EARLY YEARS
Edward was christened in Otterden's parish church on 19 Jun 1586. He was the sixth child of Edward Clench and Rose Williamson
He married Elizabeth Piers in Stalisfield, Kent, on 18 Feb 1608. (See page 94 of attached record in Canterbury)
LATER YEARS
Edward Clinch was around 30 when he became one of the executors of his father-in-law, Sampson Pierce's, will in 1615/16 and close to 55 when he was named executor to his sister in law Ursula Pearce's will in 1641.
Edward's will, Dated 23 Feb 1647 states he was a "yeoman, of Otterden" and mentions
"Elizabeth my lovinge wife,"
His daughter An Clinche,
"Elizabeth Clinche the wife of Edwarde Gourny,"
"Sons James Clinche,
Soloman Clinche,
and Simon Clinche,"
"Sara Clinche the wife of Nicholas [Meusat?],"
"Edwarde Clinche my eldest son named as executor," and
"Bequeaths considerable property in Otterden, Stalisfield, Eastling, and Doddington parishes. Probated 21 Sep 1648
CHILDREN:
"the sonne of Edwrde Clenche still borne" bur"
Elizabeth Clinch, (c. 12 Jul 1614) married Edward Gurner Jan 1639/40
Sara Clinch (c. 11 May 1617) possibly the "Sarah daughter of Widow Clinch" buried at Otterden 28 May 1689.
Edward Clinch (c. 28 Nov 1620 - bur. 10 Jan 1665) married Mary Heeler. Biram Richardson writes "the marriage is not recorded but I found it through a litigation at the National Archives Office, son of Edward and Elizabeth Piers." In the Kent Quarter Sessions Q/SB/6/59 for about 1656 is a petition from "George Bradstreete and Edward Clinch, for discharge as constables of Faversham Hundred and nominating substitutes." Ken Quarter Sessions Q/SO/E1/f.15, 8 Jan 1656 - "Edward Clynch, who has served as a constable within the upper half hundred of Faversham, for a year and a quarter, is discharged and Robert Giles [sic], the elder, of Sheldwich, is appointed and ordered to go to a justice of the peace and take the oath of a constable." The Kent Hearth tax assessment of 1664 has two entries for "Edward Clinch," in Eastling and Norton, both for houses with a single chimney. (Duncan Harrington, KENT HEART TAX ASSESSMENT LADY DAY 1664, p 323) states that of Executor of his father's will in 1647. Their son John was buried on Dec 13 1661. His will, probated on March 1 1665, names his wife Mary as executrix and mentions children.
James Clinch (c. 8 Feb 1623/24) married Margaret. He would have been 33 when his children's baptisms start appearing in the Church Book of Smarten Baptists Church: James (Aug 23, 1656), Joseph (Nov 29, 1658), Joshua (Dec 11, 1660), William (Oct 12 1663), Margaret (Jan 16 1665), Dan (Dec 21 1668) and John (Feb 20 1671). Smarten was the first Baptist church in Kent and its' congregation came from 30 of the surrounding parishes. The were a democratic congregation of farmers and artisans who elected officials with a show of hands. Christopher Blackwood, the first minister, declared that civil magistrates had no more right to punish heretics than they did sick people. He fought in Cromwell's army when they fought in Ireland during 1652. There is a good chance that James Clinch went with him. Cromwell lost the Baptist's support when he declared himself Lord Protector in 1654, though Blackwood dissociated himself from the radical sects who were calling him the "old dragon," "Man of Sin" and "vile person." Some of the more radical Baptists expected the second coming of Christ in 1660. Instead, Charles II was crowned king of England. He had no love of religious dissidents. A third of Scotlands ministers were dismissed because they were Presbyterians. (Fitzroy MacLean, A Concise History of Scotland, 1970, p 138) In May, parliament received a bill for the prompt suppression of Baptists and Quakers. People were fined for attending meetings. The Baptist Minister in Maidstone spent the next 20 years in and out of prison. All of the goods belonging to the Minister of Eyhorne Hundred were seized. London's prisons were filled with religious prisoners. Thus it can be taken as a sign of his courage, that James baptized five of his children during these years. The 1664 assessment says he owned a house with 3 chimneys in Hollingherst, which is in Smarden. He also retained connect with Otterden and the national archives has the record of a 1663 legal dispute regarding property in Otterden. Steele v Clinch. National Archives Kew C 6/160/192. Plaintiffs: Elizabeth Streete widow. Defendants: James Clinch. Subject: property in Otterden, Kent. Document type: bill, answer. James Clinch's children:
James (c Aug 23, 1656 Church Book of Smarten Baptists - bur September 13, 1688 at Otterden) James left all of his possessions to his mother Margaret. ((PRC17/77/192)
Joseph (c Nov 29, 1658 Church Book of Smarten Baptists),
Joshua (c Dec 11, 1660 Church Book of Smarten Baptists),
William (c Oct 12 1663 Church Book of Smarten Baptists),
Margaret (c Jan 16 1665 Church Book of Smarten Baptists),
Dan (c Dec 21 1668 Church Book of Smarten Baptists)
John (c Feb 20 1671 Church Book of Smarten Baptists)
Anne Clinch (c. 4 Aug 1627)
Solomon Clinch Our Ancestor ( c. 10 Jul 1631- bur. 28 Oct 1690)
Symon Clinch (c. 10 Jul 1631) The Kent Hearth tax assessment of 1664 states that Symon Clynch owned a house with one chimney in Boughton Maleherb (Harrington, p 103) was also a Baptist, for the Overseers Books of Smardern Baptist Church there is a 1659 entry stating"Goods of Phillip Sotherns deceased by the churchwardens:-
it should Simon Clinch one tinder box 4d
- Thomas Hopper a ould Trendell 6d
- Mayhem one pillowcoat
- one bedstedle
- W. Sothernden one porenger"