Woodchurch

Descent Of Kent's Premier Hales Family

The last common ancestor that our families presumably shared was Thomas Hales of High Halden (born abt 1352). He had three sons. We most likely descend from Henry atte Hale. The Premier Hales family of Kent descend from:

1. John atte Hale

He was one of the three sons of Thomas de Hales of High Halden.

William Ireland wrote that High Halden s “very retired, damp,” To which Hasted adds that Halden is “situated very obscurely, in as unpleasant a part as any within this county.”

John de Hales built Hales Place in Tenterden, Kent. of which Hasted writes, " HALES-PLACE, at the northwest end of this town, which was for many generations the residence of a branch of the family of Hales, who removed hither from their original seat, of the same name, in the adjoining parish of Halden.

His son Henry follows

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2. Henry atte Hale (about 1395 - 1464)

He was born in Tenterden ,and according to Hasted, lived in the reign of Henry VI (r 31 August 1422 – 4 March 1461; Again: 3 October 1470 – 11 April 1471). He "married Juhan (Juliana) , daughter and heir of Richard Capel, of Tenterden, by which he greatly increased his estate in this parish."

The Hales family once "held one sixth of the town" - Robert Furley, "The Early History of Tenterden" ARCHAEOLOGIA CANTIANA Vol 14, p 49.

Testament of Henry Hale, 26 Jan. 1464.Henry atte Hale of Tenterden.

Committal: churchyard of St. Mildred, Tenterden

Godson: Henry, son of John Preston Executors: sons John and Thomas

Feoffees: Richard Days, Wm. Pyers, Thos. Strekynbold, Thomas Jan/?n/ Jun. (of lands as appears in charter).

Son: Stephen, monk in Monastery of St. Augustine, Canterbury

Son: William, canon

Son: Henry, legacy dependant on whether he becomes priest or monk

Daughter: Mildred, if becomes nun, or on marriage

Son: Thomas, if priest: messuage etc., opposite Testator’s principal messuage; 3 acres land on Dulbinden. For life, remainder to sons Henry and John (if Henry priest or monk, to John only). If Thomas not a priest, land etc. on Dulbynden forever. All other land to son John forever.

CHILDREN

  • John atte Hale (FOLLOWS)
  • Thomas atte Hale married Elizabeth Carenton and became the father of
    • Christopher Hales who became England's solicitor-general in, and became attorney-general on 3 June 1529. He prosecuted Thomas Wolsey, he appeared for the king against Sir Thomas More and John Fisher on their last arraignment; and was involved in the trial of Queen Anne Boleyn. He became Master of the Rolls on 10 July 1536, and retained the place for the five remaining years of his life, having received the honour of knighthood soon after his appointment. In 1540 he was associated with Thomas Cranmer, Lord-chancellor Rich, and other commissioners in the work of remodelling the foundation of Canterbury Cathedral," - Details from Dictionary of National Biography MP for Canterbury in 1523. "On the eve of the Dissolution he was steward of six houses in the diocese of Canterbury, including Christchurch and St. Augustine’s within the city, as well as of Cobham college in Rochester diocese, and by 1538 he had succeeded Sir Edward Neville as steward of the bishop of Rochester’s lands. (From 1529 until his death he was also steward of the bishop of Winchester’s manor of Southwark.)" His only son preceded him
  • Stephen atte Hale & according to the Hales chronicles became a monkof Saint Augustine, Canterbury.
  • William atte Hale.
  • Henry atte Hale was a monk in 1468.
  • Mildred atte Hale entered the Benedictine order and was prioress of St Sepulchre’s convent in Canterbury. This institution was known for it’s dearth of funds, and she had the unpleasant duty of making truant tenants pay their rent! Thus we read of her taking Laurence Byker to court in 1476/77, and the tailor Thomas Higlyn in both 1481/82 and 1482/83. - Canterbury City Archives, Court book ref: CC/J/B/1/276; CC/J/B/1/281; CC/J/B/1/282; CC/J/B/1/302 Hasted wrote that when Archbishop Warham visited her comvent, in 1511, "Mildred Hale, prioress, said that the nuns did not rise for mattins in the middle of the night, but at dawn, because the doors of the cloister were being mended and the roof covered, and there was so much noise outside the church. There were then five other nuns in the priory."

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3. John Hales (Born abt 1430)

John married Juliana _____ . He was Tenterden’s bailiff in 1467 & 1468.- The Bailiffs and Mayors of Tenterden since 1449 He died in office.

His son John follows

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4. John Hales (abt 1465 – c. 1540)

He married Isabella Harvy (or Harry or Harris), he daughter of Stephen Harry.

John Hales was the Stewart of Canterbury Cathedral in 1501, Justice of the Peace for Kent 1503, Bailiff of Tenterden in 1504.

He purchased the Dungeon (now the Dane John) in Canterbury. Retained from 1515 as counsel to Canterbury at a fee of 20s. a year, he sought and obtained about 1520 the stewardship of St. Augustine’s abbey; this he held from 1533 jointly with the 3rd Duke of Norfolk but had surrendered by the time of the valor ecclesiasticus. Elected MP for Canterbury in 1512 and 1515 he was elected Member of Parliament for Canterbury. Second Baron of the Exchequer by 1528 believed to have died prior to being replaced as Baron of Exchequer in 1540.

John Hales is the lawyer mentioned in Canterbury’s session papers, gaol delivery papers and court dockets on numerous occasions between 1510 and 38.

On one occasion he authorised a heretic’s burial on the Dane John, only to recieve complaints that the corpse was placed “not a foot below ground to the great nuisance and jeopardy of the king's liege people.”

In 1514: the mayor of Canterbury paid Hales 13s.4d for asking parliament that the city “might have gaol delivery by the charter without commission.”

DISSOLUTION OF CANTERBURY'S MONASTERIES

Henry VIIIth made Hales Baron of the Exchequer in 1523, and Acting Stewart for St Augustine’s Abbey during the dissolution. The medieval church was torn down and its stones sent to royal building projects like Deal castle. The prior’s residence was converted into a palace. Anne of Cleves stayed there, en route to meet the king, in 1539.

the antiquarian John Leland reached Canterbury during the 30th year of Henry VIIIth (24th June 1539- 23rd June 1540). Leland was concerned that so many medieval manuscripts were disappearing as the monasteries were shut down, With Hales’ help, he was able to channel some of the books from St Augustine’s into the royal library. (But Only 200 of the 2,000 known volumes have survived into modern times.)

In 1538, Henry VIIIth closed Thomas Becket's shrine, burning the saints remains and transporting 26 wagons of plunder to London.

This was a heavy blow to Canterbury's tourist industries, as Sir John Hales wrote Chancellor Thomas Cromwell, “Please allow the city of Canterbury to have a mill, which of late belonged to St Austin’s Abbey. A great part of their yearly charges used to be paid by the victuallers and inn holders who made their gain out of the pilgrims which heretofore came to the said city but do not now continue. It is like they will not be able to pay their yearly charges without this grant.”

The antiquarian John Leland was concerned about the disappearing medieval manuscripts, when he reached Canterbury during the 30th year of Henry VIIIth(24th June 1539- 23rd June 1540). With Hales’ help, he was able to channel some of the books from St Augustine’s into the royal library. (But Only 200 of the 2,000 known volumes have survived into modern times.)

THE TRIAL OF JOHN STONE

John Hales, his great nephew (Sir Christopher Hales) and the mayor of Canterbury presided over the trial of John Stone in December 1538. The defendant had been one of the last monks from St Augustine’s Abbey, and hence under John Hales’ authority, but refused to acknowledge Henry VIIIth‘s supremacy over the church. A trial participant wrote:

“Being in the Austin friars there the 14th day of December, one Friar there very rudely and traitorously used himself before all the company as by a bill here enclosed you shall perceive part. To write half his words and order there it were too long to write. I perceiving his demeanour straight sequestered him so that none spoke with him. I sent for the mayor and ere that he came I examined him before master Spilman and also afterwards before the mayor and master Spilman and at all times he still held and still will die for it that the King may not be head of the Church of England, but it must be a spiritual father appointed by God.” - Geoffrey Baskerville, ENGLISH MONKS AND THE SUPPRESSION OF THE MONASTERIES (Johnathon Cape: London, 1949) p 23

One of Stone’s friends left a very different account of the monk’s last days. (They presumably visited in one of Canterbury castle’s cells.)

“Having poured forth prayers to God in prison and fasted continuously for three days ...(Stone) heard a voice though he saw no one, which addressed him by name and bade him to be of good heart and not to hesitate to suffer death with constancy for the belief which he had professed. From which afterwards he gained such eagerness and strength as never to allow himself by persuasion or terror to be drawn from his purpose.”

To ensure maximum publicity, Stone was dragged, from Westgate to the Dane John, on a sled. He was hung, in sight of his now empty abbey, then drawn and quartered. He would later be declared a Catholic saint.

John Hales probably helped Henry VIII destroy the once proud Saint Augustine’s. The medieval church was torn down and its stones sent to royal building projects like Deal castle. The prior’s residence was converted into a palace. Anne of Cleves stayed there, en route to meet the king, in 1539.

DEATH

John Hales Will dated 20 JUL 1540 names Children and commits John to tomb of wife, Isabella, who predeceased him and was buried at Saint Mary of Bredne [sic; should be Bredin], Canterbury.

CHILDREN

  • Mildred Hales - born about 1502 of Thanington, Kent, England; married about 1534 John Honeywwod.
  • Sir James Hales one of the justices of the common pleas, of the Dungeon in Canterbury. One of the 40 knights at the coronation of Edward VI in 1547 (p 220). The "Just Judge Hales" who, despite being a Protestant, in 1553,was one of three judges who refused to seal the document by which the Duke of Northumberland, and others attempted to settle the crown on the Protestant Lady Jane Grey. As a result, England experienced a Catholic restoration under Queen Mary. Hales never-the-less continued to follow the anti-Catholic legislation of Edward VIth's reign and was imprisoned. He committed suicide. See Foxe's account of these matters.
  • Edward Hales (FOLLOWS)
  • Thomas Hales ancestor of the Barons of Bekesbourne and MP for Canterbury in 1547. A supporter of Archbishop Cranmer who was not re-elected after the Archbishop's disgrace.
  • William HALES; born about 1520 of Nackington, Kent, England; married about 1545 Mary Boorne

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5. Edward Hales

He married Margaret, d/o of John Honywood Esq. "of Seen" on January 10, 1548/9. Is this "E Hales" who was Bailiff of Tenterden in 1544, 1545, 1547, 1559, 1560, 1564, 1565, 1568, 1569, 1572, 1576 and 1580?

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6. William Hales of Tenterden

His brother John Hales was elected to parliament in Hendon 1572, Elected Bailiff of Tenterden 1598-1600 and the town's first mayor on 16 Aug. 1600.

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7. Sir Edward Hales (1576–1654)

The first Baron of Woodchurch after acquiring that estate through his marriage to Deborah Harlakenden, daughter of Martin Harlakenden of Woodchurch in 1602.

In 1616 he married secondly Martha Cromer, daughter of Sir Matthew Carew, and widow of Sir James Cromer of Tunstall, Kent. According to the History of Parliament:

"Following his first wife’s death, Hales married the widow of Sir James Cromer of Tunstall, thereby increasing his annual income by £4,000 and making him one of the wealthiest squires in Kent. The marriage was unusual, even by early seventeenth-century standards: on the day of the wedding Hales ate out and his bride dined with her father. Hales soon gave up his marshland home at Woodchurch to reside at Tunstall, in north Kent,46 but the move cost him his parliamentary interest at Hastings as he was not a candidate for the third Jacobean Parliament."

Baron Hales would have been known to several of our families. He employed Tobias Eagles and, in addition to the manor house in Tunstall, was the owner of 26 acres of arable land and 40 acres of wood in Bredgar (Helen Allinson, BREDGAR, p 49)

He was elected to Parliament in 1625, 1626, 1640-45. The History of Parliament continues:

"He regained his parliamentary seat at Queenborough in 1640, and was initially reckoned a supporter of Parliament, but was imprisoned in 1643 after supplying Kent’s royalists with match and powder. His estates were sequestrated, and were recovered only after paying a £6,000 fine.58 He remained a prisoner until disabled from sitting in April 1648, when he retired to his house at Tunstall."

He was in London when word of the 1648 rising came and assured parliament his grandson could not be involved. Later, learning that young Edward was actually a leader, he threatened to disinherit him.

"He made out his will on 15 Oct. 1651, ‘being in the threescore and fifteenth year of my age’. He left bequests of £1,700 and directed that his grandchildren should be raised ‘in the fear of God, and good literature’. He died on 6 Oct. 1654 and was buried at Tunstall four days later ‘without any pomp or ceremonies’. His portrait was painted in 1645."

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8. Sir John Hales

He was MP for Queensborough 1628 and, according to Hasted, "having married Christian, one of the daughters and coheirs of Sir James Cromer, of Tunstal, became possessed of the antient seat of the Cromers in that parish, where he resided, and died in his father's life-time, in 1639."

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9. Edward Hales (1626-84)

He was one of the leaders of the Royalist revolt in 1648. After he put forward £80,000 to help equip the army of 10,000, he was set aside as general and command of the army given to George Goering, the earl of Norwich. Though a mediocre general, Goering was a veteran of the first Civil War. Hales was given command of a cavalry contingent, which he led into action during the resulting battle of Maidstone. They were defeated by the Model Army's veteran horse and driven back with heavy losses. Hales escaped to the continent and did not return until 1651. Edward succeeded to the baronetcy when his grandfather died in September 1654. As a former Royalist, he was under constant suspicion during Cromwell's era and paid £604 p.a. as decimation tax after this grandfather died. Everything changed after Charles II was brought back to England and crowned king on May 29, 1660. By July, Hales was a colonel of the militia. Several soldiers of Sir Edward's Hales regiment were wounded when they resisted the Dutch incursion up the Medway in 1667. Baron Hales also entered parliament

"As a Cavalier Hales was ineligible for the general election of 1660, but was returned for Maidstone, eight miles from Tunstall, at a by-election. As soon as he had taken his seat he was selected to help raise a loan of £100,000 in the City. He was also appointed to the committee to give parochial status to Covent Garden, where his town house stood, but he was not otherwise active. At the general election he transferred himself to the family seat at Queenborough. An inactive Member of the Cavalier Parliament, he served on only 13 committees, none of them of political importance. In 1671 he complained of lack of ready money, but it was not until 1677 that he was given a pension of £500 p.a., which was regularly paid till 1679. Shaftesbury changed his assessment of ‘worthy’ to ‘vile’. His name appears as a court supporter on the working lists and apparently in Wiseman’s account, but he was otherwise ignored by the Opposition. Hales retained his seat in the first and second Exclusion Parliaments. He was again marked ‘vile’ on Shaftesbury’s list and voted against the bill, but left no other trace on their proceedings. Outside the House he was overshadowed by his son Edward Hales II. In August 1681 he was given a pass for France, where he died between 6 Aug. 1683 and 8 Feb. 1684. It is a natural conjecture that he had become a Roman Catholic like his son, but there is no positive evidence for this."

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10. Edward Hales II (1645-95)

Sir Edward bought property in Hackington, on the outskirts of Canterbury, in 1675. He was appointed to the Admiralty in 1679, around the time he was elected to parliament. He had a tough time being re-elected later that year, after voting against a bill to exclude Catholics from office. His reputation was further blackened after his sons former tutor preached ‘a notorious Popish sermon’ in favour of the doctrine of purgatory. Hales formally became a Catholic in 1685, the same year he raised a regiment of foot during Monmouth’s rebellion. He was in command of the tower of London when seven bishops were incarcerated for their beliefs and planned to mount mortars to bombard the City if signs of restiveness appeared. This led to his dismissal. King James never-the-less chose him as an accomplish when he attempted to flee London. Hales was recognized in Faversham and the royal party arrested. Hales was imprisoned in Maidstone for about a year, during which time the House of Commons adjudged him a traitor. After his release, Hales applied for permission to return to England in 1694, but this was not granted and he died in Paris October 1695. The exiled King James II gave him the title Earl of Tenterden.

  • His eldest son, Edward Hales, was killed at the Battle of the Boyne in 1689.

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11. John Hales (died in Tunstall 1744)

John Hales refused a peerage from George I because it was not the Earldom of Tenterden.

  • HIs son James Hales was killed in Italy, while an officer fighting for the Emperor, in 1735 - Burkes

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12. Edward Hales

Died before his father, so the barony passed to his son.

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13. Sir Edward Hales, the fifth baronet (r. 1744-1802)

He "pulled down the ancient dwelling (in Hackington, Canterbury , and on the rise of the hill in the park erected a spacious brick mansion, which has a noble and majestic appearance, commanding delightful prospects. It is approached by an avenue of lofty poplars, and the grounds are richly beautified with woody scenery." - History and Gazetteer& Directory of Kent, Vo. II, 1847

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14. Sir Edward Hales, sixth and last baronet (r 1802-1829)

After his death the baronetcy became extinct, and his extensive estates devolved eventually upon his great-niece, Mary Barbara Felicite, granddaughter of his sister, Madame de Morlaincourt, whose son assumed the name of Hales.