Robert Whitfield, of Wadhurst

"Robert bapt. at Alston, 1451. Went to Wadhurst, Sussex, about 1491. Accused of being a Scot in 1522. Buried June 2, 1541, aged 88 or so."

"Perhaps toward the end of the 15th century and apparently as a single man, he moved south and settled in Wadhurst, Sussex, where he is supposed to have found his first wife. Robert Whitfield is said, according to these Visitation pedigrees which were based on information furnished by the family, to have first married Katherine Wenbourne, a widow of Wenbourne in Wadhurst."

"By his first wife he had two surviving daughters, by his second wife he had had three sons. It is apparent from the chronology that his second wife was much younger and time he started this second family. Nothing can be found concerning these wives."

"Robert Whitfield made his will sometime in early 1541. According to the Visitation of London he was buried 2 June 1541, being 88 years old. His will was proved 2 March 1542/3. In his will he names his wife and three sons but only one daughter, Elizabeth. Perhaps the other daughters were dead."

"One of these Englishmen born by border of Scotland was Robert Whitfield. No doubt was prospering far ahead of many of his native neighbors, arousing their envy. Anyhow, he was accused of being a Scot and had to secure the following document to prove otherwise. It is in Latin, is translated as follows"

[...]

"According to the Subsidy Rolls of 1524-5, Robbert Whitfield was the richest man in Wadhurst and was rated at £60. His nearest rival was Harry Darell, Esquire, the village squire, at £50."

"Robert Whitfield is said, according to these Visitation pedigrees which were based on information furnished by the family, to have first married Katherine Wenbourne, a widow of Wenbourne in Wadhurst, Sussex. Next he married Agnes Giles, daughter and sole heir of John Giles of Biddenden in Kent."

"Robert Whitfield made his will sometime in early 1541. According to the Visitation of London he was buried 2 June 1541, being 88 years old. His will was proved 2 March 1542/3. In his will he names his wie and three sons, but only one daughter, Elizabeth. Perhaps the other daughters were dead. The Visitations of Suwsex indicate a daughter Margaret and a diferent husband for Elizabeth. Elsewhere a daughter Alice is given. These were probably elder daughters, then married and had been provided for at the time of their marriages, hence their omission from the will. This was not unusual at that time. An abstract of his will follows."

"Robert Whitfelde the elder of Wadherst, Sussex, in the year of our Lord God 'a Thousande fyve hundreth ffourtye and oon,' proved 2 March 1542. My body to be buried in the churchyard of Wadherst. To the high altar there, for satisfaction of my forgotten tithes, six pence. To the hearse light four pence. The amendment of foot ways. My godchildren. Twenty poor people of Wadherst. Fifty-three shillings four pence to be bestowed at my 'owt bearyng' to priests, clerks and poor people. My household stuff to be divided into three parts. One part to Agnes my wife and my best cow, and she to choose her part first. The other two parts of John and Thomas my sons, equally to be divided, and to every of them a cow. To Agnes my wife my best bed and all things that belong unto it before the household stuff be divided. Daughter Elizabeth. Son Robert. Son Thomas sole executor. The witnesses were Robert, John and Thomas Whitfelde. Spert, 16."

Source: http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.com/~barbpretz/ps04/ps04_358.html

References

• The New England Historical and Genealogical Register,: Volume 51 1897, Volume 51; New-England Historic Heritage Books, Mar 1, 1998 - New England - 575 pages. Page 418. < GoogleBooks >
• https://ancestors.familysearch.org/en/LYC6-L4L/john-whittfeld-1520-...
• https://www.findagrave.com/cemetery/2425335/st.-peter-&-st.-paul-ch... St. Peter & St. Paul Churchyard Wadhurst, Wealden District, East Sussex, England
• https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/136796733/robert-whitfield Son of Miles Whitfield of Nentsbury, in the parish of Aldston, by his wife Maud, Robert removed to Wadhurst in Sussex circa 1491. In 1522 he faced accusations of being a Scot. Gravesite Details Buried June 2, 1541