QUILTER - Essex-Kent link

[cannylad]

Hello,
I am researching the surname Quilter. Thomas Quilter wed Ann Savin in Great Dunmow in 1557. Many people have Thomas as being born in Staple, E. Kent in 1527. However, although there was a Thomas Quilter born in Staple I cannot find any evidence that the Thomas Quilter born in Kent is the same Thomas Quilter who wed in Essex. Can anybody provide any help to show that these two Thomas Quilters are one and the same. Thank you.
Bors

[chempat]

Many people have Thomas as being born in Staple, E. Kent in 1527.

Why not contact the 'many people' and ask them what evidence they are using?

[amondg]

Try the Essex Record Office
There are references on ancestry to wills of Thomas Quilter senior of Great Dunmow 1584
and Thomas Quilter 1593 of Great Dunmow Essex and Hertfordshire

They are closed now but may be answering email

[cannylad]

Thank you for your replies. With regards to contacting the "many people" I fear that it is a case of one researcher making the claim that the two Thomas Quilters are the same person and then other researchers just copying that claim. Who made the original claim that they were the same person, and on what evidence, I cannot say.

[Vance Mead]

I can't give a full genealogy, but there were people named Quilter living in that area for a long time. For example in Aythrop Roding and High Easter, which are just a few miles away. These are from the Court of Common Pleas:

1381 Michaelmas
Essex. Edward de Benstede versus Thomas Styward, of High Easter; John Tannere, of Great Dunmowe; John Quilter, of Aythrop Rothyng. Debt.
http://aalt.law.uh.edu/AALT6/R2/CP40no483/483_1169.htm

1415 Trinity
Essex. John Kyng, junior, of High Ongre versus Richard Dygon, of Wylkynghale Rokell, fuller; Reginald Quylter, of Wylkynghale Rokell (Willingale?), husbandman; John Humfrey, of Writell, husbandman; Seek, John, of Brendewode, ostler. Debt.
http://aalt.law.uh.edu/H5/CP40no618/aCP40no618fronts/IMG_0863.htm

1483 Hillary
Essex.
Robert Ultyng versus John Quylter, of High Easter, husbandman. Debt.
http://aalt.law.uh.edu/AALT3/E4/CP40no883/bCP40no883dorses/IMG_0162.htm

1512 Hilary
Essex. John Vyntener, abbot of St Osithe Abbey versus William Coope, of St Osithe, barker; John Cootys,of Stannewey, yeoman; John Quylter, of Copforde, husbandman; Ralph Tothe, of St Osithe, shoemaker. Debt.
http://aalt.law.uh.edu/AALT2/H8/CP40no998/aCP40no998fronts/IMG_1068.htm

1544 Hilary
Essex. Henry Creke, versus John Quylter, of Mount (Bures?), husbandman. Debt.
http://aalt.law.uh.edu/aalt1/H8/CP40no1120/aCP40no1120fronts/IMG_5708.htm

There is also a will of Margaret Quilter of High Easter in 1558.

[Vance Mead]

Here is another record of Quilter in High Easter, from the records of the Duchy of Lancaster, Ducatus Lancastriae, page 381

Date: 12 Eliz (1569-70)
Plaintiffs: Thomas Quilter son of Henry Quilter, with the Queen
Defendants: Thomas Quilter and George Quilter, sons of John Quilter
Premises in dispute: Lands, namely Caleys or Creleys, and other specified lands.
Place and county: High Ester, Essex

https://books.google.fi/books/about/Ducatus_Lancastriae.html?id=byZDAAAAcAAJ&redir_esc=y

It is probably connected with this record in TNA:
DL 4/6/13 (Duchy of Lancaster)
Short title: Quylter v Quylter.
Plaintiffs: Quylter. 
Defendants: Quylter.
Documents: depositions concerning High Easter, Essex.
Date:
6 Eliz. 1563-1564

So I'd guess that your Thomas Quilter came from High Easter, the son of either Henry or John.

[cannylad]

Hi Vance,
Thanks for the info, that is really helpful. I think I will discount the Kent connection.
Regards,
Bors

[Vance Mead]

I just came across this in Common Pleas records, Margaret Quylter of Stebbing, widow, in 1566.

http://aalt.law.uh.edu/AALT5/Eliz/CP40no1240/aCP40no1240fronts/IMG_0110.htm
1566 Hilary term, file 1250/fronts 110
Essex. Margaret Quylter, widow, of Stebbyng, Essex, versus John Pratt, of Parva/Little Dunmowe, yeoman. Debt of 20 pounds.

I wonder if this might be Margaret Quilter of High Easter. Her original will was made in 1558, but no date of probate is given.

In Seax:
Will made 28 November 1558. Date of probate not given
https://www.essexarchivesonline.co.uk/result_details.aspx?ThisRecordsOffSet=1&id=1068589

So it's possible that she made a will in 1558 but lived for years afterwards. Stebbing is a mile or two from Dunmow and about three miles from High Easter. There is no image available of Margaret Quilter's will. I don't think it's possible to get photocopies now while the archives are closed.

[cannylad]

Hi Vance,
Thanks for the info, very kind of you.
Bors