Blackmore: Disney family

The Disney memorial inside St Edmund & St Mary Church, Ingatestone.

In the Priory Church of St Laurence, Blackmore, on the north wall is a memorial to Edgar Disney (1810 – 1881). It reads:

Sacred
to the memory of
Edgar Disney
of The Hyde
Ingatestone Essex
and of
Jericho Blackmore Esquire
Born 22nd December 1810
Died 8th December 1881
He that believeth in the Son hath
everlasting life, he that believeth
not the Son shall not see life
St John chap iii, ver. xxxvi

Below is a brass plaque:

This tablet
is erected by the Rev W Callendar Vicar of Black
more in grateful recognition of
the kindly munificence of Edgar Disney Esq of the Hyde Ingate
stone to whose generosity (independently of various donations from Parishioners
and others) the successful restoration of the Church of
St Lawrence is mainly due 1878

In Blackmore’s church records we find that the churchyard was enlarged in 1885, through a gift of land by “Edgar John Disney of Jericho House … Lieutenant Colonel of the 3rd Battalion Essex Regiment” [Hertfordshire Archives and Local Studies. DSA 1/15/3 f395]. E J Disney was also churchwarden in 1885.

I suspect that the father lived at the family home - The Hyde, Ingatestone - and the son at Jericho, and it was he who caused the memorial to be erected. We know that at the time The Hyde was full of antiquities assembled on grand tours mainly by a Thomas Brand Hollis, a single man who died in 1804 and left his entire estate to his friend the Rev. Dr. John Disney, a Fellow of the Society of Antiquities and a Doctor of Divinity. His son, Edgar’s father, also a John, continued to collect works in Italy and catalogued the entire collection in 1846. Most of the sculptures were given to the fledgling Fitzwilliam Museum in Cambridge in 1850, presumably to make house room, and to this day the core of the museum’s collection is referred to as the ‘Disney marbles’. After Edgar’s death in 1881 the remainder of the collection was sold at auction by Christies.

Readers may be interested to know that there is an identical memorial at Ingatestone (see photograph). Recorders of the Brentwood & District Decorative and Fine Arts Society (NADFAS) have just finished a five year project researching the entire fixtures and fittings of St Edmund and St Mary Church. In an item in ‘The Journal’ (September 2010) specific mention is made of the Edgar Disney memorial which “displays the heraldic ‘quarterings’ of 23 different families”. Two guided tours of the church were given recently by Graham Brereton, the leader of the recording group.

There is another, but different, memorial to the Disney family at Fryerning Church. The family are buried in a large vault to the north side of St Mary’s Church.

The Disney family originated from the village of Norton Disney in Lincolnshire. Walt, the cartoonist, must be a distant relation but to suggest direct linage is, to be frank, a Mickey Mouse story.


Bibliography:
Thomas Brand Hollis and the Disneys of Ingatestone, written by Graham Brereton.

Blackmore: New Book. The Smyth Family at Blackmore

An extract from the new booklet, ‘The Smyth Family At Blackmore’ (32 pages), now available from, and in aid of, the Priory Church of St Laurence, Blackmore. Price £1.50. (or via this site, plus P&P).

Introduction

Blackmore’s history divides into three periods. The Church was an Augustinian Priory throughout the Middle Ages.

John Smyth purchased the site and advowson (the right to appoint a Vicar) from Henry VIII in 1540. He was one of the King’s escheators, whose name appears as an Attorney in the breaking up of Blackmore Priory in 1525.

The family dominated the parish’s history for five generations, until Thomas, the last surviving member died without issue in 1721.

The Smyth’s sold the Priory land to a ship-builder named Jacob Acworth in 1714. Thomas Smyth left his property, Smyth Hall, to his niece, Mary Tendring. It passed to her cousin, Thomas Alexander, in 1732, on condition that he adopted the name Smyth.

Thomas Smyth, though, left the Rectory to his cousin, John Gibson, son of John Gibson D.D., Provost of Queen’s College, Oxford. Upon his decease, both Smyth Hall and the Rectory passed to Charles Alexander. The Crickitt family later held the advowson. Since then there have been various holders. Patronage finally ceased, in 1899, when responsibility for nominating a Vicar passed to the Bishop of St Albans. In 1914, Blackmore transferred to the newly created Diocese of Chelmsford.


John Smyth (1498 – 1543)

John was the second son of Thomas Smyth, of Rivenhall, a family who descended from Sir Michael Carrington, standard bearer to King Richard I during the Crusades. The family apparently fled to France when Richard II was deposed and changed their name, early in the 15th century, from Carrington to Smyth on return to England.

The Smyth family was related to Jane Seymour, Henry VIII’s third wife. John’s brother, Clement married Dorothy, the sister of Lady Jane Seymour.

In the Essex Record Office [ERO D/DQ 55/36] are copies of the original sale Deed in Latin and an English translation, dating from 1714.

Henry the Eighth by the grace of God of England … King Defender of the Faith Lord of Ireland and on Earth Supreme Head of the English Church . To all whom those present Letters patent shall ye know that for the sum of Five hundred and sixty three pounds and five shillings of lawfull money to the hands of the Eroafuror (Escheator?) of the Court of Augman … by our John Smith of Blakamore otherwise called Blakemore in the County of Essex … have given and granted and by those present … to the said John Smith and Elizabeth his Wife All our Lordshipp and Mannor of Blakemore with all its rights … and appurtances … lately belonging and apportaining to the late Monastery of Waltham Holy Cross in the County of Essex lately dissolved and being parcel of the possessions of the late Monastry. And also all Messuages Houses … Lands … Pastures … Woods … And all the profits … lyeing in the villag or parishes of … Blakemore Shellow Norton Shenfield and Stondon … to the said John Smith and his assignees … And also all the Rectory and Church of Blakemore ... [of] the said late Monstery. … And the Advowson … of the parish Church of Blakemore … [the] shopp … being in the parish of the Blessed Virgin Mary Colechurch in our City of London. And also a garden … lyeing in Fenchurchstreet … in our said City of London … [from] Abbot Fuller late Abbot of the late Monastory or any other of his … Abbots of the said late Monastory … in right of that late Monastory at any time before the Dissolution … And further by gift … doo grant to the said John Smith All that our Messuages and grange or farms called Woodbarnes … in Ging at stone … and to the late Monastery of Berking … .

This document, dated 22nd September 1540, meant that John Smyth now held the manor, rectory and advowson (the right to appoint a priest).

At that time about two fifths of the County’s land was sold, which represented one of the biggest sales of property since the Norman Conquest. For example, when Barking Abbey was suppressed, Sir William Petre bought Ingatestone Manor for £849 12s 6d, paying the King, in full, by instalments. Sir Thomas Audley did one better receiving Walden Abbey as a gift.

John Smyth received in the same year, as a gift from Henry VIII, property previously belonging to William Pawne. The original Deed bears the great seal of the King [ERO D/DRm T5/21]. An English translation is given:

John Smyth Esquire in our Court before the Justices at Westminster impleaded William Pawne and Ellen his Wife of Four Messuages* one Dovehouse One Hundred Acres of Land twenty Acres of Meadow twenty Acres of Pastuer and twelve Acres of Wood with the Appurtances in Blakemore and High Ongar by a Writ of Entity upon Disseisin** …. And into which the same William and Ellen have not Entry but after the Disseisin which Hugh Hunt … hath made to the aforesaid John ….

Smyth sold 30 acres of this land the following year [ERO D/DBm T5/22].

John Smyth died in late summer 1543, about the same time as the demolition of the priory buildings. In the inventories of his will, dated 10th May that same year, he mentions the contents of his private chapel in his manor house, Smyth Hall.

In the chapel chamber, a long setle joyned. In the chapel, one aulter of joyner’s work. Item, a table with two leaves of passion gilt [a panelled ditych]. Item, a long setle of wainscott. Item, a bell hanging over the chapel. Chapel stuff, copes and vestments three. Aulter fronts four, corporal case one, and dyvers peces of silk necessary for cushyons v. [Cutts 1914 p434].

The reference to the bell, according to Mrs E E Wilde (1913) was probably to the one hanging, at the beginning of the twentieth century, in the stables at The Hyde, Ingatestone. The bell, dating from around 1340, inscribed PETRUS DE WESTON ME FECIT, was probably a Sanctus bell. “Tradition says that it came from Blackmore Priory”. She suggests that when Smyth Hall, the house originally owned by the Smyth family, was demolished in 1844, “this bell may very probably have been bought there by Mr John Disney of the Hyde, who was a great collector of antiquities” [Wilde 1913 p103].

The Will does not mention altar vessels, as these were probably included with the remainder of the silver, indicative of the Smyth’s wealth.

Notes

* A messuage is a dwelling house.
** A disseisin is the removal of a seisin, or estate, from one person, placing it into the ownership of another.

Bibliography

Cutts. Rev Edward L. Parish Priests and Their People (SPCK, 1914)
Wilde, Mrs E E. Ingatestone and the Great Essex Road, with Fryerning (Oxford University Press, 1913)

Essex Record Office

Blackmore: Jericho Priory

Many visitors to the church are intrigued by the house behind the wall known as Jericho Priory. Whilst some know that this was the birthplace of Henry Fitzroy (1519 – 1536), King Henry VIII’s bastard son, others are then disappointed to learn that the building subsequently was reconstructed. Revd. Philip Morant, one of Essex’s earliest historians in print (1768) suggested that, “This is reported to have been one of K. Henry the Eighths Houses of Pleasure; and disguised by the name of Jericho. So that when this lascivious Prince had a mind to be lost in the embraces of his courtesans, the cant word among his courtiers, was, that He was gone to Jericho. Here was born his natural son, by Elizabeth Tailbois, daughter of Sir John Blount” [Morant. p57]. It is highly unlikely that Henry Fitzroy was conceived in Blackmore, as some locals would like to claim. What is more probable was that Elizabeth Blount, later married to Gilbert Tailbois, was sent for a period of confinement to Blackmore Priory when clearly seen in Court she was with child. Blackmore Priory in 1518 was a small, quiet, Augustinian Priory which nine years later was suppressed by Wolsey having only four Canons in residence. The Nave of the former Priory still exists as the Nave of the Church. The remainder was pulled down by the Smyth family around 1540 – 1543 after acquisition of the site. The footprint of the Priory foundations is now in the garden of the private house, referred to as ‘Jerico’ in the will of John Smith, dated 1543. The family built Smyth Hall, to the south of Wenlocks Lane, and were present in Blackmore for five generations until 1721. Smyth Hall was also known as Blackmore Manor. Morant says that the site of the Priory was sold by Thomas Smyth about 1714 to a ship builder, Jacob Acworth. William Holman (1719), from whose manuscript work Morant drew material, wrote, “The manor of the priory of Blackmore lyes by the Church and be called Jericho most of it is pulled down & new built under the foundations … they dug up bones & found a coffin of lead about a yard away full of … bones. Jacob Ackworth of London Kgt a Shipwright bought the Estate of Mr Smith about 7 years ago” [ERO T/P 195/9 #20 f10]. Holman adds that Ackworth was “knighted at Portsmouth August 30 1722 by Kg George [IV]”. Down the years the house has had various names: Manor of the Priory of Blackmore (or Blakemore), Jericho Priory, Jericho and, Blackmore House. Architectural historian, Nikolaus Pevsner in the first edition of ‘Buildings of England – Essex’ (1954) referred to the building as Blackmore House. In the latest edition, updated by James Bettley (2007), it is referred to as Jericho Priory, giving it a date of c1715-20, perhaps a little later, and adding to Pevsner’s commentary, “On the garden front deep plaster coving fills the recess between the tower arches” [Bettley/Pevsner. p142]. Pevsner though thought the building akin to the mid-sixteenth rather than the early eighteenth century, giving Syon House near London and Ince Castle in Cornwall as examples. David Coller in ‘The People’s History of Essex’ (1861) adds that the house subsequently underwent “many changes, improvements and enlargements, to adapt it to modern requirements. Sir Jacob Ackworth, who purchased it, at the beginning of the last [eighteenth] century … made many additions to it; and in the course of the works a small lead coffin, about a yard in length, and filled with bones was exhumed. Other memorials of the past have occasionally been turned up on this spot; but, save for the church near, not a stone or other fragment of the Priory now remains. Even the foundations have gone. We recollect some forty years ago [c1821] observing a stone which appeared to have been taken from the old ruins, upon which an inscription was still half legible, used as a door-step for a house in the neighbourhood. The shrubberies and lawns of Blackmore House have long since extended, and flower-beds have been planted, and kitchen gardens flourish in luxuriance over the very spots where the friars feasted and monks prayed” [Coller. p221]. The stream that feeds the moat around Jericho House is nicknamed the Jordan. The proximity of the garden to the church appears to have been a problem. In 1817, the Archdeacon of Essex made a Visitation to inspect the church building. A catalogue of failure is recorded [ERO. D/AE/V36. Vol I. f95]: Remove the Earth and Rubbish from the Church and Chancel where necessary as much as may. The Tiling is getting very indifferent and must from time to time be repaired and at such times new Lathed. Weather boarding and shingling wants painting. Shingling wants repair. Underpinning of Tower wants repair. West end Wall of Tower wants a whole colour. Remove the Ivy from the South wall. Grub up the Fig and other Trees on South side and stop the Eaves. Same side window frames so[uth] side want repair and paint. Fruit Trees East End of Chancel must be taken down and the Wall repaired and well secured. NE Buttress wants repair and a Pipe placed to take off the Water. Remove the Gutters from eaves on South side unless the drain is properly attended and kept clean by Mr Preston. Solution of Vitriol. Vestry must be repaired with White Brick. Owing to the general bad state and conditions of the Church the Archdeacon did not make any Order but deferred doing so until he had considered the same more fully. The margin note states: The Chancel pavement of this Church as green as a Pasture Field and the Church the most cold wet and comfortless of any in the Archdeaconry there being only two loop hole windows on south. Earlier (1766), Revd Thomas Smith described Blackmore as “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” [Guildhall Manuscripts ms9558. Diocesan Book 1766 – 1811]. White’s Directory (1848) states that W.T Longbourne, gent, occupied the Priory, and Kelly’s Directory (1856) confirms the name as William Thomas Longbourne. Coller says that in 1861, “the manor of Blackmore, and that of Fingrith … belong to James Parker Esq.” [Coller p222]. About this time Jericho came under the ownership of Edgar Disney. It formed part of a more substantial estate covering Copyhold Farm, High House, Hardings Common Farm on Paslow Common and Burgess. This was a total of 255 acres in Blackmore and 207 acres in High Ongar. The assignment of the lease of the Jericho Priory Farm estate in 1872 referred to the vendor’s obligation to leave “all hay, corn, and straw in ricks, bins or on the threshing floors” [ERO D/Dw T73]. In the north aisle of the church are two memorials recalling Edgar Disney:

Sacred to the memory of Edgar Disney of The Hyde Ingatestone Essex and of Jericho Blackmore Esquire Born 22nd December 1810 Died 8th December 1881 He that believeth in the Son hath everlasting life, he that believeth not the Son shall not see life St John chap iii, ver. xxxvi Also: This tablet is erected by the Rev W Callendar Vicar of Black more in grateful recognition of the kindly munificence of Edgar Disney Esq of the Hyde Ingate stone to whose generosity (independently of various donations from Parishioners and others) the successful restoration of the Church of St Lawrence is mainly due 1878 The churchyard was enlarged in 1885, through a gift of land by “Edgar John Disney of Jericho House … Lieutenant Colonel of the 3rd Battalion Essex Regiment” [HALS. DSA 1/15/3 f395]. Presumably this was the son of the above. E J Disney was churchwarden in 1885. Thomas Reed Hull was certainly living at Jericho in 1885. His family resided there for some while. He gave land for a churchyard extension in 1899 [ERO D/C/C50/2]. Thomas Reed Hull, of The Priory Blackmore, was buried on 4 February 1915. The final record appears in 1927 when James Henry Hull, again, gave land for a churchyard extension but reserving exclusive right of a portion, but it was never used [ERO D/C/C78/2]. He was the Vicar’s Warden in 1926. The Minutes of the Annual Parochial Church Meeting for 1940 record that, “Lady Reckitt also offered the gardens of Jericho Priory to augment in any way Church funds, either by way of a small charge for admission on Sunday evenings, or to hold a Sale of Work” [ERO A10631]. The house was used during the war for military purposes. On the social side, in the 1960s the Church held an annual Garden Fete and a Flower Festival. The Rose Garden at Jericho Priory was also used “by kind permission of Mr & Mrs E B Marriage”. The Marriage family were owners of Jericho Priory until the late 1970s. Andrew Smith Bibliography Bettley & Pevsner. The Buildings of England. Essex (2007) Coller. The People’s History of Essex (1861) Morant. The History and Antiquities of the County of Essex. Volume I (1768) Essex Record Office Guildhall Library Manuscripts Hertfordshire Archives and Local Studies

Ingatestone: The Hyde

Chris Berry follows up previous correspondence relating to The Hyde, Ingatestone (see http://blackmorehistory.blogspot.com/search/label/The%20Hyde ) and thepage dedicated to the former school (see http://www.blackmorehistory.co.uk/gatehouse.html ) with this note.

Received  10 July 2011

Hello again

I was pleased to read the account by Mrs Joan Smith who was in a better position to recall and cleared up the facts about the end of the The Hyde. The hazy recollections of other contributors can be excused by the fact that they were much younger than Mrs Smith at the time. I was only there for a few years from about 8 or 9 to 11 when I left for Grammar School. I left in 1959 - 6 years before the fire.

I would have been in Mrs Smith's class for a short while as I progressed quite quickly from Miss Heard's class to David Askwith's class.

I originally found this website when searching for details about the last days of The Hyde and sent the previous postcards of The Hyde and I am now sending some more photos including some of the fire-damaged shell which I hope you will find interesting. I found these and saved them after a search on the internet several years ago but they can no longer be found there. One of the pictures shows the Disney family crest in one of the walls around the building.

Kind regards

Chris Berry

Replied  16 July 2011

Thank you, Chris, for your E mail.  I will publish the photos online as soon as possible.

Regards

Andrew

Ingatestone: The Hyde

G Brodie follows up previous correspondence relating to The Hyde, Ingatestone (see http://blackmorehistory.blogspot.com/search/label/The%20Hyde ) and the page dedicated to the former school (see http://www.blackmorehistory.co.uk/gatehouse.html ) with this note.

Received  11 August 2011

I was a boarder at Gate House School from 1942 until 1951.  Mrs Smith was Miss Joan Clarke when she joined the school as sports teacher and would take us for football which was played in a field beyond the village cricket pitch and immediately over the railway bridge.  We later played opposite the school in Mythesdale Meadow (?spelling) next door to the house of a Major Peake.

Miss Bond was my teacher in the infants’ class and I remember her with great affection.  She introduced me to boxing by allowing us to sit up in  her study  and listen to the radio broadcasts of "the big fight" e.g.  from Haringay Arena - Bruce Woodcock v Freddie Mills,  commentary by Stuart McPherson with inter-round summaries from W. Barrington-Dalby.  I listened enraptured and follow boxing to this day.

Miss Heard took over the sports in Miss Clarke's absence and I recall her joy when our cricket team, of which I was captain, firstly beat the village team, then Sandon House, Chelmsford and then King Edward VI Grammar School.

Mr Askwith, the Boss, was an admirable Head Master. I Iooked up to him as I would have to a father. Miss Shorney, Matron, who stood no nonsense from the boys,  Mr Cook the music teacher lately returned from service in the Royal Navy during the war, Mrs Pretty the cook and Buzz the gardener, Jenny the much loved donkey (the Boss would let us ride her) and Mr Goose the station master who owned an orchard whose apples I scrumped!!

Church alternated fortnightly between Fryerning Church.  Mr Fuller was the vicar, and Ingatestone Church, Mr. Fuller the Rector.  I recall Michael Waldon and his brother coming to the school from Pernambuco and Recife, Brazil.  Swimming at the Chase Hotel set me off on cold water swimming which I now do in the Serpentine, Hyde Park, London.  I last met Chips Harrison and Brian Cristall in 1957 at The Hyde, after I had completed my National Service in the Life Guards. 

Replied 21 August 2011

Thank you for your contribution, which I will post on www.blackmorehistory.blogspot.com

Fyfield: Revd. A. Suckling. Memorials (1845)

The following is taken from Revd. Alfred Suckling’s book, ‘Memorials of the antiquities and architecture, family history and heraldry of the County of Essex’ (John Weale, London, 1845).

Fifield [Fyfield] is the modern spelling and pronunciation of this village, which, in earlier days, was written Fifhide; and is derived from the Saxon Fif, five, and Hyde, a quantity of land. In the Conqueror’s reign the parish belonged to Eustace, Earl of Boulogne.

The church is dedicated to Saint Nicholas, and the tithes were given, in the year 1094, to the monastery of Bermondesey, by Roger de Tany, one of the knights of John Fitz-Waleran - that nobleman giving his sanction to the endowment. In 1107 these tithes were confirmed to that monastery by Maud, wife of Asculph, and by her son Graald or Grailand de Tany, who at the same time gave to that religious establishment the advowson of the church, which grant was confirmed by kings Henry the First and Second. Notwithstanding these gifts, this church was wrested from the monks before the year 1331, and, strange to say, even before they had obtained an act for appropriating the tithes. The name of this spirited opponent of monastic rapacity has not survived. The rectory has ever since been attached to the manor. The whole parish is rated to the land-tax at £1372 2s. 4d.

Fifield church is a jumble of architectural styles - of architectural elegances, and modern barbarisms. Its Norman tower, standing in the centre of the building, is surmounted by a wooden incumbent, as incongruous as tastelessness could devise, while its chancel, internally rich in that species of pure and elegant Gothic which distinguished the earliest portion of the fourteenth century, is marred by the presence of those unseemly uprights and transoms which have displaced the ramified tracery once so ornamental there. Nor is this the only spoliation Fifield has to regret. Not fifty years since, as I learn from a well-informed inhabitant, the interior of this edifice was actually darkened with that solemn but rich gloom - the effect of stained glass - which has given place to a glare unwarmed by a single tint. An ornamented piscina, with three stalls for the ministers officiating at the ceremonies of the Romish altar, still remain, and but little injured. While the visitor will gaze with increasing admiration upon the beautiful fillet of foliage in stone-work, which surrounds the entire aperture of the large eastern window, will it be credited, that this specimen of taste and munificence remained till within these very few years covered with plaster and whitewash?

The nave and aisles have been so much altered by external modifications as to induce a supposition, at first sight, that they are of a date very inferior to the rest of the edifice; a glance, however, at its original western entrance, now converted into a window, its cylindrical and octangular columns, and the pointed arches resting upon these, convince us that they are at least coeval with the chancel, if not of a date somewhat anterior. A large and square font of grey marble carved with knots and semicircular arcades, witnesses to its own antiquity, and completes the ornaments of this venerable structure, with the exception of a niche, now statueless, placed at the north east angle of the aisle.

There is, however, worthy of observation, a singular arch, seen externally beneath the east window of the chancel. The three quatrefoils in the head of this seem once to have been perforated, and lead to a puzzling conjecture as to their original purpose. At first, I was inclined to imagine that the floor of the chancel might have been at one time raised sufficiently high to admit of a vault or crypt beneath it, to which these openings would suitably enough have afforded air and a glimmering of light but an inspection of the interior immediately refuted such a notion. Could they possibly have been used to produce any effect at the high altar? There are also two or three arches, now closed with masonry, very singularly situated in the lower part of the tower on the south side, the uses of which it is equally difficult to explain.

MONUMENTS

In the interior of the church are the following monumental records:-

1. Here lies the late virtuous and lamented Mrs. Ann Beverley, who was born 13th of August, 1680, and died September 29th, 1702 ; which Ann was the eldest daughter of James, the eldest son of Thomas Beverley, late of Gaynes Park, in the county of Huntingdon, Esqre, and Ann, his wife, the daughter of Thomas Duncombe of Broughton, in the county of Bucks, Esqre. The above named Thomas Beverley, and his wife Elizabeth, lye interred on the left hand of this stone, close to it.

2. Here lies the body of Thomas Brand, Esqre, who departed this life the 7th of October, 1718.
Also, Margaret, relict of the said Thomas Brand, Esqre., who departed this life 29th of August, 1767.

3. Here lyeth the body of John Collins, the elder, who departed this life the 18th of August, 1729, in the 82 year of his age.
Also, the body of Mary, his wife, who departed this life the 28th day of Febry, 1732, in the 81st year of her age.

4. Here lieth the body of John Collins, late of Sambpitts in this parish, Esqre, who depart this life September 17th, 1750, in the 74th year of his age.
He was a good and affectionate husband, father, and friend; and as he lived in the practise of every Christian virtue, so he met death with great composure of mind, from a stedfast hope of a joyful resurrection and the life everlasting.
On the right hand side lyeth his wife, Mrs. Mary Collins, and their son John Collins, who died June 23rd, 1731, in the 19th year of his age.

5. Here lies the body of Mrs. Mary Collins, the wife of John Collins, the younger, of this parish, Gent., who lived virtuously, and died much lamented, the 9th of October, MDCCXIV, in the xxx year of her age.

In the chancel are the following armorial ensigns on escocheons against the wall:-
1. Berwick . . . Arg. three bears’ heads erased sable, muzzled, or.
2. Sable, two swords saltirewise arg. pommelled, within a bordure engrailed argent.
3. Vert, a griffin erect or, impaling –
4. Gules, a saltire argent, on a chief of the second, three griffins’ heads erased of the field.

This church is kept in a very neat and reputable state.

I forgot to observe in its proper place, that amongst the heads carved on the stalls in the chancel, is a grotesque face, with a fool’s cap.

Ingatestone: Disney family

Received
6 September 2010

Chris Harvey is writing a history of Ingatestone United Reformed Church.

Hi Andrew,

I attach a photo I took last Saturday of the memorial to Edgar Disney in the Anglican Church at Ingatestone. I'm told there is an identical one at Blackmore. Are you able to confirm this please? Edgar Disney made available the land on which Ingatestone manse and hall were built - in fact I think the Disneys held a fair amount of real estate in Fryerning and Ingatestone – it’s a pity Hyde Hall was destroyed by fire in the 1960s.

Regards.

Chris


Replied
7 September 2010

Dear Chris

Thank you for your e mail. I was very interested to see the photograph of the Edgar Disney tablet from Ingatestone Church and can confirm that there is an identical one on the north wall of the Priory Church of St Laurence, Blackmore. Edgar Disney (1810 – 1881) was associated with Jericho Priory next to the church. I attach a document which has been transcribed onto my history website. (Go to http://www.blackmorehistory.co.uk/blackmorepriory.html). It includes the Blackmore version of the tablet.

In ‘The Journal’, September 2010, which is delivered to all in the CM4 postal district, there is an item on a ‘Presentation to St Edmund and St Mary’s Church of NADFAS Church Record’ which is the culmination of five years’ work by Church Recorders of the Brentwood & District Decorative and Fine Arts Society to record the entire fixtures and fittings of the church interior. The item specially mentions the memorial to Edgar Disney which “displays the heraldic ‘quarterings’ of 23 different families”. Two guided tours of the church are planned, to be led by Graham Brereton, the leader of the recording group. The first is on Thursday 30 September about ‘The Petre Family and Ingatestone Church’ and the second on Thursday 28 October entitled ‘What you may not know about Ingatestone Church’. Both meetings start at 8.00pm.

There is another, but different, memorial to the Disney family at Fryerning Church. The family are buried in a large vault to the north side of St Mary’s Church.

The Disney Family had a connection with The Hyde in Ingatestone. I believe Edgar’s father inherited and added to a large number of ancient artefacts which now form a collection in the Fitzwilliam Museum, Cambridge. I must investigate this further.

A few years ago someone suggested that the family were associated with the famous cartoonist, Walt. I enquired via the internet with a family descendant who told me, in so many words, that this was a Mickey Mouse story.

Best wishes.

Andrew

Received
9 September 2010

Hello Andrew.

The memorial to Edgar Disney at Blackmore appears identical.

Re. the Brentwood & District FAS history. When I was at Ingatestone on Saturday, the church was open to the public. The man on welcoming duty showed me the NADFAS record, though it was not on open show. It is an excellent record with photographs of everything of interest and background information about the various artefacts, memorials etc. It has been produced to a very high professional standard and is in the form of typed A4 sheets (many photos of high quality) inserted into plastic pockets (for protection I assume) and filed in a large A4 hard backed binder. The folder is full and I guess it must comprise 100+ pages.

I am aware of the tours by Graham Brereton. He has also written a short article (available at the church) providing information about Thomas Hollis and the Disneys.

Walt Disney came from a separate branch of the family.

Regards

Chris

Writtle: Revd. A. Suckling. Memorials (1845)

The following is taken from Revd. Alfred Suckling’s book, ‘Memorials of the antiquities and architecture, family history and heraldry of the County of Essex’ (John Weale, London, 1845).

The extent of Writtle, which is the largest parish in Essex, is its only present distinction, though, in former days, it appears to have been one of the most important. By Horsley it is considered as the Caesaromagus mentioned in the fifth Iter of Antoninus, and the distance of that station, twenty-eight miles from London, agrees well with the position of modern Writtle. But, “notwithstanding the pompous name of this station,” says Dr. Henry, (Caesar’s seat,) “its very ruins are now so entirely ruined, that its exact situation cannot be discovered; but by the distance from London, and the direction of the road on which this rout (Iter v.) proceeds, it must have been at or near Chelmsford.”

No indications, I believe, of Roman Castrametation are visible here at the present day to determine this point. At a period far remote from that in which some Roman commander made choice of Writtle for a military station, the inglorious John, from causes not now remembered, erected in the same village a royal palace, a few inconsiderable ruins of which are said to be remaining on the village green, about a quarter of a mile to the left of the public road leading towards Chelmsford.

The disappearance of all these vestiges of ancient importance shew in a very striking light the instability of human grandeur, where neither the stupendous labours of Roman ambition, nor the luxuries of royalty, have left a wreck behind.

The ecclesiastical history of this place is well determined, but remarkable for the frequent changes it has experienced. From the shape of the font, carved in very hard stone, a church must have existed here from a very ancient period; certain however it is, that in 1143 King Stephen granted it to the priory of Berrnondesev, in Surrey; eighty years subsequent to this donation, King John obtained possession of it, whether by the right of purchase or exchange, or by an arbitrary stretch of violence, so common in the annals of his reign, I know not; but by him it was bestowed on the hospital of the Holy Ghost, at Rome, belonging to the English resident there, and its funds destined to the maintenance of the poor and infirm. In the second year of Edward the Third’s reign, this appropriation was confirmed. Being afterwards seized as belonging to an alien hospital, it was obtained by William of Wickham, who augmented the revenues of his new college at Oxford with its impropriation, and presented to the warden and fellows the patronage of the vicarage. With this body both still remain, being exempt from all episcopal jurisdiction, and subject in spiritual matters to the commissary of that college alone.

The church consists of a lofty nave and chancel with two aisles, north and south porches, and two small transepts or chapels; that on the south side being of red brick, and about Henry the Eighth’s era. The tower is square, and being built of red brick in 1802, is consequently tasteless and inelegant. Over the west door of this tower is inserted a curious piece of sculpture, preserved probably from the ruin of the older structure.

The interior of the edifice is remarkably light and pleasing, and had not an oaken roof been laid over it of too flattened an arch, the tout ensemble would he exceedingly fine. This roof is sustained in the nave by an arcade of five pointed arches resting on cylindrical pillars, finished with round and plainly moulded capitals; while the columns of the chancel, though of like form, have octangular capitals. The first arch eastward of the nave is much wider than any other in the church; and that at the west end is as remarkably contracted. It would be difficult to account for these incongruities, which, besides detracting from the beauty of the structure, must have added materially to the expense of its erection.

BENEFACTIONS TO THE POOR OF WRITTLE.

“A.D. 1506. Thos. Hawkins gave about sixty acres of land to endow Alms Houses in the churchyard.
“1591. William Horne gave for bread, £2 13s. 4d.
“1605. Edward Hunt gave two tenements, and yearly to two poor persons inhabiting the same, £1.
“1634. Dorothy Davis gave for bread, £2 13s. 4d.
“1737. Eleanor Jones gave for bread, £1.
“1774. John Blencowe gave for the education of poor children of Writtle and Roxwell, £1200.
“1776. Sarah, Viscountess Falkland, annually for bread to the poor who attend the church, the interest of £121 0s. 8d., vested in the 2 per cents.
“1811. William Francis Henry, Baron Petre, gave the timber for the frame work of the bells.
“1811. Mr. Henry Lambrith gave one hundred pounds towards the expense of recasting the bells, Bumstead’s Farm, Parken’s tenements in Greenbury, East Hays, in Church Haw Street, one tenement, two shillings yearly from a piece of ground near the leet.
“The organ was the gift of Thomas Penrose, D.C.L., Vicar; and P. C. Labouchere, Esqre, of Hylands, 1821, and an addition was given to the organ by Henry Lambrith, Esqre.”

MONUMENTS.

Writtle church must at one period have possessed a fine collection of sepulchral brasses, as the numerous matrices robbed of these ornaments evidently prove. Of those which remain, four lie on the floor near the chancel door, two warriors and their wives; the inscription is reaved, but by their costume we may infer that they flourished during the reign of Henry the Seventh. The position of the whole group, which exposes it to the constant tread of the congregation, is highly injurious to its preservation.

On a fantastic mural monument against the north wall of the chancel is this inscription

M. S.
Edward Pinchon et Dorothea Weston una olim caro unum nunc cadaver hoc in tumulo
Christum expectat,
Vixére singulari erga Deum fide
Pan inter se concordia,
Nec aliâ erga homines charitate,
Hoc si fib maestisso dicenti non credis
Interroga viciniam,
Interim cave mali quicquam de illis dicas
Nam etiam mortui bone audiunt.

On the top of this monument, in allusion to ears of wheat carved there, are these lines:-

Petra erat X. R. S.
Si non moriatur, non reviviscit,
Vos estis die agricultura,
Messores nos savit, fovet, lavit, coget, renovabit,
congregabunt.

Arms: Pinchon quarters Weston; Gules, 3 pears or; and a chev. reversed of the second. In the third quarter; Argent, two bendlets engrailed sab. 4 qr. as the first.

2. Near this place lies interred the body of that truly great and good man, the Rt. Hoñble Sir John Comyns, Knt., late Lord Chief Baron of his Majesty’s Court of Exchequer, universally esteemed one of the brightest ornaments of the Bench, and ablest lawyers of his time, who departed this life on the 13th day of November, 1740, aged 73. That a character of so much piety, learninge, and merit should not be buried in oblivion, but remain as a shining example to others, this monument (out of duty and gratitude) was humbly erected to his memory by his Nephew and Heir, John Comyns, of Hylands, Esq 1759.

Cui pudor et justitiae soror
Incorrupta fides, nudaq: veritas
Quando ullam invenient parem.

This monument bears the arms of Comyns, and a marble bust of the Chief Baron.

3. An altar tomb of Purbeck marble, of the style of the fifteenth century, projects from the north wall of the chancel; it bears no inscription, but has the following armorial ensigns attached to its side, engraved on brass plates:-

1st. A martlet, charged with a mullet for difference, on a chief, five balls.
2. The same shield impales quarterly, - 1st, two lioncels pass. guard. crowned. 2nd, three bendlets int. a bordure. 3rd, two bars, and a bend, surtout. 4th, a fret, and a chief.
3. The first shield also impales quarterly 1 and 4, barry of four, on a chief, a lion pass, guard. 2nd and 3rd, ermine, on a chief, two mullets.

4. Over the vestry door is a mural monument in the taste of the sixteenth century, on which are rudely carved the kneeling effigies of a man with four sons before a faldstool, on the other side of which are similarly placed those of a female and her daughters. The inscription is as follows:-

Nere unto this place resteth in peace the bodie of Edw. Elliott, late of Newland, in the countye of Essex, Esqre, Soñe of John Eliot, of Stortford, in the countye of Hartford. He tooke to wife Jane, one of the daughters of James Gedge, sone and heire of Margaret Gedge, one of the daughters and heires of Thomas Bardfield, of Shenfields, in the countye aforesayd, by whom he had issue iiij sonnes, and vj daughters, whereof he left living iij sones and five daughters. The lived together in married estate xxxviij yeres, and he deceased the xxij day of Decemb. in the year of our Lord, 159e; aetatis 60.

Above this inscription are some verses too high to be read from the ground, but this circumstance is probably little to be regretted.

5. To the memory of Frances, late wife of Richard Comyns, Esq Serjeant-at-Law, who dved ye 30 of Sepr, Auno Dni. 1773.

6. On the floor of the nave lie the effigies. The inscription is lost; but at their feet stand two groupes of children, consisting of six sons and two daughters. The arms attached are, a chev. int. 3 mullets.

7. Here Iyeth interred the body of Catharin Petre, wife of Joseph Petre, of Fittelers, in the county of Essex, Esqre, daughter of Sir William Andrews, Baronet, who dyed ye 3 of December, 1700, in the 32 year of her age.
Arms: Petre impales Andrews,

8. Within the altar rails lies a floor stone, with an inscription to the memory of the Rev. John Birch, LL.B.

9. Here lyeth the body of John Pynchon, of Writtle, Esqre, son of Sir Edward Pynchon, of Writtle, Knt., who departed this life ye 30 day of July, 1654. And also ye body of Edward Pynchon, Gent., son of ye said John Pynchon, Esqre, who departed this life ye 12 day of Febry, 1672. And also ye body of Ann Pynchon, wife of ye said John Pynchon, Esq who departed this life ye 10 day of May, 1675.

10. Hic jacet
Quod mortale fuit
Godfridi Thacker,
Nup Hospitij Grayensis, Ar:
Qui obiit undecimo die Aprilis,
Anno Salutis humanae
MDCCIJ°.
AEtatis suae,
LVIIJ°.
Hic etiam jacet
Bridgetta Thacker,
Soror Godfridi,
Quae obiit, 24° die Maij,
Anno Domini 1732,
AEtatis suae 81.

11. Agatha,
Conjux Johis Rogers
Civis Londini, Soror Thomae Houghton hujus ecclesiae
Vicar - quae
Raris casibus puerperij
Mature gavida invito obstetricantis ingenio
Partum non enixa difficulter obdormuit.
H.SS. xvi die Augusti, 1684.

12. H.S.S
Elizabetha, uxor Thomae Swallow, LL.B, hujus ecclesiae Vicar; Filia Artheri Hyde de Hinton Daubney, in Agro Southton, Armig. quae ob. 2 die Julij, Anno Dom. 1728, aetatis suae 29.
H. S. S.
Thomas Swallow, LL.B., hujus parochiae cum capella Roxwell annexa Vicarius. Ob. xxij Aug. MDCCLV, aetatis suae LXVIIJ.

13. Randall Adams, Esqre, eldest son of John Adams, Esqre, late of Writtle, departed this life 9 day of April, A.D. 1725, aged 55 years. He married Elizabeth, daughter of John Weever, of South Luffenham, in the county of Rutland, Esqre, and had issue by her two Sons and two daughters, who all survived him.

14. George Emport, of Calveley, in Cheshire, Esqre, and Elizabeth, his wife, one of the daughters of Will. Comvns, of this parish, Esqre. She departed this life, 14 day of Nov. 1731 aged 56 ; he upon the 7 November, 1735, aged 84.

15. Bene nata - bene erudita,
Forum ingenio et virtutibus insignis,
Christ cultrix frequens et sincera,
Annos 27 vixit
Bella Comyns,
Morbo lento et incurabili
Fortitudine plusquam femineâ diu luctata,
Graviora passa dum filiolas
Praematura morte extinctos
Flevit,
Quietam solamen et immortalitatem
Quam meruit felicem,
Adsecuta est,
Prid Iduum, Oct. 1738.
Amoris et pietatis ergo, hoc marmor posuit
Johannis Comyns de interiori Templo Armig.
Fidelissimam lugens quam comitari maluit uxorem.

16. Here lyeth buryed the body of Edward Bowland, Gentleman, who departed this life, with blessed memorye, the 14 of September, 1609.
Here lyeth Jone, the wife of Edward Bowland, Gent., who dyed the 18 of Aug. Ano Dni. 1616.

17. On a brass plate affixed to the wall are two figures kneeling before a faldstool.
Obiit xiiij die Augusti, 1606.
Vivit post funera virtus.
Neere to this place resteth the bodie of Edwarde Hunt, late of Wrytle, Gent., who lyvinge was muche beloved, releeved the poore, and by his laste will gave in perpetuytie two almshouses in Churche Lane, wth an yerely allowance of twentye shillinges for their better maintenance, and also hath willed for ever to ye poore of this prishe, to be yerely distributed on Good Fryday, x shillinges, wch somes are lymytted to be paid out of a parcel of lande called Appesfield, in Chelmsforde parishe, as by his saide wille at large appeareth.

BLACKMORE HISTORY NEWS - December 2010

Welcome to this month’s round-up of local history and heritage in and around Blackmore, Essex.

Disney Family of Blackmore and Ingatestone

The bicentenary of the birth of Edgar Disney is remembered on the blog this month. Edgar lived at Jericho Priory, but his father John lived at The Hyde in Ingatestone. He gave a large number of sculptures to the Fitzwilliam Museum in Cambridge, which I visited recently to see what is still known as the ‘Disney marbles’. The gallery (Room 21), containing items from Roman and Greek times, has recently been refurbished with the story retold. The museum entry is free – though a suggested donation of at least £3 is welcome – and is an interesting way to spend a dull winter day. Another highlight of our afternoon visit – we must go back – was the slipware pottery made in the Harlow area of Essex, presumably around Potter Street.

Blackmore Area Local History

Today marks the third anniversary of this online project, which has grown significantly over the past year thanks to continued research as well as correspondence from its readers. There are now 109 pages on the main website, double that of last year, and over 500 entries on this blog.

Plans for the website for the next year include:
- posting all the correspondence and photographs I have received from former pupils who were at The Gatehouse School and The Hyde during the 1940s and 1950s (the same property as the Disney family a century earlier).
- creating a series of pages called ‘Blackmore. The Library Collection’ which will feature photographs I received from a collector who had a display in the former Blackmore local library back in the 1980s. This is outstanding from the last twelve months
- commemorating those recorded on the Doddinghurst and Stondon Massey War memorials with new pages

The blog will continue to focus on local history news and feedback from readers. I am not planning new online projects for publication next year – although I wrote this twelve months ago and immediately became involved with others on the Blackmore War Memorial project.

‘Offline’ I am researching the life of Rev Edward Henry Lisle Reeve, Rector of Stondon Massey (Essex) from 1893 to 1935. Reeve died unmarried but his half-brother had descendants with a surname Hawkins. Is there anyone out there related to this interesting Anglican clergyman and gentleman? The only way to find out is to post an entry on the blog! There is also May’s William Byrd Festival which I am promoting.

The purpose of ‘Blackmore Area Local History’ is to share knowledge of local heritage. Thanks for visiting the sites. Enjoy, and keep posting comments!

Ongar War Memorial Hospital demolished

Work has now gone ahead to demolish the old Ongar War Memorial Hospital which closed in 2009.

Chelmsford: St John’s Hospital closes

St John’s Hospital, in Chelmsford - where countless local babies were born – closed its doors for the last time on 19 November. For more read: http://www.thisistotalessex.co.uk/news/End-era/article-2906715-detail/article.html

Willingale Churches

Willingale is, of course, unique to Essex in that two churches share the same churchyard. A new item has appeared on the internet thanks to a churchaholic. Read Stepney Robarts blog entry: http://stepneyrobarts.blogspot.com/2010/11/willingale-essex.html

The busy blogger has also been to:
Bobbingworth: http://stepneyrobarts.blogspot.com/2010/11/bobbingworth-essex.html
Fyfield: http://stepneyrobarts.blogspot.com/2010/11/fyfield-essex.html
High Laver: http://stepneyrobarts.blogspot.com/2010/11/high-laver-essex.html
High Ongar: http://stepneyrobarts.blogspot.com/2010/11/high-ongar-essex.html
Roxwell: http://stepneyrobarts.blogspot.com/2010/11/roxwell-essex.html
Shelley: http://stepneyrobarts.blogspot.com/2010/11/shelley-essex.html

If you are interested in Arthur Mee, of ‘King’s England’ fame, there is an interesting biography. http://stepneyrobarts.blogspot.com/2010/10/arthur-mee.html

It’s fair to sum up that the writer does not like Victorian churches or Victorian restorations at all. I enjoyed surfing this site.

Stanford Rivers Parish Register

Kathryn Lake commemorates ‘Church Record Sunday’ (I never knew it existed) with an item about parish registers and about Stanford Rivers specifically. Read on http://www.looking4ancestors.com/2010/11/church-record-sunday-peeking-at-parish.html

William Byrd Festival

The ‘William Byrd Festival’ will be held at St Peter & St Paul Church, Stondon Massey, on 7, 8, 14 & 15 May 2011. For the latest information visit http://www.williambyrdfestival.blogspot.com/.

A Folk Song A Day

Don’t forget the marvellous site http://www.afolksongaday.com/

Links

For an extensive list of links to other sites go to: http://www.blackmorehistory.co.uk/externallinks.html

BLACKMORE HISTORY NEWS: July / August 2012

Memories of the Olympics: Tower Bridge (4 August 2012)

Welcome to this month’s round-up of local history and heritage in and around Blackmore, Essex.   … and welcome to our new look page layout thanks for the Blogger!

Willingale Bells

Six bells rang out for the first time on 27 May 2012, the day when the newly augmented peal was dedicated.  See http://www.willingalebells.org/newsletters/WoiW_May_2012_extended_v1.pdf

Successful History Event

Ingatestone United Reformed Church, in association with the local Historical Society, hosted a history event linked with its 200^th anniversary on 14 & 15 July.  On display were a number of old village photographs and other memorabilia.  The event was the official launch of an e-book written by Chris Harvey to commemorate the anniversary.  A large number of people attended.

Ingatestone stone dislodged

One of the ancient ice-age stones on the corner of Fryerning Lane, which gives the village its name, was dislodged when a delivery lorry collided with it on 21 July 2012.  The stone awaits resetting. See http://www.thisistotalessex.co.uk/Historic-Ingatestone-rock-knocked-road-lorry/story-16560850-detail/story.html

Olympic connection with Railway Museum

The East Anglian Railway Museum, at Chappel and Wakes Colne, can claim two links with the Olympic Games.  One of their steam engines, currently on loan to the Churnet Valley Railway, was built at the Temple Field works site in Stratford in 1924.  Temple Fields made way for the Olympic Park beside the Liverpool Street London railway line.  The other link is that Blur, the Indie Band, performed their first gig at the Museum back in 1989. Blur, now re-formed, was one of the artists involved in the Closing Ceremony of the Games on 12 August inasmuch that their song ‘Parklife’ was included as a quirky cover version. (They performed 'live' at the Mayor of London's gig at Hyde Park that evening.)

The museum itself tells the story of the railways in the local area.  Its collection includes the two Diesel Multiple Units (DMUs) which were used on the Stour Valley Line until the 1980s.  signal boxes rescued from local lines are also preserved.  The Museum is the current resting place for a three-car electric train (Class 306 017) which was in service from London Liverpool Street to Shenfield and Chelmsford from 1949 to 1980 (see http://blackmorehistory.blogspot.co.uk/search?q=class+306).  There is a relatively new exhibition space.  Worth a visit.  See http://www.earm.co.uk/

Local news connection with the Olympic Games

The Red Arrows flew over the Olympic Park about 45 minutes before the opening ceremony on 27 July.  We heard the roar of them over the houses in Blackmore on their return journey.  They had long gone by the time we had raced into the garden.

Earlier that day a family went to Blackmore Church to ring the church bells, and participate in Martin Creed's project 'Work No. 1197'.  Across that country at 8.12am that day everyone was encouraged to ring bells as loud and fast as possible for three minutes.  Welcome to Britain everyone!


Followers of tennis may remember a young lad giving Andy Murray a congratulatory hug after winning a gold medal.  The 11 year old Henry Caplan comes from Blackmore. (see http://www.itv.com/news/anglia/2012-08-06/cool-essex-boys-verdict-on-gold-hold/)

The Olympic flame was in our area on 6 & 7 July.  See http://www.brentwoodweeklynews.co.uk/news/9804316.Olympic_flame_will_never_be_forgotten__residents_say/

The London 2012 Olympics was a triumph both in its organisation and the success of the athletes.  It was a hugely memorable Festival for those who were lucky enough to get tickets and enjoy the site afterwards.  Local people were among the 70000 Games Makers who made the whole event so pleasurable for spectators. 

Epping and Ongar Railway brings visitors to Ongar

Trade in Ongar and North Weald has increased thanks to an influx of tourists coming to the newly opened Epping and Ongar Railway. The attraction is running an old London bus (christened the 339 route) from Harlow to North Weald on event days. See http://www.guardian-series.co.uk/news/9819390.ONGAR_NORTH_WEALD__Modern_day_railway_gold_rush_for_high_street_traders/

William Byrd

Stondon Massey Church has a copy of the original Will of William Byrd, composer, in which he expresses a wish to be buried in the churchyard of the Parish where he lived.  The congregation will be welcoming The Cardinall’s Musick to two concerts at the church on 2 September. The event is a sell-out.  Separately another website has published the Will: http://theoryofmusic.wordpress.com/2012/07/28/the-will-of-william-byrd-modern-english-version/.  For more information on William Byrd visit http://williambyrdfestival.blogspot.co.uk/

Essex Record Office celebrates Heritage Weekend

The county’s archive resource is throwing open its doors for a special event on Saturday 8 September to mark Heritage Weekend.  Their keynote speaker is family history expert Nick Barratt, radio and ‘Who Do You Think You Are?’ fame.  Any information I glean will be posted on the website.  For more, and to see Nick Barratt in aeries of videos, go to http://www.familyhistoryshow.net/essex-record-office-discovery-day

Writtle Calling

To celebrate the 90^th anniversary of 2MT, Britain’s first radio station, enthusiasts are mounting  recreation series of broadcasts starting 11 September.  For more go to http://www.writtlecalling.co.uk/pr3.pdf

Essex Voices

A Great Dunmow based history website: Essex Voices, is a resource of note.  Here is an illustration of how Queen Mary was confused with Mary Queen of Scots, the Catholic, executed at Fotheringhay: http://www.essexvoicespast.com/history-howlers-mary-i/.  Go to the ‘home page’ to find the latest entries: http://www.essexvoicespast.com/

Brentwood & Shenfield history

‘Changes over a century’ is well worth a look: http://www.thisistotalessex.co.uk/Changes-century-leave-mark-today/story-16751829-detail/story.html

 War Memorial unveiled at Ongar Medical Centre

A ceremony to unveil a War Memorial at the new Ongar Medical Centre was held on 10 May 2012.  It contains the names of those who died from the local area, predominantly during the First World War.  It replaces the War Memorial which existed in the former building, the War Memorial Hospital, which occupied this site.  A separate post will feature this event.

Doddinghurst War Memorial

A War Memorial tablet to those who died in the First World War at Doddinghurst is sited in All Saints Church.  (see http://www.blackmorehistory.co.uk/doddinghurstwwone.html)

I have now completed the work to provide a tribute page online for all of those named.  New pages are available on ‘Blackmore Area Local History’ for:

Arthur Benton - http://www.blackmorehistory.co.uk/ww1_arthur_benton.html

Harry Benton - http://www.blackmorehistory.co.uk/ww1_harry_benton.html

George Everett - http://www.blackmorehistory.co.uk/ww1_george_everett.html

Arthur Hammond - http://www.blackmorehistory.co.uk/ww1_arthur_hammond.html

George Hammond - http://www.blackmorehistory.co.uk/ww1_george_hammond.html

St George Swaine Showers - http://www.blackmorehistory.co.uk/ww1_swaine_showers.html

Pages have already been set up for Herbert Miller, Gerald Wellesley Pigott, James Roast and Harry Riglin because their names also appear on the War Memorial at Blackmore.

Commonplace Book of Edward Reeve

The complete series of posts can be viewed by following this link: http://blackmorehistory.blogspot.co.uk/search/label/Commonplace%20Book

Chelmsford City

The county town now has official City status, conferred by HM Queen Elizabeth II in celebration of the Diamond Jubilee.

Blackmore Church photos

Some interesting photographs of St Laurence Church Blackmore have appeared, taken by a visitor on a Teas In The Tower day: http://toomanyphotos.wordpress.com/2012/07/20/blackmore-church/

In brief

Ingatestone WW2 airmen’s lives remembered: http://www.thisistotalessex.co.uk/Airmen-s-lives-remembered/story-16355291-detail/story.html

Still for sale – The Bull, Blackmore: http://www.flickr.com/photos/barryslemmings/7189872671/

Links

For an extensive list of links to other sites go to: http://www.blackmorehistory.co.uk/externallinks.html  

Ingatestone: Gatehouse School

Following the blog entry about George Sherrin (http://blackmorehistory.blogspot.com/search?q=sherrin), a number of responses have been received by former pupils of the Gatehouse School, which later moved to The Hyde ( http://blackmorehistory.blogspot.com/search?q=the+hyde), the former home of the Disney family (http://blackmorehistory.blogspot.com/search?q=disney). Their memories now appear on a separate page on the main website ( http://www.blackmorehistory.co.uk/gatehouse.html).

One correspondent, Alan Cristall, writes:

Received

4 January 2011

Hello Andrew

Thank you for putting me in touch with John Hutchins; we are now exchanging anecdotes about our time at the school.

I now have some questions for you which you will probably not be able to answer but here goes anyway.

What was the name of the house, occupied by the army during the war, which was immediately opposite the Gate House in Station Lane? Would it have been Ashleigh House – a name currently used on the new estate there?

Miss Christie was a well-known local character who ran the 1^st Ingatestone & Fryerning Scout Troop. She lived towards the top end of Fryerning Lane on the left; it may have been the last house. Is it possible to establish the name of the house?

Miss Christie moved to a cottage at Mill Green; the last road on the right before the green itself. The area is now more built up and her cottage, as I recall it, appears to have been rebuilt and is called St Giles – are you able to confirm this was the name of her cottage?

There is a building in the market place to the right as you face it and up a short dead-end on the right with a barn-type external door on the first floor. It can now be easily seen from the car park. As Scouts during the war we would store waste paper there. Do you know the original purpose of the building and has it got a name.?

Regards

Alan

Replied

5 January 2011

Alan

I’ll have a think about your tough questions. Failing that, and in addition, I will put them on the blog.

Regards

Andrew

Blackmore. Remembrance 100. Biographical detail of those men who served in the First World War and returned to Blackmore.

The War Memorial lists a further 81 men who came through the First World War and returned home.  

A primary document used to establish the full names of those commemorated was the Electoral Register for 1918 which greatly extended the list of eligible voters, including women over 30 years old for the first time.  The Register includes ‘absent voters’.  This includes Frederick John Belsham, who lived in the village and Frank Johnson Knight, who lived at Walnut Tree Cottages.  These names are omitted from the War memorial and it is surmised that these men did not want their names included.  Poignantly we found Albert Edward Barker, The Bull, as an absent voter who had died a year earlier.

Samuel John Brazier

AS:  The Parish Register records the baptism of Ronald Walter John, son of Samuel John and Ethel Florence Brazier on 23^rd June 1921.  Samuel’s profession given was ‘Royal Navy’. [ERO D/P 266/1/17].

His brother, Walter, also served in the Royal Navy but was killed.  He is commemorated on the War Memorial as one of the fallen.  His sister, Florence married Ernest John Wager, who also served. [Barbara Dawes, 3.11.18]

Alfred Chumbley

Leonard Chumbley

AS:  They were half-brothers of Arthur John Nash who died in the First World War and is commemorated on the War Memorial as one of the fallen.

Alfred Stokes Hart

AS:  The Parish Register records the baptism of Reginald Brian Stokes, son of Alfred Stokes and Adelaide Hart on 31^st March 1916.  The family lived at ‘Nine Ashes, High Ongar’.  Alfred’s profession given was ‘Insurance Agent’. [ERO D/P 266/1/11].

George Hasler

AS:  Identifying letters ‘C’ and ‘G’ on the faded War Memorial were notoriously difficult. 

BG:  The 1911 Census record for Blackmore, Wyatts Green, Doddinghurst, Brentwood” records: 

Iedward W. Hasler.  Head.  Married 15 years.  [Age] 38.  Horseman On Farm.  [Born] Essex High Roding

Ellen Hasler.  Wife.  Married.  [Age] 40.  [Born] Herts Gt Hadham

George E. Hasler.  Son.  Single.  [Age] 15.  Cow Man.  [Born] Essex Gt Dunmow

John E Hasler.  Son.  [Age] 9.  School.  [Born] Essex Doddinghurst

Frederick W Hasler.  Son.  [Age] 7.  School.  [Born] Essex Doddinghurst

Eleanor M Hasler.  Daughter.  [Age] 5. School.  [Born] Essex Doddinghurst

Albert H Hasler.  Son.  [Age] 2.  Home.  [Born] Essex Doddinghurst

AS:  Ian Hook, the Keeper of the Essex Regiment Museum suggested: “Hasler may be 33789 Pte GE Hasler of Kelvedon Hatch a Prisoner of War taken while with the 9^th Battalion Essex Regiment and similarly invalided from the Army.”

Alfred Leslie Jasper

Charles Victor Jasper

AS:  Alfred Leslie Jasper was fairly easily found in the records but C.V or G.V. Jasper proved more difficult until the 1911 census was consulted.  Here we learn that Alfred Leslie and Charles Victor were brothers.

1911 Langenhoe.

Alfred Jasper.  Head.  Married.  [Age] 48.  Farmer.  [Born] Cornwall St Neots

Florence Helena Jasper.  Wife.  Married 19 years.  [Age] 40.  [Born] Cornwall St Neots

Charles Victor Jasper.  Son.  Single.  [Age] 17.  Farmer's Son Works On Farm.  [Born] Essex Arkesden

Florence Harriet Jasper.  Daughter.  Single.  [Age] 16.  School.  [Born] Essex Arkesden

Alfred Leslie Jasper.  Son.  [Age] 14.  School.  [Born] Essex Arkesden

Irene Grace Jasper.  Daughter.  [Age] 10.  School.  [Born] Essex Gt Waltham

Ellen Florence Taylor.  Servant.  Single [Age] 17.  Servant Domestic.  [Born] Essex Layer Breton

Emily Taylor.  Servant.  Single.  [Age] 20.  Servant Domestic.  [Born] Essex Layer Breton

The Parish Register records the baptism of Irene Grace, daughter of Alfred and Florence Helena Jasper on 1^st March 1923.  The family lived at ‘Wenlocks, Blackmore’.  Alfred’s profession given was ‘Farmer’. [ERO D/P 266/1/17].

Alfred Jopson

AS:  During the tracing of a survivor of the Great War (Gr. A. Jobson R.G.A) the Blackmore War Memorial Research Group came across two possible surnames for the same person: Jobson and Jopson.  Which could it be?

BG:  There is an Alfred JOPSON in the 1911 Blackmore census, age 23 born Writtle, who had been married to Kate Elizabeth for two years. His is the only Jopson family in the Ongar RD, and there is no Jobson.

Born ca. 1888, he lived at 11 Blackmore Green NS, and was a gardener. He enlisted in the RGA 54 AA Coy on 6^th June 1916, and was discharged sick on 20^th June 1917. He married Kate Elizabeth STONEHAM at Moulsham on 17^th July 1909, and their children George Alfred and Ellen May were both born in Blackmore.

AS:  Both Jobson and Jopson appear in the Parish records.

7^th June 1905: Burial register entry for Thomas Robert Jobson, aged 20 [Burial register in Church safe].

1914 Electoral Roll: Alfred Jobson living at Rose Cottage [ERO C/E 1/2/26].

1922 Electoral Roll: Kate Elizabeth Jobson living in Church Street [ERO C/E 2/1/5].

No records of Jopson in Electoral Registers.

7^th July 1910. Baptism entry for George Alfred, son of Alfred and Kate Elizabeth Jopson.

We were puzzled that these names appeared interchangeable, but after careful examination decided that the commonly used name was Jopson but the War Memorial commemorated him as Jobson. 

Thomas Livings

AS:  Information from a descendant, Michael Livings, enabled us to identify the name commemorated as a survivor.

Thomas Livings was the son of Passoover & Rebecca Livings (nee Ovel).  He was born in High Ongar in c.1896.  His parents appear on the Blackmore Electoral Roll for 1918 [ERO C/E 2/1/1] and 1922 [ERO C/E 2/1/5].

They had 4 children:

- Thomas Livings b 1896 High Ongar

- Nellie b 1898 High Ongar

- Mary Ann was baptised at High Ongar on 26^th March 1899 [ERO D/P 68/1/11].

- Joseph b 1900 High Ongar

Ian Hook from the Essex Regiment Museum suggested that this could be “Livings may be 24485 Pte TK Livings who was invalided from the Army.”

Alexander McLaren

AS:  The Parish Register records the baptism of Ivy Alma Florence, daughter of Alexander and Eliza McLaren on 29^th September 1917.  The family lived at High Ongar.  Frank’s profession given was ‘Soldier’. [ERO D/P 266/1/17].

Charles Miller

George Miller

AS:  They were the brothers of Herbert Miller, one of the fallen.

Frank Monk: will be remembered in another post

George Cyril Newcombe

AS:  The Parish Register records the baptisms of Harold Arthur, son, and Phyliss Maud, daughter of George Cyril and Edith Newcombe on 11^th November 1917.  Harold’s profession given was ‘Soldier’. [ERO D/P 266/1/17].

Albert George Ovel

Ernest James Ovel

Herbert James Ovel

AS:  Six generations of the Ovel family have lived in Blackmore.  James, born 1827 married Rebecca Wheal of Blackmore, and raised a family, of whom the eldest son was also James, born 1851.  With his wife Ruth (nee Pond) they had 12 children.  Albert, Ernest and Herbert were brothers.  The family lived at Hyde Farm in 1881, The Poplars just after the First World War and The Green (which could have been the same property) in 1933. 

Albert was the great grandfather of Donna Ovel, representing the sixth generation who kindly lent the Research Group the family tree and enabled the identification of the names of these survivors.  Albert was born in 1897, so was only 21 when the War ended.  He married Ethel Mary Root in 1922 but lived at The Poplars, recorded on the Electoral Roll in 1920, with his brother Herbert and parents James and Ruth.  Other sisters may have lived there too who did not qualify for a vote.

Ernest and Herbert were Donna’s great great uncles.  Their medal cards identify these men with the inscription on the War Memorial.

Major Jubilee Pagram

BG:  By chance, I found this man’s service record.  We have recorded him correctly as Cpl. J. Pagram R.A.S.C.  - Jubilee Major (aka Major Jubilee) Pagram, but I found the following of interest.

He had already served 1 year in the 4^th Essex, before joining up in May 1915.  On discharge in 1919 he was Cpl. and motor driver in the RASC, service no. 101609.  He married Lilian Maud McLaren on 3^rd June 1912, and they lived at Little Jessops.

Frank Charles Penson

AS:  The Parish Register records the baptisms of Eva Frances, daughter of Frank Charles and Emily Louisa Penson on 15^th August 1915, and of Charles Frank, son on 9^th September 1917.  Frank’s profession in both cases was given as ‘Soldier’. [ERO D/P 266/1/11].

Wellesley George Pigott

BG:  Lt. Col. Wellesley Pigott, was born Salisbury [C1881, confirmed FreeBMD] in 1861.  His father, the Rev Wellesley Pole Piggott, was born in Ireland, matriculated at Brasenose College Oxford in 1828 at the age of 15, and held the living of Bemerton, by Salisbury.

In 1881 he was a boarder in Shepperton, Mddx., and in 1891 he married Helen Louise Ind of Dublin [FreeBMD].  She was the daughter of Captain Thomas Donaldson [De Ruvigny’s Roll of Honour], and had married Frederick William Ind at Kensington in 1883 [FreeBMD].  There is no record of Frederick Ind’s death in the UK, so he probably died on service abroad. 

In 1894 Wellesley Pigott was adjutant in the 3^rd volunteer battalion, Essex Regiment, and was living at Fairfields, High Road, Woodford Wells. [Kelly’s Directory 1894].  In the 1914 Kelly’s Directory he was on the list of magistrates for Essex, and gave his address as 123 Colebourne Court, South Kensington.  But he is also listed as one of the major landowners in Blackmore, with manorial rights in Hook End, and is chair of the Education Committee of Ongar Rural District Council.

AS:  Major Wellesley Pigott commanded his Battalion at the Battle of Loos, on 25^th September 1915 [source. Revd E H L Reeve ERO T/P 188/3].

Arthur Cecil Pratt

AS:  Ian Pratt a descendant contacted us through the website. 

“My wife is researching our family history and has come across your webpages for Blackmore. I believe the C Pratt you are looking for on the War Memorial is my great uncle, Cecil Pratt.

“Christened Arthur Cecil Pratt, but known as Cecil, he was the son of Charles and Laura Pratt, one time residents of Hay Green Farm, Blackmore. His grandparents were Charles and Charlotte Pratt, whose son Rowland Richard Pratt, Cecil's uncle, is also mentioned on your pages.

“Cecil was born in 1885 and we know from the 1901 census that he was in Ipswich training to be an engineer. We also know he was injured in the First World War and died in 1918 from injuries sustained during that time, at the age of 33.”

Our evidence showed that there was a succession of Pratt family members at Hay Green Farm.  Firstly Charles (with Laura and a growing family by 1881), then Sidney (1891 census) then Rowland (in 1911) but no family members present on the 1914 Electoral Roll.  We could not find Arthur Cecil on my list of Blackmore baptisms but know that Rowland was a churchwarden.  We could not find reference to the death of an C or C.A. Pratt on the Commonwealth War Graves Commission website.

“Charles and Laura Pratt were Arthur Cecil's parents and Sidney and Rowland were his uncles.  The family lived first at Hay Green Farm and then moved to Castle House in Ongar.  Arthur Cecil was born at Castle House Farm. 

“In 1891 he was just six years old and living with his parents at Castle House Farm, although he did later study at The Oakham School, Kingsley, Hants, as did most of his siblings.  We know that he preferred to be called Cecil rather than Arthur.

“As far as we know he served with the Royal Flying Corps, not the RAF, which was formed later.  We have not as yet had the time to be able to verify this with actual documentation although we do have a photograph of him in uniform.”

We found Charles Pratt recorded in the 1890 edition of Kelly’s Directory as a farmer at Castle Farm and Home Farm.  Also, there is an entry for Charles Pratt on the 1918 Electoral Roll for Chipping Ongar, residing at Castle Farm.

There were no Pratts, as far as we knew, living in Blackmore in 1918 so linking Arthur Cecil Pratt to Blackmore seemed difficult.

He is an unlikely name for commemoration as a survivor, however, the strong connection which existed at the time between Grace Pratt, who married Herbert Brown (see list of fallen) and then Stanley Petrie, the son of the Vicar of Blackmore.  Our inclination is to record Arthur Cecil on our list but with a question mark. 

The Royal Air Force (RAF) was formed in 1918 out of a merged Royal Flying Corps (RFC), founded 1912, and Royal Naval Air Service (RNAS), founded 1914.

Arthur Charles Roast

AS:  He was the younger brother of James Roast, one of the fallen, and worked for Revd. E H L Reeve at Stondon Rectory before recruiting to the 3^rd Battalion, Essex Regiment, on 25^th March 1916, aged 16 years and 2 months.

Arthur Roast writes letters to Reeve, three of which are preserved at the Essex Record Office.  In a letter dated 13^th May 1916, Reeve comments “It is dated from Felixtowe where he is training. Looked upon at home as ‘none too strong in the upper storey’ Roast has shown himself a true Briton in adaptability to his new surroundings”. [ERO T/P 188/3]

Reeve writes on 1^st August 1916: “Arthur Roast, lately employed at the Rectory is now in France, and writes home cheerful letters to his mother, as all men do, bidding her not to worry about him. Roast was always a “good shot”, few birds escaping him even as a boy when out with stones and catapult!  The neighbours believe that as a bomb thrower into the enemy’s trenches his fame will be sure to establish himself”. [ERO T/P 188/3 f190]

He was at home on leave on 18^th November 1917.

Reeve notes again, on 8^th June 1918, “Private Arthur Roast writes that he is well “though the noise has made my nerves a bit shakey”!  We trust that many of our lads may be spared to return, and take part in the deferred Peace Celebrations”. [ERO T/P 188/3 f331]

In the 1939 census we find Arthur Roast living in the Ongar area employed as a kitchen gardener.  He died in 1962.

William Henry Sankey

AS:   William Sankey was the brother in law of Ernest Maynard who died in the First World War.  He married Gertrude Maynard at Blackmore in 1906. Their daughter, Violet May, was baptised privately at Blackmore on 13^th May 1906 but died aged three weeks and was buried at Blackmore on 6^th June.  In the 1911 Census William Sankey, aged 28, is a ‘Groom Domestic’ living at Ivy Cottage, Stondon Massey. His place of birth is recorded as Bromley, Kent. His wife of four years, ‘Gerdlina’, age 26, was born at Blackmore.  Ernest Maynard, the aforementioned, Gertrude’s brother was 21, a ‘gardener domestic’.  By 1915 the family had moved to Blackmore. The baptism of George Jellico Sankey, records William Henry Sankey as a Chauffeur. His mother was Gertrude Frances Annie Sankey. The baptism took place at Blackmore on 1^st August 1915.  [Sources: ERO D/P 266/1/12, ERO D/P 266/1/17, Burial register in Church Safe].

Ernest John Wager

AS:  Ernest John Wager married Florence Brazier, the sister of Walter, who died, and Samuel, who served.  Both Brazier men are remembered on the War Memorial.

“Ernest & Flo’s grave clearly seen over by the little wooden stile. Samuel & Ethel also buried there. Ernest was never that well after the war, think he was injured twice, he died relatively young in 1938 when 48 when my Dad was 9.” [Barbara Dawes, 4.11.18]

The Parish Register records the private baptism of Walter John, son of Ernest John and Florence Ann Wager on 22^nd September 1919.  Ernest’s profession given was ‘Soldier’. [ERO D/P 266/1/17].

Albert Edward Wheal

Arthur Charles Wheal

AS: Dave Wheal is a descendant of the Wheal’s commemorated on the War Memorial.  All three are named ‘A Wheal’: one fallen, plus two survivors.  He says that all were the children of Charles & Sarah Ann Wheal (nee Little).

“Alfred John Wheal was born Sept 1885 Ongar 4a 281, and killed in action, Arras 1917.  He is commemorated on the Arras Memorial to the missing.

“Albert Edward Wheal was baptised on 10^th January 1887 at Blackmore.  He served as a Private in the Machine Gun Corps (35906).  He married Annie Theresa Knight around 1918ish and died on 5^th July 1971.”

Albert Edward Wheal married at Blackmore on 2^nd November 1918, describing his profession as a ‘soldier’.

“Arthur Charles Wheal was born on 10^th January 1881 at Doddinghurst.  He served in the Royal Navy (K37757) as a Stoker.  He married Annie Florence Ovel in 1920ish and died on 15^th January 1944.”

Arthur Charles Wheal married, age 39, at Blackmore on 17th April 1920.

In the 1891 census we found Charles Wheal is head of household living at Doddinghurst Road. This is the last entry in the list before the enumerator moves to Mountnessing Road. This pinpoints their place of residence as Swallows Cross at what is now referred to as the junction of Wyatts Green Lane with Mountnessing Road right on the edge of Blackmore parish.

Two photographs (illustrated) came into my possession a few years’ ago when someone was clearing their attic.  One is inscribed on the back ‘Ted Wheal. Uncle. Mrs Dorothy Nicholson served in 1st world war” and ‘Jack Wheal – same as Ted’. Ted is wearing a military uniform whilst Jack looks to be wearing a naval uniform.

BG:  I found the service record for Albert Edward Wheal, who was demobbed in 1919 as L/Cpl, MGC.

He gives his address as 10 Stondon Road Blackmore – this is clearly a name that has changed, but could be Tipps Cross Lane. His next of kin are father Charles, and wife Annie. He was mobilised in 1916 aged 28, and joined the 3rd Essex. Three months later he was transferred into the MGC, where he was lucky to have survived. His service no. was 35906.”

AS:  Throughout the project we have been in correspondence with members of the Essex branch of the Western Front Association so we took the opportunity to send them copies to see whether they could be positively identified.  

Karen Dennis wrote: “I'm pleased to be able to write that I showed Ian Hook the photo of Ted Wheal and he confirmed that the cap badge is definitely the Essex Cap Badge. He said that Ted was wearing an "economy pattern service uniform" which was only used during the Great War. This photo must have been taken following his enlistment and prior to his transfer to the MGC so the date can be tied down quite tightly.”

To link these photographs to names of those who served from Blackmore was particularly interesting and a pleasure to share with a descendant.  “Many thanks.  It all helps to fill in gaps in the tree”, Dave replied.

Frederick Walter Wilson

Frederick Walter Wilson, bachelor, aged 20, ‘Soldier’, married Lily May Wardingham, a spinster, age 25, of St Augustine’s South Croydon, at St Laurence Church Blackmore on 15^th March 1917.  Her father, William, was a farmer.  Frederick’s father, Walter Frederick Wilson describes his profession as ‘Master Baker’.  [ERO D/P 266/1/12]

Jacob Wiltshire: will be remembered in another post

George Wray

AS:  Identifying letters ‘C’ and ‘G’ on the faded War Memorial were notoriously difficult. 

BG:  There are medal records for 3 George Wrays:

-   R. Fus./Labour C no 59258

-   Lincs R/Labour C no 30458

-   W Riding/Labour C no 565895

The 1901 Census for Blackmore ‘Village’ records:

Charles Wray.  Head.  Married.  [Age] 55.  Stockman on farm.  [Born] Blackmore

Eliza Wray.  Wife.  Married.  [Age] 52.  [Born] Willingale

William Wray.  Son.  Single.  [Age] 28.  Horseman-on-farm.  [Born] Willingale Doe

Charles Wray.  Son.  Single.  [Age] 21.  Stockman on farm.  [Born] High Ongar

Fred Wray.  Son.  Single.  [Age] 18.  Carrier.  [Born] High Ongar

Joseph Wray.  Son.  Single.  [Age] 10.  [Born] High Ongar

George Wray.  Son.  Single.  [Age] 6.  [Born] Blackmore

1911 Census: Parish. Blackmore

Charles Wray.  Head.   Married.  [Age] 30.  Labourer - On Farm.  [Born] High Ongar Essex

Annie Wray.  Wife.  Married 5 years.  [Age] 25.  [Born] Brentwood Essex

Constance Wray.  Daughter.  Married[!]  [Age] 4.  [Born] Blackmore Essex

Cecil Wray.  Son.  [Age] 3.  [Born] Blackmore Essex

Doris Wray.  Daughter.  [Age] 1.  [Born] Blackmore Essex

James Robert Woollard:  will be remembered in another post

Footnote

In addition to those recorded on the War Memorial as having returned from war, there are a number of men entered in the Parish Registers whose profession was described as ‘Soldier’ but are not commemorated.

Arthur Burton and his wife, Rosetta, had four children baptised on 29^th August 1915: Elsie Miriam, Winifred, Rosetta May and, Stanley Arthur Burton.

James Alexander Whittaker and his wife Mabel had their son, James Alexander baptised on 20^th August 1916.

Albert William Cooper, of High Ongar, had his son Leonard Neville baptised on 21^st January 1917.

Sidney William Wakeling, from Brentwood had his daughter, Emily Lillian baptised on 12^th May 1918.

Harry Newson, from Radley Green, Highwood, had his daughter Winifred May, baptised on 4^th May 1919.

Ernest Robert Wicks, of Swallows Cross, Blackmore, has his son Ernest Laurence baptised on 17^th August 1919.

George Albert Sankey, of Blackmore, ‘Soldier’, married Annie Neville on Christmas Day 1917.  Their son John Lancaster Sankey was baptised on 28^th September 1921.  George was still a Soldier by profession.

Albert Hardy, from Blackmore married on 14^th August 1918.