The Samuels of the Belchamp Walter

The Samuels of Belchamp Walter

Samuel was a popular name in Belchamp Walter. Samuel senior died 1767 - E2 on Freer Tree.

Samuel junior, reverend of Belchamp Walter, married to Margrtta Brooke Bridges and died 1825 - F2 on Freer Tree.

Samuel Millbank, known as "Squire" of Belchamp Walter, suceeded Samuel Junior (in 1825) and died in 1863.

Samuel John St.Clere Raymond suceeded Samuel Millbank and later became the vicar of St. Mary's Belchamp Walter. The estate and lordship at this time was held by Thomas Ruggles until 1865.

Samuel John St.Clere Raymond, of Belchamp Hall, Essex, * 1859, + 1900, Md. 1884, Margaret Charlotte Montague Smythies, + 1939, d. of Francis Smythies, of Colchester, Essex.

Suffolk Free Press April 11th. 1900

The death of Mr.Samuel J.ST.Clere Raymond of Belchamp Walter at the early age of 40 years has been reported after a severe illness lasting 20 weeks. He had only succeeded to the family property for six years. The bulk of the collection of art at Belchamp Hall was disposed of some years ago. At the Hall were to be seen some reliques taken out of the ships of the Spanish Armada, an ancestor of the family commanded a small vessel of the English Fleet. The fortunes of the family has been greatly affected by great depression in agriculture.

Suffolk Free Press April 3rd. 1901

The late Mr, S.J.ST.Clere Raymond of Belchamp Hall who died recently, has left his estate to the family. The estate has been valued at £20,000 gross.

Samuel was a popular name- The names from the family tree

Samuel Raymond (18), Rev., of Belchamp Hall, Essex, + 1767, Md., Isabella Child, d. of Richard Child, of Lavenham, Suffolk.
Philip Honywood Raymond, + 1757.
Samuel Raymond (23), Rev., of Belchamp Hall, Essex, Rector of Belchamp and Middleton, Vicar of Bulmer, Essex, * 1744, + 1825, Md. 1780, Margaretta Bridges, + 1848, d. of Rev. Brooke Bridges, Rector of Orlingbury, Northamptonshire.
Philip Honywood Raymond, Rev., + 1807.
Samuel Millbank Raymond (30), of Belchamp Hall, Essex, * 1787, + 1863, Md. 1808, Sarah Cooke, d. of Rev. William Cooke, Rector of Preston, Suffolk, Vicar of Melton, Norfolk.

Samuel Raymond d.1825 and Phillip Honywood Raymond d. 1757 (died young) were brothers of Isabella Raymond - the Right Honourable Countess Dundonald d. 1808

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This page is part of an on-going research project on the history of Belchamp Walter and the manor of Belchamp Walter. If you have found it making a web search looking for geneological or other information on the village then please bookmark this page and return often as I am likely to make regular updates. If you delve deeper into this website you will find many other pages similar to this one.

Belchamp Walter at the turn of the 20th Century

Apart from the newspaper reports there is little documented about this period apart from Church records.

The documentation of the history of the village had been pretty much performed by the owners of the Hall. The extensive "improvements" that were made in the later part of the 19th century were well in the past, the agricultural landscape was not good and the country was on the eve of two world wars.

Samuel John St.Clere Raymond died 1900 leaving the estate to his young son Samuel Philip St. Clere Raymond, who was only 14 years old.

Times were tough at this time and the argricuture industry was not a happy place. 1893 saw the local farmers go on strike the same year that John Mayne St. Clere Raymond died. He passed that legacy on to Samuel John St. Clere and that could not have been good for his health.

Samuel Philip wrote the first Church Guide in 1965 and was interviewed by the Halstead Advisor in 1973.

Samuel Philip Raymond died 1974. Immediately before this there were 3 Raymonds alive that were, and to be, owners of Belchamp Hall. 2023 there is only one.

Article from Suffolk Free Press archive 1858

St. Mary the Virgin was closed for worship from 20 December 1858 presumably until the "Renovations" in 1859

" January 21st 1858 - Belchamp Walter.
The parish church at Belchamp Walter being closed since December 20th as no services have been performed since that date, the attention of the vicarage was called on at a meeting of the ratepayers on Friday last also the neglected state of the parish , he was urged to have some duty performed in the parish and if his curate considered the church unsafe, the schoolroom was named and a barn would have been provided the parishioners who were led to believe that a service would take place in the church at half past two on Sunday last a large congregation assembled but the curate did not attend. "

The closing of the church in 1857 was not recorded in the listing of vicars in the guide found in the church.

The Samuels of Belchamp Walter

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