Julia

• General Notes
  • #29 Roll A 13 - By 1367 in the City of London this ref. to a John de Kirketon is MOST likely to be to John of London, Stockfishmonger; Freeman & Alderman of the City, 1378 - 1380 - 1382; son (probably) of William de Kirketon (wife: Maud), Citizen & fishmonger of London, 3 Edward III (1358). (ref.: PRO E 210/7166, Quitclaim of land in Chalk, co. Kent, close to Gravesend and Rochester. John born circa 1327, died 1 Nov., 1387-8. From his will he had a son, William, who was of age in 1328, and a kinsman & godson, another William.
    About the son, William, I have not found out very much, but I am fairly sure he was also in the fish business, and had a son John.
    
    The son John, born circa 1435, apprenticed to W. C. (Fishmonger) in 1450; wife: Julian (sic.(?) Julia, ref PRO C 1/64/607) Hosteler of Rochester, co. Kent; Member of Parliament for Rochester 1475; "Provider of Victuals to the War Minister" (of the Parliament). He was probably the father of Thomas (following):-
    Sir Thomas Kirton, Knight, Sheriff of London, 1533 (ref.: Parker)
    (I believe all these individuals were armigers, having generally Sable (black) fields, with a variety of blazons, as follows, roughly chronologically:
    "Sable, a fesse ermine, between three fishes naiant (swimming), Argent"
    "Sable, a fesse ermine, in chief three fleur-de-lys, Or (gold), in base three fishes naiant in pale"
                    ("in pale" means the fishes are one above the other)
    "Sable, a fesse ermine, in chief four fleur-de-lys, Or"    & for Sir Thomas in 1533:-
    "Sable, three herrings hauriant, Argent, a chief, Or"  (Top third of shield is gold, bottom is black with the three silver herrings swimming, one above the other.
    The similarity of these blazons make me sure that they all came from the same family, but I have never been able to find a confirmed pedigree. I suspect that the senior line of the family died out with Sir Thomas. I have never been able to confirm any connection with the other de Kirketons of Kirketon-in-Haylaund, but would not be at all surprised if there is one. They seem to have stayed on the south side of the Thames Estuary.