selected excerpts:
William Brett came from Kent, England, to Duxbury about 1638-39, and he appears as a purchaser of land early in 1640. Alarm Orders, 1643; Freeman, 1646. In searching for his parentage I [L. B. Goodenow] am obliged to conclude that for reasons of grave importance he did not wish it known. The religious persecutions in England were no doubt the cause for this concealment. He left home soon after becoming of age, and the inference is that he feared further persecution, even here. He undoubtedly came with the Haywards, his kinsmen, possibly under another name, as there is no record of his arrival here. Many of the early colonists came under assumed names or as servants, to avoid arrest for their religious acts and views in the mother country, and said as little as possible about their lives and surroundings at home.
William Brett was born 1618, as he was 63 at the time of his death, December 17, 1681. Although not more than 21 years of age at the time we first know of him here, he at once became a leading man in the Colony, his name being often associated with those of John Alden, the Winslows, Constant Southworth and others. He is called “of Duxburrow” in deeds of lands, until he became one of the Original Proprietors of Bridgewater, where he lived and died. His home was in what is now West Bridgewater, near where the Soldiers’ Monument stands, although he owned much land in different parts of the town.
William Brett’s wife [Margaret] was probably daughter of Wiliam and Alice (Booth) Ford, who were married in England, 1601. Alice was daughter of William and Elizabeth Warburton (daughter of Sir John Warburton) Booth, being their sixth child. Andrew Ford of Weymouth may have been a son of William and Alice and brother to Margaret Brett.
The Grant to the Original Proprietors of Bridgewater was made in the year 1645, and was as follows: “The inhabitants of the town of Duxbury are granted a competent proportion of lands about Saughttuchquett (Satucket), towards the west, for a plantation for them, and to have it four miles every way from the place where they shall set up their center; provided it intrench not upon Winnytuckquett, formerly granted to Plymouth. And we have nominated Capt. Miles Standish, Mr. John Alden, George Soule, Constant Southworth, John Rogers and William Brett, to be feofees in trust for the equal dividing and laying forth the said lands to the inhabitants.”
In 1643 he [William Brett] was enrolled in the Duxbury Company under Miles Standish, and later saw military service in Bridge-water. He was one of the Town Council, a constable, a member of the Council of War, and Representative to the General Court at Plymouth from June 3, 1656, the date of the incorporation of the town of Bridgewater, to 1661. His interest in Harvard College was active, and he, with Mr. Keith, in the very infancy of the settlement procured a subscription of 12 pounds, “to be paid in Indian Corn for the use of the Colledge in Cambridge.”
The Last Will and Testament of Mr. William Brett, Elder of the Church of Christ at Bridgewater, exhibited to the Court held at Plymouth the 12th of March, 1681-2. He died December 17, 1681, aged 63 years. This will has a large piece gone from the most important part, and this is indicated by lines, in this copy, which is made from the original document, by L.B. G.:
"These are to publish and declare to all whom it may concern; that I, William Brett Senior of Bridgewater in the collonie of New Plymouth, being through the mercy of God of sound judgment and memory, doe ordain and make my last Will and Testament in maner and forme as followeth; viz. Into the hands of God I commend my speritt, alsoe resigning up my soul into the everlasting arms of God’s mercy, Father, Son and Holy Spirit, my body to be decently interred at the discretion of my Executrix hereafter nominated and for my outward Estate I doe will that expenses be paid my lands and other moveables I dispose of as followeth.
Imprimis; I give to my son William twenty acres of land on which he hath built, lying on Matfield River and joyning to the land of Joseph Bassett; more, twenty acres lying down the Great river...
Finally I appoint and make Margaret my wife sole executrix of this my last Will and Testament revoking all other Wills and Testaments, whatsoever..."
