Volume 1 - An Affinity For Wood - Steve Green's History of the Alchin Family

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The first four or five generations of this genealogy need to be treated with a great deal of caution. There are very limited surviving records which support any family tree of this age. The family was very well established in the area from at least the first half of the 16th century as in addition to Thomas Alchorne there were at least four other Alchorne men baptizing children at Rotherfield in the 1540’s:

Nicholas – George (1540), Margery (1543) and Stephen (1549).

Gabriel – John (1540), Elizabeth (1541), Henry (1542) and Julian (1548).

John (at least two and possibly even three of them) – Anthony (1542), Elizabeth (1542), John (1543), Anthony (1546), John (1546), Margery (1548) and Gabriel (1549).

The commonality of the names used in this ten year period suggest that these men were at least cousins and possibly brothers. The information we have is that the 19th century Allcorn family of The Hall, Rotherfield are descended from Isaac Alchorne, the son of Thomas Alchorne.

1. ~~ Thomas Alchorne

Thomas was probably born at Rotherfield between 1500 and 1520. Thomas married and he had at least eight children – Margery (1540), Jasper (1542), William (1544), Robert (1545), John (1547), Joan (1547), Anne (1549) and Isaac (1551). There is a marked similarity between the names given to his children by Thomas and by John Alchorne of Maynards Gate and it may be that they were brothers.

Thomas lived at Town Row and he was a land owner (of a number of small properties). Thomas may have died in 1558 and his son Isaac was one of the major beneficiaries of his will.

1.1 ~~ Margery Alchorne

Margery was baptised at St Denys’ church, Rotherfield on 16th September 1540.

1.2 ~~ Jasper Alchorne

Jasper was baptised at St Denys’ church, Rotherfield on 9th February 1542.

1.3 ~~ William Alchorne

William was baptised at St Denys’ church, Rotherfield on 25th April 1544.

1.4 ~~ Robert Alchorne

Robert was baptised at St Denys’ church, Rotherfield on 27th November 1545.

1.5 ~~ John Alchorne

John was baptised at St Denys’ church, Rotherfield on 15th February 1547. According to Catherine Pullein’s history of the Manor of Alchorne, Isaac Alchorne (see 1.8) was the ‘brother to the John Alchorne who had Chillies after the Delve family.’

1.6 ~~ Joan Alchorne

Joan was baptised at St Denys’ church, Rotherfield on 21st November 1547.

1.7 ~~ Ann Alchorne

Ann was baptised at St Denys’ church, Rotherfield on 17th September 1549.

1.8 ~~ Isaac Alcorne

Isaac was probably born at Rotherfield in about 1551 although there is no surviving record of his baptism. Isaac married Joan Alchorne at St Denys’ church, Rotherfield on 16th May 1580. Joan was born in about 1558 the youngest (?) daughter of John Alchorne of Adams and his wife Margery.

When his father Thomas Alchorne died in 1858 he bequeathed to Isaac ‘a tenement at Town Row, four swynes of land of the ferling of Town Frith, two swynes of the ferling of Dodd Frith, half an acre of Longley ferling, and twenty-five acres at Towngate, all of which lay in the east of the parish, several miles distant from Alchorne Manor.’

Above: Green House, Rotherfield believed to have been built by Isaac Alchorne during the reign of Queen Elizabeth the First. The chimney referred to in the email has since been repaired.

Right: An email received from Dr Robin Fox of Rotherfield in October 2005. Dr Fox is the present owner of the house

I see that the Alchornes of Rotherfield feature on your website, so I thought you might be interested in the story of my house. The Alchornes have gone, but the family may remain in the ancestral memory of the beetles that survive in the timber. The house - oak-framed with large central chimney stack (now leaning perilously) - has been dated to 1580 or thereabouts. My father bought the place in 1935 and in the 1970s made some inquiries at the archive office in Lewes. In 1540 four Alchorne (or Allchin) men had children baptised or buried at Rotherfield, one being Thomas Alchorne of Town Row. In 1558 Thomas Alchorne bequeathed to his son Isaac a tenement at Town Row and 25 acres. We think it was Isaac who built our house. In 1580 Isaac married Joan Alchorne (a cousin, presumably), who next year inherited from her father John, a yeoman, part of Alchorne Manor (Adams Farm). Probably the couple thenceforward lived at Adams Farm, not Town Row. Joan bore Isaac four children - son d. 1581, Elizabeth bapt. 1586, John (bapt.1589-90), daughter - and died in 1593-4. Isaac married again twice, having a son Adam by Barbara Lockyer and a posthumous son Isaac by Agnes Adoune. After Isaac's death in 1601, the property was left to John and his stepbrother Isaac. Although John spent his childhood at Town Row (which was managed by the husband of his aunt Elizabeth) he seems to have decamped later to Adams Farm. Probably it was this John who sold the property (to John Chiesman) in 1651.The main part of the house has not changed greatly since Elizabethan times, and current repairs to the main chimney will expose brickwork that has not been touched since it was laid under the supervision of Isaac Allchin more than 400 years ago.

Isaac and Joan had at least four children – son (1581), Elizabeth (1586), John (1590) and daughter (1594). Joan was buried at Rotherfield on 28th January 1595 at the age of about 40 years. Isaac subsequently married Barbara Lockyer at St Denys’ church, Rotherfield in 1596; she was born at Rotherfield in about 1575.

Isaac and Barbara had at least one child – Adam (1597). In 1597 Isaac ‘held by deed tenement and land called Alchornes Newland and Old Rede comprising 60 acres. His land was adjacent to Crowbarrow (now Crowborough) Common and was bounded on the other side by the Queen’s highway.


Crowborough Common in 1911

Barbara died in 1599 aged about 24 years. Isaac then married Agnes Adowne (Ashdown?) at St Denys’ church, Rotherfield (above right) on 17th December 1599; she was born in about 1580. Two members of the Ashdown family of Rotherfield were burnt at the stake during the reign of Queen Mary in the 1550’s for their religious beliefs.

Isaac and Agnes had at least one child – Isaac (1601). However Isaac died in August 1601 aged about 51 years. Isaac bequeathed the bulk of his property to his sons John and Isaac.

1.8.1 ~~ Male Alchorne

This un-named boy was baptised at St Denys’ church, Rotherfield on 27th July 1581. He died and was buried on the same day.

1.8.2 ~~ Elizabeth Alchorne

Elizabeth was baptised at St Denys’ church, Rotherfield on 25th August 1586.

1.8.3 ~~ John Alchorne

John was baptised at St Denys’ church, Rotherfield on 18th March 1590. He was the main beneficiary on his father’s death in 1601. John married Elizabeth Eredge at St Denys’ church, Rotherfield on 2nd February 1617; she was probably born in the 1590’s.

John and Elizabeth had at least six children – Elizabeth (1618), John (1621), Mary (1623), Ann (1625), Isaac (1626) and Joan (1629).

1.8.3.1 ~~ Elizabeth Alchorne

Elizabeth was baptised at St Denys’ church, Rotherfield on 5th November 1618.

1.8.3.2 ~~ John Alchorne

John was baptised at St Denys’ church, Rotherfield on either 7th May 1620 or 10th February 1621. He married Elizabeth Hornsby at St Denys’ church, Rotherfield on 29th November 1647; she was born in about 1630.

John and Elizabeth had at least three children – Jane (1665), Margaret (1668) and Richard (1670). Elizabeth died at Rotherfield in 1672 aged about 40 years. Richard then married Ann Hawkins at St Denys’ church, Rotherfield on 31st May 1674. John and Ann had at least five children – John (1676), William (1680), Mary (1690), Elizabeth (1695) and Ann (1702).

Ann died at Rotherfield in 1704 aged about 75 years. John died at Rotherfield in 1706 aged about 85 years. There was obviously a gene for old age in this family. John’s son died at a fairly young age but his grandsons and great grandsons lived into very old age also.

1.8.3.2.1 ~~ Jane Alchorne

Jane was baptised at St Denys’ church, Rotherfield on 3rd September 1665.

1.8.3.2.2 ~~ Margaret Alchorne

Margaret was baptised at St Denys’ church, Rotherfield on 7th July 1668.

1.8.3.2.3 ~~ Richard Alchorne

Richard (probably the second son with this name) was baptised at St Denys’ church, Rotherfield on 23rd March 1670. He married Elizabeth Hornsby in about 1695. Richard and Elizabeth had at least two children – John (1697) and Ann (1700).

Richard died in 1710 aged about 40 years. Although Richard died at a fairly early age his sons and grandsons, like his father, would live into their 80’s and 90’s.


Some of the history of Hall Manor (Hall Farm), Rotherfield by Catherine Pullein which shows that the Alchorne (Allcorn) family were tenants and not the owners of the property. They occupied the house from 1741 and probably left it in 1856 a few years before the death of Elizabeth Allcorn (nee Killick).

1.8.3.2.3.1 ~~ John Alchorne

John was baptised at St Denys’ church, Rotherfield on 4th February 1697. He married Elizabeth Brown at St Margaret’s church, Buxted on 1st April 1725; she was born in about 1700. John and Elizabeth had at least ten children – Ann (1725), Thomas (1727), Sarah (1728), Richard (1729), William (1731), John (1734), Ann (1735), Mary (1739), Elizabeth (1744) and Sarah (1745).

John died at his home at The Hall, Rotherfield and he was buried in St Denys’ churchyard, Rotherfield on 20th November 1785. He would have been about 88 years old at the time. Two of his sons would also live to great ages. John’s younger son William took over as tenant of The Hall instead of his elder brother Thomas.

1.8.3.2.3.1.1 ~~ Ann Alchorne

Ann was baptised at St Denys’ church, Rotherfield on 29th June 1725. Ann may have died in infancy as her name was re-used by her family in 1735.

1.8.3.2.3.1.2 ~~ Thomas Alchorne

Thomas was baptised at St Denys’ church, Rotherfield on 9th September 1727. Thomas lived to a very great age. Thomas died in 1818 aged 90 years and he was buried at Rotherfield on 19th February 1818.

1.8.3.2.3.1.3 ~~ Sarah Ann Alchorne

Sarah was baptised at St Denys’ church, Rotherfield on 15th August 1728.

1.8.3.2.3.1.4 ~~ Richard Alchorne

Richard was baptised at St Denys’ church, Rotherfield on 3rd December 1729.

1.8.3.2.3.1.5 ~~ William Allchorne

William was born at Rotherfield in about 1731 and he was baptised at St Denys’ church, Rotherfield on 18th May 1731. He was the fifth of at least ten children of John Alchorne and Elizabeth Brown.

William married Ann Allchorne at St Denys’ church, Rotherfield on 5th October 1769 by licence; she was also born at Rotherfield in about 1731 and she was probably a cousin or else she was the widow of his cousin or brother.

William and Ann had at least three children – Lucy (1770), William (1773) and Thomas (1777). William took over as the tenant of Hall Farm, Rotherfield in 1784 when his father died. Both William and Ann lived into what was then extremely old age. Ann died at The Hall, Rotherfield in 1821 aged 89 years and she was buried at Rotherfield on 4th June 1821. William died at The Hall in 1822 aged 90 years and he was buried at Rotherfield on 27th March 1822.

1.8.3.2.3.1.5.1 ~~ Lucy Allcorn

Lucy was probably born at The Hall, Rotherfield in 1770 and she was baptised at St Denys’ church, Rotherfield on 5th December 1770. Lucy married George Lockyer at Rotherfield on 16th February 1792. They were married by licence obtained from Lewes Archdeaconry Court on 11th February 1792. The licence describes George as a 21 year old labourer of Rotherfield. He would therefore also have been born in about 1770.

George and Lucy did not baptise any children at Rotherfield. Lucy died at Westerham in 1815 aged 44 years and she was buried at Rotherfield on 22nd April 1815.

1.8.3.2.3.1.5.2 ~~ William Allcorn

William was born at Rotherfield (probably at The Hall) in 1773 and he was baptised at St Denys’ church, Rotherfield on 11th February 1773. William married Elizabeth Killick at Rotherfield on 16th May 1797 by a licence obtained from Lewes Archdeaconry Court on 2nd May 1797. Elizabeth was born at Rotherfield in 1776 and she came from a very prolific local family. At the time of his marriage William was a 24 year old yeoman.

William and Elizabeth had at least ten children – William (1798), Ann Maria (1800), Lucy (1802), George (1804), Ann (1807), Eliza (1810), James (1812), Harriett (1814), Alfred (1816) and Frederick (1819).

William died at The Hall on 5th November 1843 (Uckfield 1843 December qtr Volume 7 Page 346) aged 70 years and he was buried at Rotherfield on 9th November 1843. Elizabeth died at The Hall on 6th January 1859 aged 82 years and she was buried at Rotherfield on 10th January 1859.

The Manor of Hall

1.8.3.2.3.1.5.2.1 ~~ William Allcorn

William was born at Rotherfield in 1798 and he was baptised at St Denys’ church, Rotherfield on 18th May 1798. William never married. The 1841 census records that William was an agricultural labourer and he was working for Phoebe Killick (nee Piddlesden the widow of William Killick) on her farm at Dengate, Rotherfield.

The 1851, 1861 and 1871 census all record that William was the farm bailiff for a widow, Ansley Rawlins, at Cronks Farm, Rotherfield. The 1881 census records that William was a retired farmer and he was living with the family of his nephew Edwin Exeter Hyder at Stone House, Rotherfield.

William died at Rotherfield on 20th August 1882 (Uckfield 1882 September qtr Volume 2b Page 74) aged 81 years. He was buried at Rotherfield on 24th August 1882 and his grave is marked by an engraved stone.

1.8.3.2.3.1.5.2.2 ~~ Ann Maria Allcorn

Ann was born at Rotherfield in 1800 and she was privately baptised at St Denys’ church, Rotherfield on 18th May 1800. She was then received into the Rotherfield church on 22nd June 1880. Ann married John Exeter Hider (Hyder) at Rotherfield on 5th December 1827; he was baptised at St Denys’ church, Rotherfield on 8th January 1797 the son of William Hider and Ann Wickens. The Hider and Wickens families had also been living at Rotherfield for several generations.

John and Ann had at least three children - Anna (1828), Edwin (1831) and George (1834). The Rotherfield parish register records that John was initially a nursery gardener and later a school master. John died in July 1834 aged 37 years and he was buried at Rotherfield on 31st July 1834. The 1841 census records that Ann was a widowed laundress and she and her three children were living at Rotherfield.

Ann died at The Hall (her parent’s home at Rotherfield) in late 1843 aged 43 years (Uckfield 1843 December qtr Volume 7 Page 346) and she was buried at Rotherfield on 20th November 1843. After her death, Ann’s orphaned children continued to live with their maternal grandparents at The Hall.

1.8.3.2.3.1.5.2.2.1 ~~ Anna Maria Hider

Anna was born at Rotherfield on 24th February 1828 and she was baptised at St Denys’ church, Rotherfield on 27th April 1828. The 1841 census records that the young girl was living with her widowed mother at Rotherfield.

Ann died at The Hall in July 1848 aged only 20 years (Uckfield 1848 September qtr Volume 7 Page 341). She was buried at Rotherfield on 14th July 1848.

1.8.3.2.3.1.5.2.2.2 ~~ Edwin Exeter Hider

Edwin was born at Rotherfield on 26th February 1831 and he was baptised at St Denys’ church, Rotherfield on 3rd April 1831. The 1841 census records that the young boy was living with his widowed mother at Rotherfield. The 1851 census records that Edwin was an unmarried agricultural labourer and he was living with his grandmother and other members of his extended family at The Hall, Rotherfield.

Edwin married Ansley Rawlings in 1857 (Tonbridge 1857 September qtr Volume 2a Page 608); she was born at Paddington in 1832. Edwin and Ansley had at least ten children - Anna (1858), William (1859), Edith (1860), Ansley (1862), Albert (1864), Delcy (1866), Ernest and Arthur (1871), Louie (1874) and Lillian (1877).

The 1861 census records that Edwin was an agricultural labourer (although the parish register in March 1861 records that he was the farm bailiff at The Hall, Rotherfield). He and his wife, their three young children and their 22 year old servant (and cousin) Mary Allcorn were living at Rotherfield. The 1871 census records that Edwin was a surveyor of highways and he and his wife and their five children were living at Stone House, Rotherfield.

The 1881 census records that Edwin was still the surveyor of highways and he and his wife and nine of their children were living at Stone House, Rotherfield. Edwin’s elderly uncle William Allcorn was also living with them.

Edwin died at The Warren Farm, Rotherfield in 1884 aged 53 years (Uckfield 1884 December qtr Volume 2b Page 77). He was buried at Rotherfield on 11th October 1884. The 1901 census records that Ansley was a widowed farmer and she and her four unmarried children were living at Hattrells House, Fletching.

1.8.3.2.3.1.5.2.2.2.1 ~~ Anna Maria Hyder

Anna was born at Rotherfield in 1858 (Uckfield 1858 June qtr Volume 2b Page 73) and she was baptised at St Denys’ church, Rotherfield on 9th May 1858. The 1861 census records that the young girl was living with her family at Rotherfield.

The 1871 census records that the school girl was living with her large family at Stone House, Rotherfield. The 1881 census records that Anna was unmarried and she was still living with her parents at Stone House, Rotherfield.

Anna married George Davison in 1882 (Uckfield 1882 December qtr Volume 2b Page 243);he was born in London in 1853. George and Anna had at least ten children - Anna (1883), Delcy (1885), George (1887), Louis (1889), Lilly (1891), Tom (1893), Edwin (1894), Ben (1897), Alfred (1898) and Frank (1900).

The 1891 census records that George was a farmer and he and his wife and their four young children were living at Cobbarn Farm, Rotherfield. 16 year old Ada Orton of Waldron was visiting them at the time. The 1901 census records that George was a farmer and he and his wife and their nine children were still living at Cobbarn Farm, Rotherfield.

1.8.3.2.3.1.5.2.2.2.1.1 ~~ Anna Mabel Davison

Anna was born at Rotherfield in 1883 (Uckfield 1883 September qtr Volume 2b Page 126). Anna died at Eridge in 1884 aged about 1 year (Uckfield 1884 September qtr Volume 2b Page 73) and she was buried at Rotherfield on 15th August 1884.

1.8.3.2.3.1.5.2.2.2.1.2 ~~ Delcy Davison

Delcy was born at Rotherfield in 1885 (Uckfield 1885 March qtr Volume 2b Page 129). The 1891 census records that the school girl was living with her family at Cobbarn Farm, Rotherfield. The 1901 census records that Delcy was still living with her parents on their farm at Rotherfield.

1.8.3.2.3.1.5.2.2.2.1.3 ~~ George Exeter Davison

George was born at Rotherfield in 1887 (Uckfield 1887 June qtr Volume 2b Page 132). The 1891 census records that the young boy was living with his family at Cobbarn Farm, Rotherfield. The 1901 census records that the school boy was living with his family at Cobbarn Farm, Rotherfield.

1.8.3.2.3.1.5.2.2.2.1.4 ~~ Louis Davison

Lucy was born at Rotherfield in 1889 (Uckfield 1889 June qtr Volume 2b Page 122). The 1891 census records that the young boy was living with his family at Cobbarn Farm, Rotherfield. The 1901 census records that the school boy was living with his family at Cobbarn Farm, Rotherfield.

1.8.3.2.3.1.5.2.2.2.1.5 ~~ Lilly Davison

Lilly was born at Rotherfield in 1891 (Uckfield 1891 June qtr Volume 2b Page 117). The 1891 census records that the 2 month old infant was living with her family at Cobbarn Farm, Rotherfield. The 1901 census records that the school girl was living with her family at Cobbarn Farm, Rotherfield.

1.8.3.2.3.1.5.2.2.2.1.6 ~~ Tom Cecil Davison

Tom was born at Rotherfield in 1893 (Uckfield 1893 March qtr Volume 2b Page 126). The 1901 census records that the school boy was living with his family at Cobbarn Farm, Rotherfield.

1.8.3.2.3.1.5.2.2.2.1.7 ~~ Edwin Davison

Edwin was born at Rotherfield in 1894 (Uckfield 1894 December qtr Volume 2b Page 122). The 1901 census records that the school boy was living with his family at Cobbarn Farm, Rotherfield.

1.8.3.2.3.1.5.2.2.2.1.8 ~~ Ben Karl Davison

Ben was born at Rotherfield in 1897 (Uckfield 1897 March qtr Volume 2b Page 125). The 1901 census records that the young boy was living with his family at Cobbarn Farm, Rotherfield.

1.8.3.2.3.1.5.2.2.2.1.9 ~~ Alfred Andrew Davison

Alfred was born at Rotherfield in 1898 (Uckfield 1898 December qtr Volume 2b Page 119). The 1901 census records that the young boy was living with his family at Cobbarn Farm, Rotherfield.

1.8.3.2.3.1.5.2.2.2.1.10 ~~ Frank Redvers Davison

Frank was born at Rotherfield in 1900 (Uckfield 1900 September qtr Volume 2b Page 117). The 1901 census records that the young boy was living with his family at Cobbarn Farm, Rotherfield.

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