Great stories are told of their son Sir John Brockett of Brocket Hall,
husband of Helena Lytton and Dame Elizabeth Moore. The great
Brocket Hall was situated at the extreme northern corner of Hatfield
parish. This Sir John Brocket was a doughty knight, twice Sheriff
for the county like his ancestors. He was "entrusted with the training
and inspection of the men levied in this part of Hertfordshire
at he time of the Armada." It was "whilst Mary was on the throne,
Elizabeth was kept under 'house arrest' at Hatfield House. She used
to walk along the banks of the River Lea to visit John Brocket, probably
plotting to raise an artillery to overthrow Mary. In 1558
Elizabeth was sitting under an oak tree on the far side of the lake when
a horseman galloped from London bringing the news that she was
the new Queen. In 1558, in recognition of their friendship, Elizabeth
bestowed a knighthood on Sir John Brocket." Sir John was buried
at Hatfield in the year 1598. Sir John by his wife Helena, daughter of
Sir Robert Lytton, had daughters Margaret, Anne, Elizabeth,
Helen and Mary. All who married well. By Dame Elizabeth, his second wife he had Frances who married Dudley, third Lord North. Having no
male issue, the estate of Brocket Hall was passed to descendants of
Mary, youngest daughter of John and Helena, who married Thomas
Reade.
Edward, son of John Brocket and Margaret Benstede was born about 1540.
He married Etheldred Frodsham. They were the parents of John
Brocket, Esquire of the Street in Wheathampsted, who married
1) Mary Gerywaie and 2) Mary Bannister. John is the only known child of Edward Brocket, Esquire, who was buried at Wheathampstead in
1598. Of John Brocket, Esquire of the Street we have already acknowledged.
In the Wheathampstead church there is "on the east wall, an incised
white marble tablet in memory of John Heyworth, his wife Joan, and
their three children all of whom died in their infancy. Dated, 1558, it
tells how the bereaved parents adopted Margaret Hoo as their
sole heir, this lady making an interesting second marriage to one
Nicholas Brocket, Esquire. Thus we learn how two great land-owning
families in the neighbourhood joined forces in marriage."4 Nicolas
Brocket died in 1585 and was buried at Wheathampstead, his will
being proved that year. Nicholas and Margret had two known children,
Johanna who was buried at Wheathampsted 15 February 1566 and John Brocket, who christened at in the same church 14 January 1562. This John was known as Mr. John Brocket of Mackrey End.
Mr. John Brocket of Mackery End married Mary Snagg (of Mackery End). They had three children:
* Thomas Brocket (Mackery End) christened 8 October 1584
* Ann Brocket (Mackery End) christened 2 March 1585 and buried 22 March 1586
* John Brocket was the eldest child, christened 24 July 1583 at
Wheathampsted and married twice, 1) to Joan Lacon about 1608. Joan died in 1621 and 2) Elizabeth Mordant on 8 July 1624 at Oakely, Bedfordshire.
Of Elizabeth Mordant, John had a son Edward in 1625 and a daughter
Elizabeth in 1626. Mr. John Brocket of Mackery End by his wife Joan
Lacon had Lacon in 1609 and John who was christened at Wheathampstead 29 July 1612. It is this John who attended Cambridge and married Mary Blackwell 14 August 1635 at Sandridge. It is this John Brocket who sailed to the American colonies to throw his lot with the
Reverend John Davenport and Theophilus Eaton, Puritans from England.
