Henry Dawtrey was born in 1579 to William Dawtrey and Dorothy (nee Stonely) Dawtrey. He was baptised in Doddinghurst, Essex on Trinity Sunday (14^th June) 1579. Doddinghurst was his mother's home and it was through his mother, Dorothy Stonely, the daughter of Richard Stonely, MP that the Dawtrey's acquired their Essex estates.

In the Name of God, Amen the ___ day of ___ in the Eighteenth year of the Reign of our Sovereign Lord Charles by the grace of God of England Scotland and Ireland King Defender of the Faith Anno Dom one Thousand six hundred forty two I Henry Dawtrey of More in the parish of Petworth in the County of Sussex Knight being of good and perfect memory and indifferent health of body (praysed be Almighty God) do make and ordaine this my last will and Testament in manner and form following