Agnes (Unknown) Bretton (abt. 1450 - 1516)

Born about 1450 in England [uncertain]

Descendants

Died 1516 at about age 66 in City of London, England [uncertain]

Problems/Questions Profile manager: Steve Hunt [send private message]

Biography

Agnes (surname unknown) married John Don of Southampton.^[1]

Child:

• Angel Don/Donne^[1] (born date unknown, died 1505 or 1506)^[2]

John Don died in 1477.^[1]

Agnes then married Thomas Bretton, Ironmonger of London. He died in 1485.^[1]

Five children of Thomas Bretton namely William, Joan, Juliana, Matilda and Elizabeth, were brought before the court of orphans on 29 January 1489. The other children recorded were John, Peter, Thomas, Margaret, and Henry of whom only Henry survived to adulthood.^[3]

Summary of the Will of Agnes Breton 1516

In her will made on 21 Sep 1516 and proved on 26 Nov 1516 she was recorded as "Agnes Breton of London widowe late the wife of Thomas Breton decessed Citezen while he lyved and Alderman of the Citie of London".^[4]

Her will was to be "buried within the pishe church of saint Deonyse Bakchurch of the said Citie in the Chapell of saint John Evangelist there where the body of my said late husbande Thomas Breton lieth buried".

The only family member who was a beneficiary of the will was her son William Breton whom she made sole Executor.

The Overseer was her "son in lawe sir Lawrence Aylmer, knight".

Sources

1. ↑ ^{1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3} Sutton A F (2013) John Don, Edward IV’s first Mayor of Southampton, 1461-1462. Proc. Hampshire Field Club Archaeol Soc. 68, 2013, pp 149-160 (Hampshire Studies). pdf.
2. ↑ Will of Augell Angell Dun or Dunn, Grocer of London and Merchant of the Staple of Calais. 09 December 1506. PROB 11/15/337. The National Archives, Kew.
3. ↑ Sutton, A F (2013) William Bretton, Publisher of Fine Books, 1506–10. The Library 14 (1): pp 3-17 Library.
4. ↑ Will of Agnes Breton, Widow of London. 26 November 1516. PROB 11/18/427. The National Archives, Kew.

See also:

• Sutton, A F (2012) Agnes Don-Bretton, Merchant Stapler, Widow and Matriarch of Southampton and London, circa 1450 to 1516. The Ricardian 22, pp 59-94. [not seen]