Hi Matt,
Correct, there is no record of Thomas having had a daughter named Ann and there was no baptism for Robert amongst the register that I have as I do not have the parish register but only the Bishop's.
It is possible to calculate Robert's anticipated birth year as being sometime around 1642/3, which would put it smack at the commencement of the Interregnum, for which the parish registers are required for searching. This timeframe is based on the age of 29 years given by Robert on his marriage licence of 1672. He may well have been 1 or 2 years older or younger than stated at that time so some flexibility in birth year is required.
While Faversham may eventually play into your family, I do have a very full index of the registers of that parish that I completed several years ago and have found no Robert being baptised in that parish. Likewise, Ospringe, Preston-next-Faversham, Throwley, Eastling, Badlesmere, Sheldwich, and Selling. In all of these instances, I do have the parish registers and have indexed the whole of the civil war and Interregnum periods for each parish.
However, upon second look at my index of Charing I find under the surname spelling of REYNER a baptism for a Thomas son of John on 26 January 1622/23 (O.S.). I think is very likely the Thomas that appears for two baptisms in the early 1670s at Charing. And there is an early baptism for a Robert [spelled Roberth] Raynerd at Charing during 1578/9 (O.S.) but no parents' names are recorded. What may be this Robert's marriage appears in the Canterbury Marriage Licences by J. M. Cowper, vol. 1, as follows:
Rayner, Robert, of Chart Magna, maltman and Elizabeth Clarcke, s.p., v. At Kingsnorth. Repent Clarcke of Chart Mag., linen weaver, bonds. Aug. 10, 1614.
Both Great Chart and Kingsnorth are in the vicinity of Charing.
There were also large contingents of Rayners at Ashford and Lenham from mid-1570s up to the late 1590s and into the 1600s, continuing at Ashford beyond that time but not at Lenham.
So, I think that perhaps you need to discover what events took place at Charing during the 1641/2-1660 period before looking farther afield. I don't know if you are familiar with the LDS Family History Centres or not, but the Charing parish registers can be rented on microfilm from the library and sent to a FHC near you. The register microfilm number would be 2228358 but there is another filming (not as extensive in years or events) on 1473748 Item 3. To find a centre close to you go to
https://familysearch.org/locations/centerlocator?cid=hp2-1047. I have found the locator to be sometimes tempermental and not perform a search. If that happens to you send them a quick email via the link in the top right-hand corner. Unfortunately, Findmypast only has burials for Charing spanning 1790-1867 and they are not available on FreeREG or familysearch.org.
I hope this helps somewhat.
Just an aside, do you have any connection to the William Rayner who married Pamela Nutt during 1835 at Faversham? William Rayner was allegedly born circa 1812-1816 most likely at Oare. Their children range in relationship to me from 2nd cousins to 5th cousins.
Sincerely,
Susan
Hi Susan
Wow you have been busy! I am pretty sure that the Ann born 1674 is my Ann. I take it the registers show no record of Thomas having a daughter named Ann though?
Did the registers give any sign of Robert's baptism or burial?
Incidentally I've recently been doing some work on Rayners in Folkestone. Some of these seem to have moved to the Faversham area in the late 1590s and early 1600s so there may be an early link there as well.
Many Thanks again for your help
Matt
