John MERRYWEATHER (MEREWETHER)
He is noted as being of 'Sheperdswolde' in the Sutton Valence parish register
Their marriage is also noted in the Shepherdswell parish register as occurring on 22nd Nov 1590.
She is noted as being of 'East Sutton' when she married John Mereweather at Sutton Valence.
There were proceedings in Chancery on personal matters between John Merryweather and Edward Filmer (M.m.1. No.29. Vol.II p. 185. Qu. Eliz.).
Henry, Robert and Frances' fourth son, was baptised at East Sutton in 1574. He is a very shadowy figure. He was alive in 1629 when he was left the gold ring by his brother Robert and was also mentioned in Sir Edward's will as having an annuity. (In the will of William Manne of East Church, Kent (Arc. Cant. Reg. 58 fo 336 - see also Kent Wills - Mann - Gen. Soc.) proved on the 22nd February, 1607/8 he mentions his daughter, Agnes, as being the wife of a Henry Filmer leaving both of them a little spot of land four roods square where Henry had 'lately erected a house'). He may not have had any issue as none were mentioned in brother Robert's will in which all his nephews would seem to have been mentioned.
He is thought to have lived in Flixton, Lancashire. The Visitation of 1619 confirms that Henry was then in that County and the parish register of Flixton confirms his brother, Anthony's residence there.
No children of his marriage have been located and it must be doubted if he had any. His brother, Robert, who died in 1629 mentions in his will all his nephews that he knew to be alive and none are mentioned for Henry
Henry Filmer was baptised at East Sutton in 1574. Unfortunately very little has been found out about him. He was living at a time when the principal line was expanding its interests and several of his brothers and relations had contacts in London and overseas. He is not mentioned in the will of his brother Robert who died in 1629. Robert then mentions all his nephews then known to be alive but no children of Henry. It looks very probable, therefore that he did not have any. Henry, himself, was alive in 1629, however, when he was left an annuity of £10 by his brother, Sir Edward, in his will.
It is possible that he lived in Lancashire for a time - possibly not far from his brother, Anthony, who certainly stayed in Flixton in that county. The reason for thinking so is that in the Enrolments of Exchequer of Pleas for 5 James I Mich (1608) a Henry Fylmer complains by Bill against an Isabella Perryn, widow, and Edward Gooden of having at Urmston in the County of Lancaster forcibly seized and taken away his (the plaintiff's) horse and gelding. He was apparently granted a day of Imparlance. Whether he got back the horse and gelding is not known.
It is just possible that he also married Agnes, a daughter of William Manne of East Church, Kent. William Manne in his will, 22nd February, 1607/8, mentions his daughter Agnes, the wife of Henry Filmer and leaves then both 'for life and their heirs a little spot of ground four roods square where he has lately erected a house' (Arc Reg. 58 fo 336). (It is thought, however, that there could have been at least one other Henry Filmer living at this time - namely the Henry Filmer baptised in 1563 at Kingsdown - although he may have died at Chartham in 1585). No conclusive evidence for linking this union to Henry Filmer of East Sutton has been located however.
It is possible that he may have married Elizabeth Newton on 17th April, 1599 at Flixton and had a daughter Ann, who married a William Jones on 1st February, 1624 at Flixton.
Certainly no progeny of his has been located.
The earliest deed in the Filmer papers mentioning the name, Fynmere, is one executed in 1329 and reproduced below:
I, Roger Pistor of Lenham give etc. to John de Fynmere and Joan his wife and heirs of the said John all that my tenements which I lately purchased of Robert Godard lying in the vill of Otryngden, in a place called Fynmere round about the tenement of the said John de Fynmere etc. to hold all the aforesaid tenements by the services and customs thereof yearly of right due, for three marks and a half sterling. In witness whereof to this present charter I have set my seal on Monday, next before the Feast of All Saints, the third year of the reign of King Edward the third after the Conquest. These being witnesses - Laurance de 0tryngden, Philip de Otringden, the treasurer, and John his son, John Roberd, John de Herst, John Fernym, John his (sic), John Eustace, John and William Pollard, Adam the clerk, etc.
(October 31st, 1329)
It will be observed that not only is the person John de Fynmere mentioned but also the location of a place called Fynmere. The deed also seems to imply that by 1329 the place, Fynmere, was well established. However the exact location is not that well described. In later deeds of 1436 and 1467 the place 'Filmer' is said to contain in all some 40 acres, but no reference to its existence earlier than the fourteenth century has been found and it does not occur in Domesday Book.
Corroborative evidence for its existence, however, occurs in an entry in the Assize Roll of the Kent Keepers of the Peace in 1316/7. The relevant entry is reproduced below. The original is in Latin.
'Inquisition of the hundred of Middletone and bailiwick of Kay taken by oath of Willelmi de Hezsted (Highstead near Sittingbourne), Roberti de Wyntonia (Winchester), William Warde, Elie Cole, Ada Crops, Daielide Swantone, Laurencii de Orpendone, Johannis ate Hulle, Willelmi Vyn (Finn), Walteri de Wyntonia, Willelmi Godith, Johannis ate Gore de Baxtone, (Baxton in Bredgar), Roberti ate Grous, Johannis de Netherputte, Johannie Thomelyn & Walteri Crips who say on oath that William son of Robert Sometarius of Dodingtone and Thomas son of John de Fillemere de Oteringdene robbed John Thedwyn of two horses worth 26s 8d.
Assize Roll 398.
It is thought they were acquitted as they do not appear in the gaol delivery orders.
1308-09. The earliest of the East Statton deeds is something of an enigma because there is no name in it remotely resembling Filmer or Fynmer. It mentions 'Waterdych' and Waterditch Farm is still marked on the Ordnace Survey Map. It may or may not be a coincidence that the present house has a pond immediately at the bottom of a short back garden. The deed is as follows:
1308-9. February. I Robert son of Robert de Otryngden give to Simon atte Waterdych of Otryngdon and Sarah his wife and heirs of the same Symon and their assigns one acre of wood, etc. in the vill of Otryndon in the tenure of the court of Sutton atte Shadeswood, between the wood of Philip de Otryngden which is on the west and the wood of the heirs of William atte Beechwode on the east and the head on the north to the land of the afresaid Philip And on the south to the land of John Eustace and the path which belongs to the lord's acre of wood extending beyond Shadeslond on the west. Given at Otryngdon, the month of February the second year of the reign of King Edward son of King Edward. These being the witnesses- Laurence Lord of Otrynden, Henry de Ednesburgh, William Vychy, Laurence de Cruce, Thomas de Herst, senior, Philip de Oteryngden, Peter de Herst, Thomas his brother, Henry le Frentrisse, etc.'
The first point that seems worth investigation is whether the deed is just implying that Simon, whilst living at Waterditch, a farm in Lenham but probably extending into the old parish of Boardfield and about 400 yards from the then church, really came from Otringdene. No surname is mentioned but could he have been directly related to the Filmer family?
In an effort to answer this problem it is necessary to see if there is any other contemporaneous evidence.
A particularly intriguing entry occurs in a Calendar of Close Rolls. In 1311 the Sheriff of Kent was ordered to release a Simon de Fynemere together with several others from around that area - namely, John atte Benelond, of Bourdfield, Thomas Salmon of Otringdene, Hamo le Snodland, Bartholomew le Suouer and William Muriel of Dodyngton, who were imprisoned in Canterbury Castle.
Just why they were imprisoned in Canterbury Castle is not at all clear but they obviously had been acting as a group, possibly for political motives. A John de Bourdfield was later ordained as a priest in 1312, but again he may not be the same person as John atte Benelond above (1).
It does look possible, however, that Simon de Fynmere and Simon atte Waterdych de Fynmere are the same person. Nevertheless, there is no clear evidence that the Filmer family owned any part of Waterditch farm at so early a date.
1307-27. In his book 'Vellare Cantianum' T. Philpott, when dealing with Otteerden,says: 'I have seen an old Court Roll relating to the Manor of Monckton in this parish which seemed to commence from the reign of Edward II wherein at the foot is mentioned Edward Filmour.' The parish of Monketon lay on the northern boundary of Otterden and the parish of Borefield at its south-eastern extremity. Both have since been incorporated in Otterden. The only evidence of their existence today consists of two crosses on the Ordnance Map showing where the churches once stood. A few yew trees in a wood mark the site of Monketon Church but the site of Borefield Church is in the middle of an ordinary meadow.
He may have still been living in 1329
1316-17. In Assize Roll 398 of the 'Kent Keepers of the Peace 'Thomas son of John de Fillemere of Otteringdene is charged with stealing two packhorses worth 26/8 from John Thedwyne of Doddington.
WILL of JEFFERIE SKEERE, of Newnham, Yeoman.
Dated 16th Jan. 44 Eliz. Proved 12th Apr. 1602
To the poor 10/-
To each of my daughters JOANE, THOMASINE, AGNES, MARGARET, and DOROTHY œ50 at 21 or marriage.
Residue to PATIENCE my wife. She to be executrix.
My cousin STEPHEN WORLEYE overseer.
Land and tenements at Doddington, Newenham, and Pluckley to wife.
Residue to JEFFERIE SKEERE, my son.
(Ledger)
WILL of PATIENCE SKEERE, of Doddington, widow.
Dated 28th Mar 1611 Proved 7 Nov. 1611
To poor of Doddington and Newnham 13/4
to my sister MOTTE 6/8
to PATIENCE PREENSTREET, my goddaughter 6/8
to JEFFERIE SKEERE my son messuage and lands in Pluckly now in occupation of THOMAS TILLMAN, he to pay to DOROTHY SKEERE his sister œ30 at age of 21.
To son JEFFERIE SKEERE all lands and tenements in Doddinton and Newnham provided he pay to REPENTANCE GLOVER his sister 20/- yearly and to her children œ10 each.
Residue to JEFFERIE. He to be executor.
Mr. JAMES BOURNE and JOHN BAKER, Vicar of Newnham and Doddington, overseers.
Witnesses: RICHARD HILL, JAMES BOURNE, JOHN BAKER.
He married Mary Packman (or Packenham) in 1635, by Licence. This described him as a yeoman of Wichling, aged 24?.
He had two children.
It is not known when Robert's wife, Mary, died but it looks like being between 1640 and 1644, possibly at Otterden but the registers were not fully kept for this parish during the hiatus.
It is obvious, however, that Robert married again - this time to Mary Burton in 1645 by Licence. The Licence states that Robert Filmer is a widower and yeoman of Wychling and that Mary Burton came from Eastling, was a spinster aged about 25 or 26 and was the daughter of Thomas Burton, chandler. They were to marry at S.M.Bredin's, Canterbury.
Children of this marriage are likely to have been unrecorded if baptised at Otterden. It does, however, look as if they may have had a son, Robert, baptised there around 1647. A Robert Filmer of Otterden, yeoman, bachelor aged 24, married Elizabeth Jeffery (see Fig. 12), a spinster aged 22 at St Mildred's, Canterbury, in 1671. The Licence indicates that both sets of parents consented to the marriage and that Robert Jeffery of Lenham, yeoman, put up bonds.
Robert died at Bobbing in 1681. His administration, dated 1st June, 1681 (Act Bk. A. 39-107) was given to his relict, Mary, when Robert Filmer of Charing stood bonds in the sum of £30.
7/9/1681 £15.1.8. discharge.
It is not known when Robert's wife, Mary, died but it looks like being between 1640 and 1644, possibly at Otterden but the registers were not fully kept for this parish during the hiatus.
Joan, the eldest child, was baptised in 1636 at Doddington. She died unmarried in 1655 and was buried at Wichling (although it could have been Doddington, as the records became mixed up about this time and a number of names are duplicated at both parishes).
He married Mary Packman (or Packenham) in 1635, by Licence. This described him as a yeoman of Wichling, aged 24?.
He had two children.
It is not known when Robert's wife, Mary, died but it looks like being between 1640 and 1644, possibly at Otterden but the registers were not fully kept for this parish during the hiatus.
It is obvious, however, that Robert married again - this time to Mary Burton in 1645 by Licence. The Licence states that Robert Filmer is a widower and yeoman of Wychling and that Mary Burton came from Eastling, was a spinster aged about 25 or 26 and was the daughter of Thomas Burton, chandler. They were to marry at S.M.Bredin's, Canterbury.
Children of this marriage are likely to have been unrecorded if baptised at Otterden. It does, however, look as if they may have had a son, Robert, baptised there around 1647. A Robert Filmer of Otterden, yeoman, bachelor aged 24, married Elizabeth Jeffery (see Fig. 12), a spinster aged 22 at St Mildred's, Canterbury, in 1671. The Licence indicates that both sets of parents consented to the marriage and that Robert Jeffery of Lenham, yeoman, put up bonds.
Robert died at Bobbing in 1681. His administration, dated 1st June, 1681 (Act Bk. A. 39-107) was given to his relict, Mary, when Robert Filmer of Charing stood bonds in the sum of £30.
7/9/1681 £15.1.8. discharge.