Peirce House, Charing: The house and its owners

PEIRCE HOUSE, CHARING: THE HOUSE AND ITS OWNERS PATRICIA WINZAR Peirce House has stood on the west side of Charing High Street since the fifteenth century (Plate I). Much of its interest lies in its owners who have included members of such well known Kent families as Brent, Dering, Peirce and Sayer, all of whom have left their imprint on the property and the lives of local people. The house is approached by a brick pathway leading to an imposing porch that is just over 10 m. from the road frontage. The name Peirce relates to a family of that name who held the property in the late seventeenth century, but the house is much older. The earliest surviving part is the southern half of the hall which has been dated by the Royal Commission on the Historical Monuments of E ngland as early fifteenth-century (Plate II). The original house followed a traditional plan which comprised a central hall open to the rafters with a parlour on the ground floor (in this house at the north end) and two service rooms at the other end of the hall. A fire for warmth was placed in the hall and the site of the louvre in the roof that allowed the smoke to escape is still visible in the roof space. Over the parlour was an upper room, the solar, reached by its own stair and another upper room would have been sited over the service rooms. The northern end of the building, containing the parlour and solar, was probably demolished in the seventeenth century when the house was in the ownership of the Peirce family. There are surviving drawings by E.W. Parkin from the time when the hall was still complete showing a bracket on the north east corner that could have supported a jettied extension to the solar (Fig. 1). The northern end of the hall was pulled down shortly after 1962, when plans were submitted for a major renovation of the building (Figs. 2a, 2b, 3a, 3b). It is not known whether the original service end was jettied as it was rebuilt in the early sixteenth century.1 That rebuild is the one seen today 1 RCHME - Royal Commission on the Historical Monuments of England. 131 <..,J N PLATE I . .r, , 􀀄u"""" 􀀇.,, ., Y· /' ... j .. '.􀀃; ✓ /.dllllh1i􀀊- 4jll1111: \ '1, 1 1 n􀀂 I J 􀀂mi nmn111111 . . ·1 ' t . :f . . HII IH1111111 OIi 1111111 1 -􀀎 .'.' IJ!!lll.lt . mm·· .- ...... 􀀈 11 !1 Iii, . I . . -· - . . . -- . t:1 •. ,... •... , ... r. C: z Cl --l @ :c 0 C: (/} tT1 )>z Cl :j (/} 0 􀀄 z tT1 ;,; (/} P. WINZAR The impaled arms of Brent and Rosmodres are carved on the dexter spandrel of the outer porch door. That the arms were placed there after the death of William is in no doubt for Philip Blake says that men did not impale the arms of their wives in those days; they quartered them, if their wives were important heiresses. The impaled arms means that Amy was a widow. On the sinister spandrel is a badge of crossed staples, indicating the connection with the Nevill (Bergavenny) family, coming from John's mother-in-law and his sister Margaret's husband. (Plates VII and VIII). On the inner spandrels of the same doorway are a rose and a portcullis. These badges have been said to represent Henry VII and his mother who was a Beaufort, but could they also be badges connected with the Nevills? Debrett of 1976, describes two Abergavenny badges as - 'dexter- a rose gules barbed and seeded proper', and 'sinister- a portcullis or'. John's brother, Thomas, was not mentioned in his mother's will, neither was a widow nor any issue. No evidence has been found of Thomas's death but it seems likely that he had died sine prole and that his brother John had inherited the manor and advowson of Pevington and the lands in Smarden and Boughton. John's sister, Margaret, had married George Nevill, Lord Bergavenny as his 􀁒econd wife and Amy's will shows that she was very proud of that connection. Margaret, Lady Bergavenny, was alive in 1516 but, according to The Complete Peerage, i, 1910, Lord Bergavenny married for the third time in 1519, both Margaret and her daughter Jane having died. Margaret is said to have died 's.p.superstite' or 'without issue surviving'. There was a bequest of some household goods and £6 13s. 4d. to - 'my lityll daught' Amye Brente', who was not mentioned in William Brent's will of 1495. A posthumous child of Amy's marriage to William would have been aged 21 years by 1516, so the term 'little daughter' was probably used in the sense of 'youngest'. Amy was buried in the new Lady Chapel, built at the request of her husband. John Brent d. 156515 Under the terms of his father's will John came into his inheritance when he was 22 years old. He inherited a house with the hall still open to the roof. The parlour and the two rooms above were the domain of his mother. The sixteenth-century renovations, described previously, would have given the house an elegant face-lift, but would not have provided much space for John, his new wife and expected family, 1s CCA. DCb/BTl/58 - Bishop's transcripts. 148 PEIRCE HOUSE, CHARING: THE HOUSE AND ITS OWNERS although the rooms in the back building, possibly used by a chaplain in his father's day, may have been vacant for use. After the death of Amy in 1516, the house would have been adequate for John's family of two sons and two daughters. John was a captain in the retinue of Lord Bergavenny mustered at Canterbury on the 17 May, 1515. In 1528, he was granted a lease, dated 8 August, by William Warham, Archbishop of Canterbury, of the manor and lands of Charing, with the houses, edifices, lands, rights and appurtenances, etc., and divers tenant services.16 He did not receive any of the rights and privileges of lordship; in other words, he farmed the land with the assistance of certain tenants who still held their land by 'service', and he could collect rents from other tenants. The archbishop retained the use of the great stable and one barn 'for the lord's hay' but it would seem that John Brent had the right to live in the Palace had he wished. A further lease for 50 years on the same terms was granted by Archbishop Cranmer in 1541 to John Brent and William Brent, his son. There are no further surviving leases for the Brent family. In 1544, Edward Hasted says John Brent 'feasted king Henry VIII in this house as he passed this way towards his then intended siege of Bullein' . 11 Hasted was still under the misapprehension that the Brent house was 'Wickens'. It is more likely that the king was 'feasted' at the manor house, now kn own as the Palace. Peirce H o u s e could hardly accommodate a royal cavalcade so, perhaps, the statement adds weight to the possibility that John and Anne lived in the Palace. On the other hand, it is quite possible that they had continued to live in Peirce House only opening up the Palace for auspicious occasions. In 1579, a lease in reversion, reciting the 1541 lease, was granted to Thomas Perry, gentleman, by Queen Elizabeth after the expiration of the 50 years which meant he stood to gain possession in 1591, 12 years after the grant was signed. During that time he would have had the opportunity to assign the lease. John's eldest son, William, is said to have died unmarried by 1566 and his other son, Thomas, became the heir to the Charing property. He also became the heir to his kinsman Robert Brent of Willes borough who died without issue in 1567. Thomas married Jane, the daughter of Thomas Greene of Bobbing, at Willesborough in 1552 and lived there from 1569,18 but they also had no heirs. The 1541 lease which was to run until 1591 was granted to John and his son, William, their executors or assigns and, although no will has been traced for William, it is 16 Topographer and Genealogist, 'Honywood Evidences' 256,257. 11 Edward Hasted, op.cit., 2nd ed., vii, 438. 1s CKS. Ul 107 El/3 - Dering MSS. 149 P. WINZAR PLATE V Sixteenth-century hall doorway. 150 PEIRCE HOUSE. CHA RING: THE HOUSE AND ITS OWNERS PLATE VI Sixteenth-cenlur) hall window. 151 P. WlNZAR PLATE Vil (RCHME: Crown copyright) The Brent arm on the dexter door spandrel. possible that the lease passed to William's brother, Thomas. Amy, John's youngest daughter, .married William Crispe, Lieutenant of Dover Castle and also died without issue. The other daughter, Margaret, married John Dering of Surrenden Dering in Pluckley and was the only child of John Brent to produce children. The date of the death of John's wife, Anne, is not known, but it is assumed that she continued to live in the family home, wherever it was, with her son William whilst he and she were still alive. The Brent family had lived in Charing for about 150 years and Hugh and his descendants had moved steadily up the social ladder making advantageous marriages, amassing lands, wealth and professional appointments. Two of Hugh's sons, William and Roger, became lawyers involved with legal services for St. Augustine's Abbey in Canterbury. Amongst a long list of appoint ments, both of them became a Commissioner for t h e Peace in Kent and William was also the Escheator for Kent and Middlesex in 1486-87. William's son, John, was a Commissioner in Kent in 1550/1 and J.P. for Kent in 1553/4. (See 152 PEIRCE HOUSE. CHARING: THE HOUSE AND ITS OW ERS PLATE vm (RCHME: Crown copyright) The Neville badge on the sinister door spandrel. Appendix A). With the death of John Brent's two sons, Peirce House passed to the Dering family through John's daughter, Margaret. THE HERALDRY OF THE BRENTS The arms and quarterings of the family of Brent are marshalled, that is. set out in correct order, by Robert Cooke, Clarenceux King of Arms, in the Visitation of Kent, 1574 (Harl. Soc. xxiv, 83), where they are blazoned, or described in heraldic terms. Although he does not name them, they may be taken as being those of the families of Brent Rye. Rosmodres, Lucombe, Kayle, Euthy, Bodbran and Stevenston. The arms and quarterings are next set out by Augustine Vincent, Windsor Herald (Coll. of Arm , Vincent's Kent, 145, p. 48), who died in 1626, aged about 42, and is noted for the reliability of his work. He does not blazon, but tricks, i.e., sketches, ten coats, which he names as those of Brent, Rye, Charing, Rosmodres, Bradfyld, Lucombe, Kayle, Stonard, 153 P. WINZAR Quarterings of the Dering Family I. Dering 17. Selling 33. Stonard 47. Waltheof 2. Dering 18. Bettenham 34. Berkeley 48. Betisboume 3. Dering. Vin.145, SO. 19. Appulderfield 35.0omer 49. Hoult 4. Heton. L 9, 61 20. Appulder.field 36. Cornwall 50. Cholmeley. 2 D. 5, 5. Pennington. I. 9,61 21.Denc 37. Marshal 132 6. D'Jpre I. 24, 85 22. Gatton 38. Strongbow 51. Eton. 2 D. 5 132 7. Badlesmere 23. Brent. Vin. 145,48 39. Clare 52. Henshaw. Fun. Bks. 8. Bahun. I. 24, 85 24.Brent 40. Macmurrough N. 10, 114, lL 5.108 9.Marshal 25.Rye 41. Bottetourt. Norfolk l. 53. Roper. c. 16, 24 10. Clare 26. Gobion 136 54. Tigershall 11.Hawtc 27. Penington 42. FitzOtcs SS. Appulder.ficld 12. Malc:ville. I 9, 61 28. Charing 43. Somery 56. Appulder.ficld 13. Surreuden 29. Roemadriffe 44. Zonch 57. Browne. c. 16, 121 14. Pinckley 30. Bradfyle 45. Beauchamp. Norfolk 58. Charlton 15. Malmaincs. I. 9,61 31. Lncombe I. ISO 59. Frances 16 Bendinges. I. 9, 61 32. Kaylo 46. Hastings 60.Dering A true copy of the Shield ofQuarterings of Dering as entered in Norfolk, vii. 157, in the College of arms, London. GEO. HARRISON, Winsor Herald Fig. 6. The quarterings of the Derings of Surrenden in Pluckley. 154 PEIRCE HOUSE, CHARING: THE HOUSE AND ITS OWNERS Berkeley and Betishorne. Note that he introduces Charing, Bradfyld (Bradfield) and Stanard, but omits Euthy, Bodbran and Stevenston, which is curious because these last three can be established genealogically. It is also difficult to account for Cooke's omission of Berkeley and Betishorne, seeing that he records the marriage of John Brent, grandson of Hugh, the first of the family in Kent, to A nne Berkeley, 'daughter and coheire of Berkeley of Hamshire', i.e., Thomas Berkeley, of Avon Tyrell, near Ringwood, Rants. The third and final listing occurs in the shield of sixty Dering quarterings set out in College of Arms MS. Norfolk, vii, 157 (Arch. Cant., x (1876), 330), where they are nos. 23-34 and no. 48. (Fig. 4). Of these, no. 24 can be disregarded, along with nos. 35-47. The list otherwise agrees with that of Vincent, except that it introduces the arms of Gobyon and Pevington between those of Rye and Charing. The marriage of Hugh Brent to Christine Rye accounts for the inclusion of the arms of Rye, which Vincent suggests bring in those of Charing, although he does not offer in explanation any descent from a marriage with a Charing, nor has such marriage yet been found. Even so, the quartering may, perhaps, be accepted on the ground of the known reliability of Vincent, who, it must be presumed, had good reason for introducing it where he did. It is important at this stage to bear in mind that in considering a shield of quarterings the order in which they are marshalled shows how they were brought in. If the bearer of a coat, 'A', married the heir or coheir of 'B', the arms of 'B' follow those of 'A', which is described as 'A' bringing in 'B'. But the bearer of coat 'B', or his ancestor, may have married the heir or co-heir of 'C', so that 'B' brings in 'C', and the male descendants of 'A' will bear the arms of 'A', 'B' and 'C', and so on. If there is a number of quarterings, an examination of the pedigree of the bearer of the first coat will reveal which of his male ancestors married heirs or co-heirs, so that the arms and quarterings brought in by each such marriage can be determined. Conversely, the bearer, or family, of an unidentified coat may often be deduced from an examination of the pedigree of the man whose heir or co-heir brought it in. The working of these principles can be seen in the pedigree of Amy Rosmodres (Fig. 5). The placing of the arms of Gobyon and Pevington after those of Rye in the Dering shield suggests that they were brought in by Rye, but deeds formerly in the Surrenden muniments, evidently unknown to Cooke and Vincent, but apparently known to Hasted and which, fortunately, still survive (penes Mr Vernon Harris of Pluckley), indicate that Hugh Brent's father was not John, as given by Cooke, but William, and that he married as her third husband, Julian, the third and youngest daughter and co-heir of John Gobyon, of Essex, by Amabel, daughter 155 P. WINZAR and eventual heir of John de Pevington. It follows, therefore, that, when Hugh married Christine Rye, he already bore the quarterings of Gobyon and Pevington, so that Rye must follow Pevington and be followed in tum by Charing, as given by Vincent. The next two quarterings are of Rosmodres and Bradfield. The placing of the latter, Dering's no. 30, immediately after Rosmodres and before Lucombe shows that it was brought in by William Rosmodres and not by his wife, but exactly how has not yet been discovered. Lucombe, Kayle and Stonard, Dering's nos. 31-33, which come next, present no difficulty and are obviously brought in by Amy's grandfather, John Lucombe (Fig. 6). Of the three coats that follow these, however, none occurs among the Dering quarterings or in Vincent's sketch, though all are blazoned by Cooke. The third is known to be the arms of Stevenston, so that two remain to be identified. The first of these follows Stonard, which suggests that Stonard brought it in. Amy's pedigree shows that John Stonard married the heir of John de Euthy, of Ethy, near Lostwithiel. With her he got the Manor of Ethy, along with the accompanying Polmenna, which descended to John Lucombe. There seems little reason to doubt, therefore, that the first unidentified coat is that of Euthy. The identification of the next coat, Cooke's no. 7, is more abstruse. Its position suggests that it could have been brought in by Euthy, but, in 1469, Margaret, Elizabeth and Alice, daughters of John Lucombe, were described as co-heirs of William, son of Geoffrey de Bodbran (Assession Roll, 9 Ed. 4, Duchy of Cornwall Office), and one is inclined to associate Bodbran with Lucombe rather than with Euthy, because the late date suggests a co-heirship that came about later than would seem possible, if it had arisen through Euthy. Having established all but one of John Lucombe's heirships, it is logical to conclude that the only remaining unidentified coat is that of Bodbran and that it came to Lucombe through the marriage of a direct ancestor, very possibly his grandfather, with the heir or a co-heir of William de Bodbran. The extraordinary feature of the three versions of the Brent quarterings is that they all omit any mention of the arms of Graunt, which should come next, the indisputable fact being that Amy Rosmodres was the granddaughter of Jane, wife of John Lucombe and daughter and co-heir o f William Graunt, of Westleigh and of Stevenstone, in St. Giles in the Wood, both in Devon. What makes the matter even more extraordinary is that only Cooke records the quartering for Stevenston, yet he omits the arms of William Graunt who brought it in. How Graunt did it was through his wife, Elizabeth de Stevenston, and, in 1428, he was assessed on 1 /8 of a knight's fee in Stevenstone, lately (quondam) held by John de Stevenston. Graunt died within the next 28 years, as also did his wife. Stevenstone was an 156 Mauger le Graunt of Westleigh, Devon; assessed 12d in Westleigh for the lay subsidy of 1332; held Westleigh of Hugh, Lord Courtenay [T. Risdon, Survey of Devon, reprinted by Porcupine Press (1970), 283], later Earl of Devon, who d. 23 Dec., 1340. I Walter Graunt John de Stevenston held 1/8 kt's fee in Stevenstone, in St Giles in the Wood, Devon, of the honour of Gloucester. in 1346, as his father John, had held it Walter of Westleigh; surely s. & h.; held I kt's fee in Westleigh in 1377 of Hugh, 2nd Earl of Devon [Hugh's J.P.M., Devon and Cornwall Notes and Queries, XVIII (1934-35), 114]. of Stevenstone [J. Prince, Worthies ofD evon p.7 06] I WilliamKayle grandson & heir of Roger de Kaul, of Castle Kayle, in Phillack, Cornwall. Henry John Stanard Richard Rosamodres = Muriel of Ethy and Polmenna in St. Winnow, Cornwall, which he had with his wife, Maude, dau. & h. of John de Euthy, of Ethy, [see Comish Fines, 20 Apl. 1298]. of Rosemodris, in St Buryan, Cornwall; confirmed his grandfather's grant to Robert de Tredeny, 1317 [Cat of Ancient Deeds, Vol. I, A232], d. 14 Apl. 1351 [Thomas Cheverton, Book of Obits]. or MeJior. dau. of Ralph Vivian of Trevidren Robert of Ethy in 1337 in St Buryan; d. 13 Dec. 1343. Thomas = Constance s. & h. (no date) witness to a grant by Wm. I dau. of Benedict Brune of de Doshuston 50 Ed.111 (Boshuton of Levan) Boskeny (Lord of Boskennie) [Visitn. of Cornwall, Harl. Soc. IX, 23]. in St Buryan [Cheverton,op.dt.] William John of (-)Lacombe=? (-)heir or coheir of William, Ralph = Maude of Ethy I [ Genealogist, xii, 240, Henry = Muriel of Westleigh; s. & h.; grandson of Mauger, not his son or the father of Elizabeth Graunt [as in T. Risdon, loc. cit.]; his s. & h., William of Westleigh; in 1428 he, with Thomas Trobrygge and John Wythell, held 1/2 kt's fee in Westleigh; he Stevenstone I = Elizabeth dau. and heir; she and husband dead by 10 Oct 1456 [PRO. 91/29/288] Thomasine son of Geoffery de Bodbran [For six kt's fees held by Wm. de Bodbran in 1317 jure quoting De Banco uxoris 9 Hen. 5, m. 305 (1431)] See Devon and Cornwall Ree. Soc. NS xvii. 13]. (-)Lacombe= Margery Sister and in her issue heir of Ralph Jane = John Lacombe Ralph will proved 20 Nov. 1419 IPCC. 16 March ]. H =H son & heir I dau. of Alexander (no date) : de Trogillow I [Cheverton op. ciL] I I I I Thomas =H of St. Buryan · grandfather of William. Eleanor= held 1/8 kt's fee in Stevenstone that John de Stevenston formerly held; and, with Maurice Berkely and Robert Berry, he held 1/2 kt's fee in Dad.scot (in St Giles in the Wood); on 21 June. 1434. Wm. Graunt, Jane. late the wife of John Lacombe, and Wm. Deviock and Eliz. his wife presented Sir John Shanke, clerk, to the rectory of Warleggon, Cornwall. dau. & cob.; ? had Westleigh; m. John Manke of Potheridge [PRO, Cin9/288]. dau. & coheir I PRO. I Esq.; of Ethy and Polmenna; son &heir dau. & h. or cob. of Henry Trenwith alias Baillie of Trenwith * Margaret dau. and cob. m. Walter Moyle [PRO. CJ/26/3 and 29/288]; had Stevenstone; for dispute with John Deviock over the manors of Ethy and Polmenna see PRO. Cl/31/119; Walter Moyle was a Justice of the King's Bench, 1454, er. KB 24 May 1465, and living 1474/5. • coheirs of William son of Geoffrey de Bodbran in 1469 [Assession Roll 9 Ed. 4, Duchy of Cornwall Office]. * Elizabeth dau. & cob.; had Ethy and Polmenna m. Wm. Deviock and both living 1434. I John PRO. C l/38/204] William Pashley C l/26/331[; living MP. Lostwithiel 1425; dead 23 June 1434;? had by 23 June 1434. For his Dodscot lands see PRO. Cl/31/138 (-) Bradfyld, but she could have been grandmother of William instead of mother • Alice dau. & coh. [PRO. C l/26/3 and 29/288]. Had unidentified lands in Cornwall and Devon, but see PRO. Cl/31/119. = William of St Buryan; occurs as 'gentleman' in Patent and Close Rolls, 1440--64; and see PRO. Cl/31/119; feoffee with Piers Trenwith of Otis Trenwith, his brother [Cal. of Early Chan. Proc. p211. no. 15]; writ of diem clausit extremum 1 Jan. 1473/4, but inquisition is wanting. Otis occurs in Comish Fines 34 Hen. VII; d 1464 [lost effigy St. Ives]; his feoffees sued Thomas Lacombe for the abduction by his son Harry, of Agnes, dau. of Otis. in St. Ives =(?) Piers son & heir = William Brent of Charing Isabel Agnes = Harry dau. & coh. s. & h. (d.v.p.) The ancestry of AMY ROSMODRES contributed by Philip H. Blake of Evegate in Smeeth, b. 1449-50 d.s.p. 1475--80; granted his 'manor of Evygate' to Sir Walter Moyle, Thomas Lacombe and John, son of the said Sir Walter, 10 Jan. 1474/5 [Arch. Cant. LXXIV, 39]. = AMY ROSMODRES dau. & coh. b. c. 1453 d. 1516 m. after 1475. Fig. 7 m. Wm. Upton of Trelaske. dau. & cob., abducted from the house of Walter Moyle in Kent by Harry Lacombe of Thomas Lacombe MP for Bodmin, 1442 . P. WINZAR important estate, which descended to the Moyles of Eastwell, near Ashford, Kent, one of whom sold it temp. Hen. 8, to George Rolle, a London merchant, whose descendant, John Rolle, was created Lord Rolle of Stevenstone in 1796. The missing arms of Graunt are fortunately blazoned, though in a somewhat muddled way, among the quarterings of Monke of Potheridge given in the Visitation of Devon, 1620 (Harl. Soc. vi, 189). They should read: gules, on a fess between three crosses fitchy a r gent, a lion passant azure. The Monke quarterings also show that Graunt bore coats for Vautort and Esse, both of Devon, before the marriage with Stevenston, but, since it is not known how they were acquired, they are not included here among the Brent quarterings, though that does not necessarily imply that they were not genuinely borne by William Graunt. Cooke's curious omission of Berkeley and Betishorne has already been noted, but it is significant that although Vincent does include them he makes no mention of the thirteen coats that come between them in the Dering scheme of quarterings. He rightly observes that the coat for Hoult that follows Betishorne there 'shd. not be g,d,•, and since he also ignores the other thirteen, which in any case could probably not be justified, it seems proper to exclude them from the Brent assemblage. In sum, when Thomas Brent of Willesborough and Charing, including Wykyns, died in 161 2 , his Dering successors in Charing, as descendants of Margaret, his sister and heir, became entitled to quarter his arms with his fifteen quarterings as follows: Gobyon, Pevington, Rye, Charing, Rosmodres, Bradfield, Lucombe, Kayle, Stonard, Euthy, Bodbran, Graunt, Stevenston, Berkeley, and Betishorne. The coats of Charing and Bradfyld (Bradfield) are included mainly on the authority of Vincent, but further evidence is needed before Vautort and Esse ( or Ashe) can safely be added. It is worth mentioning that at this time the Derings did not bear the arms that are now so familiar and were, in fact, created by Sir Edward Dering, 1st bt., but their original and true arms of gules, three deer's heads couped or, canting, or punning, on the name Dering (Fig. 4, no. 3). The accompanying crest of a deer's head as in the arms was still in use in 1634 by Robert Dering, of London, draper, son of Finch, of Charing (see pedigree). The authentic Dering quarterings before the seventeenth century were: (I) Haute, or, a cross engrailed gules, being the arms of Thomas de Marynes, of Otterpool in Lympne, adopted by John Haute of Pluckley as grandson of his daughter Margery, wife of Henry de Haute; (2) Haute ancient, azure, crusilly or, a lion rampant emiine, a fess gules over all, being the arms of James Haute of Selling, father of John of Pluckley; (3) Maleville, for Christine, wife of James Haute, father of John; (4) Surrenden, for Margery, daughter of John Surrenden, wife of John Dering of Westbrook, near Lydd; (5) Pluckley, 158 PEIRCE HOUSE, CHARING: THE HOUSE AND ITS OWNERS for Agnes, daughter of Sir William Pluckley and wife of John Surrenden, father of the aforesaid John; (6) Bettenham, for Alice, daughter of William Bettenham of Cranbrook and wife of Nicholas Dering of Rolvenden, father of John, who married Margaret Brent. The four Dering quarterings recorded in the Visitation of Kent, 1592 (Harl. Soc., lxxv, 95), include the significant and suggestive, and unidentified, coat of or, a saltire couped sable following that of Surrenden, which may, therefore, have brought it in, but it never appears again, unless we see it in the now familiar coat with the saltire complete! (Fig. 4, no. 2). THE FAMILY OF DERING John and Margaret Dering's son and heir, Richard, died before his uncle Thomas Brent and so it was his son, Sir Anthony Dering, who became sole heir to his great uncle, thereby inheriting both the Charing and Willesborough holdings. Anthony Dering (Anthony of Charing) d. 1616 Sir Anthony's father, Richard Dering of Pluckley, had four brothers one of whom, Anthony, became the occupier of Peirce House and became known as Anthony of Charing. Anthony Dering of Charing married first Jane Lambert and had seven or eight? sons (see Dering pedigree), and six daughters. His second wife, Elizabeth Horne, gave him a further son and a daughter. He died in 1616 and left both a will and an inventory. The date of the chimney and the flooring of part of the hall is said to be seventeenthcentury and this would have helped accommodate Anthony's large family. It was not common to floor half the open hall when a chimney was inserted and this house is even more unusual in that the northern half of the hall remained open until it was demolished in this century. Anthony's house had a hall and a 'howse within the Hall' which could refer to the newly created room with a hearth in the south end of the old hall. The 'Chamber over the Porch' was still there and also the main Bed Chamber in the opulent south wing. The old kitchen was possibly the 'gardinge house' but only contained an old bed and a few covers. In the two service rooms, the milk house had a few household vessells, and the brew house contained 'one Costlet, one Pike, two Baskett Muskette, two swerdes [swords] and two souldiers Coates'. The brewing took place in the cellar with 'hogsheades Tubbs and other beare vessells'. The 1443 Charter granting the right to hold two Fairs a year in Charing has not been traced, but on the 17 October, 1612, a copy was 159 P. WINZAR made.19 This copy, which was found in the Wheler MSS, says that the 'Letters Patent themselves remained in the hands of Mr Anthony Dering'. At that time the manor was owned by the Crown and the right to the Fair Tolls was leased out. The original charter ought to have been returned to the Wheler family when they obtained the lordship in 1692, but it is fortunate that the copy survived. His will paints a very different picture to that of the affluent Brent family. The only mention of land in Anthony's will was three acres at 'Kenerton' which was to go to his youngest son, Anthony, and a further parcell of four or five acres 'being the land of Thomas Brent esquire late deceased and not by him devised in the which I am to have a parte, I freely give my part unto Brent Moore & his heirs'. After a few specific bequests the residue of 'all my goodes, c hattells, debts, moveable and household stuffe' was to be shared equally amongst his heir, Finch, and four other sons, one daughter and the children of his deceased son, George. His executor, Finch, had to find the money to pay Mr Thomas Pope of London who drew up the will and was enjoined to take no advantage of any loans made previously to any of his brothers or sisters. It seems that was the best he could do for his family and asked them to live together in 'brotherlie love'. Finch Dering d. 1625 When Finch died he had five sons and seven daughters surviving. He had held some property for he confirmed that the messuages and tenements conveyed to his wife, Mary, as her Jointure, should remain unto her, without specifying where they were. He said that everyone of his children under the age of 21 years were to have portions of £20 each; the sons when they reached that age and the daughters at 21 years or the date of their marriage. With such large families of surviving children a change in the status of the Charing branch of the Derings is noticeable. It was no longer possible to provide all the sons with sufficient land to support them and their families. Anthony 'of Charing' had attended Queen's College, Cambridge, as a 'sizar'20 and scholar, which no doubt helped towards his appointment as Escheator for Kent and Middx. Two of his sons went to Universities, Alexander to New College, Oxford, obtaining his M.A. in January 1589/90. George w e n t to Magdalen College, 1 9 CKS. USS E33 - Wheler MSS. 20 'Sizar' is a term used only by Cambridge and Trinity College, Dublin. The definition given is 'a student receiving allowances from the college and formerly charged with certain menial offices'. The Oxford Illustrated Dictionary, I 963 ed. 160 PEIRCE HOUSE, CHARING: THE HOUSE AND ITS OWNERS Cambridge, gaining his M.A. in 1590. Another son, John, had a career in the forces and served with famous commanders, 'under Sir Francis Drake upon the seas foure tymes. To the west Indians & under hym also in the year '88 at sea. And also under the Earle of Cumberland to the Islands, under Sir Henry Palmer upon the narrow seas, & under the Lord T homas Howard after Earle of Suffolk to the Islands, & in the low Countries under the Earle of Lecicester, & after under Sir John Norris there, & in Brittayne, & in Ireland, & alsoe in the Portugal voyage. And with Lord Willoughby in France at king Henry the fourth his entry thither' .21 The greater change came with the children of Finch. It would seem that the portions required by their father's will were used to set up four sons in various trades in London. Anthony became a citizen and a haberdasher, Robert a citizen, draper and also a tobacco seller at the sign of the Three Apes in Fleet Street; Edward was apprenticed as a skinner and John became a citizen and draper. Emigration was becoming a way of making one's way in the world for younger sons, but it was the eldest son of Brent Dering, who emigrated to Barbados, an indication that a substantial inheritance was not expected from his father. Finch's heir was his eldest son, Brent, who was to allow his mother 'Juell and fierbote' from his woodland at Crowshole to be spent in 'my mansion house' in Charing. This is the traditional provision for a widow, and gave her access for cooking facilities sometimes called 'bench and hearth'. He expected that his son and widow would continue to live in the family home. Finch owned more property than his father but, with so many children and a number still under age, he left a heavy burden on his eldest son, Brent. Some holdings were to be sold to pay the children's portions and the deceased's debts but that also meant a reduced income for the heir. This property was in Charing and was described as 'all my houses and buildings in Charing street being now used for a brew house, dayry house, Millhouse, Corne loftes, one dwelling house or to what use or uses now lying scytuat and adioyning to Charing street betwixt my stone wall and garden and the land of the heires of Sir Justynian Lewyn, knight, in the same street, with the curtylages to the sayd buildings and houses'. Being in the High Street these buildings must be the cottages presently nos. 41/43. There is a blocked first floor opening in no. 41 facing south, which may have given access to the Corn lofts mentioned. There was also room for the other buildings on 21 CKS. U350 07 - John Dering's service overseas. 161 P. WINZAR the site of what is now Richmond House, which could well have been built after the sale requested in Finch's will. There were at least two more buildings that are still standing that could possibly be included in the above list. The difference between the inventories taken after the deaths of Anthony and his son Finch is interesting; at a first glance it is difficult to be sure if it is the same house. The hall was still there as was the 'howse within the hall' called by Finch 'a little Roome next the Halle'. Both inventories list a 'Great Parler'; Anthony's inventory a 'Parler Chamber' and Finch's a ' Great Parler Chamber'. These two Chambers seem to be on the ground floor as there is also a ' Chamber over the parter' in Anthony's time; Finch had 'one Upper Room' and a 'Chamber over the lit tle parlor' besides a number of other rooms said to be 'over' those on the ground floor. Both documents list a cellar. Bearing in mind the number of Anthony's descendants when he died, it is probable that the house was occupied by both Anthony and Finch and that Anthony only occupied a part of the building. It should be noted that there is no kitchen listed in Anthony's inventory. The appraisers would only have the task of listing the goods and chattels of the deceased and would ignore any rooms only used by other members of the family. This theory is born out by the fact that Anthony's goods were valued at £111 3s. 8d. whereas Finch's goods amounted to over £300. Brent Dering 1599-1645 Brent was only 26 when his father died and the following year he married Ann Ely, the daughter of the Vicar of Charing, who is unlikely to have been the heiress he needed to revive the family fortunes. There were a number of younger brothers and sisters still entitled to 'portions' that he was bound to supply. Brent was the owner of the 'ancient house of the Brents' in Charing when J. Weever published his Funerall Monuments in 1631.22 He was as prolific as his forbears and had a rapidly growing family of his own; he had ten children, two of whom are known to have died young. Not unexpectedly, considering his commitments, he eventually is seen to be disposing of land. The Churchwardens accounts of 1633 assessed him on 61 acres of land and 20 acres of woodland but, by 1638, his acreage was said to be nil and he was assessed at a nominal 6d. Brent was Captain of the select Band of Calehill, but whether he ever saw action in the Civil War is not known. He died and was buried in 22 John Weever, op.cit., 294- see note 2. 162 PEIRCE HOUSE, CHARING: THE HOUSE AND ITS OWNERS Charing in 1644/5. His inventory mentions a parlour, kitchen and brew house downstairs and two rooms upstairs, but, as has been said previously, it does not mean that those were the only rooms. The goods he did possess seem of a high standard and he still had a lease of land at Boughton Malherbe worth £10 and an amount of corn and hay with a similar value. He did not !eave a will and the administration was granted to his widow. At what time Ann Dering had to leave the family home is not known but she was i n dire straits by 1651 for the Churchwardens paid out 7s. 6d. on her behalf for 'finishing a Chamber for Mistress Dearing - for lathes & nailes and rades and workman'. She also had some wheat and a load of wood. By 1653, she was receiving regular payments and loads of wood from the overseers of the poor who also paid her rent. It would seem she had been placed in a house owned by Thomas Cloak with someone named as Hooker who was probably the widow Hooker. In 1656, the glass was repaired 'about Mistress Deeringes house' for the sum of 3s. 2d. and she was given ls. Od. worth of wood. In 1664, Mistress Dering had a load of wood shared with widow Craddock and widow Hooker. Sometimes she was called widow Dering but more consistently Mistress Dering, a kind courtesy title for someone 'on the parish'. She was given an extra payment in 1656 as she and her daughter were both sick. In 1657 , extra payments were made because she and her son were sick and 6d. was paid to Cox for carrying Ann Dering's child to Smarden and an extra ls. for the horse to carry her. Which child was being taken to Smarden is not known and there is no mention of a return journey although Mistress Dering did return to Charing. In the same year she had either moved house or there was a new owner, William Spillett, but her rent was still being paid by the overseers. By 1658, Richard Beeching was receiving the rent for Mistress Dering and Hooker. Joseph Davy was paid 2s. in 1660 for a pair of shoes for Frances Dering so the name of one of the children still living with Ann Dering is known. Mistress Dering died in 1666 and was buried at Charing on 7 September. A small payment to Goodwife Hooker was made until December but, after that, the payments cease after a final payment for the purchase of a pair of shoes for Frances Dering. What happened to Goodwife Hooker and Frances is not known. The contrast between the affluent Brent family and the Peirce House branch of the Dering family is marked. THE FAMILY OF PEIRCE When Mr Edward Peirce came to Charing from Tiverton, Devon, in 1952 , he noticed a booklet in the Church which said that there were 163 P. WINZAR some fine old houses in Charing, including Peirce House, but little was known of its history. He wrote to the vicar saying that Peirce House was the residence of his ancestors and that the family migrated to Doddington about 1700 and later to Canterbury. They were still living there when his father married in about 1850 but had since scattered - to India, the Cape, the U.S.A. as well as this country. He enclosed a copy of his branch of the family tree beginning with Gabriel Peirce the elder, who died in 1669 and was buried at Charing, and ending with his own grandchildren but, unfortunately, gave very few dates or details of marriages. The Peirce pedigree, compiled from other sources, confirms Mr Peirce's belief that it was Gabriel Peirce who founded the Charing family. Gabriel Peirce d. 1669 There are a number of people variously named Pers, Peirs, Peerse, Peirse and Peirce in Charing records from 1595 onwards, but no relationship has been found to link them with the branch founded by Gabriel Peirce the elder other than those in the pedigree.23 In 1635, Gabriel Peirce appears in Charing Churchwardens' accounts as a 'foreigner' holding 80 acres of land and 30 acres of woodland in Charing parish, which means he owned taxable land in Charing parish but lived elsewhere, in this case at Stalisfield. The following extracts from the accounts note the transfer of land from Brent Dering to Gabriel Peirce in 1637. 1634 Brent Dering held 50 acres and 20 acres of woodland. Gabriel Peirce did not hold any land in Charing parish. 1635 Brent Dering held 50 acres and 20 acres of woodland. Gabriel Peirce held 80 acres and 30 acres of woodland in Charing. 1636 Brent Dering held 50 acres and 20 acres of woodland. Gabriel Peirce held 70 acres and 20 acres of woodland in Charing. 1637 Brent Dering did not hold any land or woodland but was assessed at 6d. Gabriel Peirce held 70 acres and 20 acres of woodland, but he also held 50 acres of land and 20 acres of woodland which are listed as 'late Mr Dering'. 23 A family named Peirce was also of some importance in Challock, for when John Peirce, a yeoman, died without issue in 1675 his five nephews inherited a large estate in gavelkind. His namesake, nephew John, inherited two manors, that of Lorrenden now Great Paddock Farm, and Deane, now known as Deane Court. 164 PEIRCE HOUSE, CHARING: THE HOUSE AND ITS OWNERS Gabriel must have become a local resident by 1643 for he is classed as an 'indweller'; in 1646, he was elected as one of the Churchwardens and so was accepted as a local worthy. He and his wife Katherine were both buried in Charing, Katherine in 1666 and Gabriel three years later in 1669. Gabriel's will has not survived but the inventory describes a· house that had a Hall, Parlour and Kitchen, which in this period would have been what was once the room divided from the large hall. The large chimney had a bread oven which is now blocked. The old service rooms, originally two at the south end of the original house had been increased to the brewhouse, bakehouse, milke buttery, the 'other' buttery and the meale house. W hich of these related to the original two cannot be established and there is no way of knowing where the extra store rooms were. It could be that Gabriel bought the properties in Charing High Street specified in Finch Dering's will when he began to purchase land in Charing in 1635. There was room to extend the service rooms southwards atta􀁐hed to the house for there are later additions there that were built when the house was in more than one family's occupation. There were extra dwellings, for Mistress Creswell lived in a house with some of the contents owned by Gabriel, as did Mistress Wolfe and Sarah Hart who lived 'in the outhouses'. The house still contained a cellar and a porch chamber. The Peirce family soon became substantial local landowners with Gabriel senior holding land with an assessment value of £86, Joseph with £46 worth and Gabriel Junior with £52 worth. Only Sir Robert Honywood held more land with an individual holding valued at £120. Joseph Peirce 1630-1680 Joseph, Gabriel senior's eldest son who died in 1680, does not feature in Mr Edward Peirce's family records. He existed for he is mentioned at the foot of his father's inventory as Probate to Joseph Pearce filius de Charing gent. . Joseph certainly lived in Charing, for both he and his wife Anne were buried there and their three daughters were baptised in the church, but he does not seem to have lived in Peirce House. Joseph left both a will and an inventory. The latter describes a three storey house, the Hall had a Chamber over it and a garret over that, as had the kitchen and there was no porch chamber. Even allowing for the difficulties of interpreting inventories it does not seem to be the Peirce House of Charing High Street. Joseph did own property in Charing for it was left to his wife Anne for her lifetime and was then to be held by his three daughters equally. The most interesting holding he wished to bequeath to his daughters was his lease of the manor of Orgarswick which he held from the Dean and Chapter of Christchurch, Canterbury. 165 P. WINZAR Orgar is the earliest named holder of land in Charing. In the Domesday Monacho r u m e ntry for Charing, after the description of the Archbishop's manor is a concluding sentence 'Orgarus X solidus pro dimidio sullinc'. The name Orgarswick survives on Romney Marsh as Orgarswick Far m (N.G.R. TR 09 1160). Whether there is any connection with the half sulung of the eleventh century Orgar is not a matter for discussion in this paper. Gabriel Peirce d. 1709 Gabriel, the second son of Gabriel senior, does feature in Mr Edward Peirce's records and followed his father as the occupant of Peirce House. He died in 1709, leaving both a will and an inventory and having outlived his son, Sampson, who died in 1692. He seems to be a caring old gentleman and remembered his daughter Mary who had married a Mr Nowers and their two daughters, Elizabeth and Ann, in his will. He also remembered his sister-in-law, Sarah, widow of his brother, John. Roberta Jones, the widow of his son Sampson, who by then had re-married, was not forgotten. The silver tankard with its own plate and the two silver salts left to his grandson, John, do not appear in the inventory, neither do the half dozen silver spoons left to Mary Nowers. In fact, the inventory is very sparse for a man that could be classed as wealthy. He did possess two gold rings, but there were no rooms or furniture mentioned and the list was mostly farmyard implements with two cows, two sheates (young hogs) and an old Mare. He was credited with owning twenty loads of hay in the barn. Giving the family the benefit of the doubt, it is possible that in the three years between the making of his will and his death he made over most of his worldly goods in one way or another. He was most likely being cared for by his grandson John and his wife Elizabeth as his own wife, Anne, had died in 1659 and his daughter-in-law had remarried and does not appear in local records again. Sampson Peirce 1656-1692 Sampson Peirce' s will made in 1691 speaks of the Marriage Settlement, dated 1687, made just before his marriage to Roberta Whitfield of Canterbury, which gives an approximate date for his marriage. He left his two younger sons, George and Sampson junior, £250 each which was a handsome sum for the seventeenth century and £20 each yearly until the major legacy was paid. Sadly, Sampson, the youngest son, died in 1693 aged under two years and his elder brother George died in 1694 at 4½ years old. His eldest son, John, born in 1688 was not mentioned by name in the will, but he must have benefited under the 166 PEIRCE HOUSE, CHARING: THE HOUSE AND ITS OWNERS clause in the Indenture relating to the first son. Without the actual Marriage Settlement document, it is not possible to speculate further. The remainder of Sampson's goods and chattels went to Roberta. The memorial slab in the nave of Charing Church at the entrance to the chancel, records the marriage and death of Sampson and of his two sons, George and Sampson. By the side of this slab is one to his brother-in-law William Henman. Sampson Peirce, gentleman, died on 10 October, 1692, and was buried in Charing on 13 October.24 His will was proved on the 25th October, 1692. The inventory should have been made shortly after his death. It is dated 17 August, 1693, which would mean it was about ten months before his goods and chattels were listed. It was also unusual in that two men from Canterbury were called in as appraisers, usually two local men of standing, such as the Churchwardens, were appointed. The inventory gives a good description of the furnishings of a wealthy owner of the period. The hall had two Spanish Tables with carpets. Early carpets were used on furniture or on the walls, rather than on the floor. There were six old leather chairs and two low stools. Two small maps and 19 little printed pictures were valued at 2s. 6d. The downstairs parlour contained tables and 12 turkeywork chairs. Sampson liked to adorn the walls of his rooms for the parlour had 'twelve Ceasars Heads printed In Frames' worth 6s. Od. The kitchen, brewhouse, malthouse, wash house, milk house and the cellar completed the downstairs rooms. The kitchen had all the implements one would expect but also 'one clock with Lyne and weights' valued at IOs. Od. It is not possible to identify the other service rooms with a particular position in the house for the contents are a jumble with the exception of the milk house, which does seem to be used as a dairy. Upstairs there was a number of rooms, the best chamber, the sad coloured chamber, the porch chamber which contained a bed with a feather mattress and bolster weighing 48 pounds, the maides chamber and the chamber over the kitchen. It is interesting to compare the standard of comfort in the house in William Brent's time with that of Sampson Peirce. Taking the hall as an example, William had a board set on two trestles as a table with two forms to sit on, albeit with a touch of luxury supplied by six cushions. The heating came from the open fire set on a hearth on the floor. The windows would have been closed to the elements by shutters. As seen above, Sampson had typical seventeenth-century furniture and was warmed by a fire from a brick stack. The curtains 24 CCA. DCb/BTI/58 - Bishop's transcripts. 167 P. WINZAR and rods may have been for door draughts in the Hall but are specifically stated to be window curtains and rods when listed in the parlour. It is probable that window glass was installed in all the main rooms in the house. John, Sampson's only surviving son, who was baptised at Charing in 1688, was buried there on 6 March, 1726. After her husband's death, Elizabeth, his wife, went to Doddington for both she and her two children, Sampson and R oberta were buried there. John of Charing's grandson, although born at Lynsted, became John Peirce of Canterbury, and it was there that the next three generations of the family settled. THE FAMILY OF WAKELEY (WAKELY) The Wakeley family was better known in Lenham where they were of yeoman status. The first known instance of the name in Charing occurs when Edward Wakeley was listed in the earliest surviving Poll Books of Charing in 1713.25 Nothing more is known until his death appears in the Parish Register in 1730. Edward is thought to have been the builder of Wakeley House, dated as 1718, if the date inscribed on a brick near the front entrance is to be believed. The front elevation of the house would fit that assessment. James Wakeley and his wife, Mary, lived in Peirce House26 and their only daughter, Catherine, was married to George Sayer of Pett Place in 1786.27 There is a small monumental stone set in the floor of Charing church to one side of the pulpit which records the death of Catherine, relict of Rev. George Sayer, on 14 January, 1836. No link has been found between Edward and James. According to Edward Hasted, Peirce House was 'an antient mansion, which has been modernised'. James Wakeley died c. 1798 between the publication of Vol. vii of Edward Hasted's history and the amendments published in Vol. viii, which said that he had died but that his widow still resided at Peirce House. What happened in the intervening years between the last Peirce owner and James Wakeley is not known for certain. 25 CKS Q/RPel 1713 - West Ashford Poll Books. 26 Edward Hasted, op.cit., 2nd ed., vii, 430. 21 A.J. Willis, Canterbury Marriage Licences 1781-1809 25. An entry reads '1781 Wm. Allen of Little Chart elk. bach, and Catherine Wakely of Charing sp. 22 at Charing 6 Dec.' There is no marriage at Charing on that date or thereabouts, so it must be assumed that the marriage did not take place. 168 PEIRCE HOUSE, CHARING: THE HOUSE AND ITS OWNERS THE FAMILY OF SAYER I t was through the marriage in 1786 of James' only daughter, Catherine, to the Rev. George Sayer that Peirce House became the property of the Sayer family of Pett Place. There is no record of any member of the Sayer family occupying Peirce House, and it was eventually converted into a number of dwellings. The cross passage was opened up right through the building to give access to the rear building, once the detached kitchen and then known as Peirce Farm, and the ground floor of the old hall converted into two dwellings known as 'the almshouses'. It would seem that the main staircase gave access to the upper floor including the room over the floored southern end of the hall and another staircase was built in what was once the western service room. There were two cottages built against the boundary wall of Richmond House, the building on the north side, but their age is not known as they were later demolished. The property also included three cottages fronting the High Street. THE TWENTIETH CENTURY There is a considerable gap in available records until 1914 when the West Ashford Rate Books pick up the thread.28 The Sayers still owned the whole property; the main house, the detached part, the barns and the cottages. The occupants of the almshouses were Mrs. Beale and Mrs. Wood; Thomas Sage lived in Peirce Farm. By 1927/8 (the date of the next Rate Book to survive), the Sayer family had sold the entire holding. At this point I have reason to be grateful to many local residents who can recall that period either from their own memories or from what their parents have told them. Philip Edwards, a local builder lived in the main house. He probably built the carpenter's loft which was recently demolished. He had three daughters, Agnes, Alice and Minnie. Minnie married Robert (Bob) Geering of the well known Ashford family and lived for years at Barrow Hill House, Ashford, next to the old Roman Catholic Church. Before his death in 1931, old Mr Edwards can be remembered sitting in a chair near the porch entrance watching the world go by in Charing High Street. His was the last burial in the churchyard and his grave is under the yew tree by the path at the far end. The Misses Agnes and 28 West Ashford Rate Books - RD/Aw/RP2/1 (April 1914): RD/Aw/RP2/2 (Sept. 1914): RD/Aw Rl/1 (1927 /8): RD/Aw/Rl/? (1942); RD/Aw/Rl/6 (1946/7): RD/Aw/Rl/8 (1956/7): Note: Rl/7 is missing. 169 P. WINZAR Alice lived on in Peirce House after their father died. Mr Joe Edwards, the only son, had died before his father, after being knocked off his bicycle near 'The Olive Branch' at Westwell Leacon. Mr R. Laws told me that when Philip Edwards died, his father, Mr E.G. Laws carried on the builder's business on behalf of the Edwards sisters until approximately 1944-45 when he branched out on his own. In 1948, he was joined by his son when he returned from war service. Shortly before Philip Edwards died, the building at the rear of Peirce House that probably began as a detached kitchen and by this century had become Peirce Farm House, together with a barn, was sold to Mr H.D. Headley. He also bought the two cottages that were against the wall of Richmond House. The barn was sold, re-erected at the Broadway in the Pluckley Road and named the Old Barn House, and is now called Century House. Sometime around 1946/7, Mr A. Coppins started a business as a builder at Peirce Farm, living in a wooden building 'used as a scrap depot during the war'. 'It had previously been occupied by Spanish Civil War evacuees'. He used the cottages as a workshop (Fig. 6). Miss Ruglys can remember Miss Wood and Mrs. Hopper living in the two almshouses at the northern end of the main house in 1942. Mr and Mrs. Woodcock lived in Peirce Farm. She also recalled that beyond Peirce House near a lime tree was a large barn, the one owned by Mr Headley, and she confirmed that it had been taken down and reerected. She thought that at one time the ramshackle building which replaced it had been used as a Youth Hostel. Miss Agnes Edwards eventually died and Miss Alice Edwards sold the property to Mr R.J. Geering, her brother-in-law. She went to live in part of Forge House. The carpenter's loft was used as a carpenter's and coffin maker's by Mr Tom Settatree, described by Mr Laws as an ex-Court Carpenter. Mr Laws pointed out that many of the ladders used in those days were 25 ft. long and great difficulty was experienced taking them up the brick path of the main house and turning sharp right to get to the workshop. It seems there was no other means of access from the rear. The property, which included two of the cottages fronting the High Street, was purchased sometime after 1957 by Mr P.J. Harvey. The third cottage occupied by Mr Colbreay had been sold separately. He and his wife hoped to restore the hall of the old house although the south wing was still tenanted. On 9th June, 1959, the house was inspected by Mr A. Reed on behalf of the Society for the Protection of Ancient Buildings. He reported that the building was of considerable historical interest and in good structural condition. It was recommended that the Society assist Mr Harvey to have a comprehensive survey and a set of drawings prepared to ensure that any adaptations took account of the history and character of the house. During the subsequent renovation 170 I \ I \ I \ I \ I \ I \ I \ I \ I \ I \ I \ I \ I \ I \ I \ I \ I \ I \ I \ I I PEIRCE HOUSE, CHARING: THE HOUSE AND ITS OWNERS s􀄊etch Plan of Puru Hou•• provided bV nr R Law; ;noving Iha naH• of ;oae ot tno tenant; and occupur; of the cottage; nlhin living aa•ory, Barn rebuilt in Pluckley Road Replace d by timber building first used from the for Spanish Children Ci\/il War 1936-1939, Used during the Second World War 1939- A Cop and h 1945. as a Salvage Depot pins converted It to a dwelling e used the empty cottages ( Curtis aswor · and Hodges then empty ) kshops. Now 'Monks Walk' Development Garde ns fa Cottages - CUrtis - Hodges -Woodcock To School Road Curtis demolished Hodges demolished Settatree two-staey workshop \ I \ I \ I \ I \ I \ I demolished Richmond\ Peirce Farm House A Woodcock Now part of main house Passageway Peirce House Passa - - - - - - - - - - - - Party Wall ( presumed ) through I I I I Peirce House· demolished ' I I ge to High Street = House I Garden \ I \ Party Wall \ I \ I \ I \ \ I \ I \ I I Francis Settatree Colbreay Richmond\ later Harvey later Leadbetter ( Hair sl)iist ) later Harvey later Dodgson Cottages fronting the High Street High Street House Machin Fig. 8. Sketch plan by Mr R. Laws showing the names of some of the tenants and occupiers of Peirce House cottages within living memory. 171 I \ I P. WINZAR work a number of architectural features were discovered. The panelling in the open hall had decayed from ground level and had to be removed, exposing a window on the east front and a large doorway at the far north end facing west. Both features were photographed at the time of discovery but no measurements were taken. Particularly in the case of the window, measurements such as the height above ground level would have been useful. Reasons for the existence of the doorway have been postulated in the Brent section of this paper. A most interesting discovery was found at first floor level. Decayed plaster was being removed near the brick stack in what had been the south end of the original hall, which was later floored. A small book was found amongst plaster debris on the floor. It had once been contained in a cloth bag, which had rotted, but the book was in reasonable condition except for a torn title page. Mr Harvey said he was not sure whether it had come away from the wall with the plaster or had been dislodged from the top of the massive tie-beam supporting the crown-post. The Invectyve Agaynst Swearyng, by Thomas Becon, was written under the pseudonym of Theodore Basille. It was printed at Botulphe Lane in London, at the sign of the W hite Bear, by John Nayler for John Gough in 1543 so this book was a first edition. The book was examined by Dr W. Urry, the Canterbury Cathedral Librarian and Archivist at that time, who gave as his opinion that the inner cover could have been part of a Missal or Breviary and was probably a section of an altar book because of its large print. Many books and documents, discarded at the time of the Reformation, were made of parchment and re-used by printers as binding. The book was later given to the University of Kent who preserved it before placing it in the Special Collection within the University Library. Thomas Becon was an advocate of Protestantism and the prefaces of his earlier books are addressed to many Kent notables whom it must be presumed he believed held his Protestant beliefs. One such dedication was to Sir Thomas Nevill (c. 1480-1542), a member of the Bergavenny family, who entertained him at Mereworth. He was a prolific writer but this book in particular could have been a dangerous possession in 1544 when Henry VIII visited Charing and was hosted by John Brent, even if that e v e n t took place in the Manor House that was once the Archbishops' Palace. The book uses Biblical texts to restrain people from taking oaths.29 As it happened, the extent of the restoration work was prohibitive and the property was sold to Mr and Mrs. Hyde Parker. It is sad that it 29 Further information on the life of Thomas Becon may be found in the Dictionary of National Biography and Arch. Cant., lxix (1955) 159-70. 172 PEIRCE HOUSE, CHARING: THE HOUSE AND ITS OWNERS was then that the northern end of the hall was demolished but the rest of the house underwent extensive repairs. The cross passage right of way was closed and the wall to the remaining part of the old hall was removed to make one large room as an entrance hall (Figs. 2a and 2b). A brick corridor was built on the south-east corner of the main building to link up with the building at the rear (Figs. 3a and 3b). The next owner was Mr E. Hutchens who furnished the old house with antiques. There have been no major alterations to the main house since that time although part of the surrounding ground to the west has been developed for private housing. The carpenter's loft was, unfortunately, demolished as part of the same development. The present owners are Mr and Mrs. C. Williams whose four children have made this old house the family home that it was when it was built. ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS Although this history began some years ago, the main stumbling block has always been the conflicting information on the descent of the Brent family. Several pedigrees have been published and historical accounts printed which differ from each other and are rarely confirmed by accurate references to original sources. I am greatly indebted to Mr Philip Blake for he has not only compiled the pedigrees of the Brent and Dering families of Charing but has also written the section headed 'The Heraldry of the Brents' and the descent of Amy Rosmodres. His knowledge of the correct procedures in compiling pedigrees has been most important and without his help and encouragement this account would not have been concluded. I am also appreciative of help from Dr W.E. Church of Bethersden, whose comprehensive family records solved a number of apparent inconsistencies. I am grateful to the staff of the Centre for Kentish Studies who have treated my requests for help with unfailing courtesy. The two photographs of the early sixteenth century hall door and window were given to me by the late Mr P.J. Harvey, the owner of Peirce House in 1958. The prints were very dark but have been copied and lightened as much as possible by Mr Ian Gambrill. The rest of the photographs have been reproduced by kind permission of the Royal Commission on the Historical Monuments of England (RCHME). The sketch plan of the house c. 1960 is based on one drawn by Mr E.W. Parkin with later amendments by RCHME. I am also indebted to Miss S. Pearson for advice and giving time to read the first draft. Acknowledgements are also due to a number of local people who have given me information on the occupants of Peirce House from their own recollections; Mr R. Laws, Mr J . Moon, Miss M. Ru glys, 173 P. WINZAR Mr J. Woodcock of Charing and Mr M. Clark of Lenham. Finally, but by no means least, I wish to thank Mr C. Williams, the present owner, who has allowed me to view his home seeking inspiration and for giving me permission to reproduce the 1962 'before and after' plans of Peirce House. The proposed alterations were not modified to any extent by the time the alterations were completed. Appendices: The original spelling in the wills and inventories has been retained. The wills have been summarised but the inventories printed in f ull. Ro man n umerals in the inventories have been transcribed as arabic numerals for ease of reading. APPENDIX A SUMMARY OF THE TESTAMENT OF HUGH BRENT OF CHARING, KENT. Dated 12 March, 1474. Proved 5 July, 1474. This document is complete with two attached but damaged seals. The Will does not seem to have survived. Styled Hugh Brent of Charing. Burial: To be buried before the image on the altar of the Trinity in Charing Church. Bequests: To the High Altar for tithes and oblacions forgotten 6s. 8d. To ten 'Lights' within the Charing Church various amounts from 2s. to Bd. To the upkeep of the fabric of Charing Church 10 marks to be paid within five years of his death by equal instalments. To the upkeep of the fabric of the church of the Blessed Mary at Stalisfield 6s. Bd. To the High Altar of the same church for tithes forgotten 20d. To the prioress and nuns of Minster in Sheppey 13s. 4d. To Dame Christine a nun there 6s. Bd. (Daughter of Hugh's brother William). To Hugh and Roger Brent (sons of William Brent, grandsons of Hugh) a cow each. To John and William Brent (sons of Robert Brent, grandsons of Hugh) a cow each. To John, Christine and Elizabeth (children of William Manning and his wife Elene Hugh's daughter) 6s. 8d. To Elene Brent (daughter of Robert Brent) 6s. Bd. To Anne and Elizabeth (daughters of William Brent) 6s. Bd. To all his sons and daughters Bd. Residue: to his wife Christine. Executors: Master T homas Brent Doctor of Law, John Brent and Robert Brent, Hugh's sons. The overseer was probably Hugh's eldest son, William. CKS U275 T50/10 SUMMARY OF THE WILL OF WILLIAM BRENT OF CHARING, KENT. Dated 1 December, 1495. Proved 29 February, 1495/6. Testament: Styled: William Brent of Charing, gentleman. Burial: In Charing Church next to the tomb of Roger Rey or at the discretion of his executors. 174 PEIRCE HOUSE, CHARING: THE HOUSE AND ITS OWNERS Bequests: To the High Altar of Charing Church and nine named 'Lights'. To the maintenance of the Church 13s. 4d. To Anne (dau.) wife of Edmund Millys 13s. 4d. To John, Edward, William and Margaret (grandchildren), children of Edmund and Anne Millys - each 6s. 8d. To Elizabeth Wombwell (dau.) 13s. 4d. To Joan (granddaughter) child of Elizabeth Wombwell 6s. 8d. To Margaret (dau.) for her marriage £40. William FitzJames (his chaplain) to celebrate in the church for as long as the executors order. To each of his godsons 4d. The executors to have 10s. yearly out of a meadow called Broctonysmede by the occupants of my mansion house in Charryng for my obit in the church of Charryng for masses & gifts to the poor. Residue to Amy (his wife), Thomas Brent, Doctor of Laws and John Brent (brothers) and William Brent (nephew) all of whom were appointed executors. Witnesses Robert Brent, (brother), Roger Pende & John Duke. P.C.C. 32 Vox. and CKS U1107 E l/1. Will: Made on 1 December 1495. Feofees: Lord John Fyneux, Thomas Brent, - Elcocke, John Nethersole, Christopher Blenden, John Auger, John Duke and Roger Pende. The executors to take the profittes of all manors and lands in the parishes of Charing, Sevington, Smarden, Boughton Malherbe, Challock, Kennington, Willesborough, Hinxhill, Lymmne, Wye and Boughton Aluph for three years to administer his will. The Charing House, lands and Filthes Mill: Amy his wife - after the three years to have his dwelling place in Charing with all other lands and tenements in that parish together with Filthes Mill until son John reached 22 years, provided she remained unmarried. If she remarried the executors were to have the profit but to allow Amy, 10 marks a year to send John to school until he reached 22 years. John his son - When he was 22 years he and his heirs were to receive the dwelling place, the lands in Charing and Filthes Mill with the obligation to pay his mother 10 marks annually. If she remained unmarried he was to allow her to live in the chambers once occupied by Lady Moile, with the parlour underneath the said chambers, during her life. Thomas his son - If John died without issue the above property and conditions devolved on Thomas. If Thomas died without issue then the dwelling place and lands were to go to Amy for her life if she remained a widow. Roger his son - If Amy remarried after Thomas died without issue then the above lands went to Roger but he was bound to pay Amy 10 marks annually. The Manor and advowson of Pivington, The lands in Smarden called Selepynden. The lands in Boughton called Chapmenfolde: Amy his wife - To have the above manor, advowson and lands for her life. Thomas his son - After Amy's death, Thomas or his heirs to inherit the above property. John his son - If Thomas died before 30 years without issue, the property was to go to John, if he or his heirs were living. Roger his son - If both Thomas and John died without heirs, then the property was to go to Roger. The Manor of Rippell Wicheley and Halfiche. All landes and tenements in Lymmne: To Roger and his heirs. Lands in Challock, Kennington, Willesborough and Hinxhill: 175 P. WINZAR The executors to use the profits to administer the estate and build the Chapel in Charing Church. If necessary land may be sold. When the administration is completed the land in Kennington, Willesborough and Hinxhill are to go to his son Roger. The land in Challock is to go to Amy for her life and thereafter to his son John. The messuage and land in Boughton Aluph and the land in Wye: To be sold to provide money for his daughter Margaret's marriage. Four acres of meadow called Broctonysmede: Whosoever has or occupies his dwelling house in Charing has this meadow land to provide 10s. annually and for ever to keep an obit in Charing Church. It is to consist of dirges, masses and alms giving. P.C.C. 34 Vox. & CKS Ull07 El/1 THE INVENTORY OF WILLIAM BRENT OF CHARING, KENT. 1495/6 This is the Inventary of all the goodis catallis and detts of William Brente of Charyng in the Counte of Kent praised by Roger Pynde John Dewke and John Stokely the secunde day of February and in the 11 th year of the Reigne of Kyng Henry the V II. In the Hall: Imprimis a hangyng of Red Say price Ss. Item 6 quyshons at 3d. the pece 18d. Item a Cupbord price 12d. Item a Tabull with 2 formys and 2 trestylls price 3s. 4d. Summa In the parloure: Imprimis a hangyng of grene Say price 3s. 4d. Item a foldyng Tabull price 10s. Item half a doss. quyshons at 4d. the pees - Sum. 2s. Item a Jorned chere and 5 stoyls price. 2s. Item a carpett for a cupbord price 3s. 4d. Item a pair of Andyrons price 3s. 4d. Item a fyreforke and a fyre panne price 4d. Item a grett glasse price 16d. Summa In the Chambour: Imprimis a Celor and a Testor of a stayned cloth with 3 Curtens price 10s. Item a Federbed a bolster price 16s. 8d. Item a Matrese price 3s. 4d. Item a coveryng ofTapistry 13s. 4d. Item a cupborde and a chere price 16d. Item a Coveryng of whit and blake with bryds price 20d. Summa In the Chambor over the Parloure: lmprimis a hangyng a grene Say 6s. 8d. Item a federbed with a bolster price 26s. 8d. Item a cov'yng of grene Say 2s. Item a Selor and Testor of grene Say with 3 Curtens price 6s. 8d. Item a Tabull and a Coffer and j(oi)nned chere price Ss. Summa In the Draght: Imprimis an old hangyng of grene Say 16d. Item a Selor and testor of whyte price 15d. Item a matrese price Ss. Item a Coverynn ofTapistry brokyne price 3s. 4d. Item an old foldyng Tabull price 2s. Item an olde federbed and a bolster price 8s. 4d. Item a littyll coveryng price 2s. 176 10 10 1 5 8 2 6 4 2 7 0 PEIRCE HOUSE, CHARING: THE HOUSE AND ITS OWNERS Item a selor and testor of whyte price 12d. Summa 4 3 In my Ladys Chamber: Imprimis a selor and testor of a staned cloth with 3 Curtens of bokerarn price 20s. Item a Cowntyre payne of Verdure price 33s. 4d. Item a federbed and a bolster price 20s. Item a hangyng of Grene Say price 6s. 8d. Item a cupbord price 12d. Item 2 sherys price 16d. Summa 4 2 4 In the draght: lrnprirnis a selor and testor of grene Say with an hangyng of the same 10s. Item a federbed and a bolster price 13s. 4d. Item a pece of Russett Cloth conteynyng 16 yards at 4s. the yard - Summa £3 4s. Od. Item a Tayny Cloth conteynyng 16 yards at 3s. 4d. the yard - 53s. 4d. In the Chamber over the botery: Summa 7 0 8 Irnprirnis a hangyng of Red Say with a selor and a testor of the same price 13s. 4d. Item a federbed and a bolster price 16s. 4d. Item a Coveryng of Say and a noder littyl Coveryng price 8s. Item a federbed price 10s. Item a Coveryng price 4d. Item a long setyll and two forrnes price 2s. Item two grett Chestis price 6s. 8d. Item a Shepe Cheste and a square Cheste price 2s. Item a littyll square Cheste price 2s. Item a foldyng Tabull price 4s. Item two shepe Chestis price 13s. 4d. Item two stone of owlle (wool) at 4s. the stone. Sum 8s. Item in yron p'sed at 7s. Summa S O 10 Shetys with napery: Irnprirnis three pair of shets of three breds at 1 Os. the pair Sum. £3 Item two bed shets price 13s. 4d. Item four pair of shets at 13s. 4d. the pair. Sum. 53s. 4d. Item four pair of shets at 6s. 8d. the pair. S urn. 16s. 8d. Item eight pair of Course shets at 2s. the pair. Sum. 16s. Item Tabull cloth of dyaper price 6s. 8d. Item two tabull clothis of playne Cloth price 1 Os. Item seven playne course tabull Clothis p'sed at 22s. Item three dyaper Towellis course price Ss. Item five playne Towellis price Ss. Item a doss. Napkyns of playne Cloth price 4s. Item five wasyng Towellis price 20d. Summa 11 2 8 Gownes with odyr weryng geyre: Imprimis a Russett gowne furred with marters price £4 Item a Tayny gowne furred with Lanchith 20s. Item a longe Tayny gowne singyll price 16s. Item a long Russett gowne price 20s. Item a short Russett Gowne price 10s. Item a jakett of puke furred price 6s. 8d. Item his dowblet and his hosyn praysed 6s. 8d. Summa 7 19 4 In the Kechyn: Imprimis four potts at fours the pece. Sum. 16s. Item two potts at 2s. the pece. Sum. 4s. Item two lytyll potts at 20d. the pece. Sum. 3s. 4d. 177 P. WINZAR Item two Chaffers and possett price 3s. 4d. Item two water chaffers price Ss. 8d. Item a grete Kettyll brokyn price 3s. Item three pannes price 6s. 8d. Item four lityll pannes price 6s. 8d. Item a Straner price 8d. Item a lityll basyn price 6s. 8d. Item five Andirons price 8s. Item four spitts price Ss. Item all odyr small necessaryes vessalyes 6s. 8d. Item a brasyn morter and pestyll price Ss. Item a bokett with a chayne price Bd. Item two Trivetts price 20d. Item an nold Ketyll price 20d. Item Colle panne price 6d. Item a stone morter price 12d. Item quyrne price Ss. Item Tub bis and fatts (vats) with stonds price 8s. Item twelve shemys of barly malte at 3s. 8d. the sheme - Sum. 44s. Summa 6 19 10 In the botery and Pantre: Inprimis a garnyssh of pewter vessell I ls. Item halff a garnyssh price 6s. Item a garnyssh of newe vessell price 16s. Item two Chafyndysse price 2s. 4d. Item three Candyllstykes price 3s. Item three basyn and two Ewers price 8s. Item six Candylstyks price 2s. 8d. Item four salts of pewter price 16d. Item a nalmery price 2d. Summa 2 12 0 In the Stabull: lmprimis a blake ambuyng horse price 33s. 4d. Item a grey ambuyng horse price 33s. 4d. Item a baye geldyng price 10s. Item two old geldyngs price 13s. 4d. Item two Cartehorsses price S3s. 4d. Item two odyr horsses price 20s. Item three marys (mares) price S3s. 4d. and two marls staks. Item two marls price 20s. Item a grey Colte of two yere age gorne 13s. 4d. Item two sadylls and two brydlls gorne 6s. 8d. Item a yron forke price 2d. Summa 12 16 10 In the Courte: Imprimis a shode Carte with harnes for four horses price 23s. 4d. Item two dong carts price 6s. 8d. Item a ploughte with odyr apparell 6s. 8d. Item two spadis with shovyls and dongforks 2s. Summa 1 8 8 In the Barne: lmprimis sixty quarters of whete in the garnar and in the mowne by estimac(i)on 3s. 4d. the quarter. Sum. £10 Item forty quarters Barly in the garnar and in the mowne by estimac(i)on at 2s. 8d. the quart'r. Sum. £S 6s. 8d. Item six coppys of peyson at 5d. the cope. Sum. 2s. 6d. Item two shemys of Ots at 2s. 8d. the seme. Sum. Ss. 4d. 178 PEIRCE HOUSE, CHARING: THE HOUSE AND ITS OWNERS Item six lode of hay at 4s. the lode. Sum. 24s. Item twenty coppis of Tarris at 3d. the cope. Sum. Ss. Summa 14 10 2 Catall: lmprimis eight oxen at 12s. the pece. Sum. £4 16s. Item twelve kyne at 6s. 8d. the pece. Sum. £4 Item five sterys at 6s. the pece. Sum. 30s. Item four heffers at Ss. the pece. Sum. 20s. Item eight steris at 4s. the pece. Sum. 32s. Item twelve Caluys at 2s. 8d. the pece. Sum. 32s. Item fifty wedyr hoggs at 13d. the pece. Sum. 54s. 2d. Item forty ewes with Lambes at 16d. the pece. Sum. 53s. 4d. Item twenty Ewes at 12d. the pece. Sum. 20s. Item twelve hoggs at 14d. the pece. Sum. 14s. Item twelve small hoggs at !Od. the pece. Sum. 10s. Summa 22 1 6 Plate with Redy money: lmprimis a cuppe with a couere (cover) parsell gylte, poz 36 unces at 3s. 3d. the unce. Sum. £5 18s. Item poncede pece, poz 16 unces and three q'ter percell gylte at 3s. 2d. the unce. Sum. 53s. ½d. Item two Salts with a Couere p'cell gylte poz 21 unces and three q'ters 3s. 2d. the unce. Sum. £3 10s. 4½d. Item lityll gylte cuppe poz 15 unces q'ter 3s. 2d. the unce. Sum. 53s. IOd. Item a lityll stondyng maser gylte poz 11 unces and 6 quarter at 3s. 4d. the unce. Sum. 38s. Jd. Itm twelve sponys poz 13 unces and 3 q'ter at 3s. the unce. Sum. 41s. 3d. Itm thirteen sponys with knoppis gylte poz 44 unces and 3 q'ters at 4s. 4d. the unce. Sum. £3 2s. 6d. Item a strondyng cupe p'cell gylte poz 25 unces and a q'ter at 3s. 2d. the unce. Sum. £3 19s. lid. Summa Item in Redy money £16 Summa Speratt detts: Imprimis John Pympe squyre -£9 6s. 8d. Item John Harnden -£8 6s. 8d. Item William Holsse - £10 Item Reynold Pympe -£10 Item John Algare -30s. Item William Turner -8s. Item Richard Wodward- 20s. Item Richard Horte -£10 6s. 8d. Desperatt Detts: Imprimis Richard Herte of Smethe - £3 I Os. Item William Carpenter - £12 (in margin Sol. £6) Item Peris Yonge -£5 17 s. Summa 26 17 10 16 0 0 so 18 0 Item John Kymbre executure -£4 . Summa 25 7 0 Summa to'ls huius lnventary CC:xxiii' .xvS ijd. Detts that he owyth: Imprimis William Robynson -£28 13s. 4d. Item Robert Gorlyn -£13 6s. 8d. Item Mr Wryght of We (Wye?) - £6 13s. 4d. Item the p'son of Plockeley -£3 6s. 8d. Item Malpase of Feversham - l Ss. Item to the stepull of Charyng of his faders bequeste -£4 13s. 4d. Item to the same stepull of oder mans bequyste -£5 13s. 4d. 179 £223 15 2 Item to Roger Herte - £3 6s. 8d. Item to William P ayne - £6 Item the vicar of Stalefelde - 50s. P. WINZAR Item the Executors of Richard Brent - £24 7s. 6d. Summa 99 5 10½ Item Funerall Expences at his burying and mone thys mynde £14 6s. 4d. Item to my Jorde Cardinall for the stoke of his Fermes £20 Summa to'ls Cxxxii}i xiijS il ob. 133 13 2½ Leland Duncan transcription - KAS Library SUMMARY OF THE WILL OF JOHN BRENT OF CHARING, KENT. Testament dated 5 April, 1501. Will dated 24 March, 1504/5. No probate date. Testament: Styled: John Brent of Charing senior, gentleman. Burial: In Charing Church before the door of the new Chapel of St Mary where no body from ancient time has been buried. Bequests: To the high Altar for tithes forgotten 5s. To seventeen 'Lights' in Charing Church - five at 15d. and the rest 5d. To work in the church connected to his burial 15s. To the work of the new Bell-tower 13s. 4d. To Elene Manning 20s. To Anne Manning 20s. To Christine Manning 13s. 4d. To Agnes Manning 13s. 4d. To Isabelle Wombewell 15s. To Thomas her son 6s. 8d. To Johanne Nayler her daughter 6s. 8d. To Cristine Nayler 5s. To each of their boys 5s. To John Millys my godson 20s. To Margaret Millys 20s. To William Millys 13s. 4d. To Edward Millys 5s. To the two sons of Edmund Millys by his (second?) wife 3s. 4d. each. To one priest to celebrate for my soul in the aforesaid church for one year and a quarter £8 6s. 8d. To a new Cross of silver with Mary and John above there £14. To Margaret Brent 66s. 8d. and all his brasse pots and chafing dishes. To Robert Nayler every year for the terme of seven years 3s. 4d. to be collected from the tenement in Charing on the deceased Anniversary Day. To William Brent on the same day 5s. To John Rogers on the same day 5s. Executors: William Brent and John Rogers. Will: Made the 24 March 1506. His messuage and land called Snagwell in Charing parish: To Roger Brent, gentleman - to pay 5d. every Good Friday to five poor men for seven years. Dormestone on the Downs: To be retained by the executors for seven years - thereafter to Roger Brent and his heirs together with 2 acres of Medowe lying in Wykyns. 180 The BRENTS of CHARING, Kent. contributed by Philip H. Blake Hugh of Charing, Kent; 'Hugh and Wiilfam came our of Somerset' [Vincent's Kenr, v. 145, p. 48, Coll. of Arms]: with Robert Leche and John Drawbridge he granted to Thos. at Rye and Joan his wife a messuage and 25 ac. by fine 1434 (Larking index to Dering deeds, vH. J 88]: a comm1• in Kenr to inquire concern big cenaJn farms for lands granted and divers other sums of money and yearly profits that were paid to the king's progenitors, but which through negligence or other cause have not been fully paid for a long time and cenify thereon before 1he King and Council at Westminster in the quinzaine of Michaelmas next, 18 Aug. 1473; test!· as of Charing. dat. 12 Mar 14 Ed. IV 1474) [CKS. Brabome Papers, Dering, Wills no. 1], to be bur. Charing before the altar of the Trinity. WILLIAM BRENT (3) presumably of Somerset (vide V incent, below), perhaps whither he took his wife and where they both died. For Julian's kin see E. Hasted, History of Kem, Ist ed., iii, 233. The pedigree given there in a footnote can be supponed by documentary evidence. Christine JULIAN (GOBYON) wid. of Thomas Paunsherst of ChJing and fonnerly wife of Mathew Hauchcregge, 3rd and youngest dau. and coh. of 1ohn Gob yon, of Essex, by Amabel (but in church of the Anchorites, Canterb􀊲l)'i (the: Austin, or White Friars); will pr. 26 De. 1405 [Cant Cons. 1115]), 􀊳ly dau. of John de Pevington of Pevington and of West Fairbourne in Harriet.sham and heir of her bros. John and Thomas. William Alice dau. of Roben Rye of Charing, brother and heir of Roger Rye. Living 1456 [De Banco Roll 780, Hilllry 34, H.VI. m. 327); residuary legatee of her husband. of Ruckinge and Bilsington; he ancl Roger Brent and ThQs. Godfrey were feoffees of John Crekyng. the elder, 29 Hen. VI (1450) (PRO, C l /291 and 375); d. by I Dec. 1461 [will of John Crekyng]. His nephew, Wm. and Christine, summoned John Beykyn of Heme. husbandman. for trespass at Herne [De Banco Roll S H. VI. m. 334, m. 362 and Gen/alogist, xxii, 148] dau. of John Crekyng of Ruckinge and Bilsington. She survied her husband (sec will of said John daL 1 Dec. !46!),pr. 1463 [Cant Al/1301). Dame Christine A nun at Minster􀊴 Sheppey [testt. o f Hugh Bren􀊵 who leaves h e r 6/SJ. dau. of(-) Barne, (I) William (2) (2) Amy John Joan (!) 􀊷 Robert (2) Joan Master Thomas Richard Isabel (1)= dau. of Edward Dorant, of Canterbury, Mason, free by redemption, Roger (2) = (2) Lettice' (I) John Stokes Helen Cbristine [Vistn. of Kent. 1574. Hori. Soc. lxxiv, 33]; Wife of perhaps Thomasine dau. and coh. of Wt[liarn Bemys, or Barnes. of Wye, by Bennet. dau. of Richard Lewknor, of Throwley, by Malina or [vide Hasted. Hist. of Kem, vi. 450] Eleanor, dau. of Thomas at Towne, of Town Place in Throwley. Richard Pargate (1) Elizabeth of Merton, alias d. & h. of(-) Hunt. Dodingdale, in of Charing (Visitn. St Mary Bredin, of Kent. 1619; Hori. Canterbury, (which Soc. xiii, 211, of Charing; eld. son and overseer of father's will; a lawyer, he is paid 2s.4d. in 1463 by Sir John Soon, Compcroller of the Household co Ed. IV. 'for a Sergant to plete fore my Sessame't' [Arch. Cant. x, 254] and receives his annual salary of £2 from St. Augustine's Abbey for legal services 1468/9 {Arch. Cant. Ii. 84). Appointed during pleasure as Surveyor of all the king's castles, lordships, manors and lands, and the farms of ulnage of cloth in 1he counties of Kent, Surrey, Sussex and Hampshire 26 Mar. 1472. wilh Southampton Town and Canterbury City 6 Aug. 1472: Comm'· 'de wallis etfosscuis' (by the coast of the sea and marsh) between Tenterden and Lydd, 3 Dec. 1473; again between Margate and Rochester (in the Isle of Sheppey and Harty) 24 Jan. 1477/8; again from Appledore to Camber and from Camber to Fulston 19 June 1479; as Commr, in Kent he had tO pay 1300 archers 6d. a day. 1475 [Larking's index to Dering deeds. vii, 195); Comm1• with Roger Brent and others to inquire in Kent into an shipments of wooJ, hides. wooJ􀊶pells, lead, tin and other merchandise that ought to repair to the Staple of Calais, 3 Aug. 1475; appointed again with Roger Brent and others 3 Dec. 1475; Eschea1or for Kent and Middx.., 5 Nov. J 486 10 6 Nov, 1487. Cornmr, to collect in Kent the subsidy on aliens, 21 Jan. 1487/8. Commr: of array co. Kent 19 June 1490 and again I July following Comm'. of the Peace, Kent 1487-96: Comm'· of gaol delivery Maidsrone Sep. 1487, Cancerbury Castle Oct. J487, Maidstone 1487/8, 148819 and 1489, Canterbury Castle 1490, 1491 and 1491/2, Maidstone 1492 and Canterbury Castle 1494; d. 1496; will and test'- dat. 21 Dec. 1495, pr. 17 Feb. 149516 [PCC 34 and 32 Vox]. = (2) Hugh in tesl'· of grandfather Hugh (who left him and bro. Roger a cow Roger of Poldres (Poldhur:;t) in Harbledown: in wills of father and g'father: witness 10 wiJJ (pr. 1509) of Edward MilJys, father of Edmund; d. 1529, bur. St Michael's, Harbledown. Ml.; wid. of Wm. Passhley of Evegate, in Smeeth, (whorl. before Sep. 1480 (See PRO Cl/281/65 and Arch. Cant. lxxiv, 39-401, elder dau. & coh. of William Rosmodres, gent., of ComwalJ, i.e. Rosemodris in St Buryan, who occurs as witness to deeds, etc., from 1440; to be bur, in the Lady Chapel 'of myn owne Edification' in Charing Church (finished by 1501); will dat. 3 May, l S l 6; no date of proof, [Cant. C l2n]. of 'Wykyns' in Charing; an ex0r of father and bro. William; an elector in Kent in 1478; d. unmar.; will. (as 'senior' 20 H.7 (!SOS), ro be bur. in the new Chapel of St Mary in Charing Church; testt. dat. 5 April !SDI. [Cant. C8/94J. I Anne Eliz􀊹beth dau. and h. of Gregory Wyneday; wid, of John Crakyng, the younger s. of John Crakyng the elder of Bilsington: m. about 1450 when aged about I 9 [PRO Cl/311291 &375]. I John She and her sister Elizabeth [s.ic.J left; m. John Wombwell: fin will of uncle John Brent named as Isabelle]. in father's will and under he bought temp. H6); where the 'Hughs' each) 1474, but Ed. Hasted mentions a brass inscription (now gone) showing the arms of Brent. and Brent impaling Martyn and Butler quanerly (Hist. of Kenr. ix. 19); he m. Anne. 3rd dau. and coh. of John Manyn of Poldhurst: her will dat. 6 Oct. 1565, pr. 12 Mar. 1566/7 (Cam. A29/201 J; by his will dat. 4 Feb. 1525/6, pr. 16 July 1529. Roger left to his wife in fee simple the land he bough1 in Ruckinge and Westwell. and his other lands to her for life, then his Charing lands to godson William son of his brother John Brent, his lands in Kenyngton, Hinxhill and Willesborough to godson Robert son of 618 by grandfather Hugh; m. Edmund Millys as his first wife and living in 1497 [will of father-in-Jaw], but dead by 1501 [see will of uncle John Brent, which names children John, Margaret, William and Edward); Edmund's will, as of Lenham, dat. 13 Dec. ?1496/8, pr. 1509 21. Had 'Wykyns' by will of uncle John and will of mother Amy; Capt. in retinue of Lord Bergavenny mustered at Cant. 17 May 1515 [Leners & Papers H.8. v.12 p417]. d. between Intrantes of are confused J. Canterbury, 1449/SO. Adman. 12 Jan. Will 1457 [Cant. 148718 [Cant. Arch. Arch. 1120]. Act Bk.1,f.3). not in that of bis fBrher. d.v.p.s.p. c.! R3 (1483) [Visitn. of Kent, Harl. Soc., loc. dt.). William Brent of Willesborough, his lands in Lymne to remain to William Wombwell his sister's son [Cant. Al 8/239]. 'He gave away as much land in Poldres and other places and now weU is wonh 2000 annually unto one Howley (Horseley] that was of no kindred to him' fVisicn. of Kem, 1619, Harl. Soc. vo/ xiii, 212. This note. as also the Brent pedigree, is manifestly by Sir Ed. Dering,1 st bt.). Edward Pargate William Pargate. Agnes Pargate m. Nicholas Sheldwich, William of Canterbury. His mother's administrator, 1487/8; Freeman of Canterbury as gent. 1480; will 1497 (Cant. Arch. A6/320). of Canterbury, Freeman, ac; s. of John Sheldwich, 1469; Mayor 1482-4; M.P. for the City, 1485-8; d. 1494; an administrator of his mo1her-in-Jaw; bur. St. Augustine's eh. yd. Will pr. 1494 [Cant. A6/69J. Her wm as of Canterbury. wid .. pr. 151617 [Cant. Al 41317). In will of Roger 152516; dead by 1566, Lease to him and his father of lands. etc., in Chaling, dat. 15 Nov. 1541, confirmed 31 May, 1542. [Cant. A.II 146]. Thomas of 'Wykyns' Charing and Willesborough; aged 40 and more in 1566, Admon. [PCCJ 14 Sep. 1612, to Sir Anthony Dering, his sister's grandson and his next of kin. He m. at Willes borough, II Aug. I 552, Jane, 2nd dau. of Thomas Greene. of Bobbing; Capt. of 150 Footmen raised to resist the Spanish invasion in 1588 [Arch. Cant. xi 390). I May 1564 & 1 May 1565 (Bishops' transcripLc;, Charing CCA. DCb/BTl/58]; admen. 4 Aug. 1565 to son Thomas, [CKS, PRC22/ 6/24J; Comm•· in Kent 1550/1 to collect the relief granted 1 Ed. VI; JP for Kent 18 Feb. 1553/4, John Dering (I) Margaret of Pluckley; under sole ex'trlx of her 21 in 1517 [father's 1st husband; d. I Dec. will]; BA Cantab I 560 and bur. Pluckley 1514/5; d. 19 Aug., [burials register] in 1550, bur. Pluckley S. chancel, Ml., (brass); will dat. which has 1562. 24 May, 1536, pr. 13 Sep. 1550 [Cant. Arch. 2712]. of Willesborough; an ex0r of father's will: grant to Robert Brent, one of the Yeomen of the King's Chamber, of the office of Reeve of Middleton, co. Ker.i, receiving the accustomed wages from the Hundreds of Middleton and Morden, 17 July 1461 and again 4 Oct. 1485; to be arrested (reason not stated) and brought before the King in Council, 10 Nov. 1470; grant for life to the King's servant, Robert Brent, one of the Yeoman of the Crown, of 6d a day from the Feast of St. Peter ad VincuJa last past (l Aug. 1470), when he was appointed, from the issues,of the subsidy and the ulnage of cloth and a moiety of the forfeiture of the same in Kent, JO July,1471; Robert Brent and others are gran1ed the manor of Easthall, Kent,f or the life of Theobalda,l ate the wife ofThos. Mauncell,h e and they having been granted it by Humphrey Euyas. 12 Apl. 1473; as king's servant granted custody for life of Sandwich Castle and the office of Verger of Sandwich with wages of Id daily, with 'Castell Medes' in recompense of the wages, 16 Jan. 1477/8 and again 4 Oct. 1485; appointed during pleasure, as Comptroller of the petty customs, the subsidy of wools, hides and wool pells and the subsidy of 3s in the tun and 12d in the pound in Sandwich and ports and places adjoining with the fees, provided he executes the office in person, 13 July 1480; a commr. of array of 1000 archers to be taken in Kent for the defence of Calais, 16 July 1482; general pardon to Roben Brent, late of Willes borough, Kent, yeoman alias gentleman, late one of the Yeomen of the Crown of the present king and of Ed. IV, alias Reeve of Middleton, Kent, 28 Feb. 1483/4; a comm•. of gaol delivery, Maidstone, 13 Sep. 1489, and of array, Ken, 1 July 1490 (Cal. of Patent Rolls]; d. 1491; will dat. 30 Oct. 1491, pr. 4 Dec. 1491 [PCC 2 Dogett), to be bur. St. Thomas of Aeon, London. I Anne Thomas Margaret Amy only dau. & Inter h. of Reynold Moresby of Allington Castle (b. 1459), by Alice dau. of Robert Chadleswonh of Sandwich. She was wid. of John (who d. before 10 Aug. 1486), s. & h. ap. of Nicholas Gaynesford of Carshalton, Surrey, She d. 17 July 1492, bur. Carshalton, MI, now lost; Will dat. II July 1492, no dat. of proof [Cant Cons. 1/245]. I John in father's will; ex0r to bros. Richard & William overseer to bro. Robert; of Winchester & New College Oxford, Rector of Great Chan 1478 to death; Dean of S. Mn1ling, Sussex, 1481, 10 death; Almoner lo Queen Elizabeth, wife of Edwd. IV, in 1479 and an ex01 of her will: chaplain to the King in 1500; dead by Apl. 1515. [For a full account of Thomas see A.B. Emden Biographical Register of 1he Uriiversil)· of Oxford to AD 1500, Vol. I, p260], I William dau. & coh. of Thomas Berkeley. 'of Avyne in Hampsher' [Visitn. of Kent 1530-1, Hori. In father's will and then under 21 d.v,m.s.p., probably young [see will of Amy]; apparently dead by 1505, not being in the will of uncle John. 1n father's will, and μnmar. in 1495; married after 1501 [test'· of uncle John] In mother's will & unmar. 1516, but not In father's will. s. & h. of Robert; d.v.p.; In tcstt. of Grandfather Hugh, (1474), who left him and bro. Wm. a cow each, of Willesborough, Jn 1est1• of Hugh; Commr. in Kent to collect 1he subsidy Soc. Ix.iv,3 ]. i.e. granted for four Avon Tyrell, near Ringwood, Hants., s. & h. of Sir Edward Berkeley, of Avon 'fyrel1, Sheriff of Cos. Gloucester and Hants. She born c. 1498: her sister-in-Jaw was her aunt by maniage i.e. the wife of her uncle, 5th Lord Bergavenny, (2) John Moore of Benenden, who by her had six sons & one dau .. of whom was Sir Edward, ancescor of the Earls of Drogheda, and Lt, Col. Brent Moore, his youngest son of Clonkilly, Co. Longford [Archdall's 'Lodge', II, 84); d. probably 1562, the date given for his wife's death on her monument. Amy m. Wm. Crispe, 10 George Nevill, 5th Lord Bergavenny, K.G., 􀊺s his 2nd wife (and see will or Amy), by whom she had a dau. Jane [Vistn. of Kent 1619. Harl. Soc. Vol.42 (I 898) p212], who seems to have d,v.m.; Margaret 'was living in 1515, but died s.p.s.' [11te Complete Peerage Vol. I p33 (1910), apparently quoting the original pedigree in the College of Arms.] Lieutenant of Dover Castle & d.s.p, He m. 2nd, Mary, dau. of Avery Randolf. of Bad!esmere, by whom he had issue, (Misc. Gen, et Her, Ss., V. 3SJ. yeurs, 30 Aug. 1523 and again I Aug. 1524; ndmon. with wi11 to his son, Robert, 8 Dec. 1531. and again 21 Feb. 1531/2. [Cant. A Act. 61113, 118)􀊸 an ex0r of his uncle, William Brent. Robert of WiUe.sborough; a Commr. of Sewers, Kent, June & Nov. 1539, Mar. 1541 and 8 Dec, 1553; d. Willesborough 14 Jan. 9 Eliz. (1567); admen. 6 March following; I.P.M. 5 May, 9 Eliz. His kinsman Thomai; Brent, is next heir. of London; Cit. and draper, merchant of the Staple of Calais; m. Agnes, dau. of William Brograve, of London, cit. and draper, and of Kelsey. in Beckenharn, Kent, by Elizabeth, dau. of John A!phew, of Bore Place, in Chiddlngstone, Kem; d.s.p., will, which shows he was in financial difficulties, dat. 24 Sep. 1492. To be bur. St. Anne's chapel in St. Antholin's, London. pr. Lambeth 13 Aug. 1494 [PCC 9 Vox.); his wid. rn. 2ndly Richard Drakes of St. Bartholomew the Less, and of Hitchin, Herts, but he d. 1499 [will PCC 33 Home] and she in 150 I; will dat. Feast of St. Lawrence (10 Aug.) 1500, pr. 24 Sep. 1501 [PCC 3 Blamyr], to be bur. St. Antholin's 'before the sepulture of Richard Brent', overseer Master Thomas Brent, 'doctor in the law·. Agnes, dau. of John Digges of Barham; m. before 7 June 1502 Elizabeth I Ellen by father's will 10 have mnnor called 'le More' [i.e. More in Rucldnge) but it passes to nephew Robert. 1425. Elizabeth dau. and coh. ofThomas Gedding of Mydelton; i.e. Milton next Sittingboume; bur. Willesborough 20 Jan. 1564/5. m. Walter Mayney of Biddenden; dead s.p. before 1566 (1PM on bro. Robert.). of Dongeon, Canterbury; Freeman 1459 by first marriage; a lawyer. he is paid his annual salary of £1 for legal services by St Augustine's Abbey, 1458-9; an elector in Kent, 1460, and with brothers John and Roben, 1478; a Yorkist; MP for Canterbury 1461-2, 1463-5, 1467-8, 1474-5, 1478, Jan. 1483//4, 1484 and 1485-6; an attorney in Kent on Plea Roll of 1460; dep. Sheriff of Kent 1470; Mayor of Canterbury 1471-2, 147314 and 1476 when aldennan; Protonotary of the Common Bench, 15 June 1472; received a general pardon 24 Feb, 1483/4 as of Canterbury, gent., alias late of London, alias esquire, alias late Escheator of Canterbury, alias late Mayor. alias late J.P. for Kent: commr, to deliver Maidstone gool of 3 prisoners, 23 Oct. 1463, Canterbury gaol of the like 2 Aug. 1485 and Canterbury again 9 Dec. 1486: Commr, 'de wallis etfo.s.satis' between Tenterden and Lydd 3 Dec. 1473, be1ween Appledore and Camber and from Camber to Fuls10n, 11 June 1479, and between Whitstable and Faversham 4 Sep. 1483: Comm1• in Kenr ro assess the subsidies granted to rhe la.re king from aliens and to appoint collectors 27 Apt. and l Aug. 1483 and 18 Feb. 1484; a Cornmr. of the Peace in Kent 1481-85; commr. in Kent to inquire into grants in mortrnain; d.s.p. 1487, will dat. 4 Feb. 1486/7, pr. 30 Oct. 1487 [PCC 5 Milles]; bur. St. Mary's chapel, All Saints, Canterbury, Ml, with arms of Brent impaling Lee lEd. Hasted, History of Kem, ::d, 2l2J. John Stokes under 21 yrs, in 1488 \will of Sir Rich. Leej. dau. of Sir Richard Lee, Cit. & Grocer. Mayor of London and M.P. for qcy, Her will daL 11 Sep. 1488, pr, 3 Nov. '88. (Cant. AS/SO.J.She leaves to Master John Coleman 'her 'best Blessed 􀊻ary that once beloDged to l.sabe] Brent'. Alice Stokes m. John Randolf soon after 11 Sep, 1488 (will of Sir Rich. Lee(. of London, Cit & Grocer, living 4 Sep. 1471 [will of Sir Richard Lee.] Sir Richard Lee. Mayor 1460-1 and 1469-70; M.P. London 1450-1; Kt. 21 May 1471: ances1er of Lee of Delce. in St. Margaret's Rochester. Margaret Stokes unm, in 1488 \wUI of Sir Rich. Lee]. unmar. 1474 (father's will}; m. William Mannyng before Apl. 1501 [will of bro. John] and had issue John, Christine. Elizabeth (who each had 6/8 by test of grandfather, Hugh) and Agnes mentioned by brother John. Joan Stokes living in 1488 jwill of Sir Rich. Lee]. Roben Naylor [will of bro. John]. Finch of Charing; aged 48 in 1606 [PRO, Town Depositions, 32S/24--26J: in father's will; ciL and draper of London, free 6 Apl 1584 by John Askew; bur. Charing 15 July, 1625; will. by which his son Brent 'shall during his mother's life allow unto her• fuel for her use "in my mansion house in Charing', dat. 12 Apl., pr. 13 Ocl, 1625 (Cant. Cons,. 47/146); some authorities (e.g. Add. MS 5507) give him a wife (-) Oxenbridge, by whoma son Brent, who d. young, but no support for this has yet been found. = Mary dau. and heir of CapL John Poore, of Hants. {Vis1tn. of London, 16334, Harl. Soc. XV, 229] and Sussex, m. 14 Apl. 1592 at St. Augustines, Canterbury; exm ... of her husband, 'by whom she had 5 sons & 7 daus.'; adman. London. she as of Rochester 27 Jan. 1662'3, to Dau. Margaret Pya. (see table 2) Jahn b. at Charing; in his father's will; churchwardenof Charing, 1619-20; living 8 Mar. 1631, the date of his attested naval and military service, viz. served at sea four years with Drake,including the year of the Armada, and under the Earl of Cumberland, Sir Henry Palmer (of Howlets] and Lord Thomas Howard, He served in the Low Countries under the Eru1 of Leicester [of Penshurstl and under Sir John Norris in Brittany, Ireland and the Portugal voyages, and und􀆣r Lord Willoughby when Henry JV invaded France (as Henry of Navarre], (CKS U350 071 ]; commonly called "Rough Dering'' (Add. MS 5534 - 31b). = A1ice dau. of lohn Moore of Coventry George bap. Pluckley 17 May 1564; in his father's will as deceased; matric. siznr, from Magdalen Coll. Cambridge, Easter 1583, BA 1586/7, MA 1590. John apprentice in London; m.M argaret dau. of John Cox, of Ca. Berks. The DERINGS of CHARING, Kent. (excluding the line of Wickens) contributed by Philip H. Blake Elizabeth Susanna (1) Alexander 1 Richard of Surrenden in Pluckley; grandfather of Sir Edward, 1st. bt.; in dispute with Rainborn Durham I over Charing parsonage. Table 1 JOHN DERING MARGARET BRENT of Pluckley; under 21 in 1517 (father's wHJ); devisee of land in Little dau. of John Brent of Charing, sister, and in her issue heir, of Thomas Chart by will of uncle, Richard Dering, 1547; d. 19 August 1550; bur. Pinckley (brass); will dat 24 Mny 1535, pr. 13 Sep. 1550 [Cant. Arch. 27/57). Brent, of WilJesborough, sole ex1r1􀆢 of husband; bur. Pinckley where lhe register has - 1560, Margit Moor, 1he wife of Mr John Moore died l day of December, the MI, has 1562. John of Egerton; father of Edward of Boughton Malherbe (see Wilkinson, below); in dispute with Rainbom Durham over Charing parsonage. Christopher of Wykyns in Charing, 1550-1627 {posthumous); a' quo Bulwer, Long, of Heyden Hall, Norfolk [See Burke's Landed Gentry, 1925, pl56l]. (2) Katherine Thomas Elizabeth WiUiam Grace (1) = Robert = (2) Jane (3) ludilh Jane Mary Elizabelh eldest dau. of Goddard Hep den of Holshurst in Burwash Sussex, whose will pr. Lewes, 18 Mar. 1632/3 [Visirn. nf Sussex, Harl. Saa. LXXXIX, 6 I, and W. Berry Sussex Genealogies, 303). dau. of of Hempstead, Ess4, dau. of Richard Hovell, of Lenham dau. of James Elmstone, d. young f Add. dau. of Hay of Charing and Egenon, dau. of dau. and coh. of David Leigh, servant to the Archbishop of Canterbury, and wid. of Henry Philpot, of Folkestone, by whom she was mother of John Philipot. Somerset Herald, 1624-49, Lie. Canterbury, 20 Apl. 1622, to Roben Dering, d. young 'my daughter Shastowe' bap. Pluekley Alex.ander {Visitn. of London 􀆤 of Haughley, later b. probably (the name was Elson in MS. 5534, f. 31b), but Mordaunt. 16334 Harl. Sac., 1(Y. of Stratford c. 1568; in the Lenham Registers since this source also 229]; in his father's:.wm; (? Stratford SI. Mary), father's will before l 603) bap. states that matric. New Coll., Suffolk (1567-76); as d.v.p. Lenham 13 Aug, 1581, Thomas and Elizabeth Oxford, as wid. of Edward bur. Pluckley as dau. of d. young, and gives gent.. 8 Feb. 158213 Mordaunt of 6 May 1613 'Rickard' Elson; m. Anthony of Charing a aged I 8; scholar 15􀆥2; Hempstead, Esq., Lenharn, 15 Apl. 1600, dau. Dorothy, d. young, BA 2 May 1584; I and fonnerly wife of by lie. (Cant.) dnt. who was a dau. of MA. 27 Jan. 1589/90. George Fiske, 10 Apl., her fa1her Anthony of Pluckley, by Margery, dau. & being bondsman; the truth of William's coh. of John Ford, 'Elizabeth, wife of existence may be of Frating, Essex Thomas De.ring, killed doubted. [Suffolk Man. herself, Fam., ii, 36], bur. 28 Nov. 1608', [Lenham Register]. Mary Anne Maria daughter Edward William James Anne d. unm. m. John Wolger only child d. inf. bap, Lc.nham in will of of London: bap. Lenham of Beedoo, [Add.MS. [Add.MS. 12 Oct. 1602 grandfather bap. Lenham 8 Dec. 1605, Elizabeth (?Seeding) 5534, f.3 lb I 5534, f. 3lb]. in will of dat. 1613. 3 Apl. 1608. bur. Lenhwn Sussex m.Edward grandfather 14 Nov. 1608. [Add. MS. 5534, Farnham. Anthony Dering, f. 3Ib). of Sussex. bap. Charing 1576; in Henry Bradshaw [Add. MS. 5534] father's will; commonly of Bourn, Sussex or Hayes called "Jolly Roger" (sic. but ? Surrey] I Add. MS. 3526, (Add. MS 5534]; lie. wid. of Lucas, f.236) (Can1erbury) 10 marry (Add. MS. 3526, Jane Lucas, of m. 160]. Warehorne, wid. at SL Mary Bredman, Canterbury 5 Mar, l 608/9, Finch Dering, of Charing, bondsman. Edward Alice of Egenon. about 40, wid1• to marry Judith Philpot of Bekesbourne, wid., about 50, relict of Henry Philpot, late of Folkestone, gent. deed., at Bekesbourne; m. there I 7 (sic.) April, 1622. {W. Berry. Kem Pedigrees], but not in Add. MS. 5534). Rnlnborn Durham of London, cit, and skinner, and of Chnring, gent; he and wife appointed administrators of the estate of Margaret Seager (see will of Wm. Seager) 9 Nov. l 604. Far their dispute with the Derings re Charing parsonage see Abstracts of English Records1 Dearing and Whipplt (privately printed, Boston, Mass. 1929) ppl, 284,272 and 2, and CKS (Braboume MSS.) U274 LI7. in father's will; m. lsl Edward Callyn, 2ndly (-) Cha.sley rsic.J of Co. Berwick [ Add. MS. 5534 and 6138. f. 124), The Home pedigree IM isc. Gen. et Her., 4s. i, 106] has 'married to H Shastan'. r::: Eliznbc.th mar. lie, (Canterbury) ns of Charing, 9 Apl, 1604 at Charing, 20July 156!; bur. there 26 June 1562. Doro1hy m, Humphrey Wardle of Maidstone, yeom. nt Charing l 3 Apl. 1607; lie. (Canterbury) 10 Ap!. 1607. Clara AJice Jane (1) = dau. & h. of James Lamben of Kenardington; his will pr. 1548 [Cam. Arch. 26/1711. Anlhony (2) of Peirce House, in Charing; under 21 in 1535 {father's will); matric. sizar from Queen's Coll •• Cambridge, Mich. 1548, scholar 1548-50; Escheator for Kent and Middx. 22 Dec. 1587 - 2 Jan. 1588/9; bur. Charing 28 Sep. 1616; will dat 3 Dec. !6l l, pr. 25 May 1616 (Cant Cons. 441374]. (2) E1izabeth Horni: widow of George Acworth (see tab!e3) Margaret =Wm. Seager Nicholas (2) = Anne Aewonh = (]) Amhany bap. Pluekley bap. Charing, 1571; bur. Charing of Charing; of Charlng. 2nd son, bap. PJuckley 17 Nov. 1562; bur. Charing 2 Sep. l627. Darell {see 9M ar. 156617; in rable 3) father's will; in father's will; m. Charing m. Edward Drayner. 17 Aug. 1597 to of W. Peckham, clerk, George Scott, vicar 1624-36; of Hawkhurst, rector of clerk, rector of Addinglon l 615-36; Balcombe, Sussex., bur. W. Peckham 15 Jan. 1635/6. Christian m. Thomas Borrowes, 4 Apl. 1608 al Charing. 1586, and preb. of Chichester, 1586-1611; will pr. 1618 [PCC 18 Meade). Anne m. Siephen Taylor of Maidstone, haberdasherj lie, (Canterbury), she as of Maidstone, 3 July 1613 at Sitdngboume; m. S July 1613 al All Saints, Maidstone. He as 'Hatter'. 14 Jan. 1590/1 sole ex1ru1. of 1er husband. I Thomas bap. Chnring 23 Apl. 1598; in wi11 of Mary Hales. will pr, 1590. JPCC 52 Drury]. He devised the lease of Charing parsonage to dau. Elizabeth and her sisters equally. William bap, Charing 25 Nov. 1599 d.s,p. before 1625, not being mentioned in will of Mnry Hales. in father's will; Escheator for Kent and Middx, 22 Jan. - 1 Dec. 1589, and 23 Nov. 1608 - 27 Nov. 1609. He claimed rent for 19 ac. land called Claypitts and Ballances in Lenham from John Finch, of Grovehursl, 12 Nov. 1617 [Chanc. Proc. Chas. I, F35/42 and F50/10J. m. Charing 17 Aug. 1597; bur. there 14 Dec, 1640. Jane bnp. Chnring 10 Mar, 1604/5; in will of Mary Hales. Elizabeth bap. Charing 13 Apl. 1606; in will of Mary Hales. (see table 3) Dorothy bap. Lenham 10 July 1608 in will of Mary Hales: m. as of Smeeth, spr. about 40 to Thos. Hooker, of Hythe, butcher wid'. as his 4th wife, by He. (Canterbury), 24 Feb. I 645/6 at Smeeth. PEIRCE HOUSE, CHARING: THE HOUSE AND ITS OWNERS Messuage and lands in Mystole and Brodoke: To go to Ferme for seven years - the profits retained by his executors. After seven years to go to William Brent and his heirs. Messuage and lands called Wickins in Charing and Westwell: To go to Ferme for seven years - the profits retained by the executors. After seven years to go to John Brent, gentleman and his heirs with the exception of the 2 acres mentioned above. The profits of the above messuages and lands retained by the executors: To provide 20s. a year to support William Brent in London for seven years. Land called Hawksnest in Stalisfield: To William Cherell junior and his heirs. He or they to pay to the executors 6s. 8d. CKS PRC32/8/94 SUMMARY OF THE WILL OF AMY BRENT OF CHARING, KENT. Dated 3 May, 1516. No probate date. Testament: Styled Amye Brent of Charing gentlewoman - widow of William Brent late of the same Esq. · Burial: In the chapel of 'myn own Edification' within the Church of Charing. Bequests: To the High Altar in Charing for tithes and oblacions forgotten 10s. Four named 'Lights' within Charing Church 12d. and every other light 6d. A torche for Charing Church 6s. 8d. A Tryntall of 30 masses on the day of burial 20s. To the poor on the burial day 20s. To 'my most singular good lord my lord of Burgavenny my basyn with the Ewer of Sylver and 13 sylver sponys with the sygnes of Jhu and his 12 Apostyls'. To 'myn own in esspeciall good Lady and my most singler comforthe and trust in this Worlde my lady of Burgavenny a newe cope of Sylver with a Cover parsell gylt and a saltseller of Silver with the Cover Dowble gylt'. To 'my Sone John Brentte A lityll Bowll of Sylver Dowble gyltt with the Cover a saltseller of silver with owte cover and a dossyn sponys of Silver'. To 'my daughter his Wyfe a payer of bordys of jete gawdyt with silver gowld and my best gowne freized with mynkyes'. To 'Margrett Brente the daughtt' of my sone John Brente my best maser a payer of fyne shettys my beste brasyn potte and in mony £10 st'lyng'. To 'my lityll daughtt' Amye Brentte a lityll maser a payer of fyne sheyttes a brassyn potte And in mony £6 13s. 4d. st'lyng'. Residue: Equally between Lord Bergavenny and his wife (Amy's daughter Margaret) and her son John. Lord Bergavenny was also appointed the supervisor. Executors: Lord and Lady Bergavenny and John Brent. Witnesses: Thomas Durnell preste and Robert Brett. Will: Made on 3 May 1516. To John Brent (son) and his lawful heirs. All lands, tenements, manors etc. in Cornwall and Devonshire. To Margaret Bergavenny (dau.) and her lawful heirs if John dies without issue, all the above lands. To John Brent (son). All lands in the parish of Charing viz. 2 pieces of ground called 'Longham and Cokkows grene' on condition he makes a deed of gift of a tenement within his inheritance called 'Chapmannys Fowld' to Lord Bergavenny whenever it is requested. If John fails to do so then both the tenement and the two pieces of land go to Lord Bergavenny. CKS PRC 32/12/7 181 P. WINZAR APPENDIXB SUMMARY OF THE WILL OF ANTHONY DERING OF CHARING, KENT. Dated 3rd December, 1613. Proved 25 May 1616. Testament and Will: Styled Anthony Dering of Charing, Esquire. Burial: At Charing 28 April 1616. Bequests: To his daughter Shastowe £4. To his daughter Alice Skott £4. To his daughter Elizabeth £4. To his maid Joane Seyar 20s. To Edward Dering, son of his son Thomas deed. 40s. To his son Anthony and his heirs, three acres of land at Kennington, if not already devised to him; Anthony to pay another 40s. to Edward Dering son of Thomas deed. for his 'better bringing up'. To William Dering, son of his son Thomas deed. £4 towards his 'bringing up'. Four or five acres of land in Kennington, once held by T homas Brent esq., late deceased, of which Anthony of Charing was to have a part, to go to Brent Moore and his heirs, provided his brother John Deering and Sir Anthony Deering 'will do the like'. Residue: Goods, chattels, debts, moveables and household stuff to be equally divided amongst his children viz. Fynch Dering, John Dering, Nicholas Dering, Alexander Dering, Robert Dering, Clare Drayner (dau.) and the children of his son, George, deceased. Executor: His son Fynch Dering. Fynch is asked not to take account of any sums of money which the deed. may have lent to any other children when dividing the residue into equal portions. Overseer: His son-in-law Edward Drayner. CKS PRC32/44/374 Act Book PRC22/14/96 THE INVENTORY OF ANTHONY DERING OF CHARING, KENT. 1616 An lnventorie of all and singular the goods Chattels and debts of Mr Anthony Deereinge of Chareinge gent. deceased taken the 28th of August Anno. Dom. 1616 lmprimis in readie monie in his purse Item in plate of all manner Item his Apparrell all manner Item one horse and acowe Item one Stone Colt Item in Sheepe In the howse within the hall: Imprimis in peuter all manner Item in brasse all manner Item in Rackes, spittes, Trivettes and other Iron Stuffe of all manner Item in an old Chest with hempe and other lumber In the Saller: Item in hogsheades, Tubbs and other beare vessells In the hall: Item one longe table with a frame, one old Table with an old book of Marters In the great Parler: Item two Tables with frames, Joyne Stooles and Chayers, two Carpette & certain quishons 182 £ s. d. 9 18 0 6 0 0 5 0 0 8 0 0 1 10 0 3 0 0 10 0 13 8 8 10 10 14 10 13 4 12 10 PEIRCE HOUSE, CHARING: THE HOUSE AND ITS OWNERS In the Parler Chamber: Item one Bedstead, one old Table, one Fetherbed, two old Blanketes and one old Coverlet In.the Chamber over ye Parler: Item one Cannipie bedstead, one Fetherbed, two bolsters & one Coverlett and one little table In the Gardinge howse: Item an old Bedstead, one Fetherbed, two blanketes and one Coverlett In the Chamber over ye Porch: Item one Bedstead, one Fetherbed, two bolsters & one Coverlett In his Bed Chamber: Item one Bedstead and Truclebed, two Fetherbeds and fower blankettes Item one Tapstrie Covertett Item one Cheste, boxes, Ruggs and Coverlette with other lumber in the said Chamber In the Garrett: Item two Bushels of wheat, one Bushell measure, two Shovells & an old Chest Sum is Item in Linnge of all manner Item in the Milch howse and Brew howse in vessells Item one Costlet one Pike two Baskette two swerde and two souldiers Coates In Debts oweringe: Imprimis Mr T homas Pope of London, Merchant Tayler - which make his will to be proved in the Prerogative Court Item in other Debts all manner Sum is Prized by us whose names are under written. Summa totalis 2 10 3 0 2 16 2 11 4 15 1 10 2 14 10 £60 17 13 19 2 0 2 6 12 0 20 0 £50 6 £111 3 Rainborn Durham, John Wood, Christopher Brathwait, Anthony Deringe Junis CKS PRC28/8/93 8 0 8 8 4 0 4 8 8 4 0 8 0 0 0 8 SUMMARY OF THE WILL OF FINCH DERING OF CHARING, KENT. Dated 12 April, 1625. Proved 13 October, 1625. Testament: Styled Finch Dering of Charing, gentleman. Burial: At Charing 15 July, 1625. Bequests: His wife Mary, mother of his five sons, Brent, the eldest, Anthony, Robert, Edward and John and his seven daughters, Katherine (wife of T homas Stephens), Bennet, Mary, Frances, Ann, Margaret and Alice - to have all such messuages lands and tenements as the deed. had already conveyed to her by Jointure for life. To all sons and daughters except the eldest son Brent, £20 each when they are 21 years. The daughters to receive their £20 either at the age of 21 years or on marriage. Executrix: Mary, his wife. She is to pay the above portions at the due time. If any son dies before 21 years then their share is to be divided between the remaining sons. Likewise, should any daughter die, her portion is to be divided between her sisters. To pay these portions and his debts he says that all his houses and buildings in Charing 183 P. WINZAR Street 'now being used for a brewhouse, dairy house, Mill house, Com Loft and one dwelling house, situated between my stone wall and garden and the land of the heirs of Sir Justinian Lewyn' which adjoin Charing Street, could be sold. His executrix is also empowered to sell a tenement and two acres called 'the gore' in the parish of Charing for the same purpose. Any remainder is to go to Mary his wife. Lands, messuages and tenements in Charing, Kenarton and Woodchurch or elsewhere in Kent: Other than those holdings that he has agreed may be sold, all the above is bequeathed to his eldest son Brent and his heirs. Brent is to allow his mother to reside in the deed. mansion house in Charing with fuel and the use of a fire, supported out of his woodland called Croweshole. Brent is not to sell or cut down any timber trees from that wood unless it is to be used for the improvement of any houses in Charing. Brent is to assist his mother in the sale of the specified holdings to pay the portions and debts. The corn and grain sown on his ready-ploughed land is to be counted as chattels and put towards the payment of his debts. Executrix. Mary, his wife. Supervisors. Sir Anthony Dering, kt. and John Darell, esq. (his kinsmen). If Mary should renounce the executorship then his son Brent is appointed under the same conditions as his mother viz. to sell the named property to pay the portions and debts. If Brent becomes the executor and does not administer the estate in the way decreed then he is not to have any part of any of the lands mentioned 'which in general were given to him before'. These lands are specified as:- Lands called the upper and lower Downs of about forty acres. The tenement called Gore with the lands belonging. Lands called Commes of about six acres - all above in Charing parish. All the houses and buildings in Charing Street between the stone wall and the deed. garden and the lands of the heirs of Sir Justinian Lewyn kt. All the above are then to be bequeathed to Sir Anthony Dering and John Darell to sell for the aforesaid purposes and to give any remainder over the amount of £220 (which amount would pay the portions of Brent's four brothers and seven sisters) to be given to Brent Dering after deducting their charges. If it so happens that the two supervisors are administering the estate and Mary needs any money for the upkeep of any children during their minority, the supervisors may advance her their portion for which she will have to give security to pay the whole amount of £20 on the due date. Otherwise, the supervisors may allow Mary thirty three shillings a year towards the upkeep of any child. & yeare First above written. Witnesses: Robt. Ely. Nichs. Deringe. Rainborn Durham. CKS PRC32/47/146 Act Book PRC22/16/91 (Mary, widow, was named as executrix.) THE INVENTORY OF FINCH DERING OF CHARING, KENT. An Inventorye of all the geodes and Cattelles moveable of Fynch Deringe of Charinge in the Countye of Kent gent. Deceased made and taken the Eleventh daye of Auguste 1625 and in the Fyrst yeere of the raigne of our soveraigne Lord Charles by the grace of god Kinge of England Scotland Fraunce and Ireland Defender of the Faith ymprised by Nicholas Deringe gent. Anthonye Deringe gent. Rainborn Durham and Thomas Hutchin as Followeth Imprimis in his pursse Item his wearinge Apparell Item his Gowne of Chamlett Furred with Fur att Som is £3 3 4 184 £ s. d. JO 0 6 8 6 8 Brent of Egerton in 1622. but he is Mr Brent Dering. of Charing, gent. by 1638; in his father's will; bap. Charing II Feb. 1599/1600 Capt. of the select band in the Hundred of Calehill; bur. Charing 5 April 1644; admon. 28 Oct. 1645 to wife Ann [Cant. Cons. 30/1645]. Finch Thomas bap. Charing bap. Charing 5 Sep. 1630 7 Oct. and Had 27 ac. in bur. there parish of St. 15 Oct. 1632. Lucy, Barbados on 30 Dec. 1679. Anne dau. of Robert Ely, of Charing clerk. vicar 1595--1644; mar. lie. Canterbury, he aged about 26, and she of Charing about 21, at St. Margaret's, Canterbury; bur. Charing 7 Sep. I 666. Anthony John bap. Charing bap. Boughton 22 Oct. 1637 Malherbe bur. there 27 Feb. I 64112. 8 Mar. 163718. Bren! Anthony of London, cit. and haberdasher: bap. Charing 14 Mar. 1601/2; in father's wiU; Poll Tax £3 as yeoman haberdasher, of Fenchurch St. m. Anne(-), who was bur. 12 Jan. I 659160 at St. Benet. Gracechurch St. He d.s.p. 6 Apl. 1683, bur, St. Botolph, Bishopsgate; will dat. 1681, pr. 21 Apl. 1683 [PCC 44 Drax]. Mary Anne bap. Charing bap. Charing bap, Charing 10 Dec. I 643. 20 Nov. 1627, 4 June 1629 m. John Greys at Willcsborough I Apl. 1652. Roben of London, cit. and draper, free by patrimony, tobacco seller a1 the sign of the Three Apes, Fleet St. in St. Dunstan's in the West; in his father's willi arms given in Visitn. of London, 1633-5 [Harl. Soc. XV, 229) as Dering, (saltire with a chief sa.), quartering Brent, Lambert and Poore. The crest is a deer's head couped, or, with a crescent for difference (the b'Ue crest of Dering); will tlat. 8 Aug. pr. 23 Aug. 1648 [PCC 128 Essex]. Elizabeth Judith Frances bap. Charing bap. Charing bap. Charing 5 Jan. 1633/4. 5 Nov. 1635. 4 Aug. 1638. Anne dau. of Thomas Whatman of Chichester, Suksex, by Cecily, dau. of John Sackville, of Po1esden Lacy, in Great Bookham, Surrey, by Anne, dau. of William Harvey, Clarenceux King of Anns; her husband's sole ex111x. d. Nov. 1660. Anthony Robert under 21 in not in fa1her's will; father's drowned at will. sea, 1654. Edward bap. Charing 20 Mar. 1607/8; In father's will app. skinner of London for& years, 15 Aug. !626 Edward Bathsheba not in father's will in father's '! m. as of St Dunstan's will. in the East, aged 23, Sarah Goldiken, of the same parish, aged 21 [lie, Comm. of Surrey] at St. Olave's or St. Sav iours, Southwark, 4 July 1663. The DERINGS of CHARING, Kent Table2 Finch DERING (sec Table I) = Mary POORE Dorothy John of London, cit. and draper. free by patrimony, 10 Oct. 1632; bap. Charing 1 Apl. 1610: in father's will: grocer in Fleet St., in St. Dunstan's in the West, but later of St. James, Clerkenwell, apparently Garden Alley; will dat, 12 Jan., pr. 5 Mar., 1679180 [PCC 37 llatil]: he asks to be bur. St. James, Clerkenwell, but burial not recorded; mentions wife Anne and cousins Joseph Ncwington, of Burwash, and Richard Newington. Mary John Anne dau. of(-) Wetherall: m. 28 Feb. 163516 at St. Oregory's; bur. in sth. aisle of chancel of St. James, Clerkenwell as Mrs Anne Dearing, wid. from Garden Alley; original will pr. 8 July 1684 [Arehdeaconry of London 14/62]. under 18 in in father's in father's will; b. Tydd St Giles, Gambrldge, 18 Dec. father's will: only child mentioned in Visitn. of London, 1633-5 m. Robert Whitworth in 1649. will. 1635, only son of John Dering, grocer [Gems. Mag. Ill, 30]; entered St. Peter's Hill School, London, from Merchant Taylors, 25 July, 1650; bur. in chancel of St. James, Clerkenwell, 27 Mar. 1684, as Mr. John Dering, of Liquor Pond St.: admen. [PCC] to Grace Dering, relict, Apl. 1684; further grant by her 5 Feb. 170112 to Chas. Goodhand, creditor, Henry Hnch bap. Charing 5 July ]620, bur. there 16 Juno 1621 Elizabeth bap. Charlng 7 Sept. 1606 bur. there 28 Oct, following. Grace Knight rn. lie. (Bishop of London), 7 July 1663; bur. S. aisle of the chancel, SL James, Clerkenwell, S Aug. 1686. Elizabeth Bowman Anne Catherine bap. Cha,ing 18 Feb. 159213; in father's will: m. as of Maidstone. about 24, to Thomas Stephens, of Wye, yeom. about 28, by lie. (Canterbury) 12 Oct. 1622 at Harrietsham, the reception being held at the house of her uncle, Anthony Dering, there: bur. Charing 18 July 1641. bap. St. James, Clerkenwell, 8 Sep. 1651; m. St. Magnus, 3 Feb. 168617, aged about 30, 10 Nicholas Hanbury, packer, of All Hallows, Barking, bac. about 30 [lie. Vic. Gen., I Dec. l fi86J; cit. and clothworker, Master of the company 17 I 9. Joan in grandfather's will; m. St, Giles in the Fields, I Oct. 1691 to Elizabeth llowrnan, both of the parish, by lie. in grandfather's wil1; m. Lawrence Rayner rnc. Fae. Off. 30 Oct. 1695] John d.v.p, unm. and on H.M.S. Kent; admen. 26 Jan. 1712113 to Edward Bowman, on behalf of Henry Dering, the father. Bennet bap. Cha,ing 17 Nov. 1594 in father's will; m. John Johnson, MA., clerk, of Charing, by lie. (Cant.) 30 May 1625 at St. Mary Bredin. Mary bap. Charing 16Jan. 159617; in father's will; m. Henry Field at Charing, 25 Feb. 1644/5. Frances bap. Charing 12 Nov. 1598; in father's wiH; bur. Charing 13 Sep. 1527. Anne : bap. Charing '6 Dec. 1612; in father's will. Margaret bap. Cha,ing 24 June 1617; in wms of father and brother Anthony; m. John Pyrn, genL who predeceased her; d. 20 Mar 168314, bur. Roches1er Cathedral, Ml. Alice bap. Charing 5 July 1620 (twin with Finch); in wills of father and brother Anthony; m. Luddesdown 27 Sep. 1638, Augustus Caesar. of Rochester, MD, who predeceased her, d. I 677 aged 75. bur. Rochesrer Cathedral, MI. Jane Lamben (I) = Anthony DERING (2)= (2) Elizabeth (see table !) (see table I) dau. & cob. Nicholas DERING (see table!) (2) =Anne = bur. Charing (I) Anthony Darell of Royton and West 2 Sep. 1627. Shelve, in Lenham; I son of Nicholas, 2nd. son of Sir James Darell, of Calehill, in Little Chan; bur. Charing, (see table I) 26 Mar. 1595. William Wilkinson of Wateringbury; tnd of West Shelve, J.u.; d. 2 Nov., bur. 9 Nov. 1618 at Newnham. Anne dau. & h. m. lie. (Canterbury), as of Charing, 29 Sep. 1606 at Charing; bur. Len ham 18 Nov. 1654. Frances (1) Richard (2) Margaret (I) George Acwonh Sizar from Pet􀃀rhouse, Cambridge 1548; MA. 1555, LLD. 1560/1; Prebendary of Southwell, 1559-61; Judge of the Prerogative Coun of Ireland, 1576/7; d. 1580-2 [J. Venn, Alumni Canrabrigienses i, 4, & D.N.B. Elizabeth bap. Charirig 27 Aug. 1587; in father's will and in will of Mary Hales as her niece, 'another daughter of my sister Dering'; m. Charing 10 Aug. 1607, as his 2nd wife, John Somers, of St Margaret's, Rochester, Attorney of the Rolls, by whom, apparently, she had Alexander, Rob", Anthony and Anne, His will pr. 13 J;eb. 1638/9. dau. of Edward Dering of Boughton Malherbe; m. lie. (Canterbury), of Wateringbury and West Shelve; sold Wateringbury to Oliver Style; dau. of Sir Roben Honywood, MP, of Pett Place, in Charing, and Markshall, Essex, by Alice, aged about 19, at Lenham or Boughton Malherbe, 12 Dec. 1639, bro. Thomas, bondsman (father of Edward of Chalk); she d. 13 Oct. 1643. Ml. Lenham. a Clerk in Chancery; aged about 23 in 1639; bur. Lenham, Ml. dau. of Sir Manin Barnham, of Hollingbourne, bur. Lenham. 16 Mar. 1688/9. The DERINGS of CHARING, Kent Table 3 Roben Home Margary . . .•. . b. c. 1519; Bishop of Winchester, 1561-79; will dat. 29 May, 1579, to be bur. Winchester Cathedral, pr. 27 June, 1579 [PCC 26 Bakon]. her sister, or her husband's, m. William Barlow, Bishop of Rochester, 1565-68 [D.N.B.]. John Hales will as 'Esquire son of Edward, of Tenterden', 1600 [PCC 78 Wallopp]. Mary will dat. before 4 Sep. 1627, pr. 5 Nov. I 629 [Cant. Cons. 49/289]. Sir Thomas Dayrell of Lullingstone Dayrell Co. Bucks.; will pr. 6 May 1618 [PCC 51 Meade]. Margery d. 1617-1618 Anthony (I)= Susan (3?) = (2) Leonard Browne (I) Anne Frances of Charing, b. 1593 [Add. MS 5534, f.316]; in father's will, by which lands in Snargate were settled on him and his heirs 11 Jas. I (1613) [Braboume MS 127]; m. as of Egenon, about 30; in will of Mary Hales as 'son of my said sister Dering'. dau. of Edward Merywether, of Eythome, deed. and his ex0r. with bro. Edward; m. 1st by lie. (Cant.), as of St. Gregory's, Canterbury, aged about 23, dat. 19 Sep. 1623, at Preston next Faversham; she m. 2ndly, before 1646n; d. at Hamburg 27 Dec, 1656 [Household Book, of Sir Edward Dering, 2nd. bi, Edward commonly called "White Ned"; bap. Egenon 14 Mar. 1633/4; only child of Anthony Dering Bethersden [Household Book of 2nd bt.]; a Hamburg merchant in 1676 [Col. Off. Papers]. d.s.p. of Canterbury, gent., freeman as son of Nicholas, haberdasher, 1640; Mayor 1660; Auditor of Canterbury Cathedral; bur. St Margaret's, Canterbury. 4 Nov. 1671 [Reg. Cant. Cath.]; he may have m. 2ndly, Anne Ashfeld, of St. Margaret's Cant. wid. at Brenzet or Brookland by lie, (Cant) dat. 14-17 Mar, 1641/2. Francis Nower, of St. Martin's in the Fields (the herald painter) for Leonard Brown and Susan, his wife, granted an annuity of £14 for 29 years to Sir Edward Dering of Surrenden, out of lands in Bethersden, Kenardington, Pluckley and Snargate, 27 Nov. 1651 [Brabourne MSS., no. 115; see also nos. 127 and 142]. dau, of Capt. Richard Bargrave of Chanham; m. as of Eythorne, aged 20 and upwards, he as of St. Margaret's, Cant., notary public, about 30, by lie. (Cant.) dat. 28 July, 1635, at Eythorne; issue one son and one dau. bap. St Swithin's Winchester 25 Mar. 1567; in will of Mary Hales as 'Frances Gyfford dau. of my sister Dering'. • John Achilles bap. Chittlehampton oflnstowe, Devon, 24 July, 1588. Devon. • in will of Mary Hales as children of her niece, Frances Gyfford. Anne will Dat. 20 Sep. 1622; pr. 5 Mar. 1624/5 [Cant. Arch.] John Darell of Calehill in Little Chan; d. 19 June, 1618; Achilles Gyfford son of John Gyfford, of Brightleigh. Devon. [see Vivian, Visitations of Devon, p400]. *Elizabeth (1) m. as of Little Chan at Charing, lie. (Cant.), 6 Oct. 1617. will dat. 2 Aug. I 6 l l pr. 30 May, 1619 [Cant. Cons. 45/147]. Nicholas m. as Prebendary of Winchester Cathedral. PEIRCE HOUSE, CHARING: THE HOUSE AND ITS OWNERS In the great parler: Item the hanginges of olde darinpe Item one table, one Joine Forme, 4 Joine s tooles all att Item one Courte Cubbard with a greene Cubbard Cloth att Item one olde greene Carpet Item 3 olde velvett Cushions att Item a payre of yron Cobirons and one yron Forke att Item 2 olde Chaires att Item one payre of plainge tables att Item Fowre olde picturs att Item one small mapp att Item the Fyrst vollume of the booke of martyrs and one olde bible ymperfecte [Should be £2 19 OJ Som is £3 0 0 In the greate parlor Chamber: Item one small table with a Frame and a Joine Forme att Item one olde bedsted with a Fether bed, one Fether bolster, one Flocke bolster, one downe pillowe, one payre of sheetes, one olde Coverlett and towe old blanckettes Item one olde Court Cubbard and an olde Cloth uppon itt Som is £3 1 6 In the butterye next the greate parlor: Item one bynn one olde Cubbard, Certaine olde shelves & other lumber att Som is£- - - In the Halle: Item one longe table with 2 Formes Item one other olde table and Forme Item 2 olde Courte Cubbardes att Item the latter parte of the booke of Marters Defase and a Deske Item Certaine ledden waytes all waying 115 pound waght att Item one armour and a picke att Som is £2 6 10 In the Roome over the Seller: Item one olde Chest with towe olde armoures rustye and brocken att Item an olde stalder att Som is £1 7 2 Item in the seller 4 barrelles 4 kilderkins 2 old stalders one tub and a little Keeler att Som is£- - - In a little Roome next the Halle: Item 4 quarters of wooll att Item 10 quarters of Hempe att Item 3 !ether Botles att Item one yron Rack one spitt, one olde yron potthanger, a graplewhocke and a payre of Brasse stirropes att Item one olde Cheestt, an olde table with other lumber att Som is£1 178 In the Well Close & entreye: Item 2 buckinge tubbes att Item a payre of Scalles, one yron beame and one wodden beame Item a buckett with a rope and a winch Item Fouer olde washing tubbes Item an olde lather and other lumber Som is£- 13 10d. 185 6 8 13 4 12 0 3 4 5 0 4 0 4 0 2 6 1 0 6 6 8 6 8 2 13 4 1 6 6 8 13 4 2 6 1 6 2 6 9 0 18 0 6 8 6 0 0 12 0 10 0 4 0 5 0 6 8 4 0 2 6 3 4 3 0 1 0 P. WINZAR In the olde larder and dyreye howse: Item one olde stalder, a saltinge stocke and Certaine olde shelves Item an olde table with Certaine shelves Item 28 Cheeses small & greate Item 7 gall ones of butter Item a little keeler Item 3 emptye Crockes Item a Cheesse presse, a Chorne, a Keeler and 2 Cheesse Balles Item one yron trivett, one yron pann, Certaine stone waites and other lumber Item 16 bowles and trugges with towe milkinge pailes Som is £3 14 4 Item the myll howse and the myll lofte: one myll with towe myll stones and a mawlte bynn Som is£- - - In the Brewe howse: Item a Furnasse Item towe great Tunnes Item 3 little old tunnes Item a buckett with a Chaine Item 7 olde Kilderkines, one ole Keler and an olde tunnell Item a payre of Slinges, a Jett and other lumber Som is £4 8 10 In the Kittchin: Item Certaine olde peeces of pewter as pottes Candlestickes & other peeces Item more in other peeces of pewter as dishes platteres and other peeces Item Fower great olde Caldrons Item 6 olde Ketlles of Divers scantlinges Item 6 brasse pottes of Sundreye bignes Item 3 brasse stupnettes Item 3 brasse morters Item one little Bell Item a warminge panne Item 4 olde Brasse pannes Item a Brasse Chaffer Item Fower yron Drippinge pannes Item 6 yron Spittes Item 4 yron Rackes Item 3 Cobyrons, one fyreslise, one gridyron and a Fryinge pann Item more 2 Spittes Item 4 payre of potthangers and 2 paire of pott hoockes Item 2 brocken Brasse stupnettes Item 2 small brasse Candlestickes Item a stone morter a grate and a Choppinge blocke Item 2 tables, one Forme, one borded Cubbard, Cartaine shelves and othe lumber Item 3 olde pailes Item One Jacke in the Custodye of Robert Willard, Smith to be mended Item an yron backe in ye Chimneye Item 2 old Chaires Som is £16 15 6 In the host loafte: one hair Clothe att 186 3 4 5 0 6 8 1 0 4 1 0 5 0 2 0 10 0 2 6 8 13 4 10 0 10 0 2 6 8 0 5 0 15 0 2 14 0 2 10 0 I 13 4 2 0 0 10 0 13 4 7 6 2 6 13 4 10 0 10 0 6 0 16 0 5 0 2 0 3 0 3 0 I 4 I 6 10 0 1 0 0 0 6 8 I 0 6 8 PEIRCE HOUSE, CHARING: THE HOUSE AND ITS OWNERS In the litle parlor: Item one feild bedsted, one fetherbed, one Flocke bed 3 blanckettes, a Fether bolster, a Flocke bolster, one olde Coverlett, 2 downe pillowes with pillow Coates Item one table att Item a blewe Cloth Carpett Item 2 Cubbardes & a Joyne chaire Item a muskett, 3 Cali vers and a Casse of pistolles att Item a payre of yron Andirones Som is £5 10 4 In the Backe howse: Item 2 Knedinge troffes, one mustard querne, 2 planckes with shelves and other lumber Item 2 olde leather sacks att Som is£- 14 6 In one Upper Roome: Item one bedstede, a Flocke bed, Fower olde blanckettes, one sheete, a truckle bed, 3 olde Chestes, one yron spitt Item in the gallerye a Joyne Cheest Som is £1 11 8 In the Chamber over the little parlor: Item one Joyne bedsted, 3 Fether bedes, 3 blanckettes, a Coverlett, 2 Fether bolsters, 2 Downe pillowes & one Flocke bolster Item a Court Cybbard, 4 Chaires, one litle stoole & 3 Cushions Item a weinstotte Cheest and 13 paire of shettes Item 2 Damaske table Clothes and one Damaske Cubbard Clothe Item 2 longe table Clothes, 3 square table Cloths, Fower longe Towelles, 4 Cubbard Clothes all of Diaper Item 2 Dozen and a halfe of Diaper napkines Item 5 longe Table Clothes Item 9 longe Towelles Item 2 square Table Clothes Item 4 Cubbard Clothes of linnen Item 8 Dozen & a halfe of napkines Item one wainscot Cheest Item 7 Dozen of pewter platters & Dishes Item halfe a Dozen of pye plates Item a Dozen of small pewter dishes Item one Dozen of Frute Dishes and 15 sacers Item a Wainscott Cheest Item 2 Chestes, a cradle, an olde Chaire and an olde bedsteed Item a Dozen of porrengers and 2 Dozen of platters Som is £45 15 4 In the greate Chamber: Item one Carved Joyne Bedsted with 2 Fether bedes, a Fether boulster, 3 blanckettes & one wollen Coverlett Item 5 greene Curtaines of Flannell Item a halfe hedded bedsteed with a Fether bed and Flocke bed Item a Court Cubbard with a Cubbard Clothe Item a weinscott Deske Item a Tester and vallance of blwe velvett ymbrodered with silke and golde & 3 taftye Curtaines Item towe Tapestreye Coverlettes 187 3 6 8 3 4 3 4 15 0 0 0 2 0 12 0 2 6 6 8 5 0 10 0 0 1 0 0 8 0 0 3 JO 0 5 JO 0 J 13 4 2 0 0 J JO 0 8 0 6 0 5 2 0 5 0 4 10 0 6 0 5 0 6 0 8 0 8 0 8 0 8 8 0 6 0 5 0 0 13 4 3 4 13 16 8 8 0 0 P. WINZAR Item a Tapestreye Coverlette, a bearing mantle & a Fase Clothe in the Custodye of Thomas Steephens of Wye, lent hertofowe unto hime by the testator in his life time prised as unseese Item one longe windowe Cushion and eleven others Item 5 nedle wrought Cushians and towe of Turckeye Worke Item 10 payre of Fyne sheetes Item 17 pillowe Coates Item a Cheeste plated with yron Item a Cheeste and Towe Chaires Item a little side table Som is £57 12 2 In the Chamber within the great Chamber: one bedsteed, a wainscott presse, a truncke, 2 ould wicker Chairs, an olde Cheest, an yron payre of Cobyrones and 2 Red velvett Cushiones Som is£- - - In the Chamber over the porch: A bedstede, 2 Fether bedes, 2 blanckettes, 2 Fether bolsters, one pillowe & pillowe Coate, a payre of sheetes, a little table and a Coverlett Som is£- - In the Chamber over ye sellar: Item 2 bedstedes, 3 Fether bedes, 2 Flocke bedes, 3 Fether Bolsters, 3 pillowes, 2 payre of sheetes, 4 wollen blanckettes, 2 olde Coverlettes, Certaine testers and vallances beelonginge Item a wainscott presse Item a greate Cheest, 2 little boxes with 2 Chaires and a !owe stoole Item 2 Cheests, a Drawinge Cubbard & a little table Item a truckle bed and a presse Item in plate, one playne silver Cupp, a gilt saltseller, a gilte Cupp with a Cover and a topp of a Cupp parsell gilte Item a gold Ringe with a turckeye stone Som is£1780 In the Chamber over the larder: Item 5 olde bedsteedes, 3 olde bedes, 5 blanckettes, 2 bolsters, a payre of sheetes & other lumber neere thatt Chamber in a Clossett: Item 2 small boxes, Cartaine shelves and a paire of Cobiyrons Som is£1182 In the Garden howse: Item one old bedsted, a wollen wheele, a Joine Forme, Certaine shelves and one old Cheest Item in the garden a stone Role Item in the garden next the seller, towe pewter stilles and 5 stockes of Bees Som is£1184 In howsold linnen abowte the howse: Item 4 payre of Sheetes, 1 Dozen of napkins, 2 payre of pillow Coates, 3 longe table Clothes, 3 towelles with other small peces In the Worke howse and in the menes Chamber: Item 2 borded bedsteedes and one olde Chest Item 3 duble hand sawes and 2 handed sawes Item a Timber Binne, 3 poles with ropes and other thinges belonginge Item one olde sadle with other lumber Som is£-17 6 188 5 0 0 2 8 0 1 8 0 10 0 0 2 0 0 12 0 13 4 1 6 1 13 4 5 0 0 6 13 4 10 0 0 0 8 0 10 0 6 13 4 1 13 4 13 4 4 10 6 8 5 0 6 8 2 0 0 1 6 10 0 5 0 1 0 PEIRCE HOUSE, CHARING: THE HOUSE AND ITS OWNERS In the Gardner: Item one Serye, 2 bushelles, a tovett, a Fann, 3 scoppettes a seede Codd, a payre of Ropes & 2 hemp sacks Som is£- - In the Closse and in the groundes abowte the howse: Item Certaine timber Battes Item Fyre Wood of all manner Item a wagon, 2 plowes, harrowes, Courter, harnesse For horse and all other ymplementes beelonginge therto Item in the Barne 24 loads of haye Item 4 mares and 2 Geldinges Item sixe milche Kyne and Towe twel(ve) monthinge haiffers Item 5 hoges and 5 shetes Item the powltyre of all sortes Item 2 lathers Item heemp on the grownd Item Fruite growinge in ye orchard Item 2 rackes and other lumber in the Closse [Should be £69 6 OJ Som £69 5 0 In the Feildes in Corne Growinge: Item 7 acres and a halfe of wheate Item 18 acres of Barleye Item 6 acres of pease and tares Item 9 sheepe and lambes Som £56 5 0 [Should be £312 13 8] Som Total is £313 18 8 CKS PRC28/10/292 THE INVENTORY OF BRENT DERING OF CHARING, KENT. 1645 15 4 4 0 0 2 10 0 7 10 0 12 0 0 18 0 0 20 0 0 3 0 0 16 0 5 0 10 0 10 0 5 0 15 0 0 30 0 0 9 0 0 2 5 0 An Inventory of the goodes and Chattells of Captayne Brent Dering deceased made the 26th of October, 1645, prized by us whose names are heare under written. Imprimis his Purse with monys his Wearing Aparell In the Parlour: one Press 6 Chayers one stoole 5 Joynd stooles one table In the Kitchen: Chayers one littell Table Furniture for the Chimney one Jack In the Brewhouse: one Fumes and the bruing vessells one Meale sacke & meale Tubb one sive In the Chamber over the Parlour: one Bed & Furniture to it one Table & 10 Joyned stooles one Court Cubbard, one Table, one Box, one Truncke, 2 Boxes, 2 Trunckes In the Chamber over the Kitchen: 2 Beds with ther furniture 189 £ s. d. 3 0 0 3 6 8 1 10 0 13 4 3 4 10 0 13 4 2 10 0 2 6 5 0 0 1 0 0 14 0 10 0 5 0 0 one littell Table lorn Furniture for ye Chiminie 2 lorn Ketcles, 2 Iron Potts P. WINZAR one Brass pott, 3 Ketcles, 2 skillets, one Mortor & pessell, one warming pann & other brass things 19 payer Sheets 8 payer Pillow coates 3 dozen of Napkins 8 Table Clothes 3 Ii. of Pewter 3 Carpits & Curtaynes for Bed & 4 Qushins one flock Bed & the Furniture one Trungle Bed & Furesht 2 Bedstedgles one press 2 keelers Come and Haye one Lease at Boughton Malherbe in Lumber unprized & forgot (Actual total £63 13 10) John Hart Robert Willard by his x marke PRC27/12/12 3 0 3 0 12 0 1 0 0 8 13 4 12 0 18 0 12 0 5 0 15 0 0 0 0 0 10 0 4 0 JO 0 0 10 0 0 13 4 £60 13 10 Note: The Administration was granted to Ann Dering, his widow, 28 October, 1645. PRC22 / l 9/80 APPENDIXC THE INVENTORY OF GABRIEL PEIRCE THE ELDER OF CHARING, KENT. 1669. A true and perfect Inventory of all and singular the goodes Chattells and Credits of Gabriel Peirs the elder late of Charing in the County of Kent gent deed valued & apprized the third day of January in the yeare of our Lord God one thousand sixe hundred sixtie and nine by us whose names are hereunto subscribed as followeth (to witt) lmprimis his ready money & Apparrell Item debts oweing to the dee' d at the tyme of his death Item Ewes and Lambs Item wood in the yard & Elsewhere In the Parlor: Item one long table, eight Joyned stooles, seaven Chaires, six Cushions, one little Table, two Carpets, one Windowe Curtayne and rodd, two paire of Andirons, one fire shovell & tonge In the Hall: Item one table, three Chaires, five Joyned stooles, two paire of Andirons & other small things In the Kitchin: Item two tables, one Court Cupboard, sixe spitts, one Jacke, two Iron dripping pans, foure tynne dripping pans, one Coope, three Chopping 190 £ s. d. 10 0 0 23 0 0 23 1 0 10 8 0 4 5 0 8 8 PEIRCE HOUSE, CHARING: THE HOUSE AND ITS OWNERS knives, three Gridirons, foure stooles, five Chaires, one fire shovell & Andirons & other things there Jn the brewe house: Item five tubbs, five keelars, one Furnace, one small Querne & an old Kettle In the Bake house: Item three brasse kettles, three warmeing pans, two brasse potts, three brasse Chaffing dishes, one morter & pestle, foure brasse skillettes & other things there In the milke buttery: Item three brine tubbs, foure pailes, seaven boules, Eight Crockes & other things Item parcel! of Iron In the other buttery: Item one Safe, one old Chest, fower kellars, one Chaire, & other small things In the meale house: Item two knead tubbs, one Forme, two sieves & other small things In the Cellar: Item nine barrells, three Stalders, one salt-Stocke, one tuvell and old tubb & a keelar In the house in Ms Creswells occupacion: Item one Furnace, one table, one forme, one Safe, one Court Cupboard, one Jacke & a little Cupboard In the outhouses where Ms Wolfe and Sarah Harte lives: Item two old beddstead, one Forme, one table, one Chest, one trendle bedstedd, one Cupboard, one little table, one Forme, one high bedstead with Curtaine rodds In the servants Chamber: Item two old bedsteads, two Flockbedds, Foure Flocke boulsters, foure blancketts, one little table, one old Chaire In the buttery chamber: Item one bedstead, one featherbeadd, one feather boulster, one flocke boulster wth blancketts, Curtaines and rodds In the Chamber over ye Cellar: Item two high Bedsteds, two trundle bedsteds, one presse cupboard, two Chests, one Court Cupboard, foure stooles, two feather bedds, three feather boulsters, three feather pillowes, seaven blanckettes, foure Coverings, two paire of Curtaines & vallance, one paire of Andirons, two Flockebedds, two Flocke boulsters and other things there In the Porch Chamber: Item one bedstead, one feather bedd, two feather boulsters, one Coverlett, Sixe feather pillowes, two Chests & blanckettes In the Garrett: Item three Chests, one table, one Cupboard, a parcell of blanckettes & old Curtaines and other things Item eight Dozen of Napkins, foureteene table clothes, seaven towells, fifteene paire of pillowebeers, one Cupboard cloth, two walletts, eight Course table clothes, eight Course Towels, five & twentie paire of fine sheetes, twelve paire of Coarse sheetes Item for hay Item about one hundred weight of pewter Item things unseene & forgotten 6 5 0 4 0 0 3 15 0 2 1 0 12 0 0 1 16 0 12 0 1 15 0 2 6 0 2 6 8 2 10 0 5 0 0 17 9 6 6 5 0 4 17 0 38 9 6 6 0 0 4 0 0 1 0 0 (Actual total is £194 10 4) Total is £196 10 4 191 P. WINZAR valued & appraized the day & yeare aforesaid by us Anthony Nowers George Deedes Probate to Joseph Pearce filius de Charing gent. CKS PRC 27/21/78 SUMMARY OF THE WILL OF JOSEPH PEIRCE OF CHARING, KENT. Dated 1 November, 1680. Proved 27 Nov. 1680. Will and Testament: Styled Joseph Peirce of Charing, gentleman. Burial: At Charing 10 November 1680 (Bishop's transcripts - CCA.DCb/BT l /58). Bequests: Lands and Tenements in Charing: To his wife Anne all such property not previously settled on her for her life. To his three daughters, Anne, Jane and Katherine and their heirs, all the above lands and tenements to be divided equally between them after their mother's death. If any daughter should die without heirs then her portion to be divided between any living sisters. Lease of Orgarswicke Manor in Kent: He holds the lease from the Dean and Chapter of Christ Church, Canterbury and it has 'divers years' to run. T h e lease is bequeathed equally between his three daughters. His wife has power to renew the lease at her discretion at the most beneficial time. His wife may deduct out of the profits of the Orgarswicke lease and his personal estate, sixteen pounds a year for every daughter's education and maintenance until they are 21 years or until the day of their marriage. She is to be his executrix and on receiving probate is ordered to give his friend, John Coppins of Canterbury, a Bond in the penalty of one thousand pounds, that she administers the Manor of Orgarswicke on behalf of his daughters in the way he has expressed. His executrix is to sell his stock to pay his debts and expenses and all personal estate not otherwise disposed of; any surplus to be divided between the three daughters. If any of the three daughters are 'disobedient unto their mother' or marry before they attain the age of twenty six years without the consent of their mother, then she may dispose of their portion to the remaining daughters. His wife to have six pounds annually until she can sell the wood from his Charing land which is part of her Jointure. The six pounds may be taken from the profits of his daughters' estate. She may also have all the linen she brought to her marriage and the use of the household goods in his dwelling house for her life. After her death it is to be equally divided between the daughters. He forgives his wife's daughter, Elizabeth Williams, any money he had lent her, so it seems she was a widow when she married Joseph Peirce. To his sister, Mary Nowers, five pound annually to be paid quarterly, beginning after the decease of her husband Mr Nowers. If any payment is more than ten days overdue, Mary Nowers can distrain on the Manor of Orgarswicke. If his wife dies before his three daughters are 21 years then his friend, John Coppins, takes over the executorship and administration of the estate according to the conditions previously stated. He is to have ten pounds a year out of the estate. If his wife re-marries then she will forfeit all the lands in Charing and they will go to the three daughters immediately. The daughters' estate will have to be surrendered to John 192 PEIRCE HOUSE, CHARING: THE HOUSE AND ITS OWNERS Coppins and she will also lose the right to educate her daughters unless she accepts ten pounds a year for each of them. If all the daughters die before 21 years or their marriage then his cousin T homas Henman receives the lease of the Manor of Orgarswicke out of which he must pay his cousin Allen Henman ten pounds a year for life. His cousin, Sampson Peirce is to have all the lands and tenements in Charing. If all the daughters die then their father's personal estate is to go to his sister Mary Nower's children, equally. Witnesses. William Jacob, Amos Jacob and Lydia Baldock. CKS PRC 32/54/548 THE INVENTORY OF JOSEPH PEIRCE OF CHARING, KENT. 1680 An Inventory of the goods and Chatles of Joseph Peirce late of Chareinge in the County of Kent gent. deceased which he had at the time of his death taken and apprized the Tenth day of December Anno Dm. 1680 by George Withwick gent. and John Peirce gent. as followith: Imprimis is his weareing apparrell & ready money In the parlor of his dwelling house: Item twelve Turkey worke Chaires Item one Table & Turkey worke Carpett Item the Hangings in the same roome Item one paire of Curtaines & rods Item one paire of Andirons, one paire of iron dogs, fire slice, Tongs & bellows Item glasses & earthen weare in the parlour Closset In the Hall: Item 6 leather Chaires Item one greate !ether chaire Item Table and Carpett In the parlour Chamber: Item one Camlett bed, bedsted, three blanketts, one fether bed, two pillowes, one bolster, head peice, Counterpan, 6 Chaires, a table, lookeinge glasse, windowe Curtaines, hangings & one paire of dogs In the Hall Chamber: Item one bedsted, three blanketts, one Counterpan, one bolster, two pillowes, one fetherbed, Curtaines & vallance hangings, two window Curtaines, Six Chaires, one Table Carpett & one lookeinge glasse In the Kitchin Chamber: Item one fetherbed, one bedstead, three blanketts, one rugg, one bolster, £ s. d. 35 0 0 4 16 0 2 10 0 1 10 0 6 0 0 0 4 0 10 0 3 4 5 0 20 0 0 11 0 0 two pillowes, Curtaines & vallance, headpeice, teaster hanginge, 2 window Curtaines, one Table, one Carpett Six Chaires, one paire of Andirons, fireslice & Tongs 7 In the brew house Chamber: Item one flockbed bedstead, Coveringe, Curtaines and vallance, two blanketts, one Trundle bed and bedstead, one little fetherbed, window Curtaines & other things 3 In the Garrett over the kitchin: 0 0 0 0 Item one feather bed, bedstead, Curtaines, vallance, Rugg, two blanketts, one Chest, a Caser of Drawers, a Lookeinge glasse, one Couch chaire, & one paire of Andirons 5 10 0 In the garrett over the Hall: Item wheate and three Chests 4 0 0 193 P. WINZAR In the garrett over the Brewhouse: Item a Screene, Apples & other Lumber In the Kitchin: Item one Jack, one Clock, five Spitts, one pasty pan, two dripping pans, two iron dripping pans, one toastinge iron, one Trivett, one paire of bellowes Item eight Chaires, fowre brasse Candlestickes, One Little table, fowre dozen of pewter plates, 17 pewter dishes, two porringers & three plates In the Bakehouse & Buttery: Item two iron potts, one brasse ketle, one warmeinge pan, fowre brasse Skilletts, one Chaffing dish & other goods In the Brewhouse: Item two old Coppers, Six Tubs, five keelers & other things In the Seller: Item six Kilderkins, fowre milke keelers & fowre dozen of bottles Lynnen: Item 23 paires of Streaken Sheetes Item 8 paire of Tow sheetes Item three longe streaken tablecloths Item 6 short streaken tablecloths Item 6 Tow table Cloathes Item I 8 paire of pillow coates, 6 paire being old Item 36 Tow towells & 12 of streake Item 42 Streake napkins fine & 42 course Item 36 dyaper napkins & 1 Tablecloth Item 2 homemade sideboard Cloath Item Six Silver Salts & nine Silver Spoones Item three gold rings Without doores: Item in husbandry implyments Item twenty Lambs Item three Cowes Item one horse Item fowreteene weather Sheepe Item one Mare Item (. ..) hoggs Item wool Item in wood about his dwelling house Item 6 cords of wood more Item in hay Sanfoyne & Clover Item 17 acres of wheate Sowen at Sindane Item for one hundred & thirty ewes at I ls. a peece Item fowre Rams Item 98 Wether Sheepe at I ls. a peece Item 67 Lambes at 7s. a peece Item JO runtts at £3 JOs. Od. a peece Item two Steer Item two Cowes Item two Colts Item two Mares Item ten runtts Item 78 whether sheepe at I ls. a peece Item 78 Lanbes at 6s. a peece 194 10 0 4 10 0 7 3 0 2 0 0 4 0 0 2 0 JO 0 0 I 15 0 1 JO 0 1 5 0 6 0 1 0 0 0 11 0 0 0 4 0 3 6 0 15 0 3 0 0 6 0 0 7 JO 0 3 0 0 6 0 0 4 0 0 2 0 0 70 0 0 2 JO 0 I 16 0 6 0 0 17 0 0 71 JO 0 3 0 0 53 18 0 23 9 0 35 0 0 4 JO 0 6 JO 0 5 0 0 11 0 0 17 3 0 42 18 0 23 8 0 PEIRCE HOUSE, CHARING: THE HOUSE AND ITS OWNERS Item 52 barron ewe sheepe at 7s. a peece Item hay & some about it Item Two Cowes Item a lease of the Manor of Orgarswick from the Deane & Chapter of Canterbury Debts due to the deceased: Item from Edward Carpenter Item from John Latter Item from Rich. Franke Item from John (Dams) - desperate Item from Thomas Godfry Item from Mr Freind - desperate Item from Mr Luxford Item from James Curd Item from John Tayler Item from Mr Tho: Henman Corn at Syndane: Item thirty two seames of barley threshinge deducted Item twenty Six Seames of oates threshinge deducted Item for two Seames of pease & Seven bushells of tares, threshinge deducted Corne at Charinge: Item 14 Seames of white oates threshinge & Carriage deducted Item things unseene & forgotten George Wightwicke, John Peirs 18 4 0 10 0 0 5 0 0 600 0 0 42 0 0 21 10 0 8 14 0 1 10 0 7 0 0 19 0 0 1 0 0 5 0 0 6 10 0 20 0 0 22 11 0 13 0 0 2 7 0 7 6 0 1 0 0 Sum totall £1402 16 4 CKS PRC27/29/159 SUMMARY OF THE WILL OF SAMPSON PEIRCE OF CHARING, KENT. Dated 21 Jan., 1691. Proved 25 October, 1692. Buried at Charing, 10 October, 1692. Will and Testament: Styled: Sampson Peirce of Charing, gentleman. Burial: At Charing 10 October 1692. Bequests: To his two younger sons, George and Sampson £250 each to be paid out of the estate in an Indenture dated 14 March 1687. T h e Indenture would seem to be a Marriage Settlement the parties being Gabriel Peirce, Sampson's father and Sampson himself of the first part and John Whitfield of the City of Canterbury, gentleman, and one of his daughters, Roberta Whitfield of the second part. George and Sampson are also to receive twenty pounds annually out of the same estate, for their keep until they receive their legacies of £250 each. His wife Roberta is to receive all the rest of his goods and chattels and is made the sole executrix. Witnesses. Elizabeth Poole, George Carter, George Poole. CKS PRC 32/56/140. THE INVENTORY OF SAMPSON PEIRCE OF CHARING, KENT. 1693 He was buried at Charing on 10 October, 1692, and his will was proved on the 25 October, 1692, but the date on the Inventory is quite clearly August 1693. An Inventorie of the Goods Chattells and Debts of Sampson Peirce late of Charing in the County of Kent Gentl. deceased taken and appraised the 17th day of August Anno. Dom. 195 P. WINZAR 1693 by us Richard Allen of the Citty of Canterbury Gent!. and Edward Fendall of the same Citty - Carpenter as followeth (vizt) Imprimis his Purse Girdle and wearing apparell In the Hall: Item 2 Spanish Tables with Carpetts Item 6 old Leather Chaires Item 2 Low Stooles Item a paire of small Andirons, 6 fire pan Tongs & 6 hooks Item 3 Linnen Curtaines & 2 Curtaine Rodds Item 2 Small Mapps & 19 little printed pictures Item 3 Flower potts In the Parlor: Item one Large Spanish Table 5s. ye Carpett 12s. Item one small Table & Carpett Item 12 Turkiworke Chaires Item a paire of Tongs, fire pan, bellowes and two paire of Creepers Item 3 window Curtaines & 2 Curtaine Rodds Item 12 Ceasars Heads printed In Frames In the Kitchen: Item one Jack & Lynes, Spitt Chaine and Iron fender Item one Spitt more, 2 Iron Dripping panns, one Iron plate to stand behind the meate Item one fire pan & tongs, one Iron Ovenlid & one Iron peele Item one paire of Cobirns, 1 paire of Creepers, 1 Gridiron, 1 Tosting Iron, one paire of Bellows & 1 paire of Snuffers Item one Case Iron & 2 Heaters, one paire of pott hangers & one Iron plate frame Item on Clock with Lyne & weights Item 2 Fowling peeces & an Iron Sworde Item 162 pound of pewter at 6d ye pound Item one Brasse Mortor & pestle & 5 tinn plates Item one Table & 3 joyned Stooles Item 3 old Chaires In the Brewhouse: Item one Copper Item one Small Copper Item 2 Brewing Tunns, 6 Keelers, one hand jett & a Tap hose Item one paire of potthangers, one Iron Forke, one washing block one Seive & one Sauce pann In the Malthouse: Item one Malt Querne, one Cheese presse Item one Bucking Tubb, one Rencing Tubb & one brewing Tubb, 2 bucking keelers Item one Sider presse & one Syder Trough Item one old Chest & one Deale board & two hand Saws & two old Chaires Item one Garden Rake, one hay Rake & 3 wedges Item one Bridle & Saddle Item 2 Spades & a Small Rake Item one old Still & a watering pott Item one old horse harness & 3 pitch forkes Item 2 halters & 2 old keelers Item in ye Grainery 12 sacks, a parcell of hoops & an old side bedd 196 £ s. d. 10 0 0 11 0 5 0 I 6 3 0 4 0 2 6 1 0 17 0 4 0 3 1 0 8 0 6 0 6 0 14 0 6 0 6 0 5 6 6 0 10 0 1 10 0 4 1 0 3 4 5 0 1 0 2 15 0 1 1 0 I 4 6 3 6 2 15 0 10 6 10 0 4 6 3 0 6 6 I 3 3 0 5 0 I 6 12 0 PEIRCE HOUSE, CHARING: THE HOUSE AND ITS OWNERS In the Wash house: Item 2 Brasse Kettles Item one Brasse skillett, one brasse pot lid, one brasse Candlesticke Item one Bed Mettle Skillett Item one Brasse Warming pann & one pair of Brasse Scales & Beame Item one greate Iron pott & pott Lids Item 2 Iron potts & an Iron kettle Item 3 Iron Candlestickes, one bread Grater & a Candlebox Item one Trough, one forme, one hogwash tubb, one hogwash paile & one water paile In ye Milk house: Item 2 leaden Milke panns Item 7 Milke Bowles Item one Charne & Staffe Item one Butter platter & Creame Crock Item 2 Milking pailes Item one Brine Tubb, one little Stalder & one forme In ye Larder: Item one Table, 2 chaires and one brine Tubb In the Celler: Item 7 Beere Vessells, 2 Stalders, 2 tilters Item 14 dozen of Glasse bottles Item for all ye Earthen ware Item for a pair of Scales & Beames, & 144 pound in Leaden Weights Without Doors: Item one Waggon with ye Wimbrosses Item one Court & 2 Iron harrows Item 4 Ladders & 2 Deale Boards Item one Barly Roll & 3 Troughs Item 2 Cowes Item one open Sow & one Barron hog, 3 piggs The Linnen: Item 19 paire & an odd Sheete Item 19 pillow Beares Item 4 Sideboard Cloathes Item 6 Fine Towells & 13 old ones Item one Damask Table Cloath Item one Diaper Table Cloth good Item 3 diaper Table Cloths more Item 3 doz. of Diaper Napkins Item one homemade Table Cloth and Tenne Napkins more Item 3 dozen & ii Course homemade Napkins Item one homemade Table Cloth & 2 dozen of Napkins more Item 11 Course Table Cloths Item 4 Linnen Walletts In ye Study: Item for all ye Bookes Corne: Item 7 quarters & halfe of Yeallow pease Item one Quarter of Gray peas Item 10 quarters of white Oates Item 14 quarters of Barley Item for Chaffe & Straw 197 0 0 5 6 2 6 4 6 10 0 11 0 I 6 3 6 8 0 6 0 4 0 I 0 3 0 6 0 11 0 I 12 0 2 2 0 5 0 16 0 10 0 0 0 8 0 5 6 9 0 0 2 10 0 8 15 0 I 10 0 5 0 0 0 0 0 15 0 10 0 18 0 0 0 4 0 14 0 18 6 4 0 2 14 0 II 5 0 I 12 0 6 0 0 15 0 0 10 0 Item 3 fat hoggs Item one Rideing horse Item one Rideing Mare Item for hempseed in all P. WINZAR Item 2 Loads & an halfe of hay in ye Barne Item 2 old Cowes Item Sold 2 young Budds Item Seaven Quarters of hempe and a Beddford Item seed hempe which come to Item for ye wood about ye house Item wood laid in at Canterbury by Mr Peirce & intended for his own use Item peares & pies walnutts & Quinces Item four Bushells of Saintfoyn seeds Item rec' d halfe a yeares Rent of Mr Bachellor due at Michaelmas 1692 Item rec' d by hay from the Ground & for Rowine Item rec' d for ye (lime) of the Stable Item due from Mr Henman for parte of a horse in ye Trap Item rec' d of Mr Hornsby Item in ready money Item in Rings & Jewells Item one Silver Watch & Four paire of Silver buttons Item in Silver plate - Eighty & Eight ounces at five shillings the ounce In the Best Chamber: Item one feather Bedd & Bolster weighing Eighty & Four pounds weight Item the Beddstead Curtaines Vallence Counterpanes & Two Blanketts Item Tenne yards of Sarcenett Intended for a Quilt Item one Armid Caine Chair & six other Caine Chaires with padds Item a Walnutt Tree Case of Drawers & a Looking Glasse Item one Clout Box Item on paire of Brasse Tongs & Fire pann & hooks one paire of Brasse Andirons & Creepers Item Two Window Curtaines & a Curtain Rodd Item the hangings about the Chamber In the Sad Coulored Chamber: Item one Feather bedd & holster weighing Fifty four pounds weight Item one Bedstedd Curtaines & Vallence with Two Blanketts & Quilt Item Six Cushion Chaires Two Window Curtaines & Rodds Item one paire of Andirons Item the hanging about ye said Sad Coloured Chamber Item in ye Closett in ye Sadd coloured Chamber one Chest & one Trundle In ye porch Chamber: Item one Featherbedd & Bolster weighing Forty Eight pounds weight Item one Beddstedd with Curtaines & Two Blanketts Item Two old red Chaires & one Stand Item in ye Garrett Forty Four Quarters of Thistle hempe In the Chamber over ye Kitchin: Item one Feather Bedd & Bolster weighing Eighty & Five pounds weight Item one Bedstedd Curtaine & Vallence Two Blanketts & a Coverlet! Item one other Feather Bedd & Bolster weighing Ninety & six pounds weight Item one Bedstedd Curtaine & vallence Two Blanketts & a Coverlett Item one old Chest & one old Case of Drawers Item one folding Table, one Trunke & Two leather Chaires, one old Stoole, a small Box, a paire of Tongs & a paire of Creepers 198 6 1 0 3 0 0 9 5 0 3 11 7 2 JO 0 4 5 0 2 JO 0 11 JO 2 5 JO 5 0 0 I 12 6 2 3 6 15 0 41 16 0 11 6 0 17 0 16 9 JO 6 16 17 0 13 JO 0 1 JO 0 22 0 0 3 3 0 15 0 0 1 0 0 1 14 0 3 5 0 15 0 10 0 4 0 6 8 1 11 6 4 JO 0 15 0 2 6 1 5 0 4 0 4 0 0 0 1 6 2 4 0 2 2 6 2 0 0 3 12 0 2 10 0 9 0 7 6 The Family of SAYER of Charing, Kent. George Sayer Esq. of Bouchiers Hall in Essex Vice-Chamberlain to Queen Catherine, Consort to Charles II and also to Queen Mary I! who made him Sub-Gov. and Gentleman of the Bedchamber to William Duke of Gloucester, Freeman of Canterbury and M.P. 1695 & 1702. d. 21 May 1718 aged 63, bur. at Charing Ml. Frances dau. and heir of Sir Philip Honywood of Pett. m. I 685, d. 2 August 1731 aged 63 yrs. George Sayer of Pett Place only son b. 1691. d. 1733 aged 42, bur. 8 June north transept. Ml. George Sayer of Pett Place Westminster School at 9 yrs. Admitted Middle Temple 1739, entered Oriel College 1740, High Sheriff of Kent 1755, d. 1778. George Sayer of Pett Place bur. north transept Charing Church, Ml. Mary, sister of Daniel Godfrey of Faversham, bur. at Charing 17 August 1757. Mary, dau. of John Greenhill of Maidstone by his wife, Mary sister of Matthew Chandler of St Radigunds's in Polton, Kent Mary d. unm. = Catherine only dau. of James Wakely · ( or Wakeley) ofCharing, m. 1786; Catherine d. unm. b. 1751. Matriculated Oriel College 1768. Admitted Lincoln's Inn J 772 - Bachelor Civil Law, 1782 Rector of Egglescliffe, Durham until his death in May 1814. Resided only occasionally at Pett Place. Had issue that died young, a son and m. lie. of 1781 for Wm. Allen b. of Little Chart five daughters surviving. George Edward Sayer 1795. Educated Westminster School & Oxford. Admitted Lincoln's Inn 1815. After father's death he settled at Pett Place & 􀃐ecame a JP, & DL, d. unm. May 1871. On death of his last surviving sister, Charlotte, he was succeeded by his cousin's son, John Sayer. & Catherine Wakely of Charing s. 22 to be married at Charing 6 Dec. but there is no record in Charing Registers. She d. 14 Jan. I 836. MI, near north transept. George & John b. 11 Jan. 1787 bur. 31 Jan. 1787 I. Mary b. 3 Feb. l 788 m. Henry Egerton Esq. 2. Jane b. 18 June 1787 3. Catherine date of birth unknown 4. Frances b. 16 March 1791 d. 27 Dec. J 794 5. Charlotte twin of Selina. b. 20 Apl. 1792; d. unm. 1874 6. Selina twin of Charlotte. b. 20 Apl. 1792; d. unm. 1861; bur. vault in north transept, Charing. 7. Frances Elizabeth b. 1798 d. 1816 aged J 8 years MI. Major John Sayer, of Doddington Educated Westminster School Charlotte dau. Charles Van of Llanwem co. Mon. Mary d. unm. April 1829 & Oriel, 18th Reg. of Foot, the 89th & the 25th. Finally the 1st Foot in 1793, d. I Feb. 1799, Ml, north transept. Rev. John Sayer, b. 1787 Vicar of Arlingham, Glos. in 1814 and later Rural Dean of Gloucester. m. 1815 d. 1836. John Sayer of Pett Place and Arlingham, Barrister-at-Law (Lincoln's Inn 1850) JP. Kent; Elizabeth only dau. & heir of Rev. Thomas Hodges of Slowwe in Arlingham, also Vicar of Arlingham. She d. I 784 Charlotte Sibella eld. dau. of Rev. William Crawley, Incumbent of Flaxley, Gloucs. 5th s. of Sir b. 21 Jan. 1823 at Slowwe in Arlingham where he is buried, edc. Rugby & Trin. Coll. Oxford MA. 1849. m. 13 Sept 1849. Thomas Crawley-Boevey, 2nd, Bt. of Flaxley Abbey. She d. 20 Jan. 1900 aged 74. Ml. d. I July 1886. Ml. John of Pett Place JP, & DL. Barrister Lincoln's Inn 1875 b. 3 July I 850. educ. Rugby & Christ Church Oxford, MA. 1876 m. 30 April 1889 d. 19 Jan. 1917 MI. Dorothea Hugoline (Clearmount. Charing eld. dau. of the Rev. Hugh Pigot, Rector of Stretham, Cams. b. 31 May 1865 d. 18 August 1949 Ml. George, MA. JP. b. 1853. d. 1920 MA. d. 1920 Catherine m. Rev. Wm Gregory, 2nd s. of Dr John Gregory of Edinburgh. Mary Elizabeth m. Rev. John Lloyd Crawley MA, Vicar of Arlingham. She d. 1848 William Arthur b. 1854 b. 1888 Frances d. unm. 3 March 1829 m. 1888 m. 1922 d. 1912 d. 1952 inherited & sold Pett Place Gladys Hugoline Major Philip Sibella Katherine Dorothea Joseph Lawrence m. 17 Aug 1922 Ormiston Nutley Margaret m. 22 Oct. 1930 Heathcote Stisted and has issue. Jordan R.E. of d. 1927. and has issue. s. of Major C.H. Stubble Hill Stisted of Egerton Harriet.sham, Kent. House, Egerton, Kent. I. Mary m. 1882 d. 1908 2. Sibella Fanny m. 1899 Frances Joan b. 31 Jan. 1899 d. 2 Apl. 1993. Eleanor Gabriel Peirce Katherine bur. Charing 18 Aug. 1666 The Family of PEIRCE of Charing, Kent. bur. Charing 7 Dec. 1669. 2nd son of Sampson Peirce yeoman of Stalisfield who d. about I 6 I 5 and Ann, dau. (-) Craft. m. 21 Sept. 1579. She alive in 1629. Joseph Peirce gent. m. aged 30. lie. Anne Williams of St Margaret's Canterbury. Gabriel Peirce gent bur. Charing 6 Sept. !71l9. Will dat. Anne bur. at Charing 21 Sept 1659 John of Pluckley gent. aged 32 lic. 31 May 1679 m. at Kingsnorth or Little = Sarah Hart of Pluckley v. aged 35. She survived 30 Dec. 1670 bondsm. Nich. Burges Ald. of Canterbury. bur. Charing 7 March 1706. pr. 17 Sept. 1709 Chart. Geo. Silles cordwainer swore consent. He d. before 1706 her husband, see bro.-in-law's will [CKS PRC32/58/237.J 3 Feb. 1706. m. at Boughton Aluph. bur. Charing see brother's will 10 Nov. 1680. [CKS PRC32/58/237.J Will dat. I Nov. 1680. pr. 27 Nov. I 680. Anne Jane & Catherine Sampson Peirce Roberta dau. of bapt. 8 Mar. 1671 twins born 28 Oct. 1677 Jane bapt. 2 Nov. I 677 Cath. bapt 9 Nov. I 677 born 28 March 1656 bapt. Charing; d. there aged 37 John Whitfield of Canterbury. Marriage Settlement dat. 14 March I 687 John of Charing gent. bapt. 24 Jan. l 688 bur. 6 March J 726; Lincoln College Oxford 4 May 1709. BA 18 March 1712/13. Named in grandfather's will Sampson of Doddington bur. there 9 Sept. 1759 10 Oct. 1692 d.v.p. Ml, Charing Church on nave floor near chancel. lie. m. 5 April 1688 at Molash. Apparently re-married after l 692 as will of father-in-law says 'my daughter-in-law Will dat. 21 Jan. Roberta Jones' 1691 pr. 25 Oct. I 692 [CKS PRC32/58/237.] Elizabeth bur. George Sampson at Doddington bapt. 4 March I 689 bapr. 2 Oct. 1691 20 June 1746. bur. at Charing bur. at Charing II Sept. l 694. 30 July 1693. M.I. with father M.1. with father Charing Church. Charing Church. Sarah dau. of Roberta Catherine (-) Halbett bapt. at Doddington d. 26 Dec. I 808 28 Dec. 1726, bur. bur. at Doddington there 30 March I 727 John of Mary Halford dau. Sampson of James of Rebecca Canterbury gent. of Rich. Halford London gent. London gent. b. Newnham b. at Linsted of Cant. gent. b. 22 July 1753 b. 2 Jan. l 755 2 Oct. 1757, d. Richard born 25 April 1659 at Charing. bur. 26 March I 660. William Hemming Esq. He living J 828. Roberta Catherine b. Doddington 4 April 1752 Mary = Edw. Nowers bapt. Charing l 29 April 1644 See brother Gabriel 's will [CKS PRC32/58/237.J Elizabeth Ann See uncle Gabriel's will [CKS PRC32/58/237.] Terry Marsh of Boughton. He died before his wife & 4 July 1746 m. 13 Oct. 1774 bapt. Doddington bapt. Doddington 24 April 1814 s.p. bapt. I 5 April 1752 was bur. at eldest son living 1828. lie. 12 Oct 1774 to be married at St Andrew's, Cant. J. Wm. Henry 2. George Gab. 3. John all d. young. John Sampson b. 13 Oct. 1821 bapt. St Alphege Canterbury. d. 1789, bur. in J 6 Aug. following: 27 Jan. 1755, d. 9 July 1821 Staplehurst. St Margaret's Church living in Guernsey living in 1828. bur. Staplehurst. Canterbury. Sampson Creed eldest son b. 5 Nov. 1777 bapt. at St Alphege Cant. 26 Nov. l 777. unm. in J 828. John James of Cant. gent. b. 9 July 1781 bapt. St Margaret's Cant. 20 Aug. foll'g. d. at Tarragon• in Spain 31 Dec. I 8 l 3 & bur. there. m. at St John's Church, Margate 20 May 1817, Mayor of Canterbury 1813 & 1825 Richard King b. 2 Feb. I 823 bapt. St Alphege Canterbury. Robert Hodges b. 28 May 1827 bapt. St Margaret's I Canterbury. Caroline Sare Augusta Elizabeth dau. of(-) King of Margate 20 May 1817. Mary Marsh b. 31 July 1775 bapt. St Alphege Cant. m. St James Church, London Rich. Buckner Esq. Capt. in the Royal Artillery, Only s. & h. of Adm. Charles Buckner, living 1828 Eliz. Roberta b. I 5 Dec. 1778, bapt. St Alphege Cant. 20 Jan 1779 living unm. I 828. 4 children living 1828 Augusta Mary b. 3 April 1818 bapt. St Alphege Canterbury. Emma Roberta b. 13 Dec, 1819 bapt. at St Alphege, Cant. Catherine Stisted Halford=(-) b. 29 Nov. 1824 I bapt. at St Margaret's 3 children d. young: 3 sons & 6 daus. Canterbury. l son: 2 daus. Cath. Sarah b. 4 Mar. l 785 bapt. St Marg'ts Cant. 6 April 1785 living unm. 1828. Charlotte b. 20 Aug. 1788 bapt. St Marg'ts Cant. 2 Oct. 1788 Jiving unm. 1828 Sarah Halford & Caroline both died young PEIRCE HOUSE, CHARING: THE HOUSE AND IT S OWNERS Item in the Closett to that Chamber, one Broad Box, Two old Trunks Item Thirty yards of new Cloth & Forty pounds weight of Spun yarne In the Maides Chamber: Item one Small Flock bedd & Bedstedd & one Blankett & a new Bedd Cord Item one old Chest one Bedstedd & ajoyned stoole Item Two small Tables Item one Flock bedd & bolster very old with a joyned Beddstedd & two old Chaires Item six pillows weighing Twenty Six pounds weight Item six Knives Six Forks & a Case Item personal Bond due from Mr Curteise Item for old Lumber & things forgotten 4 6 4 0 0 7 0 5 0 4 6 5 6 6 0 5 0 10 0 0 2 0 0 Sum Total of this Inventory is Three Hundred Forty Two pounds Nyne Shillings & Three pence CKS PRC27/33/167 SUMMARY OF THE WILL OF GABRIEL PEIRCE OF CHARING, KENT, 1706. Made 7 March, 1706. Proved 17 September, 1709. Will and Testament: Styled Gabriel Peirce of Charing, gentleman. Burial: In Charing Church 6 September 1709 - M.I. in floor in front of chancel. Bequests: To his grandson, John Peirce, his silver tankard with the silver plate belonging and two silver salts. To his daughter-in-law Mrs Roberta Jones, one guinea. To his sister, Mary Nowers, five pounds and six silver spoons. To Elizabeth and Anne, daughters of Mary Nowers ten pounds each. To his sister-in-law, the widow of his brother John Peirce, ten shillings to buy a ring. To the poor of Charing forty shillings. To his old servant, John Knock, and his wife two shillings each. To Elizabeth and Anne Nowers and his servant Elizabeth Speed, all the household goods to be equally divided. Messuage or Tenement and lands called Harts in Stalisfield; The Annuity or Rent Charge of five pounds a year from this holding to his grandson, John Peirce and his heirs. For want of such heirs it is to go to his sister Mary Nowers and after her death to her daughters, Elizabeth and Anne, equally divided between them and their heirs. A small Tenement and about three acres of land in Stalisfield. T his property had belonged to his brother Joseph Peirce and was the holding of his widow, Sarah, for her life. After her death the deed. would have an interest in the property which he bequeathed to his sister Mary Nowers for her life and after her death to her two daughters and their heirs. Land called Westbrooke in Charing. The increase in the yearly rent on the lease of this land the deed. had made to Francis Munn, over and above the yearly rent payable to Sir George Wheler for the same land, is to be used by his executrix towards the payment of his debts. One messuage, shop, barn, stable, garden, orchard and eight pieces of land, of about 16 acres in Stalisfield. The moiety or half of this property which he purchased from John and Elizabeth Somers to go to Mary Nowers, as executrix, to be sold. The wood growing on Westbrooke, Charing. His executrix to sell the wood growing in Westbrooke and all his goods and chattels not already given. With all the money raised 199 P. WINZAR from the sales above she is to pay all the debts and expenses. The surplus, if any, to be equally divided between his grandson, John Peirce and his sister and executrix, Mary Nowers. Witnesses. Joseph Smith, John Huckstep and George Poole. CKS PRC32/58/237 Act Book 22/22/172 THE INVENTORY OF GABRIEL PEIRCE, 1709 A true and perfect Inventory of all and singuler the Goods Chattells and Creditts of Gabriel Peirce late of Charing in the County of Kent gent. deceased valued and apprised the foure and twentieth day of September in the yeare of our Lord Christ One thousand Seven hundred and nine as followeth (That is to say) Imprimis his ready money, wearing Apparrell both lynnen and woollen and two gold rings Item oweing to the deceased at the time of his death Item in the Closett severall leaden Waights Item in the Corne Loft five bushells of Wheate Item one Strey, two Stuppetts, one old Fan, one bushell, one Tovett, one gallon, one Seed codd, two basketts and three drye Casks Item seven old Sacks, and one sacke of Charcoales Item in the Malthouse foure Cord of Wood £ 12 8 2 s. d. 0 0 0 0 7 6 0 0 18 0 6 0 8 0 Item eight ladders, foure Sawes, two bills, one Iron Crow, one Mattock and two howes Item in the Yard eight loades of Faggotts Item one Cart, one Dung Court and one paire of Chow le Wheeles Item in the Well close one hundred of pales Item a parcell of plaine Tiles Item some peices of timber and poles Item in the Barne twenty loades of hay Item two Cowes, two Sheates and one old Mare Item the Alders in the West brooke Item for things unseen and forgott Valued and apprized the day and yeare abovesaid by us John Smart 15 0 2 0 0 2 10 0 7 0 8 0 11 0 20 0 0 10 5 0 8 0 0 6 8 Sum totall £70 2 2 James Browne agreed 7 October 1709 CKS PRC27/38/41 200