Part 1c – The Visitation of Kent 1619

The Genealogy of the Alchorne Family of Marden and Boughton Monchelsea .. continued

1.3  ~~  Edward Alchin

Edward was probably born in the late 1560’s. He married Elizabeth Aware at Horsmonden on 24th October 1592. Edward and Elizabeth had at least eight children – William (1595), Edward (1596), Sara (1598), Robert (1600), Thomas (1605), John (1605), Frances (1606) and Hannah (1608). Most of their children survived until at least 1616.

Edward is mentioned in the will of both his brothers Francis and Robert. Edward probably inherited lands from his father in 1586 and there is surviving documents in reference to a “induction mandate” brought by Edward Alchin of Horsmanden at the court of the Archdeacon of Rochester (Ref: DRa/A/i/43/1). Edward was a clerk (often this means a priest) and he was living at Horsmonden (midway between Tonbridge and Marden) on the Kent / Sussex border.

Edward’s will makes ir clear that another brother of his was John Alchorne of Boughton Monchelsea.In his last will and testament Edward calls himself Edward Alchin alias Alchorne of Horsmonden. Edward appears to have re-married to a woman named Ann (no other details available). Edward died in 1615 aged about 50 to 60 years. His will was proven on 6th December 1615 (PROB 11/126) and his estate was surveyed on 26th June 1616 (PROB 11/128):

"In the name of God amen I Edward Alchorne of Horsmonden in the county of Kent Clerk being sick in body but of good and perfect remembrance God be praised for it do make and declare this my last will and testament in manner and form following First I commit my soul unto lmighty God the creator and preserver thereof hoping to be saved by the only merits of Christ Jesus my saviour And my body to the earth from whence it came Item I give and bequeath to the poor people of Horsmonden aforesaid to be distributed amongst them at the time of my burial or within a month after by mine executor (xls –forty shillings or ten pounds no shillings ?) Item I give and bequeath to Anna my wife such of my household stuff as she shall choice of …… to be ……. within one month after my decease to the value of 30 (pounds?) Item I give unto Margaret M……. my apprentice 20 shillings Item I give unto my son Thomas an hundred pounds when he shall fully accomplish the age of one and twenty years for that he make no claim of any sum or sums of money that is put out in his name by me to his use to any person or persons and also for convenient maintenance in the mean time as mine overseers shall think fit Item I give unto my son Edward two hundred pounds to be paid within four years after my decease he making a sufficient discharge of all sums of money due unto him at or before the said time upon he shall be requested hereunto by mine executor and to give to mine executor sufficient authority to account for same Item all the rest of my moveable goods chattels and cattles whatsoever ……….. my debts legacies and funeral expenses being paid and discharged I give and bequeath unto my son William Allchorne whom I make and ordain my sole executor of this my last will and testament And if he do happen to die before my debts and legacies be paid then my will is that Edward shall be my executor Item I request William Beswick of Horsmonden aforesaid Esquire John Allchorne of the Inner Temple gent and my brother Humphrey Browne gent to be overseers of this my last will and testament and to be helping and aiding unto my executor in performing this my last will and testament

This is also the last will and testament of me Edward Alchin alias Alchorne aforesaid touching my lands and tenements whatsoever First my will and mind is that  ……I have agreed and bargained with my brother John Alchorne of Boughton Monchelsea in the county aforesaid gent for all that his messuage and lands in Horsmonden aforesaid commonly called (Kettles?) now in the occupation of George Budd that the said John Alchorne shall convey the same to the use of Anna my wife until my son John Alchorne shall accomplish the full age of twenty one years if she so long do live towards his maintenance and the maintenance and bringing up of my three youngest children for that she make a release of all her interest in all my lands within three months after my decease when she shall be hereunto requested by mine executors otherwise I give the profits hereof to the use of my son William during the said time that Anna my wife should enjoy the same And when my said son John shall accomplish the full age of twenty one years or as the decease of Anna my wife whichever shall first happen  to the use and behoof of my said son John and his heirs provided always that my said son John shall pay unto my daughters Frances and Anna to either of them an hundred pounds apiece or to their assigns when they shall accomplish her age of twenty and one years if they be then living or have any child or children living And my will is that my said son John shall pay unto Anna my wife twenty pounds by the year quarterly to be paid by equal portions during her natural life if she release her interest in any other lands otherwise to be paid unto my son William for that time And if it happen my son then to die before he shall accomplish the full age of twenty one years Then my will and mind is that Anna my wife shall have the full ……….. and profits of the said messuages during her natural life conditionally as aforesaid And after her decease to Edward my son and his heirs paying to my two daughters as aforesaid two hundred pounds when they shall accomplish the ages aforesaid And for default of payment within two months after the ages aforesaid my will is that the said messuage shall be made over to the use of my said two daughters and their heirs Item I give to my son Robert my tenement and all my lands now in the tenure and occupation of John Carpenter or his assigns of Horsmonden aforesaid during his natural lufe And after his decease to my son William and to his heirs for ever All the residue of my lands tenements and hereditaments whatsoever I give and bequeath to my son William and to his heirs for ever paying my debts and legacies and paying unto my brother John Alchorne aforesaid upon the assurance of the messuage and lands in Horsmonden aforesaid according to the true intent and meaning of this my last will and testament the sum of three hundred and fifty pounds And if my said brother John Alchorne do refuse to make an assurance of the said messuage and lands according to our bargain and according to the true meaning of this my will and testament Then my will is that my said son William shall pay to my three youngest children John Frances and Anna one hundred pounds apiece within six months after my decease Provided always that if my son William shall not pay my legacies according to the true meaning of this my will and testament Then my will is that my son Edward shall have the messuages and lands before bequeathed (unto my said son William) to him and his heirs my said son Edward paying my legacies as aforesaid And if my son Edward also shall not pay my legacies as aforesaid then my will is that my son John shall have the messuages and lands before bequeathed unto my said son William to him and his heirs for ever paying my legacies as aforesaid Edward Alchin alias Alchorne sealed and published in the presence of John Alchorne Robert …………. And John Reeve his mark"

1.3.1  ~~  William Alchin

William was baptised at Horsmonden on 7th September 1595. William was the executor and main beneficiary of his father’s will in 1615.

1.3.2  ~~  Edward Alchin

Edward was baptised at Horsmonden on 12th December 1596. Edward was a beneficiary in his father’s will of 1615:

"Item I give unto my son Edward two hundred pounds to be paid within four years after my decease he making a sufficient discharge of all sums of money due unto him at or before the said time upon he shall be requested hereunto by mine executor and to give to mine executor sufficient authority to account for same."

1.3.3  ~~  Sara Alchin

Sara was baptised at Horsmonden on 13th August 1598. Sara is not mentioned in her father’s will of 1615.

1.3.4  ~~  Robert Alchin

Robert was baptised at Horsmonden on 25th May 1600. Robert was a beneficiary of his father in 1615 – he received a property but only for his lefe. After his death the property was to revert to his elder brother William:

"Item I give to my son Robert my tenement and all my lands now in the tenure and occupation of John Carpenter or his assigns of Horsmonden aforesaid during his natural lufe And after his decease to my son William and to his heirs for ever."

1.3.5  ~~  Thomas Alchin

Thomas was baptised at Horsmonden on 5th May 1603. Thomas was a beneficiary of his father’s will in 1615 but he certainly does not appear to gave been a favourite son:

"Item I give unto my son Thomas an hundred pounds when he shall fully accomplish the age of one and twenty years for that he make no claim of any sum or sums of money that is put out in his name by me to his use to any person or persons and also for convenient maintenance in the mean time as mine overseers shall think fit".

1.3.6  ~~  John Alchin

John was baptised at Horsmonden on 6th October 1605. His godfather was probably John Alchorne of Boughton Monchelsea. John received preferential treatment over his elder brothers Thomas and Robert in their father’s will of 1615:

"I have agreed and bargained with my brother John Alchorne of Boughton Monchelsea in the county aforesaid gent for all that his messuage and lands in Horsmonden aforesaid commonly called (Kettles?) now in the occupation of George Budd that the said John Alchorne shall convey the same to the use of Anna my wife until my son John Alchorne shall accomplish the full age of twenty one years if she so long do live towards his maintenance and the maintenance and bringing up of my three youngest children for that she make a release of all her interest in all my lands within three months after my decease when she shall be hereunto requested by mine executors otherwise I give the profits hereof to the use of my son William during the said time that Anna my wife should enjoy the same And when my said son John shall accomplish the full age of twenty one years or as the decease of Anna my wife whichever shall first happen  to the use and behoof of my said son John and his heirs provided always that my said son John shall pay unto my daughters Frances and Anna to either of them an hundred pounds apiece or to their assigns when they shall accomplish her age of twenty and one years if they be then living or have any child or children living And my will is that my said son John shall pay unto Anna my wife twenty pounds by the year quarterly to be paid by equal portions during her natural life"

It is possible that John Alchin married Elizabeth Death at Meopham in 1643.

1.3.7  ~~  Frances Alchin

Frances was baptised at Horsmonden on 24th August 1606. She received 100 pounds from her father’s will of 1615.

1.3.8  ~~  Hannah Alchin

Hannah was born on 5th August 1607 and she was baptised at Horsmonden on 9th August 1607. She also received 100 pounds from her father’s will dated 1615.

1.4  ~~  Robert Alchin

Robert was probably born in the late 1550’s and he was probably baptised at Marden in December 1559. He married Mary Butcher at Staplehurst by licence on 12th July 1581. Robert and Mary had at least five children – James (1582), Thomas (1580s?), Agnes (1587), Mary (1589) and George (1593). It appears that only three of his children were still alive in the mid 1590’s.

Robert made a will in 1596:

"In the name of God amen the eighteenth day of June anno domini 1596 and in the 38th year of the reign of our sovereign lady Queen Elizabeth etc I Robert Alchin of Marden in the county of Kent yeoman weak in body but of good and perfect remembrance thanks be given unto Almighty God therefore do make my testament and last will in manner and form following First I bequeath my soul to Almighty God my maker redeemer and sanctifier steadfast trusting by the merit and passion of Jesus Christ .... all my sins are freely pardoned and forgiven me and my body to be buried at the discretion of my executors wheresoever it shall please God to appoint Item I give and bequeath to the poor people of the parish of Marden aforesaid twenty shillings of good and lawful money of England to be distributed amongst them ……….. after my decease Item I give unto James Alchin my son one joined bedstead standing in the inner chamber with a bed and a bolster two blankets one coverlet and two pairs of sheets one pillow two pillow coats one …….one burning tub one ……… board one kneading trough …… they do find in my dwelling house And also thirty pounds of good and lawful money of England out of the profits of my land hereinafter mentioned also in this my last will in the disposition of my said lands all which said legacies I will shall be delivered unto the said James Alchin my son when he shall accomplish the full age of two and twenty years Item I give and bequeath unto Thomas Alchin my son one bed and a bolster two blankets one coverlet two pairs of sheets one pillow two pillow coats And also forty four (?) pounds of good and lawful money of England out of the (assets/profits?) of my lands hereafter mentioned also in the …. of my lands All which legacies I will shall be delivered unto my said son Thomas Alchin at his full age of two and twenty years Item I give and bequeath unto Agnes Alchin my daughter one flock bed one bolster two pair of sheets two blankets six table napkins and one table cloth And also three ….. and ten pounds of good and lawful money of England to be paid unto her by my executrix at her full age of twenty years Item I give unto Mary Cooper my servant one fine lamb to be delivered by mine executrix within one year next after my decease Item my will and mind is that if the said Mary my wife shall hereafter happen to marry with any man that before such time of her marriage she the said Mary shall enter into bond for the true performance of all the legacies before given to my children with such sufficient securities as to the overseer of this my last will and testament hereafter named shall be thought most meet and convenient All the residue of my goods and chattels moveables and unmoveables my debts and legacies and funeral charges first paid and performed I give and bequeath unto Mary Alchin my wife whom I ordain and make my sole executrix of this my last will and testament ordaining and appointing Thomas Butcher my brother in law and John Alchin my natural brother overseers of this my last will and testament

This is the last will and testament of me the said Robert Alchin made and declared the date and year above …….. concerning the disposition of all my lands tenements and hereditaments whatsoever within the parish of Marden or elsewhere Item I give and bequeath unto Mary Alchin my wife my messuage or tenement which I now dwell in with all those my lands which are now in my occupation with all and singular their appurtenances (except two pieces of land lying on the lower side of the street  called by the names of of the three corner field and the long field containing by estimation nine acres of land more or less) until my son James shall accomplish or attain the full age of 22 years doing neither …… nor waste upon any of the premises And also paying yearly by all the said term the quit rents ….. of all my said lands and tenements and keeping them and sufficiently repaired having convenient timber upon the same lands ………… taking upon the said premises so long time as the said Mary shall keep herself a widow five wain loads of wood for her spending upon the same premises Provided nevertheless that this gift of the piece of my lands and tenements aforesaid made unto Mary my wife aforesaid shall upon this condition that the said Mary my wife shall not at any time or times hereafter either by her self or any other challenge or claim any jointure or dower out of any my lands or tenements aforesaidwhich thing if she shall do Then I will that the foresaid gift of my lands and tenements aforesaid made unto her shall be utterly void frustrate and of none effect And also upon this condition that the said Mary my wife shall pay out of the said yearly …….. of my lands and tenements given unto her unto my son James Alchin at his full age of twenty and two years the full sum of thirty pounds of good and lawful money of England and also do keep my son James to school one whole year next after my decease and do also bring up my other two children Thomas Alchin and Agnes Alchin until they come to years of discretion And after the time that the said James my son shall come to his said age of twenty and two years I give and bequeath unto the said Mary my wife out of the said lands and tenements ten pounds yearly to be paid at four usual feasts or terms in the year (that is to say) at the feast of St Michael the Archangel the nativity of Christ the annunciation of the blessed Virgin Mary and the nativity of St John the Baptist by equal and even portions And for default of payment of the said ten pounds or quarter to be paid ……. aforesaid during the time and term of her natural life I will that it shall be lawful for the said Mary my wife or her assigns to enter and distrain in all or in any part or parcel of the said lands which I shall hereafter give to the said James and the distress or distresses there so taken and had to keep and impound until she shall thereby fully satisfied contented and paid together with the (overages?) if any shall happen by that occasion Item I will that Mary my wife do pay out of my lands and tenements which I have before given unto her to my mother in law forty shillings of good and lawful money of England which my lands are charged with all by virtue of my fathers will according to the said will half yearly to be paid until my son James does accomplish his said full age of twenty and two years Item I will give and bequeath unto Mary Alchin my wife all those my tenements and lands now in the tenure and occupation of John (Juell?) of Marden aforesaid and also two other pieces or parcels of land called the three cornfields the long field accounted twenty acres more or less until such time as my son Thomas Alchin shall accomplish the full age of twenty and two years doing no ..… nor waste thereupon also keeping it well sufficiently repaired and amended and paying the quit rent thereof yearly meeting upon this condition also that the said Mary neither by her self nor any other shall challenge or claim any jointure or dowry out of the said tenemnets and lands for ever hereafter which thing if she shall at any time do then my will and mind is that the benefit of this gift made unto her the said Mary shall be utterly void and of none effect upon this condition also that the said Mary shall pay or cause to be paid unto the abovenamed Thomas my son the full sum of forty four pounds pounds of good and lawful money of England at his full age of twenty and two years And after the time that Thomas Alchin my son aforesaid shall accomplish his said age of twenty and two years Then I will give and bequeath unto the said Mary my wife out of the said lands and tenements four pounds of good and lawful money of England yearly at four usual feasts or terms in the year (that is to say) at the feast of St Michael the Archangel the nativity of our saviour Christ the annunciation of the blessed virgin Mary and the nativity of St John the Baptist by equal and even portions to be paid And for default of payment of the said four pounds quarterly to be paid as is aforesaid during all the time and term of her natural life I will that it shall be lawful for the said Mary my wife or her assigns to enter and distrain in all or any ……. of the said lands which I shall hereafter give to the said Thomas And the distress or distresses there so taken or had to keep and impound until she the said Mary shall thereof fully satisfy contented and paid together with the (overages?) if any shall happen by that occasion Provided also that the said Mary my wife shall happen to be with child either with a manchild or womanchild at the time of my death Then I do will give and bequeath unto the said child the full sum of forty four pounds of good and lawful money of England at his or her full aged of one and twenty years to be paid in manner and form following viz that my son James Alchin aforesaid shall pay or cause to be paid unto the same child son or daughter the full sum of forty pounds of good and lawful money of England at his or her age of one and twenty years or within one quarter of a year then next ensuing at or within the south porch of the parish church of Marden aforesaid at one whole and entire payment without any …. or further delay And also that my son Thomas Alchin aforesaid shall pay or cause to be paid unto the same child son or daughter the full sum of forty pounds of good and lawful money of England at his or her age of one and twenty years or within one quarter of a year then next ensuing at or within the south porch of the parish church of Marden aforesaid at one whole and entire payment without any …… or further delay Also my will and mind is that if my said son James Alchin shall not pay or cause to be paid the foresaid sum of forty pounds unto the said child son or daughter at the due time or place presented according to the true meaning of my foresaid gift That then the said child or his assigns shall enter into three pieces of my land in this my last will and testament given unto James Alchin my son lying on the lower side of the green called by the names of four acres field maplesden field and little (hapsen?) field to have and to hold the said three pieces of land to him or her and to his or her heirs in fee simple for ever Also my will and mind is that if my said son Thomas Alchin shall not pay or cause to be paid the foresaid sum of forty pounds unto the said child son or daughter at the due time and place presented according to the true meaning of my foresaid gift That then the said child or the assigns shall enter into two parcels of my lands (given in this my last will and testament unto Thomas my son) called by the name of Broad Meadow with a lane thereonto belonging to have and to hold the said two parcels of land to him or her and to his or her heirs in fee simple for ever Item I give and bequeath unto my son James Alchin my mansion house that I now dwell in with all my lands lying above the green and three pieces beneath the green called by the names of four acres field maplesden field and little (hapsen?) field (after the time that he shall accomplish the full age of twenty and two years) to have and to hold the said mansion house and the said lands to him and his heirs in fee simple for ever Item I give and bequeath unto my son Thomas Alchin all that my messuage or tenement will all my lands thereonto belonging now in the tenure and occupation of John Juell of Marden aforesaid and also two other pieces of land called by the names of three corner field and long field containing by estimation nine acres of land more or less lying in Marden aforesaid to have and to hold the said messuage or tenement and all the lands aforesaid to him and to his heirs in fee simple for ever after the time that he shall accomplish the full age of two and twenty years Provided also that if all my children shall decease without issue of their bodied lawfully begotten then I do will give and bequeath unto my brother Edward Alchin his children and to theirs forever the one moiety or half part of all my lands and tenements wheresover And the other moiety or half part of all my lands and tenements wheresoever I do will give and bequeath unto all the other of my brethren and sisters children and to their heirs in fee simple for ever By me Robert Alchin witness at the in sealing and acknowledging his written (promise?) John Markley The mark of John Harris"

Robert’s will was proven at London on 27th October 1596. Subsequently George Maplisden took legal action against Mary Alchin (also known as Alchorne) a widow of Marden in the Ecclesiastical Court of Canterbury Cathedral on 10th December 1597 (Ref DCb/J/J). Robert Alchin had bequeathed to his son Thomas a field called Maplesden’s Field – perhaps this was the cause of the legal dispute.

1.4.1  ~~  James Alchin

James was probably born at Marden in the early 1580’s. He was baptised at Marden in late September 1582. James was the main benificiary of his father’s estate when he died in 1596. James may have married and had children at Tonbridge in the 1630’s including Robert (1632). James was also involved in considerable litigation over property in the 1620s and 1630s.

1.4.1.1  ~~  Robert Alchin

Robert (named as Robert Alchorne) was baptised at the church of St Peter and St Paul, Tonbridge on 10th June 1632.

1.4.2  ~~  Thomas Alchin

Thomas was probably born at Marden in the late 1580’s but there is no surviving record of his baptism. Thomas was left a legacy in his father’s will dated 1596.

1.4.3  ~~  Agnes Alchin

Agnes was probably born at Marden around 1587 and she was baptised at Marden in April of that year. Agnes was also left a substantial bequest when her father died in 1596.

1.4.4  ~~  Mary Alchin

Mary was baptised at Marden on 13th July 1589. She died sometime before 1596 as she is not mentioned in her father’s will.

1.4.5  ~~  George Alchin

George was baptised at Marden in December 1593. He probably died soon afterwards and it seems certain that he was definitely dead by 1596 as he is not mentioned in his father’s will.

1.5  ~~  Raynel (?) Alchin

This woman was probably born about 1570 or thereabouts. Her brother Francis’ will records that she married Richard Waghorne and in 1593 they were living at Staplehurst. She and her husband were both left bequests when her brother Francis died in 1593:

"Item I give and bequeath unto Richard Waghorne …………….of Staplehurst my brother in law my doublet and hose of …… and my ……(soldiers’) cloak to be delivered unto him within one quarter of a year after my decease"  and

"Provided nevertheless that the said gift made unto my said brother Edward shall upon said condition that the said Edward or his heirs do pay or cause to be paid unto my sister Raynel (?) Waghorne or her heirs thirty pounds of good and lawful money of England within one year next after the said Edward shall enjoy the said premises."

"And also the said Edward or his heirs shall pay or cause to be paid unto my sister ……. or to her heirs the full sum of ten pounds within one year next after the said Edward shall enjoy the said premises."

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