FAMILY
Thomas s/o Nicholas de Hales of Hales Place in High Halden
SERVICE IN FRANCE?
A Thomas Hales, Esquire, Man-at-arms served under Hereford, Humphrey de Bohun, earl of Hereford in the expedition of King Edward III 1372. This suggests he may also have served under the earl in other naval expeditions. Though the campaign of 1359-60 seems too early; Thomas could have participated in the campaigns of 1369 & 1371. The earl died in 1373.
PEASANT REVOLT
Thomas Hales was one of the parish’s two tax collectors during 1377. This was the first of several taxes meant to finance the war in France. Constable Thomas Heanherst accompanied Thomas atte Hale and William Jose, when they collected 4 pence from everyone over the age of 14. The resulting tabulation showed there were 161 “adults” in High Halden.
The local peasants ransacked the Hales manor at High Halden in the resulting peasant rebellion of 1381.
Thomas Hales is believed to have died about 1402.
CHILDREN
"Thomas de Hales (born about 1352 the son of Sir Nicholas de Hales), of Hales place, left three sons (John, Thomas and Henry), the eldest of whom, John, was ancestor of the Hales's, of this county (Kent), and from the second son (Thomas), descended those of Coventry, in Warwickshire, and those of Snitterfield, and Newland, likewise in that county (Warwickshire), which two latter are both extinct, and from the third son (Henry) those of Essex. (HHK, v. VI, p. 88)." - "The Hales Family of Kent," in The Hales Newsletter, New Series, Vol. 3, No. 2 (Summer 1997):
CHILDREN
Tradition asserts had three sons: