1606 William GIllet was instituted Curate of Kingestoane, Somerset on July 24. [1]
1609/10 William Gillett was instituted Reader of Chaffombe, Somerset on February 2. His patron was John Pawlett, armiger. [2]
1620 William Gilled was instituted Rector of Chaffcombe, Somerset on July 28. [3]
1641 The will of William Gyllett [Gillett] was dated 1641 in Somerset County and was proved 16 April, 1641. "My daughters Habiah and Mary. Land which my son Nathan made over to me by letter of Attorney. My son William, the next reversioner of said land, shall surrender his estate (therein) unto Thomas when requested thereunto. I give and bequeath unto my son Jeremiah my chattle (lease) of court ground. To all my children in England I give two silver spoones apiece. I give and bequeath unto my son William and his heirs my land called Bomers lease, on condition that he do pay out of the same one annuity of twelve pounds, vizt., to my daughter Habiah £4, to my daughter Mary £6, and to my son Jeremiah 40s. To Thomas, Jeremiah, Mary and Habiah each of them one chayre and one frame stool. The rest of my goods I give to my son William, whom I make executor, and Mr Joseph Greenfield, Mr Luffe, my brother Richard, and my kinsman Henry Hutchins overseers. Signed: [William Gyllett]. Witnesses: None. Proved 16 April, 1641, by the executor. [4]
1641 William Gillett died in Chaffcombe, Somerset. [5]
Research Notes:
Concerning the will of William Gillet, Lea and Hutchinson state, [6]
The Christian names in this will give unmistakable evidence that we are here dealing with a member of the family of that Jonathan Gillett who came, with his brother Nathan or Nathaniel, to Dorchester, Mass., where he was freeman 6 May, 1635, Nathan having been admitted the preceeding year, and both of whom removed later to Windsor, Conn.
Jonathan had a son Jeremiah, born 12 and baptised 20 February, 1647, at Windsor, and Nathan a daughter Abia, born 22 August, 1641, a coindence of unusual names which can hardly have been accidental. [Stiles' Hist. Windsor, II, 289, 297; Savage, II 255; Pope's Pioneers, 187, 19A]
It seems highly probable that in the testator, William Gillett, we have the father of the two emigrant brothers, bequests to whom were omitted because they had received their portions before leaving England, and the casual mention of Nathan having made over land by Power of Attorney probably refers to an act performed at the time of his departure. In this connection the bequest 'to all my children in England' is noteworthy.
[1] Clergy of the Church of England Database, 1540-1835 (Database Online), citing SRO, D/D/Vc 79 (Consignation Book): 1620, [CCEd].
[2] Clergy of the Church of England Database, 1540-1835 (Database Online), SRO, citing D/D/Vc 40 (Consignation Book): 1639, [CCEd].
[3] Clergy of the Church of England Database, 1540-1835 (Database Online), SRO, citing D/D/Vc 79 (Consignation Book): 1620, [CCEd].
[4] J. Henry Lea and J. R. Hutchinson, "Clues from English Archives," New York Genealogical and Biographical Record 41 (1910) 278-86 at 282-83, citing Taunton Wills, 1641, File 13, [HathiTrust].
[5] Edward Alexander Fry, ed., Calendar of Wills and Administrations in the Court of the Archdeacon of Taunton (Parts I and II, wills only), 1537-1799 (London: British Record Society 45, 1912), 211, [HathiTrust], [InternetArchive].
[6] J. Henry Lea and J. R. Hutchinson, "Clues from English Archives," New York Genealogical and Biographical Record 41 (1910) 278-86 at 282-83, [HathiTrust].