Introductory Notes on Maidstone Charters

First Charter granted by Edward VI on 4 July 1548

Second Charter December 1559 granted by Queen Elizabeth

Third Charter granted by King James 31 December 1604.  This Charter did not give satisfaction and a few years afterwards one more "in accordance with the wishes and expectations of the Corporation was obtained.

Fourth Charter granted 12 July 1619.  Mayor, Recorders and two of the senior Jurates were to be Justices of the Peace, Mayor also to act as Coroner.

Fifth Charter, dated 26 October 1682.  Mayor, Aldermen and Common Council being applied for the first time, to Maidstone.

New and Sixth Charter granted 17 June 1747. Mayor to be elected annually on 2 November.  Jurats (12) to continue in office during their natural life unless otherwise removed for misgovernment, misdemeanour or other reasonable cause.  Common Councilmen (40) also to continue in office during their natural life unless otherwise removed for misgovernment, misdemeanour or other reasonable cause. In the event of a vacancy of Jurat another was to be chosen by the remaining Mayor, Jurates and Common Council out of the common councilmen.  In the event of a vacancy of a common councilman then his replacement was to be chosen out of the remaining principal inhabitants of the borough.

SURNAME	GIVEN NAME	TITLE	WHEN APPOINTED
Adams	John	Common Councilman	1747 - 17 June, New and Sixth Charter
Alexander	John	Common Councilman	1747 - 17 June, New and Sixth Charter
Almon	Richard	Jurat	1548 - 4 July, First Charter granted by Edward VI
Argles	Edward	Common Councilman	1747 - 17 June, New and Sixth Charter
Argles	Thomas	Jurat	1747 - 17 June, New and Sixth Charter
Austen	Nicholas	Jurat	1559 - Second Charter granted by Queen Elizabeth
Banks	John	Jurat	1619 - 12 July, Fourth Charter
Barnes	John	Common Councilman	1747 - 17 June, New and Sixth Charter
Basse	Richard	Jurat	1548 - 4 July, First Charter granted by Edward VI
Baxter	James	Common Councilman	1747 - 17 June, New and Sixth Charter
Baytop	Thomas	Common Councilman	1747 - 17 June, New and Sixth Charter
Beale	Ambrose	Jurat	1619 - 12 July, Fourth Charter
Beale	Thomas	Jurat	1559 - Second Charter granted by Queen Elizabeth
Bensted	Thomas	Common Councilman	1747 - 17 June, New and Sixth Charter
Beret	JaMes	Jurat	1548 - 4 July, First Charter granted by Edward VI
Bliss	Thomas	Alderman	1682 - 26 Oct, Fifth Charter
Borman	William	Common Councilman	1747 - 17 June, New and Sixth Charter
Brook	Robert, Sr.	Common Councilman	1682 - 26 Oct, Fifth Charter
Broomfield	Thomas	Common Councilman	1747 - 17 June, New and Sixth Charter
Busbridge	James	Jurat	1559 - Second Charter granted by Queen Elizabeth
Callant	Garret	Alderman	1682 - 26 Oct, Fifth Charter
Carey	John	Common Councilman	1682 - 26 Oct, Fifth Charter
Catlet	James	Jurat	1559 - Second Charter granted by Queen Elizabeth
Chaundler	Matthew	Common Councilman	1682 - 26 Oct, Fifth Charter
Collett	William	Jurat	1559 - Second Charter granted by Queen Elizabeth
Crump	John	Jurat	1619 - 12 July, Fourth Charter
Curteis	George	Jurat	1747 - 17 June, New and Sixth Charter
Cutis	Francis	Alderman	1682 - 26 Oct, Fifth Charter
Davis	William	Common Councilman	1747 - 17 June, New and Sixth Charter
Dendley	John	Jurat	1548 - 4 July, First Charter granted by Edward VI
Duke	Richard	Jurat	1619 - 12 July, Fourth Charter
Duning	John	Alderman	1682 - 26 Oct, Fifth Charter
Ellis	Edward	Common Councilman	1747 - 17 June, New and Sixth Charter
Ellis	Samuel, Sr.	Common Councilman	1747 - 17 June, New and Sixth Charter
Fisher	Walter	Jurat	1604 - 31 Dec, Third Charter granted by King James
Fisher	Walter	Mayor, JP and also to act as Coroner	1619 - 12 July, Fourth Charter
Foster	William	Common Councilman	1747 - 17 June, New and Sixth Charter
Fowle	Sarah	Alderman	1682 - 26 Oct, Fifth Charter
Fowle	Stephen	Common Councilman	1682 - 26 Oct, Fifth Charter
Franklyn	James	Jurat	1604 - 31 Dec, Third Charter granted by King James
Fremlyn	John	Jurat	1604 - 31 Dec, Third Charter granted by King James
Goffe	Stephen	Common Councilman	1747 - 17 June, New and Sixth Charter
Goldwell	Simon	Common Councilman	1747 - 17 June, New and Sixth Charter
Gore	Thomas	Jurat	1548 - 4 July, First Charter granted by Edward VI
Gore	Thomas	Jurat	1559 - Second Charter granted by Queen Elizabeth
Gosselyn	Robert	Jurat	1548 - 4 July, First Charter granted by Edward VI
Green	Gabriel	Jurat	1604 - 31 Dec, Third Charter granted by King James
Green	Gabriel	Jurat	1619 - 12 July, Fourth Charter
Green	John	Jurat	1604 - 31 Dec, Third Charter granted by King James
Green	William	Jurat	1548 - 4 July, First Charter granted by Edward VI
Green	William	Mayor and coroner	1559 - Second Charter granted by Queen Elizabeth
Greenell	John	Common Councilman	1682 - 26 Oct, Fifth Charter
Grenville	Thomas	Jurat	1604 - 31 Dec, Third Charter granted by King James
Hammond	John	Common Councilman	1747 - 17 June, New and Sixth Charter
Harris	John	Jurat	1747 - 17 June, New and Sixth Charter
Harris	Robert	Common Councilman	1747 - 17 June, New and Sixth Charter
Harris	Thomas	Common Councilman	1682 - 26 Oct, Fifth Charter
Hassell	Thomas	Common Councilman	1747 - 17 June, New and Sixth Charter
Heeley	Richard	Mayor also appointed Clerk of Weekly Market:	1548 - 4 July, First Charter granted by Edward VI
Heeley	Richard	Common Councilman	1682 - 26 Oct, Fifth Charter
Heeley	Stephen	Jurat	1604 - 31 Dec, Third Charter granted by King James
Heeley	Stephen	Jurat	1619 - 12 July, Fourth Charter
Highwood	Richard	Jurat	1604 - 31 Dec, Third Charter granted by King James
Hodges	George	Common Councilman	1682 - 26 Oct, Fifth Charter
Hooker	Richard	Jurat	1548 - 4 July, First Charter granted by Edward VI
Hooker	Richard	Jurat	1559 - Second Charter granted by Queen Elizabeth
Hope	Daniel	Common Councilman	1682 - 26 Oct, Fifth Charter
Hope	Thomas	Common Councilman	1682 - 26 Oct, Fifth Charter
Horsepool	William	Jurat	1619 - 12 July, Fourth Charter
Howe	John	Common Councilman	1682 - 26 Oct, Fifth Charter
Hunter	Edward	Mayor	1747 - 17 June, New and Sixth Charter
Illden	Shadrack	Common Councilman	1747 - 17 June, New and Sixth Charter
Ippenbury	Ambrose	Jurat	1559 - Second Charter granted by Queen Elizabeth
Ippinbury	John	Jurat	1548 - 4 July, First Charter granted by Edward VI
Jefferys	Henry	Common Councilman	1747 - 17 June, New and Sixth Charter
Knatchbull	Thomas	Jurat	1619 - 12 July, Fourth Charter
Lane	Josiah	Common Councilman	1747 - 17 June, New and Sixth Charter
Lawes	John	Alderman	1682 - 26 Oct, Fifth Charter
Lutwick	Clement	Jurat	1559 - Second Charter granted by Queen Elizabeth
Manby	George	Common Councilman	1682 - 26 Oct, Fifth Charter
Manser	William	Common Councilman	1747 - 17 June, New and Sixth Charter
Maplesden	Edward	Jurat	1619 - 12 July, Fourth Charter
Maplesden	Edward	Mayor	1604 - 31 Dec, Third Charter granted by King James
Maplesden	Peter	Jurat	1548 - 4 July, First Charter granted by Edward VI
Maplesden	Richard	Jurat	1604 - 31 Dec, Third Charter granted by King James
Marshall	Thomas	Alderman	1682 - 26 Oct, Fifth Charter
Mason	John	Jurat	1747 - 17 June, New and Sixth Charter
May	George	Common Councilman	1747 - 17 June, New and Sixth Charter
Mowseherste	William	Jurat	1559 - Second Charter granted by Queen Elizabeth
Mussery	Richard	Common Councilman	1682 - 26 Oct, Fifth Charter
Mussery	Richard	Jurat	1747 - 17 June, New and Sixth Charter
Newington	John	Common Councilman	1682 - 26 Oct, Fifth Charter
Nightingale	Thomas	Jurat	1747 - 17 June, New and Sixth Charter
Osborne	Alexander	Common Councilman	1682 - 26 Oct, Fifth Charter
Osborne	Stephen	Common Councilman	1682 - 26 Oct, Fifth Charter
Page	Stephen	Jurat	1747 - 17 June, New and Sixth Charter
Panghorne	Robert	Common Councilman	1682 - 26 Oct, Fifth Charter
Peirce	George	Alderman	1682 - 26 Oct, Fifth Charter
Peirce	John	Common Councilman	1682 - 26 Oct, Fifth Charter
Pine	Robert	Common Councilman	1747 - 17 June, New and Sixth Charter
Plomer	William	Jurat	1604 - 31 Dec, Third Charter granted by King James
Polhill	David	Common Councilman	1747 - 17 June, New and Sixth Charter
Pope	John	Common Councilman	1747 - 17 June, New and Sixth Charter
Pope	Thomas, Jr.	Jurat	1747 - 17 June, New and Sixth Charter
Prentis	Stephen	Common Councilman	1747 - 17 June, New and Sixth Charter
Purlis	William	Common Councilman	1747 - 17 June, New and Sixth Charter
Rawlings	John	Common Councilman	1747 - 17 June, New and Sixth Charter
Rawlings	Nicholas	Common Councilman	1747 - 17 June, New and Sixth Charter
Reader	John	Common Councilman	1747 - 17 June, New and Sixth Charter
Reve	William	Jurat	1548 - 4 July, First Charter granted by Edward VI
Rhode	Thomas	Common Councilman	1747 - 17 June, New and Sixth Charter
Rogers	John	Jurat	1747 - 17 June, New and Sixth Charter
Romney	John	Jurat	1604 - 31 Dec, Third Charter granted by King James
Rudkin	John	Common Councilman	1747 - 17 June, New and Sixth Charter
Russell	William	Common Councilman	1682 - 26 Oct, Fifth Charter
Russell	William	Common Councilman	1747 - 17 June, New and Sixth Charter
Salmon	Robert	Alderman	1682 - 26 Oct, Fifth Charter
Saunders	Robert	Mayor	1682 - 26 Oct, Fifth Charter
Shepherd	Richard	Common Councilman	1747 - 17 June, New and Sixth Charter
Smalwell	Joseph	Jurat	1747 - 17 June, New and Sixth Charter
Smyth	William	Jurat	1559 - Second Charter granted by Queen Elizabeth
Stacey	William	Common Councilman	1747 - 17 June, New and Sixth Charter
Stevenson	Samuel, Jr.	Jurat	1747 - 17 June, New and Sixth Charter
Stevenson	Samuel, Sr.	Common Councilman	1747 - 17 June, New and Sixth Charter
Swinnock	Thomas	Jurat	1604 - 31 Dec, Third Charter granted by King James
Swinnock	Thomas	Jurat	1619 - 12 July, Fourth Charter
Tilden	William	Jurat	1548 - 4 July, First Charter granted by Edward VI
Tilden	William	Jurat	1559 - Second Charter granted by Queen Elizabeth
Tonge	John	Common Councilman	1682 - 26 Oct, Fifth Charter
Turner	William Horsmonden	Recorder	1747 - 17 June, New and Sixth Charter. (Turner had been twice married 1st on May 25 1725 to Elizabeth, widow of Thomas Bliss; and secondly, in 1745 to Elizabeth Read, of Gravesend. He died 1753, buried at Maidstone.)
Viney	John	Common Councilman	1682 - 26 Oct, Fifth Charter
Walker	George	Alderman	1682 - 26 Oct, Fifth Charter
Wattell	Richard	Common Councilman	1682 - 26 Oct, Fifth Charter
Webb	George	Common Councilman	1682 - 26 Oct, Fifth Charter
Weeks	Walter	Common Councilman	1682 - 26 Oct, Fifth Charter
Weldish	Jonathan	Jurat	1747 - 17 June, New and Sixth Charter
Weldish	William	Alderman	1682 - 26 Oct, Fifth Charter
Wildes	Thomas, Jr.	Common Councilman	1747 - 17 June, New and Sixth Charter
Wildes	Thomas, Sr.	Common Councilman	1747 - 17 June, New and Sixth Charter
Wood	Samuel	Alderman	1682 - 26 Oct, Fifth Charter
Wottall	Richard, Jr.	Common Councilman	1747 - 17 June, New and Sixth Charter