JOHN (BOCHER) OF CATSHALL

The heir male of the Chitty-alias-Bocher family, and the last known to have used the alias, was clothier John's eldest son John, who died in 1629.

His father had left him the lease of 'The Berryes', and at his own death he held the old family property Broadgate in Godalming as well as land at Shere, but was himself domiciled at Catteshall. The Broadgate and Shere property went to his son John, who paid Hearth Tax at West Shere in 1664 - a Richard of the same place being perhaps his son.

John of Catshall's other son Jonas, yeoman, was his executor and was left property adjoining his brother's (?Broadgate). From his uncle (and probably godfather) Jonas he also received, in 1635, a house in Godalming which had been his grandfather's. He was listed on the Godalming Session Roll of 1661, and was buried there in 1680; but his Will describes him as of Shackleford (one doubtless erroneous reference says Shalford) and he also paid Hearth Tax at Puttenham, where three of his children were married.

His sons were John of Godalming, Jonas of Wonersh, William of Tilsey, Wonersh, and Richard of Shackleford and Shoeland, Puttenham. John and William seem to have had only daughters - and in 1695 Jonas and his sister's husband Richard Fludder were sued for improper supervision of William's estate, causing loss to his infant daughters.

Jonas, who died 1713/4, had a large family, his line continuing through his son Richard, yeoman, (1684-1752/3) of Dunsfold, Cranleigh and Ballshaws, Alfold. Of his sons, George succeeded him at Cranleigh and Jonas at Dunsfold, with property also at Ewhurst. This Jonas's sons lived at Dunsfold, Rudgwick, Elsted and Cranleigh. At Cranleigh, George became a blacksmith and his son Jonas and grandson George followed him in this trade, but at Send, where George was still living in 1836.

Returning to Richard of Shoeland, Puttenham, husbandman, we find that his grandson or great-grandson Richard was apprenticed to a butcher at Horsele, and he was probably later a butcher in St Clement Dane's, naming his son Caleb (cordwainer) after his brother-in-law Caleb Budd.

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