65676John Maplesden
Key Facts
Snapshot:lived in late 15th- and early 16th-century Kent, England
Parents:131352Thomas Maplesden
His mother's identity is uncertain.
Born:unknown
Died:between 8 July and 9 November 1528
Maidstone, Kent, England
Buried:All Saints Church, Maidstone, Kent, England
Church's coordinates: N51.2707 E0.5215

Note: I'd like to extend special thanks to researcher Jared Nathan, whose astute reading of 65676John's will elucidated some important conclusions that I previously had missed.

As explained below, 65676John Maplesden's father is 131352Thomas Maplesden, and records insinuate that 65676John may have been raised (or spent significant time) in Marden, Kent, England. His mother may be Johane ___, but this is less certain.

Problem: Resolved
Who is 65676John Maplesden's father?

The will of 131352Thomas Maplesden of Marden mentions "John my son" and elsewhere mentions "Petre Maplesden son of John Maplesden."1


"Johenum filium meum" (Latin for "John my son"). Full page.1


"Petre Maplesden sone of John Maplesden." Full page.1

We can be quite confident that 131352Thomas is indeed 65676John's father since (1) 65676John's own will makes clear that he did have a son named 32838Peter2; and (2) although 65676John's will describes him as a resident of Maidstone, both his and 131352Thomas' wills mention properties in Marden and nearby Goudhurst,1,2 and thus the two men probably had lived in close proximity at some point in the past.

(Less importantly, we also see that 65676John is named in his grandfather's will, as well.3)

Problem: Unresolved
Who was 65676John Maplesden's mother?

131352Thomas' will mentions "Johane my wif." 1 Johane may be 65676John's mother, but the language and layout of the will seem insufficient to allow for a firm conclusion. In the will, 131352Thomas mentions Johane and son George in tandem repeatedly, yet 65676John is always mentioned in a somewhat separate manner (especially in the English-language section of the will). I see nothing else in particular that explicitly associates 65676John and Johane, apart from maybe their similar-sounding names.

65676John had two wives (at least), but proving the identity of his first wife is complex.

Problem: Unresolved
Who was 65676John Maplesden's first wife?

The 1619 heraldic visitation of Kent—which I previously discussed in 131352Thomas' profile—surveyed several generations of 65676John's family. 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 65676John's name in yellow.

The pedigree shows 65676John married to Anna Miller, daughter of John Miller. On the other hand, 65676John's will names his wife Mildred as an heir.2 If the 1619 pedigree is accurate, then presumably Anna died before 65676John, who subsequently remarried to Mildred. This hypothesis is partially corroborated by 65676John's will, in particular the excerpt illustrated below:


"all my purchased londes lying in Merden [...] all such londes [which] came by the mother of Peter John and Gerveys they to have bitwene them" 1

As you can see, this excerpt alludes to an earlier, unnamed wife who owned land before she ever married 65676John, and therefore 65676John willed that land to her three sons 32838Peter, John, and Gervase. This section stands in contrast to other sections of the will, which explicitly describe the property that Mildred brought into the marriage, and which leaves a rather different inheritance for the other children.

The Anna Miller hypothesis is also attested by heraldic symbols (shown below) that decorate the Maidstone Museum,4 part of which was once owned by 65676John's son 32838Peter.5

As you can see, the right half of the arms shown above includes a red rectangle and three blue wolves' heads. Compare that with the following description of arms known to have been associated with the Miller family in Kent: "a fesse gu. [gules] betw three wolves' heads erased az. [azure]." 6 In plain English, this might read, "a red field between three blue wolves' heads that have jagged/uneven edges."

Although the evidence described above is robust, there are some problems, too:

•Like many heraldic visitation pedigrees, the 1619 Maplesden pedigree provides scant evidence to support its claims. Since a visitation was... well, a visitation, one can be somewhat confident of the accuracy for generations that existed at or near the same time as the visitation, since the people included were often their own informants. More distant generations, however, are inherently more questionable. 65676John's alleged marriage to Anna Miller probably occurred in the 1510's (since his will is dated 1528, and since the will strongly insinuates that he had several children with his second wife Mildred2)—a full century before the visitation. Furthermore, informants sometimes had an incentive to lie, and it's comparatively easy to conjure up believable falsehoods about distant generations. (This is a general precaution for many heraldic visitation pedigrees. I have no particular reason to suspect that anyone deliberately lied about the Maplesden pedigree.)
•Of the two coats of arms depicted above, the first is on a fireplace in the Museum's café—a room that (so far as I'm aware) didn't exist when 65676John's son 32838Peter lived at the property. Therefore, the fireplace was either (1) relocated, or (2) is a modern construction. The lower part of the fireplace (near the spandrils) is antique, but as you can see, the upper part (where the coats of arms are) seems much newer, and the paint is vibrant:4


I have no particular evidence of when and how the fireplace (particularly the coats of arms) was made, but I strongly suspect it's quite modern and therefore is of questionable benefit as evidence.
•The other coat of arms depicted above is part of a stained-glass window in the Museum's café. Again, the café room didn't exist when 32838Peter lived at the property. Therefore, I suspect the stained-glass window is a modern construction and therefore is of questionable benefit as evidence.

Again, the evidence to prove that 65676John's first wife is Anna Miller is robust. I'm sure that many researchers would find it persuasive and sufficient, and in time I may feel the same way. For now, though, out of abundance of caution I prefer to consider the question unresolved.

65676John later married Mildred ___,2 although the details of the marriage (e.g., when and where) are unknown.

His will indicates that he lived in Maidstone, Kent, England. He's buried there in All Saints Church,1 although the exact location of his grave within the church is unknown. Below is a photo of the church, and the church has a website.


All Saints Church, Maidstone, Kent, England, photographed 13 April 2009.7

65676John's will is copied below and followed by an abstract.2


JOHN MAPLESDEN, of Maidstone, 8 July 1528. To be buried in the churche of Alhalowes in Maidston next vnto the grave of Stevyn Norton belfounder while he lyved. To all the lightes in the church from the 'porterems' sett vpward toward the high awter to euery light 4d. To reparacion of the church of Merden £6. 13. 4. under condicion the churchwardeyns and parischens of the same church will be content to take the same money in recompence of certeyn londes late William Millers.

To Elizabeth my doughter 40 mrcs to be taken by reentre yerely of Richard Brottyll of Brembeley by John Frankeleyn and [32838]Petir Maplesden myn executors and deluiered to Maister Doctour Leeffe, maister of the College of Maidston to behove of said Elizabeth Maplsden my doughter to hir mariage.

Item where as Margaret Millys of Malling widowe and Robert her sonne owe to me 20 marc wherof I forgeve the seid Margaret and Robert Millys £6. 13. 4., the other £6. 13. 4. I geve to said Elizabeth Maplesden my doughter to hir mariage and if the said Robert Millys will redeme the annuytie I have owte of his londes in West Malling and Reyhyesshe for £20 I will that he shall have it as other men shalhave their annuyties in likewise orells the said Annuytie of 26s. 8d. to the mariage of my two yongest sonnes Thomas and Osmond. And also £6. 13. 4. of an annytie in Stockbery and all other annyties to my said two sonnes in likewise.

The money comyng of all my purchased londes in Merden shalbe receyved yerely by my executors and John Mascall myn ouerseer, the space of 10 yeres and deluiered to the maister of the College of Maideston to kepe saufly to the behove of my two doughters Mildrede and Margaret to their mariage bitwene them to the summe of oon hundred mrcs. And if both die or they be maried then to my thre sonnes Petir, John and Jerves.

To Mildrede my wife all my housholde stuff and plate that she broght to me. To the same Mildrede my wife if she wille abide and dwell here she shalbave mete, drynke and wood for her till Shrovetyde next comyng by myn executors and in money 20 mrc and twelve bullocks going at Merden in a felde called Alens felde and 26 mother ewes going at Sutton Valance wt oon Goldsmyth wt a stock that Roger Bocher hath to his ferme in Sutton Valance, 2 quarters of whete and 5 qrs of malte and a quarter of Tarys and 5 qrs of ootts.

To Thomas Johnson my seruant a kowe and to Thomas Williams a kowe and to Joane and Julian my maidens a kowe. Executors Petir Maplesden and John Frankeleyn and John Mascall ouerseer. To euery house of Religion wt in the shire of Kent to pray for my soule 7d. by myn executors after the maner as the testament is of late William Lambe. Residue to Petir Maplesden my sonne executor. To Maister Doctor Leeff maister of the College of Maideston 40s. Last will: My londes and tenements in the which John Mascall gent, John Fraukelyn, John Tybolde, Edmonde Pollyll, Richard Rodde, and Wm. Reme of Maidstone stande feoffed and seased vnto myn vse. My two sonnes Thomas and Osmonde all my londes &e lying on thisside the Stylebrigge wt in the hundred of Maidstone egally when they come to their laufull age.

After tenne yeres afore rehersed all my purchased londes in Merden egally bitwene my thre sonnes Petir, John and Gerves when they come to their laufull age and all such londes that come by the mother of Petir John and Gerveys they to have it bitwene them. To said Thomas and Osmonde my sonnes my two houses in Malling. The anuytie of 10s. yerely I have in Gouthehurst owte of the londes of John Wynneshurst late called Harpers for an obite yerely in the Parishe churche of Maydstone. Witness: Thos. Parker, Petir Saunderson and Thos. Johnson.
Proved 9 November 1528 by Peter Maplesden executor. (P.C.C. 39 Porch)

Two records pertaining to 65676John's estate are dated 1531 and mention his son 32838Peter as executor.8

Sources Cited:

1: UK National Archives record CCA-DCb/PRC/17/13/387c (Canterbury Cathedral Archives / Diocese of Canterbury / Archdeaconry Court Wills [Registers]), the will of 131352Thomas Maplesden, dated 1517. FamilySearch (FHL microfilm 188925, images 407 and 408 of 415). FamilySearch restricts access to these images, so see copies here: 407, 408. For the small excerpts illustrated above, I used a color copy of the will, which I obtained privately.

2: UK National Archives record PROB 11/22/643 (Prerogative Court of Canterbury / Wills and Letters of Administration / Will Registers / Porche / Will of John Maplesden of Maidstone, Kent), the will of 65676John Maplesden. Ancestry.com ("England & Wales, Prerogative Court of Canterbury Wills, 1384-1858" / PROB 11: Will Registers / 1384-1566 / Piece 22: Porche, 1525-1528 / images 628 and 629 of 667), accessed 8 November 2014. The Kent Archaeological Society has an abstract of the will on its website.

3: 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>.

4: Photographs of a fireplace and stained-glass window inside the café of Maidstone Museum & Art Gallery, Maidstone, Kent, England, taken by 1Bryant Knight on 17 May 2017. The images shown above have been cropped.

5: Walter Bond Gilbert, The Accounts of the Corpus Christi Fraternity, and Papers Relating to the Antiquities of Maidstone [...] (Wescomb and Smith, Maidstone, 1865), pages 77-79. Unfortunately, Mr. Gilbert failed to cite the source where he found the deed, and so far I've been unable to find a proper, original source. However, his description of the deed does seem credible.

6: John Burke and John Bernard Burke, Encyclopædia of Heraldry, or General Armory of England, Scotland and Ireland: Comprising a Registry of All Armorial Bearings from the Earliest to the Present Time, Including the Late Grants by the College of Arms (London, 1851), entry for "MILLER (Oxenhoath, co. Kent [...])."

7: Nigel Chadwick, "Church by the River Medway, Maidstone" (online image, photographed 13 July 2009). Wikimedia, <https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Church_by_the_River_Medway,_Maidstone_-_geograph.org.uk_-_1264770.jpg>, accessed 25 November 2014. Mr. Chadwick has licensed this image under a Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 2.0 Generic license.

8: UK National Archives CP 40/1068 (Court of Common Pleas / Plea Rolls / Chief Justice's roll, 22 Hen VIII, Hilary term), on an apparently unnumbered page pertaining to settling John Maplesden's estate. I obtained an image of this record from: Anglo-American Legal Tradition, O'Quinn Law Library, University of Houston; <http://aalt.law.uh.edu/H8/CP40no1068/bCP40no1068dorses/IMG_5300.htm>, accessed 13 April 2022. You can see AALT's index entry for this record at <http://aalt.law.uh.edu/Indices/CP40Indices/CP40no1068/CP40no1068Pl.htm> by searching "Maplesden."