What the records, family stories and DNA tells us about the families from Kent and Surrey. The map of the area is below.
For the history of the families in this area the Streatfield family is probably the best studied and documented. The family name (as with most names before modern registration and documentations were commonplace) has a number of spellings from Streatfeild, Streatfield, Stratfield and so on. The 'senior' branch has normally used to Streatfeild spelling. There is a Wikipedia article which will open in a new tab.
The founder of the family is Robert Streatfeild, of Chiddingstone, Kent, born around 1514 when Henry the VIIth was on the throne and Ann Boleyn lived in Hever Castle nearby is in the database. The family tree as far as we are concerned starts with John Streatfield born at Charcott in 1740. This branch of the family were no longer in the society side of the family and were mainly agricultural workers around north-west Kent where they intermarried with the Lanes, Staceys and Wansburys.
The key person for our side of the family was Dinah Streatfield, the daughter of John Streatfield and Mary Gates. She married James Lane and had 7 children before he died. This partnership has left a legacy of descendants around the world. On her death in March 1861 it is recorded that she left instructions that all her papers were to be destroyed. However we think that she inherited from her parents a chest of drawers, still in the family, and a painting, a female portrait on copper plate. Dating of these two items suggest they come from around 1720 and so perhaps come from Dinah's grandparents and that the painting is not of her as the family believed. In addition the family has some books which had belonged to her mother, Mary Gates, with handwritten records of births. Her destroyed papers would have been a source of much information. My branch of the family is descended from two of her children.
Another story revolves around William Titchener. Among the family papers was an account of William's move from NE Wiltshire to Chelsfield in Kent where the Stacey, Wansbury and Streatfield families were residents. This account was written by Ernest George Titchener probably in the 1930's but the basis for the account is not recorded. As the account is long it has its own pages below.
Revised April 2025.
- An account of the Kent families - Part 1
The journey of William Titchener from Highworth, Wiltshire to Park Gate Farm near Chelsfield, Kent around 1808.
- An account of the Kent families - Part 2
The Crockfords move from Downe to Chelsfield around 1816 as their employer Thomas Waring as his shepherd. Their daughter Harriet married John Titchener, son of William & Fanny.
- An account of the Kent families - Part 3
William Stacey and Eleanor Streatfield move from around Godstone to Twitton near Shoreham about 1830 to a new job and find work for son Richard at Castle Farm,
- An account of the Kent families - Part 4
The courtship of Anne Titchener and Richard Stacey around Castle Farm in the 1840's
- An account of the Kent families - Part 5
The lives of John and Henry Titchener and the first connection to Streatham when Henry went to live there in 1866 to help his aunt Mary Crockford.
- An account of the Kent families - Part 6
Richard Stacey and family moved from Orpington back to Chelsfield to work for Mr Spain of Court Lodge and live in a house bulit for them in 1866.
- An account of the Kent families - Part 7
A tale of marriages and work on farm and in service in the 1870's, involving the Stacey boys marrying Wansbury girls plus some other connections. By the end of the 1870s John Stacey married Mary Wansbury, Ellen Wansbury married James Blundell and Anne Stacey married Henry Titchener.