Family origins in Kent
The Mortimer family has a long history in Kent, beginning in the 16th century. Perhaps the first member of this branch of the Mortimer family was Richard Mortimer, born c.1540, who lived in Halstead, Kent. His parentage and place of birth are unknown, but the name of one of his sons, Owen, may provide a possible clue to other family connections. Owen was a comparatively unusual name outside Wales at this time, hinting at a possible connection to the Mortimer family in Coedmore, West Wales, where several family members were named Owain in the Welsh fashion. Owain Mortimer was Mayor of Cardigan in 1421, 1432, and 1434, having served as a man-at-arms in the 1415 Agincourt campaign in the company of John ap Rhys. Another descendant was Owain son of John Mortimer of Coedmore, who may have been buried in 1638 Llandudno, Carmarthenshire. Richard was presumably a yeoman. It is possible that either Richard Mortimer born c.1540 or his father hailed from a junior branch of the Mortimers in Coedmore. The family tree continues with Richard’s son John Mortimer of Maidstone, b.1580.
Richard Mortimer of Halstead c.1540-
Richard Mortimer married circa 1560s, and had the following issue:
1. Joan 1567
2. Edward Mortimer 1569, married before 1609, had issue:
i. Edward Mortimer II 1609-c.1693 a yeoman of Halstead, m. Frances Durling, 1637 Halstead, either Edward or his son of the same name made a will dated 1688 appointing kinsman Alexander Durling his sole exor.
ii. William 1614
iii. Alice 1618/19
iv. John 1620
v. George 1622
vi. Margaret 1628- either Margaret or her cousin born in 1630 may have been bur. 18 Oct 1657, Halstead
3. Owen Mortimer 1571, attested as a labourer of Knockholt, Kent in 1605, he married in 1619 to Margaret Smith.
4. George? Mortimer c.1573, a possible son of Richard Mortimer, married Marion Presson in 1596, Sandwich.
5. Agnes 1577, married Thomas Lightfoot in 1596, Halstead
6. John Mortimer of Maidstone b.1579/80, married before 1611 and had issue: He was the first Mortimer to settle in Maidstone.
i. Ann 1611-18
ii. Susanna 1616/7
iii. John Mortimer II 1618, of whom next
iv. Ann 1620, also bapt. in nearby Linstead
v. Edward b.1625/6
vi. William d.1630
7. Malin 1584/5
8. William Mortimer 1585/6, married before 1622 and had the following children in Halstead:
i. Richard 1622
ii. Alice 1623
iii. Robert 1625
iv. Elizabeth 1628
v. Margaret 1630
vi. Margaret 1633/4, m. John Elliot 1653 Halstead
vii. William Mortimer II 1635/6, married Prudence 18 Oct 1666. They had children in Rochester:
1. Ann 1668
2. Mary 1670
3. Elizabeth 1673
4. Sarah 1673
5. William III 1674
viii. Thomas 1636/7
ix. Jane 1639
John Mortimer II of Maidstone 1618-1668
John was the eldest son of John Mortimer, he married Ann Martyn, 1642 Ryarsh, Kent. He was bur. Dec 1668, Maidstone.
1. Frances 1644, m. Robert Everden 1667/8
2. John Mortimer (II) c.1650-
3. Robert Mortimer 1652/3-1706/7, married Ann: He was bur. 1 Mar 1706/7 Maidstone. Ann was bur. 1 Apr 1707, a widow:
i. William 1698, bur. 1 Jul 1698
ii. Robert bur. 24 May 1700
iii. Elizabeth 1700/1
iv. Ann 1703
v. Richard 1705, m. Elizabeth Higgins,
1. Elizabeth 1738
2. Richard 1739/40 m. Penelope Line 1765 Bromley
3. John 1746 Bexley
4. John 1748 Bexley
4. Thomas Mortimer 1654-1706, married 1. Hannah:
i. Thomas 1676/7
ii. Charles 1681, bur. 27 Feb 1684/5
Thomas Mortimer m. 2. Elizabeth, and had issue: He was bur. 7 Mar 1705/6
iii. Elizabeth 1683
iv. Ann 1686
v. Mary 1688/9
vi. Jno 1691
vii. Susanna 1694/5
viii. Sarah 1695
ix. Thomas Mortimer II 1696-1705, bur. 28 Apr 1705
x. Richard Mortimer 1697- bur. 20 Aug 97
5. Ann 1657, m. Richard Dennis 1678
6. William c.1658- bur. 20 Aug 1659, Maidstone
7. Richard 1661, bur. 21 May 1679
8. Susanna 1663
9. Edward 1666, bur. 25 Mar 1668 Maidstone
John Mortimer of Maidstone c.1650-
John was presumably a son of John Mortimer of Maidstone b.1618, and his baptism is unrecorded. He m. 1. Mary: Mary his wife was bur. 9 Mar 1691/2, Maidstone.
1. Mary 1677
2. Elizabeth 1679, bur. 18 Feb 1680/1
3. George Mortimer 1680
4. Ann 1682
5. Elizabeth 1684
6. Jane 1686/7
7. Lydia 1687/8
8. Winifred 1690
John Mortimer m. 2. Ann in 1692.
9. James Mortimer 1692, married Susan in 1717, Southwark:
i. John Mortimer 1719, may have married Sarah Bellamy in 1746, no children recorded
ii. Peter Mortimer 1721, m. Esther Gillard in 1747 St Merryn Cornwall, and was unrelated to the Mortimer family in Cornwall. Peter and Esther had the following children in Deptford, Kent:
1. William 1749-1759
2. Mary d. 1752
3. Mary b. 1753 Sheldwich,
4. Esther 1756, d.1812
5. Ann 1759-1760
6. Sarah? c.1761- had a daughter Esther b. 1786, d. 1788
7. Peter 1765-1772
iii. James Mortimer, b.1724, perhaps bur. 1779, Deptford.
10. Frances 1694, bur. 27 Jan 1701/2
11. Susanna 1696
12. Alice 1698
13. Philadelphia 1698, bur. 8 Jun 1699
14. John Mortimer 1700, m. Sarah, issue:
i. William Mortimer 1731, may have married Mary Lindsey, widow, in 1781, Maidstone.
ii. John Mortimer 1733
George Mortimer of Maidstone 1680-1745
George was born in 1680, the son of John Mortimer of Maidstone. He married Mary c.1718, who died in 1765. They had issue:
1. George Mortimer II 1719, married Margaret. They had one daughter:
i. Ann 1748
2. Sarah 1721, m. 1740 John Sage
3. Mary 1724, m. 1747 Edward Gorham
4. John Mortimer b. 1726, m. Thomasin Wattel, 13 Apr 1751 Rochester:
i. Mary 1752, m.1788 to William Lee
ii. Fuller Mortimer 1761
The same John perhaps m. secondly Mary, though this may have been John Mortimer b.1733 above.
iii. John Mortimer 1771, m. 1792 Ann Wathurst
Fuller Mortimer 1761-
Fuller was born in 1761, apparently the eldest son of John and Thomasin Mortimer. He m. Ann Been, 28 Nov 1788, Maidstone.
1. George 1789-1791
2. Ann 1791-1794
3. Fuller Mortimer II 1793
4. Mary Ann 1795
5. George 1797-1803
6. John William Mortimer 1799-
7. Sarah 1801
8. Joseph 1802-1802
9. William 1804-1804
10. Thomas 1805-1806
11. Richard Simson 1807
Fuller Mortimer II of Maidstone 1793-
Fuller was the eldest son of Fuller Mortimer. He married Jane, they had issue:
1. Mary Ann 1817
2. Fuller Mortimer III 1818
3. Sarah 1820
4. John 1821
5. Avis 1825
6. Avis Jane 1827
7. Ann 1829
8. Fuller William 1831
9. Jane 1834
10. George 1836
11. Emma 1841
Fuller Mortimer II married secondly, Sarah:
12. Thomas 1846
