Part 1 - Alchins at Meopham 1600 - 1680

Introduction

Only some of the parish registers of the church of St John the Baptism, Meopham have survived from the 17th century. Besides those persons listed in the main text of this genealogy, there are a number of Alchin marriages at Meopham where identification of the ancestry of the individuals has not been possible:

John Alchin and Elizabeth Death on 23rd May 1641 (they baptised a son John at Meopham on 13th July 1643)

Thomas Higgins and Phoebe Alchin on 24th September 1662

Thomas Alchin and Joan Harris in May 1665

Steven Alchin and Dorothy Bright on 2nd November 1665; and

Mary Alchin and Henry Alchin (son of Thomas Alchin of Leybourne) on 16th November 1682.

The last four marriages possibly concern the children of John Alchin and Elizabeth Death. John Alchin is quite possibly a brother of Thomas Alchin of Leybourne - see Part 2. John may also have been the son that George Alchin and Marjorie Roofe baptised at Cranbrook on 1st July 1603. Interestingly there is a record of Joan Alchin marrying Thomas Mepham at Brenchley near Tonbridge on 9th January 1573.

Left: The church of St John the Baptist, Meopham; Right: Fawkham church

During the 18th century a number of other Alchin men folk moved to Meopham where they married, raised families and invariably worked as carpenters. In particular this included Anthony Alchin, born at Hadleigh, Suffolk in 1742 but who’s father (also called Anthony) was born at Leybourne and whose grandparents Henry and Mary Alchin had married at Meopham in 1682. Anthony junior married Mary Higgins at Meopham in 1767 thereby becoming the ancestor of all those people listed in Part 3 of this history. Another was John  Alchin who married Esther Loader and whose descendants moved to Victoria and a third was John Alchin (see para 1.3.4.4) who married Mary (Margaret) Phillips and through her became a fairly large landowner in the parish of Meopham.

1. ~ Unknown Alchin Ancestor

This man was probably born around 1560 or thereabouts in one of the villages to the south and  west of Maidstone, possibly Meopham or Leybourne. He may even have been born at Rotherfield in Sussex (see Introduction page 2). His name was probably one of either Thomas, Richard, John, Anthony or Henry as these were the names used almost exclusively used by his descendants for the next 200 years. He married an unknown woman and they had at least two sons - Thomas and Richard both of whom were probably born in the 1590’s. He may also have had a third son (Henry ?) who was the ancestor of Thomas Alchin of Leybourne (see Part 2).

1.1 ~ Thomas Alchin

Thomas was born in the late 1580’s or early 1590’s. There is a possibility he may have been one of three children born to Isaac Alchin and Alice Baker at Rotherfield, Sussex in the 1580’s. He married Sarah and they had at least four children, all daughters - Margaret (c.1617/18), Parnell (1619), Sarah (1623) and Sarah (1624). His will records that Thomas was a carpenter of Meopham and that at the time of his death in 1626 his wife and three of his daughters were still alive. Even though he describes himself as only a carpenter, Thomas was prosperous enough to own a house and lands at Wateringbury, several miles south of Meopham.

Thomas’ will bequeathed 20 pounds to be divided equally between his three daughters and which they were not to receive until they attained the age of 21 years. His house and lands were granted to his wife and after her death these were to be divided between his surviving daughters. Thomas appointed his brother Richard Alchin of Fawkham, Kent as one of the overseers of his will. Thomas was buried at Meopham on 15th May 1625 and it appears that one of his daughters might have died the following week.

The last Will and Testament of Thomas Alchin, Carpenter of Meopham reads as follows:

“In the name of God Amen the eleventh daye of Maye in the first yeare of the Reigne of our Sovereigne Lord Charles by the grace of God Kinge of Great Brittayne France and Ireland defender of the Fayth etc I Thomas Alchin of Meopham in the Countie of Kent Carpenture though sicke in bodie yet of good and perfect minde and remembrance thankes be unto almightie God therefore doe make and appoynte this my last will and testement in manner and forme followinge and? first and principally I give and bequeath my soule unto the hands of Almightie God my Creater and of Jesus Christ my redeemer by whose pretious bloode sheadeinge I hope to be saved and my bodie to be buried within the Churcheyarde of Meopham aforesayde

Item I will and give unto the poore people of the p'ishe of Meopham aforesayde Tenn shillings to be payed them w'thin tenn weekes next after my decease

Item I will and give unto my three daughters Margarett Parnell and Sara the Summes of Twentie powndes of Currant Englishe money to be equally devided amongst them as they shall atteyne and come to their severall ages of one and twentie yeares

Item my minde and will is that if any of my aforesaid children shall happen to dye before they shalbe of the sayd age then their or her parte she dyeinge to remayne and come to the liveinge

Item I will and give unto Sara my welbeloved wife my house and lands at? lyeinge and beinge att Wateringburie in the Countie aforesayd for and dureinge her naturall life for her maynetaynance and to help bringe up my aforesayd children w'th? and after her decease my minde and will is that my sayd house and lands shall descend and come equally to be devided betweene my aforesayd children

Item I will that my aforesayd wife shall have the use and yearely p'fitt of my childrens money while they shalbe to ___ the same as aforesayd The residue of all my goods not mentioned nor bequeathed I give unto Sara my wife whome I make sole Executrix of this my last will and testament

Item I will that if my wife shall marrie after my decease that then myne overseers hereafter named shall other receive? and putt out the aforesayd summes of twentie powndes for my children or rest? reymine such? sufficient securitie for payement thereof as aforesayd as shall stand w'th their good? likewise

Item I will and appoynt my loveinge brother Richard Alchin and Nathaniell Augur? to be my Overseers
In witness whereof I have hereunto sett my hand and seale the daye and yeare first above written Thomas Alchin his marke
Sealed and published to be his last will and testament ___ of Tho. Pigott, Robert Willcocke his marke”

Probate 4 May 1626 to Sara Alchin relict (widow) and executrix

Source: Peculiar Court of Shoreham Vol.1 folio 14 #189094 1626 (Transcribed by Maureen Rawson)