Key Facts

Snapshot:	lived in late 15th- and early 16th-century Kent, England; my most remote known ancestor
Parents:	unproven
Born:	roughly circa 1430's
Died:	between 15 November 1507 and 7 February 1507/8 presumably Goudhurst, Kent, England
Buried:	St. Mary's Church, Goudhurst, Kent, England church's coordinates: N51.11366 E0.46153

Note: I'd like to extend special thanks to researcher Jared Nathan for sharing his work pertaining to 262704John Maplesden.

Problem: Unresolved 262704John Maplesden's ancestry Interestingly, the 1619 visitation of Kent surveyed several generations of 2626704John's ancestry, but unfortunately heraldic visitations are not necessarily reliable, and I haven't found other evidence to prove that certain information recorded during the visitation is accurate. Therefore, I will not accept the pedigree as accurate on its own or otherwise incorporate it into my website. However, because the information is interesting and potentially could prove useful for future research, I have described it below. The Maplesden pedigree shown below comes from: Robert Hovenden, ed., The Visitation of Kent: Taken in the Years 1619-1621 (Publications of the Harleian Society, volume 42, London, 1898), pages 156-157. I've highlighted 262704John's name in yellow.

262704John was probably born in the 1430's or thereabouts, and he obtained some property in 1460, as explained below.

Problem: Resolved When was 262704John born? 262704John's will mentions property in Horsmonden and a property in Goudhurst named "Oldreding." 1 He obtained these properties on 22 June 1460 from Henry Betynham.2 (Interesting side note: This Henry Bettenham seems to be the grandson of 262696Stephen Bettenham, specifically the son of 262696Stephen's son Thomas.3 This Henry is mentioned in the will of his cousin 65674William Bettenham.4) Since one can reasonably assume that 262704John was an adult when he obtained these properties in 1460, he must have been born by the late 1430's. Furthermore, since 262704John died in 1507,1 it's doubtful he was born much earlier than 1530, simply due to typical life expectancy.

The only other evidence I've found pertaining to 262704John Maplesden is his will.1 An abstract is below (or see the register copy if you want).1 Important phrases are highlighted yellow.

JOHN MAPLYSDEN of the parisshe of Gountherst [Goudhurst] 15 November 1507 (23 Henry VII). To be buried in the churche of Gountherst in the chapell of Seynt Jamys bifore or lady of Pitie. A preest to syng half a yere at Guntherst and half a yere at Merdeyn. At my burying in preests and clerks and in mete and drynke 20s. and euery poor man and women penys a pece and euery child a white loffe (also at month’s and yere’s mynde). I bequeth to Seynt Johus payntyng in the Roodlofte 6s. 8d. To the house of Modenden 6s. 8d., of Combwell 10s. (to the prior 5s. and to euery chanon that preests 12d) and to euery noveys 6d.

To Johane my wiff 2 kyne and a calf. To [131352]Thomas Maplysden my son and [65676]John the son of the said Thomas all myn houehold stuffe and Jone my wif to have the stuffe she brought wt her. To John Bratyll 12d., Richard Reede 12d., John Shosmyth of Wadherst 12d., Richard Benett 12d., Margaret Fystynden 12d.

To Joen Chattefeld my doughter 40s. To Thomas Cattefeld 10s. if he be a preest. To Kateryn Patynden att hir mariage 3s. 4d., Kateryn Stace 12d., Henry Willot 20s. To payntyng of or Lady of Pitie tabernacle 12d.

Residue to Thomas Maplysden my son and John Maplysden son of the said Thomas, executours.

This is &e., of my londs in the parishes of Gountherst and Horsmonden in thands of my feoffez. First I will that Thomas Maplysden and John his son shall sell a pece of lond lying in Gountherst callid Oldreding to pay my detts.

To Thomas Maplysden my son all myn other londs and tenements in Gountherst and Horsmonden and to ramayn to John his son.

Edward Redde to have 53s. 4d. upon condicon that he ordeyn Alice his wif during hir lif a joyntor of 26s. 8d. by the yere and the house in the lane that Clement dwelith in with the gardeyn somtyme callid Baldokks.

My executors shall pay to Jone my wif during hir widowhode 40s. a yere.

Witness: Dom. William Roger, chaplain, Richard Peymell, Christopher Pestilwhite, John Champnes and many others.

Proved 7 February 1507 by Thomas and John Maplysden. (P.C.C. 32 Adeane)

The will reveals that 262704John lived in Goudhurst. It names his wife (Johane), but the language of the will (specifically, "my wif to have the stuffe she brought wt her") loosely suggests that this might have been a second marriage.

The will also indicates that 262704John is buried at Goudhurst's parish church, i.e. St. Mary's. The church is at coordinates N51.11366 E0.46153, is still active, and has a website.

262704John is buried in Goudhurst's parish church, St. Mary's.5 This photo was taken in October 2011.2

Sources Cited:

1: UK National Archives record PROB 11/15/668 (Prerogative Court of Canterbury / Wills and Letters of Administration / Will Registers / Adean / Will of John Maplysden of Goudhurst, Kent). You can download a copy of the record here. Leland L. Duncan's abstract of the will is at <https://www.kentarchaeology.org.uk/Research/Libr/Wills/Bk54/page%2007.htm>.

2: UK National Archives record CP 25/1/116/329, number 886. I obtained an image of this record from: Anglo-American Legal Tradition, O'Quinn Law Library, University of Houston; <http://aalt.law.uh.edu/AALT4/CP25%281%29/CP25%281%29no116/IMG_0685.htm>, accessed 10 March 2022. As you can see, the original record is in Latin, so this abstract is helpful and comes from: Some Notes on Medieval English Genealogy, <https://www.medievalgenealogy.org.uk/fines/abstracts/CP_25_1_116_329.shtml>, accessed 10 March 2022.

3: E. F. Jacob, ed., and H. C. Johnson, The Register of Henry Chichele, Archbishop of Canterbury: 1414-1443, Volume II (University Press, Oxford, 1937), pages 33-36. This a transcription of the will of Stephen Bettenham, which is in Latin. I privately obtained an English translation. I have been unable to find the original record that Jacob and Johnson transcribed.

4: Kent History and Library Centre archive reference CCA-DCb/PRC/32/3/361 (Canterbury Cathedral Archives / Diocese of Canterbury / Probate Court Records / Consistory Court Registers of Wills / Registers of Wills, 1484-1493), the will of William Betynham of Cranbroke, dated 13 January Henry VII 8. FamilySearch (FHL microfilm 188834, images 395 and 396 of 410). FamilySearch restricts access to these images, so see copies here: 395, 396.

5: Jules & Jenny from Lincoln, "Goudhurst, St Mary's church (35054169864)" (photograph taken 16 October 2011). Wikimedia, <https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Goudhurst,_St_Mary%27s_church_(35054169864).jpg>, accessed 26 February 2022. The creators have shared this image under a Creative Commons Attribution 2.0 Generic license.