High Country History Group

I recently acquired the postcard showed below which clearly says ‘Ongar Roll of Honour.’ I was not aware such roll existed, and as far as can be ascertained it is no longer in existence. This of course set me on a mission to find out about it.

Fortunately there were two references to the Roll of Honour in local papers:

Reported in the Chelmsford Chronicle 15 December 1916

A meeting was held in the Council School in December 1916 to consider whether to erect a ‘War Shrine’ to the memory of those men connected with the parish who are serving in H.M. Forces and those who have fallen.

The meeting was presided over by the Revd. E. Barber and after a discussion it was resolved to erect a shrine in the Market Place (subject to the approval of the surveyor). A committee was formed, consisting of;
Revd. Barber
Revd. G. F.White
Revd. Father Boyland
Col. C.H. Christie
Mrs Christie
Dr Wilson
Dr Ferguson
Mr F. M. Noble
Mr. H. E. Barnard, J.P
Mrs Ward
Miss B. Foster
Mr C. Rose
Mr. T. E. Rose
Miss Tanner
Mrs Barlow.

Mrs Charles Rose was appointed Hon Secretary.

The intention was for the committee to submit designs and report back to the meeting.

Reported in the Essex Newsman 19th May 1917

The Shrine was unveiled on Sunday 13th May 1917 and on it were inscribed the names of 250 men now serving, discharged, and dead from the Ongar district. The roll of honour was inscribed by a Miss Hadler, of Marden Ash.

In attendance at the unveiling were members of the local detachment of the Essex Volunteer Regiment, under Sergeant C. H. Foster. Also present were the Epping Platoon, under Lieutenant Baddeley, Waltham Abbey (Lt. Trounce), and Harlow (Lt. F. Jones); Grammar School Cadet Corps (Capt. Wildman); 23 Special Constables (Sgt. Merchant); 24 Boy Scouts (Ass. Scoutmaster F. H. Smith). Also present were some wounded soldiers. The band of the Hackney Homes, under Mr Dean, formed up in the square, and Colonel C. H. Christie was in command of the whole parade.

The unveiling was performed by Captain Howell J. Price, D.L. An impressive service was conducted by the Revd. Barber, the hymn, “O God our help in ages past,” being sung, accompanied by the band. The Revd. G. White, Congregational minister, took part in the service. The Rector (Revd Barber) dedicated the shrine, which was then handed over to the care of Sgt. C. Foster, as chairman of the Parish Council. Mr Christie gave a short address.

What is interesting is that the Roll of Honour was unveiled before the end of the Great War which is unusual. Was it ever updated as more reports of casualties were received? Perhaps someone can throw some light on this.

The parishioners agreed to pay all persons who will destroy the sparrows in this parish in the following manner – for every dozen sparrows four pence.

During the two World Wars, the Government were very concerned with the preservation of food supplies and by prevention of waste, less money needed to be expended for the import of food and the obvious risk of getting shipping past the enemy. In order to try and prevent waste, pests needed to be culled. This gave rise to correspondence initially from the Home Office.

The Under Secretary of State, Home Office, 6th June 1917

Sir,
In view of the importance of taking all practical measures at the present time for protecting the National food supply, the Board of Agriculture have recommended that certain measures be taken for the destruction of rats and house sparrows.

The Board of Agriculture issued a leaflet detailing the following rewards to be made:

•Rats tails 1/- per dozen
•Heads of unfledged house sparrows 2d per dozen
•Heads of fully fledged house sparrows 3d per dozen
•House sparrow eggs 1d per dozen

The leaflet also encouraged the setting up of Sparrow and Rat Clubs to encourage the population in the destruction of the pests.

Greensted and Stanford Rivers both had such cubs during the Second World War.

Difficult to imagine anything like this happening today, but desperate times called for desperate measures.

Nick Dobson gave a marvellous talk to the High Country History Group on this topic drawing on original sources by way of illustration. The Christmas truce of 1914 has become a legendry halt in hostilities in what was a war of attrition, killing millions and lasting four and a half years. Revd. Edward Henry Lisle Reeve, of Stondon Massey, kept notes for a parish history (now preserved in the Essex Record Office). He gives this account of Christmas Day 1914 on the Western Front.

28th January 1915

“When travelling by train to London from Ongar on Jan 25th I had for a fellow passenger for part of the way a Lancashire man who had returned wounded and frost-bitten from the front, and was now sufficiently convalescent to be going for a short spell to his native county before returning to France.

His first-hand report of the conditions of things abroad was very interesting. He had often been for days together standing in water in the trenches, and the plight of the soldiers in the cold, wet, and filth was, he said indescribable. The Germans were in as bad or worse plight. During an interval on Christmas-day some of the enemy had approached our trenches and joined in conversation with our men. One German soldier had given his cigarettes and offered him brandy.

In reply to the German invitation to drink with him the British soldier declined, until by way of assuring him took a pull himself at the flask he was offering! Lancashire shyness was then overcome, and the soldier accepted a draught of the “Cognac” for such it proved to be. The time was soon over for these pleasantries, and the two dropped back again into their several positions, having apparently no special desire to kill one another, save at the call of duty! I wished my fellow passenger a safe return to England at the close of war.”

H.R.H. the Princess Royal of Belgium paid a private visit to the ancient and unique church of Greensted, on Wednesday. She was accompanied by Lord Lambourne and ladies, and received by the Rector, the Rev. Ralph Doyle, who conducted the party, and gave a brief explanation of the leading features of the church. H.R.H. was deeply interested and pleased with her visit, and asked several questions.
One of the ladies expressed the hope that the church was well supported by its numerous and many of them wealthy visitors from all parts. The Rector said he could not truthfully answer in the affirmative. Some few did give, but not the majority. The greater weight of money placed in the box for the church’s upkeep consisted of copper coins. He thought it was well worth a fixed entrance fee for everyone. This was approved.

Chelmsford Chronicle, 27th August 1926.

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Rector in Court Scene

The Rev. Ralph Doyle, rector of Greensted, was summoned at Ongar on Saturday for the non payment of rates. He said he was willing to pay the rates, which he has withheld as a protest against the way in which the road near the church was kept.

The Chairman: “This court has nothing to do with the roads. All we wish to know is whether you are going to pay, or whether you wish us to issue a distress warrant.”

Defendant, “I deny that you have any right to issue a warrant. I will pay under protest.”

Essex Newsman, 15th October 1927.

The Revd. Richard Thomas, formerly of Stanford Rivers, near Chipping Ongar, in the County of Essex, clerk, curate for the parish of Stanford Rivers aforesaid, and also Chaplain to the Union House there; then in lodgings at No 3 Newcastle Street, Farrington Street, then in lodgings at no. 48, Holborn Hill, both in the City of London; afterwards in lodgings at Mr William Smith’s, of Hemswell, near Spittal, in the County of Lincolnshire, farmer, and late in lodgings at Mr George Brown’s, in Church Street, Gainsborough, in the County of Lincoln, grocer and shoemaker; during the whole of the above residences, clerk and incumbent of the parish church of Hemswell, aforesaid.

To be heard on the 19th November at Lincoln, at 10 o’clock in the forenoon.

Stanford Mercury 20th August, 1841

Insolvent Debtors’ Court, Lincoln
Nov. 19 – before Mr. Commissioner Harris.

The Rev. Rd. Thomas, Perpetual Curate of Hemswell, late of Chipping Ongar, Essex, and formerly Master of Lincoln Grammar School, applied to be discharged under the Act. The detaining creditor was Mr. Robert Williams, general dealer, 22 Old Bailey, London: his claim was £5.11s., with law costs amounting to £12.9s.4d. The Rev. Gentleman was opposed by Mr Pashley, spirit merchant, who contended that the insolvent had contracted debts at a time when he had no visible means or prospect of payment, and was supported by Mr Dowse. Mr Pashley added that, whilst the income of the insolvent was only £140 per annum, he was living at the rate of £160. The Commissioner said that was no fraud under the circumstances occasioning the insolvency. The amount of his debts was £240. The income of Hemswell had been £62 per annum, but had been reduced to £43. During the brief examination, it transpired that the principal part of the debts had been contracted in 1837, when the sickness of the insolvent’s wife, who died 12 months since, occasioned him greater expense than the pitiably small income would meet. The Commissioner said the case was an extremely hard one: the insolvent confessed that so great had been the poverty to which he had been reduced, that for the past six weeks he had been out on bail, he has not has a bed to lie upon. The Commissioner quoted the adage, “Poverty acquaints us with strange bedfellows,” and ordered the insolvent to be discharged,

Stanford Mercury 26th November, 1841

In 1623 William, 2nd Baron Petre purchased the estate from Sir Thomas Elliott. William was married to Catherine, second daughter of Edward Somerset, fourth earl of Worcester. Lord Petre settled the estate in 1628 upon his 3rd, but 2nd surviving, son William (born 29 July,1602 at West Horndon, died 15 January 1677) as a jointure for William's wife Lucy (died 3 March 1679), daughter of Sir Richard Fermor, of Somerton, Oxfordshire. They had three sons and three daughters.

The Petres at this time acquired all the other manors in the parish except Littlebury. Their estate in Stanford Rivers became known as Bellhouse, from the name of their capital mansion. It comprised about 1,600 acres in the 17th century. Both William and Lucy are buried in the chancel at St Margaret’s. In 1645 Stanford Rivers was granted by Parliament to the Earl of Essex, on account of William Petre's adherence to Charles I

Upon the death of Sir William, the states passed to his son, also William (born 2 July, 1666, died April 1728). He was married, firstly to Anne Poulter, who died in childbirth, aged 23 years, on the 21 February, 1628. He then married Penelope Wolphe (Woolfe), who gave birth to eleven children. William is also buried in the chancel at St Margaret’s.

He raised substantial mortgages to endow his daughters, at least six of whom became nuns. His son Robert (1700- 66) became a Jesuit. This outlay was, however, more than balanced by the marriage portion of £4,000 brought into the estate by Lady Mary Radcliffe (died 16 March, 1756), only daughter of Edward, Earl of Derwentwater, who in 1722 married William Petre, heir of his father.

In 1737 William handed over the administration of the Stanford Rivers estate to his kinsman Robert, Baron Petre (d. 1742). An account book for the years 1738-44 shows that the estate (which also included the manors of Stanford Hall, Traceys, and Bellhouse) had a rent roll of slightly over £1,000 a year, out of which William Petre was allowed £350 tax free. William died on the 21 September, 1745, and is also buried in the chancel at St Margaret’s.

William’s heir was John Petre, son of his brother Edward. Shortly before William's death John, who was under age, had been given into William's care by his grandfather and previous guardian William Keep. After William Petre's death John was sent by his aunt, Lady Mary Petre, to Douai to be educated as a Roman Catholic. William Keep thereupon started an action in Chancery to regain custody of the boy. An order was made to this effect but was defied by Lady Mary. In 1747 a receiver was appointed in Chancery to administer the Stanford Rivers estate. John Petre probably assumed control soon after this, for he was said to have been eighteen years old in 1745.

John Petre died in 1762. In 1759, on his marriage to Frances Man, he had provided that if he had no sons his estates should pass to Robert, Baron Petre in trust for Lord Petre's second son, if one should be born to him. Provision was made for any daughters left by John Petre. In the event he left only one, Catherine, who became entitled on his death to a jointure of £4,000 from his estate.

From 1762 to 1775 the Stanford Rivers estate was administered by a steward acting for John Tempest, executor of John Petre's will. The estate accounts for this period show that the rent roll was still about £1,000 a year. Most of the income, and in some years all of it, was taken up by expenses and the payment of annuities. Catherine Petre, whose jointure of £4,000 remained in the estate, received interest at the rate of £160 a year. Susan Petre, sister of John, similarly received £120 a year as interest on a jointure of £3,000, and John Petre's widow drew £300 a year from the estate. By 1774 there was £905 in hand on the running of the estate, but most of this was accounted for by the fact that the annuities had for some reason not been paid in 1772. During the period covered by the accounts the whole estate was leased to various farmers and smallholders.

In 1775 John Tempest conveyed the estate to Lord Petre as guardian of his second son George William Petre. In 1791 the estate was found to be encumbered to the extent of £9,750: in addition to the jointures of Catherine and Susan Petre a mortgage of £2,750 had been raised from a William Plumer. In 1793 a further mortgage of £10,000 was raised from Thomas Heron of Chilham Castle, Kent. In
1796 part of the estate (evidently Stanford Hall), was sold to Charles Smith of Suttons in Stapleford Tawney for £7,650. George William Petre, who died 22 October, 1797, aged 32. His heir was George Petre, his son.

In 1819 the remainder of the Stanford Rivers estate, including the manorial rights, was bought from George Petre for £25,280 by Judith Smith of Stratford, Essex, who was probably sister of the above mentioned Charles Smith of Suttons. Judith was lady of the manor up to 1830; in and after 1833 the lordship (and presumably the estate) had passed to Charles Joshua Smith, Bt., son and heir of Charles Smith of Suttons.

Roman Catholicism

The Petres were one of the families, which have played a great part in the preservation of the Catholic Faith in England. In the 17th century and the first half of the 18th Roman Catholic worship was carried on by the Petres at Bellhouse. This was one of the places served by the secret Jesuit mission in eastern England which was founded about 1633 and largely financed by the Petres. The first William Petre of Bellhouse was a servant of Charles I and in 1639 the king personally intervened to prevent him from being prosecuted for recusancy. In 1676 there was an unusually large number of papists in Stanford Rivers. There was probably a private chapel at Bellhouse, and Roman Catholic worship continued there until after the death of William Petre in 1745. The date when it finally ceased is not certain, but it is unlikely to have continued for long after the death of John Petre in 1762.

The Petres also contributed generously to the support of Roman Catholicism elsewhere. During the reign of Charles II an annuity of £40 out of the manor of Stanford Rivers was being paid to each of two members of the family, Richard and Robert Petre, who had become Jesuits. In 1678, however, these revenues were seized by the government.

Thomas Leverton (c.1743 – 1824), architect, left in his Will £6000 to be spent on charitable causes in Waltham Abbey. Invested in annuities it generated an annual dividend of £180 and was allocated as follows: “£80 in clothing 20 boys and 20 girls; £30 to a schoolmaster, and £20 to a mistress, for teaching the said forty children; £10 to provide them with school books and stationary; £10 for apprenticing two of the said children; £5 to be given to five of the children who behaved well in their first servitude; £12 to be given in clothing to six poor men and six poor women; £5 to be distributed in bread among the poor on Christmas day; £3 for keeping his monument in repair, and the remaining £5 to be reserved by the trustees for contingencies.” (Wright, 1848)

A manuscript volume in private hands, to the extent of 285 pages, covers the working of the charities from 1852 to 1863. It provides a list of trustees appointed “by Will” to May 1863. This included at inauguration Revd. William Whalley, and throughout the period members of the Jessop family who were local solicitors. In a separate development, the executors of George Fawbert, “late of Harlow [1824] … purchased a [school] House and Premises [in High Bridge Street], which they presented to the Trustees of the Leverton Charities for the use of the Leverton Trust”. Joseph Jessop Esqr was one of Fawbert’s executors.

Benjamin Howard Merriman and Martha Merriman his Wife were elected as schoolmaster and schoolmistress in 1849 followed by George Smith and Jane Smith a decade later. Children were elected to the school by the trustees as vacancies occurred. They were expected to attend daily from 9.00am to 12pm, and 2.00pm to 4.30pm (4.00pm between Michaelmas and Lady Day) as well as three times on Sunday at Divine Service. “The children to be in the Schools by the striking of the Church Clock … to be sent well washed, their hair combed, their linen and shoes clean, and stockings and clothes neatly mended.“ It was their parents responsibility to “see their Children’s Behaviour at Home and in the Streets, is in unison with the principles taught at School, and that they cause them to say their Prayers Morning and Evening; also Grace before and after Meat.” The master and mistress were also obliged to follow a code of conduct in accordance with the Trustee’s wishes. Holidays were granted “Easter Week (2 Days Church), Whitsuntide Week; Queen’s Birth Day [24 May]; Hay Harvest, a fortnight; Wheat Harvest, a fortnight or 3 weeks; Statute (26th Sep); Christmas, a fortnight; and, from 1859, every Saturday”. The volume then lists the admission of 161 pupils beginning with those already in the Leverton School on 1 January 1852. Five children annually were rewarded the sum of £1 for good behaviour in their first year of employment. One such recipient was James William Turnham, born 22 June 1841 who joined the school at the age of nine, leaving just short of the age of 14 to go to work “as a Cooper at the Powder Mills”. Emma Carr, aged 14 on 15 November 1853 went to work “in a factory”. Jane Carpenter “went into Mr Sidgwick’s Service in Sun Street”. It appears that children stayed until their fourteenth birthday. There are a few records showing “time out”. Other pupils did not make the grade: William Henry Powell at 13 was described as “Boy Impudent. Parents took him away”; Henry Walker, “Clothes Ragged. Taken out by his mother. See Minute April 28 1852”; and, Henry Simpson, age 13, “expelled for bad conduct”. The list ends with a note, “continued Vol 2 p150”.

Towards the end of the volume are reports from ladies on the girls’ school, covering 1853 to 1864, confirming compliance with the founder’s aims. The mistress was required to teach “reading, plain needle and useful housework and writing to ten of the elder girls.” The trustees added that “the Girls are not to be Taught any thing to the neglect of the above, and that if any thing else is Taught, it should be approved by the Ladies, and permitted as a Reward to those Girls”. In 1853 it was noted “that Mrs Merriman informs us common arithmetic has been taught, which, although not provided for by the Founder, we highly approve of. We are also informed that ‘Crochet-Work’ has been taught to some of the children, but we think it desirable that this should be discontinued; we would however suggest that knitting socks or stockings may be taught as being very useful to the humbler classes at an advanced period of life”. In 1855: “We beg to suggest that once a week the Girls’ own Stockings be brought to the School to be darned.” In the boys’ school the Master was required “to Teach Reading, Writing and Common Arithmetic”.

The volume then lists the applicants for and recipients of “Cloak and Gown to 6 Poor Women” and “Coat and Underdress to 6 Poor Men” for the years 1849 to 1859. (1860 can be found in Vol 2, p100).

The distribution of bread follows beginning with a table showing how £5 worth was to be distributed annually. In December 1849 and 1850 it was possible to buy 200 4lb loaves at 6d each. The price varied dramatically with each year being as little as 127 loaves at 9½d in 1853 and as many as 230 loaves at 5¼d in 1858.

Several pages are then devoted to copies of income and expenditure accounts and Balance Sheets for the years 1852 to 1859. There then follows a long table over a number of pages listing the attendance of trustees at monthly meetings between January 1843 and October 1864. The volume appears to be entirely in the same hand, with annotations here and there, but the author is not identified.

Thomas Leverton’s memorial is in the church. He lived in Bedford Square, London, dying aged 81 on 23 September 1824. His second wife, Rebecca, died 4 August 1833, aged 76 and “is buried [with him] in a Vault near this spot. This Monument was Erected not from ostentation, but as an incitement to the youth of his native Parish, to pursue the path by which he rose to Honor, Wealth, & Comfort; by relying humbly on God, acting with Integrity, Industry & true Benevolence.” Other members of his family are buried in the churchyard. The monument erected by Thomas remembers Lancelot, his brother (d.1784), Alice his first wife (d.1802), and “Henry Leverton only Child of Thos Leverton who departed this World Feby 1789 aged 12 years and 10 Months”. They were later joined by William (d.1849) and Sarah (d.1843), his other brother and sister-in-law.

Leverton’s name lives on in Waltham Abbey. Although the Charity School closed in 1942 a Charitable Foundation continues offering students of the town educational grants. The local school, which opened in 1971, is called The Leverton Junior School.

Last time we saw that Wills of testators in Theydon Mount cast light on the rebuilding of St Michael’s Church between 1611 and 1614. Of those preserved at the Essex Record Office, four of the deceased were not buried in the parish churchyard.

There are in total ten “King James I” wills of Theydon Mount preserved in the Essex Record Office, all of which (since this research was done) are now available by online subscription through Essex Ancestors.

Wills are interesting because they give insight into the lives of ancestors: who their relations were, what they left to whom and, what was important to them at the time.

The ten Wills include three yeomen, two husbandmen (farmers) and a widow, a tailor and a bricklayer. Of these, there is a run of four wills matching a sequence of four burials. From the Burial Register:

1623. …

Thomas Gilson singleman was buryed June 11 A[nn]o supradicto(?)

1624. Thomas Herd [th]e elder was buryed Septem[ber] 18 A[nn]o supradicto(?)

Richard Gladwin was buryed February 5 A[nn]o supradicto(?)

Susan Winter widdow was buryed March 13 A[nn]o supradicto(?)

Richard Gladwin, whose name we came across in connection with a terrier in the Parish Register, was bricklayer and sideman in the parish. He was buried on 5 February 1624/25. His will is dated 14 December 1624:

1 The fourtenth day of December in the yeare of our Lord 1624
2 I Richard Gladwin of Thaidon Mount in the County of Essex Bricklaiar
3 being of p[er]fect mind & memory do make & ordayne this my last
4 will & testamt, as followeth First I make Thomas Gladwin my
5 sonne the sole executor of this my last will & testamt & do giue
6 vnto him all my goodes & chattell not gevein otherwise bequeathed
7 It[em] I giue unto Susan my wife forty shillinges a yeare
8 during her natural life, to be paid quarterly vnto her by
9 my executor, in lieu & stead of all her thirds out of all my tenem[en]t
10 that now I haue, or lately had. Also I giue vnto her all such
11 housholestuffe as she brought w[i]th her. It[em] I giue vnto my sonne
12 Richard Gladwin & his heirs my tenem[en]t wherin Thomas
13 Howland now dwelleth which appiwhire(?) lying in Thaidon
14 Mount aforesaid and I giue unto him my long chist in the Rest & my greatens(?) … It[em] I giue unto Bridgit my daughter
15 ten pounds at her day of marriage or age of xxi yeares
16 wh[ic]h first shall happen And if she dy before, then it to
17 remaine to the benefit of my Executor. It[em] I giue vnto
18 her a featherbed w[i]th all thinges belonging thereto & the haeshoad
19 bedsteads standing in the loft(?). And also the best payre of flaxon stools
20 and the larg of pewter platter, and the best brasse candlesticks, w[hi]ch was
21 her mothers gift vnto her & two chests w[hi]ch were her mothers &
22 my best brasse pot & my second brasse kettle
23 in presence(?) of me. Richard [X] Gladwin
24 Samuel Searle his marke

Richard Gladwin’s list of beds, chests, pots, pans and candlesticks is fairly typical of a man handing on things of value. We live today in a mass-produced and throw-away society.

The Will ends with a seal and “probatum” in Latin. (I am not a Latin scholar.)

Thomas Herd, yeoman, left bequests to a large number of relatives.

1 T Thomas Heard
2 In [th]e name of [th]e holy and blessed Trinitie the Father the sonne
3 and [th]e holy ghost so be it. The Fifh daye of June anno dom[ini] 1624. I
4 Thomas Herd the elder of Thaydon mount in the Countie of
5 Essex yeoman beinge sick in body but p[er]fect remembrance
6 …. prayse and thankes be given to allmightie God
7 doe ordaine and make this my last will and testament
8 in meanier and forme followinge First I bequeath my
9 soule to Allmightie God my maker and to Jesus Cyis
10 my Redeemer and Saviour by whom meirites I hope to be
11 saved of my body that I bequeath to the earth from whence
12 it came lookinge for a joyfull resurreci[o]n through the
13 merrites of Jesus Christ. Item I will and bequeath to
14 Thomas Heard my sonne one great copper pan
15 hanginge in a furnace in the kitchen and a great
16 twughe(?) standing in [th]e kitchen Chamber and a greate
17 presse standing in the little parlor to him and to his
18 heires for ever to remayne in the howse
19 as standing(?) for ever as they have bene henceforwode. I
20 will and bequeath to my sonn Thomas all my bookes
21 All my land is his by inheritance. Item I will and
22 bequeath to my goddaughter Anne Wallenger my daughters
23 daughter Fyve pounds of lawfull money of England
24 books called the governance of vertue. Item I will and
25 and bequeath to Elizabeth Heard my sonnes daughter
26 a book called the Pilgrimage to Paradise. Item I
27 will and bequeath to John Heard my uncle
28 George Heards sonne his fower Children that
29 he had by his first wife Fortie shillinges a peece
30 payde of this to Agnes Heard vis viijd. Item
31 I will and bequeath to the poore people of Stanford
32 Ryvers where I was borne xxs Item I give
33 and bequeath to the poor people of Thaydon
34 Munt Fortie shillinges to be bestowed whom
35 my Executors shall thinke most meete. Item I
36 will and bequeath to Rebecca Savell my
37 inlawd wallen(?) his …. xxs the residue
38 of all my goodes … moveeables
39 unmoveables whatsoever my legacies discharged
40 and Funeralls and that I may beliving [th]t
41 decently to the earth from whence I came
42 I giue and bequeath to Jonne my wife upon I
43 make my Executor of this my last will and
44 testament. And I doe ordayne and appoynt Roger
45 Ratt of the p[ar]ishe of Thaydon Garinghe to be my
46 overseer of this my last will and
47 I doe give him for theire paynes xs. I[te]m
48 witnes to this my last will. I Have written
49 this w[i]th my owne hand and … my
50 name [th]e daye and yeare first aboue written
51 by me Thomas Heard. Item more I giue
52 and bequeath to Thomas Heard my godsonne
53 at Harlowe xs and his daughter my
54 goddaughter Five shillinges. Item I will
55 and bequeath to Thomas Gardner my godsonne
56 ijs vjd and I will and bequeath to Thomas
57 Heard my godsonne my sonnes sonne a booke
58 called [th]e enemye of securitie. Item I will
59 and bequeath to my sister winters three sonnes
60 xs a peece and to Thomas Heard my kinsman
61 sonne of George Heard xs. Item I will and
62 bequeath to my Cosin Rehell(?) Renson vjs viijd
63 Item I will and bequeath to John Heard my
64 brother Williams sonne xs by me T[h]omas
65 Heard.
66 Probatum … [in Latin]

Leaving specifically named books seems unusual, but the gift was rare and valuable. It showed a high degree of literacy in his family.

Thomas Gilson, tailor, who died earlier than Thomas Heard, left the following Will.

1 T Thomas Gilson
2 In the name of god amen the teneth daie of Febarirarie Anno
3 Dom[ini] 1623. I Thomas Gilson of Theydon mount in the Countie of Essex
4 tailer being sick in bodie but in parfit remembrance thankes be
5 giuen to allmightie god doe ordaine and make this my last will and
6 teastement in manner and forme following. Furst I bequeath my
7 sowle to allmyghtie god my maker and to Jesus Christ my redemer by
8 whose merritts I hope onlie to be saued loking for a Joyfull
9 resurrection, and my bodie to the earth from wence it came.
10 Item I will and bequeath to my two brothers George Gilsom and
11 John Gilsom twentie shillinges a peese to be paid to them upon …
12 shall com to be of the age of fowr and twentye yeares a peese or at the
13 daie of marrage which of them shall com furst. Item I will and
14 and bequeath to my sister marie fiftie shillings. Item I will and beq[ue]ath
15 to my brother Richard Gilson tenn shillings and to his fowre children
16 now living twelue pence apese. Item I will and bequeath to my
17 sister Elizabeth two shillings six pence to her sonn Richard my
18 godson tenn shillings and to her two other children now living
19 twelve pence a peese. It[e]m I will and bequeath to my sister
20 Susan two shillings six pence. It[e]m I will and bequeath
21 to my brother in law George Herns two children that is to say to
22 Thomas and to William fortie shillinges a peese all those
23 children before named to have there portions paid them as they
24 shall com to the age of fowrr and twentie yeares a peese or
25 at the daie of marrage which them shall com furst. It[e]m I will
26 and bequeath to my brother John Gilson my best sute of apparel
27 the residew of all my goodes Cattell and other chattels redie monie
28 debtes being paid and legasies parformed and my finerall
29 discharges I will and bequeath to George herd my brother
30 in law whome I make my sole executer of this my last
31 will and teastament and I doo appoynt Thomas Herd the
32 younger of Theydon Mount and my brother George Gilson to
33 be my overseers of this my last will and teastament
34 and I doe giue them for tharr paines twelve pence a peese
35 the marke of Thomas Gilson
36 Wittnesses Thomas Herd senieor
37 and Thomas Herd Junior
38 with others
39 Probatu[m] … [in Latin]

The fourth census of Great Britain (England, Scotland and Wales) was taken on Monday 30th May 1831. The returns gave a population of 16.5 million people, an increase of 1.9 million over 1821. There were 2.85 million inhabited buildings, occupied by 3.4 million families.
The Census Act 1831, was titled,
"An Act for taking an Account of the Population of Great Britain, and the increase or diminution thereof".

The following questions to be answered by the overseers of the poor in England and Wales, and for schoolmasters in Scotland:

1. How many inhabited houses are there in your parish, township or place; by how many families are they occupied?

2. How many houses are now building, and therefore not yet inhabited?

3. How many other houses are uninhabited?

4. What number of families in your parish, township or place, are chiefly employed in and maintained by agriculture; how many families are chiefly employed in and maintained by trade, manufacture or handicraft; and how many families are not comprised in either of the two preceding classes?

The number of males, 'upwards of twenty years' was to be given for seven economic categories. These were those employed in:
a). agriculture (sub-divided into occupiers of land who employed labourers, other occupiers of land, and agricultural labourers);
b). manufacture;
c) retail trade or handicrafts;
d) as capitalists, merchants and professionals;
e) as miners, fishermen, non-agricultural labourers;
f) those retired or disabled;
g) those employed as servants.

In addition a schedule of the Act of 1830 carried the following questions to be answered by the clergy in England and Wales:

1. What was the number of baptisms and burials in your parish or chapelry, in the several years 1821, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29 and 30; distinguishing males from females?

2. What was the number of marriages in your parish or chapelry, in the several years 1821-1830

3. Be pleased to specify, on the schedule annexed for that purpose, the ages of individuals registered in your burial register in the several years from 1813 to 1830, both inclusive.

4. What number of illegitimate children may have been born in your parish or chapelry during the year 1830, according to the best information you possess or can obtain; and distinguish male and female children?

5. Are there any matters, which you think it necessary to remark, in explanation of your answers to either of the preceding questions? Especially whether any and what annual average number of baptisms, burials and marriages, may, in your opinion, taken place in your parish, without being entered in the parish registers?

The information for Stapleford Tawney appears not to have survived. However in the Essex Record Office there is a copy of the Schedule for Stapleford Tawney, completed by the Rector Giving some of the information he was required to submit:

Baptisms:

Years
Male
Female
Total
1821
2
4
6
1822
5
11
16
1823
3
4
7
1824
4
4
8
1825
1
8
9
1826
4
5
9
1827
6
7
13
1828
5
0
5
1829
9
4
13
1830
4
3
7

Burials:

Years
Males
Females
Total
1821
5
1
6
1822
2
1
3
1823
1
4
5
1824
3
2
5
1825
2
2
4
1826
2
5
7
1827
7
2
9
1828
-
1
1
1829
6
2
8
1830
1
-
1

In addition each parish was required to:
Be pleased to specify on the Schedule annexed for that Purpose, the Ages of Individuals registered in your Burial Register in the several Years from 1813 to 1830, both inclusive.

The return for Stapleford Tawney shows the age of individuals when they died of both male and females for the period. In some years there were no deaths recorded.

Age
Male
Female
Under one year
7
6
1

2
2
1
1
3
2
1
5
1
-
7
1
-
8
1
2
12

1
14
1

18
1
1
19
-
1
20
1
-
21
1
1
22
1
-
23
1
-
24
-
1*
25
-
1
26
-
1
30
2
-
35
1
-
36
1
-
37
1
1
40
-
2
42
1
-
43
1
-
45
2
-
52
-
1
53
1
-
55
-
2
56
1
-
57
1
-
58
1
-
60
-
3
61
1
-
65
1
-
67
2
-
69
1
1
71
1
-
75
1
-
76
-
1
77
2
-
83
1
-
84
-
1
87

1

*Belinda Smith, 24, wife of Sir Charles Smith, Bart., Suttons, buried 29 January 1825. Sir Charles was to die aged 30 and buried on the 27th Jan 1831

1824:

Oct 2
Maria Bray went to Mr Witham at 1s. per week.

Oct 12
Harriott Westmoreland went to Wm. Laundy at 1s per week.

Nov 9
Harriott Westmoreland a pair of high shoes and 3yd check and 5 1/2yd of calico and 5 1/2yd of print and 1 yd to line her gown.

Nov 16
Wm. Pegram a pair of high shoes
Widow Bright a pair of high shoes
Harriott Baker a pair of high shoes.

1826:

Nov 8
Old Pegram new wasket
Charles Latchford’s girl Mary pear of shoes

Dec 7
Brown’s boy James pear of britches

1827:

Feb ?
Brown two boy’s, a smock each

August 2
Mary Bright child a pear of shoes and a peace of callo to make a shift and a peace of flannel to make a petcote.

September 5
Richard Pegrum a shirt and a jacket

1828:

Feb 7
Richd. Pegrum a pear of shoes and a shirt and a smock frock.

1829:

March 5
Maddels wife 12 yeard of calloco
Thomas Summers 3 yeards of flannel.

May 7
Jery Reaves girl 3 yards of flannel for petticoat. 3 yards of dyed linning.

Fire:
The particulars of a fire which occurred at Park Hall, Theydon Garnon, the residence of W.C. Marsh, Esq. on the 21st ult. Having been incorrectly given, we have been favoured with an extract of a letter from that gentleman, which states, that having dined at Hill Hall, on his return home, he found the fire raging in his farm yard. A barn, containing 20 acres of barley, 5 of wheat, 5 of oats, and 6 calves, a shed with 20 loads of hay, a cart stable, and 7 stacks of wood were totally destroyed. The trees were also on fire, and it was only by cutting off the branches that the large stable and coach house were saved. The carter put his horses into the stable without a light, and left the door open for them to walk out to grass as usual, which they fortunately did, while he went to his harvest supper. Mrs. Marsh was in Norfolk. The cause of the fire has not been discovered.

Chelmsford Chronicle 4th October, 1833

Epping Wool Fair:

The annual Epping Wool Fair was held on Friday, and both in the attendance of growers and the quality of wool exhibited was on a larger scale than usual. Nearly 8,000 fleeces were offered; and the greater proportion disposed of, the ruling prices being 13d. for teg, and 11d. per ewe wool – and advance of about 2d. per lb. as compared with the prices at the last fair. The only buyers present at the dinner, at which business was chiefly transacted, were Mr. Waite, on account of Mr. Oram of Harlow; and Mr. Hall, as the representative of Messrs Johns and May of Chelmsford.

Mr. Wm. Kirkby occupied the chair; and was assisted by Mr. Scruby, the secretary, in offering the various lots of wool.

The following is a list of the business transacted:-

Mr. Sworder, of Tawney Hall, offered to Mr. Waite 90 half bred tegs, 134 Down ewes, 2 long-wool rams, at 13d and 1s.; Mr. Waite offered 13d. and 11d. which was declined, and the lost was offered to Mr. Hall, who said he could not accept it, as he thought Mr. Waite had offered the full value. It stood over, but at the close of the day was sold to Waite at 13d. for the tegs and 11d. for the ewes.

Mr. A. Berkeley, Stanford Rivers, 38 half bred ewes, 15 half bred tegs – 53 – Offered to Mr. Waite at 13d. and 1s.; Mr. Waite offered 13d. and 11d., which was accepted.

Sir. C. Smith, Stapleford Tawney, 103 Down ewes, 4 Down tegs, 39 Welch wethers – 146 – Sold to Mr Waite at 11d.

Essex Standard 12th July 1850