FAMILY
Robert at Hale was probably born between1500-1510. We do not know the name of his father, but he is most likely a grandson of Simon att Hale from Ospringe.
He and his brothers Thomas and Mathew are mentioned in their cousin William at Hale's will, which was probated in 1522.
In Faversham Hundred's subsidy list for 14 Henry VIII (22nd April 1523- 21 April 1524) p 23
The relative proportion of their assessments can partially be explained by a will from 1484. Thomas's father inherited 3 tenements, while Mathew's (& Robert's) grandfather received one.
I assume that Mathew inherited the house in Ospringe, for he is both the only one of the three brothers listed in the 1524 assessment and the only one to leave a will. This 1540 document mentions his wife: Katherine, children Joan and Thomas and two nieces: Margaret and Mildred.
At some point Mathew and Katherine Hale appear to have acquired an additional house ten miles to the West, for in 26 Henry VIII (22nd April 1536-21 April 1536) they sold (transaction 1240) a house with 31 acres of land, 26 acres of pasture & 31 acres of wood in Bredgar & Wormshill to Thomas Edenden, Henry Haddes & Thos Partriche for £40.
CHANGES DURING ROBERT'S LIFETIME
The will mentioning Robert at Hale was written while England was still a Catholic nation.
In a series of statute issued between 1532 and 1537, King Henry VIII established the Church of England.
Faversham Abbey, a mile or so from Robert at Hale's family's ancestral home, was dissolved in 1538 and most of the building material was transported by sea to France, where it was used to strengthen fortifications around Calais.
A branch of Kent's premiere Hales family were still tenants in Putwood manor, Ospringe, in first year of King Edward I (Jan 28, 1547 to Jan 27, 1548). Their landlords, Gold wells chantry, managed to conceal the fact they owned this manor "with its appurtenances, and eighty acres of land in Ospringe and the adjoining parishes" until the 10th year of Queen Elizabeth I (17 Nov 15, 1568 - 16 Nov 1569). Then William Cromer, the sheriff of Kent, made some inquiries. The Queen subsequently bestowed Putwood manor on Mr. Thomas Sare, of Provenders, in Norton.
ROBERT'S LOT:
As there is no mention of Robert at Hale owning property, I suspect he was a tenant farmer. His (proposed) son Arnold Hales of Frinsted, inherited the title "Gentleman".