Person:William Millett (3)

Like his father, William was a fishmonger. William was definitely born before 1543, and most likely by 1538. As the eldest son, he inherited many tenements at the death of his stepmother Alice in 1577. However, he may have spent much of it in litigation. He sued his stepmother Alice over property in Newbury sometime during her first widowhood between Aug 1564 and Aug 1566. He brought suit against John Iremonger concerning the personal estate of Joan Millett, but likely died before its outcome. John Iremonger had married a daughter of William Garrett of Berkshire. The Joan mentioned in the suit is most likely his stepmother Joan Garrett, although why he would have any right to her estate is unclear. Administration of his estate was granted to his relict Alice on 18 Nov 1587 and procured at the Prerogative Court of Canterbury (the highest court) on 12 Jan 1587/58. This procurement may have been the result of a lawsuit regarding the estate, or because the widow found that William held interests outside the jurisdiction of the Archdeaconry of Berkshire. There was another William Millett, an innkeeper, in Newbury who married Alice Bachelor 18 Jan 1579/80 and was buried at Newbury 26 Feb 1617/18. He had two daughters Alice bap 1 Jan 1581/82 and Christian bap 19 April 1584.

William Millett was born before 1543, probably about 1537/1538, and was the eldest son. He would have succeeded to many tenements at the death of his father's last wife, Alice, in 1755. But between August 1564 and August 1566 he sued his stepmother Alice over property in Newbury. In 1587 he brought suit against John Iremonger concerning the personal estate of Joan Millett. John Ireland had married a daughter of William Garrett of Berkshire, and the Joan Millett mentioned in the suit was presumably William's stepmother Joan Garrett, though the reason for the suit is unclear. William died before the suit was settled.

    On 18 November 1587 administration of the estate of William Millett of Newburie was granted to his widow Alice.  On 12 January 1587/8, administration of the estate of William Millet, late of Newberry, was granted to his relict Alice in the Prerogative Court of Canterbury.  Administration might have been sought in the higher court because of the lawsuit, or because his widow found that he had interests outside Berkshire; Newbury borders Hampshire.

1. ↑ ^{1.0 1.1 1.2} 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;).