In 1556 or early in1557, Walter Mayne of Staplehurst, Kent, initiated a lawsuit against Edward Stoughton and his sons Francis and Thomas over the "detention of deeds relating to the manor of Exherst in Staplehurst, bought of John Monnynges, of Dover, gentleman, and Margery his wife." [1] In his bill of complaint, Walter Mayne claims he purchased Exhurst Manor in 1547 from John Monins and his wife Margery, who owned it in the right of Margery. Francis and Thomas Stoughton answer that "Rychard Exherste," who "was Lawfullye Seased in hys demeane" of the manor, had issue "Bennett Marye and Elyzabethe his dawghters," and that after Richard's death the manor "of ryght ought to distend and come to the said Bennett Marye and Elyzabethe as daughters and cohey(r)es." Their answer names the husband of Bennett as "Thomas Aldye" and states that Thomas Alday and Bennett "hys wyffe hade issue betwene them Margerye Aldye," and that after Bennett died "the said Margerye toke to husband the said John Monnynges."
[1] The National Archives of the United Kingdom Catalog, Court of Chancery, C 1/1450/16-19, [UKNationalArchives].