A history of a family can only be constructed from its contact with authority whether it is ecclesiastical, civil or military. For our family in the sixteenth century, early seventeenth century, it is probably only the first of these with whom we would have come in contact, principally through the Parish Registers.

It may be as well to begin with a note regarding these. Parish Registers were ordered to be kept by Thomas Cromwell in 1538. A rumour circulated that all entries were going to be taxed and thus there was a certain reluctance to commence them, and where they were started it is a matter of conjecture whether they were fully kept. They were originally in paper books but in 1597 they were ordered to be transcribed onto vellum which was to be used thereafter. The order stated that they were to be transcribed from at least the first year of the Queen's reign (1558). If the recording clerk were lazy he took that as his starting point and thus 20 years of records were lost. Even if he undertook the task conscientiously it is possible there are ommissions or errors in transcribing.

All this makes fitting together the early entries into a very difficult task. All we can say is that the family lived in the West Peckham area in the sixteenth century, perhaps at the Cuckoo Farm shown on the map (below), that our branch moved to Offham, probably via Mereworth and that another branch moved to Hadlow.

There was also some connection with North Kent. Roger Cuckow, who was buried at Southfleet in 1615, made a will which was proved at Rochester in which he named his brothers John, George, Humphrey and Anthony. Although John and George occur in the West Peckham registers they are fairly common names. Humphrey, I think, must be regarded as fairly uncommon and there is a Humphrey buried at Mereworth in 1619. There is an Anthony christened at Mereworth in 1560 so I think it is reasonable to think John and George would be in the same area.

You can see early entries of the Parish Register and other records from West Peckham here, and Mereworth here, I hope that other evidence may turn up to help us to identify people further at some future date.

back to top