Michael Bacon
Michael Bacon was a son of John Bacon of Helmingham in Suffolk and his wife Margaret. In 1557 his father's will left him the family's land at Winston: "Itm I give to Mihell Bacon my sone my tenements lands medow and pasture lyinge in Wynston and Pettaw called Rosland with their purtennces fre and coppye to him and to his heyres forever." The same will made him and his mother executors. He proved it with her at Ipswich on 19 March 1557/8.
He had six brothers and sisters, and two of the brothers were named William. The younger William, a single gentleman of Winston, died on 13 October 1574. He made Michael and their brother William his executors and left Michael the meadow plot in Barking Ash, "which he had by the will of his father John Bacon of Helmingham." He also directed Michael to pay legacies to their brothers Thomas, William and Richard and to their sister Rose.
On 16 August 1565 Michael married Elizabeth Wylie at Helmingham. Their eldest son John was baptised on 31 May 1566. The other children named in his will were William, Thomas, Michael, Elizabeth and Sarah. Michael was baptised at Winston on 6 December 1579, and Elizabeth on 3 September 1584. Elizabeth Wylie died, and on 20 September 1607 he married the widow Grace Blowerses.
He was a yeoman, a man who farmed land of his own, below the gentry and above the husbandmen who rented theirs. He made his will on 24 October 1614: "I Michael Bacon of Winston in the Countie of Suff, Yeoman, beinge of good healthe & prfecte Memorye, thankes be unto Allmightie God, knowinge that all men shall dye and that the tyme is uncertaine when, doe ordaine and make this my last will & testamt." He asked to be buried "in Xtian buryall at the discretion of my Executor."
To his son Thomas he left "All that my Tenemt sometyme buylded called & Knowne by the name of Thomazins & eight Acres of lands and pasture by estimacion thereunto belonginge lyinge in Winston aforesaide." Out of it Thomas was to pay forty shillings to Katherin, the daughter of Michael's daughter Elizabeth. The will also names "Michael Bacon my sonne."
The rest of his movable goods went to his sons John, Thomas and William in equal shares. Three neighbours were to divide them: "George Tovell thelder of Debenham, George Phillips & George Jaques of Winston." A son who refused his share as they set it out was to lose it to the other two. He made John his sole executor, "Requiringe and Chardginge in the ffeare of God & as he will answere at the daye of judgmt trewlye and ffaythefullye to prforme this my will." If John did not take it up within six weeks, William was to act instead. Michael set his mark and seal to it in the presence of George Tovell and James Wyeth. A note at the end reads: "This will conteynethe 4 sheets of Pap."
He was buried on 25 March 1615, and John proved the will at Ipswich on 20 April 1615.
Two of his sons ended in New England. William was at Dublin in Ireland in 1639, came over in 1640 and settled at Salem. He married Rebecca, daughter of Thomas Potter, who had once been mayor of Coventry, and died at Salem in 1653. Michael came from Ireland the same year and settled at Dedham.
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Cite: Heirology, "Michael Bacon (d. 1615)", https://heirology.com/ancestors/michael-bacon-1615-115ee0.