Walt & Terri Sterneman's Family Pages

Edward Willett

Person Chart

Parents

Father	Date of Birth	Mother	Date of Birth
Edward Willett Sr.	16 Jul 1616	Elizabeth Pegg

Partners

Partner	Date of Birth	Children
Tabitha Mills	Abt 1676	Bridget Willett Ninian Willett Edward, Jr. Willett Thomas Willett Ann Willett William Willett James Willett

Person Events

Event Type	Date	Place
Birth	07 Oct 1656	Cirencister, Gloucestershire, England
Marriage	1698	Prince George's Co., MD
Death	16 Jun 1744	Prince George's Co., MD

Notes


When Edward was about 14 he began studying the art of pewter making. A young lad, such as Edward desiring to become a Pewterer would have to apprentice himself to a master craftsman for a period of 7 years sometimes longer. The young apprentice lived with his Master and was subject to his disciple. Upon completing his apprenticeship he was given the Freedom oath, had his touch struck, sat up shop and had his name added to the yeomanry list at the Hall of Worshipful Company of Pewterers of London. (Information from Chats in Old Pewter by Masse, pp. 33-34). In 1681 at the age of 23, Edward Willett received his mark and became a Pewterer. He was given leave to strike his touch in the Pewterer's Hall of London in 1684/5 (Older Pewter by Cotterell, p337, #5161). By 1692, Edward Willett is known to be living on the Patuxent River in the Province of Maryland. How long he had been in Maryland prior to this date is not known. Laughlin ranks Edward Willett who studied in London among the earliest of American Pewterers in his book, "The Pewters of the South." In "A Short History of Pewter by Elsie Englefield printed in London in 1933 she states, "only Pewterers' sons could follow the calling ..." (p 22). If this were true Edward Willett would have to be the son of Richard Willett, a Pewterer who received his mark in London c 1660. The same book says, "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 dated back to the 10th century, and was in common use until the middle of the 18th century. The Pewter manufactures had no competition and were generally very wealthy. (pp 24-27). "The earliest record of the Worshipful Company of Pewterers 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 this insistence of good work can be seen in specimens of Pewter preserved to this day in museums 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 makers, 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 makercan be determined." The Coat-of-Arms was sometimes used as an inscription on the Pewterer's touch. Towards the end of the 17th century the touches appeared with the makers' names. Edward Willett incorporated both practices in his touch. The Willett families in England had Coats-of-Arms so similar that is certain they were originally of one family. On the top of each Willett Coats-of-Arms is found a bird over a crown as Edward Willett had struck on his touch. The original will of EdwardWillett of Prince George's Co., MD still in existence in the Hall of Records in Annapolis, carries his seal. This seal bears the imprint of a crown with a bird over it. Because of this seal, it is believed Edward Willett is an English Willett descendant. The bird found on the top of the crest and Coats-of-Arms of the Willetts is said to be a willet, a large light colored shore bird known for its loud cry, "wil-, wil-, willet." In 1692 he was listed as Clerk of the Vestry, St. Paul's Parish in Mount Calvert (also called Charles Town). In 1696 Edward Willett's signature, along with other county officials in the Province, is signed on a letter to the King congratulating him on his deliverance from assassination (Archives of Maryland 20:546) On 7/28/1698 Edward Willett purchased a 43 acre tract of land called "Beall's Craft" which was on the west side of the Western Branch of the Patuxant River (Deed A:152). On 2/25/1700 he purchased a 100-acre tract called "Horserace" which joined "Beall's Craft" on the south (Deed A:437). On 4/18/1702 Edward Willett bought a tract of land called "Bealington" on the west side of the Patuxent River which included a dwelling house, a barn, stables, yards, gardens and an orchard. As well as an additional piece of property containing 100 acres called "Good Luck" (Deed A:437). Both pieces adjoined the property he already possessed. On 8/12/1702 he purchased a tract of land called "Little Doan" which contained a dwelling house, barns, stables and 103 acres ofland (Deed C:9).

When Edward was about 14 he began studying the art of pewter making. A young lad, such as Edward desiring to become a Pewterer would have to apprentice himself to a master craftsman for a period of 7 years sometimes longer. The young apprentice lived with his Master and was subject to his disciple. Upon completing his apprenticeship he was given the Freedom oath, had his touch struck, sat up shop and had his name added to the yeomanry list at the Hall of Worshipful Company of Pewterers of London. (Information from Chats in Old Pewter by Masse, pp. 33-34).

In 1681 at the age of 23, Edward Willett received his mark and became a Pewterer. He was given leave to strike his touch in the Pewterer's Hall of London in 1684/5 (Older Pewter by Cotterell, p337, #5161).

By 1692, Edward Willett is known to be living on the Patuxent River in the Province of Maryland. How long he had been in Maryland prior to this date is not known. Laughlin ranks Edward Willett who studied in London among the earliest of American Pewterers in his book, "The Pewters of the South."

In "A Short History of Pewter by Elsie Englefield printed in London in 1933 she states, "only Pewterers' sons could follow the calling ..." (p 22). If this were true Edward Willett would have to be the son of Richard Willett, a Pewterer who received his mark in London c 1660.

The same book says, "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 dated back to the 10th century, and was in common use until the middle of the 18th century. The Pewter manufactures had no competition and were generally very wealthy. (pp 24-27).

"The earliest record of the Worshipful Company of Pewterers 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 this insistence of good work can be seen in specimens of Pewter preserved to this day in museums 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 makers, 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 makercan be determined."

The Coat-of-Arms was sometimes used as an inscription on the Pewterer's touch. Towards the end of the 17th century the touches appeared with the makers' names. Edward Willett incorporated both practices in his touch.

The Willett families in England had Coats-of-Arms so similar that is certain they were originally of one family. On the top of each Willett Coats-of-Arms is found a bird over a crown as Edward Willett had struck on his touch. The original will of EdwardWillett of Prince George's Co., MD still in existence in the Hall of Records in Annapolis, carries his seal. This seal bears the imprint of a crown with a bird over it. Because of this seal, it is believed Edward Willett is an English Willett descendant. The bird found on the top of the crest and Coats-of-Arms of the Willetts is said to be a willet, a large light colored shore bird known for its loud cry, "wil-, wil-, willet."

In 1692 he was listed as Clerk of the Vestry, St. Paul's Parish in Mount Calvert (also called Charles Town). In 1696 Edward Willett's signature, along with other county officials in the Province, is signed on a letter to the King congratulating him on his deliverance from assassination (Archives of Maryland 20:546)

On 7/28/1698 Edward Willett purchased a 43 acre tract of land called "Beall's Craft" which was on the west side of the Western Branch of the Patuxant River (Deed A:152). On 2/25/1700 he purchased a 100-acre tract called "Horserace" which joined "Beall's Craft" on the south (Deed A:437). On 4/18/1702 Edward Willett bought a tract of land called "Bealington" on the west side of the Patuxent River which included a dwelling house, a barn, stables, yards, gardens and an orchard. As well as an additional piece of property containing 100 acres called "Good Luck" (Deed A:437). Both pieces adjoined the property he already possessed. On 8/12/1702 he purchased a tract of land called "Little Doan" which contained a dwelling house, barns, stables and 103 acres ofland (Deed C:9).

Webpage created with MacFamilyTree 10 for macOS