Events
Date of Birth: unknown.
Place of Birth: unknown.
Date of Burial: 22 October, 1602.
Place of Burial: Willesborough, Kent.
The burial is recorded in the parish register.
Relationships
Father: John Chalcroft of Kingsnorth.
The 1560 will of John Chalcroft of Kingsnorth names his son William.
Mother: Margery.
Spouse: Joan Master of Mersham. Married 13 October 1569 in Kingsnorth.
The marriage is recorded in the parish register. An abstract of the marriage licence is given by Cowper (p. 82). The ecclesiastical cause papers cited below make clear that William had children with more than one woman.
Spouse: Joan Plommer.
The marriage is given in an index entry of an unidentified bishop's transcript on Findmypast, with the date 12 May 1590. Given the evidence of the will of Joan Plommer's father Thomas Plommer, the marriage must have occurred earlier: he lists Thomas, Susan, Elizabeth, and Henry as children of his daughter Joan Chalcroft and her husband William. The will was made in 1586.
Children:
(Complete source citations for facts about the children on this page are currently outside of the scope of this project. The ecclesiastical cause papers cited below seem to imply that William had children by two different wives.)
Thomas Chalcroft (baptized 30 November 1570 in Kingsnorth, Kent)
Isabel Chalcroft (baptized 6 July 1572 in Kingsnorth - buried 26 July 1573 in Kingsnorth)
John Chalcroft (baptized 12 Nov 1573 in Kingsnorth - buried 15 November 1576 in Kingsnorth)
Richard Chalcroft (baptized 19 December 1574 in Kingsnorth, Kent - buried 10 June 1628 in Willesborough). Captain of Sandgate Castle.
Thomas Chalcroft (baptized 4 April 1580 in Kingsnorth - buried 1637 in Lenham, Kent)
Susan Chalcroft (baptized 23 April 1581 in Kingsnorth) married William Hall 16 January 1603 in Willesborough, Kent.
William Chalcroft (baptized 2 September 1582 in Kingsnorth - buried 7 March 1583/4 in Kingsnorth)
Elizabeth Chalcroft (baptized 13 October 1583 in Kingsnorth - died 29 December 1632) married Thomas Henman 20 May 1601 in Willesborough, Kent.
Henry Chalcroft (baptized 27 February 1585/6 in Kingsnorth)
William Chalcroft (baptized 29 September 1589 in Kingsnorth - buried 22 September 1638 in Willesborough)
John Chalcroft (baptized 7 May 1593 in Kingsnorth - died 1618) married Elizabeth Newman 1 May 1617 in London. John was a grocer in London.
Nicholas Chalcroft (baptized 1 September 1595 in Kingsnorth)
Joan Chalcroft (baptized 16 September 1599 in Willesborough, Kent) married James Tonge in 1621.
Robert Chalcroft (baptized 6 January 1601/2 in Kingsnorth)
Evidence
Abstract of William’s marriage licence :
Chalcrofte, William, of East Kingsnorth, and Joan Maister of Mersham. At Mersham or Kingsnorth. [No date. 1569].
Parish registers of Kingsnorth:
1569
October. The xiijth daie was William Chawlcrofte & Jone Maysters maryed
1570
November. The laste daie was Thomas Chawlcrofte sonne unto William Baptized.
1572.
Julie. The vith daie was Izabell Chawlcrofte daughter unto William Baptized.
1573.
November. The xijth daie was Jone Chawlcrofte the daughter of William Baptized.
1574.
December. The xixth daie was Rycharde Chawlcrofte the sonne of William Baptized.
1580.
Aprill. The iiijth daie was Thomas Chawlcrofte the sonne of William Baptized.
1581.
The xxiijtie daie was Susanne Chawlcrofte the daughter of William Baptized.
1582.
September. The ij daie was William Chawlcrofte the sonne of William Baptized.
1583.
September. The viith daie was Elizabethe Chawlcrofte the daughter of William Baptized
1585.
Februarie The xxvijtie daie was Henrye Chawlcrofte the sonne of William Baptized.
1587
Aprill. The xxiijth daie was Jone Chawlcroft buried.
1589.
September. The xxixth daie was William Chawlcrofte the sonne of William Chawcrofte Baptized
1593.
Maie./ The viith daie was Jhon Challcrofte the sonne of William Baptized.
1595.
September. The xxith daie was Nicholas Chawlcrofte baptiz:
Parish registers of Willesborough:
1599
Septemb. 16 Joane Chalcrofte daughter of William Chalcrofte.
1601
January. 6th Robart Chalcrofte the sonne of William Chalcrofte was bapt.
1602
Octob 22th William Chalcrofte howsehoulder was buryed
Abstract of marriage licence of William’s daughter Joan:
Tong, James, of Tunstall, g., widr., about 30, and Joan Chalker of Lenham, maiden, about 22, d. of William Chalker of Willesborough, dec. about 14 years since, and now in the govt. of her mother, Joan Chalker of Lenham, w., who consents. At Wychling. Oct. 30, 1621.
from the Kent Archives catalogue (DCb/J/J/42/75):
Ecclesiastical cause papers
Plaintiff: William Chalcroft, half brother by father, executor.
Defendants: Thomas Chalcroft, Bredgar, half-brother by father; Elizabeth Chalcroft alias Henman, wife of Thomas Henman, Lenham and Joan Chalcroft alias Tong wife of James Tong, Bredgar, half-sisters by father; Susan Hall, Maidstone, daughter of Susan Chalcroft alias Hall, half-sister by father, deceased.
Date: 24 July 1628
William’s daughter Joan Chalcroft appears in the 1663 Visitation of Kent (p. 167).
William Chalcroft of Kingsnorth is named as a cousin in the will of Robert Chalcroft of Ashford, shoemaker (29 January 1589/90). William was executor of the 1585 will of Robert Hall, senior, of Ashford.
William's will:
In the name of God Amen The Sixtenthe day of August in the yere of our Lorde god, One thousand six hundred two, and in the fower and Fortith yeare of the raigne of our soveraigne Lady Elizabethe by the grace of god Queene of England France and Ireland defender of the faith &c I William Chalcrofte of the parishe of Willisboroughe in the Countie of Kent yoman (being Sick of bodye but of good and perfecte remembrance; thankes be given to almightie god) doe make and ordaine this my last will and Testamente, in manner and forme followinge; That is to saie, First I bequeathe my soul to Jesus Christe my saviour and redemer, by whose death and passion I assuredly trust to be saved, and my body to xr[ist]ian burial, Item I give towards the repairac[i]ons of the parish Church of East Kingsnoth twenty shillinges, Item I give and bequeath to William Tyboll John Sprott John Holden, Vincents widowe, Colbrandes widowe; and Willm Drabridge the somme of thirtie shillinges, equaly to be devided amongest them within two monethes nexte after my decease. Item I will and give to the poore people of Willisboroughe tenne shillinges, And I give towardes the repairac[i]ons of the Church of Willisboroughe six shillinges eighte pence, Item I will and my mynde is that Joane my wief shall have the hundred poundes paide her, the which I stoode in bonde for, and that she shall have the twenty markes that she hathe assured unto her out of certaine of my landes, the which hundred poundes and twentie markes by the yere was agreed uppon afore marriage and in considerac[i]on of marriage, And moreover I will and give to my saide wief all such iewells and gould as she nowe hathe in her owne kepinge, one double soveraigne of thirtie shillinges onely excepted, which I give unto Willm Henman my daughters sonne, Furthermore I will and give to my said wief my best geldinge the pillyon, pillyon clothe, brydle, headstall and reynes hereto belonging, and six of my best kyen, to be taken at her owne choice, And I give unto her two seames of wheate and two seames of malte, Item I will and my minde is that if the sayde Joane my wife within thre quarters of one yere nexte and imeadiately after my decease, doe and shall seale and deliver in due forme of lawe, unto Richarde my sonne his heires or assignes, a sufficient Release of all her dowrie and widowe righte that she maye have of and in thirtie two acres of marche lande by estimac[i]on lyenge in the parishe of Saint Maryes in the saide Countie, and of and in one messuage and one hundred fower acres of lande meadowe pasture and woode by estimac[i]on, to the same messuage belonginge scituate and lienge in Mersham and Seavington in the saide Countie, and also of and in one messuage and thirtie acres of lande in Willisboroughe aforesaide; and in considerac[i]on of the performance of the saide Release of all the said premisses I give and bequeath unto the said Joane my wief threscore poundes of lawfull Englishe money, to be paied unto her within one yeare nexte after my decease; And if the saide Joane my wife shall refuse the sealinge and delivery of the said release, then I will the saide threscore poundes to my saide sonne Richard to be payed to him within three monethes nexte after her refuzall and all other legacies already given, or hereafter shall be given to her in this my Testament and last will, Item I give and bequeath unto the sayed Richard my sonne all my bedsteades featherbeddes bolsters pillowes blanckets coverlets tables cobberdes and all other thinges standing in the loft over the great parlor at willisborough together withall the timber and woode within the saide parishe of willisborowe Item I give more to the saide Richard my sonne the bed and bedstead where he nowe lyeth in the lytle parlor, and all Furniture to the same; And I give more to the sayed Richard all my tables foormes and frames; one dozen of ioyned stooles, and one lyvery cubberd standinge and being in the great parlor at willisborrowe and my longe table with the Frame in the hall there; and one presse cubberd, one smale square Table withe the frame; in the chamber where I lye, and my copper I use to brewe in, and all standells and brewing vessells at willisborrowe; Item I give and bequeath to the saide Richard my sonne fower silver spoones of the best, and one Covrelet furnished, at his owne choice, and I give more to the sayed Richard foure payres of sheetes, fower table clothes, and two dozen of table napkins Item I give more to the sayed Richard a Jack turne - spit, two spits, one great brasse pott, one litle brasse pott, and all the dresser boordes and shelves in the kitchin, Cellars, and buttryes at Willisborrowe; all which legacies I will shall be delivered to him or To his use, within one monethe nexte after my decease, Item I give and bequeathe unto Thomas my sonne all my houshold stuff implements and utensills of what kinde fashion or forme soever they be, lienge and being at or in my house at Kingsenothe aforesaide; excepte my armor and all my corne in the loftes there, Item I give more to the saide Thomas my sonne; thre silver spoones, one covrelet furnished, one musker furnished, one wagon with yoakes teights and all furniture to it, six paires of sheets, thre table clothes two dozen of table napkins nine platters and nine pewter dishes, Item I will and bequeath to Joane my wife and Suzan my daughter all my plate and houshold stuff, That is to saie, brasse; pewter, lynnen, woollen, beddinge, and all other thinges within my howse at willisborrowe, not before willed or bequeathed to others, equalie to be devided betwene them, and the parte therein cominge to my saide daughter; to be delivered unto her within one moneth nexte after my decease; Item I doe give unto my said daughter Suzan One hundred and Fiftie poundes of lawfull English money, to be paide unto her within one yeare nexte after my decease; Item I give to Joane my youngest daughter One hundred poundes of lawfull Englishe money, to be imployed by mine Executors within one yere nexte after my decease; to her use, towardes her preferment, and to be paide unto her withe the proffit thereof, at her age of twenty one yeres, or at the daye of her marriage; which shall firste come; And I will and my minde is, that if the saide Joane my daughter shall die before her saide age of twentie one yeres or afore she shall be married: then the said legacie of one hundred poundes with the proffitt thereof, to be devided equalie amongest my five youngest sonnes Item I doe give and bequeathe to Henrie, William, John, Nicholas, and Robert my sonnes, to every one of them the somme of two hundred poundes of lawfull English money to be imployed towardes their bringinge up, till they and every of them shall attaine the seaverall ages of fouretene yeres, and then to be imployed to the better advancement of their porc[i]ons, And I will and my meaninge is, that the porc[i]ons afore given To my saide son Nicholas shalbe paide and delivered to Thomas Henman my sonne in lawe, to their use, within one yere nexte after my decease; to be imployed to their use; according to the true meaning of this my last will and Testament. Provided allwayes and my wyll and meaning is, that if it shall happen any of my saide sonnes last recited to decease afore his or their seaverall age or ages of twenty one yeres: that then his and their parte and parts soe deceasing, shall remaine to the residue of my last recited sonnes then surviving by equall porc[i]ons, to be devided amongest them, Item I doe give and bequeath unto Robert Maye my servaunte; on Ewe and one lambe; And to Calib Robins one Ewe and a lambe; to be taken oute of my youngest sheepe; and to be delivered to them within one moneth next after my decease, Item I give and bequeath to Thomas my sonne; my lease interest and terme of yeres yet to come which I late had and hould of the demise and graunte of John Baker esquire of Sissingherst, of his mannor or capitall messuage of East Kingsnoade called East Kingsnoth in the Countie of Kent, with all the landes pastures meadowes and feedinges to the same belonging; in as ample and beneficiall manner, as the same is demised and letten to me, excepting oute of this my p[resen]te guifte and bequeathe; That is to saie, first I will that Joane my wief shall have a convenient roome within the said mannor or capitall messuage; as shalbe expedient and needfull for her owne lodging; that is to day the litle parlor and the loft chamber over the same; with other meete roomes in the rest of the house there, for the placinge and bestowinge of her goodes houshold stuff and other necessaries, And I will and my minde is, that the said Thomas my sonne; or he to whom the possession of the saide lease shall come; shall quietly permit and suffer the said Joan my wief and her assignes beinge her servauntes to have free accesse comynge and goinge to and from the fyer in the kytchin at all tymes conveniente for all suche uses as shalbe needfull, and also to have fre libertie to bake brewe washe and to doe all other busines necessarie; at all times conveniente when and as often as neede shall require; And I will and my minde is, that the sayed Thomas my sonne; or he to whom the possession of the saide lease shall come, shall keepe for the saide Joane my wief and to her use, uppon the landes belonginge to the saide mannor, fower kyen, winter and sommer, in such order sorte and manner, as he shall kepe his owne kien, and at his owne propper costes and charge all which saide benefittes commodities and easments before reserved and assigned to teh saide Joane my wief, my will meaninge and intente is, that she shall enioy the same soe longe as she shall contynue and remaine sole widowe, and nott otherwise, if the yeres in the lease shall soe longe contynue, Item I will and my meaninge is, that the saide Thomas my sonne; or he to whom the possession of the saide lease shall come, shall leavy and pay unto my Executors oute of the profittes and commodityes growinge and increasinge uppon the saide mannor, or capitall messuage, towardes the paymente of my debts and the discharginge of my legacies and bequeathes, the somme of Fiftie poundes of lawfull Englishe money, over and besides the rente thereuppon reserved yerely to be payed to my Executors, for and during the terme of fower yeres nexte and imeadiatly ensuing after my decease, Item further my will and meaning is, that if it shall fortune my saide sonne Thomas to decease afore the end and terme of the saide fower yeres, then I will that William my sonne shall have holde and enioy the foresaid lease, with all commodities and advauntages to the same belonging, in the same manner and forme, and with the same excepc[i]ons reservac[i]ons paymentes, charges and condic[i]ons, as are afore limitted and declared to my sonne Thomas, Item in considerac[i]on of the Fiftie poundes yerelie to be paide by Thomas my sonne to mine Executor during the terme of fower yeres oute of his lease landes at Kingsnothe & I will and give to the saide Thomas my sonne; my lease, interest and terme of yeres which I have yet to come, in all those landes and woode called Rowcrofte woode, lyeinge and beinge in the parishe of greate Chart in the County of Kente, the which I holde of the Deane and Chapter of the Cathedrall Church of Christe of Canterburye; Item I will and give unto the saide Richard my sonne, my lease and the right interest and terme of yeres yet to come, which I hold by the demise and graunte of Sir Robert Lovell knighte of his principall and capitall messauges of Swanton and Quarington scituate and being within the parishes of Seavington, Mersham, Braborne and Bircholte, in the foresaide County of Kente; withall the landes pastures meadowes and feedinges in the saide parishes to them belonginge, in as ample and beneficiall manner, as the same is demised unto me; Item I give and bequeath to the saide Richard my sonne, my lease interest and terme of yeres, which I have yet to come, of and in one peece of medowe lande of seaven acres and half one acre, lyeinge and being in the parish of Ashetisforde in the saide County whiche I holde for certaine yeres yet to come, of the Demise and graunte of John Smith esquire, And also I will and my minde is, and I give to mine Executors my full power and authority that he shall sell to the beste price he can or maye, my lease of Parkhall, which I hold be the demise and graunte of Thomas Cox gentleman, Also I will and doe give full power and authoritye to mine Executors hereafter named, that he shall sell lett and hire oute from the Feaste of Sainct Michaell tharchangell nexte after my decease, during the terme of three yeres, all those landes and tenements in Mersham Seavington and Saincte Maryes in the saide Countye, the which I purchased of Robert Hall and John Hall of Leicester, and shall take up and receive the Ferme thereof, during the saide terme towardes the paymente of my debts and the discharging of my legacies in this my last will and Testamente; And I will and my minde is, that mine Executors shall nott by anie meanes make anie waste, sale, or spoile of anie timber, woodes or underwoodes, growing or beinge in and uppon the premisses within the saide terme; but shall supporte and upholde the buildinges thereof, and shall discharge and paie all rents suits serving and all other charges yssuinge and goinge oute of the same, or anie parte thereof, during all the sayed terme of three yeres, And also my will and mind is, that mine Executors shall sell all my stock corne and cattell of what kinde soever it be; nott afore willed or bequeathed, and the money of the sayed lease called Parkhall arising to be likewise imployed towardes the paymente of my debts and the discharginge of my legacies, togeather withe my stock of cattell and other goodes (nott afore wylled) being sould to the uttermost value, shalbe likewise imployed towardes the paymente of my debts and the discharging of my legacyes and bequeathes Provided allwaeys, that if my Executors deferre the sale of the saide lease by the space of one whole yere next after my decease (having otherwise sufficiente) then I will give and bequeath the same soe left unsolde after the saide terme unto Thomas my sonne and his assignes, And I ordaine constitute and appointe William Plommer gentleman and Thomas Chalcroft my sonne to be Executors of this my p[resen]te laste will and Testamente; And I will and bequeathe to the saide William Plommer for his paines takinge in the execuc[i]on of the same: over and above his charges, costes and expences, the somme of Fortie shillinges every yere during the terme of seaven yeres next after my decease; And furthermore my will and minde is, that my sayde Executor shall pay and discharge all my debts, And I doe instantly desire and entreate John Tufton esquire to be my Overseer. The residue of all my goodes cattell, corne; chattells, and debts owinge unto me, The money arising oute of the Sale of my lease of Parkehall, the overplus and enlargemente of the rentes to be leavied oute of my lease landes Together with the excepc[i]ons and Reservac[i]ons taken owte of the Proffitts of my own landes and all other commodityes whatsoever (nott before given or bequeathed to others) my owne debts first being payed, my legacies and bequeathes discharged, and my Funerall charges and expences satisfied, I doe wholy give and bequeath unto Henrye, William, John, Richard, and Robert my five sonnes by equall porc[i]ons to be devided amongest them, and to be imployed to their uses imeadiately after my decease; and to be payed to them and every of them, as they shall accomplish their seaverall ages of twenty one yeres, together with the profitts thereof. Provided allwaies and my will and minde is, that if yt happen anie of my five sonnes, one or more, to decease afore the daies and times above limitted, Then I will give and bequeath his or their parts and porc[i]ons (arisinge out of the sayed remaineders) soe deceasinge shall remaine unto the residue of my saide sonnes laste rehearsed survivinge; togeather withe the increase and commodities whatsoever by equall porc[i]ons to be devided amongest them. Provided also and my will and minde is, that my sayed Executor shall have the orderinge & disposing of the porc[i]ons of William, John, Nicholas, and Robert my fower sonnes, untill they and either of them shall attaine their seaverall ages of twentie one yeres. William Chalcrofte, witnesses hereunto Henry Wattes by his marke; Reynolde Keale,
This is the last will of me the sayed William Chalcrofte made and by me parsonlly declared the daye and yere above wrytten as concerning the disposinge and conveyinge of all my landes tenements and hereditament within the Countie of Kente, First I will and give to Richard Chalcrofte my sonne (after the three yeres afore limitted and reserved to mine Executor for the letting of the same) all my messuages landes and tenements conteyning by estimac[i]on One hundred foure acres of lande, meadowe, pasture, arrable, and woode, scituate lienge and beinge in Mersham and Seavington in the Countie of Kente aforesaide, and also thirte twoe acres of marsh-lande by estimac[i]on lieng in Saincte Maryes in the saide Countye, All which I late purchased of John Hall and Robert Hall, To have and to holde all the saide messuage landes and tenements conteynge by estimac[i]on One hundred fower acres, and all the saide marishe landes conteyninge thirtie two acres, (excepting to mine executor oute of the premisses the three yeres for the letting of the same, as aforesaide) to him the saide Richard Chalcrofte, during the terme of his naturall life, without impeachmente of waste, And after his decease, to the heires of his bodie lawfullie begotten, And for defalte of suche yssue, to remaine unto the righte heires of my the saide William for ever. Item I wyll and give more to the saide Richard my sonne, all my messuage and landes to the same, comonlie called Gentiles and Shrobbes conteyninge by estimac[i]on thirtie acres, more or lesse, scituate lienge and beinge in Willisborrowe aforesaide, the which I purchased of John Rorden, To have and to holde the same to him his heires and assignes for ever, Item I will and give to Thomas my sonne, all my landes and Tennements, scituate lienge and being in Snarve and Kingsnothe in the saide Countye, To have and to holde the same to hym his heires and assignes for ever, And I will that he shall paie oute of the same to the said Joane his mother, the twentye marekes by the yeare afore specified accordinge to the true meaning of her Indenture. In witnesse whereof I the saide William Chalcroft have hereunto sett my hande and seale, dated the day and yere first above wrytten. William Chalcrofte. Witnesses hereunto Henry Wattes by his marke Reynold Keale.
[proved 12 November 1602]
References
Bysshe, Sir Edward. A Visitation of the County of Kent begun Anno Dni MDCLXIII finished Anno Dni MDCLXVIII (Sir George J. Armytage ed.). (Harleian Society: London, 1906).
Cowper, Joseph Meadows (ed.) Canterbury Marriage Licences first Series 1568-1618. (Canterbury, 1892).
East Kent marriage index, Dean and Chapter of Canterbury, [available on Findmypast.co.uk].
Parish registers of Kingsnorth, Kent. Digital images on Findmypast.co.uk accessed 26 April 2020.
Parish registers of Willesborough, Kent. Digital images on Findmypast.co.uk accessed 26 April 2020.
Will of John Chalcrofte of Kingsnorth, 1560, Canterbury Cathedral Archives and Library PRC/17/34/123
Will of John Chalcroft of London, 1618, Prerogative Court of Canterbury.
Will of Thomas Chalcrofte of Bredgar, 1637, Prerogative Court of Canterbury.
Will of Thomas Plommer of New Romney, Kent. Proved 4 March 1590 in the Prerogative Court of Canterbury. Digital images on Ancestry.com accessed 1 May 2020.
Will of William Chalcroft of Willisboroughe, Kent, 1602, Prerogative Court of Canterbury.