Who is Will Hallet from The Winthrop Woman and what is their importance?

When Bess first meets Will Hallet, he is a teenager traveling to America. He is described as strong, mature, and having the speech of a gentleman, although he is a yeoman by birth. After his father was unjustly hanged, Will was taken in and educated by Count Digby and his family in England. Will is a likable, capable man whose attraction to Elizabeth grows into love as he matures. His determination to take care of her since her husband is insane and she has children turns into a commitment that lasts throughout Bess's life. Will is at least six years younger than Bess, and proves to be a strong, reliable force in her life, as well as a good husband and father. Due to Bess's odd circumstances and changing colony boundaries, Will finds himself in a major legal mess over his relationship with Bess, but sticks with her until they finally get it settled.