Part 2 – Alchins of Leybourne and the Mallings, Kent 1680 – 1901

Introduction –  A Theoretical Ancestry of the Alchins of Leybourne and the Mallings

The family appears to have originated as Alchornes (although occasionally they are recorded as Alchins) in the town of Rotherfield in East Sussex. As the family moved north to Tonbridge in Kent the local dialect may have subtly altered their surname to Alchin. In the 16th and 17th centuries there are records of many families of Alchorne / Allchorne at Rotherfield and the nearby villages of Buxted and Isted.

Similarly from the late 16th century the family of Alchin appears at Tonbridge on the border of Kent and East Sussex. Interestingly Tonbridge is on the main road between Rotherfield and West Malling. In the mid 1700’s descendants of Thomas Alchin were living, and owned property, at Tonbridge.

The following is a conjectured genealogy for our branch of the family from the mid 16th century until their appearance at Leybourne in the mid 17th century. Further research is needed to support this theory as at this stage there is absolutely no proof available:

1 ~ Thomas Alchin

Thomas was born in the 1620’s or 1630’s, possibly at Leybourne or Meopham. The family may however be traceable to the hamlet of Chevening near Sevenoaks. Chevening is only about 12 miles from the Mallings. Thomas Alchin may have been baptised at St Botolph’s church, Chevening on 24th June 1620, the son of Henry Alchin and an unknown mother.

Henry had at least one other son, Richard, who was baptised at Chevening on 4th October 1624 and a daughter Elizabeth who was buried at Chevening on 22nd April 1623. Did Henry have another son John who married Elizabeth Death at Meopham in 1643? Thomas Alchin baptised a daughter Ann at Chevening on 12th May 1644. It would be interesting to know the occupations of Henry and Thomas Alchin of Chevening. Unfortunately like so many other parishes in England, the record keeping during and immediately after the Civil War fell away almost to nothing. There are very few entries in the parish register for the period 1645 to 1651 and none at all between 1651 and 1680.

We do know that Thomas married Elizabeth (West?) and they had at least four children over the period 1645 - 1660. There is no surviving record of the marriage of Thomas and Elizabeth and further research is required. Elizabeth Alchin was buried at Leybourne on 5th September 1682, probably aged about 60 years.

From his will dated 1701 we know the names of Thomas and Elizabeth’s sons - Richard, Thomas, Henry and Anthony. Thomas Alchin senior was a miller of Leybourne and he seems to have become quite prosperous (the mill was quite possibly a paper mill located at Ditton or East Malling). Thomas died at Leybourne and he was probably aged in his 80’s. He was buried at Leybourne on 30th June 1702.

Thomas left a considerable estate to his (eldest?) son Richard Alchin and legacies totalling 125 pounds to his other sons and several of his grandchildren and great grandchildren. An inventory of his estate was taken on 17th July 1702 and it was valued at 215 pounds and 8 shillings – probably equivalent to several hundred thousand dollars in today’s value.

The last Will and Testament of Thomas Alchin, Miller of Leybourne reads as follows:

“In the Name of God Amen I Thomas Alchin of Layborne in the County of Kent Miller being somewhat indisposed and weake in Body but of good sound and perfect Minde Memory and Understanding praised be Almighty God - therefore Doe this present Seaventeenth - Day of January in the Yeare of our Lord One thousand Seaven hundred and One make and ordaine this my last Will and Testament in manner and forme following (that is to say) First and principally I recomend my Soule into the hands of Almighty God my Creatour who gave it hopeing through the meritorious Death and passion of Jesus Christ my blessed Redeemer to obtaine full pardon and remission of all my Sins, and my Body I Comitt to the Earth to be decently buryed according to the discretion of my Executor hereinafter named And as for my worldly goods and Estate it hath pleased Almighty God to blesse me withall I give and dispose thereof as followeth (that is to say)

Imprimis I give and bequeath unto my Sonn Thomas Alchin the Sume of Forty pounds to be paid unto him by my Executor hereinafter named within one Yeare next after my decease

Item I give and bequeath unto my Grandsonn Thomas Alchin Sonn of my Said Sonn Thomas Alchin the Sume of five pounds to be paid unto him within one Yeare next after my Decease by my Executor

Item I give and bequeath unto my greate grandchild Thomas Alchin Sonn of my Said Grandsonn Thomas Alchin the Sume of five pounds to be paid unto him att his Age of One and twenty Yeares by my Executor if he shall live to attaine that Age but if he dye before he attaine his Said Age of One and twenty Yeares then I give and bequeath the Same Sume of five pounds unto my greate grandaughter Mary - the daughter of my sd. grandSonn Thomas Alchin to be paid att her Age of one and Twenty Yeares

Item I give and bequeath unto my GrandSonn Henry Alchin Sonn of my said Sonn Thomas Alchin the Sume of five pounds to be paid unto him within one Yeare next after my decease by my Executor

Item I give and bequeath unto my grandaughter Elizabeth the wife of William Tong the Sum of five pounds to be paid unto her within one Yeare next after my decease by my Executor

Item I give and bequeath unto my Sonn Henry Alchin the Sume of Forty pounds to be paid unto him within one Yeare next after my decease by my Executor hereinafter named

Item I give and bequeath unto my GrandSonn Thomas Alchin Sonn of my Said Sonn Henry Alchin the Sume of five pounds to be paid unto him att his Age of one and Twenty Yeares by my Executor if he shall live to attaine that Age but if he shall happen to dye before he shall attaine his Said Age of one and twenty Yeares then I give and bequeath the Same Sume of five pounds unto my Grandchild John Alchin Sonn of my Said Sonn Henry Alchin To be paid unto him att his Age of one and Twenty Yeares by my Executor

Item I give and bequeath unto my Grandsonn Anthony Alchin Sonn of my Sonn Anthony Alchin decd. the Sume of Tenn pounds to be paid unto him att his Age of One and twenty Yeares by my Executor if he shall live to attaine that Age But if he shall happen to dye before he shall attaine his Said Age of One and twenty Yeares then I give and bequeath the Said Sume of Tenn pounds unto my Executor hereinafter named

Item I give and bequeath unto my grandsonn Thomas Alchin Sonn of my Said Sonn Anthony Alchin decd. the Sume of five pounds to be paid unto him within one yeare next after my decease by my Executor

Item I give and bequeath unto my daughter in Law Alchin widow late wife of my Said Sonn Anthony Alchin deceased the Sume of five pounds to be paid unto her within one Years next after my decease by my Executor

Item I give and bequeath unto my grandsonn Thomas Alchin Sonn of my Sonn Richard Alchin the Sume of five pounds to be paid unto him by my Executor att his Age of one and twenty Yeares

All the rest and residue of my goods Chattells ready Money Debts Securityes household stuffe stock and personal estate whatsoever and wheresoever my debts Legacyes and funerall Expences being thereout first paid and discharged I give and bequeath unto my Said Sonn Richard Alchin whome I make and ordairne full and sole Executor of this my last Will and Testament and doe hereby revoke all former Wills by me made And doe declare this present Writeing Conteined in three Sheetes of papyr to be my last Will and Testament In witnesse whereof I have to the two first sheetes hereof sett my hand and to this last my hand and seale the day and yeare in the first sheet first mentioned
The Mark of Thomas Alchin T - signed sealed published and declared by the said Thomas Alchin the testator to be his last will and testament in the presence of us whose names are hereunto subscribed who alsoe subscribed our names in the presence of the said testator John Hooker, John Bamford, Rob't Taylor

Probate in Latin 18 July 1702 to Richard Alchin, son and executor, Inventory taken 17 July 1702 by John Tomini? and James Walter, total £215 8s”

Source: Archdeaconry? Court of Rochester 1702 (Transcribed by Maureen Rawson)

A typical Kentish yeoman’s house dating from the 15th or 16th century – Thomas Alchin may have lived in a similarhouse