It is surprising what you come across when carrying out research. The following items are just a few.
Essex Assizes - July 19th 1839.
Edward Ayley, 27 years, a labourer, pleaded guilty to stealing a pair of high shoes belonging to his fellow workman, John Baker at Stapleford Tawney. The shoes were stated in the indictment to be of the value of three pence, but were so thickly nailed that his Lordship said they must be worth more money as old iron.
Sentence – 1 month hard labour, the first and last weeks in solitude.
1841 Census Stanford Rivers
The 1841 Census of the parish of Stanford Rivers gives some indication of the people who resided there at that time. At the Rectory we would find the Rev C. Dowdeswell, aged 77 years. To look after his needs he employed a butler, a gardener, a housekeeper and two housemaids. How times have changed.
The following items come from the Essex Calendar of Records – Sessions Records, which record the cases heard before the Essex Quarter Sessions at Chelmsford.
Jan 1592/53
We present a bridge called Pissingford Bridge in the parishes of Stapleford Tawney and Stapleford Abbots in the common highway which leads from Chipping Ongar towards London, to be very sore decayed in the planking thereof, which if it be not repaired very shortly the Queen’s subjects shall not pass that way neither with horse nor cart without danger, which bridge has been made new not long since by the County.
Midsummer 1674
House of Correction in Barking. Sam Cliffe committed 25th May for being an idle, dissolute and disorderly person and can give no account of himself, brought by the constable of Stanford Rivers before them (to be whipped and sent to “Bradfeild in Yorke”)
Easter 1691
20 Feb. Jas. Stace of Stanford Rivers (occ. not given) to answer the inhabitants of the parish for refusing to take a poor child of the parish as an apprentice. (owes 2 shillings).
Epiphany 1692/3
19 Dec. Geo Eve yeoman; to answer Tho. Staines for refusing to pay him his wages due for work; both of Theydon Mount. They are agreed.
1561/2 Hundred of Ongar.
William Tynge of Stanford Rivers is ordered that he shall not further frequent the society of Joan Palmer, widow of Chipping Ongar, because they are suspected persons and of dishonest conversation under a penalty of forfeitet as often as they are found associating, to wit the said William Tynge 13s.4d and the said Joan 6s 8d.
Tuesday 12 April 1681.
For not coming to their Parish Church. Ann wife of Wm. Peters esq., Henry Todd (gent) and Margaret his wife, and Dinah Poley and Alice Smyth, his servants, Margt. wife of Edw. Greene and Alice wife of Tho. Besouth, all of Stanford Rivers.
Michaelmas 1691
John Groves of Stapleford Abbots (27), Edw. Brown of Thornwood Hamlet (28), Giles Harding of Stanford Rivers (29) Edw. Elthorp (30) and John Ingold (31) both of Stapleford Tawney, all farmers, John North sen. (for John North jun.) [occupations not given] (32), Ralph Linney (33) and Nick Boules (34), both farmers all of Theydon Mount; each to appear and do what the court shall enjoin him for being in an unlawful assembly in the parish of Theydon Mount on 16 Sept last which was a solemn feast appointed by their Majestys’ proclamation to be religiously and strictly observed and kept throughout the Kingdom. All owe 2 shillings.
And finally……
Mashams
Many members of the High Country History Group will remember the evening visit to Mashams in High Laver two years ago. A combination of circumstances, including a reduction in the number of school visits made to the house, has resulted in the intended sale of the property by the Mashams Trust (Charity No. 1068328).