NOTES AND QUERIES. [12 s. v. FEB., 1919.
KENT FAMILY OF WINCHESTER AND
READING (12 S. iv. 187, 274). The corre-
spondence on this subject is extremely
interesting. One would much like to find
the link of connexion between the two
branches. Tho two Mayors of Winchester,
as well as Simon Kent, Mayor of Reading,
Tnay have been sons of John Kent of Reading,
mercer, who died circa 1415. Perhaps the
clue may be found later ; in which case a
notice will, I hope, duly appear in these
columns. In the meantime I have ex-
amined a collection made some years ago,
and now submit a few extracts which may
prove useful not only to the querist, but to
others interested in genealogical research.
WINCHESTER.
1. John Kent, Mayor of Winchester, 1454-5 (?), died circa 1478 (?).
2. Richard Kent, Mayor of Winchester, 1469 (?). His arms were Arg., two lighted tapers in saltire or (Herald and Genealogist, vol. iv. p. 220).
3. Robert Kent, Proctor for Winchester College in the Court of Arches, 1460-1. This person, evidently an ecclesiastical lawyer, may have been a brother of Master Thomas Kent, Doctor of Civil and Canon Law, Clerk to the Privy Council from 1444, ambassador to various countries, and Sub-Constable of England, whose will, dated Jan. 19, 1468, was proved at Lambeth, March 15, 1468 (P.C.C. Godyn 26). It mentions " my brother Master Robert Kent," who is
charged with the distribution of 20 J. " among my cousins and kinsmen belonging to me in the fourth degree, or within."
4. John Kent, Scholar of Winchester College, adm. 1432, died August, 1435 (P1434). Brass
in chancel at Headbourne Worthy. Son of Simon Kent, Mayor of Reading, 1430, who also represented that town in Parliament.
5. Henry Kent, Scholar Winchester College, 1448.
6. James Kent, musician. Born Winchester, 1700. Adm. chorister there 1711. Died Win- chester, 1776. Organist from 1731 of Trinity College, Cambridge, and from 1737 to 1774 of the Cathedral and College of Winchester. Married Elizabeth, daughter of John Freeman.
7. Samuel Kent left a benefaction to St. Michael's, Winchester. Charity Reports, vol. xii.
f> 479 ' READING.
1. John Kent of Reading, mercer, living 1410, died circa 1415. Brass for himself and wife Joan in chancel of St. Lawrence's Church there. Plaintiff in an action in the Borough Court of Winchester, Jan. 20, 1405/6 (Herald and Genea- logist, vol. iv. p. 220). His son
2. Simon Kent, Mayor of Reading, 1430, represented the town in Parliament. Returned in 1433 as gentleman by the Commissioners. Living 1451. His son
3. John Kent, admitted Winchester Scholar, 1432, died August, 1435 (prob. 1434). Brass in chancel at Headbourne Worthy.
4. Nicholas Kent of Reading. Churchwarden of St. Lawrence's Church, Reading, in 1501, died 1505. His will, proved at Lambeth Dec. 11, 1505 (P.C.C. Holgrave 42), refers to "my son
John Kent, whom I make my sole executor."
Testator wished to be buried in St. Lawrence's
Church aforesaid, " near to the burying place of
Joan my wife."
5. John Kent (not described). Will dated Dec. 11, 1536, proved at Lambeth, Jan. 26, 1536 /7 (P.C.C. Dmgley 1). He gave his body to be buried in the churchyard of St. Giles in Reading. Wife Alice executrix. Refers to his daughters Joan, Alice, and Ede.
6. Thomas Kente of " Sowthcott " in the parish of St. Mary, Reading, yeoman. Will dated Aug. 27, 1554, proved P.C.C. June 4, 1557. Left his body to be buried in the chancel of St. Mary's in Reading aforesaid. Wife Joan and son Thomas Kent exors. Will refers to Alice, daughter ; John Kent, " my brother's son " ; sister Gregorie; sister Pylgrime ; Thomas, Richard, and John Aldworthe and Thomas Lyvord, brothers-in-law ; and to leases of the farm and manor of Sowthcott and lands In Burfelde.
The above are, I believe, all the wills of the Reading branch recorded in the Indexes in the Prerogative Court of Canterbury down to 1600.
7. John Kent the elder of Reading, clothier. Will dated July 20, 1686, codicil June 6, 1687. Proved P.C.C. Jan. 23 and Aug. 9, 1687 (Foot 79).
Married Frances , who died before July, 1686.
He was cousin to Griffith Kent of Southwark, Norway merchant, whose family pedigree appears in The Genealogist, vol. i. pp. 220-21, and vol. ii. pp. 185-92. The said John Kent left, with other issue, a son
8. Clement Kent of Goring, co. Oxon, gent., buried in the chancel of that church. The in- scription, formerly on a black marble gravestone, is preserved in Rawlinson MS. B. 400 c. in the Bodleian Library. Will dated March 9, 1700, proved P.C.C. Jan. 23, 1701/2 (Hern 7). By his wife Sarah (dead March, 1700 ,/l), daughter of Sebastian Lyford of Reading, gent., he left, with other issue, a son
9. Clement Kent of Thatcham, co. Berks, and of Goring, co. Oxon, esq., J.P. for Berks ; M.P. for Wallingford 1705, and for Reading 1722. He married at Gray's Inn Chapel, Jan. 8, 1703 /4, Barsheba Marsh of Stepney, co. Middx., and died Dec. 25, 1746. Buried Goring. Last will dated June 8, 1711, proved at Doctors' Commons, May, 1747 (P.C.C. Potter 129). His widow was buried at Goring, July 25, 1750, as appears from the church register.
A Clement Kent married at the Temple Church, Dec. 19, 1697, Johanna Cobb. Possibly she was identical with " my present wife Joane " mentioned in the will of Clement Kent of Goring (see no. 8 above).
Early in the seventeenth century a branch of the Reading stock settled at Sonning, Berks. Griffith Kent (see no. 7), who married a granddaughter of Lord Forbes of Scotland, and widow* of John
- She was the mother of Sir John Shorter, Kt.,
Loi'd Mayor of London 1688, who died Sept. 4, 1688, dxiring his year of office. See Le Were, p. 301.
