FAMILY GROUP RECORD OF
WILLIAM BARRET AND
HELLENA SLIGHE

William Barret was born in about 1555 of Derby, Derbyshire, England. He married Hellena (Ellen) Slighe 19 July 1578 in St. Alkmunds, Derby.

William died in about 1589, and left a will proven 19 December 1589:

Will of William Barret, 1589

A true copie of the last will & testament of Willim Barret of Derbie deceased
In the name of God Amen, I Willm Barrat of Darbie in the Countye of Darbie beine sicke in bodye but of hole and perfecte memorie (God be thanked therefore) make, constitute & ordeyne this my last will and testament in manner and form following: Ffirst I bequethe my soule unto the hands of Almyghtie God my creator & onlye redeemer, in whose bloode onlye I trust to gain eternall salvation, and my bodye I commit to the earth from whence it came to be buryed in the church of St. Alkmunds in Darbie aforesayd. Also my worldly goodes I bequethe as following: First I geve unto Ellen Barrat my wyfe the house wherein I dwell the backsyde and one acre with all there apertenences during her naturall lyfe and after her decease to remaine to my sonne Willm the younger and the heyres of his bodye lawfully begotten for ever & for want of heyres of his bodye lawfully begotten to remaine to Jervase Barrat my sonne and for want of heyres of his bodye lawfully begotten to remaine to the next heyres  of mee the sayd Willm. Item my will is that my sayd sonne Willm the yonger shall pay unto my sayd sonne Jervase xxs, to my daughter Elizabeth xxs, to my daughter Dorothie xls & to my daughter Ellen xls when yche of them comethe to age of seventeen yeares, if the so longe live. Item, I geve unto my elder sonne Willm, my best doblet, my best hose and the sum of xxs  to  be payd by the handes of Willm my yonger sone in maner & forme followinge: that is to say xs at the ffeast of St. Michael Tharchangel  being ao. di. 1590 and other xs ao. di. 1591 at the feast aforesayd. The rest of my goodes not bequethed, my debtes payd my legasies performed and my bodye honestlye and decently buryed I geve unto my sayd wyfe and my children aforesayd, namelye Willm Barrat the yonger, Jervase Barrat, Elizabeth Barrat, Dorothie Barrat & Ellen Barrat to be equally devyded amongst them at the sight and discrecis of my overseers. I constitute and ordayne my welbeloved wyfe Ellen Barrat and Willm Barrat the yonger my sonne my true and lawfull executors of this my last wil and testament. Also & I make ordeyne my welbeloved in Chryst Henry Nedham cloth worker and Thomas Swetnam minister, overseers of this my sayd testament desyring them to see that all thinges herein conteyned be executed and done according to the true diretens and meanings thereof. In witnes whereof I have set to my hand & seale the xiiijth day of October in the yeare of the raigne of our Soveraigne Ladye Elizabethby by the grace of God of England, Ffrance & Yreland Queen, defender of the faythe yn the one & thirtie.
Item, my will is that the lease & benefits of my malt mil should remaine to my sayd wyfe towardes the bringinge up of my sayd children.
These beinge witneses George More minister Thomas Swetnam minister Henrye Nedham

Ellen married again to Thomas Swetnam, the minister 7 September 1590 in St. Alkmunds, Derby. "Thomas Swetnam was curate of St Alkmunds from 1586 to 1605. Thomas Swetnam ended up a vicar of Youlgreave 1605-1624." (Derbyshire Miscellany, Vol 15, Spring 1998)

Ellen died and was buried 19 May 1622 in Youlgreave.

Thomas died and was buried 14 September 1624 in Yougreave. He left a will proven in 1625. He was the vicar of Youlgreave at the time of his death. Youlgreave is a parish about 25 miles north of Derby.

Will of Thomas Swetnam vicar of Youlgreave
In the name of God Amen the ffirst daie of Januarie in the yeare of our Lord God one thousand six hundredth twentie and two I Thomas Swetnam of Yolgrave in the Countie of Derbie clerke knowinge the stat of man to be shorpe short and uncerteyne of sooner borne than subject to dye and beind dead hither is no retyringe this place must know us no more, and being desirous to avoid contentions that might ensue doe make and ordeyne this my testament conteyninge my last will in manner and forme following Ffirst I commend my soule into the handes of my Creator who is best able to keepe it until that great daie. Also I commit my body to the dust from whence it came to be entered and buried in the Channcell of the parrish Church of Yolgrave neare unto the grave of Ellen Swetnam my late wife deceased (frustrating and making void all other wills and testaments by me heretofore made). Also my worldlie goodes wherewith God hath blessed me I give and bequeath as followeth. Imprimis I give unto my first borne sonne Thomas Swetname preacher of the word and to Anne his now wife to eyther of them two shillinges six pence and to everie of theire children two shillings six pence a piece. Item I give to Mr John Wright my sonne in law preacher of the word of God and to Marie his now wife to eyther of theim two shillnige six pence and to everie of theire children two shillinges six pence a piece. Item I give to the children of William Brewer my sonne in lawe to everie of them two shillinges six pence a piece. Item I give to Gervase Barrett my sonne in lawe and his wife to eyther of theim two shillinges six pence. Item I give to Joseph Swetnam my youngest sonne and preacher of the word of God all my books. Item I give to the poore of the parrishe of St Alkmonde in Derbie tenne shillniges. Item I give to the poore of the towne of Yolgrave and Alport tenne shillinges. Item I make and ordeyne my loving daughters Sarah Swetnam and Elizabeth Swetnam my true and lawfull executors of this my last will. The rest of my goodes not bequeathed as abovesaid I give unto my executors my debtes paid my legacies performed and my funeral expenses as charged. In witness whereof I the said Thomas Swetnam to thise presente have sett my hand and seale the daie and yeare first above written.
By me Tho. Swetnam

William and Ellen had the following children:

1. William, christened 16 October 1578 in St. Alkmunds.

*2. Elizabeth, christened 14 March 1580 in St. Alkmunds; married Thomas Fowlke 20 July 1601 in St. Alkmunds, Derby, Derbyshire.

3. Jervase; mentioned in father's will of 1589.

4. Gerald, christened 31 July 1584 in St. Alkmunds.

5. Dorothy, christened 24 January 1586 in St. Alkmunds.

6. Helen, (Ellen) christened 17 September 1589 in St. Alkmunds.

Ellen and Thomas had the following children:

1. Sarah (Swetnam), christened 29 July 1593 in St. Alkmunds.

2. Margaret (Swetnam), christened July 1596 in St. Alkmunds.

3. Rebecca (Swetnam), christened 20 November 1597 in St. Alkmunds.

4. Elizabeth (Swetnam), christened 25 May 1599 in St. Alkmunds.

5. Joseph (Swetnam), christened 5 October 1600 in St. Alkmunds; married 1) unknown, 2) Margaret Blake 6 May 1664; occupation - minister; buried12 September 1664 in Derby, leaving a will mentioning wife Margaret, sons Joseph, John, Gervase, Samuell, Isaack, Thomas, daughters Judeth and Margaret.