Events
Date of Birth: unknown.
Place of Birth: unknown.
Date of Burial: 6 December 1621.
Place of Burial: Sheldwich, Kent.
Relationships
Father: John Giles.
Mother: Alice.
See the Commentary section.
Spouse: Susan Austen. Married 27 November 1564 in Sheldwich, Kent.
Susan was buried 20 December 1576 in Sheldwich.
Spouse: Katherine Sampson. Married 6 May 1577 in Sheldwich.
Katherine was buried 23 July 1582 in Sheldwich.
Spouse: Magdalen Vaughan. Married 22 June 1584 in St Martin Pomeroy, London.
Magdalen was buried 13 March 1597 in Sheldwich.
Children:
(Complete source citations for facts about the children on this page are currently outside of the scope of this project.)
Elizabeth Giles (baptized 2 September 1565 in Sheldwich) married Thomas Fogge 28 December 1589 in Sheldwich.
Robert Giles (baptized 26 January 1566/7 in Sheldwich- buried 6 June 1623 in Sheldwich) married Alice Tylman 23 February 1592 in Selling, Kent.
Dorothy Giles (baptized 9 May 1568 in Sheldwich) married (1) William Richards 28 May 1593 in Goodnestone, Kent; married (2) Francis Giles 8 January 1600/1 in Sheldwich.
Michael Giles (baptized 23 October 1569 in Sheldwich - died 1611) married Elizabeth Belke 16 June 1603 in Sheldwich.
Thomas Giles the elder (baptized 15 January 1570 in Sheldwich)
Anthony Giles (baptized 2 January 1572 in Sheldwich)
Agnes Giles (baptized 5 April 1574 in Sheldwich) married Sampson Pierce 5 May 1600 in Sheldwich.
John Giles (baptized 26 January 1575/6 in Shedwich - buried 9 February 1597 in Sheldwich)
Mary Giles (baptized 26 January 1575/6 in Sheldwich - buried 29 January 1575/6 in Sheldwich)
Abigail Giles (baptized 25 March 1578 in Sheldwich) married William Hammond 20 November 1600 in Preston-next-Faversham.
Henry Giles (baptized 9 October 1580 in Sheldwich) married Thomasine Dray 4 October 1606 in Selling, Kent.
George Giles (baptized 9 June 1582 in Sheldwich - buried 28 January 1609 in Sheldwich)
Thomas Giles the younger (baptized 18 September 1586 in Sheldwich)
Alexander Giles (baptized 4 August 1588 in Sheldwich - buried 19 November 1588 in Sheldwich)
Frances Giles married Arthur Franklyn 26 October 1612 in Sheldwich.
Sampson Giles
Evidence
from a copy of the Sheldwich register:
1564
Gabriell Gyles gent: and Susan Austen weare maried the 27 of Nov:
1565
Elizabeth the daughter of Gabriell Gyles gent: bapt: the 2 of Sept:
1567
Robert the son of Gabriell Gyles gent: bapt: the 26 of Jan.
1568
Dorothia the daughter of Gabriell Gyles gent: bapt: the 9 of Maie
1569
Michaell the sonn of Gabriell Gyles gent: bapt: 23 of Oct:
1570
Thomas the sonn of Gabriell Gyles gent: bapt: the 15 of Jan:
1572
Antonie the sonn of Gabriell Gyles gent: bapt: the 2 of Jan:
1574
Agnes the daughter of Gabriell Gyles Gent: bapt: the 5 of Aprill
1575
John and Mary the children of Gabriell Gyles: Gent: bapt: the 26 of Jan:
1576
Susan the wife of Gabriell Gyles gent was buried the 20 of December:
1577
Gabriell Giles and Katherine Samson weare married the 6 of Maye
1578
Abigale the daughter of Gabriell Gyles Gent: bapt: the 25 of March 1578
1580
Henrie the sonn of Gabriell Gyle Gent: bapt: the 9 of Octob:
1582
George the sonn of Gabriell Gyles bap. the 19 of June.
1586
Tho: the sonn of Gabriell Gyles gent: bapt: The 18 of Sept:
1588
Alexander the sonn of Gabriell Gyles Gent: bapt: the 4 of August.
1597
Magdalen the Wife of Gabriell Gyles gent was buried the 13 of March.
1621
Gabryell Gyles gent: was buryed the 6 of decemb:
from the catalogue of the Kent Archives:
QM/SI/1607/1/12
27 July 1606
John Andrews and Nicholas Kidd, both of Challock, husbandmen, broke into and entered a close of Gabriel Giles at Challock and about 11 p. m. hunted and killed a rabbit worth 4d. [Nicholas appeared and pleads not guilty. John bound over in £20, surety Serles Hawke of Challock in £10. Indictment insufficient since not stated whether the close was enclosed with, fence, wall or hedge or the rabbits tame according to the statute]
U4042/T6
14 July 1613
Parties: (1) Gabriel Giles of Sheldwich ('Shelvidge'), gentleman; (2) John Edwardes of Davington, gentleman, and Thomas Hubbard of Faversham, yeoman
Property: 1 messuage and garden, 1 barn and 1 orchard in Challock, and divers lands, tenements and hereditaments in Challock occupied with the messuage now in the occupation of Richard Honiford (except 4 pieces of land and wood occupied with the said messuage called 'Squiddes', 14 acres).
Gabriel Giles covenants with John Edwardes and Thomas Hubbard that he will stand seised of the property, containing 50 acres (besides the excepted lands) from the date of the document to the use of himself for life, and after his death to the use of the said Thomas Giles. Dated 14 July, 10 and 45 James I and VI.
Consideration: The natural and fatherly affection that Gabriel Giles bears Thomas Giles his son, the son also of Magdalen ('Mawdlin'), late wife of Gabriel Giles, deceased, and the establishment of the inheritance of the property.
Signature of Gabriel Giles on plica. Seal tag with fragment of red wax, no impression remaining.
Endorsed with witnesses to sealing.
Gabriel’s will:
In the name of God Amen the sixtenth day of February in the yeares of the raigne of our soveraigne Lord James by the grac of God kinge of England Scottland Fraunce & Ireland defender of the faith etc that is to say of England Fraunce & Ireland the sixtenth & of Scottland the two & fivetith. 1618. I Gabriel Gylles of Shearsh in the County of Kent gentl’ beinge in good & p[er]fect remembrance I thank god doe make this my last will & testament in forme followinge. First I com[m]end my soule into the hands of the blessed Trinity. the father. Sonn & holy ghost trusting assuredly to be saved & haue remission of my synnes onely by the meritts & passion of my onely Savyour Jesus Christ, & my body. I com[m]itt to the earth to be buryed at the discretyon of my executor hereunder named. And touching my worldy estate which god hath gyven me I dispose in maner & forme following First I give unto Gabriell Gylles my godson the some of ten pounds to be payd unto hym at his age of one & twenty yeares, Item I give untno Joane Gylles daughter of my sonne Rob’t Gilles one hundred pounds of lawful money of England to be payd unto her within half a year next after my decease, Item I give unto my Sonne Sampson Gilles one anuety or yearly rent of twenty pounds a year during his naturall lyfe to be payd unto hym quarterly. that is to say fyve pounds in every quarter out my lands called Mallmaynes feild, & yf the said Anuety or year rent to be behynd & unpayd, by the space of seaven dayes in which it ought to be payd that then it shalbe lawfull for hym the said Sampson Gilles or his assignes to distrayn & the distresses doe taken to have dryv & carry away untyll the said rent & every p[ar]t therof togeather with the Arearages be fully satisfied contented & payd Item I give unto my son Thomas Gyles thelder one Anuety or yearly rent of six pounds thirten shillings & fourpence of lawfull money of England to be payd unto hym during his natural lyfe out of my lands called Longcroft quarterly to be payd by equall & even portyon & if the sayd rent in p[ar]t or in all be behind & unpayd by the space of seaven dayes in which it ought to be payd that then it shalbe lawfull for the said Thomas Gylles to enter & distrayn & the distresses soe taken to have dryve & carry away untyll the sayd rent or p[ar]t therof togeather with the arearages shalbe fully satisfyed contented & payd, Item I give unto Thomas Gylles the younger my sone one hundreth pounds of lawfull mony of England to be payd unto hym within one year after my decease, Item I give unto Gabriell Richards my Couson the some of fyve pound of lawfull money of England to be payd unto hym within half a year after my decease, Item I give to the poor of the p[ar]ish of Shelldich fourty shillings to be distributed by the Churchwardens. Item I give to the poor of Challock twenty shillings to be distributed by the churchwardens, Item I give to the poor of Molash twenty shillings to be distributed by the churchwardens, Item I give to the poor of Throwly twenty shillings to be distributed by the Churchwardens. Item I gyve to the poor of Leveland ten shillings. Item I gyve to the poor of Badlesmere ten shillings to be distributed by the Churchwardens, Item I gyve to unto my servant Mary Marsh ten shillings Item I will that my executor shall mak a tomb or monument for me my wives & children & place it in the East ende of the Chauncell wher my two last wyves lye in Shelds’ church & that my executor shall bestow upon it twenty pounds at the least. & I mak & ordayn of this my last will Rob’t Gylles my sonne executor, & Arthur Franklyn my sonn in law overseer & I gyve unto hym for his paynes ten poundes of lawfull money of England:
The will & devyse of me the said Gabryell Gylles touchinge the disposityon of my leases lands & tenements, Item I will & devyse to Thomas Gylles the younger my sonn one house at Challock lease wherin the widow of Raph Yeomanson lately dwelt with thappurtenances & three p[ar]cells of land called Squeeds contayninge by estimatyon fivetene ackers more or lesse now in the occupatyon of George Attkins lyinge in the p[ar]ish of Challock, togeather with all other my lands & tenements in the said p[ar]ishof Challock. To haue & to hould the said Thomas Gylles the younger my sonn & to his heires & assignes for ever, Item I will & devyse unto my sonne Rob’t Gilles all my moveable goods leases lands tenements & hereditaments not before bequeathed lying, & being in the p[ar]rishes of Shelwich, Molash Badlesmere or else wher in the county of Kent. to have & to hould the premisses with thappurtenances unto the said Rob’t Gylles his heires & assignes for ever:/ In wittnes wherof I the said Gabryell Gilles haue hereunto sett my hand & seale the day & year above written in the presence of:
John Huntt:
John Phillipps
Gabriell Giles [seal]
This will was shewed unto John Hunt Clarke att the tyme of his Examinacon taken in Chancery the parte Gabriel Giles quer con Thomam Fogge et al. deft. 16 Junij 1624.
[Proved in 1626 by Gabriel Giles the son of Robert Giles, Robert Giles the executor having in the meantime died.]
The 1623 will of Thomas Gyles of Sheldwich
In the name of God amen being at this tyme in perfect sence & memory thankes be to allmighty God therefore./
First I bequeath my soule unto God, & my body to the grand to be buried in Christian buriall. Item I give unto Arther Francklin, to Frances his wife, & to the heyres of theyr two bodys lawfully begotten, after my decease: to them & theyr heyres for ever: One messuage, & garden, one barne, & orchrd, with thappurtenances, & threescore acres of land more, or lesse, situate lying and being in the p[ar]ish of Challocke in the County Kent. now in the tenure & occupacon of George Adams. Provided allwayes that the [...] Arther, this heyrs executors, or assignes shall well & trewly pay or Cause to be payd within the terme of one whole yeare after my decease these debts, & legasyes hereafter mentioned. That is to say unto John Belke the somme of ten pounds of debt And to Cutbert Lynne the somme of ten pownds of debt. Item I give unto Henry Richards my kensman ten pownds. Item I give unto Gabriell Richards his brother twenty pownds Item I give unto my nephew Richard Fogge twenty pounds. Item I give unto Thomas Fogge the yonger five pounds. Item I give unto the poore of the p[ar]ishes of Callocke & Sheldwich to be equally devided into two partes five pownds. Item I give unto my godson John Gyles five pownds Item I give unto my goddaughter Catherine Franklin five pownds Provided that yf the sayd Arthur, or Frances, his wife, theyr heyres of assignes shall refuse the the [sic] payment of those sayd debts & legacyes. I will my sayd houses & land unto the sayd Henry Richards, Gabriel Richards & Richard Fogges to make sale of the sayd messuages & lands to performe this my will. & farther I will that the sayd Henry, Gabriell, & Richard uppon trew accompt. giue the remaynder unto my sister Franclen. & to her Children.
Commentary
Gabriel’s parentage:
I take the Gabriel Gylles named in the 1574 will of John Gylles of Sheldwich, yeoman, to be the Gabriel of this page. John mentioned a deceased son Avery who had been bound unto him to pay an annuity, and the Gabriel of this page was married in 1565, so the chronology seems right. The places also match. John was of Sheldwich and was buried there, but also left bequests to the churches of “Leavland” and “Badismer”. Gabriel was of Sheldwich and was buried there, but also made bequests to the poor of “Leavland” and “Badlesmere”.
John named his wife Alce his will. In her 1556 will, Alice Ladd widow of Stephen Ladd late of Lyminge named her daughter Alice Giles and also made a bequest to John Giles. I think a little more evidence would be necessary before we could be reasonably sure this referred to the Sheldwich John and Alice Giles, and not some other couple with the same names.
References
A copy of the register book of Shelwich, Kent. Digital images on Findmypast.co.uk, accessed 25 May 2025. The copy appears to have been made in modern times.
Will of Gabriel Giles of Shedwich, gentleman. Proved in the Archdeaconry Court of Canterbury. Digital images on FamilySearch.org.
Will of John Gylles of Shedwich, yeomman. Proved 1574 in the Archdeaconry Court of Canterbury. Digital images on FamilySearch.org.
Will of Robert Gyles of Sheldwich. Proved 1623 in the Archdeaconry Court of Canterbury. Digital images on FamilySearch.org.
Will of Thomas Gyles of Sheldwich. Proved 1623 in the Archdeaconry Court of Canterbury. Digital images on FamilySearch.org.