According to Threlfall’s GMC50391, “RICHARD BRACKETT was a resident of Sudbury, Suffolk. Also living there at the same time was Edward Brackett, presumably his brother. Both these men appear on the Sudbury list of the Military Survey of 1522, William as an able archer, Edward as an able billman, both listed as butchers, each assessed 12 pence on goods valued at £2. One can reasonably assume that they grew up in the trade and learned it from their father who must also have lived in Sudbury. Two years later, they both appear again on record as taxpayers in the 1524 Subsidy return, each down for 4 pence tax on wages of 20 shillings.

“No earlier record of the name in Sudbury has been found, but it does occur somewhat earlier in other parts of England, or at least possible variations of the name such as Brokett.

“Edward Brackett died in 1540. [Threlfall inserts here an abstract of the will of Edward Brackett, presumptive brother of William Brackett.]

“William Brackett had at least three sons who referred to each other in their wills.” An account of the sons follows, including an abstract of the will of son Thomas. Threlfall’s sources are given as “Suffolk Green Book X; Probate Records at Bury Saint Edmunds; Parish Registers; Bishop’s Transcripts.”392