Events
Date of Baptism: 13 October 1573.
Place of Baptism: Rowley-Regis, Staffordshire, England (St Giles).
The parish register gives the baptism.
Date of Burial: 20 February 1659/60.
Place of Burial: Rowley Regis.
The burial is recorded in the parish register.
Relationships
Father: Thomas Willets.
See the Commentary section.
Mother: Ellen Chambers alias Ireland.
See Ellen’s page for the evidence for the identification of Thomas’s wife.
Spouse: Elizabeth Dudley.
See the Commentary section.
Children:
(Complete source citations for facts about the children on this page are currently outside of the scope of this project. All children were baptized in Rowley-Regis.)
Edward Willets (baptized 21 March 1609/10 - probably buried 3 January 1660/1 in Rowley Regis).
Ann Willets (baptized 28 September 1611) married Henry Payton 3 May 1636 in Dudley (St Edmund’s).
Thomas Willets (baptized 20 February 1613/14 - buried 11 June 1672 in Rowley Regis) married Mary Russell 30 May 1639 in Clent, Worcestershire.
Elizabeth Willets (baptized 21 January 1615/16 - buried 23 July 1640 in Rowley Regis).
Marie Willets (baptized 21 January 1615/16).
Sara Willets (baptized 10 August 1617).
Richard Willets (baptized 1 November 1619 - buried 27 October 1681 in Rowley Regis).
Margery Willets (baptized 14 October 1621 - buried 13 July 1701 in Rowley Regis).
Catherine Willets (baptized 25 February 1624/25) married John Brethill 21 June 1653 in Dudley.
John Willets (buried 15 July 1687 in Rowley Regis) married Elizabeth Dowler 6 October 1670 in Rowley Regis.
William Willets (buried 10 August 1682 in Rowley Regis)
Samuel Willets (27 December 1631) married Margaret Undrill 28 July 1659 in Kingswinford.
Evidence
Richard's will:
In the name of God Amen this Twenty fift day of August in the yeare of our lord God one Thousand six hundred fifty & seven, I Richard Willets of Rowley Regis in the County of Stafford yeom[an] being weake in body, but p[er]fect memory (blessed be God) do make this my last Will & Testamt in manner following: First I give up my soule into the hands of my God; hopeing to bee saved by the merits of the Ld Jesus Christ: and my body I desire may be buried at yt discretion of my Executor. And touching my earthly Estate, I bequeath it (after my debts & funeral expenses be discharged) as hereafter followeth. That is to say, I bequeath unto my son Thomas Willets all those Two Closes or pastures called the Middle Lesow & the Lower Lesow (being p[ar]te of certaine lands called Ruddings) situate in Rowley aforesd & county aforesd: To hold to him & his heire & assignes for ever: which said Two Closses are already setled on him by Indenture of Feofment; and are in liew & full satisfaction of his childs p[ar]te in my whole Estate. And touching the rest of my land called Ruddings situate in Rowley aforesd, I give & bequeath it as is hereafter declared, that is to say, My will is that the same lands & pastures shalbee divided into Three parts viz. The Barne & closs wherein it stands being about foure akers shalbe one parte; and this now said parte viz the Barne and closs wherein it stands with thappurtances I do bequeath to my son Samuell; To hold to my sd son Samuel his heires & assignes for ever: provided that the sd Samuel his heirs & Assigns do pay to my son Edward his Executors Admtrs & Assignes the sum of Twelve pounds lawfull English money withn Twelve Months next after my decease: And if default be made of due pament thereof or of any p[ar]te thereof, my will is that thenceforth it shalbe lawfull for the sd Edward his Executors & adstrs to enter into & upon the sd Barne & Closs; & the same to hold, & the Rents & p[ro]fits thereof to take untill the sd Twelve poundes & all damages sustained for non paymt or otherwise thereabout be fully satisfied. And that closs or pasture which is bounded with Roosland, the land in holding of Nicholas Gibbs the sd Barne & closs, on all sides & p[ar]tes thereof, shalbe a second p[ar]te: And this sd second p[ar]te, Closs or pasture, containging about foure akers with thappurtens, I give unto my son John. To hold to him, his heires & assignes forever: provided that the sd John his heires & assignes do pay the sum of Tenn Pounds lawfull English money, unto my sd son Edward, his Exectrs & Admstrs within the space of Twelve months next after my decease: And if default be mad in paymt of the sd Tenn pounds; my will is that it shalbe lawfull for the sd Edward his Exectrs & Admstrs [to] enter on the p[ar]te of the sd John, & the same to hold till the sd sum & all damageds sustained be duly satisfied. And the third p[ar]te of the sd Ruddings is bounded w… the sd Roosland, the lands of the sd Two p[ar]tes, & the sd Midle Lesow belonging to [my] sd son Thomas on all sides or p[ar]tes thereof: which sd Third p[ar]te being Two Closses containing about foure akers with thapurtans I do give to my Son William; To hold to the sd William his heires & Assignes for ever: provided that the sd William his heires & Assignes, do pay to the sd Edward his Executrs Admstrs & Assignes the sum of Eight pounds lawfull money of England within Twelve months next after my decease: And if default be made of due paymt thereof; my will is that the sd Edward his Executrs & Adstrs shall & may lawfu[lly] ener on the sd third p[ar]te, & have to hold untill the sum aforesd & all damages by nonpaymt be fully satisfyed: And my will is that each of my sd sons & theire respective heires & assignes shall have a free way & passage to their respective lands aforesd through each others p[ar]te as need shalbe, from the old gate place leading from Roosland to the sd Ruddings, at all times & with all things for ever. And I give unto my two daughters Mary & Margery all that my messuage or dweling house in which I now remaine; with all Barnes Buildings orchards, gardens, backsid & Closs called Collins land, with apurtances situate in Rowley aforesd: And also free liberty of haveing water at a certaine well neere to the same: To hold to them the sd Mary & Margery & their heires and assigns for ever; according as the same is setled by Indenture heretofore made by mee to the sd Mary Margery & Katherine my daughters; & since is come to bee the right of the sd Mary & Margery & their heirs for ever: which Indenture I do hereby ratify & confirme & all things therein contained. Also I give to my son Edward one Bedstead, fetherbed & boslter, & all furniture thereto, standing in the low Chamber next the Hall. And I give to my son John one Coffer And also to my son William one Coffer in the low chamber. And to my two daughters Mary and Margery Willets & their respective Exectrs and Admistrs I give equallie all the rest of my houshold Goods, Catells & Chatells, And also all the Estate I have in & to the lesow called Roades Hill, to be equally (all of it) divided betwixt them. Also I give my son Thomas one shilling: And my son Richard one shilling. And to John Brethill one shilling: And to my son William I give the one halfe of my husbandry Tooles; and the other halfe of such Tooles I give equally to my Sons Richard & Samuell: And to my daughter Sara I give one Cow or forty shillings at discretion of my Exectrs. And I give all the rest of my Estate equally to my Exectrs. And Adnulling all other Wills, I establish this as my last will & Testament; And do make & ordaine my sd Two daughters Mary & Margery to be my lawfull excutrs: intreating my loving Son in law Henry Payton & my son Thomas to be overseers of this my last Will. In witness whereof I have hereto put my hand & seale the day & yeare first abovesd
Richard Willits
Sealed & delivered in presence of
Thomas Willetts
William Curdy Water
[Proved 10 May 1661]
The will of Edward Grove:
In the name of God Amen the seventh day of December anno dn’ 1634 And in the Tenthe yere of the Raigne of our Soueraigne Lord Charles by the grace of God kynge of England Scotland France & Ireland defender of the faithe &c I Edward Grove of Westbromwiche in the Countie of Staffe yoman beinge in good healthe and of good & p[er]fitt mynd & memorye gevinge thanks to God therefore Doe make & declare this my last will & testament in man[er] and forme folowinge that is to say Fyrst & pryncipallye I comend & bequeathe my soule unto the mercye of Allmyghtie God trustinge & faithfullye belevinge to be saved amongest the nomber of thellecte by the onlely merits and bloud sheadinge of Jhesus Christe my onelye savyor & Redemer And my bodye to the earthe & to be buryed in the p[ar]ishe Churche of Westbromwiche aforesaid. And I geve towards the Rep[ar]cons of the said Churche and for my burial therein tenne schillings Item I geve & bequeathe unto the poore people of westbromwich aforesaid Fortye shillings and to be distributed unto them within one yere next after my decesse by my executors with the consent of the Churche wardens of the said p[ar]ishe Item I geve & bequeathe unto my sonne Henry Grove my best doublet Jerkyn & briches and allso one Signett Rynge of gold and to my daughter Margery fyve shillings and to theire sonne Edward Grove & their daughter Anne to either of ijs vjd & to the Residue of theire Children to every of them five shillings and allso to theire sonne Richard Grove one ewe & a lambe Item I geve & bequeathe unto my dawghter Frances Crompton tenne shillings and to every of her children ijs vjd apece Item I geve & bequeathe unto my dawghter Ellen Dudley tenne shillings and to every of her Children Five shillings Item I geve & bequeathe unto my sonne Thomas Grove tenne shillings & to his wife ijs Item I geve & bequeathe unto my dawghter Jone Cowper Tenne pounds and to every of her children tenne shillings Item I geve & bequeathe unto my sone in lawe Richard Creswey my best Cloke my second Dowblett briches & Jerkin & my best sh[...] and to his dawghter Anne xijd, And to his dawghter Ellen Creswey Tenne pounds and to be sett forthe to her use within one yere nexte after my decesse Item I geve & bequeathe unto my dawghter in lawe Elizabeth Willetts iijs vjd and to her daughter Sara Willetts Fortye shillings and to every of her other children ijs apece Item I geve & bequeathe to my sonne in lawe Francs Penne my third Dowblett & briches. And I forgeve him all suche detts as he owithe me and I geve unto his wife Mary Penne my daughter in lawe my best hatt & band and to every of her children xxs a pece and I geve unto the said Mary those shepe which her husband hathe to p[ar]te of myne Item I geve unto Mr Johnson xijd and I forgeve him all suche detts as he owithe me Item unto my sonne in lawe Willm Dudley twoe shillings Item I forgeve Richard Dudley all such debts as are in my boke which he owithe me, and allso I forgeve him Five pounds p[ar]cell of the bond of Tenne pounds which he owithe me Item unto Willm Attkis sonne of Anne Atkis twenty shillings Item I geve unto every of my servants which shalbe Dwellinge with me att the tyme of my decesse twoe shillings a pece, Item I geve unto Thomas Blackham my workeday Jerkyn, Item I geve unto John Osborne my second hatt my workeday briches & my best Stockyngs Item I geve unto Richard Weston my second payre of Stockyngs & my beste shooes Item I geve unto my daughter in lawe Mary Grove twoe shillings and to her sonne Thomas Grove xijd and to her sonne Edward Grove & to her dawghter Anne Grove to either of them Tenne shillings, Item unto Thomas Gilbart my workeday dowblett Item geve unto every godchild that I have xijd a pece Item the Residewe of all my goods Cattells debts chattells & money whatt soever unbequeathed my debts paid & these legacs paid and discharged and my bodie honestlye browght to the earthe I geve and bequeathe unto Edward Grove my sonne And I doe make ordayne and Constitute the said Edward Grove my sonne my sole & lawfull executor of this my last will & testament to execute & p[er]forme the same accordinglye as my speciall trust is in him, And I make & appoynt overseers of this my will & testament my sonnes Henrye Grove & Thomas Grove desyringe them to be ayddinge & assistinge my said executor in the p[er]formance of this my will & testament and I will that they shall have for theire paynes takinge iiijs iiijd a pece/ And I desyre all my said Children to be lovinge one to an other And well and quyetlye to agree as I hope they will doe In witnes whereof I have written this my present will & testament with my own hand and hereunto putt my seal & subscribed my name the day and yere above written//
per me Edward Grove
These beinge witnesses whose names are here under written videlt Thomas Birche Richard Willetes Thomas Grand Thomas Jesson Richard Cresway Richard Cowper
[Proved 31 January 1641/2]
The 1672 will of Richard’s son Thomas Willetts:
In the Name of God Amen The First Day of April Anno Dm’ One Thousand six hundred seventy two I Thomas Willetts of the parish of Rowley Regis in the County of Stafford yeoman being sick in body but of a sound mind & perfect understanding (praised bee God for the same) Doe make this my last will and testament in manner following first and principally I com[m]end my soule into the hands of Almighty God my maker trusting assuredly through the merritts of Jesus Christ my alone Saviour to bee made partake of life Everlasting And my body I com[m]itt unto the earth whereof it was made to bee decently buried according [to the] discretion of my Executor and Overseers hereafter named And as for my worldly Estate wherewith it hath pleased Almightly God to give and bestowe upon mee I give Devise and bequeath as followeth Item I give Devise and bequeath unto my Eldest Daughter Mary Blunn her Executors and assigns All my right title Interest and terme of yeares which I hand in out of or to one parcell of ground into two parts devided called or knowne by the name of Cartwrights Close which I have by Devise and graunte from Mr Richard Martyn of Aston neare Birmingham To have hold and enjoye the said parcel of Land as it is devided unto my said Daughter Mary for & dureing all the rest and residue of the said terme of yeares which I have in the said Lease yet to come & unexpyred shee the said Mary paying Doeing & performing all & whatsoever I was by the said Lease bound to Doe: Item I give unto my said Daughter Mary Blunn the sum[m]e of Three and twenty pounds of lawfull Englishe money to bee paid by my Executor hereafter named within one yeare & six moneths next after my Decease Item I give unto my Grandchild Mary Blunn the sum[m]e of twenty shillings to bee paid for upon sheeshall accomplishe the Age of fifteen yeares Item I devise and bequeath unto my two Daughters Sara Willetts and Hannah Willetts and theire heires foreu’ All that part of my Close Leasowe or pasture called the further Stubble Leasowe lyeing and being in the parish of Rowley Regis aforesaid in the said County of Stafford conteyning five acres or thereabouts bee the same more or lesse adioyning to a Close of ground called the Middle feild in the possession of Edward Woodhouse with fulle free liberty of ingresse egresse & regresse to & for the said Sara & Hannah at all times convenient to passe & repasse through the hither Stubble Leasowe unto the further stubble Leasow hereby devised lying on the North and the other part of the Close called the hither stubble Leasowe on the South parte therof[?] To have and to holde unto the said Sarah Willetts and Hannah Willetts from and after the end of two yeares after my decease to them and theire heires forever Provided always and upon condicon And it is the true intent & meaning of this my will that if my Sonne Thomas Willetts doe pay or cause to bee paid unto my two Daughters Sarah Willetts and Hannah Willetts the sume of five and thirty pounds apeece of lawfull Englishe money within five yeares next after my decease Then and from thenceforth the Legacy before given to my two Daughters Sarah & Hannah shall cease And that then the said Close called the further Stubble Leasowe shall remayne and bee to the use of my said sonne Thomas and his heires forever any thing before in this my will mencioned to the contrary notwithstanding Item I give unto my Daughter Sarah Willetts the sum[m]e of five pounds to bee paid upon the Day of her her marriage provided that my said daughter Doe not marry or take to husband one Richard Poultney And in case shee doe marry unto or with the said Richard Poultney Then my will is that the same Five pounds bee paid to my Daughter Hannah Willetts & not to my Daughter Sarah Item I give to my Daughter Hannah Willetts one Joyned Beddstead standing in the chamber over the hall house with the Bedd Blanketts and all thereunto belonging I give unto her one Joyned Chest standing in the same Roome Item I give all my brasse and pewter to my Sonne Thomas and to my Daughter Hannah to bee Equally devided betwixt them. Item I give & bequeath unto my said Sonne Thomas and my Daughter Hannah All my Lynnens in and about my house to bee Equally Devided betwixt them Item I give unto my Daughter Hannah one Long wheele & one little wheele Item I give Devise and bequeath unto Elizabeth my daughter All that part of my Close called the Hither Stubble Leasowe adioyning to the Comon Road way leading from Dudley toward Birmingham lyeing and being in the parish of Rowley Regis aforesaid (Except liberty of of ingresse Egresse & regresse as aforesaid) To have and to hold the said Close unto my said Daughter Elizabeth from and after the end of foure yeares after my Decease for and dureing the terme of her naturall life But my mind & will is that if my Sonne Thomas Willetts doe pay or cause to bee paid unto my said Daughter Elizabeth the Annuall sume of Two and Fifty shillings dureing her naturall life upon the feast of Sainte Michaell Thearchangel That then the bequest before hereby given to my said Daughter Elizabeth shall cease and that the same shall remayne to my sonne Thomas and his heires forever But if default of paymt bee made of the said yearely sume of Two and fifty shillings as the same shall become Due as aforesaid That then it shall and may bee lawfull to & for my said Daughter Elizabeth into and upon the said Close called the hither Stubble Leasowe to Enter the same to have hold and enioy and to take the Rents issues & profitts thereof dureing the terme of her naturall life as aforesaid And all and singular the rest of my goods Cattle Chattels and personall Estate whatsoever my Debts being first paid and my funeral Expences Discharged I give and bequeath unto my Sonne Thomas Willetts whom I make and ordayne full and sole executor of this my last will And I doe desire my loveing freinds and brothers Richard Willetts and John Willetts to bee my Overseers of this my last will and to bee aiding and assisting my said Executor in what they can And I give to them for theire paynes five shillings a peece And I doe hereby Revoake and make void all former wills by mee heretofore made In witness whereof I have to each sheete of paper putt my hand and seale the Day and yeare first wrytten.
Thomas Willetts [seal]
Signed sealed published and declared in the sight and presence of
John Grove
William Smith
Richard Russell
[proved 16 September 1672]
The appraisers of Thomas’s probate inventory were John Willetts, Richard Willetts, William Russell, Alice Russell, and Anne Russell.
The 1677 will of Richard’s son Richard Willetts:
In the name of god Amen this twnety third of march in the yeare of our Lord god one thousand six hundred seauenty seauen being in the thirtieth yeare of the Raigne of our Souraine Lord Charles the second by the grace of god King of England Scotland France and Ireland Defender of the faith &c I Richard Willets of Rowly regis in the County of Stafford Nayler being sick in body but of good and perfect memory blessed be god doe for good causes & considerations make this my last will & testament in manner as followeth first I giue up my soule into the hands of my god hopeing to be saued by the merrits of our Lord Jesus Christ & my body I desire may be buried in the Church yard of Rowly By the dscretion of my Executor & as touching my earthly estate the lord hath lent me I bequeath as hereafter followeth
Imprimis I giue unto my Brother John Willets on close of ground which he now holdeth of me knowne by the name of Roadses hill alias Barehill Lyeing or beareing upon the lane that leadeth from Dudly to the portway Joyneing on the upper end and one side to the Land now in the possession of Nicholas Gilberts, and at the Lower end joyning tot he land of John Payton: which close of ground I giue unto the said John Willets his heires & assignes for ever Prouided that the said John Willets his heires & assignes doe pay the sum of Thirty pounds of Lawfull English mony within the space of three yeares next after my decease to those the rest of my brothers & Sister as followeth that is to say to my Brother William Willets the sum of ten pounds; to my Brother Samuell Willets the sum of ten poundes, and to my Sister Margery Willets the sum of ten poundes; Item I giue unto my Brother William more then what is expressed the summ of ten poundes; Item I giue unto my Brother Samuel more then what is expressed the sum of ten poundes; Item I giue unto my Sister Margery more then what is expressed the sum of ten poundes, Item I giue unto John Willetts sone to my Brother John Willets all my working tooles that I haue in the shop; Item I giue unto his Daughter Elizabeth one Chest; Item I giue unto Mary his Daughter one Coffer, Item I giue all my goods of what Kind soever or in whose hands soever they be, my Legacies & funerall expences being discharged upon the whole I giue & bequeath unto my Brother John Willetts whom I doe Constitute & make my Sole executor to Execute perform & accomplish this my Last will & testamt according to the trust I repose in him. And Whereas there is a bond of fifty poundes that is due to me I doe hereby acknowledge that twenty pounds of the said mony is my Sister Margerys owne proper right; In wittness whereof I haue hereunto put my Hand & seale the day & yeare aboue written Richard Willets his mark & seale
Sealed and published in the presence of
Edmund Darby
Thomas Willets
Bernard Perkes
[Probate inventory 16 November 1681, appraisers: William Dowler senior, Wm Willetts, William Gilberts, Elizabeth Willetts]
The will 1687 will of Richard’s son John Willetts:
I John Willetts of Hocum in the parishe of Rowley Regis in the County of Stafford yeoman Doe make this my last will & testamt. in manner following First & principally I commend my soule into the hands of Almighty God & my body I comitt to the earth And as for that Estate which the Lord hath lent me I dispose thereof as followeth Item I doe give and bequeath unto my youngest sonne Thomas Willetts & his heires forever All that my Close of ground called the Long leasow being parte of the Ruddings lyeing within the parishe of Rowley Regis aforesaid with all its Appurtenances And I give unto my sonne William Willetts the summe of Five pounds to be paid by my Executrix hereafter named when hee shall Attaine to the age of One & twenty yeares. Item I giue & devise to my Eldest sonne John Willetts All that my Close or pasture of Ground lyeing withing the parishe of Rowley Regis aforesaid called Roades his Close otherwise Barehill Close as the same is now devided To haue and to hold the same unto my said sonne John Willetts & his heires forever Upon Condicion nevertheless That my said sonne John Willetts doe pay or cause to be paid unto my two Daughters Elizabeth Willetts and Mary Willetts The summe of Forty Pounds a peece when they shall Attaine to theire severall & respective ages of One and twenty yeares a peece And if the said John Willetts shall neglect to pay the seuerall summes of Forty pounds a peece to my said two daughters according to the true intent of this my will Then I doe hereby give & devise the said Close now devided unto my said two daughters Elizabeth & Mary & theire heires forever Item I give to my sonne John Willetts Five shillings – And all the rest & residue of my personall Estate my debts being paid & my funerall expences dischardged I give to Elizabeth my loveing wife whom I make sole Executrix of this my Will Revoakeing all former wills In wittnes whereof I haue hereunto put my hand & seale the twenty seaventh day of June 1687 Annoque R Jac sec Angli &c tertio John Willetts [seal]
Signed sealed published & declared In the presence of
Jo: Grove
William Dowler sener
Margerie Willetts
[Proved 3 April 1688]
The appraisers of the probate inventory of John Willetts late of Hocum, yeoman, were William Dowler, Samuel Willetts, Thomas Willetts, Anne Willetts, Mary Ruston, and Margery Willetts.
Commentary
Richard’s parentage:
The 1573 baptism of Richard Willets in Rowley Regis is the only baptism of a Richard Willets in the register in the period, although the baptisms in the register are missing between 1576 and 1602. The entry names Richard’s father as Thomas Willets. This Thomas was probably the Thomas buried in Rowley Regis 17 January 1621/2, described as of “Holcome”.
“Holcome” is now called “Oakham”, and is the area of Rowley Regis where most of the property associated with Richard Willetts and his sons was located. Ruddings, Roseland, and Collin’s Land, mentioned in Richard’s will, were all in or near near Oakham. So was the Barehill mentioned in Richard’s son Richard’s will. A 19th century conveyance seems to regard Bare Hill Farm, Collin’s Land, and Oakham as being connected or identical. (Dudley Archives, DE 1/6/218).
So property ownership lends support to the identification of the 1573 baptism as being that of the Richard of this page.
For the identification of Richard’s mother, see Ellen Chambers alias Ireland’s page.
On Richard’s marriage[s]:
A Richard Willets married Margaret Wheeler in 1608 in Belbroughton, but most likely that is another Richard. If not, Margaret died soon after the marriage. Richard definitely married Elizabeth Dudley by 1617, and probably by 1608.
Evidence:
Rowley Regis registers:
Richard’s children were mostly baptized in Rowley Regis, and some were buried there. Richard himself was buried there. In 1654, Elizabeth wife of Richard Willett was buried there. There is no burial of a Margaret, wife or widow of Richard Wiletts.
Wills:
William Dudley names four children (William, Thomas, Elizabeth, and Mary) and his wife Ann [Salter] in his 1596 will. Mary married Francis Penn in West Bromwich in 1613/4.
William’s widow Ann remarried Edward Grove. In Edward’s 1641 will, he names Ann’s children by her first marriage, calling them his sons and daughters “in law”. Elizabeth is called “Elizabeth Willetts”, and Elizabeth’s daughter Sara Willetts and other unnamed children are mentioned. Elizabeth’s husband is not named, but Richard Willetes is a witness to the will.
Elizabeth Dudley’s brother Thomas Dudley in his 1652 will leaves land in Rowley Regis called “Collins Land” to some of his sons. Richard Willetts in his 1657 will leaves land in Rowley Regis called “Collins Land” to some of his daughters.
Elizabeth Wheller of Belbroughton in her 1623 will mentions no Willets. This may not be significant, as she makes clear that some legacies to her children have already been given.
West Bromwich registers:
The West Bromwich registers begin in 1608.
All things considered, I believe that the most likely scenario is that Richard Willets married Elizabeth Dudley in 1608 or earlier in West Bromwich, and that the Richard Willets-Margaret Wheeler marriage was of another couple. From Edward Grove’s will, we can see that the children from Sara on were definitely Elizabeth’s, and the baptism dates of the earlier children (all spaced about two years apart) and the fact that West Bromwich registers begin in 1608 make a single marriage, to Elizabeth Dudley, more likely than two marriages, one to Margaret who must have died between 1608 and 1617, and one to Elizabeth Dudley.
References
Adams, Percy W. L. (ed.). Rowley Regis Parish Register, Part I with index (Staffordshire Parish Registers Society, 1912).
Will of Edward Grove of West Bromwich. Proved 1641 in the Court of the Bishop of Lichfield and Coventry.
Will of Richard Willets of Rowley Regis. Proved 1661 in the Worcester Consistory Court. Digital images on FamilySearch.org accessed 31 July 2018.
Will of Thomas Dudley of West Bromwich. Proved 1652 in the Prerogative Court of Canterbury.
Will of William Dudley of West Bromwich. Proved 1598 in the Prerogative Court of Canterbury.