Oliver Dackett

Oliver Dackett was born in the Netherlands about 1554.

In 1556 the Mayor of Norwich, Thomas Sotherton, with permission of Queen Elizabeth I, invited 30 Flemish families to Norwich, in the hope that they would be able to halt the decline in the city’s weaving industry. By the end of the 16th century there were over 4000 Protestant Dutch refugees in Norwich, accounting for almost a third of the population. This was a result of the Catholic Spanish rulers persecution of Dutch Calvinists.

Sometime before 1575 Oliver Dackett made the trip from Flanders by ship to Great Yarmouth in Norfolk, and then overland to Norwich.

He appears in a document dated 24 Oct 1598 – Aliens in Lay Subsidy Rolls, St Gregory Ward – Tax on Land – Oliver Dackett – goods 40s Tax 10s 8d.
The Walloons and their church at Norwich: their history and registers, 1565-1832.

It seems Oliver was an importer of goods, trader and hosier in Norwich and Great Yarmouth. In 1607 he is recorded in Chancery records – Detentions of divers packets of stuffs and stockings after they had been duly sealed and the duties paid. Corke, George; Henry Fawcett; Thomas Shipham; and Oliver Dackett.

In 1621 he is again recorded in the Names of the companie of the Dutch Congregation of Norwich. Dutch Militia Company, Norwich 1621.Corselets (swords) company – Oliver Duckets. Note there is also a Francois Dackets listed under duch officers – The Auncient Baror – which may be his father?

1. Abigail b 1575 &  d 1648 St Peter Mancroft. Marr Nicholas Mackerell. 7 children.
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2. Francis was baptised on 10 December 1592 at St Mary at Coslany in Norwich. Francis was apprenticed to Jacques De Hem in 1608 as a 16 year old. Francis also appears as a Freeman of Norwich in 1618. He died in 1664 and was buried at St Andrews, Norwich. Will PCC 1664.
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   In 1622 he is importing goods from Rotterdam and appears in the Port Books of Norwich – Vessel ‘Star of Yarmouth’, Original Port Rotterdam, Netherlands, Destination Great Yarmouth, 30 ton, Consignment 12 Feb 1622, Trader Francis Dackett, male, alien, trader, 1 pocket container of Alcohol hops, 2 hundredweight.
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   List of Foreign Protestants and Aliens Resident in England 1618-1688 – St Peters Mancroft, Norwich ward – Francis Dackett, merchant
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   1628 Chancery – Francis Dackett of Norwich, mercer; John Anton of Norwich, grocer v Katheren Verbeake, widow; Henry Yemmes; John Ellison, clerk; Peter Verdere. Estate of Henry Yemmes, late of Norwich
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   1633 Wilcock v Dacket. – Plaintiffs: John Wilcock. Defendants: Francis Dacket, Peter Barret and Richard Huntington. Subject: property in Southead, Yarmouth, Norfolk. Document type: bill and two answers.
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   1656 Miscellaneous Tracts in Norfolk – Bargain and Sale by John Kitchingman the elder of Norwich, gentleman to Francis Dackett of the same city Merchant, of an inclosure called Ocrufts, containing 24 acres in Hickling and Catfield.
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   1659 Schedule of Deeds, Documents… belonging to the Dutch Church Trustees of Norwich – June 15, 1659 Indenture of assignment, Peter Hasbert the younger to Francis Dackett.
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   1663 Wilcock v Dacket. – Plaintiffs: John Wilcock. Defendants: Francis Dacket, Peter Barret and Richard Huntington. Subject: property in Southead, Yarmouth, Norfolk. Document type: bill and two answers.
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   1666 Trust settlement of the manors of Annerhall, Castlehall, Berisford or Barford, Norfolk to pay mortgage repayments, legacies, etc – Francis Dackett and others.
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3. Ann married Mr Appart and had a daughter Ann who died in 1692.
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4. Timothy d 1641 St Andrews, Norwich. Timothy married Lucia Dircx Backers on 1 June 1630 in Amsterdam, Netherlands. Will 1642. Three children – Timothy d 1637, Theodore d 1670 and Francis.

Oliver Dackett died in May 1624 in Norwich, and was buried at St Peter Mancroft on 16 May 1624. He was described as Oliver Duckett, a dutchman on the burial register.

Oliver Dackett is listed in the Administration Act Book of probates in the Norfolk Record Office.