Eighteenth Generation

182156. John BOTELER I Esq., Sheriff of Essex and Harts (!)(*)^193,1266 was born in 1435 in Watton-at-Stone, Hertfordshire, England.¹²⁶⁷ From Wikipedia: "Watton-at-Stone is a village in the English county of Hertfordshire, situated midway between the towns of Stevenage and Hertford in the valley of the River Beane. The name Watton first appeared in writing in an 11th-century publication of 10th century Anglo-Saxon wills as Wattun. It was later recorded in the Domesday Book as both Wodtune and Watone. The origin of the word is uncertain, and is variously ascribed to Old English wád or woad, and ton meaning small farming settlement; or waden meaning ford; or from waétan meaning watery.

The suffix -at-Stone dates from the early 13th century and may be derived from the presence of two large examples of Hertfordshire puddingstone, now situated at the Waggon and Horses public house. However, it is far more likely that the suffix refers to the Roman road (anciently described as a Stone Street) that ran from Verulamium (modern St Albans), fording the River Beane at Watton-at-Stone.

The area where the bridge over the railway was built was shown on tithe maps as a common, and the fields to the east and west of this point were named Stoneyfield and Further Stoneyfield. It is deduced that the Roman Road passed through this area, and the later village took its name from the important routeway. In the 1950s, sections of the road agger, composed of large flint nodules, could still be seen at several points in the village; most obviously, the northern boundary of the grounds of Chestnut House preserves the line of the road.

A battle between the Danes and Saxons took place nearby in 1016. In later years, the natural springs in the area once made the village a popular spa town.

The village has a number of dwellings dating from early Tudor, such as Watton House, through to late Georgian constructions." He died in 1489 at the age of 54 in Wappenham, Northamptonshire, England.^1266,1267 He was buried on 21 July 1489 in Watton-at-Stone, Hertfordshire, England.¹²⁶⁶
Constance DOWNHALL (!)(*) and John BOTELER I Esq., Sheriff of Essex and Harts (!)(*) were married in Watton-at-Stone, Hertfordshire, England.^1266,1267

182157. Constance DOWNHALL (!)(*)¹²⁶⁵ was born in 1434 in Drayton, Daventry, Northamptonshire, England.¹²⁶⁶ She died on 16 May 1499 at the age of 65 in Wappenham, Northamptonshire, England.¹²⁶⁶ She was buried in Watton-at-Stone, Hertfordshire, England.¹²⁶⁶

Children were: