Willett-Gifford connections in London and New England?

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John Brandon

Willett-Gifford connections in London and New England?

Legg inn av John Brandon » 27 sep 2007 22:11:13

_Lord Mayor's Court of London: Depositions Relating to Americans,
1641-1736_, p. 78, says ...

13 March 1677/78. Andrew Willett of London, merchant, age 35, deposes
that Jacob Willett, his uncle, and late citizen and haberdasher of
London, signed a letter of attorney 10 May 1672 appointing Nicholas
Giffard of London, citizen and painter stainer. In 1675 an order was
sent by Jacob Willett from New England that the letter of attorney was
to be ... [snippet breaks off]."

http://books.google.com/books?id=hhwMAA ... ard&pgis=1

Interestingly, at some point in the 1670s, John Gifford of Boston
initiated a suit against this Jacob Willett:

http://books.google.com/books?id=sfAQAA ... ard&pgis=1

In 2003, I posted the following, showing that Giffard Squire, an
infant baptized at Boston in 1686, was the grandson maternally of
Nicholas Giffard of the parish of St. Peter le Poer, London:

I knew that the will of Margaret Giffard, widow, of Hammersmith
(proved 1692) could not belong to the Massachusetts immigrant, since
Hartley's _Ironworks on the Saugus_ states that that lady was alive in
1701 when she petitioned the Massachusetts General Court as to why she
should not be awarded moneys judged (sometime in the 1680's) to be due
to her late husband from Mr. Middlecott. But the coincidence of names
("Hammersmith" was the name of the original ironworks at Lynn, Mass.)
intrigued me, and it DID turn out that there was an interesting
connection to New England:

In the name of God Amen. I Margaret Giffard of Hamersmith in the
County of Midds. widdow being sick and weake in body but of sound and
disposing mind and memory (blessed be God) revoaking all former wills
and Testaments by me at any time heretofore made doe make and declare
this my present last Will and Testament in manor following (that is to
say) ffirst and principally I comend my Soule into the hands of
Almighty God my Creator (... etc.) My body I committ to the Earth to
be decently buried at the discretion of my Executrix hereinafter
named. And I will that not above twenty pounds be expended upon or
about my funerall. And as for such temporall goods and estate as it
hath pleased God to bless me with in this world (my debts and said
funerall expenses being [? thereout] first paid and discharged) I give
and dispose thereof as followeth (that is to say) I give and bequeath
to my four children in Law John Giffard Grace Giffard Elizabeth
Giffard and Ellianor Gifford ffifty pounds a peece in money (that is
to say) ffifty pounds to each and every one of them. Item I give and
bequeath unto my daughters in Law Sarah and Anne Giffard (who are
already [? preferred]) five pounds a peece in money and to my daughter
in Law Mary Squire five shillings she having before received her
portion. Item I give and bequeath unto my grandsonn Gifford Squire
and to my granddaughter Margaret Squire children of the said Mary
Shire [sic] five pounds apeece in money (that is to say) five pounds
to each of them. Item I give and bequeath unto my very loveing freind
Mary Corbeut wife of Edmund Corbet of Hamersmith aforesaid Brewster in
token of the love and affection I beare her for the long and faithfull
service she had formerly done me and my husband five pounds in money.
Item I give and bequeath to Mr. John Houghton Apothecary (my Overseer
herinafter named) ffourty shillings to buy him a ring to weare in
remembrance of me. ... Item I give and bequeath unto my said daughter
Elianor Giffard my Executrix herein after named the full summe of tenn
pounds (above and besides the fifty pounds above given her) for her
trouble and paines in executing this my will ... And I make and
ordaine my said daughter in Law Elianor Gifford sole and only
Executrix of this my last Will and Testament and I make and desire my
good freind the said Mr. John Houghton Apothecary to be Overseer
thereof to see the same performed and to be aiding and assisting to my
Executrix in the executing the same. In witness whereof ... (etc.)
.... set my hand and seale dated the one and twentieth day of September
Anno Dmi One Thousand Six Hundred Ninety One ... in the presence of
Benj. Woodroffe Tho. Buxton Richd Eardley George Blackaller.

The family of Giffards who were Margaret's step-children seem to be
the following people christened at St. Peter-le-Poer (from IGI
extracted records):

-Grace Gifford, dau. of Nicholas and Grace, christened 23 Sept. 1655

-Elizabeth Gifford, dau. of Nicholas and Grace, christened 15 Oct.
1656

-Sarah Gifford, dau. of Nicholas and Grace, christened 28 March 1658

-Mary Gifford, dau. of Nicholas and Grace, christened 27 March 1659

-Charles Gifford, son of Nicholas and Grace, christened 24 June 1660

-Ann Gifford, dau. of Nicholas and Grace, christened 2 Feb. 1661

-Elnor Gifforde, dau. of Nicholas and Grace, christened 7 May 1663

Margaret's will mentioned her step-daughter Mary who was the wife of
___ Squire and who had children named Gifford Squire and Margaret
Squire. I recognized the name "Gifford Squire" from Boston, Mass.,
records. The IGI has the following extracted records concerning
persons named Squire in Boston, Massachusetts (which church would this
be?):

-Philip Squire, son of ___ Squire, christened 24 March 1672

-Rebecca Squire, dau. of Thomas and Martha, christened 8 Aug. 1677

-Martha Squire, dau. of Thomas and Martha, christened 22 May 1679

-Martha Squire, dau. of Thomas and Martha, christened 9 Aug. 1681

-John Squire [no parents named], christened 3 May 1685

-Margaret Squire [no parents named], christened 16 Aug. 1685

-Gifford Squire, son of John and Mary, christened 22 Jan. 1686

-Giffard Squire [no parents named], christened 30 Jan. 1687

Interestingly, the church of St. Peter-le-Poer shows that Nicholas
Squire, son of John and Mary, was christened 29 Nov. 1688, so
evidently the family returned from New England between Jan. 1687 and
November 1688.

I wonder if these Giffards were some connection of Mr. John Gifford of
Lynn and Boston? Does anyone have any information on Nicholas Giffard
and his two wives, Grace and Margaret?

* * * * *

Paul Gifford's information on the Giffords of Middle Claydon includes
the Steane/ Bottlebridge branch ...

6 William Gifford, of Steane, Northants., d. 20 Nov. 1565, m.
Ursula, daughter of John Cole of Northey, Gloucestershire (see
Visitation of Gloucestershire, 1623, p. 43).

14 i. George

ii. Katherine m. Thomas Emery of London

iii. Alice m. John Flamsted of Denton, Northants.

iv. Joyce m. (1) Nicholas Mattocke; (2) John
Tremayle, of Walgrave, Notts.



14 George Gifford, of Botolph Bridge, Hunts., m. Frances Willet, of
Fawcett, Northants, living 1643

i. Thomas, aged 73 in 1616 (the age must be
incorrect)

ii. William

iii. George, of London, esquire, d. unmarried 1647
(will dated 20 Nov. 1643, prov. 10 Feb. 1646/7, PCC)

iv. Isabel, m. ---- Vocley of Ireland

v. Winifred, living 1612

vi. Joyce, living 1643 m. (1) c.1607 William
Nicholls, of Halstead, Leics.; (2) Roger Burgoyne, of Sutton, Beds.,
and Wroxhall,
Warwicks.

vii. Margaret, living 1643; m. Thomas Mabbott, of
Buckden, Hunts., had issue

viii. Ursula

ix. Elizabeth, d. before 1642; m. ---- Harris


https://home.comcast.net/~pgifford11/

Notice that one of the wives of this branch was a Frances Willett. I
have hypothesized that John of Lynn and Boston might have been a
member of this family because of their descent from the prolific
Brydges family of Gloucester. Paul Gifford said he thought this
branch had died out, but note above that Thomas Gifford, aged 73 in
1616, is made to be son of a lady still living in 1643! I wonder if,
in fact, there isn't another generation somewhere in there that left
few records.

John Brandon

Re: Willett-Gifford connections in London and New England?

Legg inn av John Brandon » 27 sep 2007 23:12:12

Paul Gifford's website (under "London Families") shows that Nicholas
of St. Peter le Poer was a painter stainer ...


Nicholas Gifford, painter stainer, constable (1668) of St. Peter le
Poer, admon. 1689 (Commissary Court of London, 26: 15v.); m. (1)
Grace ----; (2) Margaret ----; the will of Margaret Gifford, of
Hammersmith, Middlesex, dated 20 Sept. 1691, proved 4 Jan. 1692 (PCC,
PROB11/408), gives to her stepchildren (except Nicholas and Charles,
who must have been dead) below, identified as her sons-in-law and
daughters-in-law

John

Nicholas, bp. 14 Aug. 1654 St. Botolph without Aldgate

Grace, bp. 23 Sept. 1655 St. Peter-le-Poer

Elizabeth, bp. 15 Oct. 1656 St. Peter-le-Poer

Sarah, bp. 28 Mar. 1658 St. Peter-le-Poer

Mary, bp. 27 Mar. 1659 St. Peter-le-Poer; m. John Squire

Charles, bp. 24 June 1660 St. Peter-le-Poer

Ann, bp. 2 Feb. 1661 St. Peter-le-Poer

Eleanor, bp. 7 May 1663 St. Peter-le-Poer


* * * *

Another interesting connection shows up when one studies closely his
information on the Steane/ Bottlebridge Gifford family. One of the
daughters given there was "Joyce [Gifford], living 1643 m. (1) c.1607
William Nicholls, of Halstead, Leics.; (2) Roger Burgoyne, of Sutton,
Beds., and Wroxhall, Warwicks." She is also found in the 1619
Northamptonshire Vistitation ...

http://books.google.com/books?id=wLgEAA ... ls+purefoy

.... where her husband is said to reside in Tilton, Leicestershire,
rather than Halstead. Most interestingly, however, his father, Judge
Augustine Nichols, was the kinsman of Gov. Thomas Dudley (as I pointed
out in 2004):

Cotton Mather wrote that Gov. Thomas Dudley served as a law clerk to a
certain Judge Nichols, "being his kinsman also, by the mother's
side." Mary Kingsbury Talcott, in "The Maternal Ancestry of Governor
Thomas Dudley" (_NEHGR_ 66:342, footnote), correctly identified the
good judge, who was not actually a blood connection of Dudley, it
turns out:

"Judge Nicholls, or Nicolls (Sir Augustine Nicolls), a distinguished
lawyer and one of the justices of the Court of Common Pleas in the
reign of James I, was a son of Thomas Nicolls, a sergeant at law of
the Middle Temple, by his wife Anne Pell, daughter of John Pell of
Eltington, co. Northampton, Esq. She married for her second husband
Richard Purefoy, brother of the testator of 1579 [i.e., John Purefoy],
and was the Mrs. Purefoy mentioned by Cotton Mather [as having
instructed the young Dudley in Latin]. A pedigree of Nicholls of
Hardwick is printed in Metcalfe's Visitations of Northamptonshire, p.
119."

This is corroborated by _List and Indexes, vol. 297 [Calendar of
Patent Rolls......1587-1588]_, p. 52:

[No. 409] 2 Sep 1588. Licence, for Richard Purefey and Anne his
wife, late the wife of Thomas Nicolls, deceased, and Francis,
Augustine, Lewis and William Nicolls (sons of the said Thomas and
Anne), to alienate lands [named and described, ...] in the parish of St
Margaret, Westminster, and within the sanctuary of St Peter,
Westminster, to Gregory Fynes, Lord Dacres, and Anne his wife. For
66s 8d paid to the queen's farmers under patent.

There are biographies of Sir Augustine Nicolls in _DNB_, 14: 493-94,
and in Foss, _The Judges of England_, 6: 172-73. There is also a nice
pedigree chart of these Nicollses in Nichols' _Leicestershire_, 3:
480.

***********

See also

http://books.google.com/books?id=NnIFAA ... mas+dudley

http://books.google.com/books?id=O-sIAA ... mas+dudley

Now, an Elizabeth Dudley, testified in on of the Gifford's contretemps
at Lynn, Mass., and must have been staying with them there

Elizabeth Dudlye, aged about fifteen years, deposed that on Jan 15 or
16 last, Daniel Hutchins came to speak with Mrs. Giffard, and when she
came down, he told her that he had come to reckon with her. She
replied that she did not reckon for her husband. Huchens then gave
her abusive speeches, saying that he would never believe a word more
that ever she should speak, etc. Sworn, Mar. 2, 1667, before Daniel
Denison.

http://etext.lib.virginia.edu/salem/wit ... ex031.html

John Newhall, constable of Lyn, deposed that having attached the cows
and horse, he left the cattle at Mr. Giffords' house, the cows in the
yard, the horse by the barn door, and left him tied, etc. Sworn in
court. Jno. Purchas, aged about twenty-six years, testified that
Huchins promised before Mr. Hawks and himself to give up the cattle.
Elizabeth Dudly testified to the same. Sworn in court.

http://etext.lib.virginia.edu/salem/wit ... ex032.html

Notice the statement in this source that Elizabeth Dudley, daughter of
Samuel and granddaughter of Gov. Thomas Dudley, was born in 1652:

http://books.google.com/books?id=UfIffx ... +september

I have seen other sources that give the same year of birth for this
Elizabeth Dudley. The Elizabeth who testified for the Giffords of
Lynn was said to be 15 in 1667, which also gives a birth year of
1652. Based on the age, I feel this the Gifford's friend can only be
Elizabeth, dau. of Rev. Samuel Dudley, and granddaughter of Governor
Thomas Dudley. It is interesting to note that Elizabeth Dudley
married her husband in 1674, the same year that the younger Margaret
Gifford also married.

Given that Elizabeth, granddaughter of Gov. Dudley, was staying with
the Giffords at Lynn in 1667, perhaps there was awareness of a
connection going through the Giffords of Bottlebridge and the
Augustine Nichols family.

John Brandon

Re: Willett-Gifford connections in London and New England?

Legg inn av John Brandon » 27 sep 2007 23:57:42

From the extracted IGI:

Tilton, Leicester
--Roger Burgoyne to Joyce Nicolls., 4 Nov. 1630

http://books.google.com/books?id=EvQfAA ... e%22+joyce

Taken together, thsee two items give a correction to Doug's book:

(p. 82)
http://books.google.com/books?id=wHZcIR ... thZLQO0w4g

(Try searching "burgoyne wroxall" if it doesn't show up on the first
try).

John Brandon

Re: Willett-Gifford connections in London and New England?

Legg inn av John Brandon » 28 sep 2007 00:27:57

One small connection to Paul Gifford's information. He gives the
following family group under "Gifford Immigrants to North America":

Philip Gifford died 19 June 1690 at Lynn, Massachusetts. He married,
on 30 June 1684, at Lynn, Massachusetts, Mary Davis (probably the
daughter of John Davis and born 25 July 1668 in Lynn). Although some
sources claim that he was the son of John Gifford, of Lynn, he was not
mentioned in his will. She was probably the Mrs. Mary "Jeffords" who
made an intention, on 15 February 1702/3, at Lynn, to marry Richard
Chant of Boston.

--Philip, born 30 July 1685
--Mary, born 12 July 1688, undoubtedly the Mary "Jeffords" who m.
18 May 1708, at Reading, Mass., Francis Hutchinson, and d. 25 Jan.
1769 at Lynn
--Abraham, born 25 January 1690/1.

Actually, the Mary Jeffords who married Francis Hutchinson was a
daughter of not of Philip Gifford but of John and Joanna (----)
Jeffords, as ably shown by Lora Underhill in _Descendants of Edward
Small of New England_ ...

http://books.google.com/books?id=OSAaAA ... #PPA575,M1

John Brandon

Re: Willett-Gifford connections in London and New England?

Legg inn av John Brandon » 09 okt 2007 22:56:28

6 William Gifford, of Steane, Northants., d. 20 Nov. 1565, m.
Ursula, daughter of John Cole of Northey, Gloucestershire (see
Visitation of Gloucestershire, 1623, p. 43).

14 i. George

ii. Katherine m. Thomas Emery of London

iii. Alice m. John Flamsted of Denton, Northants.

iv. Joyce m. (1) Nicholas Mattocke; (2) John
Tremayle, of Walgrave, Notts.

http://books.google.com/books?id=g6wKAA ... #PPA609,M1

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