James Austen (abt. 1515 - bef. 1567)

Born about 1515 in Goudhurst, Kent, England

Ancestors

Husband of Annes (Unknown) Austen — married about 1537 in Staplehurst, Kent, England

Husband of Godlif (Unknown) Austen — married about 1540 in Kent, England

Husband of Agnes (Meriam) Austen — married 12 Feb 1560 in Staplehurst, Kent, England

Died before 29 Jan 1567 before about age 52 in Staplehurst, Kent, England

Biography

1515: {rough estimate} birth, presumed Kent. He was the son of Percival Astyn and Agnes Unknown

1538: {rough estimate} 1st marriage to Annes Unknown, presumed Kent

21 Sep 1539: burial of Annes {=Agnes}, wife of Jamys Awsten

1540: estimate year if marriage to Godlif (2nd wife)

21 Feb 1549/50: burial of Godlif, wife of James Asten

1550/1: estimated year for a possible 3rd marriage {would need support with source}; would mean a burial for a 3rd wife would need to be found {source?} if so then about 1558/9

12 Feb 1559/60: Staplehurst: he, a widower, married Agnes Meriam of Boughton quarrie {=Boughton Monchelsea}

He made his will on 27 Jan 1566/7 mentioning his wife Agnes; his daughters: Joan and Iden; his sons: George, Percival, Thomas, James and Henry (youngest: <15y); brother Thomas Austen (supervisor); his brother William Austen; brother-in-law John Holmes

29 Jan 1566/7: he was buried in Staplehurst {note: Find-a-grave gives this as his date of death, but it is date of burial according to the Staplehurst parish registers}

His will was proved 28 May 1567

Research Notes

Baptisms for his sons George & Percival are not found in Staplehurst parish registers.
It is possible he remarried, after the death of his 2nd wife Godlif, in about 1551, which 3rd wife, if true, would have died about 1558/9, just before his last marriage.

This profile has got out of hand - need help - think I may have connected 2 James Austens by mistake : any suggestions welcome - if you know the answer to which James married which wife please help

Sources

• 1556 will of Percival Austyn, Goudhurst, Kent: Prob 11/39
• http://www.genealogycrank.co.uk/pdfs/will_transcripts_kent.pdf
• Find A Grave, database and images (https://www.findagrave.com : accessed 20 October 2019), memorial page for James Austen (unknown–29 Jan 1566), Find A Grave Memorial no. 134604397, citing All Saints Church, Staplehurst, Maidstone Borough, Kent, England ; Maintained by R. Bowles-Meentzen (contributor 46632069).
• Staplehurst parish registers vol.6 KFHS Cd-Rom 19