Stanford Rivers by H. M. Scott (Part 2): Purchase of the Titles of the Lordships

PURCHASE OF THE TITLES OF THE LORDSHIPS

by H. M. Scott, Esq.

THE MANORS are incorporeal hereditaments — i.e. the titles exist without being attached
to any particular land. The deeds are kept in the safe keeping of the Essex County
Archivist — except my own personal details of the Conveyance of the Titles which are in
the custody of the National Westminster Bank Ltd., London, N.W.2.

At the time of the conveyance — 29/7/65 — various documents were provided
to prove ownership and these included:— Abstract of Title of Sir Thomas Cospatric
Spencer-Smith, Baronet 23-9-1904; various extracts of the Will of Sir Charles Cunliffe
Smith, Baronet, who died 31/7/1905, as well as a Statutory declaration made by Wm. C.
Green (Bailiff of Suttons Estate). The Titles were conveyed by Suttons (Stapleford) Ltd.
The Solicitors acting for the Vendors were Messrs. Theodore Goddard & Co., and for
H. M. Scott — Messrs. W. R. Bennett, Emanuel & Co.

All records of the Manors were checked by the well-known expert on Manorial matters —
Mr. John L. Beaumont of Coggeshall, Essex, and the change of title formally registered
with the Historical Manuscripts Commission and the Essex County Archivist.

Documents pertaining to the Manors of Stanford Rivers and Traceys and Bellhouse

These are lodged by the previous owners with the Essex County Archivist at the Essex
Records Office, Chelmsford.

Stanford Rivers

Stanford Rivers & Bellhouse & Traceys

Stanford Rivers & Traceys

Stanford Rivers & Traceys & Bellhouse

The above remain the property of the person or persons who lodged them with the
Record Office — but the Lord of the Manor has the right to inspect and take copies. The
two listed above (reference ‘A’ and ‘B’) were deposited by The Right Hon. Lord Petre.
Lord Petre has expressed his wish that he would not care to have these documents
separated from his family Archives. In the case of Court Book (C) this consideration
of sanctity does not apply. It could be isolated from the others and if required
Messrs. Trotter, Sons & Chapman could be contacted with this end in view.

Documents appertaining to the Manors held and inspected 26/1/67 at the Public Record Office, London

Index of Court Rolls. Ref. C26. Vol. VI(P)
The Duchy of Lancaster — Page 117.

1. Ref. S.C.2. 123/1859.
   Book of Reliefs and Fines Paid
   (Stanford Rivers)
2. Ref. S.C.2. No. 125/1867.
   Book of Ingress Fines and Quit Rents
   (Stanford Rivers).
3. Ref. S.C.2. No. 116/1762.
   Court. Stanford Rivers. Date 1534-5
4. Ref. S.C.2. No. 214/36.
   Tenants of Stanford Rivers
   26 Henry VIII.
5. Ref. S.C. 2. 173/81.
   One membrane 26 Henry VIII.
   The Court of Lady Mary Carey
   (Widow), dated 1534-5.

List of Rentals & Surveys
Ref. DL43—Bundle No. 3. No. 25
(7 Manuscripts)

“Detailed Rentals of Stanford and Trases”
dated 9th Year of James 1st (i.e. 1612)

“TRASES” by Thomas Elliott, Esq,
The Bayliff.

To:—George Goodwinne of Toothill Crofte — Land.
Thomas Tayleford — Land.
John Finche — Land.
Jeremie Aylett — Tenement and Garden.
Edmund Furley — Tenement and Garden.
Richard Marshall — Cottage and ½ acre.

“STANDFORD RIVERS”

Sir Wm. Aylott, Knt. — Land.
Sir Robert Charles, Knt. — Land.
John Attwood — Land.
John Greene — Land.
Herold (?) Greene — Tenement.
Thomas Greene — Meadows.

List of Documents held at Essex Record Office, Chelmsford, at at September 1967

(inspected by me)

Ref. D/DP M

Further list of Manorial Documents inspected by me at the Record Office, Chelmsford, in October, 1967

No. D/DP.T.167/1
Grant of Annuity of £16 to Pocock and wife by Sir Thomas Elliott of Stanford
Rivers in the reign of King James I.— dated 26/6/1617.

D/DP.167/2.
Indenture given by Sir Thomas Elliott to Thomas Swift and Thomas Byrd,
dated 3/2/1617.

D/DP.T/167/3.
Indenture given by Sir Wm. Petre to Alice Caldwell of London.
dated 9/3/1656.

D/DP.T.167/4.
Settlement of Stanford Hall to Mr. John Dawlin for £1,000. 4/12/1661
(In the Reign of King Charles II by Wm. Petre (also jointly to Mr. Charles Clifford—or Wilford.)
Also copy of above under Ref. D/DPT.167/5.

D/DPT.167/8.
Release of Stanford Hall by Wm. Petre and John Petre. 4/12/1674.

D/DPT.167/9.
Indenture of Stanford Rivers to William Brent. 13/2/1677.

D/DPT.167/10.
Receipt given by Wm. Brent Esquire 1667.

Ref. D/DPT/167/11.
Receipt for £100 by John Petre for Samuel Lindo (or Hinde) of London.
1667.

D/DPT/167/12.
Receipt dated 15/2/1677 by Wm. Petre of Stanford Rivers of £1,000 of lawful
money of England from Samuel Lindo (or Hinde) of London.

D/DPT/167/13.
Release to Sir John Bennett dated 19/5/1681. (In reign of King Charles II).

D/DPT/167/14.
Receipt dated 19/5/1681 by Mr. Lindo (or Hinde) for £2,480 from Sir John Bennett.

D/DPT/167/15.
Receipt signed by Wm. Petre to Sir John Bennett for £502—dated 19/5/1681.

D/DPT/167/16.
Mortgage dated 23/12/1624 (In reign of King James I) between Arnold Squib
of the Parish of St. Andrews, Holborn, Christopher Cuiss of the Parish of St.
Martin in the Fields—and William Petre of Stanford Rivers, and the Right Honourable,
John, Baron of Ossulton in the County of Middlesex.

D/DPT/167/17.
Receipt by Wm. Petre of Stanford Rivers to the Rt. Honourable, John, Lord
Ossulton for £2,500.

D/DPT/167/18.
Duplicate of above.

D/DPT/167/21.
Wm. Petre to Mr. Jacob Houblon.
Security for £300 dated 20/9/1723.

D/DPT/167/23.
Agreement for lease of Pasture land, etc.

D/DPT/167/24.
ditto.

D/DPT/167/19.
ditto.

D/DPT/167/20.
ditto.

D/DPT/167/22.
Conveyance and Settlement of the Bellhouse Estate by Wm. Petre to Thomas
Bramston Esquire and others dated 19/9/1743.

(In reign of George II (Thomas Bramston of Skroons (?) Essex, and Francis Risdon).

D/DTc/M3

Book—dated August 1827 and onwards to 1923. The General Court Baron and
Customary Court of Judith Smith (Spinster)—Lady of the Manors of Stanford Rivers and Bellhouse.

Extracts:—Note of Lease to John Corder of a parcel of waste land on N.W.
side of road from the Green Man Inn at Toot Hill to the Church.

Tenants and Residents mentioned include—John Mayes, John Radley,
Sarah Bayley, Wm. Noake, John Knight, Rbt. Nightingale, Stephen Jones,
Henry Mott, Peter Brewster, Rev. Edward Dowdeswell (Rector) and
James Windus (Steward) 1830.

Court of 12/1/1833.
William Phillips (Farmer), John Lewis of Bobbingworth, Jonathon Stokes of
Stanford Rivers (Farmer), Timothy Phillips of Littlebury Farm and Joseph Clark
of Navestock (James Windus—Steward).

The Lord of the Manors of Stanford Rivers and Bellhouse 10/10/1889.
Sir Charles Cunliffe Smith of Suttons.

Mention of names:
Henry Ralph Kynaston and Kynaston Price and of meadow land known as
Hallingford Hose, Baynes, Tymonds, Hallingford Mead—and Littlebury Windmill.

Court Rolls.—15/3/1904.

Mary Nicholass, Samuel Flanders, Michael Connoly, Ellen Low, wife
of Robert William Low of Stanford House.

(Steward—Raymond D. Trotter).

Court Roll—17/9/1905.

Mary Lewis, Thomas Agg, Laura Wright, Mrs. Ridgwell, Mrs. Burling
and G. Monk of Brook Cottages.

Court Roll—1/9/1920.

Charlotte Jane Godson of 30, King Henrys Road, Hampstead (Widow)
a Copyhold Tenant of this Manor, in consideration of the sum of £300
paid by Henry Wm. Millbank of Wealds Farm, Toot Hill sublet a
Tenement with 7 acres of arable land and 2 acres of meadow, also
Longfield and Browns (both Parcels of land)—also Burrows.

The last Entry of Court Book—dated 26/6/1923 shows that Francis
Currey and Wm. Chisenhale-Marsh surrendered Colliers Hatch Farm to
the Lord of the Manor for the sum of £50.

Other sundry Manorial Documents are D/DPF/257—263 and D/DPF/256 (1—13)
including the Marriage Settlement of Wm. Petre dated 6/4/1722.

Further Deeds kept at The Essex Record Office, include:

D/DSd.T.15-19 (No. 81) 1693-1822.

The Manors of Stanford Rivers, Traceys, Bellhouse, alias Bellows, Manor and Farm
of Stanford Hall, Mansion house with adjoining farms called Bellhouse, Morrells,
Hollingfords, Steels, Gibbs and Gays, with abstracts of title.
Sale particulars with Map (1814), conveyance of part of Glebe lands 1804.

D/DSd.T.20

Fee Farm rent issuing out of Manors and farms of Stanford Hall, Traceys,
Bridges, etc., with abstract of title from 1672 and correspondence 1826 (No. 5).

D/DSd.T.21

Freemans Farm at Toot Hill with marginal map in Deed of 1827 (messuages
called Dawes, Dowsetts, Smythes, Macers and house where Blacks (alias Blakes)
formerly stood, cottage called Rolls, four cottages called Groves (alias Clarkes)
with messuage and windmill at Toot Hill and several cottages at Little End,
Will of John Corder, Cornfactor. (No. 32 1750-1827).

D/DSd.T.22

Cottage called Rolls at Toot Hill, formerly copyhold of Manor of Stanford
Rivers, Traceys and Bellhouse (No. 15).

D/DSd.T.23

Messuages called Blacks (alias Blakes), Dowsetts, Seaselands, Appletons, Smyths
and Cesslands. Messuage called Macers copyhold of the Manor of Stanford
Rivers. Sale particulars of Blakes 1848. Deed of 1827 has marginal map of
Blakes, Dowsetts, Smyths, Macers and Appletons. 1651, 1774-1848 (No. 39).

D/DSd.T.24

Farm called Cesslands and closes called Seaselands 1657-1823 (No. 21).

D/DSd.T.25

Farms called Stewards, Colliers Hatch, etc. 1718-1793 (No. 15).

D/DSd.T.26

Freehold lands called Millers Meads (alias Mill House Mead), Mow Croft and
Nicholls lands, Makyns Garden, copyhold of the Manor of Stanford Rivers.
1749-1862 (No. 52).

D/DSd.T.57

Messuage called Sherlocks (alias Lucks), part Freehold and part copyhold,
Inventory of stock and household goods - 1615. Copy of Deed of 1513 mentions
lane called Lovelles and messuage called Water Pygges, near “Hatherstreete”.
1513, 1607-1843. (No. 71).

D/DSd.T.28.

Two cottages, copyhold of Manor of Stanford Rivers, with Sale particulars
1853. 1808—1853 (No. 8).

D/DSd.T.29.

Mitchells Farm—1794 (No. 1).

D/DSd.T.30.

Part of West Mead—1804 (No. 2).

D/DSd.F.3.

Accounts and receipts for work done at Bellhouse.

Solicitors A/C. with Miss Judith Smith upon purchase of estate of Bellhouse,
particulars of the estate, copy of quit-rents received (1817—1820) of the
Manors of Stanford Rivers, Traceys and Bellhouse.

(Gives Tenants names only).
1 Bundle—1820—1823.

Sundry Documents at Chelmsford Record Office

D/P.140.

Registrar of Baptisms, Births and Marriages 1538—1599. Transcript on paper
made 1583. Copy on Parchment in 1599—used as “Parish Book”. Includes
Churchwardens’ Accounts 1601—1664. Summarised Parish Accounts 1670—1674.
Apportionment of liability for repairs to Churchyard for 1624. Form of Certificate
to be given to a Vagrant C. 1598. Note of dispute over boundary with Greensted
1598. Notes of Charitable gifts and other distributions 1584—1724. Baptisms,
Births and Marriages 1558—1744, Baptisms and Births 1775—1802, Marriages
1754—1775. Baptisms and Births 1803—1812, Marriages 1776—1812.

(Transcript of above T/R67).

Churchwardens A/cs.
Rates 1853-1865 (2 Vols.).
Bills 1809-1878.
Estimates for repairs to Church 1854/5.

Vestry Minutes 1724-1839. 4 Vols.

Overseers Accounts 1807-9, 1828, 1826, 1848-1884. (6 Vols.).

Miscellaneous. Coal Club A/c’s.
1865-1876.

As well as the above documents, various Pamphlets, Letters, Sale Notices and
Biographies which can be inspected at Chelmsford include:—

“The Churches of Stanford Rivers” by J. H. Round; “St. Margarets Church”
by R. C. Earle; “Sermons preached to Parishioners in Stanford Rivers 1677”
by R. Gibbs. Mr. P. F. R. Sparrow — Letter to the Bishop of Rochester, with
correspondence between himself and the Rector of Stanford Rivers (Rev. H. Tattam)
on his receiving notice to quit his Curacy in 1858.

Sale Catalogues:
1) Bellhouse Mansion and Manor of Bellhouse, Traceys, etc., 1814.
2) Blakes Farm 1848.
3) Little Colemans 1924.
5) New House Farm 1859.

Biographies: The Bull Family, C. Gibbs, R. Mainwaring, R. Montague,
Wm. Petre (died 1699), H. Tattam, I. Taylor, and R. Vaughan.

Maps

A number of old maps show the village — including Ogilby & Morgan 1678,
Joannes Blaeu 1645, Chapman & Andre 1777, John Norden 1594.