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John is named in the will of his uncle John Whetcombe, dated 2 May 1598, which lists the sons of Thomas Whetcombe, arranged as "Thomas, Edmund, Christian and John." Probate documents often name heirs from oldest to youngest. The only found baptism for one of Thomas's children is for James in 1588. Otherwise, more children are known from their mother's will in 1629. As abstracted, she names her older sons, ordered as John, Thomas and Edmund. If so, there may have been a specific reason to name John first. James isn't named. Thomas Whetcomb had a marriage contract with Joan Pope, made, in part, on 19 March 1684/5. If John Whetcombe's will names Thomas's sons chronologically, the order of births was plausibly Thomas, born about 1586; James, bap. 1688; Edmund, born about 1691; Christian, born about 1594 and John born about 1597. They were followed by Robert and Dorothy, the children not named in the will, so born after May 1598. All the children except James and Christian are named in their mother's will. James evidently died before John Whetcombe's will.
     

children of John Whetcomb and Frances Coggan (baptisms at Taunton, Somerset, order partly unknown):

i. Catherine, b. ca. 1624
ii. John, bap. 6 August 1626
iii. Jonathan, bap. 14 September 1628; bur. 28 October 1628
iv. Robert, bap. 20 December 1629
v. Joan, bap. 18 May 1634
Josiah, b. abt. 1638
Abigail
Mary (youngest daughter)
Jonathan
Job

vital records sources:

1.