18th Century London Brokets

Broket numbers continued to increase in accord with the population and during the century 1855-1954 there were more Brokets in London than in Bedfordshire and Glasgow combined, the 2 next highest concentrations of Brokets. While one pre-18th C London Broket line certainly lived on, most if not all other Brokets of the 18th C would have been incomers, or in the case of the London/Willingale clan had moved to Essex and partially returned. Appearing in records as adults with names like Ann, John, William and Thomas, it isn’t always possible to determine where they came from. Here are the individuals currently known, in alphabetical order, followed by a list of singletons, for whom just a single record of their name has currently been found:

1. Annis, Widow of St Paul Shadwell, Will pr 1702, see the separate page.
2. Dew of St George’s Hanover Sq 1787
3. Elizabeth Spinster of St George’s Hanover Sq 1759
4. Jesse of Southwark 1722
5. John Gentleman of the Middle Temple 1704
6. John Mariner of London d 1723/4
7. John Esquire of the Middle Temple and Spains Hall 1745
8. Penelope Spinster of Middlesex 1754
9. Richard Gentleman of St Clement Danes 1755.
10. Richard and Ann of London 1780s
11. Thomas of Poultry Chapel 1710-14/li>
12. William Gentleman of St Margaret’s Westminster 1708
13. William Mariner of East Greenwich 1712
14. William Mariner d 1717
15. William Fruiterer of St James’s Westminster 1729
16. William Gentleman of the Middle Temple and Spains Hall 1745
17. William Stonemason, and Mary of Woolwich b c 1749 d 1805
18. William Esquire of the Middle Temple 1791
19. Singletons

Dew Brocket of St George’s Hanover Sq 1787

London Brokets can be more difficult to identify than provincial ones.

The date on a Bible inscription ‘Dew Brocket 17th September 1752’ was probably a christening as Dew married Harriot ALNUT 35 years later—28 Aug 1787—in St George’s Hanover Square. They were both ‘of this parish’ and one of the witnesses was Ann Brockett. London parishes have unsuccessfully been checked for Dew’s baptism, but he may have been Nonconformist. The IGI records the marriage of an Anne Brooket [sic] to Edward Miles 13 Apr 1750 St Georges Chapel or Mayfair or St George’s Hanover Square. No Will has been found for Dew nor any Chancery proceedings or letters patent, etc.

Dew is an unusual name, perhaps unique. Clerk and copyist made an error. Both the original marriage entry and Boyd’s Marriage Index had ‘Hugh’ altered to ‘Dew’, and the christening records of their sons both listed parents ‘Den’ and Harriot Brocket:

1. Joseph christened 21 Feb 1790 George Yard Independent Chapel, Hammersmith; family parish given as St Stephen’s Coleman Street, London.
2. Rebecca, although not christened in the Chapel like her brothers, was probably b c 1792. Married Richard BRAND at St Stephen’s Coleman Street, London 22 Aug 1812, Batchelor and Spinster both of the parish, witnesses Joseph Smallwood and Ann Brockett. Richard was a Currier, Freeman of the City of London 30 Mar 1815 and called to Livery of the Currier’s Company 27 Mar 1830. Rebecca d 1864 Ilford Essex. A sampler exists by Rebecca Brocket dated 1805.
3. William christened 8 Oct 1795 George Yard Independent Chapel, Hammersmith.

Harriot was born in Hammersmith. She and Dew had probably died by 1837—their deaths are not recorded in the GRO.

The 1851 census for London recorded no Josephs and only 1 William—an old private soldier at the Royal Hopsital Chelsea, Middlesex, Widower, b c 1771, Freton, Essex.

The IGI records no other suitable baptisms of Ann for London 1730-1800.

Elizabeth Brocket of St George’s Hanover Sq 1681-1759

Spinster daughter of John Brocket and Sarah HERNE. John was an Attorney and Solicitor in the Court of Chancery and purchasor of the Manor of Torrells Hall in Willingale Essex in 1688 when Elizabeth was a young girl. Elizabeth’s Will was proved in 1759.¹ She was the older sister of Penelope below. Further details can be found here.

Jesse Brockett of Southwark 1722

Jesse was the last known member of the Southwark clan. Mentioned in the Wills of father Joseph of 1696 and uncle Job of 1704. Married Phoebe TOWLE 12 Feb 1722/3 St Mary Whitechapel Middx by Faculty Office licence. No issue? Jesse’s Will was written 31 Jul 1727, pr 3 Feb 1730/1²—Phoebe was still living.

John Brocket Gent of the Middle Temple 1649-1704

John Brocket was an Attorney and Solicitor in the Court of Chancery. He married Sarah HERNE and they were the founders of the second Willingale Broket clan which flourished 1688-1906. Five of their children are listed here: John, William, Elizabeth, Penelope and Richard. Further details can be found here.

John Brocket Mariner of Stepney, Will proved 1723/4

John Brocket of Stepney Middlesex Mariner wrote his Will 28 Jan 1706, leaving everything to John Brocket of the Middle Temple Esq (1675-1744), presumably a relation. It was proved 27 Mar 1723/4,³ Not to be confused with the John Brocket of Stepney, Mariner, who died 1701, see the separate page.

John Brocket Esq of the Middle Temple and Spains Hall 1675-1744

Eldest son of John Brocket and Sarah HERNE. Lord of Spains Hall 1704-44, died unmarried, Will proved 1745.⁴ Further details can be found here.

Penelope Brocket Spinster of Middlesex 1686-1754

Spinster daughter of John Brocket and Sarah HERNE. John was an Attorney and Solicitor in the Court of Chancery and purchasor of the Manor of Torrells Hall in Willingale Essex in 1688 when Elizabeth was an infant. Penelope’s Will was proved in 1754.⁵ She was the younger sister of Elizabeth above. Further details can be found here.

Richard Brocket Gentleman of St Clement Danes 1692-1754

Youngest son of John Brocket and Sarah HERNE of Spains Hall. Richard married Rebecca TRUNKET in 1717. Further details can be found here.

Richard and Ann of London 1780s and 90s

The IGI recorded 3 children:

1. Maria, bap 16 Oct 1785 St Mary Magdalene Old Fish Street
2. James William, bap 4 Jul 1790 St Benet Pauls Wharf. Possibly James, Printer.
3. Ann Phoebe, bap 23 Apr 1792 St Benet Pauls Wharf.

Thomas Brockett of Poultry Chapel 1710-14

The records of the Independent Poultry Chapel, formerly in Camomile Street, 1702-1753, listed 2 children baptized for “Bro[ther] Tho: Brockett”:⁶

1. Samuel, 13 Aug 1710.
2. Lydia, 8 Feb 1714, perhaps 1713.

William Brockett Gent of St Margaret’s Westminster Gent / Esq m 1708

William Brockett Gent of St Margaret’s Westminster married Mrs Sarah CARRELL of Chatteris, Cambridgeshire, 2 Sep 1708 in Ely Cathedral.⁷ The IGI mistranscribed her surname as CARCETT and did not include ‘Gent’ for William. There are no CARCETT entries in the Chatteris Parish Registers. There are a few CARRILL entries about this time. Marriages in Ely Cathedral were reserved for those in high places, or connected directly to Ely Cathedral. Read more

William paid taxes of 10s once—as Esq—and of 30s 7d twice in 1688—not as Esq.⁹ The other Esquires known from this time were the Willingale/Inns of Court clan, but this William wasn’t one of them. He was most probably the son of Joseph of Southwark, Cheesemonger and Merchant Taylor, bap 1640. William died 23 Jun 1719. No known issue. Administration of his estate was given to his widow Sara Dilkes alias Brockett 31 Dec 1719, wife of Charles DILKES Esq.¹⁰

A Brockett marriage was recorded in St Margaret Westminster 1552 and baptisms 1628 and 1682; not of William though.

William Brockett Mariner of East Greenwich d 1712

William died 31 May 1712 on the royal naval vessel The Nonsuch. Administration of his estate was given to his widow Mary Brockett 30 Nov 1712.¹¹ He would have been born by 1690, but his parents are not yet known. The IGI recorded no suitable marriage.

William Brocket Mariner d 1717

William died 5 Aug 1717, Lieutenant on the royal naval vessel The Serlings. Administration of his estate was given to his widow Eliza Brocket Feb 1718.¹² He would have been born by 1695, but his parents are not yet known. The IGI recorded no suitable marriage, except to an Elizabeth TROWLOP 27 Dec 1707 St Margaret Durham.

William Brockett Fruiterer of St James’s Westminster 1729

William’s parents are not yet known. On 2 Nov 1730 Nathaniel WEST of St James Westminster, Tallow Chandler, brought a Complaint that William Brockett late of the same parish, Fruiterer, and Willam NORRIS of St Paul Covent Garden, Taylor, owed him £20.¹³ Attached to document is an inventory of William’s debts and credits.

William had died Oct 1729 and Frances his Widow was defendant against West’s Complaint. William’s Will left everything to her as sole executrix,¹⁴ but 2 items in the inventory show that they had children:

1. ‘Paid for mourning for this Deft & her two Daughters £18 16s’
2. ‘Claimed by the aforesaid Willaim Norris Taylor for Mourning for the Testators three Sons £27 4s’.

The IGI shows no relevant baptisms of children for a couple William and Frances, but BMI recorded a marriage of a William on 7 Jan 1699 to Frances ROGERS at St Mary Magdalene Old Fish St, London. There were also marriages there later of John and Sarah COX 1710, Mary and William GOODGER 1719 and Elizabeth and Richard WALKER 1726.

In Nov 1630 Frances sued in Chancery to recover a debt of £30 owing to William by Henry CHAPMAN of St Martin in the Fields, Coachmaker, and John WADE of Mile End, Gent.¹⁵

William Brocket Gent of the Middle Temple and Spains Hall 1744-46

Second son of John Brocket and Sarah HERNE. Married 1710 Jane DRING of London. Lord of Spains Hall 1744-45/6. Will proved 1745.¹⁶ Further details can be found here.

William Brocket Stonemason of Woolwich b c 1749 d 1805

William’s parents are not yet known, nor if he was related to his possible Stonemason contemporary Charles Brockett. This was William’s signature in 1805:
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According to a Memorial Inscription in Woolwich Churchyard:¹⁷ Read more

Might William’s mother’s maiden name have been HARTRUPP? No records of a Hartrup marrying a Brocket 1700-1760 were found on the IGI.¹⁸ William and Mary’s banns were read in Limehouse, Tower Hamlets 30 Sep 1771. A Mary Brocket married William GRIFFITHS 18 Nov 1766 in St Mary Magdalene, Woolwich. Might she have been William’s sister? Children of William and Mary PERKINS:

1. John Perkins Brockett baptised 4 Aug 1772 Lambeth, Surrey, son of William and Mary.¹⁹ Mason. He married Ann …. John died 21 Aug 1842 Woolwich,²⁰ buried 7 Sep 1842 St Mary Magdalene, Woolwich, abode Warwick St.²¹ 2 daus, ?1 son.
2. A middle son has been inferred from the words ‘eldest’ and ‘youngest’ on William’s gravestone: “John Perkins Brocket eldest son” and “George Hartrupp Brocket youngest son”. No other record has been found of another son, except for perhaps one. But the gravestone words may just have been used loosely for ‘elder’ and ‘younger’. If they weren’t, then the middle son could perhaps have become a Stonemason like the other two sons, and so could have been the “Stonemason Charles“, who was given as the father of Thomas Brockett of Lambeth on the certificate of his late 2nd marriage in 1880. This is the other possible record. The coincidences are of:
   • place: North Kent, where few other Brokets were recorded
   • craft: Stonemasonry
   • time: Thomas of Lambeth was born 1809-14, so an otherwise unrecorded father would most likely have been born 1760-85. John Perkins was born c 1772 and George Hartrup c 1780.

   However, this marriage certificate of Thomas is the only actual record found of this presumed middle son Charles. It did not describe him as ‘deceased’. That may simply have been an omission, but if it wasn’t and Thomas’ father was still alive in 1880, despite Thomas himself being in his late 60s, then this middle son, being older than George Hartrup, would have been more than 100 years old. A more likely Charles father of Thomas, was the eldest son of John Perkins Brockett.

3. George Hartrup Brocket baptised 4 Apr 1782 St James Clerkenwell son of William and Mary.²² George Hartrup Brocket married first by Licence in St Mary Magdalene (C of E) Woolwich Surrey on 31 Jul 1804 as a Bachelor Sarah WEBB, Spinster, of Eltham, signed by them both, and by two witnesses: George Miller and Maria Brocket, perhaps his sister rather than his mother.²³ George Hartrup Brocket was discharged from Fleet prison for larceny 6 Jun 1810.²⁴ George, Paviour, was recorded in Holden’s Directory in 1811 in Powis St, Woolwich—where father William had been Leaseholder of 2 properties in 1805. A Paviour laid paving stones on streets. George Hartrup Brocket married second by Licence in St Mary Newington Surrey on 28 May 1814 as a Widower Susannah BROOKE, Spinster of the parish, signed by them both, and by two witnesses: Susanna Boulton and Wm Williams.²⁵ No children apparently recorded in the IGI. However, George Brocket, Stonemason, the husband of Sarah, residing Woolwich, baptised son Thomas in East Wickham, Kent, 1 Aug 1824.²⁶ Perhaps this was a teenage baptism? George died in New York, America, 31 Aug 1829, but was buried—or at least his death was engraved on the family grave—in St Mary Magdalene Churchyard Woolwich.²⁷ Did Susannah die 20 Dec 1858 of Debility at the Workhouse, Princes Rd, Lambeth, London, Almswoman, aged 66, ie b c 1792?²⁸
4. Maria, b c 1787, m Charles DIBBLIN 19 Apr 1811 St James, Dukes Place London.²⁹

The IGI recorded no William marriages 1750-1800. The known Willam baptisms 1740-1760 are:

Of these, 3-6 could have been William of Woolwich, ?most likely of these no.6.

Will of William Broket of Woolwich, Stonemason, written 3 Aug 1805, proved 21 Feb 1806³⁰

William Brocket Esq of the Middle Temple 1719-91

Only son of William Brocket and Jane DRING. Married Mary MARKHAM of London. 1752 or 54. Lord of Spains Hall 1744-45/6, Will proved 1745.³¹ William had a long career at the Middle Temple from 1738 till his death. His Will, written 8 Apr 1790 pr 26 May 1791,³² was principally concerned to preserve the name. Further details can be found here.

Singletons

The followng records are of singletons from London and Middlesex, for whom only a single record has been found and are usually not yet linked to a family. Unless otherwise indicated, eg by BMI or census, the record comes from the IGI. Patron submissions have been excluded. An IGI record not found here will occur elsewhere in the Archive. Where BMI records have a month, this comes from the IGI.

Firstly, two PCC³³ Administrations of Seafarers in the early part of the century (neither apparently in the Singletons list for the 17 C):

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Other singletons:

Note: Like the 1705, 1709 occurrences, the Brochet/ts of 1702, 1714 and 1729 may have been either Huguenot/Walloon or mistranscriptions.

Page Last Updated: April 7, 2021