I was wondering if anyone out there knows much about the descendants of the Paston family of Paston and Caister in Norfolk, England (mainly Sir John Paston, 1421-1466; and his wife Margaret Mauteby, 1422-1484), whose collection of over a thousand letters still survives and has been the subject of much study by historians?

There is a chance that they are ancestors of mine (according to Ancestry they are, but I'd like some harder evidence before accepting it as fact!). The Paston closest to me, if what I have so far is correct, is Dorothy Paston (b.1466 in Norfolk-1533) who married Christopher Hardres (1496-1536 in Hardres, Kent). Now, I am suspicious right away as Christopher is 30 years younger than Dorothy, and their first child, Thomas Hardres, was apparently born in 1511, when Christopher was just 15! So that can't be right.... can it?! And then going on down the family tree towards myself, there are a few generations that I need to be sure of before confirming the familial link. So if anyone can help unravel the Paston descendants, I'd be very grateful for any suggestions!

Best wishes,
Antonia