|
for a Robert Scudder turns up in 1800 as a witness at
the wedding of an Ash farmer, Richard Thorpe, and Mary Durham. His
presence on that occasion suggests that he may still have been
living in these parts. Such was not the case with the last of the family
to figure in the old registers. He was the Thomas Skudder who had long
farmed at Hunton and who was brought thence in 1810 to join his wife and
infant son in the churchyard.
The Scudders were to remain Ash freeholders for a good many
years. Thomas Skudder of Castle Farm, Leybourne figures in an Ash Voters
list of 1845, but disappears not long alter. William Skudder of West
Malling also appeared in the 1845 list, apparently in relation to the land
near Culverstone Green, but as the Overseers objected to his inclusion he
had probably parted company with it.
That Richard Walter who has been mentioned
as a |
|
Scudder tenant was one of a family whose association
with the neighbouring parish of Fawkham went back at least as far as the
reign of Henry VII and whose association with Ash may well have done
likewise. In point of fact, the Walters of Fawkham owned a house in Ash
before they owned the house in which they lived in their own parish; in
1529, it was left by John Walter to his elder son, Thomas.7 Where
that house was, or whether it was then occupied by any of the Walter
family does not appear, but certainly before the end of the sixteenth
century there were ‘poor relations’ of the Walters of Pennis
living in Ash as well as in Fawkham.
A John Walter whose will was proved in 1348, his wile
Amabilia7a and a John Walter, father of twins who were
christened in 1597, seem to be the first. recorded Walters |