Thread: Shamarwell in ye County of Kent

Has anyone any idea where "Shamarwell in ye County of Kent" is/was? It might be in either the Gillingham or alternatively Woolwich areas. It is the parish of one Charles Chaplin given for his marriage with Sarah Purcell in 1718. Thanks.

Hello

This maybe a building or farm rather than a Parish in Kent

Try looking for manorial records nationalarchives.gov.uk/mdr/

or contacting the Kent Record Office ancestor-search.info/CRO-Kent.htm

the local family history society may have information related to Sharmawell ffhs.org.uk

elsabels

Hi elsabels
Thank you for your response. Whoops - I must have been thinking of something else when I wrote the original query - its John Chaplin (Charles was a rather later character!) Anyway, I had already searched the National Archives website (also Googled the name) with no success. The description "parish" is used both on the special licence and the Greenwich parish registry entry - from his ornate signature and the use of a special licence I presume John had some education and status so knew what he was swearing. Your idea regarding it being a manor is interesting as this could have cut across a number of church parishes. I have been to the Kent website, and now emailed Medway Archives and Local Studies Centre, and await a response.
best wishes
Roger

Hello Roger

Hope fully as helpful as Chester RO.....

book.google.co.uk I find an invaluable resource I typed John Chaplin ( bet you feel a proper Charlie now! ) and came up with this
The History and topographical survey of the county of Kent, Volume 5 By Edward Hasted

page 300

and died without male issue, leaving an only daughter Elizabeth, who carried it in marriage to John Chaplin, ...

Hi Elsabels
Thanks for that. I have followed the Google link - the "History" entry is rather opaque, but I note refers to the parish of Lamberhurst, which is near to Tunbridge Wells. The manor passed to John Chaplin Esq. of Kent through his marriage to Elizabeth Hanby. His grandson also a John Chaplin had a daughter Elizabeth who with her husband Edward Ayscoughe then alienated (ie sold) the estate to William Morland. His son died in 1784. Working back from 1784, the younger John Chaplin may have been alive at the time in question (b. abt 1690). Edward Ayscough and a John Chaplin were named as MPs for Grimsby in 1690, and searches appear to show that all the quoted holders were very much grandees and probably absentee landlords mainly based in the North and/or with interests in London. I'm afraid too grand for my John.
I have heard back from Medway Archives and Local Studies Archivist’s who says that in the the old county divisions called ‘hundreds’, what is now ‘Medway’ (which includes Gillingham) came under the Hundred of Shamwell (sometimes called Shamell, as per Hasted’s County History). This fits the probable location of John nicely.
I have located in the Google Books : Calendar of Assize records: Kent indictments, Charles II, 1676-1688 By J. S. Cockburn four references to a John Chaplin: two as cordwainer, two as shipwright all in Woolwich - which again fits my expectation of a Royal Dockyard link as my John's wife, Sarah Purcell's, family were shipwrights (at least in following generations). A John Chaplin was baptised on 14 Sep 1690 at Gillingham, Kent father Robert Chaplin - my best guess as to his identity. A link to the gentry is of course still possible, but I am afraid not proven.
Thanks again for your help
Roger

Thanks Marion - a very useful suggestion.
Roger