General Notes

It's in a book called "A History of Woodchurch" by J W P Richardson, but it was published at least 30 years ago and I don't think it's still in print.  It ties in with what you have in some respects, but not all, but does link the Clarkes and the Woodchurches.  As follows (p32-4):  "This was the habitation* of a family of as deep a root in antiquity as any in this tract. They took their surname and origin from Woodchurch. Anhitel de Woodchurch possessed it about the time of the conquest. Ralph, his son, is said to be custos of the Tower of London in the time of William Rufus. Ralph's son, Roger Woodcherch, is the first name that is mentioned in the ancient deeds, without date, of this estate. Roger married Isabel Wakehurst of Wakehurst in Sussex, by whom he had Thomas, who married Ann, daughter of Sir William Harvie (or Harvey), Lord Mayor of London, in the time of King John, whose son was Simon. Sir Simon de Woodchurch is in the register of those Kentish gentlemen who accompanies King Edward 1st on his victorious expedition into Scotland, where he is knighted with so many others of his countrymen for his assistance at the siege of Carlaverock. (Scotland, though conquered, was not subdued. The taking of Carlaverock in 1300 was the solitary success of the campaign). Sir Simon de Woodchurch married Susan, daughter and heir of Henry le Clerke of Munfidde in Kingsnorth, who brought a large inheritance into his family.  Sir Simon left two sons. Simon, the eldest, married Isabel, daughter of Robert Rakesley. The second son, Thomas Clerke, married Benet, daughter of Robert Chert (Shert? Sheert?) of Woodchurch.  Simon inherited all his father's lands and was called by his father's name, Woodchurch. Thomas inherited all such lands that came by his mother and was called after his mother's surname, Clarke. Simon died without male issue; Thomas then inherited the Woodchurch property. The family then wrote their name Clarke Alias Woodchurch.  Thomas' son, Peter Clarke Alias Woodchurch, married Eleanor Rowling and had John and Henry, who died without issue. Sir John Clarke, the eldest son, was at the battle of Poitier and the winning of Calais. He married Margaret Delahay. They had a son, Henry Clarke Alias Woodchurch, who married Katherine Edingham or Engham+. Their son, William Clarke of Woodchurch, in about 1507 left by will one piece of land containing one acre, two roods, called Lords Grove in Woodchurch, and the several quit rents belonging to it, to a charity at Great Chart. William Clarke had three wives: Julian Roberts, Benet Ashburnham, and thirdly, Elizabeth Winterborne. She died in 1474 and was buried at Woodchurch..  Many of the Woodchurch and Clarke families are buried in Woodchurch."  *Woodchurch Place House..still in Woodchurch, but much smaller now.  The above from Josie Mackie (josie.mackie@tesco.net) Researcher for the Woodchurch Museum in Woodchurch, Kent