Sturmere occupies the north - west extremity of the hundred of Hinckford, and is bounded northward by the river Stour, from the border of which there formerly extended a mere or lake, which gave its name to the parish, and which was estimated to cover twenty acres of land; the circumference of the whole parish being twenty miles, and a considerable brook passing over it, which supplies abundance of water. †

The distance from Castle Hedingham is nine and a half , and from London fifty-seven miles. This parish , in the time of Edward the Confessor, was in two nearly equal portions , occupied by a free man and a free woman: but, in the record of Domesday, it is stated to be in the individual possession of Tihell the Briton , who had also the adjoining parish of Bumstead Helion, with lands in Ashdon, Radwinter, and Tilbury, near Clare.

This lordship of Sturmere was part of the barony of Helion, which was given, by Queen Maud, to Alberic de Vere, the first earl of Oxford. In the time of King Henry the Third, William , son of Roger , and John Chamberlain , held lands in Sturmere , which the king took into his own possession ; and Robert de Chamberlain was found to hold lands and tenements here of the king. Geofrey was his son . William Fitz-William, Burnham , and William Gifford had also part of this estate in 1266.

The Goldingham family were the next possessors , of whom William died here , in 1318 , who was succeeded by his son John , who held the manor of Sturmere of John de Burnham , with the advowson of the church , by the service of a pair of gilt spurs , value six - pence : he also held other possessions , and , on his decease in 1338 , was succeeded by his son John ; but his widow , Catharine , married to John Fermer , held this estate till her death in 1358 . Sir Henry de Coggeshall died in 1375 , holding these possessions , whose son , Sir William de Coggeshall , left four daughters , co-heiresses ; and Blanch , the eldest , having this estate , conveyed it to her husband , John Doreward , Esq . of Bocking , who held it , with the advowson of the church , under Anne , duchess of Buckingham , as of her manor of Haverhill , by fealty , suit of court , and rent of twelve - pence per annum . On his death , without issue , in 1495 , his three co - heiresses were his sister Elizabeth's daughters ; Margaret , wife of Nicholas Bewpre ; Elizabeth , wife of Henry Thursby ; and Christian , wife of John de Vere . But Margaret , the widow , was married to Sir James Hobard , and , with her husband , held the manor till her decease in 1512. In 1524 , the estate was in the possession of John Claydon , from whom it passed , in 1553 , to Charles Radcliffe , Esq . succeeded by John Radcliffe , in which family this manor remained , till Ellen , an heiress , conveyed it , in marriage , to Robert Todd , of Carsey , in Suffolk . Robert Todd was their only son , who , marrying Bar- bara , daughter of Thomas Cole , of Walden , had Radcliffe , Margaret , Robert , Frances , Thomas , Ellen , and Susan . Robert Todd , the father , died in 1620 , and was suc- ceeded by his son of the same name , who died in 1628 , leaving , by Barbara , daughter of Thomas Cole , of Walden , Radcliffe , Margaret , Robert , Frances , Thomas , Ellen , and Susan . Radcliffe , the eldest son , succeeding to the estate , was married and had Radcliffe , and Anne , married first to Thomas Mortlock , and afterwards to George Gent , Esq . of Moyns . On the decease of Radcliffe , the father , in 1663 , his son and heir of the same name succeeded , and marrying Martha Unwin , had by her Radcliffe , Thomas , George , and Martha , married to Thomas Kembol , of London . On the death of Radcliffe Todd , in 1675 , his wife was married to Thomas Ferrand , attorney- at - law , of Clare : and his son Radcliffe succeeding to the family estate , married Anne , daughter of Arthur Chaplin , of Robjents , in Finchingfield ; but , dying without issue, in 1697 , was succeeded by Thomas Todd , his next brother , who married Susan ,