Books
Elizabeth M. Tillman, Getting to the Roots of the Family Tree: The Story of a Saxon Family. 3 Volumes (paperback) xxvi + 1179, including drawings and photographs (1997 Heritage Books Inc. ISBN 0-7884-0627-2.) $65.00. Alternatively contact the author at Stanavis, Hawks Hill, Fetcham, Leatherhead, Surrey.
This book, in three parts, traces a family, as far as this is possible, from the time of the Saxon invasion to Norfolk, then spreading to Kent and the West Country. About two thirds of the story is set in Kent, where the family multiplied and flourished and produced its most distinguished member, who was granted a coat of arms. Not only dealing with members of the family in other counties, the author has shown the connection with the early emigrants to Virginia and Maryland who gave rise to some very celebrated characters. Bill Tilghman, the western lawman commemorated on a U.S. postage stamp, Tench Tilghman, who carried George Washington's hand-written dispatch of the British surrender at Yorktown to Congress, and Tilghman Island in Chesapeake Bay are all included. The author says, "I wanted to know if I could find out who the ancestors were... to know about the people, where they lived, what their occupations were and anything unusual or interesting about them." The author has set her researches into context and despite the truly enormous amount of detail that has been gathered and included in the volumes, I am sure that many will find items of interest in the vast range of sources that have been examined and perhaps surnames of interest to them in the 40 pages of index covering about 2,000 names (which includes no Tillman or Tilghman entries). Part 2, pp. 409-888 covers the family from both East and West Kent and will provide an insight for those that have not strayed into the Public Record Office of the range of documents that can be used to bring ancestors to light.
My eye alighted on the index on John Castlocke - was this the last Abbot of Faversham? [For a recent account of him and his skulduggery see P. Hyde, Thomas Arden in Faversham (1996)]. Alas not but a near relative. The entry on page 945 was a Feet of Fine (CP25(2) 309 Kent Michaelmas 11 Jas I (1613]) which showed that John had paid Thomas Tilghman alias Tilman and Mildred his wife £120 for the manor and lands of 'Moryscourte' [Morris-Court] in the parish of Bapchild. According to Hasted John, who was Mayor of Faversham in 1612, was the son of another John Castlock mayor in 1603, and was granted arms in 1614.
The line drawings and maps by the author greatly enhance this very enjoyable work. At page 1138 is a pull-out chart showing the descent of the early emigrants to America from the family in Pluckley. If there is a criticism of this splendid book it would be for me that I would have liked many more of these charts since I find it much easier to understand family relationships in this visual manner. Nonetheless, the author has produced a remarkable history of her family name which will be an inspiration to many others working on their Kentish ancestors.
Duncan Harrington.
BECKET'S BONES TO THE BLITZ - Seven more Canterbury Tales for Children (9 to 12+); by Marjorie Lyle. 56 pp. illustrated - ISBN 0-9529383-1-6 - £4.95.
This new set of tales continues from Seven Buried Canterbury Tales (£3.99) and goes from the Dissolution of St. Thomas' shrine to 1942.
Offer to K.A.S. members £4.50 post free or £7.50 post free for both books. Cheques to 'Chough Press' at 25 Rough Common Road, Canterbury CT2 9DL.