More 16th Century in BW

The period of history from 1500 to 1600 saw the ascension of the Tudors and the transition of the "ownership" of the Manor of Belchamp Walter from an unknown uncumbent, possibly a Tyrell, to the Wentworth dynasty. The the relationship between the Wentworths and the current owners is not well documented. The current families heritage seems to have transferred from Essendon, Hertfordshire, Where Philip married Angnes Stern. Sir William Harris was knighted on the coronation of James the first. Francis Harris, William's daughter, went on to be the wife of the current families son in 1653.

Philip Raymond and Agnes Stern

The dates here are a little unclear as they are taken from an unverified family tree and from inferance of the accounts of Thomas Wright and the Duchess of Cleveland (Wilhelmina Powlett, in her Battle Abbey Roll)

The date I have for the marriage of Philip and Agnes is 1470. Their son Roger married married an Elliot and their son John (of Essendon) married Judith Cockyne and their son, John the first of Belchamp Walter married Anne Sparrow (daughter of John Sparrow of Gestingthorpe). The date of the last married must have been late 16th century as the "purchase" of Belchamp Manor was 1611. This John died in 1635 and is memorialised in St. Mary's Church. I do not have a date for John's birth and the date of the marriage to Anne Sparrow.

The Stern/R connection is seen in the family coat of arms on the tower of St. Mary's church.

The heraldry in the Church is described on my page on the subject. The work of Peter Rushbrook is particularly interesting here. In 1999 Peter, a hobby Heraldic scholar, took on the task of finding, researching and hand-painting all the Armorial details in the Church.