The Hales Newsletter

Motto: United Force is Stronger

New Series Spring 2003 Vol. 8. No. 1.

The Hales Chronicles on the internet

News and Views Gary Hales of Boaz, Alabama Hales

Notes from The Community of Kent and the Great Rebellion 1640 - 1660

The Symbol of the Arrow

Thomas Becket and Sir Roger Hales

In Memoriam

Hales MSS

1. MSS 5532
2. MSS 1445
3. MSS 1167
4. Unnumbered MSS 

This is on-line version of The HALES Newsletter. The HALES Newsletter is the Journal of the HALES Family. It is a quarterly publication of the HALES Family History Society and variant spellings, including HALES, HAILS, HAILES, HAYLS, and HAYLES. The information includes current events, historical sketches and genealogical information pertaining to the Hales family. The pictures can be viewed by clicking on words that are highlighted. It is published by Kenneth Glyn Hales, secretary of The Hales Genealogical Society from 1970 through 1981 and The Hales Family History Society since 1995.

The intent of the HALES Family History Society is to document all HALES, HAILS, HAILES, HAYLS, and HAYLES families wherever they are found in all parts of the world. This documentation is found in the multi-volume The Hales Chronicles. This information is provided as a service to the Hales Family.

The Hales Chronicles contains the genealogical information published by the Hales Family History Society. This database can be found on the Hales web-page at www.hales.org and can be found in book form at The Family History Library of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints at Salt Lake City, Utah; The Library of Congress at Washington, D.C.; The Library of The Society of Genealogists at London, England; and the Centre for Kentish Studies at Maidstone, Kent, England. The Hales Chronicles is also found on-line. Look here to verify your family information and to search for your ancestors.

The Hales Newsletter is provided to the above cited repositories and the Allen County Public Library at Fort Wayne, Indiana. The Allen County Public Library indexes our publication and provides articles through their Periodical Source Index (PERSI).

Printed copies of The Hales Newsletter are available. If you would like a printed copy of individual Hales Newsletters, reprints are available at a cost of $3.75 each.

MEMBERSHIP

A REQUEST - Let all of your Hales relatives know of our on-line Hales Newsletters. We need some word-of-mouth advertisement. Also ask them to "talk it up." We need to get the message out so that we get more "News and Views" submissions for later newsletters. Also ask them to review what is in The Hales Chronicles about their family. If additional or corrected information can be supplied, please send me a copy.

The Hales Chronicles on the internet The internet version of the Hales Chronicles is the basis for the Third Edition to be printed in 2005. This on-line version is the master copy of the Hales Chronicles and it contains all information that I have and all corrections that have been made since the Second Edition. It is updated on a weekly basis. Many additions and changes have been made since the Second Edition was published. I work on these files weekly. A copy of these internet files can be purchased on a CD (in Word for Windows HTML format) for a cost of $10 postpaid. A copy of these internet files can be purchased on diskettes (in Word for Windows HTML format) for a cost of $20. Both the CD version and the diskette version contains the latest information that is available. If you find a mistake in these files, the index to these files, or if your family information is not there, please send me a copy of your records. The method you use to send me the information is not important. I can receive any type of GEDCOM file, any text file from your word processor, or you can mail the information to me. However, please send the dates and the locations that the birth event, marriage event, or burial event took place.

I will return the unused portion of their subscription to those four-subscribers with this newsletter.

I am in the process of writing a follow-on book to Windows - A Mormon Family. This book called Windows II - A Mormon Family can be seen at: www.hales.org. After getting to this site click on publications and links, then click on Windows II, and then click on the chapter you wish to read. I am also in the process of putting Windows on-line as I get the chapters converted from WordStar to WordPerfect to Word HTML format. You can get to it and read it the same way.

Nathan Alan Hales - Congratulations to Elder Nathan Hales, son of Kenneth Gregory and Vicky Hales, on his call to serve as a missionary for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in the Boise, Idaho mission. Nathan checked into the Missionary Training Center on April 23rd.

David Clay Hales - Congratulations to David Clay Hales, son of Kenneth Glyn and Judy Hales, on his graduation from Brigham Young University with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Exercise Science in the Physical Education Department.

Boaz man rescues endangered orchids from around the world.

What do pizza and orchids have in common?

Every plant in his collection has been rescued.

"When an area is being developed or experiencing other disastrous elements, I go and search out the orchids," Hales said.

Many of the orchids would become extinct without Hales and his group of friends who carry backpacks weighing around 50 pounds full of equipment to rescue and photograph the plant.

Each plant is photographed in its natural environment so that its new home can be simulated.

Walking into Hales' greenhouse is like walking into a jungle. It is humid and full of jungle-like features.

Palm trees, tropical plants and some undergrowth line the walls. There is a goldfish pond in the corner. All of the jungle-like features make it not only look like the great outdoors, but the chirping frogs and other little creatures also give it a wilderness sound.

"Orchids don't naturally grow in pots," Hales said. "So we have brought in tree logs and cork to make them feel at home."

Hales grew up around orchids because his grandfather grew them. But he became interested in the different species in the 1970s and soon decided to go to the jungle to see how they grow.

He began testing pH levels and measuring rainfall and foot-candles of light He wanted to know what made them grow, how they reproduce and what he could do to bring them home.

He obtained permits to go into jungles worldwide in search of endangered plants.

"Back then not a lot of people were into orchids," Hales said. "So it was relatively easy for me to get permits. As the interest grew, only selected people - mainly research schools and scientists - were able to get the permits.

Because Hales was already permitted, he was grand-fathered in.

In order to move an orchid from its native home, Hales has to first prove that it is endangered. He also has to be permitted by both countries to bring a plant home. He has to provide a like environment and study propagation and reproduction of the species.

Hales brought one endangered species in particular home from Brazil. After he reproduced the orchid, the Brazilian government wanted 1,000 seedlings for propagation.

Not all orchids Hales rescues are actually brought home, but are moved to a safer location suitable for its growth.

Each plant Hales rescues and/or studies is documented. At times, Hales said one of the biggest challenges is actually identifying the plant because many orchids don't look like the average corsage-type orchid.

Gary Hales stands in the middle of his jungle. Hales rescues endangered species of orchids worldwide and brings them to his Boaz home.

Orchids come in may shapes and sizes. They all carry different aromas as well.

"There are some that smell like chocolate, and we have one that smells like grape bubble gum," Hales said.

While Hales has a large variety of species, he is far from having all he wants. There are over 30,000 species and each species have several different varieties.

So the next time you visit Pasquale's in Boaz and Hales is nowhere in sight, he might just be treading the backwoods of Brazil, China, Vietnam, South America, Africa or any other tropical area in search of endangered orchids.

Alan Everitt M.A., Ph.D.

This period is commonly referred to as the Civil War. The author estimates that in 1649 the vast majority of Kentish families were entirely confined to the county, including the SIX branches of the Hales family. If this is true that there are six branches, one of these must include the Jacob Hales family of Yalding cited earlier. While he does not enumerate the six, I found references to various Hales families in this book:

1. The Hales of Woodchurch.
2. The wealthy Sir Edward Hales of Tunstall. aged 64 in 1642.
3. Robert Hales of Howlets.
4. Thomas Hales of Howlets in Bekesbourne.
5. Sir James Hales of The Dongeon.
6. The Hales of Faversham.

Born 841; died at Hoxne, Suffolk, England in 869 or 870. [King Edmund is interred at Bury St. Edmund, Suffolk, England - approximately 40 miles west and south of Hales, Norfolk, England].

On Christmas Day 855, 14-year-old Edmund was acclaimed king of Norfolk by the ruling men and clergy of that county. The following year the leaders of Suffolk also made him their king.

For 15 years Edmund ruled over the East Angles with what all acknowledged as Christian dignity and justice. He himself seems to have modeled his piety on that of King David in the Old Testament, becoming especially proficient in reciting the Psalms in public worship.

From the year 866 his kingdom was increasingly threatened by Danish invasions. For four years the East Angles managed to keep a shaky, often broken peace with them. Then the invaders burned Thetford. King Edmund's army attacked the Danes but could not defeat the marauders. Edmund was taken prisoner and became the target for Danish bowmen.

In a later account in the Anglo-Saxon Chronicle, reputedly derived second-hand from an eyewitness, Abbo compared Saint Edmund to Saint Sebastien and so he also became a saint invoked against the plague. The story goes that Edmund was captured at Hoxne. He refused to share his Christian kingdom with the heathen invaders, whereupon he was tied to a tree and shot with arrows, till his body was 'like a thistle covered with prickles;' then his head was struck off. He died with the name of Jesus on his lips.

The record continues that the Danes "killed the king and overcame all the land ... they destroyed all the churches that they came to, and at the same time reaching Peterborough, killed the abbot and monks and burned and broke everything they found there."

Saint Edmund thus remains the only English sovereign until the time of King Charles I to die for religious beliefs as well as the defense of his throne. Edmund was quickly revered as a martyr and his cultus spread widely during the middle ages. (Attwater, Benedictines, Bentley, Hervey, Roeder).

King Saint Edmund is generally depicted as a bearded king holding his emblem – an arrow. Sometimes he is shown suspended from a tree and shot, or his head between the paws of a wolf. He is sometimes confused with Saint Sebastien, who is never portrayed as a king (Roeder).

He is venerated at Bury Saint Edmund (Saint Edmund’s borough), where his body is enshrined and a great abbey arose in 1020. Richard II invoked him as patron as to those threatened by the plague (Roeder).

Edmund is on a massive stone pier in the south aisle. He is standing just to the right of a complicated painting of squares forming a kind of open basket-weave pattern, with a further pattern of crosses, each end terminating in a stylized leaf or flower, and at the top are curling tendril-like details crowning the whole design. Most commentators believe the pattern to be earlier than St. Edmund, who is partly superimposed on it. The pattern, which is certainly an unusual one, may have a relationship with the symbolic tree painted above the nave arches – the trunk of this can be seen apparently emerging from the patterned area at the top.

Edmund, crowned and with a halo, raises his hand in blessing, and to the left of his figure, in effect appearing on the lining of his cloak, are three arrows pointing downwards and painted in fairly bright red. It looks as though the (very narrow) shafts of these may come together to form a single arrow-head, [or perhaps stuck in some sort of base] but it is hard to be sure, just as it is hard to decide whether or not he is clenching the arrow-head in his right hand. The arrow is of course the most common of Edmund’s attributes, and there are several other examples of this symbolic use of them in the other painting of the saint on this site.

I. Received from Dr. John Alban, County Archivist at the Norfolk Record Office.

A Sir Roger de Hales, and his son, William, were living in Hales during the reign of Henry 2 (1154-1189). [note: This was the same period as Thomas Becket].

1. Walter de Hales was living there in 1200.
2. Sir Roger and son, Walter Hales, were living there in 1250.
3. John, son of Sir Roger Hales, was living there in 1287. Also data suggests that Sir Roger Hales (father of Alice, wife of Thomas Plantagenet of Brotherton) was Lord of Hales in 1294. He owned the manor of Wrantishagh and had on it a chapel dedicated to Saint Andrew. A "leave was then granted to him, that he might institute the chaplains of it," which Roger took and established a congregation and vicar there.
4. In 1331, a Sir John Hales was patron at this church.
5. The Hales family seat at Hales was called Loddon Hall.

From Letter 5.

The following are some additional information that gives perspective to what was going on in Norfolk prior to the Hales settlement. I think it is of remarkable value because of the influence these events had on the decisions our family had to make. Perhaps our family might have settled at another location if it had not been for the Viking invasion of Norfolk.

1. By 870 A.D. conflict between the Vikings and East Anglicans was severe. On this date King Edmund of Norfolk was killed and a significant number of English scattered throughout the county establishing settlements and mainly fortifications. I estimate that Hales was established shortly after King Edmund was killed by a prominent family of Angles lords. They initially built a moat surrounding their village. The family decided to stay as time progressed and eventually built a manor to replace the village. I strongly believe that the early lords of Hales fought with or were related to, on some level, King Edmund. Because of their status at Hales and the extent of their Lordship, the family had to be on the high side of Angles aristocracy.
2. 892 A.D. The Norfolk English took an oath to King Alfred and subsequently assisted him in attacking the Vikings throughout England. The passion and loyalty they once gave King Edmund was re-invested in King Alfred.
3. 870 - 1000 A.D. Believed to be the time reference when Hales was settled. The Hales family was so connected to the former King Edmund that they incorporated his emblem in their coat of arms and named their children after him long after he was dead. I strongly suspect that Sir Roger de Hales assisted in the re-building of Saint Edmunds Church.

From Letter 6.

From "Hales, or Lodden Hales," which was taken from Blomefields Norfolk, Volume VIII. It contains information about who inherited the town's Lordship.

Lord Roger de Hales, born about 1130, was Lord of Hales during early reign of King Henry II, who ruled from 1154 - 1189.

Lord William de Hales, born about 1155, Lord of Hales during the latter years of King Henry II's reign. (1154 - 1189). He is a documented son of Roger.

Lord Walter de Hales, born about 1180. Lord of Hales sometime during the reign of King John, which was between 1199 - 1216. Documented father of Sir Roger de Hales. Believed to be the son of Lord William de Hales.

Lord Sir Roger de Hales, born about 1205, was Lord of Hales in 1250. Documented father of John de Hales. I suspect Ralph de Hales was another son of Sir Roger de Hales, who also named his son Roger.

Lord John de Hales, was Lord of Hales in 1294. (Note: Ken, I never would have found and put together what I have on our family if it had not been for your work. Even if I had started out to find all that you have, I would not have been able to do so in a lifetime.)

This article is an attempt to provide a theory about why the Hales family might have removed from Norfolk to Kent. Thomas Becket, also known as Thomas a Becket was born about 1118 and was killed by four knights loyal to King Henry II in 1170.

In 1155, King Henry II appointed Becket chancellor of England. Becket adopted a luxurious life style and became the kings favorite companion. In 1162, King Henry II made Becket archbishop of Canterbury. Becket took his new position seriously. He lived more simply and became a champion of the church against royal power.

Following his appointment, Becket and King Henry II had bitter conflicts over the king's attempts to gain control over the church of England. Henry attempted to collect taxes on church lands, and to try church officials accused of serious crimes. Becket resisted Henry's efforts. King Henry was outraged.

In 1164, fearing for his safety, Becket went into hiding and then fled to France. To avoid detection he stayed in manors owned by his followers. He also had relatives in Norfolk. Sir Roger of Hales and his son William occupied Loddon Hales from 1154 to 1189 - the time of Becket's problems. When King Henry tried to locate Becket, and discovered he was in the safety of his friends, Henry's practice was to destroy the manors where he stayed. The followers of Becket, including one Hales, went into exile in France with Becket to avoid the kings wrath.

The Pipe Rolls mentions Adam of Hales and "his brothers," and states that his father was in exile with Becket in France. It seems likely that Roger of Hales, owner of Hales Manor at Loddon Hales, and lived here during this period would most likely be the father mentioned here - following Becket into France. But I have not found any documentation that mentions who the father of Adam of Hales was.

When Becket returned to England and settled in Kent, perhaps his followers, including at least one named Hales, also settled in Kent.

Becket returned to England in 1170 and quickly renewed his opposition to royal authority. Becket's new defiance irritated the king. In the hearing of his knights, Henry asked if anyone was brave enough to rid him of a single troublesome priest. Four knights took Henry's remark as a royal request. The knights murdered Becket while he was at evening prayers in Canterbury Cathedral.

The Genealogists Magazine of The Society of Genealogists states that the Hales Family came to Kent from Norfolk in the year 1172 - two years after the death of Becket. This is the first mention of anyone named Hales that I have discovered in Kent.

Adam of Hales and his brothers are mentioned as being in Scorham and Lincolnshire in 1203, and in Kent in 1204. It also indicates that there was more than one Hales brother in Kent at this time. Adam of Hales and his brothers most likely had a reason to be in Kent. Was it that their relative had come to Kent in 1172? It seems likely that Nicholas Hales, born about 1300 of High Halden, Kent, was a descendant of one of these Hales brothers.

Gibson & Hales, Barristers and Solicitors Practicing in Association, is a law firm conveniently located in Windsor, Ontario, Canada just off the E.C. Row Expressway, at 2828 Howard Avenue. We offer a comprehensive range of services, concentrating on family law, including separation, divorce, custody, access, support, property division and other related issues, as well as estate planning, civil litigation, and notarizations.

Kristen is the daughter of James Milton Hales and Gloria Brown Hales. She married Jeffrey Gartshore at London, Ontario, Canada on May 27, 1995 and is the mother of one son: Matthew Thomas Hales Gartshore; born December 27, 1997 at Windsor, Ontario, Canada.