Edward WILLETT

                   Notes:
http://www.rootsweb.com/~tnwcogs/famhist/willett.html
EDWARD1 WILLETT: He married ELIZABETH PEGG, daughter of JOHN PEGG and MARY.
Child of EDWARD WILLETT and ELIZABETH PEGG is:
2. i. EDWARD2 WILLETT, b. October 19, 1657, Hertford, England.

Generation No. 2
2. EDWARD2 WILLETT (EDWARD1) was born October 19, 1657 in Hertford, England. He married TABITHA MILL, daughter of WILLAIM MILL and TABITHA HILLIARY.
Notes for EDWARD WILLETT:
Edward Willett (2), the progenitor of those herein enumerated, was born on October 19, 1657, in Hertford, England, the son of Edward Willett (1) and Elizabeth Pegg. Edward Willett (2) was christened in Hertford's Church of All Saints and Saint John, the same Church in which his parents were married on November 18, 1656. According to a deposition in 1718, Edward Willett gave his age as 60. Additional depositions continue to place his date of birth as 1657 / 1658.
During the Colonial Period double year dates are given on many wills and other documents. In 1582 the Roman Catholic Church adopted a new, more accurate calendar known as the Gregorian calendar to replace the Julian calendar. Catholic countries followed suit. England did not adopt the Gregorian calendar until September 1752. The difference in the calendars was significant. The New Year started on January 1 in the Gregorian calendar and March 25 in the Julian calendar. When England and the colonies changed over to the Gregorian calendar a period of eleven days had to be canceled out. The day following September 2, 1752 became September 14, 1752. Riots erupted because of the loss of those eleven days.
While England was not using the Gregorian calendar, they did take notice of it. Documents and legal papers recorded both dates. After December 21, 1637, one might see January 1, 1637/8. Then starting March 25, both calendars would be 1638.
Elizabeth Pegg, the mother of Edward Willett (2), was christened at All Saints and St John's Church in Hertford on February 10, 1632. She was the daughter of John Pegg and Mary ____. John Pegg was christened in the same Church on June 2, 1605 and his Father's name was given as Henry Pegg. Through his mother's side of the family Edward Willett (2) was raised as an Anglican, with their Church often being referred to as The Church of England, or Episcopalian. Maryland documents reveal St Paul's Anglican Church at Mount Calvert (Charles Town) where Edward Willett (2) lived as early as 1682. Eventually St Middleton, in Baden replaced this deteriorating Church.
Just when his uncle brought Edward Willett into the Province of Maryland has not been proved. It was probably as early as 1666. Edward Willett (2) was in Maryland as a young boy. In 1674 he was sent to London and apprenticed to Daniel Mason to learn the pewter trade. Daniel Mason had been apprenticed to Richard Willett from 1662 to 1669, and then Daniel Mason opened his own shop in 1672. When Edward Willett (2) enrolled in London to learn the trade of a peweter, his father's name was given as Edward Willett (1).
Richard Willett, the London peweter, was a first cousin of Edward Willett (1), the father of Edward Willett (2). As a very young lad, this cousin of his father's may have inspired Edward Willett (2). the peweter mark of Richard Willett, who received his mark in London around 1660, bore the 'willett bird'. Edward Willett's (2) mark bore the willett bird and his name.
In A SHORT HISTORY OF PEWTER, by Elsie Englefield printed in London in 1933, she states:
Pewter is mainly composed of tin. The highest priced metal in the trade, known as 'tin and temper'(best quality) is an alloy with copper and antimony, and is free from lead... The original standards of quality for making different articles in Pewter have survived the ages... English pewter dates back to the tenth century, and was in common use until the middle of the 18th century. The Pewter manufacturers had no competition and were generally very wealthy (pgs 24-27).
The earliest records of the Worshipful Company of pewters are to be found in their ordinances for the year 1348. These regulations insisted upon a high standard of quality and workmanship in the trade, and also included fines and penalties if disregarded. Evidence of insistence of good work can be seen in specimens of Pewter preserved to this day in museum and in the collections of expert Pewter lovers. In 1503 an Act of Parliament gave the Company authority to control the trade, making it compulsory for all makers to stamp their ware with a Touch mark or Punch; also to register their mark on the Touch Plates of the Company. All makers were compelled to adhere to the standard of quality demanded by the regulations of the Company. Searchers were appointed to visit the Pewter markers, and inspect the work. If found to be inferior it was destroyed, and in some cases the makers fined. Registration of Touch marks continued to about the year 1824, and it is by this means that the date and the maker can be determined.
When he was twenty-three years of age, Edward Willett received his mark and became a Pewterer. He was given leave to strike his touch, in the Pewterers Hall of London in 1684/ 1685 (Older Pewter by Cotterell, pg 337, #5161). The family coat of arms was sometimes used as an inscription on the pewter's touch. Toward the end of the 17th century, the touches appeared with the maker's names. Edward Willett (2) incorporated both practices in his touch.
The Willett families in England had coats of arms so similar that it is certain they were originally of one family. On the top of each Willett coat of arms is found a bird over a crown, as Edward Willett (2) had struck on his touch. The original will of Edward Willett (2) of Prince George's County, Maryland, still in existence in the Hall of Records in Annapolis, carries his seal - his mark. The seal bears the imprint of a bird with a crown over it. His seal places Edward Willett (2) as an English Willett descendant. The bird found on the top of the crest and coats of arms is said to be a willett, a large light-colored shore bird, known for it's loud cry 'wil-, wil-, willett'.
On October 6, 1684, Edward Willett (2) was in the pewter business with John Corinall for a short period. Edward Willett never had his own shop as his name does not appear on the British yeomanry list of Pewters. Sometime after 1685 and prior to 1692 Edward Willett returned to the Province of Maryland and settled at Mount Calvert near the Patuxent River. Edward Willett's pewter business was no doubt slight in the limited population near Mount Calvert. Edward Willett is ranked among the earliest of American Pewters by Laughlin in his book THE PEWTERERS OF THE SOUTH. To date, no pewter bearing the touch of Edward Willett has been found.
In 1692, Edward Willett is recorded in Maryland records as Clerk of the Vestry, St Paul's Parish in Mount Calvert. Edward Willett, a well-educated man, had to be a man of standing in his Episcopalian community in order to be clerk of St Paul's Parish. In other records Edward Willett is noted as 'pewterer' and 'planter'.
On October 10, 1694 Edward Willett witnessed the will of Thomas Barnard of Calvert County. I n the accounts of Thomas Barnard's estate on May 12, 1696, it states that Edward Willett received payment for the schooling of two of the sons of the deceased. Edward Willett appears to have done some tutoring. In 1695, with Samuel Magruder and William Mill, Edward Willett was named as overseer for the will of Thomas Blanford of Prince George's County, his step father-in-law. In the will of Richard Chaffee of Prince George's County in 1698, Edward Willett and Samuel Magruder were named as overseers for his will. All these gentlemen were parishioners of St Paul's Parish in Mount Calvert.
In 1697, as clerk of the vestry of St Paul's Church at Mount Calvert, officially called Charles Town, Edward Willett presented a petition to have the court clear the title of the Church property, which was done.
Prior to becoming the County Clerk, Edward Willett held some civil post in Prince George's County. In 1696 the Civil officers and Magistrate of the Province of Maryland sent a letter to the King which Edward Willett signed. The letter read in part:
Addressing your Majesty and Joyning with the rest of your Loyall Subjects in Congratulating your deliverance from the horrid designed Assassination against your Sacred person...
Edward Willet was influential in civic affairs as well as Church affairs. In 1698, Edward Willett, pewterer, was appointed clerk of the county court of Prince George's County, replacing Joshua Cecil who had kept the records since the erection of the County. Edward Willett served as clerk from 1698 - 1711.
Gentlemen, I have herewith Sent you a Commission for MR WILLETT to be Clerk of your County home after Security given and the Oaths taken According to the Usuall manner you are to Admitt. See that all Records and other matters to your Court belonging be delivered to him. So I remaine your Loving Friend. (This was signed by Francis Nicholson on August 23, 1698, at the Prince George's Court which was held at Charles Town).
Edward Willett's duties were written as follows:
The condition of this obligation is such that whereas the Honorable Sir Thomas Lawrence Barronett, his Magesty's Secretary of Maryland hath constituted and appointed the Said EDWARD WILLETT to be Clerk of Prince George's County and thereby committed to his care and Custody all the bookes Records Court Rules and other things and papers to the Said office and place of Clerk aforesaid belonging and Appertaining Now if the Said EDWARD WILLETT doe in all things according to the duty and trust of the said office and place well and truly Execute and performs the Same trust and Charge and the Said keeper and take Care of and preserve well and faithfully make and Enter without any Fraud concealment or delay and the Said Office and place with all the Bookes, Records and Court Rules and other Deeds and writeings thereunto belonging doe Surrender and deliver up when here shall be Lawfully discharged of the Said Office and place of Clerk as aforesaid that then this Obligation to be voyd or else to Remaine in full force and virtue. (Signed by Edward Willett, Ninian Beall and Samuel Magruder in the presence of Thomas Hollyday, John Wightt, and John Hawkins)
In 1708 Edward Willett was employed by the justices to write the rules of the court on parchment, frame them, and place them in the most visible place in the courthouse.
While he was fulfilling the office of Clerk, Edward Willett recorded the dates of his children. In the August 1699 court he recorded, "Bridgett Willett dau to Edward and Tabitha Willett borne in Mount Calvert the 18th day of July 1699". In the November Court of 1708 the following children were recorded as having been born to Edward and Tabitha Willett: Ninian Willett born on November 30, 1701, Edward Willett born January 12, 1703, and Thomas Willett born August 9, 1708.
For Edward Willett life began at forty. His only marriage was to Tabitha Mill, the daughter of William Mill and Tabitha Hilliary. After his marriage Edward Willett received his first deed for property. Edward Willet became clerk of Prince George's County in 1698. In July of 1699 his first child was born and in August of 1699 he had his mark for cattle and hogs recorded. So within a two-year period Edward Willett became a professional person, a husband, a father, a planter, and the owner of a small plantation.
On July 28, 1698 Edward Willett purchased from Ninean Beall a 43-acre tract called "Beall's Craft" on the west side of the Western Branch of the Patuxent River near the property of William Shelby. On February 25, 1700 Edward Willett purchased from James Moore a 100-acre tract called "Horse Race", which joined "Beall's Craft on the south. On April 18, 1702 Richard Jones sold Edward Willett a tract called "Bealington" on the west side of the Patuxent River near the land of William Croome which included a dwelling house, barn, stables, yards, gardens, and an orchard, plus an additional 100-acre tract called "Good Luck". Both tracts adjoined the property, which he already possessed. Prior to this time, Edward Willett had resided in Mount Calvert on property he had inherited from his merchant uncle, William Willett. Later, in his will, Edward Willett(2) bequeathed this lot in Mount Calvert to his daughter, Ann Swan.
"Bealington" became the home plantation of Edward Willett and later the home of his son, William Willett (3), and then later the home of his grandson, Edward Willett. The spot on the land where the house of William Willett stood was recorded on a survey plat used in a boundary dispute case in 1789. The land owned by Edward Willett (2) and the house were home to three generations of Willetts.
During the colonial period in Maryland the outstanding land records kept by Lord Baltimore are still in existence. Once Lord Baltimore patented land to an individual, the tract was given a name. To enable the Lord Proprietor to collect the quit rents due two records were kept: the rent rolls which gave the tract name and the notations concerning transactions in regard to it, and the debt books which listed the person's name and tracts they owned, and the rents annually due. The rent rolls cover the entire colonial period. The debt books, which are still in existence, cover from 1752 to 1774.
On July 6, 1702 a record was recorded in Prince George's County concerning the heirs of Richard Allen of Middlesex, England, who were trying to recover money, which Edward Willett had borrowed from Allen. On April 7, 1700 Joseph Webb, and Sarah, his wife, the daughter and executrix of Richard Allen, gave power of attorney to John Parker, who was going to Maryland to recover from Edward Willett, late of London, pewterer, then and still in Maryland, sums, goods, merchandise, and effects due Allen. Parker employed Jacob Regnier of Annapolis to represent him. The record shows Edward Willett was from Maryland prior to going to London to learn to learn the pewter trade.
As a young boy, Edward Willett (2) was brought into the Province of Maryland by his uncle William Willett. He lived with his uncle in Mount Calvert, Maryland, until he was nearing the age of eighteen. In 1674 Edward Willett was sent by William Willett to London to learn the trade of a pewterer. By the time Edward Willett was ready to return to Maryland, his uncle William Willett had died intestate. Thomas Stotle who was to administer William Willett's estate had also died. With no money to return to Maryland, Edward worked as a pewterer in London for a time. Then he borrowed money to equip himself with the necessary tools to start his pewter trade and for his return voyage to Prince George's County, Maryland.
On August 12, 1702, Edward Willett purchased from Thomas James a tract of land called "Little Dean" which contained a dwelling house, barns, stables, and 103 acres of ground. A mortgage on this property was recorded on August 19, 1702 between Edward Willett and Jacob Regnier of Lincoln's Inn in order for Edward Willett to pay the debt which he owed to Richard Allen's heirs. "157 acres, part of "Horse Race:...formerly taken up by James Moore and since sold to Edward Willett...also "Little Dean", 103 acres taken up by Thomas James and sold to Willett" were mortgaged. In order to void the mortgage, Edward Willett agreed to pay at the State House in Annapolis ~L173:02:00 in five yearly payments. Edward Willett paid off his mortgages and these tracts were later bequeathed to his children.
On May 3, 1702 Edward Willett had a survey taken of "Bealington" and found that whereas his original deed stated there were 100 acres in the tract, the resurvey showed the tract actually contained 209 acres of land (Land office DD#5:98).
This was not an uncommon occurrence in this period as many tracts had undeveloped and uncleared wood lands. When a resurvey was taken, there was almost always surplus acreage.
On December 9, 1704 St Paul's Parish was divided with the line "by the plantation of a certain Edward Willett". St Paul's Parish was relocated at Baden, since St Paul's Church in Mount Calvert, built in 1682 was deter