Uncle Thomas? Robert of Marden Carpenter had an Uncle Thomas, whose birth date is unknown. His father’s birth date is estimated at 1494. Consider the following. A HISTORY OF WILTSHIRE quotes local historical sources that a Thomas Carpenter held property and land in Marden in 1534. “In 1534 the prior of Bradenstoke let the rectory (Marden rectory) to Thomas Carpenter at L.8 yearly, a rental which remained constant throughout the 16th century and earlier 17th centuries.” (P.121) Rectory here refers to a “benefice” or income from the church land. In other words Thomas was probably the vicar of the parish who supported himself from the tithes and incomes of the land. The prior of Bradenstoke held title to the land and Thomas had to pay and basically support to his ecclesiastical landlord. This is all just before the Reformation and the nationalization of all church land in England. We can now see a history of Carpenter presence in Marden. If Thomas was vicar, he must then have had a university connection. Certainly while Thomas was in Marden (a Nicholas Hobbs is vicar in 1544) he could have acquired land that was subsequently passed down in the family. Bruce Carpenter