Person:Thomas Chandler (13)

(From S1): The earliest mention found of him is in the subsidy of 4 Edward VI [1549/50-1550/1], when as "Thomas Chaundler jun." he was assessed at Stortford 10s on goods. He is taxed at Stortford in subsequent subsidies as follows:

• in 5 Elizabeth [1562-63], as "Thomas Chaundeler," 13s 4d on goods valued at L8;
• in 8 Elizabeth [1565-66] and in 13 Elizabeth [1570-71] as "Thomas Chandler," 8s on goods valued at L8;
• 39 Elizabeth [1596-7], as Thomas Chandler," on goods, the amount of the tax being illegible;
• in 43 Elizabeth [1600-01], as "Thoams Chandeler," 8s on lands worth 40s;
• in 3 James I [1605-6] as "Thomas Chandler," on lands woth 20s., the amount of the tax being illegible. (Lay Subsidies, Herts, 121/185, 121/202, 121/208, 121/225, 121/271, 121/280, 121/302, in the Public Record Office, London.)

In 1556 Henry Hoye was querent v. Thomas Chaundeler and his wife Joane, deforciants, for a messuage and lands in Stortford (Feet of Fines, Herts, Trinity Term, 2 and 3 Philip and Mary).

Thomas Chandler also appears for many years in the churchwardens' accounts.

• 1558: paid an assessment of 12d
• 1562: paid 5s for wood in Thorleywyk
• 1573: collector for the market house
• 1582: paid 12s rent.

The churchwardens' rental accounts show that in 1592 Philologus Bush and Robert Smith held a double tenement in South Street, formerly Bowyers, where they resided, each paying 6d per year. In the next year (1593) the said double tenement was held by Philologus Bush and Thomas Chandler, the latter evidently having secured Smith's moiety. Philologus Bush and Thomas Chandler continue to reside there, and appear there yearly until 1600 when Thomas Chandler is succeeded by Henry Chandler. Then Philologus Bush and Henry Chandler appear there yearly until 119, when the latter is succeeded by his widow.

These records are important since they show that Henry Chandler was undoubtedly a son of Thomas Chandler and about 1600 received from him this half tenement. After the death of Thomas Chandler in 1611, it is recorded that edward Chandeler held Lowemeade, late Thomas Chandler's and formerly Mr. Tompson's; this shows that Edward also was a son of Thomas.

At a court of the manor of Pigotts, in Bishops-Stortford, held 1 Oct, 4 James I [1606], Tobias Chaundeler, Sr. appears as essoin for Thomas Chaundeler (Herts Genealogist and Antiquary, vol 2, pp 377-378). Thomas Chandler also appears on several of the court rolls for views of frankpledge of the manor of Bishops-Stortford. At the courts held 13 Apr 1577 and 27 SEp 1577 he was one of the jurors; and at the courts of 5 Apr 1578, 12 Apr 1580, 4 Apr 1581, 24 Sept 1583, and 30 Mar 1585 he was one of the cheif pledges.

At the courts of 5 Apr and 27 Apr 1578 Richard Comfrey was orderd to open up a right of way for Thomas Chaundler to go and come to and from Southmill field. (Court Rolls of Ecclesiastical Commissioners, 205/21, 206/1, 206/2, 206/3, in the Public Record Office, London.)

Thomas Chandler was churchwarden at Bishops-Stortford in 1562, 1563 and 1574. He left no will and, as the parish registers do not give the names of the parents of infants baptized prior to 1580, the names of all his children cannot be given with certainty; but there is proof that he had at least three children: Barbara, Henry and Edward.

1. ↑ ^{1.0 1.1 1.2} Bartlett, J. Gartner. Ancestry of William Chandler of Roxbury, Mass. NEHGR Register. (New England Historical Genealogical Society, April 1931)
   NEHGR 85:136.