Christopher KIRTON Pilton

• General Notes
  • Christopher married in about 1550 Katherine Rogers, daughter of George  Rogers of Langport, co.Somerset (died 1524) and sister of that Sir  Edward Rogers, Knight, who was Controller to Queen Elizabeth, and  whose 1560/1567 will (Somersetshire Wills, 2nd. Series, p.90),   mentions his sister, Katherine, wife of Christopher Kirton, living at  Pilton, co. Somerset by 1560.
    
    Christopher and Katherine seem to have had just one son, also named  Henry(2), who is shown  in the Smith MSS, (Vol.36, page 100), with a  date "1582"  and a question mark. He must have been born probably  circa1560(?), so the 1582 might refer to either his marriage or his  death.
    
    They may have also had another son, Thomas(2) Kirton, who is shown from the  Cheddar Registers as having at least two children born at Cheddar  between 1617 and 1621, so could himself have likely been born circa
    1560, and have come to Cheddar to take up property there which was  owned by his father.
    
    They may have also had a daughter, also named Katherine (or  Katheryne), who is identified as having been born (or baptised ?) at  Holcomb Regus (just north of Teignmouth, co. Devon) in 1558.
    
    Christopher Kirton - "Indenture made 1 July, 1571 (13 Eliz) between Christopher Kirton of Cheddar, esq. & several individuals, that Christopher Kirton hath sold for ₤100 a messuage with garden, called  "Knight Cott" in Cheddar." (ref.: Somerset Enrolled Deeds, Somerset  Record Society, Vol.51 (1936), p.95.
    Katherine herself, wife of Christopher, died and was buried at Pilton  on 10 July, 1575. (Pilton  Burial Register)
    
    2. Henry Kyrton or Kirton, younger brother of Christopher(Smith MSS, Vol.36, p.100) who held, evidently, the Manor of Frome Eggland, co. Somerset, from circa 1559.  Henry Kyrton , born or baptized at Frome  in  1538, and married at Frome on 25 Nov., 1559 to a Dorothy Blackborow, but appears to have had no children. However, the Smith MSS, Vol.36, page 102 makes mention of a Chancey Court Suit: "Beecher v. Kyrton" of  1583. "Henry Beecher as Heir at Law of his father Henry Beecher claims  of Henry Kyrton & others (Peter Blockborowe [surely a relative of  Henry Kyrton's wife Dorothy Blackborow], Henry Blackborowe, Mathew  Blackborowe [two more relatives] & John Allen) that by Malpractice  they have got into their hands the Estates of the Manor of Frome Eggford and divers lands in Frome Eggford, co. Somerset."
    Children of Christopher and Katherine Kirton of Cheddar, Frome, Pilton, etc., etc. I  SUSPECT:-
    1. Katherine Kirton  born and / or  baptised at Holcombe Regus, co. Devon in 1558.
    2. Thomas Kirton  living in Cheddar and having a son, William, born there  on 24 July, 1617.
    3. Henry Kirton  born perhaps in 1575(?),  married 14 Nov., 1603 to Phillipa Wotten at Topsham, co. Devon, who had  several children, including a grandson, Edward  Kirton, a Master Mariner who was almost  undoubtedly sailing the Atlantic to Barbados in  or about 1669, and of whose will exists JK has a copy.
    
    I feel certain that Thomas Kirton, with wife Joan, of  Cheddar, with children, William, Joan and Mary, was the youngest son of Christopher Kirton and his wife Katherine (nee Rogers) of Pilton and Cheddar.  Have you done a search for Christopher's Inquest Post Mortem or Will? One may exist somewhere
    
    1571, 1 July:  (account of Christopher Kyrton):  (Cheddar) Thomas DURBAN,  draper; (Land in Axbridge belonging to Walter DURBAN); (also Thomas  DURBIN); "estates granted for a term of life...to Walter and Edyth DURBAN  and Richard, their son, 1 tenement in Bourough of Axbridge"
    1577, 17 Jan:  Thomas Leigh of Wells names his attorneys as Richard  Byble and John DURBAN.