Sarah Barden

[MattD30]

Looks like Jane was christened in Fletching in June 1652 daughter of Richard Roffe.

Richard Roffe married Mary Pollard in 1647 at Fletching. I've just started digging into her family as well. Looks like she was christened in Rotherfield in 1627 and was the daughter of John Pollard.

Matt

[MattD30]

Just wondering if you've had any luck in locating Jane G yet?

Hi Matt
Butting in here, sorry

There is a baptism indexed on FamilySearch at Fletching, 12 Sep 1680
William son of William + Jane Gillam
https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:NBV1-GQN

Not sure whereabouts in the parish register, the one I am looking at is not in a great state, something seems to have eaten part of it.

This marriage?
7 Feb 1677/8, West Hoathly
William Gillham and Jane Rofey
Image here, right side page
https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:S3HT-DRPS-3YP

Marriage was by licence (Lewes), dated 2 Feb, both of Fletching. She is Joan Rophie (Rophe) on this, details here
https://archive.org/details/calendarofsussex00chicuoft/page/46/mode/2up

There is a Lewes will, 1698/9, William Gillham, husbandman, of Fletching
https://www.thekeep.info/collections/getrecord/GB179_PBT_1_1_43_136

We can see it on FamilySearch, either here
https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:S3HY-69P7-RSZ?i=24&cat=685691

or here (we can download it from this link) - but I will delete this note later 
https://www.familysearch.org/records/images/image-details?dgsNumbers=4427675&rmsId=TH-267-11753-150405-74&imageIndex=24&singleView=true

He has daughter Jane Gillham, son William Gillham, wife Jane

Can we find that baptism of daughter Jane, possibly in Fletching?
John

I just spotted another interesting connection. The will of William Gillam was witnessed by a Richard Page. William's daughter Jane married William Homewood in 1702 and their daughter Anne [christened 1708] married Francis Page in 1726/27. Francis was the son of Edward Page [or Paige] but it's possible Richard was also a relative.

Matt

[jonw65]

Looks like Jane was christened in Fletching in June 1652 daughter of Richard Roffe.

Hi Matt
I can offer up a will of a Richard Roffeyof Fletching, yeoman, from 1677/8
https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:S3HT-DRH9-C8P?i=597&cat=685691

Not sure who he is! He mentions a sister Jane

Talking of Richard Page, when looking for that will on the film, I quite literally stumbled on a will of a Richard Page of Fletching
https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:S3HT-DRH9-ZDM?i=574&cat=685691

Obviously it is from around  the same time, so perhaps not going to be terribly relevant
John

[MattD30]

Looks like Jane was christened in Fletching in June 1652 daughter of Richard Roffe.

Hi Matt
I can offer up a will of a Richard Roffeyof Fletching, yeoman, from 1677/8
https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:S3HT-DRH9-C8P?i=597&cat=685691

Not sure who he is! He mentions a sister Jane

Talking of Richard Page, when looking for that will on the film, I quite literally stumbled on a will of a Richard Page of Fletching
https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:S3HT-DRH9-ZDM?i=574&cat=685691

Obviously it is from around  the same time, so perhaps not going to be terribly relevant
John

Hi John

I did a lot of looking for Wills today but I didn't spot those two, although I did find the wills of several members of the Gilham [Gillam] family including William Gilham's father John Giham [died 1675] and also the will of John's wife Alice [died 1681].

I think I know who the first will you found relates to. I think that will [Richard Roffey 1677/78] probably relates to Richard Roffie who was christened on 10 September 1654 in Fletching, the son of Richard Roffie and Mary Pollard. As well as a sister named Jane he also mentions a brother named John and Richard and Mary's first child was a son named John [1648]. Also he makes John  one of his overseers so I am assuming he was probably older.

The Page/Paige tree is a new one to me and one that'll have to look into. I have found some online trees which show Edward Paige [father of Francis born 1688/89] as being born in Buxted in 1660 the son of Edmund Page born 1641.

That last Edmund was born in Buxted in 1641 and appears to have been the son of William Paige. William himself was christened c1615 and I think he may have been christened in Mayfield in November 1606 the son of Christopher and Elizabeth Paige but that is only a theory.

Buxted and Fletching are only 4 miles apart so I am pretty sure there's a link, especially as all the records I look at give the same details and quote sources including PR [some quote more than others].

I've not spotted a Richard Page in my research yet so who is this man?

These wills may also be worth looking at though

Ann Page of Fletching 1641
Francis Paige of Fletching 1696
David Paige of Fletching 1694

All are on my list for checking.

Ok let's have a proper look at that will of Richard Page now. See what I can find.....

Best Wishes
Matt

[..claire..]

Hi Matt and jonw65

A few PCC Wills that may be of interest at a later date (some are a bit early) - I'll get a look at the first two and see if they are ancestors of your 'John Bardin'

Robert Burden , 28 Oct 1658,  Fletching , Sussex,
Robert Barden , 19 Apr 1648,  Fletching , Sussex
William Gillham, 21 Nov 1785, Fletching , Sussex

The Will of William Gillham (Jane's father) - wonder if the Richard Page that witnessed his Will is the same man who married Ann Tully nee Seale (mentioned in an earlier post)

I've been trying to find anything on John Barden/Bardin but I can't find anything - I have a few baptisms but nothing concrete as yet.

Regards
Claire

[MattD30]

Hi Matt and jonw65

A few PCC Wills that may be of interest at a later date (some are a bit early) - I'll get a look at the first two and see if they are ancestors of your 'John Bardin'

Robert Burden , 28 Oct 1658,  Fletching , Sussex,
Robert Barden , 19 Apr 1648,  Fletching , Sussex
William Gillham, 21 Nov 1785, Fletching , Sussex

The Will of William Gillham (Jane's father) - wonder if the Richard Page that witnessed his Will is the same man who married Ann Tully nee Seale (mentioned in an earlier post)

I've been trying to find anything on John Barden/Bardin but I can't find anything - I have a few baptisms but nothing concrete as yet.

Regards
Claire

Hi Claire & jonw65

I'll take a look at those wills tomorrow. The 1785 will of William Gillham is a little late though given that Jane Gilham who married William Homewood was born in 1678. So I don't think that one will be worth looking at.

It would be nice to know when John Bardin/Barden was christened but I'm not too worried about going back beyond his parents given that my ancestor [Sarah] was a Page [or Paige] by birth so that's the side I need to follow.

The puzzle I have now is which Page line do I follow?

Francis Page was christened in Maresfield on 16 March 1688/89 and was the son Edward Page [or possibly Edmund]

There are two candidates for this Edward Paige

Edward Paige christened 30 July 1660 in Buxted - son of Edmund Paige

Edward Page christened 12 July 1663 in Fletching - son of Richard and Susan Page

Both Buxted and Rotherfield are close to Maresfield - Buxted is about 4 miles away and Fletching is 2 miles away. So which is my one?

Hopefuly some we can find the answers in wills or other probate records.

I'll do more digging tomorrow.

Matt

[MattD30]

Hi Claire and jon65

I just did some quick digging and found a new puzzle.

There is a will for a David Page of Fletching dated 6 March 1693 [Probate 3 February 1694] this David is almost certainly the same David who Richard Page mentioned in his 1677 will describing him as the "youngest son of my brother Francis Page of Fletching"

In his will David Page refers to "my nephew Francis Page son and heir of my brother Edmund Page of Maresfield"

Originally I though this "Francis Page" was the same Francis who was christened on 16 March 1688/89 at Maresfield son of Edward/Edmund Page. The problem is that David makes his nephew Francis his executor.

So there seem to be two Francis Pages around at the same time.

We know that Anne Homewood married Francis Page/Paige in 1727 and she was born 1708 in Fletching. I will see if I can find when this second Francis Page was christened tomorrow.

Obviously the problem is, if the Francis Page christened in Maresfield in 1688/89 is David's nephew then he surely can't have been his Executor in 1694 when he was only 5 or 6!

Matt

[jonw65]

I think this is probably the William who married Jane

William Gillam son of John Gillam - christened 21 December 1641 at Fletching

https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:NBV1-ZQK

This William had siblings including a Jane Gillam christened in 1644 at Rotherfield.

It looks like John Gillam married Alice [Alce] Staplehurst in Fletching in May 1636

https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:NK4N-Z6T

That marriage makes sense as the first child I've found for John Gillam in Fletching is a son named Thomas christened in June 1637

I think John may have been christened in Rotherfield on 26 March 1609 the son of Thomas Gillam. This would certainly make sense if he named his first son after his father. be 14 in 1636 I think he is less likely to be William's father.

What do you think?

Hi Matt
It sounds very promising indeed. Will try and look at those wills you mentioned.
I may have to leave the Pages to Claire and yourself, am finding them a bit difficult to cope with
John

[MattD30]

Hi John and Claire

I've had a chance to look through all the Homewood and Gillam/Gilham wills today and I've made notes on them. I think I have worked out who each will relates to. There is one problem though - reading the names of the witnesses.

Can you guys see if you can work out the names of the witnesses in the following wills

William Gilham of Fletching 1698/99
https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:S3HY-69P7-RSZ?i=24&cat=685691

John Gilham the elder of Fletching 1675
https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:S3HT-DRH9-Z61?i=16&cat=685691

I am pretty sure this John Gilham is the grandfather of Jane Gilham who married William Homewood. In the will John refers to a legacy of Ten pounds left to his daughter Mary by "her grandfather John Staples"

I have a marriage for John Gilham to Alice Staplehurst  in Fletching in 1636 and it's possible that "John Staple" might be her father [I'm looking for wills]

Mary Gilham of Fletching widow 1685
https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:S3HY-D1GQ-LL1?i=699&cat=685691

This Mary was, I think, the daughter of the above John Gilham. The "Jane Gilham widow" she refers to is probably her sister in law Jane Roffey/Roffie who married Mary's brother William in 1677/78. However I haven't found christenings for the daughters Sarah and Margaret whom she mentions.

Alice Gilham of Fletching widow 1681
https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:S3HY-6D39-DP5?i=912&cat=685691

This Alice is definitely the widow of John Gilham who died in 1677/78 and as well as her children she also mentions her granddaughter "Margaret Gilham" so I think this is probably the same Margaret referred to by Mary Gilham in her will [I believe Mary was the daughter of Alice and John]

William Homewood the elder of Fletching 1734
https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:S3HY-D1WS-NVN?i=243&cat=685691

This William is the father of Anne Homewood who married Francis Page [she is named as "my daughter Anne the wife of Francis Page"]

William Homewood of Fletching 1751
https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:S3HY-68YT-MG?i=918&cat=685691

I think this William is the oldest son of the above William.

I also have some more Homewood wills as well as Page and Roffey wills to look at and I'll let you know what else I find out.

My next puzzle is to work out the Page family though.

Best Wishes
Matt