Andreas Willett1

(circa 1490 - )
Family Chart
     Andreas Willett was born circa 1490.1 He was the son of Thomas Willett.

Child of Andreas Willett

Citations

  1. [S9208] Mary Louise Donnelly, Edward Willett: Colonial Pewterer, County Clerk, Plantaion Owner: His Ancestors and Descendants Ennis, Tesas, USA:1999), p. 1.

John Willett1

(circa 1537 - 24 April 1601)
Family Chart
     John Willett was born circa 1537 in Bradwell-Juxta-Mer [now Bradwell-on-Sea], Essex, England.1 He was the son of Jean Willett.1
     He married Anne Kirbie on April 22, 1560 in Bradwell-Juxta-Mer [now Bradwell-on-Sea].2 Having a home along the sea, allowed him to become a successful, highly skilled merchant mariner.3
     John married Rose Tredsawle (c. 1540-1570) on May 4, 1567 in Bradwell-Juxta-Mer [now Bradwell-on-Sea].4
     John married Margaret Thorne on April 8, 1572 in Bradwell-Juxta-Mer [now Bradwell-on-Sea].5 John died on April 24, 1601 in Bradwell-Juxta-Mer [now Bradwell-on-Sea].6

Children of John Willett and Anne Kirbie

  • Agnes Willett 7 b. April 17, 1559, d. June 21, 1563
  • Joan Willett 8 b. December 24, 1560, d. November 25, 1597
  • John Willett 9 b. October 18, 1561
  • Humphrey Willett 9 b. circa 1563, d. February 10, 1611
  • Richard Willett+ 10,1 b. 1564, d. April 18, 1597
  • Jane Willett 11 b. April 3, 1569, d. May 16, 1569

Citations

  1. [S9208] Mary Louise Donnelly, Edward Willett: Colonial Pewterer, County Clerk, Plantaion Owner: His Ancestors and Descendants Ennis, Tesas, USA:1999), p. 4.
  2. [S9209] England, Essex, Parish Registers, 1538-1997,, "England, Essex, Parish Registers, 1538-1997", FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:QJD4-MB5L : Wed Sep 24 23:30:34 UTC 2025), Entry for John Willett and Anne Kirbie, 22 Apr 1560.
  3. [S9208] Mary Louise Donnelly, Edward Willett: Colonial Pewterer, County Clerk, Plantaion Owner: His Ancestors and Descendants, The European Ancestry of the Mariyland Willetts, p. 1.
  4. [S9209] England, Essex, Parish Registers, 1538-1997, "England, Essex, Parish Registers, 1538-1997", FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:QJDW-1GV1 : Wed Sep 24 23:54:58 UTC 2025), Entry for John Willett and Rose Tredsawle, 04 May 1567.
  5. [S9209] England, Essex, Parish Registers, 1538-1997, "England, Essex, Parish Registers, 1538-1997", FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:QJDW-154B : Wed Sep 24 23:34:46 UTC 2025), Entry for John Willlet and Margaret Thorne, 08 Apr 1572.
  6. [S9209] England, Essex, Parish Registers, 1538-1997, "England, Essex, Parish Registers, 1538-1997", FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:QJDW-Q86Q : Mon Dec 29 15:59:25 UTC 2025), Entry for John Willett, 24 Apr 1601.
  7. [S9209] England, Essex, Parish Registers, 1538-1997, "England, Essex, Parish Registers, 1538-1997", FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:QJD4-MBR1 : Thu Sep 25 00:04:42 UTC 2025), Entry for Agnes Willett and John Willett, 21 Jun 1563.
  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:N5MS-GFS : 4 February 2023), Joan Willett, 1560.
  9. [S9208] Mary Louise Donnelly, Edward Willett: Colonial Pewterer, County Clerk, Plantaion Owner: His Ancestors and Descendants, p. 5.
  10. [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.
  11. [S9209] England, Essex, Parish Registers, 1538-1997, "England, Essex, Parish Registers, 1538-1997", FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:QJDW-QHW6 : Wed Sep 24 19:48:05 UTC 2025), Entry for Jane Willet and John, 16 Mar 1569.

Jean Willett1

(circa 1510 - 19 March 1563)
Family Chart
     Jean Willett was born circa 1510 in England to father highly educated & finely skilled merchants and pewterers.1 He was the son of Thomas Willett.1 John graduated Cambridge University, Kings's College with a B.A., graduated with a M.B. 1541-2.2 Jean died on March 19, 1563 in Bradwell-on-Sea, Essex, England.3

Children of Jean Willett

  • Thomas Willett 1 b. circa 1536
  • John Willett+ 1 b. circa 1537, d. April 24, 1601
  • Jane Willett 4 b. circa 1538, d. March 16, 1569
  • Richard Willett 1 b. circa 1539
  • Edward Willett 1 b. circa 1541

Citations

  1. [S9208] Mary Louise Donnelly, Edward Willett: Colonial Pewterer, County Clerk, Plantaion Owner: His Ancestors and Descendants Ennis, Tesas, USA:1999), p. 4.
  2. [S6801] Cambridge University Alumni, 1261-1900, Ancestry.com , John Williat or Wyllyett, B.A. 1529-30; M.B. 1541-2, database, Ancestry (https://www.ancestry.com/search/collections/3997/records/… : 2026).
  3. [S9209] England, Essex, Parish Registers, 1538-1997,, Digital Folder: 004298357_004_M9J7-8BY, microfilm: 000571178, image 9; John Willett, burial, 1563,image FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:QJDW-Q4JF : 2026).
  4. [S6848] Essex, England, Church of England Baptisms, Marriages and Burials, 1538-1812, Ancestry.com , Essex Record Office; Chelmsford, Essex, England; Essex Church of England Parish Registers, Jane Willett d/o John Willett, bur 16 Mar 1569, Bradwell-Juxta-Mare, St. Thomas, Essex, England, Database, Ancestry (https://www.ancestry.com/search/collections/61698/records/… :2026).

Thomas Willett1

(circa 1467 - )
Family Chart
     
The Maryland branch of the Willett family originated in the Normandy region of France and Belgium. The name may have derived from the Old French word ouelli, [pronounced willi] meaning sheep, indicating an early vocation as shepherds. Many of the family attended Dutch universities, the best in the world at that time, to become Divines, merchants, or master artisans working primarily in metals. It is known that Robert d'Ouelli, of Falaise, Calvados, Normandy, France, left his lands and holdings to join William the Conqueror's invasion of England in 1066. He may be the first Ouelli/Willett in England. His Calvinist family followed him to England, each altering the spelling of the name to distinguish themselves. As Divines, merchants, and extraordinarily skilled artisans, the Willetts/Ouellettes were more mobile than most Englishmen; this is manifest in the births of children in multiple locations. The highly educated Willett/Ouellette families contributed extensively to the development of England and the colonization of Ireland, New England, and South Africa. Thomas' son Andreas was the father of famous Divines, Rev. Dr. Thomas Willett, Bishop of Ely Cathedral in Cambridge, and his son Rev. Dr. Andrew Willett, who assisted in translating the King James version of the Bible. Another son was Jean, the father of merchants and pewterers, and from whom the Maryland branch descends.
[:HTML][:CR:][:CR:] Thomas Willett was born circa 1467.1 He was the son of Andreas Willett.2

Children of Thomas Willett

Citations

  1. [S9208] Mary Louise Donnelly, Edward Willett: Colonial Pewterer, County Clerk, Plantaion Owner: His Ancestors and Descendants Ennis, Tesas, USA:1999), p. 4.
  2. [S9208] Mary Louise Donnelly, Edward Willett: Colonial Pewterer, County Clerk, Plantaion Owner: His Ancestors and Descendants, p.4.
  3. [S6848] Essex, England, Church of England Baptisms, Marriages and Burials, 1538-1812, Ancestry.com , Essex Record Office; Chelmsford, Essex, England; Essex Church of England Parish Registers, Henry Willett bur 30 Jan 1567, Bradwell-Juxta-Mare, St. Thomas, Essex, England, Database, Ancestry (https://www.ancestry.com/search/collections/61698/records/… :2026).

George Willett1

(1600 - )
Family Chart
     George Willett was born in 1600 in Saint Benet Fink, London, London, England.1
     George married Elizabeth [?] circa 1620 in London, London, England.1

Child of George Willett and Elizabeth [?]

Citations

  1. [S9208] Mary Louise Donnelly, Edward Willett: Colonial Pewterer, County Clerk, Plantaion Owner: His Ancestors and Descendants Ennis, Tesas, USA:1999), p. 4.

Richard Willett1

(circa 1625 - )
Family Chart
     Richard Willett was born circa 1625 in St. Andrew, Holborn, London, London, England.1 He was the son of George Willett and Elizabeth [?].1 Struck his pewterer's mark, reknown for his excellent pewter, he inspired Edward of Maryland to become a pewterer.2

Citations

  1. [S9208] Mary Louise Donnelly, Edward Willett: Colonial Pewterer, County Clerk, Plantaion Owner: His Ancestors and Descendants Ennis, Tesas, USA:1999), p. 4.
  2. [S9208] Mary Louise Donnelly, Edward Willett: Colonial Pewterer, County Clerk, Plantaion Owner: His Ancestors and Descendants, p. 5.

Thomae Willaertt or Ouellette1

(circa 1395 - )
Family Chart
     Thomae Willaertt or Ouellette was born circa 1395.1

Child of Thomae Willaertt or Ouellette

  • Jean Willaert or Ouellette b. circa 1420

Citations

  1. [S9208] Mary Louise Donnelly, Edward Willett: Colonial Pewterer, County Clerk, Plantaion Owner: His Ancestors and Descendants Ennis, Tesas, USA:1999), p.4.