The ARDEN Family of Dorchester

Mayors of Dorchester 16 times

© Compiled by Michael Russell OPC for Dorchester April 2011
[Variations in spelling: Arden, Ardin, Arding, Ardyn, Harden, Hardien ] Last updated February 2019

The ARDEN Family has long held a place of distinction in Dorchester. Most families would be proud of an ancestor who had managed to attain the prestigious position of Mayor of a large town like Dorchester. The Arden Family however can claim that distinction no less than sixteen times over a period stretching from 1691 to 1852.

Daniel ARDEN the Elder (1623-1671)

St Peters Church - Dorchester

1. Daniel ARDEN The Elder (1623-1671) was a gold and silver smith by trade, and was trading in Dorchester by 1662. We know he was in the coastal town of Melcombe Regis in Dorset from before 1651 to about 1664. I have been unable to locate his marriage ⁽¹⁾ but from Letters of Administration concerning his estate we know her name was Mary and they probably married by licence circa 1649/50, the year before the birth of their first child. It was traditional to marry in the brides parish and because of the disruption of the civil war (1642-1651) many parish registers have not survived from that time. For example the parish Registers for both St Peters and All Saints in Dorchester were lost prior to 1653. What is more their marriage appears to have been during the Civil war years when many clergy had fled their parish and with large movements in the population many marriages went unrecorded. As shown below Daniel and Mary raised a family of more than four children in Melcombe Regis before permanently moving to Dorchester where we know of another two children being born to them.

Silver Spoon made by Daniel Arden (1623-1671)
There is no doubt that Daniel was a skilled craftsman as a few examples of his work still survive today (picture above). He was also a man of property as he was named with others in 1662 as a plaintiff in litigation about a property in Upway ⁽²¹⁾ and his son Daniel was named in litigation (Waltham v Arden) in 1686 concerning property in Melcombe Regis which he would have inherited from his father. Although membership records for the Company of Freemen of Dorchester are missing for the period 1636-1697, Daniel must also have been a Freeman of long standing as it's members elected him as their Governor for the year 1670. He was also clearly a person of some wealth as he had an expensive alter tomb erected on the south side of the graveyard at St Peters Church in Dorchester. Although the tomb itself has long since disappeared, the Latin inscription on it was recorded by John Hutchins in his history of Dorchester, and is particularly helpful.

'Hic future resurrections spe cum dubobus/ liberis filio nataq: jacet DANIEL ARDEN Fab./ Avr. Ar. Qui obit viii Novemb.: MDCLXXXI annoq:/ Aetatis XLVIII.

The transcription needs to be checked as my Latin is not good but I think it says "In the hope of future resurrection with two of his sons lies the body of Daniel ARDEN gold and silver smith, who died on 8th November 1671 in the 48th year of his age". Thankfully the burial register for St Peters confirms that he was interred there on 16th November 1671. Having died intestate a Letter of Administration for his estate was also granted to his relict and widow Mary ARDEN on 2nd Dec 1671. Daniel having died young it is not surprising that Mary HARDIEN (Sic) his widow outlived him by 23 years before she was buried with him at St Peters Church on 17th July 1694. Known children of Daniel and Mary:-

1.1 Elizabeth ARDEN

⁽²⁾

1.2 Daniel ARDEN (Senior)

Elizabeth BATT

[See Section 2 below]

⁽³⁾

[Note:- Parish Registers for Melcombe Regis for 1654-1656 inclusive are missing - and going by the inscription on his tomb he had 2 sons that pre-deceased him so we are sure that they had more children. Alter Tombs often take time to erect, the ground has to be stable, stone masons employed and commissioned by surviving relatives etc. We seem to have a family tragedy here with his daughter Martha dying 3 months before Daniel himself, and followed by his son John 6 months later ,so he might well be one of the sons referred to. I suspect that they all died from one of the diseases prevalent at the time such as TB or smallpox where infection is passed on.

To aid future research into the family I also need to mention that there are several references to a Guy (Guido in Latin) ARDEN who may well have been another sibling, but I have been unable to locate any baptism, marriage or burial for him. What I do know is that he also signed the 1681 Oath of allegiance to Charles II along with Daniel ARDEN Senior, and from an entry in the 1686 Quarter Sessions records he was described as being a goldsmith of Weymouth and Melcombe Regis. Records at the National Archives also show him involved in several litigations including one in 1718 (Buckler v Perkins) when he was a defendant and referred to as a Gentleman of Dorchester, and one (Buckler v Richards) with Daniel ARDEN Junior, his sister Anne, and Mary Richards the daughter of their sister Mary]

1.3 Mary ARDEN

⁽⁴⁾

Joseph FRY

1.4 John ARDEN

⁽⁵⁾

[Note:- The family then moved to Dorchester to live]

1.5 Elizabeth ARDEN

⁽⁶⁾

1.6 Martha ARDEN

Daniel ARDEN Senior (1652-1723)

Salisbury Cathedral where Daniel ARDEN (1652-1723) Married Elizabeth BATT (bur.1709)

2. Daniel ARDEN Senior (1652-1723) was the 2nd child and eldest son of Daniel ARDEN the Elder (1623-1671). He was baptised at Melcombe Regis on 6th Feb 1652 and 12 years old when his father moved the family to live in Dorchester.

Career: His father having died in 1671 we can be sure that it was his son that signed the Oath of Loyalty to Charles II on 31st August 1681. His name is 11th in a listing of 300 of Dorchester's most prominent citizens that took the oath and as such he must already have been a member of the Corporation with a sound reputation. Like his father Daniel must also have been a Freeman of of Dorchester of long standing as its members elected him as Governor for the year 1686. A document dated 1686 survives at the National Archives ⁽¹⁸⁾ which concerns a dispute over property at Weymouth and Melcombe Regis. Daniel ARDEN is the defendant and the document is his answer to a plaintiff John Waltham. This might be worth further research as I assume it must relate to business conducted by his late father before they came to Dorchester. He was elected Bailiff of Dorchester for the first time in 1690 and was the first member of the Arden Family to be elected Mayor of Dorchester the following year. A copy of a court roll dated 29 Aug 1693 of the manor of Wyke Regis and Elwell records the surrender by Daniel ARDEN of Dorchester, goldsmith, of a property on the highway from Upway to Weymouth, formerly in occupation of John ALLEN, deceased and late of Rebecca BUTLER, widow, and Charles BUTLER, gentleman, her son and heir, to the use of Elizabeth GOULD of Upway, widow. This deed seems to have been the subject of litigation in later years.

Daniel was to be elected Bailiff another four times in 1693, 1700, 1708 and 1719 and Mayor twice more in 1706 and 1718. It was not until Andrew Loder died however (he was buried at All Saints Church on 4th June 1707) that a vacancy occurred and Daniel ARDEN was formally appointed an Alderman of Dorchester on 26 Sep 1707. After Daniel's death in 1723 his place was eventually taken by Andrew Purchase on 3rd Dec 1725.

Family: Daniel, described as being from Dorchester, married by licence on 14th April 1680 in Salisbury Cathedral to a Mrs Elizabeth BATT a native of Salisbury in Wiltshire. Elizabeth presumably became ill and returned to Salisbury to be with her family where she died. She was buried on 28th April 1709 at St Martin with St Mary Magdalene Mission Church in Salisbury described in their burial register as Elizabeth the wife of Daniel ARDEN of Dorchester. Daniel ARDEN was buried at St Peters Church in Dorchester on 04 Apr 1723 but I have not been able to locate a Will or Letter of Administration. Children from their marriage:-

2.1 Elizabeth ARDEN [HARDEN]

2.2 Mary ARDEN

James RICHARDS

(Marriages for West Knighton are missing 1698-1707)

Will

Mary Richards (1709-1804)

Anne Richards

George Richards

2.3 Joan ARDEN

2.4 Martha ARDEN

John NELSON (1682-1750)

2.5 Daniel ARDEN

[See Section 3 below]

2.6 Anne ARDEN

Link to transcription

2.7 William ARDEN

3. Daniel ARDEN Junior (1688-1755) was the 5th child from the marriage of Daniel ARDEN Senior (1652-1723) to Elizabeth BATT at Salisbury Cathedral in 1680. Like his forebears he was a gold and silver smith by trade and of some renown in Dorchester.

Career: When Samuel Snook of Holy Trinity Parish died in 1722 a vacancy occurred among the Capital Burgesses of Dorchester and Daniel ARDEN Junior was appointed to take his place on 21st August 1722. Two years later, like his father before him, he was elected as Mayor of Dorchester. Some references in the Municipal Records of Dorchester survive which also give us a feel for his role in the community. Vizt:-

05 Mar 1725

Mr Daniel ARDEN the late Mayor

1725 - 1726

14 Jun 1727

Maces

Mr Daniel ARDEN

(Picture left Maces carry the date 28th December 1728)

19 Nov 1731

Mr Daniel ARDEN

01 Oct 1733

Alderman

(who was buried at HT 6th Jan 1728/9)

"Mr Daniel ARDEN, Mr Joseph GIGGER church wardens. Mr Renaldo KNAPTON saw me cast ye 21 Sep 1734"

1735

1735-1737

1742

19th Oct 1742

John Nelson

Daniel Arden

1744

1745

02 Jul 1748

1749 & 1750

04 Jan 1750

Payment of a Mortgage

Family: He probably married about the year 1718, the year before the birth of his first child but I have not so far located a suitable record. It was normal to marry in the brides parish and we are also missing the baptism of their first son Daniel. Many brides who moved parish on marriage often returned to be with their mother for the birth of their first child so this may be the reason for both missing records. From his will his wife appears to have pre-deceased him. The only likely candidate that I can trace is the burial of a Diana ARDEN at St Peters on 19th May 1730. This also fits with their last child being born in 1728/9 and the fact that their son George named a daughter Diana.

Daniel ARDEN

John ARDEN

Thomas ARDEN

[See comments below about his fathers will and note a Thomas HARDEN of St Peters married Betty Woodsford of Fordington at St Peters on 29th Dec 1762?]

Daniel ARDEN

George ARDEN (1725-1768)

Frances CROWE (bur. 1779)

Christopher ARDEN (1728-1807)

'KITT

Will

See comments below and link to transcription of the letter

Sarah Lee

brandy merchant

Death: For such a prominent man it is surprising that Daniel did not write a formal Will. Administration of his estate is based on two letters to his sons George and Kitt (Christopher) which were written on the 20th and 27th August 1754 when he clearly knew he was dying. It is not as though he did not have time as he was not buried at St Peters Church until 30th June 1755. The Letters were accepted as his wishes after William Bryar and James Ayling swore on oath to their authenticity on 9th August 1755 and administration of his estate was granted to his son George on the 12th. Link to transcription of his Letters. It was practical for his son George,who also worked in the trade as a silversmith and was permanently resident in Dorchester, to carry out administration. Municipal Records of Dorchester show that Daniel's place as an Alderman of Dorchester was taken by John Pitt on the 7th July 1755. The clear implication is that George and Kitt were his only surviving children. I have not however been able to locate the burial of his son Thomas ARDEN who I initially thought married Betty Woodsford from Fordington after his death in 1761. I cannot locate anything else about him or the marriage so I have assumed for now that Thomas must have died young.

4. George ARDEN (1725-1768) was the 4th child of Daniel ARDEN Junior (1688-1755). George married Frances CROWE (1721-1779) in St Peters Church Dorchester on 3rd Oct 1743. Frances was the daughter of Mr. Walter CROWE who had married her mother Mrs. Amy SWAINE at Stinsford on 14th June 1711. After marriage her parents came to Dorchester but their 1st child Anne died and was buried at St Peters on 16th Dec 1712. A further child, Elizabeth Crowe was baptised at St Georges Church in Fordington on 8th Dec 1715. Frances herself was baptised on 14th Sep 1721 at St Peters Church in Dorchester where her mother Amy CROW was buried on 9th Nov 1726. Walter CROW was Bailiff of Dorchester in the years 1725, 1728, 1734 and 1737.

After marriage George & Frances remained in the parish where George traded as a silversmith being admitted as a member of the Company of Freemen on 9th Jan 1748. When one of the existing Alderman John Channing died George was elected on 2nd Oct 1758 to replace him. From a surviving lease dated 25th May 1761⁽¹⁸⁾ we know that George ARDEN owned a corner shop in a prime location at the junction of East and West High Streets right in front of St Peters Church opposite the start of Cornhill. As can be seen from the 1771 Map of Dorchester at that time these buildings stood right in the middle of the road. These were later demolished. George died and was buried in St Peters on 1st July 1768 but was not replaced as Alderman of Dorchester until Robert Lambert was chosen on 30th Apr 1777. His widow Frances was also buried at St Peters on the 5th Jan 1779. I have not located a Will or Letter of Administration for either of them. Children from the marriage:-

4.2.1. Daniel ARDEN (1744-1748)

4.2.2. Frances ARDEN (1745-1752)

4.2.3. Diana ARDEN (1746/7-1748)

4.2.4. Mary ARDEN (1749-?)

Thomas STEELE

4.2.5. Christopher ARDEN (1751-1811)

[See Section 5 below]

4.2.6. George ARDEN (1752-1752)

4.2.7. George ARDEN (1754-?)

4.2.8. John ARDEN (1754-1759),

5 Christopher ARDEN Senior MD (1751-1811), was the 5th child of George Arden & Frances Crowe shown in section 4 above.

Career: Christopher trained as a surgeon and plied his trade in Dorchester for many years. The Vestry Minutes for Holy Trinity Church for 28th April 1789, for example, refer to him being asked to inoculate the poor of the parish at 5 shillings each. On the 6th of October 1789 he was officially appointed, at the Bridport Quarter Sessions, as the Surgeon and Apothecary to Dorchester Gaol, taking over the task from James NOOTH. He was to be paid £30 per annum in quarterly installments against a report on the current state of the prisoners heath. One of his returns has survived in the Quarter Sessions for 1805 which interestingly has a column for those flayed. Thankfully there were no entries in that quarter. As an aside he would have had to attend each flaying and much worse carried out the drawing and quartering of any prisoners to be hung drawn and quartered. He was also however an important member of the Corporation helping to run Dorchester being appointed Bailiff of Dorchester 5 times between 1792 and 1809. He joined the Freemasons at the Durnovarian Lodge in Dorchester on 20th Aug 1789 when he was correctly recorded as being aged 38. He was also formally admitted to the Company of Freemen on 11th September 1793 and elected as a Capital Burgess of Dorchester on the same day, and elected Mayor the following year in 1794. His formal appointment as an Alderman has been lost but it was some time prior to 1801. He was buried at St Peters church on 15 Nov 1811 and left a Will in which he made provision for all his family. Relict Mary executrix, trustee with William FLoyer of Stinsford. He was not replaced as Alderman until Robert Pattison was appointed in his place on 03 Oct 1814

Family: Christopher ARDEN described as being from Dorchester and a Surgeon, married by licence to Mary CHURCHILL (1758-1809) at St Thomas the Apostle Church in Exeter in Devon on 16th February 1786. They had the following 7 children:- Mary was buried at St Peters 18 Jan 1809 aged 51.

5.1. Mary ARDEN (1787-1820)

(picture far right kindly provided by Lynne Hatfield to Ancestry.com)

John OLDFIELD

5.2. Christopher ARDEN Junior MD (1788-1861),

[See below]

5.3. George ARDEN (1789-1868)

Durnovarian Lodge

Maryanne WESTON

⁽⁸⁾

5.4. Frances ARDEN (1792-1878)

⁽⁹⁾

5.5. Ann ARDEN (1793-1872)

Jane

George PANTON

John Rawdon OLDFIELD

Charles Frederick ARDEN

⁽¹⁰⁾

5.6 Jane ARDEN (1796-1818)

ARDEN

Will dated 25th Nov 1818

5.7 Henry ARDEN (? - ?)

6.Christopher ARDEN Junior MD (1788-1861) was the 2nd child of Christopher ARDEN (1751-1811) by his wife Mary nee CHURCHILL (1758-1809). He followed his father's trade of surgeon gaining Membership of Royal College of Surgeons in 1808. He was elected a Freeman of Dorchester on 2 May 1809 and a Capital Burgess on 8th May 1809. After his father died the Quarter Sessions held at Blandford Forum on 14th/16th January 1812 appointed him as surgeon to the County Gaol and House of Correction in Dorchester to replace his father. He married Jane Thomas Jones GWYNNE (1779-1849) at St Albans Chapel at Tyglyn, Llandwi Aberarth, Cardiganshire in Wales on 8th Feb 1814. Jane was the daughter of Alban Thomas Jones GWYNNE (1751-1819) and Martha Maria ACTON (1754-1783) and is thought to have been born c1779 at Benworth in Hampshire. Christopher & Jane had the 3 children shown below baptised in Holy Trinity church Dorchester whilst living in what must have been a fairly prestigious house⁽²⁰⁾ in High West Street in a house owned by Thomas Gould READ (1759-1835) who was Major of Dorchester in 1819. Christopher ARDEN was Bailiff of Dorchester 9 times between 1813 & 1831. When the existing Govenor of the Company of Freemen, George STICKLAND suddenly died in office in 1824, he stepped into the breach serving as Govenor from 12th February to 4th October that year, when Joseph STONE took over. He was appointed an Alderman of Dorchester on 3rd Oct 1825 and elected Mayor of Dorchester six times in the years 1816; 1824; 1832; 1837; 1848 and 1852. When his wife Jane died during 4th qtr of 1849 his sister Ann came to live with him at No. 8 High West Street in Dorchester. Christopher Arden died at the age of 73 and was buried on 12 April 1861 having died on the 6th.The 1861 Census, taken on 8th April, only shows Ann living at 8 High West street. He left a Will and an estate of under £6,000 ⁽¹¹⁾

Jane ARDEN (1816-1873)

Jane OLDFIELD

⁽¹⁴⁾

John Rawdon OLDFIELD

⁽¹²⁾

6.2. Rev George ARDEN (1818-1890) bap 22 Sep 1818 at Holy Trinity Church in Dorchester, he was educated at Wadham college Oxford where he matriculated on 3rd Mar 1836 aged 17; BA 1840; MA 1842; He married in 1847 to Eliza Hannah TRENOW who was born in Bristol but was then resident at Langton Herring under a marriage settlement which is held at the Somerset HC (Ref DD\SB/24/4). Rector Winterbourne Came 1847-1858; Rector of N.Bovey Devon 1859-1866 ⁽²²⁾; Rector of Dunsford Devon where he served from 1866-1888 A stained glass window was erected in St Mary's church Dunsford in 1880 to E.H.Arden his son, and a lancet window was erected in honour of George himself by WH Kelland Esq after he died on 25th Dec 1890.

6.3. Rev Henry Alban ARDEN (1820-1888) bap 12 Dec 1820 at Holy Trinity Church in Dorchester. He initially trained as a surgeon, was awarded his licentiate and at the age of 22 was admitted to the Apothecaries Hall Dorchester on 26th May 1842. In 1851 he was still living with the family in Dorchester; he became a Dominican friar at Woodchester Priory Gloucestershire and in 1881 was at the St Dominics Priory at Southampton as a Roman Catholic priest - He is also said to be grandson of the late Rev Abon GWYNE MA Rector of Benworth Hampshire. He died in 1888

Genealogical Notes:-

(1). Men in this area of Dorset married on average at the age of 26, Daniel would have been 26 in 1649. 'Daniel Arden' is a relatively unusual name and searching for their children led me to the 4 baptisms recorded below at Melcombe Regis which lies only about 7 miles directly south of Dorchester on the coast. By 1625 the Charters of 1571 and 1616 had united Weymouth and Melcombe Regis in all but name, and the towns were jointly administered by one corporation run by a Mayor, bailiffs and burgesses in a similar fashion to Dorchester. At this date Melcombe Regis was the much bigger bustling seaside town whilst Weymouth was still a small seaside port. Weymouth did not even have an Anglican church until Holy Trinity was built in the 1830's. Births marriages and deaths were all therefore recorded at St Mary's church in Melcombe Regis.

(2). Transcription of entry in St Marys Parish Register Melcombe Regis " Anno Dom 1651 - Elizabeth daugh^(r) of Daniel ARDEN - 26 Apr: "

(3). Transcription of entry in St Marys Parish Register Melcombe Regis " Anno Dom 1652 - Daniell sonne of Daniell ARDEN - 6 ffebruary: "

(4). Transcription of entry in St Marys Parish Register Melcombe Regis " 1659 : July:Mary ARDING (Sic) the daughtr of Daniell AR.(Sic) borne ----11 "

(5). Transcription of entry in St Marys Parish Register Melcombe Regis " 1663: Decebr - John the sone of Daniell ARDEN baptised ----26"

(6). Transcription of entry in St Peters Parish Register Dorchester " Anno Domini 1665 Baptisine: October : 5: Decebr - Elizabeth the daughter of Daniel HARDEN (Sic)"

(7). . 'Kitt' was used in the 18th century as an abbreviation for the name 'Christopher' in the same way as we now use 'Chris'

(8). Their 6 children were all baptised at Weymouth:- Mary Weston Arden of Merlcombe Regis was bap 8th Jan 1821 at Weymouth she died a spinster 8th Mar 1894 probate to Georgina Arden and Caroline Rose Arden spinsters effects £2,541; Fanny Churchill Arden bap 14th Nov 1822; Eliza Churchill Arden bap 2nd Dec 1825; Charles Frederick Arden bap 13th Oct 1829; Georgina Bankes Floye Arden bap 30th dec 1830 died a spinster 28 Oct 1908 left £8,968. 15s 7d to sister Caroline; and Caroline Rose Arden 18 apr 1834 died 15 Aug 1915 at 5 Westerhall Weymouth left £10,886. 3s 4d to public trustees.

(9). National Probate Calendar index entry Frances ARDEN died 11 Sep 1878 Probate 23 Oct 1878 - transcription of index entry available under Dorchester Wills Index 1801-1900. These Wills can be ordered by post £6 charge at Sep 2011 form downloadable on line

(10). National Probate Calendar index entry Ann ARDEN died 26 Jan 1872 Probate 30 Mar 1872 - transcription of index entry available under Dorchester Wills Index 1801-1900

(11). National Probate Calendar index entry Christopher ARDEN died 06 Apr 1861 Probate 30 Apr 1861 available under Dorchester Wills Index 1801-1900

(12). National Probate Calendar index entry John Rawdon OLDFIELD died 22 Nov 1883 Probate 08 Mar 1884 - transcription of index entry available under Dorchester Wills Index 1801-1900

(13). Oxford University Alumni, 1500-1886

(14). National Probate Calendar index entry for Jane OLDFIELD states Letters of Administration of the Personal estate and effects of Jane Oldfield late of oldfield lawn in the parish of Westbourne Sussex spinster deceased who died 8th May 1856 at Oldfield Lawn aforesaid were granted at the Principal Registry to John Rawdon Oldfield of oldfield lawn aforesiad a Colonel in Her Majesty's Army one of the executors of the Will of John Oldfield the father and next of kin of the said deceased he the said John Rawdon Oldfield having been first sworn. effects under £600

(15). The History and Antiquities of the County of Dorset” by John HUTCHINS 3rd Edition published 1868 Page 385

(16). Dorset Archdeaconry Court Letter of Administration granted to Mary ARDEN for the estate of her deceased husband Daniel ARDEN 1623-1671 Held at the Dorset History Centre Ad/Dt/A/1671 record 32 . Image also now available on ancestry.com for members

(17). An Oliver ARDEN a goldsmith by trade of Sherborne - Administration bond, commission, inventory dated 1684 - survives at Wiltshire Archives - a copy of the will can be bought on line for a small fee which I have not accessed.

(18). National Archives at Kew (Ref C/8/527/116 & C7/382/80)

(19). George Arden Shop: The reference to this lease is in the Municipal Records of Dorchester under The Corporate Development of Dorchester See my transcription : Butcher's shop being corner shop lately built by Geo. Arden, 1756; butcher's shop and room over it late the old Blindhouse in St. Peter's parish, on south of steps leading to Guildhall and on north of corner shop belonging to Geo. Arden, 1761; butcher's shop on north of steps leading to Guildhall, 1795. (Davis, Stickland). Source A2A DC/DOB/29/4 1756-1795

(20). Christopher ARDEN Junior (1788-1861) lived in a fairly prestigious house in High West Street owned by Thomas Gould READ (1759-1835) who was paying one of the highest Land Tax charges in Holy Trinity parish Dorchester ( £2. 18s. 8d p.a.) throughout 1811 to 1823 which covers when all three of his children were born there.

(21). Property in Upway 1662 (National Archives C 8/191/29)

(22). George Arden : Crockfords Directory 1885

Dorchester / Fordington Page OPC Page

(21).