" John Mayne St.Clere Raymond, Rev., of Belchamp Hall, Essex, * 1814, + 1893, Md. 1857, Louisa Anne Fisher, + 1895, d. of Rev. Charles Fisher, Rector of Ovington-cum-Tilbury. "

" TO BE SOLD BY' AUCTION, BY George Cootr, September 30th. 1863, direction th* Rev! J. M. ST CLERE Raymond, who has left the Mont and adjoining farms, CAPITAL HORSES and COLTS Herd of 13 Superor Suffolk Cows Short-horn Bull 16 Heifers and ... "

" To be sold at the "Munt", Walter Belchamp-the live and dead stock and of adjoining farms of the Rev J.M.St Clere ஓaymond who has let the farms. "

" Live and dead stock at the Munt Farm, Walter Belchamp--- 17 horses-12 Suffolk cows-16 heifers and steers-100 black faced lambs -90 swine-2 stacks of capital hay-usual implements with Champion Reaping Machine. "

" At Belchamp Walter-for sale underwood at Northey wood at the Bells Inn, Walter Belchamp by directions of the Rev J,M. St Clere ஓaymond, about 12 acres of capital underwood in lots of two acres on December 4th. "

" The bells of Walter Belchamp rang a merry peal at intervals during the day on the 23rd to welcome the Rev J.St.Clare Raymond on his return to his ancestral home at Belchamp Hall in which exetensive repairs have been done and improvements since the death of the late squire. "

" Mr R.T.Long of Munt Farm, Walter Belchamp, committed a determined act of suicide by drowning himself in a canal behind his premises, he was 26 years old.
He took possession of the farm last Michaelmas. His matrimonial engagement had been broken off.
At the inquest it was said that he had entertained some friends to tea and that they had seperated at a late hour, at daybreak on Sunday, his body was found by his labourers, his hat and pipe were on the bank.
Open verdict-death due to an accident. "

" BELCHAMP WALTER, ESSEX – Tenders for re-building a part of the Church must be delivered, sealed, and addressed to John Raymond, Esq., Churchwarden, Belchamp Walter, before Noon, on Friday, 12th of February next.
The lowest Tender will not necessarily be accepted. The Specification may be seen at Belchamp Hall, or at the office of Mr John J. Cole, Architect, 24 Essex Street, Strand, London. "

" The funeral of the Rev.J.M.St Clare Raymond of Belchamp Hall. "

" The party, numbering about 112, met at Belchamp St. Paul's church at 11.25 a.m. The building, which was described by the President (Rev. T. D. S. Bayley), is of fifteenth-century date. Five stalls in the chancel, with grotesque misericords and two standards, carved with seated figures of a king and a monk, c. 1500, are noteworthy; and there are also two brasses (now disarranged) to William and Mary Golding (1587, 1591). A coat of arms was inserted in one of the windows in 1934 to commemorate the Elizabethan scholar, Arthur Golding, who was closely associated with the parish. "

" Members then made their way to Belchamp Walter, where the church was first visited under the direction of Mr. S. P. St. Clere Raymond. A visit paid by the Society in 1926 is recorded in these Transactions, vol. xviii, p. 238. The Hon. Secretary called attention to a monument in the churchyard to George Washington Brownlow, who gained a local reputation as a painter of rustic scenes. Figures of the four evangelists on the pulpit-panels in Belchamp Walter church, and sacred events depicted on the front of the altar, were executed by him. He lived at Fern Cottage (now Crossways) in the centre of the village, and died on 23 July, 1876, aged 41 years. Belchamp Hall, close by, with its interesting series of family portraits and various treasures, was next inspected under the guidance of Mr. Raymond, who has since embodied his remarks in the following account of the history of his family: John Raymond, of Essendon, Herts., purchased Belchamp Hall supposed to have been of the Elizabethan period-and between 500 and 600 acres of land from Sir John Wentworth in the year 1611. "

" In 1625 he married Anne, daughter of John Sparrow, of Overhall, Gestingthorpe. He died in 1635, and his wife died in 1652. (Portrait of him by Cornelis Janssens, Pl. Ia1 .) Their son, Oliver, was one of the 'Knights of Essex', and represented the County as M.P. in the two Protectorate Parliaments of 1654 and 1656. He married Frances, daughter of Sir William and Lady Harris (or Harrys), of Shenfield Manor, Margaretting (Morant). "

" Sir William had commanded a ship during the attack on the Spanish Armada, and having captured a Spanish vessel, became possessed of an iron treasure-chest, a gun (dated 1558), a pistol, and powder flask all three inlaid with ivory and gold; and a triptych depicting the Adoration of The Magi, evidently an altar-piece from the chapel of the Spanish ship. These relics are still at Belchamp Hall, together with a fifteenth-century missal, which contains an entry relating to South Weald church. "

" It is owing to the marriage of Oliver and Frances, that the Raymonds claim Royal descent, from Edward III, through the Percys, Joan Percy having married Arthur Harris, the great-great grandfather of Sir William. Oliver and Frances had 21 children, every fourth boy being named William. The eldest, St. Clere, was disinherited for marrying against his father's consent, and the estate was left to his grandson, John, who was educated at Emmanuel College, Cambridge; afterwards of Grays Inn. John married Anne, daughter of Sir John (not Robert, as stated by Morant) Burgoyne, of Sutton Park, Beds. "

" Their son, John (Pl. Ib), succeeded to the estate, and built the present early Georgian house, which was finished in 1720. "

" John died the same year, unmarried, leaving the estate to his uncle, William, who, also dying unmarried, left the property to his great-nephew, the Rev. Samuel Raymond, who married Isabella, daughter of Richard Child, M.D., of Lavenham. Samuel died in 1767, leaving the estate to his son, the Rev. Samuel R., patron and vicar of the living of Bulmer cum Belchamp Walter. He also held other livings, and was at one time chaplain to the Earl of Pembroke, at Wilton. "

" While there, it seems, his sister, Isabella, visited him, and met and married John Mayne, Esq., of Teffont Evias Manor, near by. "

" She survived him, and married, secondly, Archibald, 9th Earl of Dundonald, who was an inventor of naval contrivances, and apparently he spent most of the money which she had inherited from Mr. Mayne on these things. She appears to have been a lady of considerable musical talent, being a favourite pupil of Handel. Handel either gave or left to her a beautiful little organ. This instrument, which has a very sweet tone and is in perfect working order, is at Belchamp Hall. "

" Lady Dundonald was painted by Gainsborough, as was her brother; the latter portrait is at Belchamp, the former having passed out of the family. "

" The Rev. Samuel Raymond married, in 1780, Margaretta, daughter of the Rev. Brooke Bridges, rector of Orlingbury, Northants. In the possession of the family is a charming little conversation piece (water-colour), painted at Orlingbury, of Margaretta and her three children, and her sister. This picture was reproduced in the catalogue of paintings exhibited at Colchester Festival of Britain Exhibition. "

" The Rev. Samuel R. was succeeded by his son, Samuel Milbank Raymond, J.P., always known as' Squire Raymond'. He married Sarah(' Pretty Sally'), daughter of the Rev. William Cooke. He was Chairman of the Hedingham Bench. He was succeeded by his second son, the Rev. John Mayne St. Clere Raymond, who was a M.A. of Durham University, and sometime vicar of Dinnington, Northumberland. "

" He built a wing on to the house and effected other improvements, and also restored the chancel of Belchamp Walter church, being patron of the living. He died in 1893, and was succeeded by his son, Samuel John St. Clere Raymond, J.P., who was educated at Emmanuel College, Cambridge. "

" His mother was Louisa, daughter of the Rev. Charles Fisher, rector of Ovington. He married Margaret, daughter of Francis Smythies, of Headgate House, Colchester. He died in 1900, and was succeeded by his son, Samuel Philip St. Clere Raymond, the present owner of the property, who married, in 1914, Mabel, daughter of William Wynyard Astell, Esq. "

" They have one son, Michael Murray John, and one daughter, Patricia Philippa Astell, married to Mr. John Pymont Turner, and there is one son, Raymond Pymont, of the marriage. "

" Michael Raymond married, 15 September, 1951, Madeleine June, daughter of Brigadier and Mrs. Lucey, of Everton, Lymington, Hants. He served with the 60th Rifles during the war, and was awarded the M.C. "

" Patricia served with the W.A.A.F., and S.P.St.C.R. with the R.A.F. (Intelligence; dispatches). "

" Luncheon was afterwards partaken of in the grounds of the Hall, which afford a delightful view of the surrounding countryside; a short meeting followed, when nine new members were elected. Before departing, Mr. and Mrs. Raymond were warmly thanked by the President for receiving so large a party of members, and for their kindly welcome. "