John Butchin (1645-?) and Anne Alkin / Alchin (1645-?).
My 8th great-grandparents.
John Butchin (or Buchen/Butching depending on the record) was born on the 26 April 1645, in the thick of the English Civil War, and baptised at St Mary’s in Bletchingley, Surrey, on 4 May that year. His parents were carpenter John Butchin and Sarah. The couple may have had an earlier son by the name as a John Buchen, son of John, was buried in the village churchyard on 6 September 1643.
Around this time the spelling of names, particularly surnames, is unnervingly random in the parish records but from all the evidence it’s more than likely that this John was the father of my 7th great-grandfather Thomas Budgen. As I explain in his story, there are few other relevant candidates other than in Horne, Surrey. The village of Bletchingley is just a few miles from Nutfield, which also has links to the Budgen family.
John married Anne Alchin (or Alkin) at St Mary’s Church on 4 June 1667 but I’ve not been able to locate her baptism in any record. It’s likely that she was relatively local as a Sarah Alchin was married in the village in 1670 to John’s brother. Several Alchins are recorded in the registers of Betchworth parish a few miles to the west during the 1630s but none who match my ancestors.
John’s father – John Snr – died in 1672 and left him £10 in his will. I’ve not been able to find a burial record for John or Anne.
The couple had these known children:
- Sarah Butchin (1668-????), my 7th great-grand aunt. Sarah was baptised at St Mary’s in Bletchingley, Surrey, on 23 March 1668. Her grandfather John left her a lamb in his will proved in 1672.
- John Butchin (1669-????), my 7th great-grand uncle. I’ve placed John as a child of the couple but his baptism record for 17 October 1669 at St Mary’s Church in Bletchingley, Surrey, lists his mother as Mary or Marie. I suspect this was a mistake by the rector as I’ve not found a couple that matches or any other baptism for a John and Mary Butchin in the area. His grandfather John left him a lamb in his will proved in 1672 but what happened to him after that is unclear.
- William Butchin (1671-????), my 7th great-grand uncle. William was baptised at St Mary’s Church in Bletchingley, Surrey, on 14 May 1671. His grandfather John left him a lamb in his will proved in 1672. Did William go on to marry an Elizabeth in West Hoathly, Sussex, in 1701 or was that his cousin, or even a William Butchin baptised in the neighbouring parish of East Grinstead in 1681? Intriguingly a William Budgin married a Joan Brigstock on 1 November 1692 at St George’s in Southwark, Surrey. A William Budgen (Snr) died in Bletchingley in 1712 and a Joan Budgin, widow of William, died in the village in 1721. Were these the same people?
- Margaret Butchin (1673-1751), my 7th great-grand aunt. Baptised on 19 November 1673 at St Mary’s Church in Bletchingley, Surrey, she is probably the Budgin who married John Newett at St Mary’s Church in nearby Caterham, Surrey, on 2 June 1696 – there are few if any other candidates. John Newett, who was baptised in Merstham in Surrey on 25 May 1670 to parents Daniel and Elizabeth, died in 1704 and was buried in Caterham on 14 January. Just a few weeks later, on 31 January, Margaret (listed only as Widow Newett) gave birth to son William. A Widow Newit was buried in Caterham on 19 September 1751 and this is most likely Margaret. Her known children with John were:
- Ann Newett (????-1702) was buried in Caterham but I’ve found no baptism record for her.
- Daniel Newett (1703-c1760) was baptised at St Mary’s in Caterham and married Mary Tyler by licence at Banstead in 1739 – his age was given as 34. His will notes that he was a yeoman and that his three oldest children were left £300 in trust by his father-in-law (also a yeoman), which he ordered be paid to them in equal shares as originally laid down. Daniel’s four youngest children were left £50 each from his own estate, with the rest of his belongings and money going to his wife Mary. Daniel probably died in 1760 but probate wasn’t granted until 1765.
- William Newett (1704-1704) he was born and baptised in Caterham on 31 January 1704, just after his father’s death, and was buried there just a few days afterwards on 9 February. Note this would be 1705 in the new calendar.
- Thomas Butchin (1675-1757), my 7th great-grandfather. He moved to West Hoathly in Sussex and lived to a grand age.
- Ann Butchin (1677-????), my 7th great-grand aunt. Ann was baptised on 5 December 1677 at St Mary’s Church in Bletchingley, Surrey. I’ve not traced her beyond this.
- Mary Butchin (1683-????), my 7th great-grand aunt. Mary was baptised on 16 April 1683 at St Mary’s Church in Bletchingley, Surrey. I’ve not traced her beyond this.
Sources: Birth, marriage, death and burials and other records at Ancestry.co.uk, Findmypast.co.uk and Sussex Family History Group. John Howes’ Budgen family research featured in September 2008 and December 2012 editions of Sussex Family Historian published by Sussex Family History Group. Surrey Parish Records at Surrey History Centre, Woking. John Butchin Snr’s will at London Metropolitan Archives and Guildhall Library Manuscripts Section Ref DW/PA/5/1672 Will Number 9. Daniel Newett will at National Archives, Prerogative Court of Canterbury PROB 11/914/439.