Part 1 - Alchins at Meopham 1600 - 1680

1.1.1 ~ Margaret Alchin

Margaret was the eldest surviving child of Thomas and Sarah Alchin. There is no surviving record of her baptism but she was probably born at Meopham in about 1617 or 1618. She was named as one of the heirs of Thomas Alchin when he died in 1626. Margaret married Thomas Walker at the church of St John the Baptist, Meopham on 30th November 1640.

1.1.2 ~  Parnell Alchin

Parnell was baptised at the church of St John the Baptist, Meopham on 3rd October 1619. She was named as one of the heirs of Thomas Alchin when he died in 1626. Parnell married Thomas Harman at Meopham by licence on 21st February 1641. Licences were used by couples when there was some urgency for them to be married or they were of a higher station and did not want “to be gawped at by the peasants” entailed by the publication of the banns.

1.1.3 ~  Sara Alchin

Sara was baptised at the church of St John the Baptist, Meopham on 14th April 1623. Sara died aged about 2 months and she was buried at Meopham on 6th June 1623.

1.1.4 ~ Sara Alchin

Sara was baptised at the church of St John the Baptist, Meopham on 23rd January 1625. She was named as a beneficiary in her father’s will of 1625. It appears however that she died soon after her father and she was buried at Meopham on 21st May 1625.  The Sarah Alchin refereed to in the burial register could not be her mother as Sarah Alchin senior was still alive in May 1626 when probate of her husband’s will was granted.

1.2 ~  Richard Alchin

Richard was born probably at Meopham or Leybourne in the early 1590’s. He married Rachel and they had at least five children – John (1627), Male infant (1630), Elizabeth (1631), Rachel (1634) and Sarah (1635). Rachel and three of his children survived Richard.

The last Will and Testament of Richard Alchin, labourer of Fawkham, reads as follows:

In the name of God Amen Two and twentieth day of April Anno (Domine) thousand six hundred fourty three and (in the) nynteenth yeare of the raigne of our s(overeign) Lord Charles by the Grace of God of E(ngland) France and Ireland & my defender of (the) Faith etc I Richard Alchin of Fawkh(am in) the County of Kent laborer be my (___) weak of bodie but of good and perfect (mind) thanks be to God doe make this my last (will) & testament in manner and forme (following) [that is to say] First I committ my (soul into) the hands of Almightie God my (creator) hoping to be saved by the merritts of (Jesus) Christ my redeemer and my bodie I (commit to the) earth to be decently buried according (to the) discretion of my Executrix heareafter (named)

Item I give and bequeath unto Rachell (my) wife whome I make the sole Executrix (of this) my last will and testament all my (___) goods chattles household stuffe moveable (and) unmoveable whatsoever soe long as (she) remayne a widow And if it shall hap(pen) she marry againe Then my will (mind) intent & meaning is that she paie (or cause) to be paid unto John Alchin my sonne (the) somes of tenn pounds of good and l(awful) monie of England within one moneth after her marriage to be put out at (___) for the best benefitt of my said sonne (John) Alchin And alsoe my will mind and (___) that she shall likewise pay or cause to (be paid) unto my two daughters Elizabeth and (____) and to either of them the some of five (____) a peece with in one moneth next after (her) marriage to be likewise put forth and (_____) to the best benefitt of them and either (of them) which if any of my said children shall happen to die before any of their said portions shall growe due yet my mind and will is that she shall have and enioy the said some so bequeathed to be equally devided amongst them

Item my mynd and will is that my said wife paying the said somes soe given and bequeathed unto my said children and paying all my debts and funerall expenses shall have & enioy all the rest of my goods monie Cattle and howsehold stuffe whatsoever to her use forever And doe of this my last will and testament make her the sole executrix In witnes whereof I have hereunto sett my hand and seale the daie and yeare first above written Signed Richard Alchin published and declared in the presence of John Waller

Probatum to Rachell Alchin relict on 3 July 1643

Source: Consistory Court of Rochester 1643 #188800 V.22 f.550-1 (Transcribed by Maureen Rawson)

1.2.1  John Alchin

John was baptised at the church of St John the Baptist, Meopham on 23rd September 1627. He was named as one of the beneficiaries of his father’s will in 1643 when his father decreed that if his wife remarried that she should pay 10 pounds for John “to be put out for his best benefit” (i.e. apprenticed). This person appears to be too young to be the same John Alchin who married Elizabeth Death at Meopham on 23rd May 1641 but it cannot be ruled out entirely. John  may also be the person who married Frances Culpepper at Aylesford on 25th April 1667.

1.2.2 Male Infant Alchin

This boy would not have long survived his birth and he may even have been stillborn as he died before he could be baptised. He was buried at Meopham on 5th September 1630.

1.2.3  Elizabeth Alchin

Elizabeth was baptised at the church of St John the Baptist, Meopham on 20th November 1631.

1.2.4 Rachel Alchin

Rachel was baptised at the church of St John the Baptist, Meopham on 18th May 1634. She was named after her mother but unfortunately the baby did not survive for long. Rachel was buried at Meopham on 10th July 1634 at the age of about 3 months.

1.2.5 Sarah Alchin

Sarah was baptised at the church of St John the Baptist, Meopham on 30th August 1635. She is probably the second daughter referred to in Richard Alchin’s will and whose name in the will cannot be made out.