Richard Charlton

"de" in a family name at this point is usually anachronistic - sometimes the work of a later descendant who wants to give himself airs. Most families had dropped the "de" a century or so earlier.

The line given here does not match entries from the Registry of Much Wenlock (which admittedly survives only in redacted form and from 1538). The vicar, Thomas Botelar (Butler), was exceptionally chatty and frequently commented on events of local and national importance - which is why two dedicated antiquarians, James Bowen and Rev. Charles Hartshorne, separately made transcripts of his section and thereby preserved much of it.

As of 1538, then, Richard's wife was Joan (birth name not given), and the christenings of three children (William, December 1538; Cicely, 1539; and Agnes, 1540) were duly recorded.

He was elected Bailiff of Wenlock in 19 Henry VIII (1527-28), 24 Henry VIII (1532-33), 26 Henry VIII (1534-55), 30 Henry VIII (1538-9), 35 Henry VIII (1543-44). (Elections were held annually on "St. Thomas of Hereford's day", i.e. October 2.)

There is reason to suspect tampering on the line below this point, as one Robert Charlton, Fishmonger (and later Goldsmith), of Mincing Lane, London and Whitton Court, Shropshire, laid claim to a Charlton of Apley connection and had the money to make it so. http://www.historyofparliamentonline.org/volume/1660-1690/member/ch...

This would be the "Robertus Charlton de London Mercator [and after of Whitton in the parish of Burford]" at the bottom of page 109, Visitations of Shropshire.) He claimed to be the son of Robert Charlton of Terne, grandson of another Robert Charlton of Terne, and great-grandson of Bailiff Richard Charlton of the Hay, with an older brother Andrew who was the actual heir and younger brothers Stephen (in France as of 1623) and Thomas (apprenticing London). *A* "Robarte" Charlton signed off on this pedigree, but we don't know whether it was the goldsmith or his "father"...and it may not matter.

The goldsmith left one and only one son, (Sir) Job Charlton, MP.