Person:John Millett (8)

Born "say 1513". John was a prominent fishmonger in Newbury, Berkshire. There were several Millett families in the Newbury area. The name of his first wife will probably remain unknown since the marriage occured before the beginning of the parish register in 1538. "John Millett served as churchwarden of Newbury in 1562 and 1562-63. He was a member of a tight-knit circle of men who controlled Newbury and its affairs. John Myllett, also styled "Mr. Millett, now deceased', was among the handful of men to who the master and co-brethern of St. Bartholomew's Hospital had demised all their lands and holding for a term of sixty-one years, by an indenture dated 16 December 1 & 2 Philip and Mary [1554]. They took the governmentt of the hospital into their own hands, includin receiving its rents and revenues, altering the building and lands, founded the Newbury Grammar School in its chapel, and built four houses for almsmen...The identity of this small group comes out in a suit brought by the crown in 1576. The crown claimed that St Bartholomew's Hospital had been a religious house, and ought to escheat to the crown by dissolution of the chantry or priory. Six men gave depositions between 16 June 1577 and 20 Jan 1577/78. It was eventually decreed on 12 February 20 Elizabeth I [1577/78] that the hospital was not a religious house, but had been founded for the relief of poor men, and would therefore remain in the hands of the lessees. The list of these men, 'certene of the chefest of the inhabytantes of the towne' (they are called this several times) included 'One Mr. Millett, now deceased, one John Greene, deceased, Philip Kistill, Mr. Blande, Mr. Hunt, Mr. Cooke, Tho Arnold, and John Moore,' according to one deponent. Another deponent added "Mr. Wynchecome," and yet another deponent included "Christofer Walker, Gabriel Coxe, and Wm. Hunt.' A later commission made inquiry into the affair in 1599, after the death of the last of the lessees. It was declared that the hospital, school, almshouses, and related lands, tenements, and fairs should remain to the mayor and corporation of Newbury to be employed upon the relief of the poor as had been the true intent of the original indenture." John Millett made his will on 8 April 1561 which was proved 6 October 1564. In thedisposition of his considerable property, he mentions his wife Alice, sons William and John, daughters Jane, Alice, Ellen, Margaret, Anne, Emlyn, Elizabeth, and Johan, (all daughter without last names and the son John of his brother Thomas.

He was a fishmonger.1 He left a will on 8 Apr 1561 leaving property to William Millet and John Millet and mentioning Jane Millet, Alice Millet, Ellen Millet, Margaret Millet and Anne Millet.4 John Millet's will was proved on 6 Oct 1564.John Millett served as churchwarden of Newbury in 1562 and 1652-1563. He was among the men to whom the master and co-brethren of St. Bartholomew's Hospital demised all their lands and holdings for a term of sixty-one years, by an indenture dated 16 December 1 & S Philip and Mary [1554]. They took the government of the hospital into their hands, including receiving its rents and revenues, altering the buildings and lands. They founded Newbury Grammar School in its chapel, and built four houses for almsmen. In 1576 the crown brought suit, claiming that St. Bartholomew's Hospital had been a religious house, and ought to escheat to the crown by dissolution of the chantry or priory. Six men gave depositions between 16 June 1577 and 29 January 1577/1578. On 12 February 20 Elizabeth I [1577/1578] it was decreed that the hospital was not a religious house, but had been founded for the relief of poor men, and would therefore remain in the hands of the lessees. The list of these men, "certene of the chefest of the inhabytantes of the towne" included "One Mr. Millett, now deceased, one John Greene, deceased, Philip Kitstill, Mr. Blande, Mr. Hunt, Mr. ["Ric."] Cooke, Tho[mas] Arnold, and John Moore" according to one deponent; another added Mr. Wynchecome", and yet another added "Christofer Walker, Gabriel Coxe, and Wm. Hunt."

    The will of John Millett is dated 8 April 1561, but was not proved until 6 October 1564. "In the name of god Amen I John Millett of Newbery in the Countie of Berks Fish monger ... my bodie to be buried in suche place as shall seme good to my executour and overseers.  Item, I bequeathe to Alice my Wife one rome of ... my war house lyinge in Newbeary ... called boycots that is to saie the further ende lyinge next the personage whiche I latelie builded and also my house and tenement that I now dwell in lying in the weste side of Bartilmews streate in Newbery ... at the bridge foote there and all suche shelves chestes boxes ballence with beames and skales with a morter and a pestell with Anvelles and hammers with a musterde myll and vessells therto with all manner of other necessarie implements to be occupied in and about the shoppe.  And also all manner of vessells tubbes furnisse and implements in the fishe house with a slate garnet and also a presse in the chimney chamber and a benche with a locke therto adjoyninge with all manner of hangings in that chamber and other hangynges aboute the chambers with a cofer standing in my bedde chamber called my counter and st a cupboarde a table and aforme with a joyned benche in the hall with all manner of hangings therto belonginge and also a greate beame with skaales and weightes in the warehouse and all other implements to my saide warehouse perteyning or in any other wise belonginge and all that my barne with a cloase therunto adjoyninge with a house nexte unto the barne in the southe side of the saide barne called the henne house one acre of errable lande lyinge in theste [i.e., the east] feilde and with one acre and thre[e] yardes of errable lands lyinge in grenh[a]m called the mell field and ij acres of errable lande lyinge in dunstane feilde with certaine lots of meddow lying at [Enpoole?] therunto belonging.  To houlde the saide landes tenementes messuages implements and all other premisses with all singuler thappurtenenc[e]s to the saide Alice my wief for and during the terme of her naturall lief uppon condicion that she ... shalbe resident and dwellinge in and uppon the same ... And from and after the deathe of the saide Alice ... I give and bequeathe the same ... to William Millet my sonne ... and to his heires of the body ... lawfully begotten And if hit shall happen the saide William my sonne to die without issue male of his bodye ... Then I will the same ... shall remaine to John Millett my sonne and to the heires males of his bodie lawfully be begotten [sic].  And for defaulte of suche yssue male ... [it] shall remaine unto the heires of the bodie of the saide William my sonne ... And for defaulte ... [to] remaine to the heires of the sayd John Millet my sonne ... And if hit shall happen the saide John Myllet my sonne to dye wythout heires of his bodie ... Then I will the same premisses shall remaine to Jane Alice Ellen Margaret Anne Emlyn Elizabeth and Johan my daughters ... [In defaults of their issue] the premisses shall remaine to John Millet the sonne of Thomas Millet of Kingsclere my brother and to his righte heires for evermore.  Also my will and intent is that the saide Alice my Wife shalhave holde and enjoye one tenement and stable lying in Newberye ... at the weste mylles whiche I doe holde for terme of yeres by the mimise and graunte of the feoff[ee]s of one Thomas hill of Boxworthe deceased.  And also a crabbe myll and presse within the same stable ... [and after her decease or non residence as before stipulated it is to remain] to the saide William my sonne ... Also I will devise give and bequeathe unto the saide William Myllet my sonne thother ij partes of my saide Warehouse called boycots and one tenement lyinge ... in Newbery ... in chepestreate at mery hill called coped halle with the gardinges therto belonginge and ij tenements lying there one the southe syde of the barne with the garden plotts therto belonginge percell of the Racke hayes, ... [and in default of his issue] the same premisses shall remaine To the saide John Myllet my sonne ... [and in default to descend as stipulated concerning] my saide house lyinge at the bridgefoote.  Also I give and bequeathe to the saide William my sonne the lease of my house lyinge one thest syde of the bridgefoote in Newbery ... wherein one Plompton taylor dothe nowe dwellin the whiche I have my interest right and tytle in ... the same house boughte of one Henceman a Taylor ... Item I give and bequeath to John Myllet my sonne in ready monney the some of fourty poudnes to be paied unto the saide John at suche tyme as the same John shall come out of his prentishoode.  Item I give and bequeathe to Alice my wife all those landes ... lying in the este syde of the North brooke streate in Newbery ... which I holde in farme of S[i]r John Norris Knight ... Also I give to eche of my saide daughters the somme of fyve poundes to be paide ... at the daye of their severall marriages ... or when they ... shall attaine ... their full age of xviij yeres.  [If any die earlier, her part is to be divided among the survivors.] And also I give ... to the saide Alice my wife whome I doe ordaine ... my sole executrix ... all and singuler my goodes and cattall reall and personall whiche be not before or hereafter given ... to the intent and purpose that she shall the better brynge upp my children in true lerninge And also execute and performe this my laste will and testament.  [If Alice should then marry or depart from the town of Newbury and then demand dower out of his lands,] then all and severy suche gifte bequeast legacie before to her given ... shalbe utterlie voyde and of noen effect.  [Also, if Alice does not prove the will within two months of his decease, and then marry without providing sufficient sureties to his overseers, all bequests to her and her appointment as executrix is to be likewise void.]  And then my further mynde and will is that from and after the breache of the said condicion or anny [sic] of them that Fraunces Hollowaie and Richard Cooke my lovinge friendes shalbe myne executours and they shall fullfyll ... my said laste will ... And overseers of the same I make my loving Friends Phillip Kystell Clotheir and John Shipton Tanner whome I desier to be helpers and assistaunce unto my saide executrix And for their paines I bequeathe to eche of them a ringe of golde price tenne shillings or els[e] an old angell.  In Witnes hereof I the saide John Myllett have written this with myne owne hande in the yeare of o[ur] lorde god 1561: and one the viijth daie of Apryll."

1. ↑ ^{1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3} Paul C. Reed, FASG and Leslie Mahler. The Correct English Origin of Thomas Millett of Dorchester, Massachusetts. (Name: The American Genealogist, April 2000, vol. 75 no. 2, p. 81-93;).
2. ↑ ^2.0 2.1 Paul C. Reed and Leslie Mahler. The Correct English Origin of Thomas1 Millett of Dorchester, Massachusetts. (The American Genealogist, Demorest, GA, Vol. 75, No. 2, April 2000)
   75:86-91.