I have a particular interest in 16th- and 17th-century family history, but it is a often a difficult period for research. Parish registers were introduced in 1538, but many do not go back this far. Even the ones that survive often have ripped pages or handwriting that has faded and is no longer legible etc.
A Thomas Chettow, labourer, was buried on 28th January 1622 in Wem. The burial record does not provide an age at death.
On February 4th 1622/3, the will of a Thomas Chettowe of Wem, husbandman, was proved. The will was written several years earlier, on the last day of July in 1619.
Within this will, he mentions several family members:
- His son, Lawrence Chettowe.
- His son, Thomas Chettowe.
- His sister, Elizabeth Chettowe.
- His now wife, Ellin Chettowe. To me, the use of 'now' indicates that he had been previously married.
- His son by Ellin, William Chettowe.
His will and detailed inventory of his estate can be viewed on FindMyPast.
There is a marriage between a Thomas Chetto, labourer, and Elin Thomas on 19th September 1618 in Wem.
Thomas and Ellin appear to have had:
- William (1619-1619)
- William (1621-)
The Wem parish register I am looking at seems to begin in 1583, and many of the early pages are seriously damaged. I can see several baptisms of children of a Thomas Chetto, starting from 1583 and ending in 1595 (I think; the dates are not particular clear). I think some of the baptisms are missing, but I can see evidence he had at least the following children with his previous wife: Anne (2), Elizabeth, Lawrence, Robert, along with the Thomas mentioned in his will. On Lawrence's baptism, he is called Thomas Chetto Jr., which may suggest that his father was called Thomas.
Unfortunately, the baptisms also do not provide his wife's name. There is a marriage between a Thomas Chetwall and Anne Vaughan in 1568 in Loppington, but this does strike me as rather early.
Anne, wife of Thomas Chetto, was buried on 2nd July 1609.
The will of a William Chetto of Wem, who died in 1614, mentions his brother Thomas.
Queenie
