Thomas Willett D.D.1

(16 April 1510 - 15 April 1598)
     Thomas Willett D.D. was born on April 16, 1510 in Barley, Hertfordshire, England.1,2 He was the son of Andreas Willett.3
     Thomas married Elizabeth Stanton circa 1544 in Barley.1 Thomas was a Notary Public and a Sub-Almoner to Edward VI. circa 1547 in London, England.1 He was a defender of Ely Cathedral in the reign of Queen Mary I. As one of the earliest Protestants in England, he suffered persecution during Mary's reign. The perssecurtion forced him into hiding with his mentor Freerend Dr. Richard Cox. During this time, his wife lived on a farm near Reading. It was during this time he studied in preparation to take hiis Holy Orders.4 After studying at Cambridge, he recived a Doctorate of Divnity, Christ Church of England.2 When Queen Elizabeth I took the throne, she promoted him to Bishopric of Ely Cathedral. He resigned this post in 1569 and returned home to Barley. He was given the fifth prebendal stall in Ely Cathedral by his patron Bishop Richard Cox.4 Thomas died on April 15, 1598 in Barley at age 87.2 He was buried in St. Margaret of Antioch Church, Barley, Hertfordshire, England, on on April 16, 1598.1

Children of Thomas Willett D.D. and Elizabeth Stanton

  • John Willett+ 2 b. circa 1545, d. 1607
  • Rebecca Willett 1 b. 1558, d. 1597
  • Andrew Willett D.D.+ 1 b. May 14, 1562, d. September 4, 1621
  • Anna Willett 2 b. 1565
  • Elizabeth Willett 1 b. circa 1567, d. 1597
  • Thomas Willett Jr 1 b. circa 1568, d. circa 1569

Citations

  1. [S9198] Della S. Bishop, Smith - Hooker Genealgoy Ithaca, New York: Stuart & Son, 1936), 322, Smith-Hooker Genealogy; Author: Della Smith Bishop, Willett Lineage, p. 282, Rev. Thomas Willett, Ancestry (https://www.ancestry.com/search/collections/62282/records/… : 2026), image 322 of 404.
  2. [S9] https://www.findagrave.com/,, Find a Grave, database and images (https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/89948374/… accessed April 19, 2026), memorial page for Rev Thomas Willett (1510–15 Apr 1598), Find a Grave Memorial ID 89948374, citing St. Margaret of Antioch Churchyard, Barley, North Hertfordshire District, Hertfordshire, England; Maintained by litekeeper (contributor 48405777).
  3. [S9208] Mary Louise Donnelly, Edward Willett: Colonial Pewterer, County Clerk, Plantaion Owner: His Ancestors and Descendants Ennis, Tesas, USA:1999), p. 1.
  4. [S9199] William Seymour Tyler, Autobiography of William Seymour Tyler, DD, LLDD Cornelius B. Tyler, 1912), WILLETT, Rev. Thomas Willett, p 308, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/library/books/viewer/367038/ : 2026), image 325.

Elizabeth Stanton1,2

(circa 1511 - )
     Elizabeth Stanton was born circa 1511 in England.11
     Elizabeth married Thomas Willett D.D., son of Andreas Willett, circa 1544 in Barley, Hertfordshire, England.1 Elizabeth Stanton was buried in St. Margaret's Church, Barley, Hertfordshire, England.1

Children of Elizabeth Stanton and Thomas Willett D.D.

  • John Willett+ 3 b. circa 1545, d. 1607
  • Rebecca Willett 1 b. 1558, d. 1597
  • Andrew Willett D.D.+ 1 b. May 14, 1562, d. September 4, 1621
  • Anna Willett 3 b. 1565
  • Elizabeth Willett 1 b. circa 1567, d. 1597
  • Thomas Willett Jr 1 b. circa 1568, d. circa 1569

Citations

  1. [S9198] Della S. Bishop, Smith - Hooker Genealgoy Ithaca, New York: Stuart & Son, 1936), 322, Smith-Hooker Genealogy; Author: Della Smith Bishop, Willett Lineage, p. 282, Rev. Thomas Willett, Ancestry (https://www.ancestry.com/search/collections/62282/records/… : 2026), image 322 of 404.
  2. [S9208] Mary Louise Donnelly, Edward Willett: Colonial Pewterer, County Clerk, Plantaion Owner: His Ancestors and Descendants Ennis, Tesas, USA:1999), Family Tree, p.1.
  3. [S9] https://www.findagrave.com/,, Find a Grave, database and images (https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/89948374/… accessed April 19, 2026), memorial page for Rev Thomas Willett (1510–15 Apr 1598), Find a Grave Memorial ID 89948374, citing St. Margaret of Antioch Churchyard, Barley, North Hertfordshire District, Hertfordshire, England; Maintained by litekeeper (contributor 48405777).

Richard Willett1

(1564 - 18 April 1597)
     Richard Willett was born in 1564 in Saint Benet Fink, London, London, England.1,2 He was the son of John Willett and Anne Kirbie.1,2 Accepted into Cabridge University from his admission to a College.3
     Richard married Katherine Hawke on May 6, 1591 in Barley, Hertfordshire, England.4,5 Richard Willett left a will on April 11, 1597 in Barley;
" In the name of God, Amen in the nyne and thrity years of our sovereigne Landye Queen Elizabeth by the grace of God Queen of England, France & Ireland and the eleventh day of April, I Richard Willett of Barley in the county of Hertford, gentleman, being sick of body but perfect mind and memory do make and ordain this my last will and testament in manner and form following. First, I bequeath my sould in the hands of Almighty God, my maker and redeemer by whose mercy I trust to be saved. And my body to be buried in the parish of Barley at the direction of myne executor. Item - I give and bequeath to Katherine, my wife, my dwelling home in Hereford and also the apertenances there unto belonging and twenty acres of aeritable lands being in ___ford and Montford in the Isle of Elye togethe nothall there app___ during her life, and after unto Anto, my son, for his heirs forever in the form and ___ of Thomas Adams, my brother-in-law, Item, I give to Katherine, my wife, my ___e of Merthforde, ___ in the Isle of Ely for the ___of years ___, upon ____, that she shall pay to Anto my son, when he is one and twenty years of age the sum of twenty pounds of good and warrant money of England. And for Elizabeth, my daughter, the sum of forty pounds of good and warrant money of England at the age of eighteen years. And to Rebecca, my daughter, the sum of forty pounds of good and warrant mony of England at the age of eighteen years. I give and bequeath to the child that my wife now groth. If it be a man child, three score pounds of good and lawful money of England at the age of one and twenty years. If it be a woman child, the amount of forty pounds of money at the age of eighteen years. Item, I give to the poor of Barley, to be distributed amongst them at the day of my funeral twenty shillings. The rest of my goods unbequeathed my ___ perofmed and my debts being paid and funerals defrayed, I give and beaqueath to Katherine, my wife so named, whom I make my sole executor. In ___ thereof, I set my had the year and day above written performed per me. Richard Willett.
Witnessed by William My Son, Matthew ___ and John Hall."

The will was probated on 28 Apr 1597.6 Richard died on April 18, 1597 in Barley.1,6

Children of Richard Willett and Katherine Hawke

  • William Willett+ 4 b. March 22, 1586, d. 1667
  • Judeth Willett 2 b. circa 1587
  • Elizabeth Willett 7 b. May 20, 1592
  • Margaret Willett 8 b. February 14, 1593
  • Rebecca Willett 9 b. August 14, 1593, d. February 8, 1609
  • Margarie Willett 8 b. September 8, 1595
  • John Willett 10 b. September 19, 1595
  • James Willett 11 b. between September 19, 1595 and April 13, 1596
  • Appoline Willett 12 b. January 31, 1597
  • Alexander Willett 13 b. May 29, 1597

Citations

  1. [S9198] Della S. Bishop, Smith - Hooker Genealgoy Ithaca, New York: Stuart & Son, 1936), 322, Smith-Hooker Genealogy; Author: Della Smith Bishop, Willett Lineage, p. 282, Rev. Thomas Willett, Ancestry (https://www.ancestry.com/search/collections/62282/records/… : 2026), image 322 of 404.
  2. [S9208] Mary Louise Donnelly, Edward Willett: Colonial Pewterer, County Clerk, Plantaion Owner: His Ancestors and Descendants Ennis, Tesas, USA:1999), p. 4.
  3. [S6801] Cambridge University Alumni, 1261-1900, Ancestry.com , Richard Willet, accepted into the University after being accepted to Christ's College, 1578, database, Ancestry (https://www.ancestry.com/search/collections/3997/records/… :2026).
  4. [S9039] England, Herefordshire Bishop's Transcripts, 1583-1898,, Yardley, Herfordshire, Bishop's Transcripts, p 72, Richard Willett - Grace Hawke, 6 May 1591, Hertdordshire Record Office, Parish Registers, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3QS7-996J-S4N2? : 2026), FHL film 040847, image 245 of 720.
  5. [S2434] England Marriages, 1538–1973 , index, FamilySearch .org, "England Marriages, 1538–1973", FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:N28X-29Q : Wed Apr 16 00:54:57 UTC 2025), Entry for Henry Kydley and Margaret Willet, 23 Apr 1601.
  6. [S8506] The National Archives of the UK; Kew, Surrey, England;, Will of Richard Willet dated 11 April 1597 - transcribed by Larry & Kathy McCurdy 23 September 2010 - We did our best as the will was very difficult to read. A copy is in our possession.
  7. [S2466] England Births and Christenings,1538-1975, FamilySearch.org, "England, Births and Christenings, 1538-1975", database, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:J74X-YLH : 28 January 2025), Elizabethe Willet, 1592, d/o Richard.
  8. [S2466] England Births and Christenings,1538-1975, FamilySearch.org, "England, Births and Christenings, 1538-1975", database, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:JMQG-2LD : 4 February 2023), Richard Willett in entry for Margarie Willett, 1595.
  9. [S2466] England Births and Christenings,1538-1975, FamilySearch.org, "England, Births and Christenings, 1538-1975", database, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:J3KV-GBP : 28 January 2025), Rabecca Willet, 1593, d/o Richard.
  10. [S6590] England & Wales, Christening Index, 1530-1980, Ancestry.com,, John Willett s/o Richard Willett, 19 Sep 1595, Barley, Herts., Ancestry (https://www.ancestry.com/search/collections/1351/records/… : 2026).
  11. [S2466] England Births and Christenings,1538-1975, FamilySearch.org, "England, Births and Christenings, 1538-1975", database, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:J3KV-PYT : 28 January 2025), Jeames Willet, 1595, s/o Richard.
  12. [S2466] England Births and Christenings,1538-1975, FamilySearch.org, "England, Births and Christenings, 1538-1975", , FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:JMQG-2PT : 4 February 2023), Richard Willett in entry for Appoline Willett, 1597.
  13. [S2266] England & Wales Christening Records, 1530-1906, Ancestry.com,, Barley, Hertfordshire, England, 25 July 1597,Alexander Willett s/o Richard Willett , Ancestry (https://www.ancestry.com/search/collections/1351/records/… : 2026).

Thomas John Willett1

(29 August 1605 - )
     Thomas John Willett was born on August 29, 1605 in Cambridgeshire, England.1 He was the son of Andrew Willett D.D. and Jacobine Goad.1

Citations

  1. [S9198] Della S. Bishop, Smith - Hooker Genealgoy Ithaca, New York: Stuart & Son, 1936), 322, Smith-Hooker Genealogy; Author: Della Smith Bishop, Willett Lineage, p. 284, Rev. Thomas Willett, Ancestry (https://www.ancestry.com/search/collections/62282/records/… : 2026), image 322 of 404.

Susanna Willett1

(9 October 1608 - )
     Susanna Willett was born on October 9, 1608 in Cambridgeshire, England.1 She was the daughter of Andrew Willett D.D. and Jacobine Goad.1

Citations

  1. [S9198] Della S. Bishop, Smith - Hooker Genealgoy Ithaca, New York: Stuart & Son, 1936), 322, Smith-Hooker Genealogy; Author: Della Smith Bishop, Willett Lineage, p. 284, Rev. Thomas Willett, Ancestry (https://www.ancestry.com/search/collections/62282/records/… : 2026), image 322 of 404.