George Dowsett

  General Notes:

~ Fifty Great Migrations Colonists to New England & Their Origins, p. 181 ¹⁰⁸⁸

  Noted events in his life were:

• Background Information. ⁶⁷⁰
George Dowsett was probably born at Stanford Rivers, Essex, England about 1527, died in 1594 and likely buried in the church yard at Harlow, Essex, England, as he requested in his will. He married at Stanford Rivers, 23 Jun 1560, Joan Gladwyn, daughter of Robert Gladwyn. She died before 1578, and George married as his second wife, Anne Dickley, widow of Robert Dickley of Manningtree, Essex, gentleman. Administration on the estate of Robert Dickley was granted 20 Jun 1578 to George Doucett, then Anne's husband, but the spelling of Doucett in these doucments in not at all clear, leaving open the possibility that a different person may have been concerned. In his will, he named his second wife Agnes. His first wife, Joan, appears to have been the mother of all his children.

Joan and George Dowsett evidently lived for a few years at Stanford Rivers where two children were baptized, then moved to Harlow, seven miles northwest of Stanford Rivers. There are no records for the Harlow parish register up to 1629, therefore no baptismal records for their later children.

In the Court Rolls of the manor of Harlow Bury under the date of 25 May 1586, is recorded, "It is ordered that George Dowzett should scour his ditch towards Symons Mead under penalty of 6d. a rod and that John Gladwyne, George's brother-in-law should scour his ditch towards Giles Croft under penalty of 6d. a rod."

George Dowsetts made his will on 7 Mar 1593/94 and it was proved 16 Dec 1594 [ERO, 239 BW12].

Children of Joan and George Dowsett were:

Avice, bp. at Stanford Rivers, 28 Sep 1561; m. between 1593 and 1606, John Archer
Alice, bp. at Stanford Rivers, 26 Mar 1564; m. _____ Clark, and had several children by 1594
Elizabeth, b. probably at Harlow, ca. 1566; unm. 1593
Gabriel, likely the eldest son, b. at Harlow, abt. 1568
William, d. 1616, testate, leaving wife Sarah and two children
George, living 1594, when he and his wife were ordered from house of William Carre [Harlow Manor Court Roll].
Katherine, unm. 1593

~NEHGR, Vol. 141, pp. 130-131

George married Joan Gladwyn, daughter of Robert Gladwyn and Unknown, on 23 Jun 1560 in Stanford Rivers, Essex, England. (Joan Gladwyn died before 1578 in Harlow, Essex, England.)