| Notes |
- RESEARCH_NOTES:
1. This file is a catch-all file for early Clinches who I cannot yet connect to our Clinches. One possibility is the following chain starting with Thomas and Katherine, their son William and his wife Agnes, either their son John or Thomas, and then our ancestor John who married Joan. Several of the notes below explore the various links of that chain.
2. The following are transcriptions of the Latin 1495 will of Thomas Clenche of Chalkwell/Milton upon Sittingbourne (aka Milton Regis). Basically for family connections, Thomas was a large landholder. His wife was Katherine. He had two children -- a son William who appears to be deceased and a daughter with the married name of Agnes Brett (husband most likely William). William Clench had two sons, both under the age of 21 -- John and Thomas. John seems to be the older one of the two brothers. The deceased William Clench's widow was named Agnes Tunbrwge (probably the remarried surname) who still lived on one of the testator's properties.
Katherine's 1503 will is easier to decipher and only mentions her daughter Agnes. There is a reference to John Clench but no relation is stated although it certainly would be her grandson. There are a couple of godchildren also mentioned which may be related somehow since "godchild" in that day and age could also mean "grandchild." Among a couple of dozen people mentioned in the will is William Brett, who is a co-executor. This would probably be her son-in-law married to her daughter Agnes.
There is one other probate action that interests us in the Canterbury Probate Index. It is an Act for John Clench of Milton dated 1508 and referenced as PRC/3/3/161. It probably was initiated around John's 21st birthday and he is most likely the grandson John Clench in Thomas and Katherine's will, which would give him a birth of ca. 1487. Our John who married Johan is estimated to have been born before 1505 calculated from the 1530 land transaction they had in Eastling and he died 1593. This seems to preclude our John from being the grandson John. A look at the 1508 Act transcribed from the same sources below indicate: 15 November 1508. Administration to the goods of John Clenche. To John Triplowe. (A. Act, Vol. 3, fol. 161.)
Probate for Thoma Clench. Canterbury Probate Index: Will; Thomas Clenche, Milton next Sittingbourn, 1495, 1496, PRC/17/6/195, Chalkwell. Transcription from the following website "Archaeologia Cantiana - Vol. 44 (1932), pp. 96-97, "Milton Wills (next Sittingbourne)," by Arthur Hussey <http://www.kentarchaeology.org.uk/Research/Pub/ArchCant/Vol.044%20-%201932/07/096.htm> accessed 9 Feb 2016:
"18 June 1495. Buried in the churchyard. To the mother church of Holy Trinity Canterbury 4d. High altar of Middelton 6-8d, to the "fabrice et operibus" of the church 20/-. Light of St. Mary a cow. A secular priest celebrate for a year for my soul, parents, £6-13-4d. Residue after paying debts to wife Katherine, who with John Bromefeld my Ex'ors, and Ralph Chiche [not Clinche], gent, overseer. Wife have my tenement in Chalkwell with garden and five acres of land, eight acres in Nolefield in Borden parish, one acre and a virgate in Buggisfield, one acre and a virgate in Schamellisfield, half acre of woodland in Puc wood, one acre of woodland at Deneway in Newington parish, four acres in Bordensdane whereof one acre is in Sittingbourne, during the life of Katherine if she do not marry; if wife marry then John Bromefeld, John Bury, Thomas Coting my Feoffees, shall pay yearly to Katherine 40/-. After the death of wife Katherine the four acres in Bordensdane to Agnes Brette my daughter her heirs assigns for ever. After the death of Katherine then John son of William Clenche my son have residue of lands tenements, and to his heirs assigns for ever, when John is 21, until then Feoffees have charge of the same. If John be dead then to his brother Thomas when 21, but if Thomas dead then be sold, the money :—to a priest to celebrate for our souls £6-13-4d, to the repair of Middelton church £6-13-4d, for painting (picturam) the Images of Blessed Mary and St John Baptist in the church £6-13-4d, Andrew Joye of Ledes my kinsman and his brother Henry Joye each £3-6-8d, the residue in repairing the road between Chalkwell and Middelton, between Bobbing and Middelton, between Chalkwell and Chesten Wood by my Feoffees. The aforesaid Thomas Clench after the death of Agnes Tunbrigge his mother, have that tenement in Middelton next the Fox which Agnes holds for life, and to the heirs of Thomas for ever. If Thomas die before 21 then to Agnes Brett my daughter and her male issue for ever, in default to heirs female. John Joye have a piece of land between the Water Mill of Thomas Iden and land of John Hoggs east. Witness :—William Petyte vicar. [Probate 17 June 1497.] (A. Vol. 6, fol. 195.)"
[Note: I checked Canterbury Probate Index and found no entries for William Brett or any Tunbridge/Cambridge/Cambryge.]
Probate of Katherine Clench; Canterbury Probate Index: Will; Katherine Clenche, widow Thomas Clenche, Milton, 1593, 1593, PRC/17/9/181a. Transcription from the following website "Archaeologia Cantiana - Vol. 44 (1932), pp. 97-98, "Milton Wills (next Sittingbourne)," by Arthur Hussey <http://www.kentarchaeology.org.uk/Research/Pub/ArchCant/Vol.044%20-%201932/07/097.htm> accessed 9 Feb 2016:
"Kateryne Clench, wife of Thomas Clenche of Myddelton, yeoman, 16 December 1503. Buried in the churchyard. Daughter Agnes my best gown, kirtle, girdle, beads, and 6 silver spoons. John Holt 6-8d. John Clenche two tables, the hangings of the hall. Reparation of the church 6-8d, and of the highways 20/-. A priest sing for my soul, husband, friends for quarter of a year 33-4d. That Ralph Heyman, John Cathott, William Essex, Valentine Burdon, have 12d each to bear me to the church. John Clenche be put to school and good guiding by John Berry, John Triplowe, William Brett. Residue after debts paid to John Triplowe and William Brett my Ex'ors to dispose for my soul, each have 6-8d. Witnesses :—Dom William Scott, John Berry, Harry Waye. [Probate 17 January 1503-4.] (A. Vol. 9, fol. 181.)"
[My note: The above transcription seems to be abbreviated and in reviewing the original, I also find other names: John Holt, John Welbs?, Andrewe Joye and his brother Henry, Thomas Danbery, Kateryne Fyntche my goddaughter [often but not always this meant granddaughter], Thomas Cadlott, Agnes Newbury?, William Scott, Harry Wey, John Cory, Rauf Hayman, John Catlott, Willm Essex, Valentyn Budon?, Agnes Tryplowe, Katherine Feltwell, Katherine Cottying, Katherine Bugg godchild, Pet. Chamber (miller).]
3. Website of Roy L. Hales accessed 4 Jan 2016 <https://sites.google.com/site/ourkentishgenealogy/surnames/clinch>; Roy is a descendant of William Clinch, son of Stephen Hales and Ann Clinch. He purports the following early genealogy but how it may connect to our Clinches remains to be found. The Milton referred to is currently known as Milton Regis or Milton next Sittingbourne. Some corrections I made are indicated in [ ]:
"Origins
The Clinch family have a tradition that they originally came from Ireland. They supposedly grew prosperous raising sheep in Kent's Chetney marshes in the North of Kent. Then a flood washed their flocks away.
A farm labourer from Borden named George Clinch, who is remembered for his expertise grafting trees, is the first one remembered speaking of it. George was raised by his grandfather Thomas Clinch (1779-after 1851) and told the story to his daughter Marianne (1877-1957). She told her grandson Ron Hales Reed, who told the story to me one night in Barming during 2002.
As there are records of this family stretching back to the early 14th century, one has to wonder as to this story's accuracy.
Clinch is an English surname, which made its appearance as early as 1223. (Really & Wilson, "A Dictionary of English Surnames," p. 100) The name Clinch (or Clinse) enters Irish records, in the province of Leinster, during the early 1300's. (Edward Mac Lysaght, "The Surnames of Ireland," 1989 edition from London, p. 46).
There have been many floods in Kent's history. One of the worst brought an end to a boom in the wool trade. The cost of wool tripped between 1280 and 1322. The resulting crash has been blamed on severe storms that flooded low lying areas, like the Chetney marshes, with sea water. The surviving flocks were devastated by drought and pestilence. In 1324, farms belonging to Christ Church Cathedral, Canterbury, lost 4,685 of their 10,000 sheep. According F. W, Jessup, "Except on Romney Marsh, the flocks never recovered, nor did sheep rearing ever again reach its former importance or prosperity." (F. W. Jessup, "A History of Kent," edition of 1995, p. 69)
Records of the Clinch/Clench family start appearing, in a ten mile radius around Chetney Marsh, go back to that era.
There are references to the Clenches in the Hundred of West Milton during the mid-14th century:
- the Kent Lay Subsidy of 1334 mentions two Clench families in there Hundred of West Milton. The most extensive belonged to Laurence le Clench (2s. 4d) and a smaller holding was allowed to Thomas Clench (6d) - F. R. H Du Boulay editor, Medieval Kentish Society, Kent Archaeological Society, 1964, pp. 165, 166)
- On May 13, 1359, Thomas Clenche was one of the witnesses when Roger de Twydole, of Gillingham, granted all his lands, tenements, rents, farms, marshes, pastures, meadows in Gillingham to Richard Smelt of London. [http://cityark.medway.gov.uk/query/results/?Mode=Search&PathList=%2F&SearchWords=Clench&x=14&y=9]
By the 15th century, there are records from the Isle of Sheppy: The will of Joanne Clinch from 1468 (PCC17/1/65) and Thome Clinch from 1484 (PRC17/3/515).
Meanwhile, our ancestors in the Hundred of West Milton left enough data to reconstruct a genealogy:
Generation One
Thomas Clenche (about 1430? - 149[6]) married Katherine (1430? -150[3]). Thomas Clench was one of the 47 men from Borden [see "Archaeologia Cantiana, being Transactions of the Kent Archaelogical Society," Vol. VII, 1868, "John Cade's Followers in Kent," by William Durrant Cooper, pp. 333+, available online], in the Hundred of West Milton, that followed Jack Cade off to London in the rebellion of 1450. (Helen Allison, Borden: "The History of a Kentish Parish," Syndon Books, pp. 15-16). There are said to have been more than 5,000 men from Kent and the surrounding counties. They ambushed a royal detachment, led by Sir Humphrey and William Stafford, killing both commanders. Cade set up headquarters in The White Hart Inn, in Southwark, before entering London on 3 July 1450. They executed the High Treasurer of England and Sheriff of Kent. Things might have turned out differently, if Cade had been able to keep control of his men, but they proceeded to loot and pillage. There was a battle on London Bridge, on the night of July 8, in which the rebels appear to have got the worst of it. Much to Cade's dismay, his followers agreed to return to their homes after Archbishop John Kemp (Lord Chancellor) offered to fulfill their demands and issue official pardons. (This pardon has proved to be invaluable for genealogists). King Henry VI would subsequently reject this and issue an order for Cade's arrest. He was mortally wounded in a skirmish with Alexander Iden, who was subsequently appointed Sheriff of Kent.
Milton is only two miles from Borden and I suspect the Thomas Clenche whose will (PRC17/6/195) was proved there in 1497, is the man who marched off with Cade 47 years earlier. That document is in Latin, but his widow Katherine's will (PRC17/9/181) was in English. In that document she says she is the widow of Thomas Clenche and left a blanket, ball of yarn, pots, coffer and cupboard to their [grand]son John. [Note that Thomas' will mentions land in Borden, making it more sure that he was the one in Cade's Rebellion.]..."
4. I include this note for two reasons. First, our earliest Clenches had some connection to Eastling through their descendant Josias. Secondly, the second family summarized below has no known direct link but is definitely in the right locality of all our early Clenches and with some additional ancestral research they would most certainly connect.
Extraction of the surname Clinch (with variants) from Eastling Parish Records, FHL film 1836242, items 1-6. Also compared against a modern extraction on FHL film 1544550, it. 8, which appears to be extracted from the Archdeacon's Transcript (FHL film 1751816, item 1), which I also viewed. There is also a Bishop's Transcript beginning 1603 which I did not view. I extract through to 1675. No Allens or Barnes were found in extractions from our first generation John and Johan Clench's sons-in-law. The parish records I extracted have christenings starting 1559, burials 1558, and marriages 1560; there are many missing years including early 1640s to the early 1660s:
20 May 1593, Jacob, c., s/o Josias Clenche.
28 Mar 1596, Henry, c., s/o Josias Clench.
5 Aug 1599, William, c., s/o Josias Clenche.
3 Oct 1602, Sarah wife of Josias Clinch bur.
[From Archdeacon's transcript: 30 May 1612: Henry, bur., s/o Josias Clench, almost 16 years of age.]
23 Oct 1621, Edward Clinch, s/o John.
15 Aug 1624, Sarah Clinch, c., d/o John; bur. 19 Oct 1624, d/o of John Clinch.
9 Nov 1628, Anne Clenche, c., d/o John.
29 Jul 1631, Catherine Clinch, c., d/o John.
23 Dec 1632, Josias Clinch about 77 years old bur.
[From Archdeacon's transcript: 9 Feb 1634/5, "William Clinch & Margaret Greenstreet both single by license were maryed at Canterbury in the parish church of All Saints.]
17 Nov 1635, William Clinche, c., s/o William and Margaret.
14 Jan 1637/8, a stillborn child of John Clinche bur.
25 Aug 1639, Anne Clinche, c., d/o William and Margaret.
22 Nov 1641, Edward Clinch, c., s/o William and Margaret.
21 May 1649 Henry Clinch, c., s/o William and Margaret.
23 Dec 1652, Mary Clinch, c., d/o Wil. and Margaret.
[Undated between 1655 and 1662] -- the three are in sequence together and were probably entered much later from memory since the parish records are missing from early 1640 to early 1660s:
- "John Clench ye Elder & his wife being a widdow" bur.
- "John Clench ye younger about xl years old" bur.
- "Katharine Clench virgin about xxx years old" bur. [Modern extraction (FHL film 1544550, it. 8) shows Katharine Clench, virgin, bur. 11 Jul 1661, d/o John.]
6 May 1663, Katharine Clinch virgine, bur. [Is this a repeat entry for the one above?]
6 Sep 1663, "Widdow Clinch the wife of John Clinch" bur. [Archdeacon's record states age of "about 60."]
May 1670, Wm. Clinch bur.
6 Feb 1670/1, Margaret Clinch widdow, bur.
Dec 1675, Edward Clench bur.
Rearranged in family groups by myself:
Family 1: Parents Josias and Sarah Clench. 3 Oct 1602; 23 Dec 1632, Josias Clinch about 77 years old bur.; Sarah wife of Josias Clinch bur.:
- 20 May 1593, Jacob, c., s/o Josias Clenche.
- 28 Mar 1596, Henry, c., s/o Josias Clench; 30 May 1612: Henry, bur., s/o Josias Clench, almost 16 years of age.
- 5 Aug 1599, William, c., s/o Josias Clenche.
Family 2: Parents John Clench and unknown wife; 6 Sep 1663, "Widdow Clinch the wife of John Clinch" bur.
- 23 Oct 1621, Edward Clinch, s/o John; Dec 1675, Edward Clench bur.
- 15 Aug 1624, Sarah Clinch, c., d/o John; bur. 19 Oct 1624, d/o of John Clinch.
- 9 Nov 1628, Anne Clenche, c., d/o John.
- 29 Jul 1631, Catherine Clinch, c., d/o John. "Katharine Clench virgin about xxx years old" bur. [Modern extraction (FHL film 1544550, it. 8) shows Katharine Clench, virgin, bur. 11 Jul 1661, d/o John.] 6 May 1663, Katharine Clinch virgine, bur. [Is this a repeat entry for the one above?]
- 14 Jan 1637/8, a stillborn child of John Clinche bur.
Family 3: William and Margaret Clench (William is a son in Family #1); m9 Feb 1634/5, "William Clinch & Margaret Greenstreet both single by license were maryed at Canterbury in the parish church of All Saints; May 1670, Wm. Clinch bur.; 6 Feb 1670/1, Margaret Clinch widdow, bur.:
- 17 Nov 1635, William Clinche, c., s/o William and Margaret.
- 25 Aug 1639, Anne Clinche, c., d/o William and Margaret.
- 22 Nov 1641, Edward Clinch, c., s/o William and Margaret.
- 21 May 1649 Henry Clinch, c., s/o William and Margaret.
- 23 Dec 1652, Mary Clinch, c., d/o Wil. and Margaret.
My comments:
1. Josias of Family #1 is related to us by being the grandson of our first known ancestors John and Johan (___) Clench through their son John Clench's first marriage to an unknown wife.
2. In regards to Family #2 above, John is currently floating unanchored to our known line. The connection probably goes back further but is not yet determined. There is no marriage recorded in Eastling; however, Find My Past shows two entries for a John Clench who fits the timeframe of 1620 or earlier. This marriage appears to have been recorded twice -- John Clench and Catheren Dearne, 12 Apr 1618 at Marden, Kent, and John Clench and Cath. Dearne 12 Apr 1619 at Lynsted, Kent. Both entries are for John Clench. Marden is about 27 miles southwest of Lynsted and Eastling is about five miles south. Lynsted is close to Tonge and Eastling, the ancestral homes of the early Clenches. In Lynsted, we also find the 12 Jun 1620 christening of John Clench, son of John Clench, who was apparently born before the couple moved nearby Eastling where they first show up with the christening of their second child. This first son John who was chr. in Lynsted dies in Eastling (no date: "John Clench ye younger about xl years old" bur.) at age 40, which calculates to 1660. Note a child of this couple chr. in Eastlin is named Catherine. Also we find one other child chr. in Lynsted belonging to this family: Mary "Clennch," dau. of John "Clennch," bur. 16 Oct 1625. All of this confirms that John of Lynsted and John of Eastling are the same person. No earlier records of Clenches exist in Lynsted.
5. Email from Roy L Hales dated 23 Jan 2016 :
"I think the John & Johann Clinch from Eastling real estate deal of 1530/31 and John's will 1582 are the same couple."
Roy also found the following: "There is a John Clynch in the subsidy roll in the 14th year of King Henry VIII (22 April 1523 - 21 April 1524). He paid 4 pence (James Greenstreet, "Subsidy Roll for the Hundred of Faversham, for Ao 14 Henry VIII," Archaeologica Cantiana, Vol XII, 1878, p. 426)." He also notes Eastling is in Faversham Hundred. He also notes he has extensive documentation from the town of Faversham itself, and sees no Clynches, so he believes this entry pertains to one of the outlying parishes -- perhaps Eastling. In my research, I see Milton Regis (the modern name of Milton) is not in the Faversham Hundred, so Eastling could be a better option.
I concur that the Eastling real estate John or 1530 is our 1582 man even though there is the remote possibility there was another couple of this name. Having extracted the Eastling church records, it is evident it was a very small parish with some years having no marriages or maybe only a half dozen baptisms -- so the odds of two similarly named couples would be slim.
As for our John being the son of Thomas and Katherine: We know John was the older of the two sons, John and Thomas, named in Thomas' 1495 will. Their father William is dead by then and their mother is remarried, so the latest he would be born would be circa about 1590. If he is however the same John as the Act of 1508 for John Clench of Milton, then he may have reached his majority of 21 at that time making a birth of about 1487, which would make him 95 at time of death. A definite possibility but some room for some doubt. It doesn't work so well if Thomas' John is not our John because the timeframe doesn't work so well for the early John to be the father of the later John.
The reference in the Kent Canterbury list of probate for the 1508 administration is: John Clenche, Milton, 1508, (A Act vol 3/161). Being he is the only other Clench mentioned in Milton in that time period besides Thomas and Katherine, then one would surmise that it most likely the same John mentioned in the two wills. Why an act? Perhaps something to do with the admin or the possession of his legacy? I am not sure where to find the Act, but it is listed on the Canterbury probate list -- perhaps in with the wills for 1508?
Remember too that there was a grandson Thomas of Thomas the testator as well in the mix who could be our progenitor. Another consideration is that Katherine does not give a relationship to the John Clench in her will in 1503 and it seems that she has him holding property for three individuals including Wm. Brett, who would be his uncle. This would imply perhaps a majority of age, unless there is another John Clench who was older and perhaps the same generation as her deceased husband. If it was the grandson John who was of majority age, then he could certainly be the father of John Clench who married Johan.
Roy's later added opinion: I easily could accept the idea of one John Clench living to +88 (aged at least 4 when his grandfather Thomas died); however, the problem with a "one John theory" is his wife Johan. Having two of them +88 is possible, but unusual and "feels wrong". I suspect he was some years short of 21, as they mention the idea of his dying before he is that old, but if he was only 14 that makes him 98 when he died. I suppose John could have married a much younger woman, but they appear to have been married 52 years. If she was 20 when we first see them, that makes her 72 when he died. All possible, but I like the feel of two John's better. Seems more likely.
Roy also added this later thought which ties Thomas Clench and his son John to Ospringe, which is less than four miles north of Eastling. Roy's comments:
"Re Pudwode: An obscure name, but whenever I google it I come to Ospringe, in Faversham Hundred, where there is a "de Pudwode" family from the 12th and 13th centuries. (Just as there are families called "de Borden" from 12th century Borden and a Robert de Bredgar" from Bredgar in the late 1300s.) Ospringe is 7 miles from Sittingbourne and about the same distance from Borden, so this is feasible. But, so far, I draw a blank on "Bunggiffield" and "Schmeliffield." I tried googling "Bungfield" and "Schmelfield."
More from Roy on the subject of Ospringe:
Dancy is not a common name in Kent. I suspect Robert Dancy was a tenant farmer, as he is not listed as a land owner and I do not think William Clinch would marry a labourer's daughter.
I have been thinking about Clinch: Most of the land John Clenche inherited from Thomas (of Milton 1496) was in Milton Hundred - Sittingbourne, Newington, Chalkwell. But the 1/2 acre in Pudwode appears to be near Ospringe, in Faversham Hundred (William de Putwode witnessed a real estate deed in Ospringe on 20 Mar 1253; Philip, son of William de Putwode, granted 4s. of rent in Ospringe in reign of Edward II). If John inherited land in Faversham, this could be him: in the 14th year of King Henry VIII (22 April 1523 - 21 April 1524), John Clynch paid 4 pence (James Greenstreet, "Subsidy Roll for the Hundred of Faversham, for Ao 14 Henry VIII," Archaeologica Cantiana, Vol XII, 1878, p. 426).
I think we are dealing with two generations:
-John Clench Sr (about 1480 - 1532) inherited lands in Milton & Faversham Hundred
-John Clench Jr (about 1505 - 1582) had lands in Eastling (Faversham Hundred) & Otterden
6. Mentions of Thomas Clenche:
A. Mention in 1469 of Thomas Clenche per website Archaeologia Cantiana - Vol. 45 (1933) page 28 <http://www.kentarchaeology.org.uk/Research/Pub/ArchCant/Vol.045%20-%201933/02/028.htm> accessed 9 Feb 2016: Milton Wills (next Sittingbourne), by Arthur Hessey:
"George Holt. 20 Oct 1469. Buried in the churchyard. To the parish-priest 6d, parish-clerk 4d, the sacrist my red cloak. Wife Alice all utensils of my house. Dionise and Rose my daughters at their marriage each £3-6-8d. Ex'ors :—Thomas Clenche, William Coting to pay all debts. Wife dwell in my house for a year then have for life 20/- yearly. The tenement called Robys with all lands to my sons (no names) and daughters, if they die without lawful issue then be sold, the money :—to the highway between the churches of Iwade and Bobbing £13.6-8d, to a priest to celebrate for our souls 33-4d, the residue by discretion of Feoffees. [Probate 15 Feb. 1469-70.] (A. Vol. 1, fol. 313.)"
B. Mention in 1488 of Thomas Clenche per website Archaeologia Cantiana - Vol. 44 (1932) page 89 <http://www.kentarchaeology.org.uk/Research/Pub/ArchCant/Vol.044%20-%201932/07/089.htm> accessed 9 Feb 2016: Milton Wills (next Sittingbourne), by Arthur Hessey:
"John Bull. 12 Oct. 1488. Buried in the churchyard. High altar for tithes 13-4d. John Langley 6-8c1. Repair of bad roads in Newington and Rainham 33-4d. Residue after debts paid to Matilda my wife and Ex'or. Wife have all goods in the house in which I dwell, also the tenement and all lands etc for life, except Harts barn with a garden and 9 acres called the Forde in Sayer field against a croft of Thomas Clenche, which Matilda to occupy until Agnes Bull my daughter be married, then Agnes have the same, if Agnes die before marriage or without lawful issue, then to Joan, Agnes, Alice my daughters and their lawful issue. Agnes Chalkelin at her marriage 3 acres of land in Borden Dane, if she die before then to my three daughters. If my daughters die then after the death of my wife, son Stephen have my tenement in which I dwell with all lands, the croft of Post Harts barn with pasture etc, 7 acres abutting on the Towns Mede, and to his lawful issue. After death of Matilda 8 acres in Sayerfield be sold the money to the painting of the Rood loft in Midelton church. The money for 1½ acres against Clifford's Mill to the Guild or Fraternity of St. James in the church for ever. The money from 1½ acres at the Hawthorn in Sayerfield, for the keeping of an Obit by' my Feoffees in the church for ever, and Stephen my son have supervision of the Obit whilst he lives, then the Vicar of Midelton and his successors have the land for ever to keep the Obit.1 After the death of my wife, then Agnes Thomas my daughter have 5 acres of land in Put Wood and to her lawful issue, paying to the Wardens of Sedingborne to buy one Antiphonar 16-8d. After the death of my wife Joan Chiche and Alice Wodeward have 5 acres in Norkis field and to their lawful issue. Joan my sister 6 acres in West land. Matilda my wife shall pay all my debts, legacies, etc, and find a secular priest to pray for my soul and friends for four years. Witnesses :—Dom. William Petyte vicar of Midelton [1487-1507], Dom Robert Tomson, Thomas Sole. [Probate 17 December 1488.] (A. Vol. 5, fol. 26.)"
C. Mention in 1490 of Thomas Clenche per website Archaeologia Cantiana - Vol. 46 (1934) http://www.kentarchaeology.org.uk/Research/Pub/ArchCant/Vol.046%20-%201934/046-04.pdf> accessed 9 Feb 2016: Milton Wills (next Sittingbourne), by Arthur Hessey:
"John Seman. 25 June 1490. Buried in the churchyard. Wife have my tenement to give or sell as it pleases her. Residue disposed for my soul by wife Joan my Ex'or. Witnesses :-Dom. John Perot, Thomas Clenche, John Flawne. [Probate 25 Sept 1490.] (A. Vol. 5, fol. 242.)"
D. Mention in 1507 of Thomas Clenche per website Archaeologia Cantiana - Vol. 44 (1932) page 92 <http://www.kentarchaeology.org.uk/Research/Pub/ArchCant/Vol.044%20-%201932/07/092.htm> accessed 9 Feb 2016: Milton Wills (next Sittingbourne), by Arthur Hessey; the Clenche lands are most likely those of Thomas Clenche, deceased:
"Robert Burdon, of Chalkewell. 1 Feb. 1506-7. Buried in the churchyard. To the Wevars torches when they be disposed to make them 2/-. John Day my cousin and servant various household things. Daughters, Katherine and Agnes 20/- each. Lowes Burdon 40/- to find him to school. Residue after debts paid to wife Margaret who with sons Thomas and John my Ex'ors. Wife have tenement in which I dwell with two gardens in Chalkwell for life if she does not marry, then to sons Thomas and John and their lawful issue, in default to my next heirs. Son William a tenement bounding to the lands of the heirs of Clenche. Whoever have my tenement to keep for 20 years one Obit of 2/- yearly for my soul, parents, all the faithful departed. Witnesses :—Dom John Bryne curate, John Triple, William Raynolde. [Probate 20 May 1507.] (A. Vol. 10, fol. 246.)"
7. Jack Cade's Rebellion of 1450: A Database of Names of those Receiving Pardons, taken from Calendar of Patent Rolls Henry VI 5 (1909) pp. 338-374 accessed from https://familysearch.org. This spreadsheet of about 3449 persons was created by Merton Historical Society in September 2014, and is accessible at http://www.mertonhistoricalsociety.org.uk/index.php?cat=morden&sec=!rebels
For more detail on this listing and the event see http://www.kentarchaeology.org.uk/Research/Pub/ArchCant/007%20-%201868/007-03.pdf
Clinch:
Thomas Clenche, Borden, Kent
8. The following extraction was made from the "Index to the Kent Lay Subsidy Roll of 1334/5," by H.A. Hanley, B.A. and C.W. Chalklin, M.A., B. Litt <http://www.kentarchaeology.org.uk/Research/Pub/KRV/18/7/313.htm> accessed 11 Feb 2016. From this index, the actual entries are found in "The Kent Lay Subsidy Roll of 1334/5," by the same authors <http://www.kentarchaeology.org.uk/Research/Pub/KRV/18/3/058-172.htm> accessed 12 Feb 2016. The second document more fully explains the history of this Lay Subsity. This was a tax assessed on householders; however, it probably only represents about 50% of the householders since the poorer families were not assessed:
Clenche, Thos., 165 (Bailiwick of West in Middeltone [West in Milton]: Tenth).
9. Clenches mentioned in medieval real estate transactions.
The first transaction lists a William and Agnes Clench with land in Hucking and Hollingbourne in 1492. These two parishes are 8 or so miles from Milton. Additionally we know that Thomas and Katherine of Milton had a son William who was married to Agnes (she later marries William Brett). Thomas' will is dated 1495 at which time we know William is dead and Agnes is remarried. I think it is a strong probability that this is the same couple and this transaction occurred just before William dies.
The second transaction with the Bugges and Thomas Clench is also intriguing. Katherine, the wife of Thomas Clench, names a Katherine Bugg as a god-daughter in her will of 1503. I am not quite sure what to make of the term godchild in this instance. Did England ever follow the Continental practice (i.e. Lutherans) of having baptismal witnesses for whom the baby was named for? If not, does godchild denote some level of kinship? I think I have seen it before as a "grandchild" but I am not sure if that is a firm rule. Could then Felice Bugg of the transaction then be a possible daughter of Thomas and Katherine?
The two transactions:
A. http://www.medievalgenealogy.org.uk/fines/abstracts/CP_25_1_117A_345.shtml#116. CP 25/1/117A/345, number 116. Link: Image of document at AALT <http://aalt.law.uh.edu/AALT2/CP25no1/CP25_1_117a/IMG_0132.htm>:
County: Kent.
Place: Westminster.
Date: Two weeks from St Hilary, 7 Henry VII [27 January 1492].
Parties: Peter Buntan', querent, and William Clenche and Agnes, his wife, deforciants.
Property:1 messuage, 1 garden, 16 acres of land and 10 acres of pasture in Holyngbourne and Hokynge.
Action: Plea of covenant.
Agreement: William and Agnes have acknowledged the tenements to be the right of Peter, as those which he has of their gift, and have remised and quitclaimed them from themselves and the heirs of Agnes to him and his heirs for ever.
Warranty: Warranty.
For this: Peter has given them 20 marks of silver.
Standardised forms of names. (These are tentative suggestions, intended only as a finding aid.)
Persons: Peter Bunton, William Clench, Agnes Clench
Places: Hollingbourne, Hucking
B. http://www.medievalgenealogy.org.uk/fines/abstracts/CP_25_1_116_330.shtml#13. CP 25/1/116/330, number 13. Link: Image of document at AALT <http://aalt.law.uh.edu/AALT4/CP25%281%29/CP25%281%29no116/IMG_0711.htm>:
County: Kent.
Place: Westminster.
Date: Two weeks from St Michael, 2 Edward IV [13 October 1462].
Parties: John Bugge and Thomas Clenche, querents, and William Bugge and Felice, his wife, deforciants.
Property: 1 messuage and 3 acres of land in Middelton' and Bo[rde?]n'.
Action: Plea of covenant.
Agreement: William and Felice have acknowledged the tenements to be the right of John, as those which John and Thomas have of their gift, and have remised and quitclaimed them from themselves and the heirs of Felice to John and Thomas and the heirs of John for ever.
Warranty: Warranty to John and William [sic] and the heirs of John.
For this: John and Thomas have given them 20 marks of silver.
Standardised forms of names. (These are tentative suggestions, intended only as a finding aid.)
Persons: John Bugg, Thomas Clench, William Bugg, Felice Bugg
Places: Milton Regis, Borden
SOURCES_MISC:
1. https://sites.google.com/site/ourkentishgenealogy/surnames/clinch accessed 11 Feb 2016.
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Chris & Julie Petersen's Genealogy
d. Abt 6 Jul 1582, Otterden, Kent, England