Skeats Tenterden

[mjgladders]

Hello,
I am researching the Skeats/Skeets name and came across the following reference in
http://www.archive.org/stream/ahistorywealdke03furlgoog/ahistorywealdke03furlgoog_djvu.txt


"The family of James Skeats
for three generations were also influential clothiers, and
carried on business at Westcross, in Tenterden, and
served the office of mayor of that town in 1648, and
on two other occasions. They appear to have been highly
respected. In an old day or waste-book of Mr. Skeats,
still preserved, there are entries from the carriers' ac-
counts, shewing that ho sent to London in 1632, fifty
pieces of cloth ; in 1633, forty-three pieces ; in 1684,
thirty-eight and a half; in 1636, forty pieces; but in
1686 only twenty-six pieces I This waste-book also con-
tains entries of the wages paid, the charges for fulling the
cloth, and the dyeing of the wool ; also for dye, olive oil,
carriage, &c. Other papers connected with this family 
afford interesting information respecting the social state
of the Weald at this time, as they were executors to
many of their neighbours."

I would welcome any information on this family as I have been unable to uncover anything more being remote from Kent. Does anyone know where the family papers might be held?

Thanks,
Mike

[spongebob]

Hi Mike

Found a few references to him, looks like SKEETS is a popular spelling alternative.

Matt

http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/a2a/records.aspx?cat=179-frewen_2-3&cid=1-2-1-1-4&kw=King#1-2-1-1-4

Letter from James Skeets, Tenterden, Kent with an invitation to a religious meeting  FRE/4426  30 Jul 1665
Letter from James Skeets, Tenterden, Kent with an invitation to a religious meeting  FRE/4429  30 Sep 1665
Letter from James Skeets, Tenterden, Kent asking for advice concerning the constitution of the Cinque Ports, with draft reply  FRE/4454  23 Mar 1669
Letter from James Skeets on business matters  FRE/4494  nd [c1669/1670]
Letter from James Skeets, Tenterden, Kent concerning a postponed meeting  FRE/4508  9 Aug 1670
Letter from James Skeets, Tenterden, Kent concerning a meeting of the Sewer Commissioners  FRE/4514  15 Sep 1670
Letter from John Byndlos, London concerning money  FRE/4515  17 Sep 1670
Letter from James Skeets, Tenterden, Kent concerning a meeting of the Sewer Commissioners  FRE/4516  20 Sep 1670
Letter from James Skeets, Tenterden, Kent concerning a meeting of the Sewer Commissioners  FRE/4517  7 Oct 1670
Letter from James Skeets, Tenterden, Kent concerning religious matters  FRE/4557  1 Jul 1671
Letter from James Skeets, Tenterden, Kent concerning a meeting  FRE/4563  7 Aug 1671
Letter from James Skeets, Tenterden, Kent about his fear of inprisonment  FRE/4575  30 Oct 1671
Letter from James Skeets, Tenterden, Kent concerning the Sewer Commissioners  FRE/4597  22 Jan 1672
Letter from James Skeets, Tenterden, Kent with notice of a meeting  FRE/4604  16 Mar 1672
Letter from James Skeets, Tenterden, Kent concerning a meeting  FRE/4624  3 Aug 1672
Letter from James Skeets, Tenterden, Kent on legal matters  FRE/4653  20 Dec 1672
Letter from William Curteis, Tenterden, Kent concerning the debts of (James) Skeets  FRE/4671  17 Feb 1673
Letter from William Curteis, Tenterden, Kent concerning the debts of James Skeets  FRE/4676  10 Mar 1673

All the above letters are held at East Sussex record office;

http://www.eastsussex.gov.uk/leisureandtourism/localandfamilyhistory/esro/

A couple of wills in the Canterbury Cathedral archives;

Skeets                      James                Tenterden                        1717  1717  59/223b
Skeets                      John                 Tenterden                        1630  1630  49/244

Reference to James as a tax (?) commissioner;

http://www.british-history.ac.uk/report.aspx?compid=46321

Monument inscription;

130. Here lyeth y^ body of James SKEETES Gent, who dep'd

ys life May y^ 26th, 1717, in y' 85 yeare of his age. Left

issue one daughter, Elizabeth.

Register. 31st May, 1717, M"" James Skeets, 86 years.

http://www.archive.org/stream/kentishmonumenta00dunc/kentishmonumenta00dunc_djvu.txt

[mjgladders]

Matt,

Thank you very much for that information. I had come across some of it but certainly not all that! I will contact the East Sussex office and see if they can provide further details.

Regards,
Mike