The lead-up to Civil War

The events that led up to the English Civil War and the subsequent history of the country and that of Belchamp Walter must have some signifcance.

The accounts of what was going on in 17th Century Belchamp Walter are not clear. This is not a judgement of those involved at the time or of those preceeding this time and certainly not of those that are descendants of those involved in the dates between 1611 and 1653. These dates represent the "purchase" of Belchamp Manor and the marriage of a member of the Cromwell parliament to the daughter of a knight that was honoured by James I in 1603.

In my reckoning the acquisition of the manor in 1611 and the marriage to Sir William and Lady Harris's daughter are not consistant.

Lady Harris

There is a portrait of Lady Harris in Belchamp Hall.
Frances Harris was Frances Astley before her marriage to William Harris.

The records of the Smythies family seems to have a diffenrent account to that I see in the memorials of St. Mary's church and the information guides that have been produced to explain the history of the church and the village.

This Isabella is a different one to the Countess Dundonald

The inclusion in Ruvigny's "Plantagenet Roll of the Blood Royal" is questionable.