Kent Dingleys

I have worked out some of them, but the Kent Dingleys seem to be quite complicated with various branches coming and going rather than a long history of a single branch. Some of them may be from quite unrelated families e.g. from Northampton and Lancashire - see Dingley Home - but I need to look more closely.

Oglander suggests that the IoW Dingleys came from an ancient family in Kent. He may have been referring to Mark DINGLEY of Chislehurst (Frognal).

Edward HASTED, historian of Kent, refers to the ancestors of the IoW Dingleys coming from "Eatonbridge [Edenbridge] in this county [Kent], in King Edward III's reign [1327-1377]" - see below. However, I have not yet found evidence to connect these two families. Edward HASTED was himself a descendant of a DINGLEY family - see "A Scholar and a Gentleman" and Archaeologica Cantiana.

21 Feb 1298.
Grant to Robert DE STAINGRAVE, and his heirs, of free warren in all his demesne lands in Edenbridge (Ponte Edelmi) and Hokindene, co. Kent. Data per manum Edwardii filii Regis. [Cal.Chart.R.]

This same charter was referred to in 1340 confirming the rights to John DE DYNGELE and Margery his wife:

14 Feb 1339/40.
Inspeximus of a charter dated at Westminster, 21 Feb 1298, and confirmation of the same to John DE DYNGELE and Margery his wife, now tenants of the said manor of Hokindene, co. Kent. [Cal.Chart.R.]

Immediately afterwards John and Margery passed their interest in this estate to Hugh de Audley, earl of Gloucester. [Hasted] John and Margery had interests in Hertfordshire:

3 Oct. 1349.
John DE DYNGELE acknowledges that he owes to Eleanor late the wife of William BRET 40 marks; to be levied, in default of payment, of his lands and chattels in co. Kent.
Enrolment of indenture testifying that whereas John DE DYNGELE and Margery his wife are bound by an indenture to Eleanor late the wife of William BRET of Chesterford, for certain lands which they hold of her in Staundon, Bengho and Ware, of her demise, for her life, in 20 marks yearly during her life, to be received of the said lands, and John is bound to her in 40 marks by the preceding recognisance, to be paid at Christmas next, Eleanor grants that if John and Margery pay to her the 20 marks yearly at the appointed terms, then the recognisance shall be null and void, but if not it shall remain in force. [CCR]

1348. Hugo DE DYNGELE is shown as priest and proctor in Ash in the diocese of Rochester. [Kent Records]

Peter DINGLEY was vicar of Middleton from 1450 to 1487. His name appears in several Wills made at Milton at that time. [Arch. Cantiana]

It looks like Peter DINGLEY was connected to the Hampshire Dingleys if I have interpreted the following record correctly:

1458.
Richard DYNGLEY of Middleton co. Kent 'yoman', to Peter DYNGLEY clerk, William LUDLOWE 'yoman', William DYNGLEY esquire, William FAULKENER 'gentilman', Robert DYNGLEY ' gentilman' and Robert COLYNS citizen and 'coferer' of London, their executors and assigns. Gift with warranty of all his goods and chattels in the hundred of Middleton or elsewhere within the realm, and all debts to him due; and he has put them in possession thereof by delivery of one round brass pot with three feet. Dated Middelton, 26 Dec 1451. [CCR]

Robert DYNGLEY looks like the son of William DYNGLEY who married Margaret FOSCOTT. Robert's father-in-law was William LUDLOW, although the William in the above record could be his brother-in-law.

The relationship between Richard, Peter and Robert DYNGLEY is not clear. Richard could have been a younger brother of Robert, but I believe that William was married around 1428, so 1451 would have been very early to give away his goods. More likely, Richard was William's brother. This would also fit in better with the date of the following record:

Will of Katerine SAVAGE 28 Oct 1436.
...Peter DYNLEY, clerk, shall have yearly for life 8 marks and the chapel of Cheselhelde to celebrate for her soul and souls of her benefactors every feast day in Bobbyng parish church, and on other days in the said chapel or in the church as he likes; every executor to have 10 marks, and if Peter DYNELEY refuse the said service they shall appoint another Chaplain... Proved 22 Dec 1436 [Arch. Cantiana]

A branch of the Worcs. DINGLEYs settled in Kent as shown by the Kent Visitation of 1619. They inhabited places around Faversham, including Chilham and Ospringe. I am not yet clear on the dates, but it looks like they were in the area from the 16th century.

John DINGLEY of Charlton (d. 1541) m. Elizabeth dau. of Roger ST NICHOLAS of Thorne, Kent
Children of John & Elizabeth
- Ursula DINGLEY - see Worcs Dingleys
- Henry DINGLEY of Charlton - see Worcs Dingleys
- Edward DINGLEY m. ?
Children of Edward
-- Moyle DINGLEY of Chilham (d. 1594) m. 1587 Martha dau. of Thomas HALES of Thanington
Children of Moyle and Martha
--- Thomas DINGLEY of Faversham
--- Elizabeth m. Francis GRILING

These Dingleys exhibited Dingley arms of "Argent, a fess sable, in chief a mullet of the last between two pellets" which is the same as the Worcs, Hants and IoW Dingley arms. Interestingly, one of their quartered arms is "Sable, a fesse argent between three mullets pierced or" which looks very similar to the Lancs Dingley arms.

By the way, Martha HALES of Thanington was quite possibly a descendant of Peter HALLE of Tonyngton (aka Peter DEL CHAMBRE) who had dealings with James DINGLEY of Sheen - see Surrey Dingleys.

Other references to Dingley which I have come across in this area (but not studied), and who may be related, are

1524	Will of John DYNGLEY of Faversham.	Cant. Wills
1648	Baptism. Paull son of Nicolas and Christian DINGLEY at Kingston.	IGI
1649	Baptism. Nicolas son of Nicolas and Christian DINGLEY at Kingston.	IGI
1659	Baptism. Christian dau of Nicolas and Christian DINGLEY at Kingston.	IGI
1666	Will of Thomas DYNELEY, of Faversham, gentleman.	PCC Wills
1670	Inquest. William DINGLEY, bricklayer, Ospringe.	Cant. Arch. Inq.
1672	Inquest. Nicholas DINGLE, rector clerk, Kingston.	Cant. Arch. Inq.
1684	Mr DINGLEY, incumbent of Buckland.	Arch. Cantiana
1702	Inquest. George DINGLEY, Ospringe.	Cant. Arch. Inq.

There are several Dingley connections in this area, within a few miles of each other, but with gaps of 100+ odd years between them and I do not think that there was a continuous Dingley presence over this period.

12 Nov 1342.
Licence, after inquisition ad quod damnum made before John DE VYELESTON, sheriff of Kent and escheator in the same county, for John DE DYNGELE to remove a small bridge, 3 foot broad and 12 feet long, erected of an ancient time on the king's soil in the highway leading through the town of Paulynescreye over the water running across that way from the said town to a water mill of his there, and thence to Bixle, and to construct at his own charges in the same place a bridge 15 feet in length and 44 feet in breadth, more convenient for horse and foot passengers than the said little bridge, which was so low that in winter time none could pass easily, and to enclose that bridge as well for retention of the water running down there as for letting out the same when required. [CPR]

Mark DINGLEY of the IoW inherited Frognal manor from his father-in-law Richard CRESSWELL of Chislehurst. See Cresswell Connections.

The Order of St. John of Jerusalem had a manor at Sutton-at-Hone from which John DE DYNGELE received rent for life - see the 1336 record in London Dingleys.

In the mid-17th century there were several DINGLEY baptisms at Sutton-at-Hone (see IGI) which I have not studied.

James DINGLEY is covered under the Surrey Dingleys. He acquired land in Herne in Kent in 1406 from Agnes EDE of Cambridgeshire.

Thomas DINGLEY was a brother of James DINGLEY. I have found references to Thomas DINGLEY in the period between 1374 and 1412 - they are probably the same one, but I cannot be sure.

He was likely to have been a brother or cousin of Robert DINGLEY of Kingsclere and have similarly moved south from Lancashire. Like his contemporaries he cropped up in different places, but he seemed to settle in Kent.

In 1374, Robert DE DYNELAY and his brother Richard paid 425 marks to Thomas DE DYNELAY. [CCR] In 1389, Thomas DYNGLEY of Old Sarum (Salisbury) was named for not appearing to answer a debt. [CPR]

In 1394, Thomas DINGLEY made a recognisance (to be levied in Kent) to Robert SELBY clerk and Richard CLIDERHOWE. [CCR] (Cliderhowe is one of the spellings for Clitheroe. Richard CLIDERHOWE may well have been a descendant of Hugh DE CLITHEROE who granted land in Clitheroe to Adam DE DYNELEY - see Lancs Dingleys.) Roger CLIDERHOWE, the king's esquire, and probably Richard's son, made a general release of actions, debts, etc. in 1397 to Thomas DYNELAY esquire. [CCR]

In 1405, Thomas DYNGLE of Sutton atte Hone alias Thomas DYNELAY was pardoned for all felonies except treason or rape. [CPR] In 1406, Thomas was witness to a charter granting lands in "Hothe, in the parishes of Reycolvere and Chiselet and elsewhere in Kent" to Peter HALLE of Carleton known as "Piers of the Chaumbre". [CCR] This was doubtless the same Peter HALLE who had dealings with Thomas's brother James (see Surrey Dingleys) and Robert DINGLEY (see Robert Dingley & Jane Brocas). In 1412 Thomas was listed with property in Larkefeld and Lastus de Sutton, in Kent. [FA]

Reculver, Herne, Hoath and Chiselet (map) are all fairly close together and on, or close to, the north Kent coast. Sutton-at-Hone is south of Dartford. Larkfield is to the S.E. of Sutton-at-Hone and N.W. of Maidstone.

Family	DINGLEY:	Arms	Hants	IoW	Kent	Lancs	Lincs	London	Surrey	Sussex
Site		Refs	Wilts	Worcs	Yorks