & a meshing Copper with other vtencelles for brewing & w.king — £20              In the Diary Tenne Milke bowles A butter Realor twoo ... pottes fiue shelues A Cheese presse eight Cheese fattes & a Cl.. — £2              In the ...howse Twoo s.. Rakes hand ... pitch forkes ... Iron Cast ... — £1 10s ... of Corne s.. a mill Riddles &c — £2 10s              In the Store howse Chamber ... Messing yeast hoppes and a Skreene— £14              In the Green Yarde Garding Twenty nyne skeppes of bees— £14              In the Stables ./ Eight horses and ... a Coult and a foale — £35 A new saddle with ites ... & a saddle Couer — £1 10s              In the yardes & pasture Eleauen Kowes twoo Bullockes twoo Bulles & fower yearelyng ...es — £95 Three Cartes & Cart Geares twoo plowes & plow Geares & harrowes — £10 12s Thirteene Swine Great & Small — £7 10s P...y of all Sortes — £2 10s ... and ... Lathes — £7              In the Twoo Barnes Sixe Lastes of Barly — £60 In Curtis his barn & ... the little barne at home Twenty fiue Coombes pease & fetches — £15 The xiiij yeares in a Lease of Hillington & Walton — £25 The Mucke in the Yard and Laines — £15 Plowing & seed of Twelue Acres and a halfe Wheat & Rye — £12 10s A Clocke which is over the Staires Leading vpp to the parlor Chamber — £2              In the Studdy over the parlor and Greene Chambers Item Bookes of all Sortes (for when the Army Came into London the best parte of them to the value of £150 beeing sent into the Cuntry by sea were taken by parcelles on the Coast of Norfolk) Butt ... now in the Studdy are valued at — £100 Twoo ...es with Couers of Leather and Moxones booke — £3 A Deske with a cheast of drawers twoo Cubbard with shelues A Chaire and an old ... ... — £2 Twoo booke Cases or Shelues with other Lumber — £1 10s