HALES, of WOODCHURCH, Kent.

29 June 1611

Sir EDWARD HALES, Bart., succeeded his father, sir Edward Aug. 1802; married, 1789, Lucy, 2d da. of Henry Darell, of Colehill, esq.

     This family is descended from NICHOLAS HALES, of Hales Place, co. Kent esq., living temp. Edward III. He had two sons, Robert, who was a knight of St. John of Jerusalem, and treasurer of England, murdered by Wat Tyler's mob, 1381; and sir NICHOLAS, ancestor of the present baronet.

     Fifth in descent from Sir Nicholas was JOHN HALES, of Tenterden, baron of the exchequer, 1523, whose eldest son sir James Hales, was a judge of the Common Pleas, and the only judge who refused to sign the will of Henry VIII. whereby he disinherited the princesses Mary and Elizabeth; and his 3d son, EDWARD H ALES, of Tenterden, was grandfather of

     I. Sir EDWARD HALES, 1st bart., served in several parliaments, and took part with those that raised the rebellion against king Charles I; m. 1st, Deborah, da. and h. of Martin Harlakenden esq., and had issue,

   1, Sir John, knt, Christian da. and co-h. of the above sir James Cromer,

and d. in his father's life-time, 1639 leaving one son, sir EDWARD, 2d bart.

   2. Edward, of Chilson, Kent, m,. and left issue.

   3. Samuel; 4. Thomas, both d. without issue.

     Sir Edward m. 2dly, Mathew, da. of sir Mathew Carew, knt.,

and widow of sir James Cromer, knt., by whom he had no issue.

He d. Sept. 1654, and was succeeded by his grandson,

     II. Sir EDWARD, 2d bart., who risked his person and fortune is endeavoring the rescue of king Charles I. from his imprisonment in the Isle of Wight ; m. Anne, one of the das. and co-h. of Thomas, lord Watton, and had issue,

   1. Sir EDWARD, .3d bart.

   2. John, of the Inner  Temple; 3. Charles; 4. Thomas, all d. unm.

     Sir Edward d. in France after the Restoration, and was succeeded by his eldest son,

     III. Sir EDWARD, who was in much favor with king James II., under whom he had a regiment of foot, was one of his privy council, and a lord of the admiralty, deputy governor of the cinque ports, and lieutenant-governor of the Tower of London. He was sued for the penalty of  £500 for neglecting to take the oaths of supremacy and allegiance, and was convicted at Rochester assizes for the same; but moving it into the King's Bench, pleaded the king's dispensing power, and had judgement given for him ; eleven of the judges being of opinion, that the king might dispense in that case. At the Revolution he was confined for a year and a half in the Tower; on his release be went to France, and, in consideration of his services, was created earl of Tenterden, in Kent, by king James II, while he was in that kingdom; m. Frances, da. of sir Francis Windibank, knt., by whom (who d. 1693) he had issue,

   1. Edward, killed at the battle of the Boyne, on the part of king James II.

   2. Sir John, 4th bart.

   3. Charles; 4. Robert; 5 James, all d. unm.

   6.  Mary, m---Bauwens, judge of the admiralty at Ostend.

   7. Fances, m. 1699, Peter, 4th earl of Fingall, in Ireland.

   8. Clara, m. Mr. Hussey, of Ireland.

   9. Anne; 10. Jane; 11. Elizabeth; 12.Catharine, all d. unm.

     Sir Edward d. in France 1695, and was succeeded by his 2d son,

     IV. Sir JOHN, m. 1st, Helen, da. of sir Richard Bealing, of Ireland, secretary to the queen dowager of Charles II, by whom he had,

   1. John, d. in his infancy.

   2. Edward, m. Mrs. Parker, grand da. of sir Richard Bulstrode, knt. by whom he had 2 sons and a da.---1. John, d, in his infancy------2. sir EDWARD, 5th bart.---3. Frances, m. George-Henry, earl of Lichfield.

     Sir. John m. 2dly, Helen, da. of Dudley Bagnal, of Newry, Ireland, esq., by whom (who d. Nov. 1737) he had,

   3. James, who was an officer in the emperor's service, and was killed in Italy in 1735.

   4. Alexandar: 5. Philip.

      Sir John d. 1744, and was succeeded by his grandson,

     V. Sir EDWARD, m. 1st, Barbara, da. and sole h. of John Webb, esq., a younger son of sir John Webb, of Odstock, bart., by whom he had issue, besides other children,

   1. Sir EDWARD, present bart.

   2. Anne, a nun, d. 21 May 1811.

   3. 4. Two das., m. officers in the French service.

     Sir Edward m. 2dly, 1790, Mrs. Palmer, widow of --- Palmer, of Ireland, esq., by whom he had no issue. He d. Aug. 1802, and was succeeded by his son,

     VI. Sir EDWARD, present bart.

     Arms--Gules, 3 arrows, 2 and 1, the points downward, or, barbed and fledged, argent.

     Crest--On a wreath, a dexter arm, endowed in armor proper, garnished, or, and bound about with a riband, gules, holding an arrow, as in the arms.

     Seats--St. Stephen's, near Canterbury, Tunstall, and Woodchurch, all in Kent.