Recording Uttlesford History

RUH WEBSITE: NOTES & QUERIES

From: <stephen.bennett33@btinternet.com>
Subject: The Bennett family
I have recently begun researching the BENNETT family of Saffron Walden. Some were bell ringers in Saffron Walden parish church in the early 1800s: Jonathan; George; James. I believe they were farmers/maltsters. I should be grateful for any information or advice. I am back about seven generations and suspect that the going may get tougher from hereon .The family don't appear to have strayed far from SW (why would they?!). One was the publican at the former Hercules pub in Newport. Another travelled as far as Dunmow! They appear to have lived generally in the Bridge End area of SW and occupied themselves as maltsters, and tanners as well as publicans: so not a very well off family though I am told that there is a link to Alfred Lord Tennyson but haven't found it yet. If any others are researching the Bennetts of SW I would be happy to share what I have.

Stephen Bennett.

From: <cpettit3@jaguarlandrover.com>
Just looked at the site on Little Sampford, very informative! My Gt Gt Gfather John PETTIT owned and ran the mill there. He and his wife had many kids, my great gfather Samuel eventually ending up in Goosnargh near Preston, Lancs, on his way from being a Scholar, placed at Kneller Hall which I think was some kind of academy. Strange but his church in Goosnargh was also St.Mary the Virgin. Would you have any interesting facts about the Pettit family(or any skeletons).Once again a good site!

Colin Pettit

From: <rch99160@bigpond.net.au>
I am trying to trace my ancestors for my grandchildren, and my Great Grandfather was a John CHILDS born1834 in Thaxted, his wife's name was Mary, According to the census he moved to Chigwell, and earlier census have lost all trace of him. I was wondering if you could put me in touch with someone who can help me.

Ray Childs

From: <earth.lynda@googlemail.com>
Subject: Re: Wall Wood
I am investigating the history of Wall Wood in Great Hallingbury as part of a college project. Do have any information on the history of who has owned the wood and what it has been used for?

Lynda Bourchier

From: <rmaskell@westnet.com.au>
As I wanted to draw a line in the sand during the 150th year after the arrival of my Farnham ancestors in Australia I wrote a 50 page historical “essay” on what I could find, or interpret from the records, that covered my Farnham MASKELL ancestors from 1751 to 1869. The first record in the Farnham Parish Registers for my ancestors was the birth of Joseph in 1751 (parents James and Elizabeth) and last the burial of John (a son of Abraham and Elizabeth and unmarried brother of my great-great-grandfather Isaac) in 1869. In fact the spelling of the surname is only Maskell in three entries in the Parish Registers. In the (about) 40 entries between 1751 and 1869 the spelling is more often Mascall but is also Maskall and in several entries Maskwell alias Maskall. Of the nine children of Joseph Maskell and Elizabeth Bearman (married at Farnham on 2 November 1775) only three remained in Farnham and all of their descendants other that John Maskell left Farnham before 1869. Armed with this information the 50 page essay followed the family from 1751 through the immigration of Isaac and family to Australia in 1857 to the move of four brothers to the Goulburn Valley district of Victoria in the 1870’s, where two selected lots in virgin bushland at Tatura and established farms (including my Farnham born great-grandfather Arthur Maskell) and finished in 1928 with the death of Arthur’s brother George (the last of the nine children that immigrated). Including biographical sketches of family members and genealogical files the volume was about 420 pages and 52 copies have been printed and distributed (50 to descendants plus one for the Tatura Museum and Historical Society and one to Freda Nancarrow). A cousin has also informed me that she has lodged her copy with the State Library of Victoria, which has established a Genealogical Centre and a collection of family histories of immigrants. The responses to the volume have been astoundingly good. As I wrote above, this does put a “line in the sand” and ended an at times frantic and concentrated period of research. However, for my own genealogical file and records I am continuing the research, but at a slower pace. I continue to look for answers.

Robert Maskell Perth WA Australia

From: <johnwilkin@talktalk.net>
Subject: Re: events in Little Coggeshall
I am looking into the background of my Father. He was born Theodore Stanley PHILLIPS in the Red House, Coggeshall, in 1927. His mother was Irene Gladys Phillips, described on his birth certificate as a dairymaid of Blue Gates, Little Canfield. The electoral register shows that William Thomas Phillips and Martha Ann Phillips were at Blue Gates Lodge between 1925 and 1928, then at Beech Cottage in 1929. I think that he was a gamekeeper. An Alfred Gunn is at Blue Gates in 1929. I visited Coggeshall and Little Canfield from my home in Kent a month ago. (A contact in Coggeshall has kindly provided some background to Red House. Records at Essex Archives are either sparse or still closed.) I found Blue Gates to be a sort of farm shop on the south side of the road and a Lodge on the north side. The present tenants have been there but six months and although they directed me to 'an old lady who has lived here all her life' at a house further into the farmland from the lodge, I found it empty and boarded up. I would be grateful to know what information you might have about Blue Gates. Are there any records locally? I have been told that the land/lodge is now owned by a Trust. Also, was the family Phillips known and is it still extant? Just a little more background to the story..............up to 1910 ish, before going to Essex my Dad's natural Mother and her family lived near Highclere in Hampshire and her father was a gamekeeper on the Highclere Estate which belongs to the Herbert family, the Lords Carnarvon (the last one as the Queens Horseracing manager and the one before that, I think, was behind the finding of Tutenkhamuns tomb). They lived in a tied cottage and he appears in the Highclere records, according to their Archivist. The Phillips hailed from south Wales it seems but quite why the went to your neck of the woods after Hampshire, I don't know. I had imagined that my Father might have been the result of an 'upstairs/downstairs' type relationship between the aristocracy and a dairy maid, but it seems not! However, it is strange that my youngest Son and his bride chose Highclere Castle as their wedding venue in 2006..................none of us had ever been near the place before!

John Wilkin

From: <m.watts@tesco.net>
Re: Hamond and Welch families
My ancestors had farms and property in Anstey, Arkesden, Clavering, Elmdon, Langley and Wendens Ambo--all gleaned from wills in 1600 - 1750. I found baptism entries 1650 - 1666 for the children of George HAMOND in Wicken Bonhunt so I have a strong link with the area. Do you have any further information about the Hamond's and WELCH's? Later update: I now have lists of a few hundred Hamonds in NW Essex during period 1610- 1660 which I have gleaned from SEAX. Particular concentrations in Uttlesford were in - Debden, Henham, Stansted Mountfitchet, Wendens Ambo and Wicken Bonhunt with odd ones in other Parishes, and none in most. Also have found George Hamond's cousin, George Warren, was church clerk in Wendens Ambo 1646- 1653, his Nephew John Turner lived in Henham the son of Mathias/Matthew and Constance Turner. Can't find their marriage but Constance could be George Hamond's sister. The will of William Hamond, yeoman, of Berden- died 26 Jul 1734- bequeathed all property to John Hamond of Langley and George Hamond of Braughing to dispose of and equally distribute proceeds with their sisters - widows Sarah and Susannah Welch and Frances wife of John Woodley of Manuden.

Mike Watts

From: <dseabs@tiscali.co.uk>
Re: Spencers of Clavering and Farnham
I'm trying to piece together family history and am intrigued to see if there is a link between my 3rd Great Grandfather, John SPENCER of Clavering Hall (born 1797 in Arkesden) and Samuel Spencer of Stansted Mountfichet and his son Charles Spencer of Birchanger. I'd be pleased to hear from anyone who has information that might be of help.
David Seabrook-Spencer

From: <susanebarnes@yahoo.co.uk>
Subject: William Talman (1650 - 1719)
I believe that my ancestor, William TALMAN, and his wife Hannah, were both buried at Arkesden Church and that there is a memorial stone in the churchyard. I visited Arkesden Church some years ago but couldn't find the headstone. William Talman was a renowned architect responsible for building several stately homes, including Chatsworth House, and worked with Wren on St Paul's Cathedral. I would therefore have expected to find some information about him on local history sites but can find no mention of him. I wondered if anyone has any knowledge of his connection with Arkesden and, if so, would be interested to hear from you. I would also be interested to know the position of his grave within the churchyard.

Susan Barnes

From: <dathommo7@optusnet.com.au>
Re: Searles of Newport My ancestors lived in Newport.
My ggggrandfather's name was James SEARLE. In the 1841 census, he lived in Cage Green with his family (wife Ruth and children). He died accidentally in 1845. I think he may have been a coach driver, but I'm not sure about that. I have a copy of the death certificate, which states that he died on the 21st May, but I would like to find out some details about this death. Could you please direct me to someone / somewhere so that I can find out more about the accident? I would greatly appreciate any assistance you can give.

David Thomson Rockhampton, Queensland

From: <rossmacpherson@optusnet.com.au>
Re: Giblin Family History
I have tracked back to a James GIBLIN born 1827 Wimbish (later migrated to Australia in 1855). His father was also a James Giblin born abt 1796 in Essex and married a Elizabeth or Eliza?? Any information or books you could refer me to would be greatly appreciated

Ross Macpherson

From: <mikebfrancis@iprimus.com.au>
Re: Little and Great Sampford records
I have been tracing my family tree and have come to a brickwall. My ancestor Samuel FRANCIS was born in Great Sampford in 1775 according to 1851 Census Records.Was married to a Frances Collins 27th Feb 1794 at Little Sampford the daughter of Thomas and Mary Collins. I have purchased all the microfiche for both Sampfords and Thaxted churches and have had the non conformist records check but have been unable to find any records of his parents. I have been informed that around this time there were problems between the residents and the clergy and many refused to have their children baptised. I was wondering if you could make any suggestions as to what available records might be available and how I can get hold of them. Many thanks for any help you can provide.

Pastor Mike Francis

From: <jo.kavanagh1@virgin.net>
Re: Little Easton Lodge
I am looking for information on the history of Little Easton Lodge/Manor, specifically anything about the people who lived there. My 4x great-grandfather, James LACEY, was a steward at the manor under the Maynards. He was married to a Charlotte Cheffins whose nephew, Henry Cheffins was also a steward there. The connection came as quite a surprise. What information is there? Later update: Since my original posting I have found some information, and I took my parents to the open day this summer, and found the museum very interesting. There was no mention of James Lacey, but plenty of his wife's nephew Henry Cheffins. The family connection with Little Easton seems to have ended with Henry's children, as grandchildren seem to be in Australia.

Jo Kavanagh (Stansted resident but east end born and bred )

From: <j.evenhart@ntlworld.com>
Subject: Re: New book on Essex aviation history
I am writing a selection of books called the War Torn Skies skies which covers each counties aviation history with an emphasis on the Second World War period. So far I have had two volumes published one on Hertfordshire and the other on Cambridgeshire and am now concentrating on compiling information and illustrations for the Essex volume with a fixed history span from 1908-1945. I would like to hear from anyone who has Essex aviation related memories, photographs or artefacts such as those taken from aircraft crash sites. These books are a totally different viewpoint and record in exact detail many observations and incidents that would otherwise be lost to history or become part of unconfirmed folklore. Of course they are in no way definitive publications but I am very interested in eye-witness accounts from persons who worked in the aviation industry, who witnessed aircrashes, enemy raids or has any memories that they would like to see published. The book is restricted to 128 pages but its amazing how much can be included into such a space. Although Essex airfields etc are covered in this work...details pertinent to these, such as units based their are also briely covered but can already be found in great depth in several other publications. What I am really interested in in for publication are stories, experiences, bits of that German bomber still in Uncle Fred's attic, aviation archaeologically excavated artefacts.....I will try to include as much material as possible...but since Essex is a large county with so much aviation history there will almost certainly be a Volume 2 for this county.

Julian Evan-Hart

From: <ann@harts1836.co.uk>
Re: Poulter family
I am trying to find out about an author who wrote a book on the POULTER family who I believed lived in Wicken Bonhunt or Clavering possibly in the 1970s. I wondered if you knew who it might be. I believe the author used to live in the same house as the Poulters who were a large family and had many sons going off to the 2nd w.w and they all came back. The house was called Blackbird Cottage and the author was there possible late 60s early 70s.

Ann Burgess

From: <russell.martin6@btinternet.com>
Re: The Rye House Plot
When King Charles II and his brother James, Duke of York were returning from the races at Newmarket on March 26 1683 an attempt on their lives was to have been made outside The Rye House at Hoddesdon. I have accumulated sufficient material to start putting together a lecture to cover this subject.  I have discovered references to "the fact" that his favourite mistress, Nell Gwynne is supposed to have had a house in Newport where he paused for a "comfort stop." Although it makes a good story I strongly suspect that it is not supported by any evidence. I wonder if anyone is able to shed any light on the subject? Any help you can give will be greatly appreciated.

Russell Martin

From: <barrysnesbitt@googlemail.com>
Re: High Street Place, Saffron Walden
I am researching family history and would be grateful for your help in resolving a query concerning High Street Place in Saffron Walden. High Street Place was located off the East side of the High Street, approximately opposite The Friends Meeting House and adjacent to the old Frank Bailey's Garage. It appears in a photograph on page 81 of Rosanne Kirkpatrick's book, Saffron Walden ISBN1-84589-128-7. It is almost possible to discern the name High St Place, in the photograph high up on the wall of Bailey's Garage. According to Mr Stacey's notes on the 1851 census High Street Place existed at that time and my wife's birth certificate confirms that she was born in High Street Place in 1938. Yet on the First Edition of the Ordnance Survey map of 1878, Essex, Saffron Walden Sheet IX.5.4, it is named as Jones's Yard. Was this an error by OS? Might it have been a misplacement of the name Jones's Yard from further up the High Street, between what was once the Old Queen's Head Inn and No.74 High Street? Was there ever a Jones's Yard next to the Old Queen's Head Inn and does it still exist? Or was High Street Place simply renamed Jones's Yard between 1851 and 1878 and then renamed back again by 1938? Any help would be very much appreciated.

Barry and Maureen Nesbitt

From: <rahayco1@bigpond.com>
Re: Wendens Ambo railway cottages
I am hoping you can help me in my search for information about my maternal Grandmother. I have found from the 1891 Census, that my grandmother - Lucy ROBINSON, who was 4 mths old at the time, lived with her parents and family in one of the Wendens Ambo railway cottages. She migrated to Perth, Western Australia in 1911. Next year I will be travelling to UK to visit my daughter and am very keen to visit Wendens Ambo to see for myself , where my grandmother was born. Any additional information welcome.

Mrs Laurel Hay, Donnybrook. Western Australia

From: <aj.designs@tiscali.co.uk>
Re: Pigots at Elmdon
Having heard that Pigots still stood in Elmdon, we visited it to photograph the house where my great-grandfather lived. I've checked out a few census prior to 1911 and found reference to Pigots island in one. I have read the brief history of the village on the web site and wonder what happened to the Pigots manor house which disappeared as alluded to in the web history? It certainly looked a lovely little village and the few folk that I spoke to were kind and helpful. The house looks terrific, such a great setting surrounded by the moat and also the sign on a tree to prove it was the correct building. I'm sure Gt grandfather Jordan would be sad to see the somewhat overgrown garden, being a gardener by trade. He has a variety of Phlox named after him I was told.

Alan & Ann Johnson

From: <sales@horsingaround.com>
Re: Crawley's of Bedfordshire
I came across the Strethall web site while searching for information relating to the descendants of the CRAWLEY family. I have traced my family back to the 1400s which originated from Nether Crawley and Crawley Green in the Luton area of Bedford and has two notable family lines one being, the Crawley's of Someries and then Stockwood in Bedfordshire and two, the Crawley's and Crawley-Boevey's of Faxley in Gloucestershire of which line I descend from. I am now trying to expand the family members that might have originated fromLuton and noticed the mention of a Thomas Crawley: Has anyone got any further information on the Crawley's living in this area? Any help would greatly be appreciated.

Mark A. Crawley

From: <pmatthews@pelicanport.freeserve.co.uk>
Re: Crissall family
My maternal grandmother was a CRISSALL originating around Saffron Walden and I am doing a little family research to annotate some old photos . All my work indicates that the surname of Crissall is limited to Suffolk , Cambridgeshire and Essex . The spelling has varied over the centuries. Bearing in mind the co-incidence of the name of Chrishall village ( for which there has also been varition of spelling ) and the geo-focus of my family name I wonder if anyone has ever researched that connection .

Prof Peter Matthews

From: <jgosse@uwclub.net>
Re: Lofts Hall, in Wilkes family time
I discovered by accident that Lofts Hall was the home of my ancestors the WILKES family. My great grandmother was a Wilkes and was next in line to inherit the estate after her cousin (who did). I only found this out recently by looking up Lofts Hall which was mentioned in a letter from a solicitor to my uncle many years ago. My father had mentioned that we inherited quite a large sum of money from the Wilkes family - and all boys born afterwards had Wilkes as their middle name. So I am interested to know if there are any photographs etc of Lofts Hall or anything written about it. I know it is a stud now. My great grandmother's uncle John Wilkes had no issue so left the estate either to a cousin on his wife's side or my great grandmother. I have searched on the internet. It is difficult finding things out as my father was 53 when I was born and the youngest of 7 so everything is a long time ago and he told me very little.

Jane Gosse

From: <Douglas.Reed@sos-kd.org>
Re: Alexander George Maxwell: ex-RAF & Uttlesford
I am trying to get in touch with relatives of an Alexander George MAXWELL, who lived in the Uttlesford area and served as an RAF pilot during WW2. This is in connection with research that I am doing regarding the wartime service of my late-grandfather, who served with the (Army) Glider Pilot Regiment during 1942-1946. My grandfather completed his initial flying training at No.29 Elementary Flying Training School (EFTS), at RAF Clyffe Pypard in Wiltshire, from late-1942 to early-1943. One of the RAF flying instructors at No.29 EFTS at that time was Sgt Alexander George Maxwell, 1288037. I understand that he was later commissioned, with the officer's service no.171660. With this in mind, I would like to get in touch with relatives of Alexander Maxwell, to find out if he kept any papers or photos relating to his wartime service, that may help me to piece together a picture of life at No.29 EFTS and RAF Clyffe Pypard. I would be particularly interested in any photos (of individuals, groups, aircraft or places) and to find out some information from his RAF Flying Log Books. His log books would be a useful source of information for my research, as they would contain the names (and ranks) of all of the army glider pilot trainees that he instructed during his time at the Elementary Flying Training School at RAF Clyffe Pypard. Using such information, I could then track down other ex-glider pilots who were in training at the same time as my grandfather - there are still quite a number of veterans around and active in the regimental association. Alexander Maxwell was apparently born on 3rd June 1910. He lived in the Uttlesford area and passed away in August or September 2003.Any assistance shall be greatly

Douglas Reed, South Africa

From: Gillian Draper <mailto:gillian.draper@btinternet.com>

I see the item on the Local History List on the new website, Recorders of Uttlesford History. The website is very impressive and must have been a lot of work. Many local history groups enquire with BALH about how to begin this kind of project which clearly builds on several years' work! I have passed on the details of the website to one such new community history group, as an example of what can be done and how to do it! If among the Uttlesford Local History Recorders there are individuals or societies who would be interested to hear more about BALH (including its insurance scheme for local groups), do please let me know a contact name/email and I will be happy to get in touch with them.

Gill Draper

Events and Development Officer, British Association for Local History

From: Jessica.Shepherd@plymouth.gov.uk

Subject: Shortgrove Hall

I am currently undertaking a two year project studying the life and collections of Sir John St. Aubyn (5th Bart), and Sir John used to live at Shortgrove Hall. I would not use the images for any publications without your permission, but would like to have them for our documentation. If you would like to know more about the project and Sir John, please visit the website

www.plymouth.gov.uk/museumstaubyncollection

<file://www.plymouth.gov.uk/museumstaubyncollection> . You may be interested to know that we plan to have a travelling exhibition at the end of the project and hope that it will reach Saffron Walden at some point during its tour. I hope that you can help me with my research and that I will hear from you soon.

Jessica Rosemary Shepherd,Natural History Project Assistant

St. Aubyn Project

Plymouth City Museum and Art Gallery

Drake Circus,Plymouth, PL4 8AJ,Tel: 01752 30 4774

W: www.plymouthmuseum.gov.uk file://www.plymouthmuseum.gov.uk

From: Simon.Fowler@nationalarchives.gov.uk

Subject: RE: Uttlesford Recorders new website

We will be including a short review in the August issue (on sale beginningJuly). As a former local I found the site fascinating!

Simon Fowler

Editor, Ancestors Magazine

From: "Peter Layzell" <peter@burnham.org.uk>

From: Stanley <mailto:stan-joan@sutherland.net> Sutherland

Well done I am very impressed with the outcome. I will report this back tothe Society at our next meeting and also tell them the web page address,then they can see it for themselves. Hope all our endeavours will be of use
to all the villages.

Stan Sutherland

From: "David Evans" <wdjevans@yahoo.co.uk>

I did a demo for John Gordon the editor and leading light of Newport News to inform him of what is happening on the site and to see what can be achieved.He was impressed and enthused. I also had a very good reaction to the RUH site from a Canadian family of Newport origin for info on Newport and the surrounding area.I managed to answer the query and suggested she watches RUH and she liked it so much that she is passing it on to others in her family and friends.

David Evans