1. Edward1 Jewett (he spelled his name Jowett) was born circa 1580 in Bradford, co. Yorkshire, England.1 He married Mary Tayler, daughter of William Tayler, on 1 October 1604 in Bradford, co. Yorkshire, England.2
Edward Jewett lived in Bradford, England, where he was a clothier. By clothier it is not to be understood that he sold clothes, but was a maker of manufacturer of cloths. In those days, in England the designation clothier was used only in the sense of the merchant manufacturer of woolen cloth who had in his employ a larger of smaller number of families engaged in the various manual employments connected therewith. Edward lived long before the days of factories. In his time the making of cloth was carried on in Yorkshire in private houses, the several parts of the process being conducted by different members of the famly according to their age and sex. The clothiers of Yorkshire were considered among the most industrious and frugal people of the kingdom. They were of necessity capitalists. They employed weavers, fullers, etc., and furnished them with material. In part they were accounted among the millionaires of England. Edward Jewett seems to have been a man of property, and to have left goodly portions to his children.
The twenty families that accompanied Mr. Rogers to New England are described by Winthrop, "most of them of good estate." From the fact that the families of clothiers were trained from early life to knowledge of the different parts of the operation of making cloths, we may infer that the two sons of Edward who settled here were also clothiers. This is confirmed by the well-known fact as stated by Johonson in his 'Wonder Working Providence,' "that the settlers of Rowley were the first people that set upon making cloth in this Western World." He adds that many of them had been clothiers in England.3 He left a will on 2 February 1614/15 in England; Will of Edward Jewett
His will, dated 2 Feb 1614, was proved by his widow 12 Jul 1615. This will is on file in the archbishopric of York.
"In the name of God Amen, the second day of February in the year of our Lord God 1615 in the XIIth year of the reign sovereign Lord James by the grace of God, King of England, France and Ireland, defender of the faith etc., and of Scotland the eight and forty whereas nothing is more certain than death and nothing more uncertain than the house of death. Therefore, I Edward Jewett of Badford within the dicos of York, Clothier, though sick and deseased in body yett sounde in minde and memorye I praise God therefore doo in this uncertainty of life knowinge that even in health we are subject to death make, publish and declare this my last will and testant in the names and form following (that is to say)
"First and principally I give and comend my soule in the hands of Almighty God my creator and redeemer hoping and assurredly trusting to have full and free pardon and remission of all my sinnes by the precious death and burial of Christ Jesus my alone Saviour and for jestification by his righteousness and my body I yeald to earth to be decently buried at the decreation of my friends. Item, I give and bequeth two full parts of all my goods Cattles Chattles & Credits (in three parts to be divided) unto William Jewett, Maximilian Jewett, Joseph Jewett and Sara Jewet my children equally to be divided amongst them after my debts be paid and funeral expense discharged. The third part and residue of all my said Cattles, Chattels & Credit I give and bequeth unto Mary my wife whome I make the sole executris of this my last will and testament. And do entreat William Taylor my father in law, Henry Taylor by brothr in law, Samuel Taylor and Thurstum Ledgerd the supervisors of this my last will and test't. Item, my will and mind is that my children shall have their porcous paide unto them at such times as they shall sevarly accomplishe their ages of XX years or otherwise lawfully demand the same. Lastly I do commit of all my said children with theire seveall porcous during theire several nimorities unto the said Mary my wife.
"Witnesses hereof William Smith, Jonas Watson & Lewis Watson."3 His will was proven on 12 July 1615 in England.4
Mary Tayler. Her married name was Jowett. She married William Lister on 7 August 1616.2 She died in May 1626 in England.5
The six known children of Edward1 Jewett and Mary Tayler were as follows:
If Josiah belongs to this family, he must have died before 4 Feb. 1614/15.