Greensted Church and James Barlow, an historical record of his life

James Barlow was the son of Charles and Mary Barlow. He was baptised at about 2 years of age together with his younger sister Louisa on the 5thJune 1802 in Chipping Ongar. Charles died in 1844 aged 90years.
James married Elisabeth Sammes (baptised 3rd May 1806 at Greensted) daughter of John and Sarah Sammes at St Leonards Church, Shoreditch on 28th August 1829. For some reason they were married again in Havering Atte Bower on the 28th August 1831.
From this marriage he had a son Charles (1832 – 1858); daughter Maria (1834 – 1878) she married a James Drake and ‘died worn out after bearing 15 children’; son Harry (1835 -1890) Both sons were builders and carpenters. Elisabeth died in 1839 aged 20yrs and is buries at St Andrews, Greensted.
James then married a Hannah Trayler in London, on 25th July 1840. On the marriage certificate James is shown as a carpenter, and his father Charles as a servant. Hannah is shown as a spinster and her father as a miller. The Trayler family were a ‘comfortably off Baptist family’. From this marriage he had a son Francis (1842 – 1891); George Frederick (1844 – 1923); Walter James (1846 – 1887); Julia (1847-1917) - she married one Edward Rose; all baptised in Chipping Ongar ; John (1848 – 1849); Edward (1850 – 1922) baptised Greensted; Joseph baptised Greensted. (1850 – 1874) and Lewis (1854 – 1855 aged 10months). An oddity is that when Joseph died a newspaper report stated that he was the 7th son, not the 6th. Maybe there was a missing son but there does not appear to be much room to fit another in.
By 1816 James and Hannah were running the Kings Head PH in High Street Chipping Ongar, and ran the pub for a total of 15years.
By 1839 James is described as a master carpenter and it was then that he and his brother (brother in law?) a builder in Ongar were engaged in restoration work at St Andrews Church, Greensted between 1839 and 1840. At this time James carved the panels in the two oak spandrels which depict the martyrdom of St Edmund.
It was he also who carved the beautiful lectern using a penknife in a downstairs room when he was unable to sleep because of his bad asthma. Carved beneath the tail feathers of the Eagle are the words ‘Barlow Ongar’ and a date of 1847.
The custom of the Court of the Dunmow Flitch fell into desuetude in 1845 but was revived in 1855 when James Barlow applied to the Committee for the chance to obtain the prized flitch, and agreed to he and Hannah being examined by the court. They and another couple duly appeared before the court on the 6th July 1855, and a report in what is to be believed to be the Chelmsford Chronicle, records that ‘Mrs. Barlow was good humoured, good looking of face and exited much attention from the audience, and that Mr Barlow appears to be between 40 and 50 years of age
On being subjected to examination James stated that he had been born in the parish of Shelley, starting his working life as a ploughboy. He then stated that he had become a general factotum for 4 years to lady (this brought laughter from the audience) He then worked as a journeyman for 9 years when he then took on the business of his brother in law, and had lived in Ongar for 23 years.
Asked how long had he known Hannah before they were married , he stated 4 years and that their courtship had had been undertaken by letter as they were living 100 miles apart, but that seeing her good qualities had selected her from several others. He denied using any form of ‘sympathetic love powder’ during those years as an enticement to her.
Bothe he and Hannah answered all questions put to them under further examination, and although James stated that he was not an eloquent speaker, he caused a great deal of laughter amongst the audience with his humorous answers. The jury then all agreed that they were deserving of the flitch. (a full transcript of the ‘trial’ plus photographs of them both are retained at the ERO. It is said that Hannah resembled HRH Queen Victoria.)
James Barlow died in 1863 aged 58 years and Hannah in 1880 aged 63 years. Her address shown in the burial register is shown as Grays Farm, High Ongar. They and Elisabeth and many of the children are all buries in the churchyard at Greensted.
There is a copy of James will available but it is difficult to decipher.
He appears to have left a sum of ten pounds to Charles Barlow, Harry Barlow and Maria the wife of James Barlow Jnr. The rest of the estate is left to Hannah.
There is a copy of a bill for a Mr. John Fewell of Marden Ash dated
21st. February 1907 for the supply of a coffin, digging of the grave and various paperwork for a Mary Ann Fewell aged 65 years at the cost of £7.6.0. The heading on the bill of costs shows Harry Barlow, Builder and Timber Merchant, Plumber and Sanitary Engineer of Ongar. So it is a possibility that the date shown as his death is incorrect, or of course that this Harry is the offspring of one of James sons although I think this unlikely given the dates that are available to us.
The main body of this information was provided by Mrs Carol Day who has undertaken a great deal of research into her relative. She is the cousin of Douglas Barlow who lives in a farmhouse in Hertfordshire built in 1726 which at one time was connected to Julia Barlow. He informed me that his great grandfather was a Police Officer in the 1930’s, as were other members of the family. James Barlow’s grandson, also James was a championship walker and well known as a boxer in his day.