High Sheriff of Essex

The more and more I look into the history of England and the local area the more I get suspicious of how history has been reported for Belchamp Walter.

Reading some background to the Tudors I find that the title of High Sheriff of Essex to be very popular over the ages.

The Harris here is that of Creeksea not Shenfield.

• 1555 William Harris of Cricksea (Harrys) - William and Mary
• 1573: Arthur Harrys of Creeksea
• 1586: Arthur Harris
• 1598: William Harris of Creeksea
• 1625: Sir Arthur Harris of Creeksea Place and Woodham Mortimer -
• 1634: Cranmer Harris of Cricksea 1567 – 1600
• 1500 Sir Roger Wentworth of Codham Hall - Henry VII
• 1544 John Wentworth
• 1553 Sir John Wentworth - Mary I
• 1581 (Nov): John Wentworth of Gosfield
• 1592: John Wentworth of Gosfield Hall

The Sheriff of Belchamp Walter

This is a stretch of the Robin Hood legend but the control of the area of Essex and the Home Counties was determined by who held the power. The Sheriff was such a person who had influence on the develoment of history.

The title of the High Sheriff of Essex was held by various names that have already been determined to be associated with the region of Belchamp Walter and Gosfield (Braintree, Essex). The Harris and Wentworth families are two of such.

Sir William de Coggeshall, of Codham Hall - High Sheriff in 1391

There was even a Coggeshall involved here.

Other High Sheriffs

Sir John Fitzsymond - 1342-1392 - North Shoebury (Great Wakering) 1 Dec 1388 Sir Robert Swynburn Did not account (not in Morant). MP says he was replaced ‘for particular causes’