Blackmore: Crickett Family

Received
15 November 2010

Hello Andrew,

I’ve had an email today from a descendant of the Crickitt family of Blackmore hoping for information about Charles Alexander Crickitt of Smyths Hall who was head of the first bank in Chelmsford. She is particularly hoping to find a portrait. We only have information about the bank. Have you come across the family in your research? She has already tried the Essex Record Office.

Kind Regards

Dot Bedenham


Replied
15 November 2010

Hello Dot,

Yes I have come across the Crickitt family during the course of my research. Unfortunately I do not have a picture of the individual, but your correspondent may be interested in the following information.

The population of Blackmore grew during the latter half of the eighteenth century. In 1766, Blackmore was “a small village con[sis]ts about 50 families”, having “about 80 houses” in 1790 and “about 100 families – about 500 souls” by 1810, with “three families of note, Mr Crickett, Mr Waller of Fingrith & Mr Fearths of Jericho House” [source: Guildhall Manuscripts ms9558. Diocesan Book 1766 – 1811]. The 1811 census records a population of 620.

The minutes record the proposal to create a side chapel in place of the Mausoleum. This entailed the removal and burial of three coffins in the churchyard, - The last of which, according to the Vicar, Revd. W L Petrie (1898) was placed there in 1868 - belonging to the Crickitt family, and the rebuilding of part of the north wall of the aisle.

For “posterity”, the minutes of ‘The Vicar, Churchwarden and Synodsmen of S Lawrence Blackmore Meeting (1893 to 1965)’ record:

Monday Novr 26 1900

The following are the inscriptions of the Coffins of the members of the Crickitt family

Sarah Alexander Crickitt
Died 28th August 1819
Aged 49 Years

Charles Alexander Crickitt Esq
Died 16th Jan 1803
Aged 65 years
Late Member for Ipswich

Mrs Sarah Crickitt
Died 29 July 1828
Aged 84 years

Harriett Alexander Crickitt
Died Nov 15 1868
Aged 78 Years

Copy of a letter received from Mr Crickitt respecting the Vault in the Church

Rozelle
Lansdown Road
Cheltenham
15 July 1900

Dear Sir
I quite agree with you that it would be much better that the coffins of my relatives should be placed below the floor of the Church instead of above it for sanitary reasons not regarded in past days …

Rob E Crickitt


According to genealogical notes (dated 1908) [ERO T/G 82/1], the Crickitt family “were bankers at Ipswich, Colchester, Chelmsford and Maldon. They started the Old Bank, Ipswich in 1798. They represented Ipswich in Parliament for 50 years. They owned several manors, among them Smyth Hall Blackmore, pulled down by Miss H Crickitt, it was an old Elizabethan Hall”.

Inside the Priory Church of St Laurence Blackmore there are memorials bearing the following inscriptions:

On the wall in the Vestry there are two memorials:

To the memory of
Charles Alexander Crickitt
of Smyths Hall Esquire
many years one of the
Representatives of Parliament
of the Borough of Ipswich
who died the 16th Jany 1803
aged 65 years
also to the memory of
Sarah the widow of
Charles Alexander Crickitt Esq
who departed this life
the 29 day of July 1828
aged 84 years


In memory of
Harriet Alexander Crickitt
the last surviving child
of the late
Charles Alexander Crickitt Esq M.P.
formerly of
Smyths Hall in this parish
she died
the 16th of November 1868
Aged 79.

The Crickitt family vault occupied the corner of the church which became a Lady Chapel and later, in 1988, the Vestry.

The Crickett family held the advowson of the church from 1775 to 1887.

Regards

Andrew