London

Brokets were always incomers into London—excepting of course incomers' descendants.

None have been found in the 13-14th C, only 2 families in the 15th and 2 in the 16th. The first traceable London clan emerged at the very end of the 16th C in Southwark—with little doubt from Hertfordshire roots. The 17th C saw a few more younger sons from the ramified Hertfordshire clan settling in the metropolis, and possibly a few from Bedfordshire and elsewhere. Young Brokets who were sent for apprenticeships tended to stay, eldest sons who came for schooling at the Inns of Court returned to country residences.

From the 18th C numbers increased in accord with the population and during the century 1855-1954 there were more Brocketts in London than in the 2 next highest concentrations put together:

Contents:	1. 15th C	3. 17th C	5. Inns of Court
	2. 16th C	4. 18th-19th C

i. Parnelle 1419

Most probably a daughter of Thomas the Remembrancer, Parnelle was a go-between in 1419 for the Exchequer to pay £100 to Queen Joan of Navarre, Henry IV's second wife (Devon 1837 p 324f).

The Treasurer Lord Henry Scrope, whom Thomas worked for, had also invested heavily to assist the Earl of March (Pugh 1988 p 118f).

ii. William 1433

Most probably a son of Thomas the Remembrancer, William Broket was a Clerk in the Exchequer in Westminster. He was found guilty of tampering with official documents.

iii. Richard Citizen and Fuller d 1454

Richard Broket was a Citizen of London, a member of the Fullers' Company, with an apprentice and a widower at the time of his death. This suggests a birth 1390-1410 and completion of apprenticeship 1411-31. Richard would most likely have lived and worked in London c 1400-54. No Citizen record has been found for Richard; few have survived this early.

            ______________  
            |             |
            |             |
 
       ... BROKET       Hugh
 
     _______|_______  alive 1454
     |             |
     |             |
 
  Richard       Agnes alive 1454
 
   m ...        m William DABBES
 
 (d bef 1454)       ?|
                     |
     |               |
     |
     |             Edmund
 
  William         Apprentice
 
  alive 1454      alive 1454

Fullers were an important link in the wool production chain. They cleaned or thickened cloth by treading or beating it in large brass pots. Richard's testament was written 29 Aug 1454, proved 6 Sep 1454.

Three Merchant Citizens of London are recorded—a Baker and a Goldsmith at the beginning of the century, originally from Northumberland, and a Cheesemonger at the end, probably from a cadet Wheathampstead line. Meanwhile throughout the century members of the Hertfordshire clan had dealings in London, especially the MPs and Sheriffs.

Thomas of Southwark ?bap 1569 d c 1618

Thomas Brockett was the progenitor of a London merchant clan flourishing in Southwark for more than a century. Gray produced a fine, unpublished pedigree of this clan in 1998. Thomas was a Citizen and Fishmonger of London, and like his son and grandsons after him was a Cheesemonger by trade.

Freedom to Livery Companies usually came soon after completion of an apprenticeship, which was normally arranged to expire at 21 (Haskett-Smith 1916 p 3). So Thomas probably completed his apprenticeship c 1590, but there are no separate Cheesemonger Apprenticeship records. The 1st index of admissions to freedom of the Fishmonger Company dates from 1593, but it doesn't include Thomas. He probably therefore gained his freedom 1591 or 92. The Quarterage Books date from 1610, by which time Thomas was a Yeoman of the Company, paying quarterly membership fees of 20d for 1610-3, 32d for 1614-5 and 24d for 1616-8 (ms 5578A/1 ff 10, 13, 20, 7), but was registered dead for 1618-20 (ms 5578A/1 f 8).

Thomas was in all probability from a cadet Wheathampstead line—that of Robert Gent of Bramfield:

• Becoming a Merchant in London was often the career path of younger sons of the gentry.
• Considerable paternal backing would have been needed to be apprenticed to a Cheesemonger, whose Livery Company was one of the most influential in London.
• The Hertfordshire group were the only Brokets in those days with the necessary funds.
• Thomas' dates fit Thomas, younger son of the Suffolk family of Robert Gent of Bramfield, otherwise unaccounted for.
• John, 2nd s/o of John Gent of Codicote, Thomas' kinsman, became a Fishmongers' apprentice 1615 (ms 5576/1 p 8).
• Thomas was a Broket name at the time.
• Brokets are first recorded in the St Olave's registers well after they began. They were incomers there at least.

Thomas married Ann PAR 2 Oct 1595 St George, Botolph Lane, London. After the early death of his eldest son he married his 2nd son to a Merchant's daughter with connections to the Rasing and Harvard families. Children:

1. Abigall, bap 25 Jul 1596 St Olave's, Southwark
2. John, bap 16 Jul 1598 St Olave's
3. Joseph of Southwark, Cheesemonger, bap 19 Oct 1600 St Olave's.
4. Thomas of Southwark, Citizen and Pewterer of London, bap 6 Mar 1602/3 St Olave's. Pewterers made table-ware of an alloy of tin, widely used by those who could not afford plate but did not need to rely entirely on wooden trenchers (Palliser 1979 p 165). Thomas married twice. His 1st wife, name unknown, had 2 daughters Sarah, the 1st bap 17 Jun 1632/3 St Saviour's Southwark who d an infant, the 2nd bap 19 Mar 1636/7 St Saviour's, mentioned in father's will as an only child. His 2nd wife, Leah, widow of ... MARIAT (marr licence 22 Jul 1640 London) had 1 daughter Abigall, bap 9 Jun 1642 St Saviour's, d an infant. Thomas' will was written 5 Mar 1652/3, pr PCC 7 May 1653, wife Leah still living.
5. Elizabeth, bap 25 Jan 1606/7 St Olave's. Married ... TOMLINSON. Mentioned in will of brother Thomas 1652/3.

This was the century of the Great Fire of London—1666—preceded by a visitation of the Plague in 1665 in which thousands died. A new city rose from the ashes and with a population of over 500,000 was Europe's largest and most cosmopolitan city. Most recorded 17th C London Brokets came from the by-then indigenous Southwark clan, or immigrated from Hertfordshire branches. Some younger sons inevitably became poorer. The origins of several 17th C Brokets are still unaccounted for.

i. John bap 1598 d 1626-28

Son of Thomas. Admitted by patrimony to the freedom of the Fishmongers' Livery Company 16 Oct 1620, the year his father died (Guildhall Library ms 5587/1 penultimate page; ms 5576/1 f 44v). Paid quarterly Company membership fees of 12d for 1622-4 and 16d for 1624-6 (ms 5578A/1 f 19), but was registered dead for 1626-28 (ms 5578A/1 f 16).

ii. Joseph of Southwark Cheesemonger 1600-81

Son of Thomas. Apprenticed 1619 to John Crowder of Southwark. Admitted to freedom of the Merchant Taylors' Company 1628. Mentioned in brother Thomas' will 1652/3; and in Thomas Harvard of Southwark's will 1636 (pr PCC 1637; Waters 1901 p 128); executor of wills of sons John 1669 and Francis 1680. Bur 19 Jul 1681 St Saviour's, Southwark. Will written 11 Jul 1681, pr 23 Jul 1681 Commissary of Surrey.

Joseph married 1st 11 Nov 1628 Mary daughter of William SMITH, Mercer of Stratford-upon-Avon; bequeathed 20s for a ring in the will of Rose Raysing of St Bride's London (pr PCC 1655; Waters 1901 p 183). Their children:

1. Joseph, bap 17 Sep 1629 St Saviour's, Southwark.
2. Thomas, bap 3 Jan 1632/3 St Saviour's, bur there 2 Feb 1633/4.
3. Mary, bap 21 Dec 1634 St Saviour's, bur there 18 May 1635.
4. John of Southwark, Cheesemonger, bap St Saviour's 22 Nov 1635. Bequeathed £5 in Thomas Harvard of Southwark's will 1636 (pr PCC 1637; Waters 1901 p 128). Will written 28 Oct 1665, pr 17 Sep 1669 Archd. Surrey.
5. Thomas, bap 2 Feb 1637/8 St Saviour's. Died young?
6. Francis, Rev., bap 29 Sep 1639 St Saviour's. Student at Queen's College Cambridge 1658-65. Master of Dulwich College Surrey 1664-80. Bur 18 Sep 1680 St Saviour's. Will written 12 Dec 1678, pr 28 Sep 1680 Archd. Surrey.
7. William, bap 27 Aug 1640 St Saviour's. Died young? Working at Lincoln's Inn Fields 1685?
8. Abigall, bap 10 Jul 1642 St Saviour's. Married Peter DOBBS of Bermondsey Surrey, Tanner (mentioned in will of brother-in-law Francis 1678, executor of father-in-law Joseph's will 1681).
9. Benjamin, bap 12 Oct 1643 St Saviour's. Died young?
10. Job, Rev., bap St Saviour's. Student at Queen's College Cambridge 1662-70. Master of Dulwich College Surrey 1701-5. Died 2 Jan 1705/6, bur Dulwich College Chapel. Will written 11 May 1704, pr 9 Jan 1704/5 PCC.
11. Sarah, bap 27 Dec 1647 St Saviour's. Died young?
12. Susanna, bap 25 Feb 1651/2 St Saviour's. Married 1st William GARDYNER (mentioned in will of brother-in-law Francis 1678), 2nd Thomas WOOD of Croydon (mentioned in will of brother-in-law Job 1704).

Joseph married 2nd (licence 2 Jul 1664 London) Jane WRIGHT (mentioned in will of stepson John 1665). No children.

iii. John Fishmonger & Citizen c 1602 d bef 1683

John, 2nd s/o of John Brockett Gent of Codicote, became an apprentice Fishmonger (to Thomas Johnson 1615: Guildhall Library ms 5576/1 p 8). Two sons and a grandson did so too, and he apprenticed his brother Charles. Married Mary MATTHEWS. Gained his freedom 1622 (ms 5576/1 f 55v).

  
          John BROCKETT of Codicote m 1593 Dorothy PENN
 
   _________________________________|________ 
      |                                 |
      |                                 |
 
    John senior b c 1602             Charles b c 1609
 
    apprentice Fishmonger 1615-22    apprenticed to brother John
 
    Citizen by 1638                  1630-8, Citizen
 
      m Mary MATTHEWS
 
      |______________________________ 
      |                             |
      |                             |
 
    John junior b c 1636         Matthew b c 1636
 
  apprenticed to father 1649-56  Freedom to Fishmongers
 
    Freedom 1657, Citizen        by patrimony 1657
 
      |
      |
      |
 
    Samuel b c 1670
 
  apprentice Fishmonger 1683-91

iv. Joseph of Croydon Cheesemonger 1629-96

Son of Joseph of Southwark Cheesemonger. Bap 17 Sep 1629 St Saviour's, Southwark. Admitted to freedom of Merchant Taylors' Company by patrimony 1652. Bequeathed £5 in the will of Rose Raysing of St Bride's London (pr PCC 1655; Waters 1901 p 183). Married 1st Mary ... (bur Croydon). Children:

1. Henry. Mentioned in will of uncle John 1665. Apprenticed to a Barber 1676/7. Died before his father?
2. Joseph. Mentioned in wills of uncle John 1665 and father 1696 (then overseas).
3. Job. Mentioned in wills of uncle John 1665, father 1696, uncle Job 1704 and brother Jesse 1727. Married ... and had 2 daughters Martha and Mary, both under 21 when mentioned in will of uncle Job 1704.
4. Jeremia, bap St Olave's, Southwark, bur 7 May 1665 St Olave's, Southwark.
5. Thomas. Apprenticed to a Draper 1690. Mentioned in wills of father 1696, uncle Job 1704 and brother Jesse 1727.

Joseph married 2nd Grace ... (will dated 28 Sep 1706, pr 3 and 9 Oct 1706 Peculiar Deanery of Croydon). Child:

1. Jesse of Southwark.

v. Thomas Esq 1659

Thomas Brockett of London Esq featured in 2 Chancery documents from 1659:

1. PRO C10/464/7 Complaint by Thomas against Nicholas Courtney and John Rolles Esq regarding a Messuage in the Parish of Morenistowe / Moorenemstowe, Cornwall, on which he had a lease connected to Grace Cole, deceased.
2. PRO C10/52/25 Demurrer of John Roll Esq to Thomas' Bill of Complaint regarding Grace Cole's tenement on which he had a lease through being Samuel Cowley's Administrator.

vi. Alexander 1643

Alexander Brocket Merchant of Antwerp, Flanders, was freed from Southwark jail in London 3 Oct 1643.

vii. Bannister 1632-1652

viii. Charles Gent of Westminster 1618-1663

ix. Edmond 1665

x. Thomas 1628-1671

xi. Thomas 1676

xii. William 1685

xiii. Judith Widow d 1688

xiv. John 1689/90

John of Stepney Middlesex Mariner had invested in a ship bound for the West Indies searching for wrecks (PRO C9/116/9 25 Jan 1689/90). It arrived Jamaica Aug 1688 where the Captain took 54 men on board when only 22 were the complement and set up as a Privateer. Will written 28 Jan 1708, pr PCC 27 Mar 1723—everything to John of the Middle Temple Esq, presumably a relation.