Alan Eppes of Brenzett

Alan Epes of Brenzett is the oldest documented ancestor of Francis Eppes, first of the name to emigrate to Virginia. He is believed to have been born c.1425 in Brenzett, a part of New Romney in the Romney Marshes of County Kent, England. He married Benet (or Benedicte), about whom nothing is known. They had five known children. He died June 5, 1471, in Romney, Kent.

Brenzett is partly within the liberty of the town and port of New Romney and therefore within the liberty of the Cinque Ports. A portion of the northern part of the parish, north of the Rheewall, is within the liberty of the Corporation of Romney Marsh. The village church from Alan Epes' era still stands today. St Eanswith in Brenzett was built in the 12th century with additions in the 13th and 14th century. St Eanswyth was a 7th century local saint from Folkestone. The south wall of the chancel contains some fine herringbone masonry, typical of early Norman work in Kent. While there is no evidence, it is likely that Alan worshipped here and was buried in the churchyard cemetery.

The Epes name can be found as early as a listing of Roger Eppe (Epps) in the Hundred Rolls of 1273. How Alan is descended from Roger is not known. There are several documents from the 1200's to the 1400's for men known as Ips, Eps, Epes and Eppes in the county of Kent. They are probably all related, but the exact nature of those ties have not yet been established. There is no clear proof at this time as to the name of his parents.

Children of Alan Epes and wife Benet:

• John Epes, married (1) Margaret ____ and (2) Johane _____
• Robert Epes, born after 1457
• Johanne Epes
• Agnes Epes, perhaps married James Huggelyn and had daughter Agnes to whom John Epes made a bequest.
• William Epes, born after 1457

Links to additional material:

• http://www.theromneymarsh.net/history/churches.htm#eanswith
• http://www.tc.umn.edu/~timsx001/Epes.html
• https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cinque_Ports

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Alan Eps is the earliest ancestor of the EPES of Virginia thus far to have been found.

At the time of his death (during the reign of EdwardI V) he had been a resident of the Parish of Brenzett, in Co. Kent.

He left a will dated June 5, 1471 and proved on the 9th of the following September. In it he expressed a wish to be buried in the churchyard of St. Eanswith de Brenzett. Brenzett is partly within the liberty of the Cinque Ports; a portion of the northern part of the parish is within the liberty of the Corporation of Romney Marsh, established in 1462 .

The names of his parents have not been uncovered, nor has the name of his wife. Some sources s tate her last name may have been BENET.

• ourfamilyhistories... ;

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