14. MILDON-DARTE

Sampson Tree

LAWRENCE MIILDON and JOHAN DARTE (14) 

LAURENCE MILDON. On 4 Oct 1541 Laurence Myldon married Johan Darte in Knowstone. This is too close to the start of the registers in 1538 for us to be able to find their baptisms. Since Laurence raised his family in Knowstone, we assume this was his home parish.

JOHAN DARTE. Again, we do not know when she was born.

Marriages usually took place in the bride’s parish, so it might seem that Johan came from a Knowstone family. But her marriage is the only Darte entry in the Knowstone registers in the 16^th century. There are a number of Dartes in Puddington, 8 miles south of Knowstone. It is possible that this is where Johan came from.

In 2017 a discovery was made in the 14^th century parish church in Knowstone. Plasterwork was removed, revealing an original staircase leading to the Rood loft. The Rood is another name for a crucifix. In most churches one was displayed on a narrow platform above the screen separating the nave from the chancel. It was one of the holiest places in the church. On special occasions, the priest would preach from there, giving his sermon a greater impact than one delivered from the pulpit.

These were removed at the Protestant Reformation. Lawrence and Johan may well have witnessed this and the closing up of the staircase.

The couple had four children baptised at St Peter’s, Knowstone. 

Baptisms. St, Peter, Knowstone.
1541 Sep 20  Margaret
This would appear to be a month before the wedding. It is possible that this was the case, and that Margaret was acknowledged as being Laurence’s child, rather than the base child of Johan. It is difficult to see how either event could have been entered under the wrong year, though this may be the case. There is an unusually long gap between Margaret’s birth and Thomas’s.
1546 May 14  Thomas
1549 Apr 23  Henry
1552 Apr 8   Johan

Johan wyfe of Laurence Mildon was buried on 1 Mar 1592/3.

On 19 Nov 1594 Laurence Mildon married An Bryant, widow.

Laurence died two years later. He was buried in Knowstone on 17 Mar 1596/7. His will was proved later that year, indicating that he was not among the poorest in the village.