CHILDHOOD:
William was christened at St James parish church in Bicknor, on January 3, 1703. This was just across the fields from the Clinch home in Deans Bottom, Bredgar. William was the eldest son of William Clinch and Elizabeth Dancy.
MARRIAGE
He married Ann Knight (15 Oct 1774) in Stockbury on October 21, 1728.
LANDS
In 1744, William inherited the 4 acre farm in Deans Bottom and also rented tenement #7 in Stockbury. He died in June 1768.
Yet he was a prominent figure in Stockbury and one of the 7 allowed to vote when Kent chose two representatives to go to Parliament. The image below is from the election held on Pennenden Heath, in Maidstone, on May 1 and 2, 1754. There were three candidates. Lewis Watson and Robert Fairfax were elected.
"In the Name of God Amen.
I William Clinch of the parish of Stockbury in the County of Kent Yeoman being weake in boddey but of a sound and perfect understanding and memorey praised by all mightey God for the Same I do make publish and declear this my Last Will and Testament in maner and forme folowing / that is to Say first and princepaley I Recommend my sole into the hands of Allmighty God who gave it to me / and my bodey to the Earth from whence it was taken when God Shall be pleased to take my Life from me / and my buril to be decent wihout pomp or State, at the discretion of my dear Childrine and as to Such worldly Goods as it hath pleas'd God to bless me with I Give and dispose of in maner and forme folowing, that is to Say I Give to my daughter Mary now the wife of Tho's Hales fifteen pounds, and I give to my daughter Sarey now the wife of Benj'n Banner fifteen pounds / and I Give to Steven Hales ten shillings / and I Give to James Fuller ten Shillings / allto be paid at the End of one hole yeare after my deceses by my Son Thomas Clinch whome I make Sole Executor of this my last Will and Testament / and after payment of debts, Legerses, funerell Expences and Charge of proving this my last Will and Testament and all other Charges then to have a true and pertickler Inventorey and Aprisement to be made of all my Goods, Chattels, household, forneytire, wearing aprill, personall estate Beddey money and Effex whatsoever, and to be divided betwene my three Sons / John Clinch, William Clinch, and Thomas Clinch / but and allso I give and desire that Thomas Shall take to himself ten pounds over his Equell Sheear and he Shall Continue in the farme and pay his two Brothers John and William thier parts in five Equell payments in yearley and every Year till the time is Expired begining at one years end after my Desease. I hereby Revoke all former Wills and Testaments by me made at aney time heretofore, in witness whereof I the said William Clinch the testater have to this my last Will an Testament conaind in one Sheat of paper Set and a fixt my hand Seal this ninth day of Janauary in the yeare of our Lord one Thousand Seven Hundred and Sixtey Nine.
William Clinch his (X) mark
Sined sealed pulcied and deleard by the Said William clinch the Testater as and for hi slast Will an testament in the presants of Us the sitnesses here under wrightin.
Thos. Wyles, Robert Terry, Ann X Terrey"]
CHILDREN:
John Clinch (c 16 Feb 1728/29 - May 1798, Stockbury) married Mary Tollast in Bicknor, 7 Jan 1759. All of their children were christened in Stockbury:
Elizabeth (7 Jan 1759);
John 3 (May 1761 - died in Hartlip 7 June 1845);
Mary (1 May 1763);
William (19 Aug 1764);
Thomas 20 July 1766);
Mary (1 May 1768) married Stephen Wood in Bredgar on 25 July 1797;
James (5 Feb 1769) married Sarah Chapman in Bredgar on July 19 1801;
David (7 July 1771-10 April 1778);
Benjamin (19 July 1774)
Ann Clinch Our Ancestor (c 13 December 13, 1730 - buried Oct 1, 1765 Stockbury) "The original Parish Record shows the entry in 1730 as Elizabeth which was then crossed out and corrected to say Ann" - Chris & Julie Petersen's Genealogy
Elizabeth Clinch (c Sept 24 1732, Stockbury - before 1769) married Thomas Fuller
William Clinch (c 12 Oct 1735 - d. 1808, Stockbury) married Ann Vison in Stockbury on 19 October 1768. They christened one child in Stockbury, then moved to Hartlip. ir first child, Elizabeth, was christened in Stockbury on 12 March 1769. His father died that year and, as specified in the will, Thomas up William's share in the farm. William and Ann Clinch started christened their children in Hartlip after that:
Elizabeth (12 March 1769, Stockbury)
William Jones (30 Aug 1773, Hartlip),
John (8 Nov 1775, Hartlip);
George (1 Jan 1779, Hartlip);
Richard (27 June 1782, Hartlip).
Mary Clinch (c July 9, 1738, Stockbury, Kent; d. October 30, 1770, Frinsted) married Thomas Hales
Margaret Clinch (c Sept 21, 1740 - buried August 9, 1741 Stockbury)
James Clinch (c September 17, 1742 - buried March 23, 1748/49 Stockbury - see note for James that follows
Sarah Clinch Our Ancestor ( No christening record, but mentioned in will; died June 23, 1798 Stockbury) married Benjamin Banner
Thomas Clinch (c September 18, 1748 - buried April 1820) married Mary Pain, in Stockbury, on 30 May 1774. After his father died, Thomas became one of Stockbury's electors. He was the owner/farmer of two properties within the parish and, as of 1782, one of the two assessors for the parish rates. Children:
Thomas (3 Oct 1779, Stockbury);
Elizabeth (21 July 1782, Stockbury) married Edward Filmer in Stockbury 18 Oct 1803;
Sarah (4 July 1784, Stockbury);
William (5 Oct 1786, Stockbury);
Fanny (1 Feb 1789, Stockbury);
Jane (30 Oct 1791, Stockbury);
James (23 Feb 1794, Stockbury);
Henrietta (25 Dec 1795, Stockbury)
James Clinch (c 18 Sept 1748 - buried March 1749/50 Stockbury) - "there is no evidence that there were two different James Clinches in this family. Some would have us believe that the first James bapt. 17 Oct 1742 was bur. 23 Mar 1748/1749 and the second James was baptized abt 1750 and bur. 27 Mar 1750. What we can confirm is the first baptism and the second burial making these two James actually just one person. Additionally, the burial record calls James as a son and not an infant of his parents." - Chris & Julie Petersen's Genealogy