Walter Aston

Male, #9181, (8 Oct 1530 - 2 Apr 1589)
Father*Edward Aston
Mother*Jane Bowles
Birth*8 Oct 1530 Walter was born at Tixhall, Leicester, Leicestershire, England, on 8 Oct 1530. 
Marriage*8 Apr 1545 He married Elizabeth Leveson at Wolverhampton, Staffordshire, England, on 8 Apr 1545 at age 14. 
Birth of Son1551 His son Sir Edward Aston of Tixhall, co. Stafford was born in 1551 at Tixhall, Leicester, Leicestershire, England. 
Death*2 Apr 1589 He died on 2 Apr 1589 at age 58. 

Family

Elizabeth Leveson
Child
Last Edited9 May 1999

Elizabeth Leveson

Female, #9182, (1532 - )
Father*James Leveson
Mother*Margery Offley
Birth*1532 Elizabeth was born at Lilleshub, Staffordshire, England, in 1532. 
Marriage*8 Apr 1545 She married Walter Aston at Wolverhampton, Staffordshire, England, on 8 Apr 1545. 
Married Name8 Apr 1545  As of 8 Apr 1545, her married name was Aston. 
Birth of Son1551 Her son Sir Edward Aston of Tixhall, co. Stafford was born in 1551 at Tixhall, Leicester, Leicestershire, England. 

Family

Walter Aston
Child
Last Edited9 May 1999

Edward Aston

Male, #9183, (say 1500 - )
Birth*say 1500 Edward was born say 1500. 
Marriage* He married Jane Bowles. 
Birth of Son8 Oct 1530 His son Walter Aston was born on 8 Oct 1530 at Tixhall, Leicester, Leicestershire, England. 

Family

Jane Bowles
Child
Last Edited6 Aug 2000

Jane Bowles

Female, #9184, (say 1502 - )
Married Name Her married name was Aston. 
Marriage* She married Edward Aston. 
Birth*say 1502 Jane was born say 1502. 
Birth of Son8 Oct 1530 Her son Walter Aston was born on 8 Oct 1530 at Tixhall, Leicester, Leicestershire, England. 

Family

Edward Aston
Child
Last Edited6 Aug 2000

James Leveson

Male, #9185, (say 1502 - )
Birth*say 1502 James was born say 1502. 
Marriage* He married Margery Offley. 

Family

Margery Offley
Child
Last Edited6 Aug 2000

Margery Offley

Female, #9186, (say 1504 - )
Married Name Her married name was Leveson. 
Marriage* She married James Leveson. 
Birth*say 1504 Margery was born say 1504. 

Family

James Leveson
Child
Last Edited6 Aug 2000

Thomas Acton

Male, #9187, (say 1502 - )
Birth*say 1502 Thomas was born say 1502. 
Marriage* He married Mary Lacon. 

Family

Mary Lacon
Child
Last Edited5 Aug 2000

Mary Lacon

Female, #9188, (say 1504 - )
Married Name Her married name was Acton. 
Marriage* She married Thomas Acton. 
Birth*say 1504 Mary was born say 1504. 

Family

Thomas Acton
Child
Last Edited5 Aug 2000

William Lucy

Male, #9189, (say 1494 - )
Birth*say 1494 William was born say 1494. 
Marriage* He married Anne Fermor. 
Birth of Sonsay 1524 His son Thomas Lucy was born say 1524 at Charlecote, Warwickshire, England. 

Family

Anne Fermor
Child
Last Edited5 Aug 2000

Anne Fermor

Female, #9190, (say 1496 - )
Married Name Her married name was Lucy. 
Marriage* She married William Lucy. 
Birth*say 1496 Anne was born say 1496. 
Birth of Sonsay 1524 Her son Thomas Lucy was born say 1524 at Charlecote, Warwickshire, England. 

Family

William Lucy
Child
Last Edited5 Aug 2000

Otwell Worsley of Stamworth1

Male, #9191, (say 1430 - )
Birth*say 1430 Otwell was born at Southwark, co. Surrey, England, say 1430. 
Marriage*say 1452 He married Rose Trevor say 1452. 

Family

Rose Trevor
Child
ChartsCatherine Howard (Fifth Queen of Henry VIII): Culpeper Ancestral Chart
Last Edited18 Dec 1999

Citations

  1. Col. F.W.T. Attree R.E./F.S.A. & Rev. J.H.L. Booker M.A., "Colepeper of Aylesford Pedigree in The Sussex Colepepers, Part I", Sussex Archaelogical Collection, Vol. XLVII, 1904.

William Constantine1

Male, #9193, (say 1449 - )
Birth*say 1449 William was born say 1449. 
Marriage*say 1470 He married Margaret Culpeper say 1470. 
Biography* Called De Oxenhoath in Visitation of 1619. 

Family

Margaret Culpeper
Last Edited18 Dec 1999

Citations

  1. Col. F.W.T. Attree R.E./F.S.A. & Rev. J.H.L. Booker M.A., "Colepeper of Aylesford Pedigree in The Sussex Colepepers, Part I", Sussex Archaelogical Collection, Vol. XLVII, 1904.

Thomas Pynner

Male, #9194, (say 1540 - )
Birth*say 1540 Thomas was born say 1540. 
Marriage* He married an unknown person . 
Biography* Chief Clerk and Comptroller to Queen Elizabeth. 
Biography He is referenced in a biographical note for Sir Thomas Culpeper of Preston Hall in Aylesford, co. Kent.1 

Family
Child
Last Edited6 Aug 2000

Citations

  1. James H. Sephton, Preston Hall, Aylesford, 496 Station Road, Aylesford, Kent: J. H. Sephton, 1997, Repository: Warren Culpepper's Personal Library.

Sir Henry Crispe of Quex in Thanett, Kent1,2

Male, #9195, (say 1515 - )
Father*John Crispe of Quex in Thanett, Kent
Mother*Avicia Denne
Birth*say 1515 Henry was born say 1515. 
Marriage* He married Anna Hasselhurst. 
Biography* For additional details on descendants, see the Crispe Pedigree in the Visitation of Kent, 1619. 
Birth of Sonsay 1545 His son Henry Crispe of Quex in Thanett, Kent was born say 1545. 
Will18 Jul 1587 He is mentioned in the will of Sir Thomas Culpeper of Preston Hall, Knight on 18 Jul 1587.3,4 

Family

Anna Hasselhurst
Child
Last Edited14 Sep 2002

Citations

  1. Col. F.W.T. Attree R.E./F.S.A. & Rev. J.H.L. Booker M.A., "Colepeper of Aylesford Pedigree in The Sussex Colepepers, Part I", Sussex Archaelogical Collection, Vol. XLVII, 1904.
  2. 1619 Visitation, Kent, England.
  3. Public Records Office, National Archives, London.
    Will of Thomas Colepeper of Aylesford (#8536), dated 18 Jul 1587, transcribed by Charles Andrew Grigsby from image at: http://gen.culpepper.com/archives/uk/wills/images/Thomas_of_Aylesford_1588.pdf.
  4. E-mail written 2007 to Warren Culpepper from Charles Andrew Grigsby, England, e-mail address.

Sir Richard Spencer1

Male, #9196, (say 1561 - )
Birth*say 1561 Richard was born say 1561. 

Family
Child
Last Edited14 Sep 2002

Citations

  1. Col. F.W.T. Attree R.E./F.S.A. & Rev. J.H.L. Booker M.A., "Colepeper of Aylesford Pedigree in The Sussex Colepepers, Part I", Sussex Archaelogical Collection, Vol. XLVII, 1904.

Helen Spencer1

Female, #9197, (say 1591 - 1677)
Father*Sir Richard Spencer
Birth*say 1591 Helen was born say 1591. 
Marriage*say 1628 She married Sir William Culpeper of Preston Hall in Aylesford, 1st Bart. say 1628. 
Married Namesay 1628  As of say 1628, her married name was Culpeper. 
Name-AltSpell This surname is sometimes spelled Colepeper. 
Name-AltSpell This surname is sometimes spelled Culpepper. 
Birth of Sonsay 1630 Her son Sir Richard Culpeper of Preston Hall, 2nd Bart. was born say 1630. 
Will23 Dec 1648 She is mentioned in the will of Sir William Culpeper of Preston Hall in Aylesford, 1st Bart. at Aylesford, co. Kent, England, on 23 Dec 1648.2 
Death of Spouse1651 Her husband Sir William Culpeper of Preston Hall in Aylesford, 1st Bart. died in 1651.2 
Will30 Jul 1657 She is mentioned in the will of Sir Richard Culpeper of Preston Hall, 2nd Bart. on 30 Jul 1657.3,4 
Will*10 Oct 1668 She made a will at Aylesford, co. Kent, England, on 10 Oct 1668.

An image of the will of Dame Helene Colepepyr of Aylesford, Co., Kent, widow of Sir William Colepepyr, Baronet, may be seen at: http://gen.culpepper.com/archives/uk/wills/images/Helene_of_Aylesford_1680.pdf.5 
Death*1677 She died in 1677. 
Burial*1677 Her body was interred in 1677 at St. Peter's Church, Aylesford, co. Kent, England. 
Probate19 Feb 1679/80 Probate action was taken on Helen's estate on 19 Feb 1679/80 at co. Kent, England,

P.C.C. 17 Bath. 
Research note*3 Oct 2012 From: John Buckley
Sent: Wednesday, October 3, 2012
To: Warren Culpepper
Subject: Helen Spencer 1591-1677

Hi Warren

Helen Spencer married Sir William Colepeper in about 1628. She signed her will on 10 October 1668 and you have left a link to this will on Culpeper Connections. You also state that the will was probated in 1677. In fact the date of probate was 19 February 1679/80.
Probatum Londini decimo nono die mensis Februarii Anno Domini (stylo Anglia) millimo sixcentesimo septuagesimo nona
The insertion of stylo Anglia at this time is very interesting. Although continental Europe had already adopted the Gregorian calendar, English parish churches were still using the Julian calendar until 1752.
The will was proved by Helen’s executor Sir Thomas Colepepir, her grandson by her son the late Sir Richard Colepeper. The probate section in Latin designates Thomas as ‘nepotis’ which was used for a grandson as well as a nephew. Elsewhere in her will she left £10 to her daughter Dame Alicia Colepepir now wife of Sir Thomas Colepeper. This Sir Thomas has to be Sir Thomas Colepeper of Hollingbourne 1625-1697 and not the man who was her executor, who I now believe was the same Sir Thomas who on 23 August 1704 married his lover Dame Elizabeth Wythens nee Taylor.

So what happened to all the properties he inherited from his grandmother Dame Helen?

Regards
John.6 

Family

Sir William Culpeper of Preston Hall in Aylesford, 1st Bart.
Marriage*say 1628 She married Sir William Culpeper of Preston Hall in Aylesford, 1st Bart. say 1628. 
Children
Last Edited12 Feb 2014

Citations

  1. Col. F.W.T. Attree R.E./F.S.A. & Rev. J.H.L. Booker M.A., "Colepeper of Aylesford Pedigree in The Sussex Colepepers, Part I", Sussex Archaelogical Collection, Vol. XLVII, 1904.
  2. Public Records Office, National Archives, London.
    Will of Sir William Colepeper of Preston Hall in Aylesford (#8550), dated 23 Dec 1648, proved 5 Nov 1661, P.C.C., 208 Grey, transcribed by Charles Andrew Grigsby from images at: http://gen.culpepper.com/archives/uk/wills/images/William_of_Aylesford_1651.pdf.
  3. Public Records Office, National Archives, London.
    Will of Sir Richard Culpeper of Maidstone, dated 30 Jul 1657, transcribed by Charles Andrew Grigsby from the image at: http://gen.culpepper.com/archives/uk/wills/images/Richard_of_Maidstone_1660.pdf.
  4. E-mail written Sep 2012 to Warren L. Culpepper from John Buckley, Lancaster, England, e-mail address.
    John provided numerous edits, improving the accuracy of Charles Grigsby's transcription.
  5. Public Records Office, National Archives, London.
  6. E-mail written Sep 2012 to Warren L. Culpepper from John Buckley, Lancaster, England, e-mail address.

Frances Culpeper1

Female, #9198, (say 1638 - 1717)
Father*Sir William Culpeper of Preston Hall in Aylesford, 1st Bart.
Mother*Helen Spencer
Name-AltSpell This surname is sometimes spelled Culpepper. 
Name-AltSpell This surname is sometimes spelled Colepeper. 
Birth*say 1638 Frances was born say 1638. 
Death of Father1651 Her father Sir William Culpeper of Preston Hall in Aylesford, 1st Bart. died in 1651.2 
Married Name25 Apr 1667  As of 25 Apr 1667, her married name was Alchorne.3 
Marriage*25 Apr 1667 She married John Alchorne of Boughton-Monchelsea, Kent, Esq. at Aylesford, co. Kent, England, on 25 Apr 1667.3,4 
Death of Spouse7 Oct 1669 Her husband John Alchorne of Boughton-Monchelsea, Kent, Esq. died on 7 Oct 1669.5 
Married Name1672  As of 1672, her married name was Porter. 
Marriage1672 She married Thomas Porter of Dewhurst in Wadhurst, Sussex in 1672. 
Death of Mother1677 Her mother Helen Spencer died in 1677. 
Death*1717 She died in 1717. 
Burial*1717 Her body was interred in 1717 at Wadhurst, co. Sussex, England. 
Biography* Monumental Inscription at Wadhurst. 

Family

John Alchorne of Boughton-Monchelsea, Kent, Esq.
Marriage*25 Apr 1667 She married John Alchorne of Boughton-Monchelsea, Kent, Esq. at Aylesford, co. Kent, England, on 25 Apr 1667.3,4 
Last Edited10 Jun 2011

Citations

  1. Col. F.W.T. Attree R.E./F.S.A. & Rev. J.H.L. Booker M.A., "Colepeper of Aylesford Pedigree in The Sussex Colepepers, Part I", Sussex Archaelogical Collection, Vol. XLVII, 1904.
  2. Public Records Office, National Archives, London.
    Will of Sir William Colepeper of Preston Hall in Aylesford (#8550), dated 23 Dec 1648, proved 5 Nov 1661, P.C.C., 208 Grey, transcribed by Charles Andrew Grigsby from images at: http://gen.culpepper.com/archives/uk/wills/images/William_of_Aylesford_1651.pdf.
  3. Church of Latter Day Saints, compiler, International Genealogical Index (IGI), Intellectual Reserve, Inc..
    http://www.familysearch.org/
  4. 15 Feb 1666-7 John Alchorn, Jr, of Boughton Munchelsea, co. Kent, Esq., Bachr, 30, & Frances Colepepyr, Spr, about 24, dau. of Dame Helen Colepepyr, of Aylesford, sd co., Widow, who consents; at Aylesford or Ditton, co. Kent.
  5. C. Wykeham-Martin, Pedigree Chart 2 'Colepeper of Preston Hall & Oxenhoath' from The History of Leads Castle, , 1868.

John Alchorne of Boughton-Monchelsea, Kent, Esq.1

Male, #9199, (9 Mar 1636 - 7 Oct 1669)
Father*John Alchorne of Boughton-Monchelsea, Kent
Mother*Mary Aynscomb
Birth*9 Mar 1636 John was born on 9 Mar 1636. 
Marriage*25 Apr 1667 He married Frances Culpeper at Aylesford, co. Kent, England, on 25 Apr 1667 at age 31.2,3 
Death*7 Oct 1669 He died on 7 Oct 1669 at age 33.4 

Family

Frances Culpeper
Last Edited10 Jun 2011

Citations

  1. Col. F.W.T. Attree R.E./F.S.A. & Rev. J.H.L. Booker M.A., "Colepeper of Aylesford Pedigree in The Sussex Colepepers, Part I", Sussex Archaelogical Collection, Vol. XLVII, 1904.
  2. Church of Latter Day Saints, compiler, International Genealogical Index (IGI), Intellectual Reserve, Inc..
    http://www.familysearch.org/
  3. 15 Feb 1666-7 John Alchorn, Jr, of Boughton Munchelsea, co. Kent, Esq., Bachr, 30, & Frances Colepepyr, Spr, about 24, dau. of Dame Helen Colepepyr, of Aylesford, sd co., Widow, who consents; at Aylesford or Ditton, co. Kent.
  4. C. Wykeham-Martin, Pedigree Chart 2 'Colepeper of Preston Hall & Oxenhoath' from The History of Leads Castle, , 1868.

Sir Richard Culpeper of Preston Hall, 2nd Bart.1

Male, #9200, (say 1630 - before 5 Jan 1659)
Father*Sir William Culpeper of Preston Hall in Aylesford, 1st Bart.
Mother*Helen Spencer
Name-AltSpell This surname is sometimes spelled Culpepper. 
Name-AltSpell This surname is sometimes spelled Colepeper. 
Birth*say 1630 Richard was born say 1630. 
Marriage*say 1651 He married Margaret Reynolds say 1651. 
Birth of Sonsay 1652 His son William Culpeper was born say 1652 at Aylesford, co. Kent, England. 
Birth of Sonsay 1654 His son Sir Thomas Culpeper of Preston Hall, 3rd Bart. was born say 1654. 
Will*30 Jul 1657 He made a will on 30 Jul 1657.

In the name of God Amen.
     I Sir Richard Colepepyr of Maidstone in the County of Kent Baronet being weake in body but of sound and perfect memory thanks be to God doe therefore make this my last Will and Testament in manner and forme followinge .
     First I bequeath my soule to Almightie god that gave it and my body I commit to the Earth to be decently buried at Aylesford near the body of Sir William Colepepyr (Sir William Culpeper of Preston Hall in Aylesford, 1st Bart.) my deceased father there to rest in expectation of a glorious resurrection into life everlasting by and through the death and merrits of Jesus Christ my onlye Saviour and Redeemer.
     Item I make my dear and loving Wife Dame Margaret Colpepyr (Margaret Reynolds) my honoured mother Dame Hellen Colpepyr (Helen Spencer) and my loving brother-in-law, John Beale Esquire (Sir John Beale of Chillington, Maidstone, Bart.), Executors of this my Last Will and Testament.
     Item I give and bequeath unto my said well beloved wife for payment of my debts education of my children all my goods Cattell Chattels Household stuffe plate and jewells ready money rents arrears debts and demannds whatsoever (my lease of Saint Katherines of lands in Raynham only excepted)
     Item I give and bequeath my farm and lands with their appurtenances in Burcott in Oxfordshire unto Alicia Colepepyr (Alicia Culpeper)
my only daughter and her heires forever And I alsoe give unto her my said daughter my said lease of Saint Katheryne's and the said lands thereby granted with the appurtenances
     Item I give and bequeath unto Thomas Colepepyr (Sir Thomas Culpeper of Preston Hall, 3rd Bart.) my sonne and heire apparent and to his heirs for ever All other my Manors Messuages lands tenements and heriditaments and the reversion & reversons remaynder and remaynders whatsoever and wheresoever.
     Item my will and desire is that my said executors shall take order that all the rents and proffitts of the said lands which I houlde of Saint Katheryne shall bee safely kept together untill my said daughter shall attayne her age of Eighteen years and then duely and finely bee paid unto her.
     Item I give unto the poore of the Parish of Maidstone five Pounds and unto the poore of the Parish of Aylesford five Pounds to be distributed amongst them by the overseers of the poore of the several parishes within one month after my funerall
     Witness my hand and Seale the Thirtyeth day of July in the year of our Lord one Thousand Six hundred Fifty Seven (30 Jul 1657) Richard Colepepyr

Memorandum that the name (Margarett) was interlyned and then signed sealed and Published in the presence of us Hellen Colepepyr Alisha Colepepyr Michaell Beaver

The will was proved on 4th September 1660 by Dame Margarett Colepepyr relict and Executrix and Helena Colepepyr and John Beale.2,3 
Death*before 5 Jan 1659 He died before 5 Jan 1659. 
Burial*5 Jan 1659 His body was interred on 5 Jan 1659 at St. Peter's Church, Aylesford, co. Kent, England.4 
Probate4 Sep 1660 Probate action was taken on Richard's estate on 4 Sep 1660 at co. Kent, England,

P.C.C. 242 Nabbs.5 

Family

Margaret Reynolds
Marriage*say 1651 He married Margaret Reynolds say 1651. 
Children
ChartsThe 12th century Culpepers of England: Descendant Chart (16 generations, Males only)
Last Edited21 Sep 2012

Citations

  1. Col. F.W.T. Attree R.E./F.S.A. & Rev. J.H.L. Booker M.A., "Colepeper of Aylesford Pedigree in The Sussex Colepepers, Part I", Sussex Archaelogical Collection, Vol. XLVII, 1904.
  2. Public Records Office, National Archives, London.
    Will of Sir Richard Culpeper of Maidstone, dated 30 Jul 1657, transcribed by Charles Andrew Grigsby from the image at: http://gen.culpepper.com/archives/uk/wills/images/Richard_of_Maidstone_1660.pdf.
  3. E-mail written Sep 2012 to Warren L. Culpepper from John Buckley, Lancaster, England, e-mail address.
    John provided numerous edits, improving the accuracy of Charles Grigsby's transcription.
  4. C. Wykeham-Martin, Pedigree Chart 2 'Colepeper of Preston Hall & Oxenhoath' from The History of Leads Castle, , 1868.
  5. E-mail written Sep 2012 to Warren L. Culpepper from John Buckley, Lancaster, England, e-mail address.

Margaret Reynolds1

Female, #9201, (say 1633 - 1691)
Birth*say 1633 Margaret was born say 1633. 
Marriage*say 1651 She married Sir Richard Culpeper of Preston Hall, 2nd Bart. say 1651. 
Married Namesay 1651  As of say 1651, her married name was Culpeper. 
Birth of Sonsay 1652 Her son William Culpeper was born say 1652 at Aylesford, co. Kent, England. 
Birth of Sonsay 1654 Her son Sir Thomas Culpeper of Preston Hall, 3rd Bart. was born say 1654. 
Will30 Jul 1657 She is mentioned in the will of Sir Richard Culpeper of Preston Hall, 2nd Bart. on 30 Jul 1657.2,3 
Death of Son1659 Her son William Culpeper died in 1659 at Aylesford, co. Kent, England. 
Death*1691 She died at Aylesford, co. Kent, England, in 1691. 
Burial*1691 Her body was interred in 1691 at St. Peter's Church, Aylesford, co. Kent, England. 

Family

Sir Richard Culpeper of Preston Hall, 2nd Bart.
Marriage*say 1651 She married Sir Richard Culpeper of Preston Hall, 2nd Bart. say 1651. 
Children
Last Edited21 Sep 2012

Citations

  1. Col. F.W.T. Attree R.E./F.S.A. & Rev. J.H.L. Booker M.A., "Colepeper of Aylesford Pedigree in The Sussex Colepepers, Part I", Sussex Archaelogical Collection, Vol. XLVII, 1904.
  2. Public Records Office, National Archives, London.
    Will of Sir Richard Culpeper of Maidstone, dated 30 Jul 1657, transcribed by Charles Andrew Grigsby from the image at: http://gen.culpepper.com/archives/uk/wills/images/Richard_of_Maidstone_1660.pdf.
  3. E-mail written Sep 2012 to Warren L. Culpepper from John Buckley, Lancaster, England, e-mail address.
    John provided numerous edits, improving the accuracy of Charles Grigsby's transcription.

Helena Culpeper1

Female, #9202, (say 1633 - 1667)
Father*Sir William Culpeper of Preston Hall in Aylesford, 1st Bart.
Mother*Helen Spencer
Name-AltSpell This surname is sometimes spelled Culpepper. 
Name-AltSpell This surname is sometimes spelled Colepeper. 
Birth*say 1633 Helena was born say 1633. 
Death of Father1651 Her father Sir William Culpeper of Preston Hall in Aylesford, 1st Bart. died in 1651.2 
Death*1667 She died at Aylesford, co. Kent, England, in 1667. 
Burial*22 Oct 1667 Her body was interred on 22 Oct 1667 at St. Peter's Church, Aylesford, co. Kent, England. 
Last Edited4 Jun 2011

Citations

  1. Col. F.W.T. Attree R.E./F.S.A. & Rev. J.H.L. Booker M.A., "Colepeper of Aylesford Pedigree in The Sussex Colepepers, Part I", Sussex Archaelogical Collection, Vol. XLVII, 1904.
  2. Public Records Office, National Archives, London.
    Will of Sir William Colepeper of Preston Hall in Aylesford (#8550), dated 23 Dec 1648, proved 5 Nov 1661, P.C.C., 208 Grey, transcribed by Charles Andrew Grigsby from images at: http://gen.culpepper.com/archives/uk/wills/images/William_of_Aylesford_1651.pdf.

Sir Thomas Culpeper of Preston Hall, 3rd Bart.1

Male, #9203, (say 1654 - 18 May 1723)
Father*Sir Richard Culpeper of Preston Hall, 2nd Bart.
Mother*Margaret Reynolds
Biography Family and Education
b. c.1656, o. s. of Sir Richard Colepeper, 2nd Bt., of Preston Hall by Margaret Reynolds. educ. Magdalen Coll. Oxf. matric. 15 June 1672, aged 15; m. 23 Aug. 1704, Elizabeth, da. of Sir Thomas Taylor, 1st Bt., of Park House, Maidstone, Kent, sis. of Sir Thomas Taylor, 2nd Bt., and wid. of (Sir) Francis Wythens of Southend, Eltham, Kent and the Middle Temple. s.p. suc. fa. as 3rd Bt. Jan. 1660.

Offices Held
Sheriff, Kent 1703–4.

Biography
The Colepepers were a well-established Kentish family, having been resident in the county since the 12th century. Beginning with Sir Thomas Colepeper of Bayhall, many branches of the family had flowered, so that by the 17th century identification can be very difficult. Thus Colepeper must not be confused with Sir Thomas Colepeper of Hollingbourne (d. 1697), or the latter’s son Thomas (one of the Kentish Petitioners), nor with Colonel Thomas Colepeper, the hot-tempered engineer and inventor who pursued a quarrel against the Earl of Devonshire (William Cavendish†) after 1685. Having succeeded to the baronetcy at an early age, this Member was left in the capable care of his mother, her deceased husband having provided in his will for the education of his children. In the early 1670s, Sir Edward Dering, 2nd Bt.†, thought a marriage for his son to Colepeper’s sister worth pursuing, since the young lady was of ‘a very considerable family in our country’, but financial constraints prevented a match. Indeed, by 1671, when Lady Colepeper was considering this alliance, she estimated that the cost of her son’s education, presumably at Oxford, would be £100 p.a., which would prove a severe constraint on the options available for her daughter, Alicia. In 1681 John Tillotson (the future archbishop of Canterbury) drafted a letter to Colepeper offering moral counsel, having ‘known you from your tender years’, in which he warned the young man, ‘you are now in the slippery and dangerous part of life, exposed to many and powerful temptations, especially in so licentious an age’, adding, ‘I have good hope you are not yet entangled in any very bad course’. In this Tillotson was unsuccessful, for at some point Colepeper took as his mistress the wife of Sir Francis Wythens. Conflict inevitably arose. In 1693 Lady Wythens tried to have her husband incarcerated in a debtors’ prison and in November 1696 Wythens himself entered an information against Colepeper and Sir Thomas Taylor, 2nd Bt. (brother-in-law to both Wythens and Colepeper), for assault. He failed to gain a conviction after Lord Colepeper, Sir Philip Boteler, 3rd Bt.*, Sir George Rooke* and Sir George Choute, 1st Bt.*, all testified to Colepeper’s ‘great worth and honour’. After Wythens’ death on 9 May 1704, Colepeper wasted no time in marrying his widow. Thereafter it was reported that he never lived with her as a husband.

Considerable difficulty attaches to following Colepeper’s career in local office because central government records do not always distinguish between the Member and his namesake of Hollingbourne. One of these men was a j.p. before 1679, almost certainly Sir Thomas Colepeper of Hollingbourne, who also became a deputy lieutenant in November 1679. It was the baronet who was appointed to the lieutenancy in 1685, but it was his Hollingbourne relative who as a ‘Whig collaborator’ was named as such in February 1688. After the Revolution, it seems likely, on grounds of age alone, that the Sir Thomas Colepeper who served as a deputy-lieutenant and militia colonel was the baronet. In 1701 Colepeper was one of the men suggested for the shrievalty, but he was not pricked until 1703–4. He was elected to Parliament for Maidstone in 1705, although he ‘could not be prevailed upon to stand till the alteration was made in Kent’, a reference to Lord Rockingham (Hon. Lewis Watson†) replacing the Earl of Winchilsea as lord lieutenant of the county. Despite the fact that one analysis of the 1705 Parliament classified him as a ‘Churchman’, Colepeper was undoubtedly a Whig. The Earl of Sunderland (Charles, Lord Spencer*) considered his election in 1705 as a gain for the Whigs, and on 25 Oct. he voted for the Court candidate for Speaker. He failed to support the Court on 18 Feb. 1706 over the ‘place clause’ of the regency bill, which may indicate sympathy with Country Whig views, but on a list of early 1708 he was again classed as a Whig. Returned once more in 1708, Colepeper was marked as a Whig on a list of that year with the election returns appended to it. In 1709 he supported the naturalization of the Palatines and the following year voted for the impeachment of Dr Sacheverell. Not surprisingly, on the ‘Hanover list’ of 1710 he was again listed as Whig. He was returned at the top of the poll in the 1710 election, but his name does not appear on any division list for the ensuing Parliament. Not having stood as a candidate in the Tory landslide of 1713, he was returned in 1715, being described as a Whig on a comparative analysis of the old and new Parliaments.

Colepeper continued to sit for Maidstone until his death on 18 May 1723. Perhaps the suddenness of his demise accounts for the fact that his will had not been updated since February 1711. The major beneficiary was Sir Thomas Taylor, 3rd Bt., the son of his sister, Alicia, although Catharine, Lady Twisden (née Wythens), whom some would have as Colepeper’s natural daughter, benefited to the tune of 500 guineas, and mistress Swayne, ‘her woman’, by 100 guineas for faithful service.2 
Name-AltSpell This surname is sometimes spelled Culpepper. 
Name-AltSpell This surname is sometimes spelled Colepeper. 
Birth*say 1654 Thomas was born say 1654. 
Will30 Jul 1657 He is mentioned in the will of Sir Richard Culpeper of Preston Hall, 2nd Bart. on 30 Jul 1657.3,4 
Death of Mother1691 His mother Margaret Reynolds died in 1691 at Aylesford, co. Kent, England. 
Will13 Jan 1692 He is mentioned in the will of John Culpeper of Riverhead in Seven Oaks, co. Kent at Riverhead, Sevenoaks, co. Kent, England, on 13 Jan 1692.5,6 
Will2 Mar 1695 He is mentioned in the will of Sir Thomas Culpeper of Hollingbourne, Knight on 2 Mar 1695.7,6 
Will7 Aug 1703 He is mentioned in the will of Thomas Culpeper of the Middle Temple on 7 Aug 1703.8 
Marriage*23 Aug 1704 He married Elizabeth Taylor at Boughton Monchelsea, co. Kent, England, on 23 Aug 1704.9,10 
Death of SpouseFeb 1707/8 His wife Elizabeth Taylor died in Feb 1707/8.9 
Will12 Aug 1710 He is mentioned in the will of John Lord Culpeper 3rd Baron of Thoresway on 12 Aug 1710.11,6 
Will*16 Feb 1710/11 He made a will on 16 Feb 1710/11, and witnessed by Sir Thomas Culpeper of Preston Hall, 3rd Bart.
     In the name of God Amen
     I Sir Thomas Colepepyr Baronet of Preston Hall in the parish of Aylesford in the County of Kent being of perfect health and sound of memory do make this my last will and testament, revoking all former wills and Codicils.
     First I recommend my soul to that Great and Almighty God that gave it to me in whom I hope to find Mercy and Forgiveness for all my sins
     my body I bequeath to the ground to be decently and privately buried in the same grave with my Wife and her Daughter under my servants pew in the Parish Church of Aylesford in the County of Kent.
     I do give and bequest to Sir Thomas Taylor Baronet ( an unknown person ) the son of my sister the Lady Taylor (Alicia Culpeper) of the park near Maidstone in Kent all my Estate in Aylesford and elsewhere to him and his heirs lawfully begotton provided he pay my such debts as he will easily find to be made appraise and give such legacies as I shall herafter mention.
     I give to the Lady Taylor Twenty Pounds to pay her mourning and cut her off of all pretensions to my Estate
     I give to Robin Colepepper Gentleman (unidentified) one shilling to put him off all pretensions and
     I give to the Lady Twisdon of Parkham now Sir Thomas Twisdens wife the same of five hundred guineas and
     to Mrs Swaynt that was her woman for her faithfull service to her I therefore give unto her One Hundred Guineas and ten pounds a year the proportion to be paid quarterly during her life and ten pounds to buy her mourning
     all the rest of my servants I give that are with me at my Death a years wage except the waggoner and his mate
     I give to the Messrs Riders each of them at Boughton that is the Elder and Younger Brother ten pounds a piece to buy them mourning and
     I do make the above said Sir Thomas Taylor Baronet Sole Executor to this my last Will.
     In witness of I have hereto set my hand and seal this sixteenth day of February 1710/11
     Tho Colepepyr
     Signed and sealed and declared this to be my last Will and Testament in the presence of Barnh Rider Justin Champneie Ric Collins
     Will proved 27 May 1723 by Dame Alicia Taylor alias Colepepyr widow, natural and legitimate sister and named legitimate relative in the will of Sir Thomas Colpepyr late of Aylesford deceased widower because of the death of Sir Thomas Taylor Baronet, the named Executor. (He died 20 January 1720.)12,6,13 
Death*18 May 1723 He died at Preston Hall, Aylesford, co. Kent, England, on 18 May 1723.9 
Burial*1723 His body was interred in 1723 at family vault, under South Chancel of St. Peter's Church, Aylesford, co. Kent, England. 
Probate1723 Probate action was taken on Thomas's estate in 1723 at co. Kent, England,

P.C.C. 94 Richmond. 
Biography* Sir Thomas succeeded as 3rd Baronet and to the Preston estate. He matriculated at Magd. Hall in 1672 at age 15. He was Sheriff in 1704 and was a Member of Parliament for Maidstone, 1705-1723. His wife, Dame Elizabeth predeased him in 1708, and they were both interred in St. Peter's Church, Aylesford. 
Will6 Jan 1727 He is mentioned in the will of Alicia Culpeper on 6 Jan 1727.14,10 
Research note*24 Sep 2012 From: John Buckley
Sent: Monday, September 24, 2012
To: Warren Culpepper
Subject: Sir Francis Wythens 1633-1704

Hi Warren

In your biographical note for Sir Thomas Culpeper of Preston Hall, 3rd Bart 1654 - 18 May 1723 you have found a delicious account of scandal.
In 1681 John Tillotson (the future archbishop of Canterbury) drafted a letter to Colepeper offering moral counsel, having ‘known you from your tender years’, in which he warned the young man, ‘you are now in the slippery and dangerous part of life, exposed to many and powerful temptations, especially in so licentious an age’, adding, ‘I have good hope you are not yet entangled in any very bad course’. In this Tillotson was unsuccessful, for at some point Colepeper took as his mistress the wife of Sir Francis Wythens. Conflict inevitably arose. In 1693 Lady Wythens tried to have her husband incarcerated in a debtors’ prison and in November 1696 Wythens himself entered an information against Colepeper and Sir Thomas Taylor, 2nd Bt. (brother-in-law to both Wythens and Colepeper), for assault. He failed to gain a conviction after Lord Colepeper, Sir Philip Boteler, 3rd Bt.*, Sir George Rooke* and Sir George Choute, 1st Bt.*, all testified to Colepeper’s ‘great worth and honour’. After Wythens’ death on 9 May 1704, Colepeper wasted no time in marrying his widow. Thereafter it was reported that he never lived with her as a husband.

Another contemporary account reported that Sir Francis Wythens “married, in Westminster Abbey on 21 May 1685, Elizabeth, daughter of Sir Thomas Taylor, first baronet, of Park House, Maidstone, who, if the account given by Mrs. Manley in the ‘New Atalantis’ is to be credited, though clever and witty, brought no comfort to her husband, and acquired for herself a very bad reputation. That she involved him in serious expenses appears from an action brought against him in 1693 for extravagant outlay in dresses and millinery, which he was obliged to pay. Wythens left by her an only daughter, Catherine, who married in 1710 Sir Thomas, grandson of Sir Roger Twysden. After the death of Sir Francis, his widow married Sir Thomas Colepeper, last baronet, of Preston Hall, Aylesford, who is stated to have formerly been her gallant.”

Although the baptism of the daughter Catherine has not yet been found, there is enough circumstantial evidence to indicate that her father was not Sir Francis Wythens but Elizabeth’s lover Sir Thomas Colepeper, whom she married on 23 August 1704 at Boughton Monchelsea, Kent.

Sir Francis Wythens wrote his will on 20 March 1697 and it was proved in May 1707 by his executor, his only sister Katherine Wythens to whom he left all his estate in St Saviours Southwark, his estate in East Greenwich in Kent, his land in Linton & Hunton and his chambers and lodgings in Sergeants Inn, Fleet Street, instructing her to sell enough to pay for his debts. He left his horses and riding equipment, & his guns to his cousin Walsingham King of Bromley. He left £10 to the poor of the parish of St Mary Cray, where he was born and requested to be buried there near to his beloved Mother. There was no mention of any children, which supports the allegation that he was not the father of Catherine Wythens his alleged daughter with his wife Elizabeth Taylor.

Catherine Withens spinster of St Dunstan in the West wrote her will on 20 February 1715 and it was proved by her executors Edward Barker, Apothecary of St Mary le Savoy (in the Strand) and Peniston Lamb of Lincoln's Inn on 1 June 1716, instructing them to sell all her land at Hunton, Kent to pay for all her legacies, mainly to her cousin Walsingham King and his five named children (see Family Search) and pay for the erection of marble tombstones for her and her beloved mother in the churchyard at St Mary's Cray where she was born. There were legacies for her servants and to the poor of the parish. She acknowledged that her brother was Sir Francis Withins, deceased. She made no mention of his daughter Catherine. Her last request for the erection of marble tombstones for her and her mother at the church in St Mary’s Cray were carried out. The memorials are under the east window with an accompanying coat of arms.

Here lyeth the body of Frances Wythings, widow, of William Wythings of Eltham in ys county of Kent, esquire, daughter of Robert King, gentleman, of this parish who departed this life 2 June 1687 in ye 82nd year of her life.

An altar. Here lyeth the body of Catherine Wythings, spinster, daughter of William Wythings, esquire, who departed this life the 19 May 1716 in ye 82 year of her age and she left to the poor of this parish bountiful provision for ever.

Sir Thomas Colepepyr of Preston Hall Aylesford wrote his will on 16 February 1710/11. There was no mention of his wife Elizabeth whom he had married in 1704, when she would have been about 46. She predeceased him, dying on 4 February 1704 in Aylesford. He made his sole executor Sir Thomas Taylor, son of his sister Lady Alicia Taylor of the Park near Maidstone (to whom he left £20 for mourning and cut her off all pretensions to his estate). He left all his estate in Aylesford and elsewhere to his executor, and 500 guineas to Lady Catherine Twysden (formerly Wythens) of Peckham now the wife of Sir Thomas Twysden. (She may have been his natural daughter with Dame Elizabeth Wythens). He wished to be buried with his wife & daughter under his servants pew in the parish church of Aylesford. The will was not altered before his death on 18 May 1723 and was proved on 27 May 1723 by his sister Alicia Taylor formerly Colepepyr, widow. The previous executor, nephew Sir Thomas Taylor had died in January 1720.

There is a biography of Sir Francis Wythens in the Oxford DNB. I am aware that he is right on the fringe of your Colepeper interests and that you may not wish to develop his brief line any further. I can send the DNB piece separately if you want it as well as a few more notes on his career.

My wife Sally had her 80th birthday yesterday. The big family celebration will be at the end of October when we shall have been married for 60 years.
Regards
John.10 

Family

Elizabeth Taylor
Marriage*23 Aug 1704 He married Elizabeth Taylor at Boughton Monchelsea, co. Kent, England, on 23 Aug 1704.9,10 
ChartsThe 12th century Culpepers of England: Descendant Chart (16 generations, Males only)
Last Edited12 Feb 2014

Citations

  1. Col. F.W.T. Attree R.E./F.S.A. & Rev. J.H.L. Booker M.A., "Colepeper of Aylesford Pedigree in The Sussex Colepepers, Part I", Sussex Archaelogical Collection, Vol. XLVII, 1904.
  2. History of Parliament Online, The History of Parliament Trust, 1964-2012.
    http://www.historyofparliamentonline.org/
    Stuart Handley, "COLEPEPER (CULPEPER), Sir Thomas, 3rd Bt. (c.1656-1723), of Preston Hall, nr. Maidstone, Kent", Published in The History of Parliament: the House of Commons 1690-1715, ed. D. Hayton, E. Cruickshanks, S. Handley, 2002.
  3. Public Records Office, National Archives, London.
    Will of Sir Richard Culpeper of Maidstone, dated 30 Jul 1657, transcribed by Charles Andrew Grigsby from the image at: http://gen.culpepper.com/archives/uk/wills/images/Richard_of_Maidstone_1660.pdf.
  4. E-mail written Sep 2012 to Warren L. Culpepper from John Buckley, Lancaster, England, e-mail address.
    John provided numerous edits, improving the accuracy of Charles Grigsby's transcription.
  5. Public Records Office, National Archives, London.
    Will of John Culpeper of Riverhead, dated 13 Jan 1692, P.C.C. 106 Coker, transcribed by Charles Andrew Grigsby. Image at: http://gen.culpepper.com/archives/uk/wills/images/John_of_Sevenoaks_1693.pdf.
  6. E-mail written 2007 to Warren Culpepper from Charles Andrew Grigsby, England, e-mail address.
  7. Public Records Office, National Archives, London.
    Will of Thomas Culpeper of Hollingbourne (#8907), dated 2 Mar 1695 and proved P.C.C. Pyne, 274, transcribed by Charles Andrew Grigsby from the images at: http://gen.culpepper.com/archives/uk/wills/images/Thomas_of_Hollingbourne_1697.pdf.
  8. Public Records Office, National Archives, London.
    Will of Thomas Culpeper of Hollingbourne (#8907), dated 7 Aug 1703, transcribed by Warren Culpepper from the images at: http://gen.culpepper.com/archives/uk/wills/images/Thomas_of_Middle_Temple_1704.pdf.
  9. Richard K. Evans, The Ancestry of Diana Princess of Wales for Twelve Generations, Boston, MA: New England Historic Genealogical Society, 2007, Repository: Warren Culpepper's Personal Library.
  10. E-mail written Sep 2012 to Warren L. Culpepper from John Buckley, Lancaster, England, e-mail address.
  11. Public Records Office, National Archives, London.
    Will of John 3rd Lord Culpeper, dated 12 Aug 1710, transcribed by Charles Andrew Grigsby. Image at: http://gen.culpepper.com/archives/uk/wills/images/John_Baron_of_Thoresway_1719-1.pdf and
    http://gen.culpepper.com/archives/uk/wills/images/John_Baron_of_Thoresway_1719-2.pdf.
  12. Public Records Office, National Archives, London.
    Will of Sir Thomas Colepeper of Aylesford (#9203), dated 16 Feb 1710/11, transcribed by Charles Andrew Grigsby from images at: http://gen.culpepper.com/archives/uk/wills/images/Thomas_of_Aylesford_1723.pdf.
  13. E-mail written Sep 2012 to Warren L. Culpepper from John Buckley, Lancaster, England, e-mail address.
    John provided miscellaneous edits to Charles Grigsby's transcription.
  14. Public Records Office, National Archives, London.
    Image at: http://gen.culpepper.com/archives/uk/wills/images/Alicia_of_Aylesford_1734.pdf.

Elizabeth Taylor1

Female, #9204, (1656 - Feb 1707/8)
Father*Sir Thomas Taylor of Parkhouse, 1st Bart.
Mother*Elizabeth Hall2
Birth*1656 Elizabeth was born in 1656.2 
Married Name21 May 1685  As of 21 May 1685, her married name was Withins.2 
Marriage21 May 1685 She married Sir Francis Withins of Southend in Eltham, co. Kent at Westminster Abbey, Westminster, London, England, on 21 May 1685.2 
Marriage*23 Aug 1704 She married Sir Thomas Culpeper of Preston Hall, 3rd Bart. at Boughton Monchelsea, co. Kent, England, on 23 Aug 1704.2,3 
Married Name23 Aug 1704  As of 23 Aug 1704, her married name was Culpeper.2 
Name-AltSpell This surname is sometimes spelled Colepeper.2 
Name-AltSpell This surname is sometimes spelled Culpepper. 
Death*Feb 1707/8 She died in Feb 1707/8.2 
Burial*5 Feb 1707/8 Her body was interred on 5 Feb 1707/8 at St. Peter's Church, Aylesford, co. Kent, England.2 

Family 1

Sir Francis Withins of Southend in Eltham, co. Kent
Marriage21 May 1685 She married Sir Francis Withins of Southend in Eltham, co. Kent at Westminster Abbey, Westminster, London, England, on 21 May 1685.2 
1686 Catherine Wythens, born about 1686, was the daughter of Sir Francis Wythens and Elizabeth Taylor, although some sources have her as the natural daughter of Elizabeth and her lover Sir Thomas Colepeper, who died on 18 May 1723. J R T: "Catherine Withens, according to Larking, was said to be the offspring of the guilty intercourse [of her mother] with Culpeper [Sir Thomas Culpeper of Aylesford]" Her mother Elizabeth later married Sir Thomas Colepeper on 23 August 1704. (Married 23 August 1704 at Boughton Monchelsea, Kent, Sir Thomas Colepeper & Dame Elizabeth Withens.)

Sir Thomas Twysden had two daughters by Catherine Wythens; Frances born 1711 who married George Ogle and Catherine born (posthumously) 7 December 1712, who married George Cooke on 4 July 1735. Neither of these were mentioned in the 1734 will of Dame Alicia Taylor. However Dame Alicia did leave legacies to all four children of Catherine Wythens by her second husband Brigadier General George Jocelyn.3 

Family 2

Sir Thomas Culpeper of Preston Hall, 3rd Bart.
Marriage*23 Aug 1704 She married Sir Thomas Culpeper of Preston Hall, 3rd Bart. at Boughton Monchelsea, co. Kent, England, on 23 Aug 1704.2,3 
Last Edited20 Sep 2012

Citations

  1. Col. F.W.T. Attree R.E./F.S.A. & Rev. J.H.L. Booker M.A., "Colepeper of Aylesford Pedigree in The Sussex Colepepers, Part I", Sussex Archaelogical Collection, Vol. XLVII, 1904.
  2. Richard K. Evans, The Ancestry of Diana Princess of Wales for Twelve Generations, Boston, MA: New England Historic Genealogical Society, 2007, Repository: Warren Culpepper's Personal Library.
  3. E-mail written Sep 2012 to Warren L. Culpepper from John Buckley, Lancaster, England, e-mail address.

Alicia Culpeper1,2,3

Female, #9205, (say 1656 - Apr 1734)
Father*Sir Richard Culpeper of Preston Hall, 2nd Bart.
Mother*Margaret Reynolds
Name-AltSpell This surname is sometimes spelled Culpepper. 
Name-AltSpell This surname is sometimes spelled Colepeper. 
Birth*say 1656 Alicia was born say 1656. 
Will30 Jul 1657 She is mentioned in the will of Sir Richard Culpeper of Preston Hall, 2nd Bart. on 30 Jul 1657.4,5 
Marriage*1675 She married Herbert Stapley Esq. in 1675. 
Married Name1675  As of 1675, her married name was Stapley. 
Death of Spousesay 1690 Her husband Herbert Stapley Esq. died say 1690. 
Death of Mother1691 Her mother Margaret Reynolds died in 1691 at Aylesford, co. Kent, England. 
Marriage*6 Oct 1692 She married Sir Thomas Taylor of Maidstone, 2nd Bart. at Ditton, co. Kent, England, on 6 Oct 1692. St. Peter's Church. 
Married Name6 Oct 1692  As of 6 Oct 1692, her married name was Taylor. 
Death of Spouse1696 Her husband Sir Thomas Taylor of Maidstone, 2nd Bart. died in 1696. 
Marriage*say 1698 She married Thomas Culpeper of the Middle Temple say 1698. Thomas was the third of four husbands of Alicia Culpeper. 
Will7 Aug 1703 She is mentioned in the will of Thomas Culpeper of the Middle Temple on 7 Aug 1703.6 
Death of Spousecirca Sep 1703 Her husband Thomas Culpeper of the Middle Temple died circa Sep 1703. 
Will16 Feb 1710/11 She is mentioned in the will of an unknown person on 16 Feb 1710/11.7,8,9 
Marriage*16 Oct 1723 She married Dr. John Milner of Maidstone at St. Peter's Church, Ditton, co. Kent, England, on 16 Oct 1723. 
Married Name16 Oct 1723  As of 16 Oct 1723, her married name was Milner. 
Death of SpouseFeb 1724 Her husband Dr. John Milner of Maidstone died in Feb 1724.2 
Will*6 Jan 1727 She made a will on 6 Jan 1727.

Will of Dame Alicia Taylor, otherwise Colepeper, otherwise Milner
In the Name of God Amen.
     I Dame Alicia Taylor als Colepeper als Milner of Preston Hall in the Parish of Aylesford in the County of Kent Widow do make this my last Will and Testament in writing in manner following
     I recomend my Soul to Almighty God hoping thro' the Merits of my Saviour to enjoy eternall life and my Body I will to be decently buried at the discretion of my Executors in case I shall omitt to leave more particular directions touching the same And as to my Temporall Estate I dispose thereof as followeth
     Whereas by Indentures of Lease and Release bearing date on or about the 14th and 15th days of October in the year one thousand seven hundred and twenty three diverse Mannors Lands and Hereditaments lying in the County of Kent late the Estate and Inheritance of Sir Thomas Colepeper Bart deceased late Brother of me the said Dame Alicia are and stand limitted to certain Trustees therein mentioned their Heirs and Assigns amongst other uses and Trusts to the use of the honorable John Finch Esqr his Executors Administrators and Assigns for and during the Term of ninety and nine years without Impeachment of Wast upon Trust (amongst other things) from and immediately after my death by and out of the Rents Issues and Profits of the said Premises or by Mortgage or Demise thereof or of any part thereof to raise any sume or sumes of money not exceeding in the whole the sume of two thousand pounds and pay the same to such person or persons at such times and in such proportions as I should by any writing under my hand and seal executed in the presence of two or more credible Witnesses direct or appoint or to that effect
     And Whereas I did by Deed poll bearing Date on or about the fifth day of January instant under my hand and seal duly executed in the presence of the credible Witnesses thereto appearing in pursuance of the said power and of every other power and powers I had direct and appoint the said John Finch his Executors Administrators and Assigns within one year after my decease by Mortgage or Demise of the said premisses or of a fitt and sufficient part thereof to raise the full sume of two thousand pounds and pay the same unto Richard Porter of Chayley in the County of Sussex Clerke and Charles Milner now of Preston Hall aforesaid Esqr their Executors Administrators and Assigns to be by them the said Richard Porter and Charles Milner their Executors Administrators or Assigns applied and disposed of as I by any deed or Writing which I should thenafter execute for that purpose in the presence of two or more credible Witnessses or by my last Will and Testament in Writing duely made and published direct or appoint
     And Whereas by Indenture quinquepartite bearing date on or about the 22nd day of August one thousand seven hundred and twenty six it is agreed declared directed and appointed that the said John Finch his Executors Administrators and Assigns may and shall from and immediately after my decease by and out of the Rents Issues and Profits of the Mannors Lands and Hereditaments (part of the aforesaid premisses) by the same Indenture indented to be appointed or limitted in Revertion after my decease to the aforesaid Charles Milner and his Heirs or by Mortgage or Demise thereof or of any part thereof levy and raise the further Sume of three thousand pounds over and above the said Sume of two thousand pounds and pay apply and dispose of the said severall Sumes of two thousand pounds and three thousand pounds and every or any part or parcell thereof to such person or persons or for such use or uses and in such manner as I should by any Writing under my hand and seal executed in the presence of two or more credible Witnesses with or without power of Revocation or by my last Will and Testament in Writing duely made and published direct limitt or appoint or to that effect as by the said severall Indentures and Writings may appear.
     Now I the said Dame Alicia Taylor by this my last Will and Testament duely made and published in the presence of the credible persons whose names are hereunto sett as Witnesses do confirm the said Appointment of the said two thousand pounds by me already made as aforesaid and to direct limitt and appoint that as well the said two thousand pounds as also the said three thousand pounds shall be by the said John Finch his Executors Administrators and Assigns within one year after my decease leavied and raised by Mortgage or Demise of all or a fitt and convenient part of the premisses subjected thereto and that the said John Finch his Executors Administrators or Assigns do immediately after pay the same two thousand pounds and three thousand pounds unto my dear Kinsman the said Richard Porter and my dear Brother and friend the said Charles Milner their Executors Administrators and Assigns upon Trust
     and I do hereby direct and appoint the said Richard Porter and Charles Milner their Executors Administrators and Assigns to apply the said two thousand pounds and three thousand pounds first in payment of all such Debts as I shall happen to owe at the time of my decease and then in payment and discharge of my Legacies herein after mentioned within one year after my decease that is to say
     to my said cousin Richard Porter the Sume of one thousand pounds
     to his Sister Mrs Catherine Porter the Sume of five hundred pounds
     to my kinsman Thomas Porter (Brother of the said Richard and Catherine) and his Wife thirty pounds for mourning
     to Thomas Porter their Son (Godson of my Brother Sir Thomas Colepeper) the Sume of one hundred pounds
     to the six Children now living of William Colepeper late of Hollingborne in the said County of Kent Esqr the Sume of one hundred pounds apiece
     to Frances Twisden the Daughter of Sir Thomas Twisden late of Peckham in the County of Kent Bart deceased by Dame Catherine Twisden his Wife the Sume of three hundred pounds
     to Jenny Thomas Robert and Elizabeth Jocelyn four of the Children of the said Dame Catherine Twisden by Brigadier Genll George Joceline her last husband the Sume of one hundred pounds apiece and if either of them die under the age of fourteen years his or her share to go to the Survivors of them
     to my Servant Thomas Robinson the Sume of fifty pounds
     to my Servant Dorothy Dabbs the Sume of fifty pounds and also to each of them and to all others my Servants who shall live with me at the time of my decease and shall have been in my Service for the space of one year or more next before my decrease and not otherwise one years wages respectively over and above what shall then happen to be due to them
     to my friend Mrs Elizabeth Swaine twenty pounds to buy her Mourning And I release her from all Demands on Account of her board or otherwise
     I also give to the said Mr Finch my honoured friend twenty Guineas as an Acknowledgement for the trouble he will have in the Execution of the aforesaid Trusts
     I also give to the five Sisters of my late dear husband Dr John Milner and of my said Brother in Law Charles Milner twenty pounds a piece as a token of my respect willing and desiring them upon payment thereof to execute a Release or Discharge of any claim or pretence to all or any my personall Estate by reason of my Intermarriage with their said late Brother
     And I will and direct the said Richard Porter and Charles Milner to lay out one hundred pounds (other part of the said Money directed to be paid them as aforesaid) in such manner as they shall judge most proper and advantageous for the use and Benefit of the Charity School now kept and which shall be kept in the Parish of Aylesford aforesaid and to make and ordain such Rules and Orders for the Application thereof and of the proceed thereof and the better Regulation of the said School as they shall in their discretion think fit
     I also direct the said Richd Porter and Charles Milner to pay into the hands of the Minister and Churchwardens of Maidstone in the County of Kent fifty pounds to be applied for the use of the Charity School in that Town for which fifty pounds I do hereby declare the receipt of the said Minister and Churchwardens or of the major part of them shall be a full and effectuall Discharge without my said Trustees and Executors being obliged to see to the application of that Legacy
     I also give and devise the pictures of Sir Thomas Colepeper late of Hollingborne and Dame Alicia Colepeper his Widow which I am possessed of unto the said Dame Alicia And if she die before me I give the same to the Rt Honble the Lady Colepeper her Daughter
     I also give the said Lady Colepeper the use of my Silver Coffee Pott upon which the Colepeper's Arms are engraved for her life and then I give the same to my Kinswoman Mrs Cecila Stanhope heire of the said Lady
     I also give to the aforesaid Frances Twisden my Silver Tea kettle Lamp and Stand and a pair of Silver Candlesticks on which the Arms of my late husband Sir Thomas Taylor are engraved as also a Tea Table and Sett of China Ware belonging to it and a dozen of Silver Tea Spoons
     and I give and devise all the lands of Inheritance which I have or am entitlled unto in the Island of Shepway in the County of Kent in the Occupation of the Widow Sewell unto the said Charles Milner his heirs and Assigns forever
     And I give all my lands of Inheritance in or near Bobbing in the County of Kent unto the said Richard Porter and his heirs and Assigns forever
     And I acquitt my late Servant John Windram now my Tenant of and from all rent and securities taken for rent which he shall owe or stand liable to pay in to me at my decease
     And after my aforesaid debts and Legacies and funerall expenses paid and discharged I give and devise the residue of the said two thousand pounds and three thousand pounds (if any shall be) and all other my personall Estate that shall remain unto the said Charles Milner he paying thereout to my said Kinsman Mr Richard Porter one hundred pounds for his Care and Trouble about the Execution of this my Will over and above what is before given him thereby
     And I do make and appoint the said Richd Porter and Charles Milner Executors of this my Will And so hereby revoak all former Wills by me made
     In Witness whereof to this my Will contained in four sheets of paper to three first of which sheets I have sett my Name and to the last sett my hand and seal the sixth day of January in the year of Our Lord one thousand seven hundred and twenty seven Alicia Taylor
     Signed and Sealed published and declared by the said Dame Alicia Taylor as and for her last Will and Testament in the sight and presence of us who have in her sight and presence attested the same Sarah Thomas Sarah Green John Norvell Esq

First Codicil to the Will of Dame Alicia Taylor, otherwise Colepeper, otherwise Milner
In the Name of God Amen
     The twenty fifth day of March in the fourth year of the Reign of Our Sovereign Lord George the Second by the Grace of God of Great Britain France and Ireland King Defender of the faith
     I Dame Alicia Taylor alias Colepeper alias Milner of Preston Hall in the Parish of Aylesford in the county of Kent Widow doe make and publish this present Writing to be a Codicill to my last Will and Testament and desire the same to be taken and deemed as part thereof (that is to say)
     Whereas by my Will which is dated on or about the sixth day of January one thousand seven hundred and twenty seven I have directed and appointed that my Executors therein named should within one year after my decease pay and apply the Sumes of three thousand pounds and two thousand pounds therein mentioned in payment and discharge of my Legacies therein after mentioned and in part hereinafter mentioned (that is to say)
     to the six Children then living of William Colpeper late of Hollingborne in the said County of Kent Esquire the Sume of one hundred pounds apiece
     to Frances Twisden the Daughter of Sir Thomas Twisden late of Peckham in the County of Kent Barronett deceased by Dame Catherine Twisden his Wife the Sume of three hundred pounds
     to Jenny Thomas Robert and Elizabeth Joceline four of the Children of the said Dame Catherine Twisden by Brigadier Generall George Joceline her last husband the sume of one hundred pounds apiece And if either of them should dye under the age of fourteen years his or her Share to goe to the survivors of them
     to my friend Mrs Elizabeth Swaine twenty pounds to buy her Mourning
     And by my said Will I have also given to the aforesaid Frances Twisden my Silver Tea Kettle Lamp and Stand and a pair of Silver candlesticks on which the Arms of my late husband Sir Thomas Taylor are engraved As also a Tea Table and Sett of China Ware belonging to it and a dozen of Silver Tea Spoons
     Now I do hereby revoke disannull and make void all and every the Gifts Legacies and Bequests contained in my said Will which are herein before particularly recited and mentioned
     And I doe hereby ratifye and confirme my said Will in all other respects And I do hereby Order and direct that I be buryed in Linnen in as decent and private a manner as may be by my Executors named in my said Will in the Parish Church of Aylesford at Twelve o Clock at night And that there be no Escutchions or other Decorations or Ornaments made use of at my Buriall or any person invited to Support my Pall
     I also Will and desire that a compleat suit of decent Mourning cloths be given to each of my Servants who shall be living with me at my decrease
     I also give to Mrs Catherine Porter my least Silver Tea Kettle and Lamp with the Colepepers Arms on them and the Stand belonging to them with the Top covered with Silver the Arms the Boars heads
     I direct that the Executors named in my Will do out of the three thousand pounds and two thousand pounds therein mentioned pay to Jenny Joceline Daughter of Dame Catherine Twisden by the said Brigadier Generall George Joceline one hundred pounds at her age of twenty one years or day of Marriage which shall first happen And that they do pay her Interest for the same at the Rate of five pounds per centum per annum the meantime
     And that they doe out of the same Sumes of three thousand pounds and two thousand pounds pay unto Elizabeth Joceline sister of the said Jenny Joceline three hundred pounds at her age of twenty one years or day of Marriage which shall first happen And that my Executors doe pay her Interest for the same at the Rate of five pounds per centum per annum in the meantime
     And after all my Debts and funerall Expenses and the Legacies herein before and hereafter and in and by my Will given and bequeathed (and which are not hereby revoked) are paid and satisfyed I give and bequeath all the Residue of the Sumes of three thousand pounds and two thousand pounds and also my two Silver Cannisters with Locks and Keys and all other my personall Estate not otherwise disposed of unto my Brother in Law Charles Milner
     Item I give and bequeath unto my cousin Ann French twenty Guineas
     Item I give and bequeath unto my Godson Archibald Hamilton son of John Hamilton Esq fifty pounds at his age of one and twenty years And I do direct that my Executors do pay him Interest for the same in the meantime at the rate of five pounds per cent per annum
     In Witness whereof I have to this present Codicill contained in two sheets of paper to each sheet thereof set my hand and seal dated the day and year first above written Alicia Taylor
     Signed Sealed published and declared by the said Dame Alicia Taylor als Colepeper als Milner to be a Codicill to and by her desired to be deemed and taken as part of her last Will and Testament in the presence of Sarah Thomas Roger Philips Fra Brookes
     25 Oct 1731

Second Codicil to the Will of Dame Alice Taylor, otherwise Colepeper, otherwise Milner
In the Name of God Amen
     The twenty fifth day of October in the fifth year of the Reign of Our Sovereign Lord George the Second by the Grace of God of Great Britain France and Ireland King Defender of the Faith
     I Dame Alicia Taylor alias Colepeper alias Milner of Preston Hall in the Parish of Aylesford in the County of Kent Widdow do make and ordain this present writing to be a Codicill to my last Will and Testament and desire the same to be taken and deemed as part thereof (that is to say)
     Whereas by a Codicill bearing Date the twenty fifth day of March last which I thereby desired and directed to be deemed and taken as part of my last Will and Testament I have directed that my Executors named in my Will which is dated the sixth day of January one thousand seven hundred and twenty seven should out of the Sumes of three thousand pounds and two thousand pounds therein mentioned pay unto Elizabeth Jocelyne therein named three hundred pounds at her age of twenty one years or day of Marriage which should first happen And that they should pay her Interest the same at the rate of five pounds per cent per annum in the meantime
     And Whereas the said Elizabeth Jocelyne is since dead Therefore I do by this present Codicill revoke the said Legacy so given to the said Elizabeth Jocelyne And do Order that the said three hundred pounds shall go unto my Brother in Law Charles Milner as part of the residue of the said Sumes of three thousand pounds and two thousand pounds given him by the said Codicill
     In Witness whereof I have to this present Codicill set my hand and seale dated the day and year first above written Alicia Taylor als Milner
     Signed Sealed published and declared by the said Dame Alicia Taylor als Colepeper als Milner and by her desired to be deemed and taken as a Codicill to and part of her last Will and Testament in the presence of us who subscribed our Names as Witnesses hereunto in the presence of the said Testatrix Sarah Thomas Thommas Bottle Fra Brooke

Probate: 2 Nov 1734
     This Will was proved at London with two Codicills annexed on the second day of November in the year of Our Lord one thousand seven hundred and thirty four before the Right Worshipfull John Bettesworth Doctor of Laws Master Keeper or Commissary of the Prerogative Court of Canterbury lawfully constituted by the Oaths of Doctor Charles Milner and Richard Porter the Executors named in the said Will To whom was granted Administration of all and singular the Goods Chattells and Credits of the said deceased they being first sworn by commission duely to administer the same.

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

The transcription above was provided to Culpepper Connections by John Buckley. Regarding an earlier transcription which we had posted, John wrote:

I was delighted to find your Culpeper website. I have recently discovered that I am connected to the Colepepers of Preston Hall, Aylesford, Kent, via Sir Thomas Twysden 1676-1712 and Sir Francis Wythens 1634-1704...
     The transcription of Dame Alicia's 1734 will that you have posted on your Culpeper website is a bold undertaking, but does occasionally show an unfamiliarity with the clerical hands of the early 18th century. Some of your surnames have been mis-transcribed. I have made my own transcription of the will. It is not an 100% exact transcription. There is a judicious alteration of upper case capital letters to lower case. Where the original has a bar over the last two letters, indicating an accepted clerical abbreviation, I have used the complete word. I have dispensed with the initial ff . As you know, the clerks who drew up the will did away with punctuation. I have made use of modern layouts to break up the text, highlighting names and legal phrases. My purpose is to make the document more readable. And I have taken the liberty of sending it to you to compare it with your own.
     I live in Lancaster England and spent far too much of my retirement doing family history. I am able to read PCC wills online through my subscription to www.thegenealogist.co.uk Much handier than traipsing down to dusty archives in London.10,11 
Will25 Mar 1731 She made a will on 25 Mar 1731.

First Codicil to the Will of Dame Alice Taylor, otherwise Colepeper, otherwise Milner:
     In the Name of God Amen The Twenty fifth day of March in the fourth year of the Reign of Our Sovereign Lord George the Second (25 Mar 1731) by the Grace of God of Great Britain France and Ireland King Defender of the faith et. Annoae Inri 31
     I Dame Alicia Taylor alias Colepeper alias Milner of Preston Hall in the Parish of Aylesford in the county of Kent Widow doe make and publish this present Writing to be a Codicill to my last Will and Testament and desire the same to be taken and deemed as part thereof (that is to say) Whereas by my Will which is dated on or about the Sixth day of January One Thousand Seven hundred and Twenty Seven I have directed and appointed that my Executors therein named should within one year after my decease pay and apply the Sumes of Three Thousand pounds and Two Thousand pounds therein mentioned in payment and discharge of my Legacies therein after mentioned and in part hereinafter mentioned (that is to say) To the six Children then living of William Colpeper late of Hollingborne in the said County of Kent Esquire the Sume of One hundred pounds apiece. To Frances Croisden the Daughter of Sir Thomas Twisden late of Peckham in the County of Kent Barronett, decesed by Dame Catherine Twisden his Wife the Sume of Three hundred pounds. To Jenny Thomas Robert and Elizabeth Foreline formr of the Children of the said Dame Catherine Croisden by Brigadier Geneerall George Foreline her last husband the sume of One hundred pounds apiece. And if either oft hem should dye under the age of fourteen years his or her Share to goe to the survivors of them. To my friend Mrs. Elzabeth Swame Twenty pounds to buy her Mourning And by my said Will I have also given to the aforesaid Frances Croisden my Silver Tea Kettle Lamp and Stand and a pair of Silver candlesticks on which the Arms of my late husband Sir Thomas Taylor are engraved. As also a Tea Table and Sett of China Ware belonging to it and a dozen of Silver Tea Spoons.
     Now I do hereby revoke disannull and make void all and every the Gifts Legacies and Bequests contained in my said Will which are herein before particularly recited and mentioned. And I doe hereby ratifye and confirme my said Will in all other respects. And I do hereby Order and direct that I be buryed in Linnen in as decent and private a manner as may be by my Executors named in my said Will in the Parish Church of Ayleford at Twelve o Clock at night And that there be no Estulthions or other Decorations or Ornaments made use of at my Buriall or any person invited to Support my Pall. I also Will and desire that a compleat Lint of decent Mourning cloths be given to each of my Servants who shall be living with me at my decrease. I also give to Mrs. Catherine Porter my least Silver Tea Kettle and Lamp with the Colepepers Arms on them and the Stand belonging to them with the Top covered with Silver the Arms the Boars heads Fairest that the Executors name in my Will do out of the Three Thousand pounds and Two Thousand pounds therein mentioned pay to Jenny Foreline Daughter of Dame Catherine Croisden by the said Brigadier Generall George Foreline One hundred pounds at her age of Twenty One years or day of Marriage which shall first happen. And that they do pay her Interest for the same at the Rate of five pounds per centum per Annum the meantime And that they doe out of the same Sumes of Three Thousand pounds and Two Thousand pounds pay unto Elizabeth Foreline sister of the said Jenny Foreline Three hundred pounds at her age of Twenty one years or day of Marriage which shall first happen And that my Executors doe pay her Interest for the same at the Rate of five pounds per Centum per Annum in the meantime And afterall my Debts and funerall Expenses and the Legacies herein before and hereafter and in and by my Will given and bequeathed (and which are not hereby revoked) are paid and satisfyed I give and bequeath all the Residue of the Sumes of Three Thousand pounds and Two Thousand pounds and also my two Silver Cannisters with Locks and Keys and all other my personall Estate not otherwise disposed of unto my Brother in Law Charles Milner. Now I give and bequeath unto my cousin Ann French Twenty Guineas. Now I give and bequeath unto my Godson Archibald Hamilton Son of John Hamilton Esq fifty pounds at his age of One and twenty years. An I do direct that my Executors do pay him Interest for the same in the meantime at the rate of five pounds per cent per Annum. In Witness whereof I have to this present Codicill contained in two sheets of paper to each sheet thereof set my hand and seal dated the day and year first above written./. Alicia Taylor./. Signed Sealed published and declared by the said Dame Alicia Taylor ats Colepeper ats Milner to be a Codicill to and by her desired to be deemed and taken as part of her last Will and Testament in the presence of ./. Sarah Thomas. Robert Philips. Fra. Brookes./.12,10 
Will25 Oct 1731 She made a will on 25 Oct 1731.

Second Codicil to the Will of Dame Alice Taylor, otherwise Colepeper, otherwise Milner:
     In the Name of God Amen The Twenty fifth day of October in the fifth year of the Reign of Our Sovereign Lord George the Second (25 Oct 1731) by the Grace of God of Great Britain France and Ireland King Defender of the faith et. Annoae Inri 1731
     I Dame Alicia Taylor alias Colepeper alias Milner of Preston Hall in the Parish of Aylesford in the County of Kent Widdow do make and ordain this present writing to be a Codicill to my last Will and Testament and desire the same to be taken and deemed as part thereof (that is to say) Whereas by a Codicill bearing Date the Twenty fifth day of March last which I thereby desired and directed to be deemed and taken as part of my last Will and Testament I have directed that my Executors named in my Will which is dated the Sixth day of January One Thousand Seven hundred and Twenty seven should out of the Sumes of Three Thousand pounds and Two Thousand pounds therein mentioned pay unto Elizabeth Forelyne therein named Three hundred pounds at her age of Twenty one years or day of Marriage which should first happen And that they should pay her Interest the same at the rate of five pounds per Cent per Annum in the meantime And Whereas the said Elizabeth Forelyne is since dead
     Therefore I do by this present Codisill revoke the said Legacy so given to the said Elizabeth Forelyne And Order that the said Three hundred pounds shall go unto my Brother in Law Charles Milner as part of the residue of the said Sumes of Three Thousand pounds and Two Thousand pounds given him by the said Codisill
     In Witness whereof I have to this present Codisill set my hand and seale Dated the day and year first above written./. Alicia Taylor ats Milner./. Signed Sealed published and declared by the said Dame Alicia Taylor ats Colepeper ats Milner and by her desired to be deemed and taken as a Codisill to and part of her last Will and Testament in the presense of us who subscribed our Names as Witnesses hereunto in the presense of the said Testatrix./ Sarah Thomas. Thommas Bottle. Fra: Brooke./.12,10 
Death*Apr 1734 She died at Preston Hall, Aylesford, co. Kent, England, in Apr 1734. 
Probate*2 Nov 1734 Probate action was taken on Alicia's estate on 2 Nov 1734 at London, England,

This Will was proved at London with two codisills annexed on the Second day of November in the year of Our Lord One Thousand Seven hundred and Thirty four before the Right Worshipfull John Bettesworth Doctor of Laws Master Keeper of commissary of the Perogative Court of Canterbury lawfully constituted Executors named in the said Will To whom was granted Administration of all and signualr the Goods Chattlels and Credits of the said deceased they being first sworn by commission duely to administer the same./.12,10 
Biography* Alicia was the last of the line of Aylesford Culpepers.
     In about 1675, she married Herbert Stapeley Esquire, the son and heir apparent of Sir John Stapeley, Baronet, of Patcharn in Sussex. Herbert was MP for Seaford in 1679. They were blessed with several children, all of whom died young. Herbert, the fourth son, died in 1687 aged three and was interred in the chancel of Folkington Church, Sussex. Alicia's husband, Herbert, died c. 1690.
     The widowed Alicia Stapeley remarried. Her second husband was Sir Thomas Taylor, Baronet, (1657-96) of Park House, Maidstone. The ceremony took place at St Peter's Church, Ditton. The parish register recorded: '1692 Oct 6 Sir Thomas Taylor of Maidstone, Baronet, and Madame Alicia Stapeley of Aylesford were married.'
     Sir Thomas died in 1696. Their son Thomas (1693-1720) succeeded to the baronetcy at the age of three.
     Lady Alicia Taylor, being left a widow for the second time, was again wooed. She married her first cousin, Thomas Culpeper, a barrister, the second son of Sir Thomas Culpeper of Hollingbourne. Lady Alicia continued to reside in Park House, Maidstone, where she brought up and educated her son, Sir Thomas Taylor. Her third husband died young. Their son, Sir Thomas, died in 1720 at age twenty-seven. The baronetcy became extinct.
     Lady Alicia's brother, Sir Thomas Culpeper of Preston Hall, died in 1723 without issue. His baronetcy became extinct. She therefore inherited the estate.
     In need of a partner to share in the management of the estates, and someone to comfort her in old age, she remarried. Her fourth husband was Dr. John Milner, M.D. of Pudsey, Yorkshire. The marriage ceremony was solemnized at St Peter's Church, Ditton. The parish register recorded: '1723 Oct 16 Dr. Millner of Maidstone and the Lady Taylor of Aylesford were married. Lady Taylor, the last of the Culpepers, had no children.'
     Lady Alicia settled all her estates, including Preston Hall, on Dr. Milner and his heirs, reserving only her life interest. John Milner devised the inheritance of the estate of Preston Hall to his brother Dr. Charles Milner, M.D.
     Following the pattern established by her previous husbands, John Milner did not survive the union with Lady Alicia. He died in February 1724.
     In her lonely, childless widowhood, Lady Alicia lived on at Preston Hall. When she died in April 1734, she must have been nearly eighty. The entry for her interment was entered twice in Aylesford's parish register. She was interred in the north chancel of the parish church.2 

Family 1

Herbert Stapley Esq.
Marriage*1675 She married Herbert Stapley Esq. in 1675. 

Family 2

Sir Thomas Taylor of Maidstone, 2nd Bart.
Marriage*6 Oct 1692 She married Sir Thomas Taylor of Maidstone, 2nd Bart. at Ditton, co. Kent, England, on 6 Oct 1692. St. Peter's Church. 
Child
  • Sir Thomas Taylor of Maidstone, 2nd Bart.

Family 3

Thomas Culpeper of the Middle Temple
Marriage*say 1698 She married Thomas Culpeper of the Middle Temple say 1698. Thomas was the third of four husbands of Alicia Culpeper. 

Family 4

Dr. John Milner of Maidstone
Marriage*16 Oct 1723 She married Dr. John Milner of Maidstone at St. Peter's Church, Ditton, co. Kent, England, on 16 Oct 1723. 
Last Edited20 Sep 2012

Citations

  1. Col. F.W.T. Attree R.E./F.S.A. & Rev. J.H.L. Booker M.A., "Colepeper of Aylesford Pedigree in The Sussex Colepepers, Part I", Sussex Archaelogical Collection, Vol. XLVII, 1904.
  2. James H. Sephton, Preston Hall, Aylesford, 496 Station Road, Aylesford, Kent: J. H. Sephton, 1997, Repository: Warren Culpepper's Personal Library.
  3. William Berry, compiler, Pedigrees of the Families of the County of SussexSherwood, Gilbert and Piper, 1830.
  4. Public Records Office, National Archives, London.
    Will of Sir Richard Culpeper of Maidstone, dated 30 Jul 1657, transcribed by Charles Andrew Grigsby from the image at: http://gen.culpepper.com/archives/uk/wills/images/Richard_of_Maidstone_1660.pdf.
  5. E-mail written Sep 2012 to Warren L. Culpepper from John Buckley, Lancaster, England, e-mail address.
    John provided numerous edits, improving the accuracy of Charles Grigsby's transcription.
  6. Public Records Office, National Archives, London.
    Will of Thomas Culpeper of Hollingbourne (#8907), dated 7 Aug 1703, transcribed by Warren Culpepper from the images at: http://gen.culpepper.com/archives/uk/wills/images/Thomas_of_Middle_Temple_1704.pdf.
  7. Public Records Office, National Archives, London.
    Will of Sir Thomas Colepeper of Aylesford (#9203), dated 16 Feb 1710/11, transcribed by Charles Andrew Grigsby from images at: http://gen.culpepper.com/archives/uk/wills/images/Thomas_of_Aylesford_1723.pdf.
  8. E-mail written 2007 to Warren Culpepper from Charles Andrew Grigsby, England, e-mail address.
  9. E-mail written Sep 2012 to Warren L. Culpepper from John Buckley, Lancaster, England, e-mail address.
    John provided miscellaneous edits to Charles Grigsby's transcription.
  10. Public Records Office, National Archives, London.
    Image at: http://gen.culpepper.com/archives/uk/wills/images/Alicia_of_Aylesford_1734.pdf.
  11. E-mail written Sep 2012 to Warren L. Culpepper from John Buckley, Lancaster, England, e-mail address.
  12. E-mail written 1998-2011 to Culpepper Connections from Capos Conley 'Chip' Culpepper II (#23339), Little Rock, AR, e-mail address.
    P.C.C. 254 Ockhamob. s.p.

Herbert Stapley Esq.1,2,3

Male, #9206, (before 1655 - say 1690)
Father*Sir John Stapley of Patcham, co. Sussex, Bart.
Mother*Mary Springett
Birth*before 1655 Herbert was born before 1655. 
Marriage*1675 He married Alicia Culpeper in 1675. 
Death*say 1690 He died say 1690. 
Biography* First husband of Alicia Colepeper as well as son and heir apparent of Sir John Stapeley, Herbert was Member of Parliament for Seafoird in 1679. 

Family

Alicia Culpeper
Last Edited4 Feb 2011

Citations

  1. James H. Sephton, Preston Hall, Aylesford, 496 Station Road, Aylesford, Kent: J. H. Sephton, 1997, Repository: Warren Culpepper's Personal Library.
  2. Col. F.W.T. Attree R.E./F.S.A. & Rev. J.H.L. Booker M.A., "Colepeper of Aylesford Pedigree in The Sussex Colepepers, Part I", Sussex Archaelogical Collection, Vol. XLVII, 1904.
  3. William Berry, compiler, Pedigrees of the Families of the County of SussexSherwood, Gilbert and Piper, 1830.

Sir Thomas Taylor of Maidstone, 2nd Bart.

Male, #9207, (19 Aug 1657 - 1696)
Father*Sir Thomas Taylor of Parkhouse, 1st Bart.
Mother*Elizabeth Hall
Birth*19 Aug 1657 Thomas was born on 19 Aug 1657.1 
Marriage*6 Oct 1692 He married Alicia Culpeper at Ditton, co. Kent, England, on 6 Oct 1692 at age 35. St. Peter's Church. 
Death*1696 He died in 1696. 
Biography* Second husband of Alicia Colepeper. 
Will7 Aug 1703 He is mentioned in the will of Thomas Culpeper of the Middle Temple on 7 Aug 1703.2 
Research note*Sep 2012 From: John Buckley
Sent: Monday, September 24, 2012
To: Warren Culpepper
Subject: Thomas Taylor 1657-1696 and Elizabeth Taylor 1658-1708 were brother & sister.

In the History of Parliament: the House of Commons 1660-1690, ed. B.D. Henning, 1983 (available online at http://www.historyofparliamentonline.org) there is a biography of Sir Thomas Taylor, 2nd Bt. (1657-96), of Park House, Maidstone and Shadoxhurst, Kent. (I have a personal interest in this man, because my direct ancestor, John Cooke, came into possession of the manor of Shadoxhurst.) According to this biography Taylor’s sister married the Abhorrer Sir Francis Wythens. Your Culpeper web page does not give the parents of Sir Thomas Taylor 1657-96, but it does name the parents of Elizabeth Taylor, who on 21 May 1685 in King Henry 7th Chapel, Westminster Abbey, was married to Sir Francis Withins.

So you need to allocate another child to Sir Thomas Taylor of Parkhouse, 1st Bart, who married Elizabeth Hall (born 1634); namely Thomas Taylor 1657-1696 who married Alicia Colepeper on 6 Oct 1692.
I have a note that Sir Thomas Taylor of Parkhouse was created 1st Baronet of Maidstone in 1665 but died soon afterwards. Your note claims that he died after 18 January 1864/65. Where did that precise date come from? His widow Elizabeth Tailor married Percy Goring in 1667 according to the transcript in findmypast, which seems to be based on Boyd’s extracts from the Faculty Office Marriage Licences of which later licences (from 1701) have been made available online. You have given a precise date for the marriage license 23 April 1667. Where did you find this? Percy Goring has an entry in http://www.historyofparliamentonline.org

I have not yet been able to find a will for Sir Thomas Taylor 1st after 1665. It would seem that he was a relatively young man when he died and may not have had time to make a will.3 

Family

Alicia Culpeper
Child
  • Sir Thomas Taylor of Maidstone, 2nd Bart.
Last Edited12 Feb 2014

Citations

  1. http://www.historyofparliamentonline.org/volume/1690-1715/member/taylor-sir-thomas-1657-96
  2. Public Records Office, National Archives, London.
    Will of Thomas Culpeper of Hollingbourne (#8907), dated 7 Aug 1703, transcribed by Warren Culpepper from the images at: http://gen.culpepper.com/archives/uk/wills/images/Thomas_of_Middle_Temple_1704.pdf.
  3. E-mail written Sep 2012 to Warren L. Culpepper from John Buckley, Lancaster, England, e-mail address.

Dr. John Milner of Maidstone1,2

Male, #9209, (say 1660 - Feb 1724)
Birth*say 1660 John was born say 1660. 
Marriage*16 Oct 1723 He married Alicia Culpeper at St. Peter's Church, Ditton, co. Kent, England, on 16 Oct 1723. 
Death*Feb 1724 He died in Feb 1724.2 
Biography* In need of a partner to share in the management of the estates, and someone to comfort her in old age, Alicia Culpeper married her fourth husband: Dr John Milner, M.D. of Pudsey, Yorkshire. The marriage ceremony was solemnized at St Peter's Church, Ditton. The parish register recorded: '1723 Oct 16 Dr. Millner of Maidstone and the Lady Taylor of Aylesford were married. Lady Taylor, the last of the Culpepers, had no children.' Lady Alicia settled all her estates, including Preston Hall, on Dr. Milner and his heirs, reserving only her life interest. John Milner devised the inheritance of the estate of Preston Hall to his brother Dr. Charles Milner, M.D. Following the pattern established by her previous husbands, John Milner did not survive the union with Lady Alicia. He died in February 1724. (Source: James H. Sephton, "Preston Hall, Aylesford", 1997.)
 

Family

Alicia Culpeper
Last Edited14 Sep 2002

Citations

  1. Col. F.W.T. Attree R.E./F.S.A. & Rev. J.H.L. Booker M.A., "Colepeper of Aylesford Pedigree in The Sussex Colepepers, Part I", Sussex Archaelogical Collection, Vol. XLVII, 1904.
  2. James H. Sephton, Preston Hall, Aylesford, 496 Station Road, Aylesford, Kent: J. H. Sephton, 1997, Repository: Warren Culpepper's Personal Library.

Edward Culpeper of Preston Hall in Aylesford, co. Kent1

Male, #9210, (before 1472 - 1533)
Father*William Culpeper of Preston Hall in Aylesford, co. Kent
Mother*Margaret Pedwardine
Name-AltSpell This surname is sometimes spelled Culpepper. 
Name-AltSpell This surname is sometimes spelled Colepeper. 
Birth*before 1472 Edward was born before 1472. 
Marriage*say 1492 He married Joan Sheldon say 1492. 
Birth of Sonsay 1494 His son John Culpeper of Preston Hall, Aylesford, Esq. was born say 1494. 
Death of Father5 Mar 1502 His father William Culpeper of Preston Hall in Aylesford, co. Kent died on 5 Mar 1502. 
Burial*1533 His body was interred in 1533 at Aylesford, co. Kent, England. 
Death*1533 He died in 1533. 
Biography* Colepeper of Aylesford pedigree states that Edward was aged 30 or more in 1502; purchased the Lordship of Preston (Close Roll, 22 Henry VII [1506], pt. 2); and was alive in 10 Henry VIII [1518]. 

Family

Joan Sheldon
Marriage*say 1492 He married Joan Sheldon say 1492. 
Child
ChartsThe 12th century Culpepers of England: Descendant Chart (16 generations, Males only)
Last Edited9 Nov 2010

Citations

  1. Col. F.W.T. Attree R.E./F.S.A. & Rev. J.H.L. Booker M.A., "Colepeper of Aylesford Pedigree in The Sussex Colepepers, Part I", Sussex Archaelogical Collection, Vol. XLVII, 1904.