The Hales Baronetcy, is a title in the Baronetage of England. There were three Hales baronetcies. The oldest was created in 1611 for Edward Hales. He was a member of a Kent family. The second was created in 1660 for Robert Hales, MP for Hythe 1659, also of a Kent family. The third was created in 1660 for John Hales of Coventry, co. Warwick. Hales of Woodchurch and Tunstall, Kent (1 February 1626; extinct) Created in the Baronetage of England, Sir Edward Hales, 1st Baronet (1576–1654) Sir Edward Hales, 2nd Baronet (1626–1684) Sir Edward Hales, 3rd Baronet (1645–1695) A convert to Roman Catholicism, he was much in favour with James II, who appointed him to various Lieutenancies and positions of confidence. After the Revolution of 1688, he continued to attend James II at the exiled court in France at St. Germain-en-Laye and was a prominent member of the Catholic cabinet under the Duke of Melfort. Created in 1692, Earl of Tenterden, Viscount Tunstall and Baron Hales of Emley in the Jacobite Peerage of England by James II. Sir John Hales, 4th Baronet, 2nd Jacobite Earl of Tenterden (1672–1744). Hales was the second and eldest surviving son of Sir Edward Hales 3rd Baronet, and Frances Windebank (dau. of Sir Thomas Windebank (1582–1646) of Hougham, Lincolnshire, In 1718 Hales abandoned his Catholic faith and became an Anglican. He was offered a peerage by George I but declined it, because he would not be allowed to hold his claim to the earldom of Tenterden, conferred on his father by James II. Hales was granted the freedom of the city Canterbury after he installed a water supply in lead pipes at his own expense. In recognition of this gift, there was much festivity and many church bells were rung in his honour. In 1730, Hales gave an unusual one handed clock to St Stephen's church in Canterbury, which is still in use on the tower wall to this day. Hales married Mary Catherine Bealing in 1695 she was daughter of Sir Richard Bealing. He then married Helen, (daughter of Dudley Bagnall, esq.) who died at Luckly, in Berkshire, in 1737. With Mary, he had Edward (the 5th Baronet), John (who died before him) and one daughter (Frances, who later married to George Henry, Earl of Litchfield). With Helen, he had three sons, James, Alexander, and Philip. He was buried in Tunstall on 20 January