Rev. Andrew Willett, Sr.

Wikipedia Biographical Summary:

"...Andrew Willet (Ely, 1562 – 4 December 1621) was an English clergyman and controversialist. A prolific writer, he is known for his anti-papal works. His views were Calvinist, conforming and non-separatist, and he appeared as a witness against Edward Dering before the Star-chamber. Joseph Hall (who knew him well) eulogized Willet in Noah's Dove, and Thomas Fuller modeled 'the Controversial Divine' of his Holy State on him..."

"...He was born at Ely in 1562, son of Thomas Willet (1511?-1598)..."

"...Andrew had one brother and four sisters. After attending the collegiate school at Ely, he entered Cambridge University, matriculating at the age of fifteen (20 June 1577); he first went to Peterhouse, the master of which was Andrew Perne, his godfather, but in the same year moved to Christ's College, Cambridge. He was quickly elected a scholar, graduated B.A. in 1581, was elected to a fellowship at Christmas 1583 (aged twenty-one), proceeded M.A. in 1584, and in the same year was incorporated a member of the university of Oxford. He was B.D. in 1591, and D.D. 1601..."

"...In 1588 Willet left the university, and at Michaelmas, on his marriage with Jacobine, a daughter of his father's friend Roger Goad, provost of King's, gave up his fellowship..."

"...He was chaplain-in-ordinary and tutor to Henry Frederick, Prince of Wales, as well as a frequent preacher before the court..."

"...Willet's death was the result of an accident. On his return home from London his horse threw him near Hoddesdon. His leg was broken and was set badly. Ten days later he died at the inn to which he had been taken (4 December 1621), in his fifty-ninth year. On 8 December he was buried in the chancel of Barley parish church..."

"...Willet published his major work, the Synopsis Papismi, in 1594, adding the Tetrastylon two years later..."

SOURCE: Wikipedia contributors, 'Andrew Willet', Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia, 20 March 2011, 10:20 UTC, <http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Andrew_Willet&oldid=41977...> [accessed 6 April 2011]

Biographical Summary:

Andrew Willet, D. D.—This learned and laborious divine was born in the city of Ely, in the year 1562, and educated first in Peter-house, then in Christ's college, Cambridge. He was blessed with pious parents, who brought him up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord. His father, Mr. Thomas Willet, was sub-almoner to King Edward VI., and a painful sufferer during the cruel persecutions of Queen Mary. In the reign of Queen Elizabeth, be became rector of Barley in Hertfordshire, and was preferred to a prebend in the church of Ely. His son Andrew, while a boy at school, discovered an uncommon genius, and made extraordinary progress in the various rudiments of knowledge. He was so intense in his application, that his parents were obliged to use various methods to divert his attention from his books. At the age of fourteen, he was sent to the university, where he was soon preferred to a fellowship. Here he became intimate with Downham, Perkins, and other celebrated puritans, who encouraged each other in their studies. Willet soon distinguished himself by his exact acquaintance with the languages, the arts, and all the branches of useful literature. He was concerned not to have these things to learn, when he came forth to teach others; wisely judging that youth should prepare that which riper years must use. In the year 1586, he united with the master and fellows of Christ's college, in defence of themselves against the accusations of their enemies, in which they acquitted themselves with great honour.

Having spent thirteen years at the university, he came forth richly fraught with wisdom and knowledge. On the death of his father, the queen presented him to the rectory of Barley, and gave him his father's prebend in the church of Ely.

Dr. Willet obtained a great degree of celebrity by the numerous and valuable productions of his pen. One of his voluminous publications appeared in the reign of Queen Elizabeth, entitled, " Synopsis Papismi; or, a general View of Papistrie." This work, which was dedicated to the queen, contains upwards of thirteen hundred pages in folio. It is perhaps the best refutation of popery that ever was published. In this work, says Mr. Toplady, no less than fifteen hundred errors and heresies are charged against the church of Rome, and most ably refuted. It passed through five editions; and was highly approved by many of the bishops; held in great esteem by the two universities; and very much admired, both by the clergy and laity, throughout the kingdom. The author, it is incorrectly added, was most zealously attached to the church of England, and not a grain of puritanism mingled itself with his conformity.

He resigned his happy soul to God, December 4, 1621, aged fifty-eight years. His funeral was attended by a great number of knights, gentlemen, and ministers, who, having esteemed and honoured him in life, testified their respect to his memory when dead.

Dr. Willet's remains were interred in the chancel of Barley church, where there is a representation of him at full length, in a praying altitude; and underneath is a monumental inscription erected to his memory..."

SOURCE: The Lives of the Puritans By Benjamin Brook

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Andrew Willet DD rector 1598-1621 author of "Synopsis . He married Jacobina 1637 daughter of Thomas Goad DD, provost of Kings College Cambridge
Of his 18 children, 9 sons and4 daughters survived him His son, Henry Willet (d.1670), who lost a fortune by his loyalty to the king, was apparently ancestor of Ralph Willett. The fourth son, Thomas Willet, was the first mayor of New York

from: http://www.flickr.com/photos/52219527@N00/4846630219/in/photostream/

Rev Andrew Willett
BIRTH 14 May 1562, Ely, Cambridgeshire, England
DEATH 4 Dec 1621 (aged 59), England BURIAL St. Margaret of Antioch Churchyard, Bygrave, North Hertfordshire District, Hertfordshire, England MEMORIAL ID 150402533

I believe Anna & Grace may be the same daughter, many of the same documents come up for both of them. Believe her name to be Anna Grace.

Of his eighteen children, nine sons and four daughters survived him. His widow was buried in 1637 by his side. His son, Henry Willet (d. 1670), who lost a fortune by his loyalty to the king, was apparently ancestor of Ralph Willett. A special licence was granted to another son, Paul, in 1630, for a reprint of the Synopsis Papismi. The fourth son, Thomas Willet, was the first mayor of New York.

Andrew Willet (1562 – Dec 4, 1621) was an English clergyman and controversialist. A prolific writer, he is known for his anti-papal works. His views were Calvinist, conforming and non-separatist, and he appeared as a witness against Edward Dering before the Star-chamber. Joseph Hall (who knew him well) eulogised Willet in Noah's Dove, and Thomas Fuller modelled 'the Controversial Divine' of his Holy State on him.

He was born at Ely in 1562, son of Thomas Willet (1511?–1598), who began his career as a public notary, and later in life he took holy orders, becoming rector of Barley, Hertfordshire, fourteen miles from Cambridge and admitted to a prebendal of Ely by his patron, Bishop Richard Coxe, with whom he had been associated as sub-almoner to Edward VI.

Andrew had one brother and four sisters. After attending the collegiate school at Ely, he entered Cambridge University, matriculating at the age of fifteen (20 June 1577); he first went to Peterhouse, the master of which was Andrew Perne, his godfather, but in the same year moved to Christ's College, Cambridge. He was quickly elected a scholar, graduated B.A. in 1581, was elected to a fellowship at Christmas 1583 (aged twenty-one), proceeded M.A. in 1584, and in the same year was incorporated a member of the university of Oxford. He was B.D. in 1591, and D.D. 1601. Among the fellows of Christ's, he was on good terms with George Downham, and when Willet spent his vacations at his father's rectory of Barley, he was often accompanied by Downham. He took holy orders in 1585, and was admitted on 22 July 1587, on the presentation of the queen, to the prebendal stall at Ely, which his father had resigned in his favour.

In 1588 Willet left the university, and at Michaelmas, on his marriage with Jacobine, a daughter of his father's friend Roger Goad, provost of King's, gave up his fellowship. He earned a reputation as a preacher of power, especially against the Catholics. He was selected to read the lecture for three years in Ely Cathedral, and for one year in St. Paul's Cathedral, London. In the same year he was presented to the rectory of Childerly in Cambridgeshire. This living he held till 1594. He was admitted in 1597 to the rectory of Gransden Parva in Huntingdonshire, but almost immediately moved, by exchange to Barley, his father having died in April 1598 in his eighty-eighth year.

He was instituted on 29 January 1599. He spent most of his ministerial life at Barley, being rector for twenty-three years. Willet's village preaching is preserved in his Thesaurus Ecclesiae (an exposition of St. John xvii.), which contains the substance of afternoon lectures addressed to his parishioners. Willet persuaded Andrew Perne to leave by will an annual sum to the poor scholars of the free school founded in the village of Barley by Archbishop William Warham when rector; he also influence his friend Thomas Sutton, founder of Charterhouse School.

He was chaplain-in-ordinary and tutor to Henry Frederick, Prince of Wales, as well as a frequent preacher before the court. Willet got into trouble over the Spanish match, to which he was strongly opposed. Under care of Sir John Higham of Bury St. Edmunds he sent letters and arguments to the justices of Norfolk and Suffolk, urging them to protest against the marriage. Willet himself presented a copy of his arguments to the king, and, thereby incurring his high displeasure, was committed to prison under the custody of Dr. White. He appears to have been released after a month.

Towards the close of his life he was admitted (19 Jan 1613) to the rectory of Reed, Hertfordshire, a parish adjoining that of Barley; but he only held it something over two years, resigning in favour of his eldest son, Andrew, who was admitted on 10 November 1615. The year before his death he was presented to the rectory of the small parish of Chishill Parva, across the border in Essex.

On his return home from London on Nov 24, 1621, his horse threw him near Hoddesdon. His leg was broken and was set badly. Ten days later he died at the inn to which he had been taken.

On Dec 8, 1621 he was buried in the chancel of Barley parish church. An effigy and brass were placed by his parishioners and friends over the place of burial in the floor of the nave below the pulpit. The effigy showed a priest, full-length, dressed in his doctor's robes, with square cap, ruff, and scarf, and wearing a beard. The effigy has since been moved to the west wall of the church.

Family - Will Not Transfer Memorial

Parents Dr. Thomas R. Willett 1510–1598 Elizabeth Stanton 1512--1589

Spouse Jacobina Goade Willett, 1572–1637 m. 1588, daughter of his father's friend Roger Goad.

Children Henry (1590-1633) Andrew (1591-1624) Jacobina (1592-1650) Elizabeth (1595-1624) Margaret (1598- ) Miriam (1600- ) Elizabeth (1601-1624/33) Thomas (1602-1604) Anna (1604- ) Grace (1604-) Capt Thomas John (1605-1674) Susanna (1608-1608) Rebecca (1608-1612/13) Robert (1609-1666) Matthew (1610- ) Rebecca (1611-1618) James (1611-1611) Jacobus (1614- ) Christian/Christianus (1615-1626) Paul (1617- ) Richard (1618-1665)

https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/150402533/andrew-willett