John Harding , (3)

From 'Chaplin and Skinner Families' December 1902, pages 90 to 91:


>> THE CHICHELE CONNECTION

In February, 1437, Henry Chichele, Archbishop of Canterbury, laid the first stone of a house in Northgate Street, Oxford, for the accommodation of scholars of the Cistercian Order, who at that time had no settled habitation in the University. This was dedicated to the Blessed Virgin and to St. Bernard, the great saint of the Cistercian Order, and was called All Souls, from the inmates being specially enjoined to pray for the repose of the souls of all the faithful departed. In the following year a charter of incorporation was obtained from Henry VI., who at the Archbishop's request, and to give greater stability to the new college, consented to take upon himself the title of Founder. The Archbishop, however, retained in his own hands the full control of its affairs under the title of Co-founder, and he reserved to his kindred and their descendants certain special rights and privileges.
On the 2nd November, 1774, John Harding (grandfather of Mrs. Caroline Emily Skinner, great-grandfather of John Edwin Hilary Skinner, and great-great-grandfather of John Allan Cleveland Skinner) was elected a Fellow of All Souls by right of "Founder's kin," and was therefore at once admitted to be a full fellow (socius), thus obtaining a practical admission of his descent, for at that time the privilege of "Founder's kin" was very jealously guarded, and a strict proof of kinship with the Founder was required. John Harding was descended from William Chichele, an alderman and sheriff of London, and brother of the Archbishop, as shown on the following page [see chichele.bmp] << Of Oozleworth and Coaley. Chichele Connection