Erroneous parents of Thomas White (1514-1579) should be detached.

Question

The profile of Thomas White of Nottingham is presently attached as Uncertain child of Thomas and Agnes White of Somerset who lived their entire lives in Somerset. Their son Thomas (not presently in WikiTree) is mentioned in the will of his mother in 1549, married Tamsen, and his will was written in North Petherton 1551. The profile of this Nottingham Thomas White should be detached and a profile for the proper son Thomas created.

This family is fairly well-researched by Almira Larkin White in Ancestry of John Barber White (p 12).

Answer 1

I'm not disputing that the Thomas White of Nottingham is attached to incorrect parents, though I haven't actually investigated anything.

I am though disputing that the book by Almira Larkin White is well-researched, at least the information on pp. 11-12.  It doesn't actually cite any sources and although there is a will of an Agnes White dated 1549, who names Thomas White, there is no relationship mentioned with him.

The only family mentioned that I can see in a quick skim is "To John Hyllarde, my lytell boye, 2 silver spones".  As there are a number of Hilliarde mentioned as receiving the residue of the property and also as executors, it seems more likely Agnes White is related to them.

I can't see the 1551 will of Thomas White, though that doesn't necessarily mean it doesn't exist, but if a replacement  profile for Thomas White is created, then I would recommend that sources are found that confirm the details found in White's book beforehand.

Comments

The 1551 will of Thomas White of North Petherton  was proved at Taunton (according to Ancestry's 'extracted wills' ;citing Somerset Calendar of Wills 1537-1799) If so, unless there is a copy or a transcript of it somewhere, it probably no longer exists. (.WW2  bombing of  Exeter Archives)

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According to the Calendar of wills and administrations in the court of the archdeaconry of Taunton, there were two wills for Thomas White/Whyte of North Petherton, one in 1547 and the other in 1551.  See here - p. 84 (image 102)

Presumably this represents two different men, but I'm not definite.

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There are transcriptions of the North Petherton parish registers, but unfortunately they start in 1558.

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The Somerset Archives holds a writ dated 18 May 1537, ordering “Thomas Whyte and Agnes, his wife, and John, Richard and Thomas Whyte, junior” to attend one of the courts at Westminster. The writ concerned "a plea with William Witdecombe and Elizabeth, his wife" about a house, garden and lands in Witcombe in the parish of Martock, Somerset: see Somerset Heritage Centre, DD/X/FL/1.

There was also evidence given in a Star Chamber case in 1550 about a lease of a house, garden and close by "William Whytcomb & Elizabeth his wyeff of the one parte and one Thomas Whyte of Martock & Agnes his wyeff the said John Richardes the elder & Thomas Whyte the yonger of the other parte": see Proceedings in the Court of the Star Chamber in the Reigns of Henry VII and Henry VIII (1911) page 278.

These records are consistent with this being the Agnes White who left a will dated 21 Nov 1549, Her will refers to John Richards and members of the Wytcombe family, and she also gave money to the parish church "of Martoke”.