John Breed (Bread)

John Bread of Westoning, who died in 1585, appears to have had three wives based on the Parish Registers of Westoning:

1) 25 September 1577, death of "Clemens” Breade of Westoning, possibly John's first wife
2) 5 April 1578, marriage of John Brede & Constance Lawman. John's second wife, Costans Bread, died on 29 Apr 1579 Westoning
3) 2 May 1580, marriage of John Brede & Alice Dave. John's widow Alice Breade married Richard Howghton in Westoning on 4 October 1585.

None of John Allen's children are listed in the Westoning Parish Registers prior to John's death in 1585.

Will of John Bread of Westoning, 1585

The will of John Brede of the parish of Westoning, dated third Jun 1585, probate October 1585, mentions wife (not named), daughter Elizabeth Whelar, Marie Daye, Anys (Agnes?) Prechat "my god daughter", John Brede my son to be administrator of this my last will & testament [Family History Library, Film 1066794, item 3, original wills Box 6-8, 1577-1585, Volumes 1580-4 159 to 1585-7 180 Years 1580-1587, images p. 869-870]. Note that Richard Prechat & Agnes Brede were married on 27 November 1574, John Brede & Constance Lawman were married on 5 Apr 1578, John Brede & Alice Dave were married on 2 May 1580, and John Whelar and Elizabeth Breade were married on 15 October 1584, all in Westoning.

The parish registers of Westoning do not list the baptism of a John Brede (Bread, etc.) prior to the will of John Brede (Sr.) in 1585, but there is a John Brede son of John Brede baptized on 20 Dec. 1563 in the parish registers of Houghton Conquest. This is the only Brede or equivalent last name listed in the Houghton Conquest parish registers prior to 1650, but there are some gaps in the earliest parish registers so it is possible that there were other Bredes.