Belchamp Manor - 1611 and later

The era of Belchamp Walter's history starting in the 17th Century - (1611).

This page is intended to cover the Post-Tudor period to the present day. It is not intended to be a history of a particular family or a reconstruction of their family tree. It is intended to be a discussion of the very important period of English history both econimically and politically. Much was happening in the country and world over this period and I can only attempt to scratch the surface on putting some context on how this relates to the Village of Belchamp Walter.

My sources of reference are again Thomas Wright, the things that I observe in St. Mary's Church and the Alan Freer geneological research on "The Descendants of William the Conqueror" (the Freer Tree).

I originally named and titled this page using the family name that I found most prevalent on the research material that I found first. Since that time I have noticed, or at least perceived, a little "sensitivity" in this area and as a consequence I have been changing some of my original pages so that the name appeared below the fold on pages where it occurred.

Note: Since making the changes to some of the content on this page and others that mentioned a particular name in plain text I have noticed a drop in visits to those pages.

This is actually quite sad as it is an indication that there is no real interest in the history of the village but rather one in finding out "dirt" on current residents. I have expressed this to others in the village who say I can make the history non-specific to that name but this is difficult when the name is all over the Church and it is well known by the village in general.

Sale of Belchamp Manor to John 1st

The Era in Belchamp Walter started with the purchase by John I (of Belchamp Hall) from Sir John Wentworth in 1611.

The dynasty dates from the Conquest as Raimond was a demesme Lord according to the Duchess of Cleveland in her Battle Abbey Roll

Partial Family Tree

In addition to a link to the Alan Freer Conqueror 150 tree I had a local copy on this website. This was being found by those looking for the current owners of the Hall (I think). So I removed it.

Now I think that I need at least the early bit as I want to add links to pages. The tree uses the de Villiers/Pama System for numbering.

• William Harris, Sir, of Shenfield Manor, Margaretting, Essex, Md., Frances Astley, d. of Thomas Astley, of Writtle.
• A1. Frances Harris, + 1678, Md. 1653, Oliver, M.P., of Belchamp Hall, Essex, + 1679.
• B1. St.Clere (he was disinherited as a result of his marriage), Md., Anne Warkham, d. of Lawrence Warkham.
  • C1. John II, of Belchamp Hall, Essex, + 1690, Md., Anne Burgoyne, d. of Sir Roger Burgoyne, 2nd Bt.
    • D1. John III, of Belchamp Hall, Essex, + 1720.
  • C2. William, of Belchamp Hall, Essex, + 1732.
  • C3. Edward.
  • C4. James.
  • C5. Samuel, + being blown up in a ship, Md., ?
    • D1. William, living 1737, Md., ?
      • E1. Samuel, Rev., of Belchamp Hall, Essex, + 1767, Md., Isabella Child, d. of Richard Child, of Lavenham, Suffolk.
        • F1. Philip Honywood R, + 1757.
        • F2. Samuel, 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.
          • G1. Philip Honywood, Rev., + 1807.
          • G2. Samuel Millbank, of Belchamp Hall, Essex, * 1787, + 1863, Md. 1808, Sarah Cooke, d. of Rev. William Cooke, Rector of Preston, Suffolk, Vicar of Melton, Norfolk.
            • H1. Samuel William, * 1812, + 1852.
            • H2. John Mayne St.Clere, Rev., of Belchamp Hall, Essex, * 1814, + 1893, Md. 1857, Louisa Anne Fisher, + 1895, d. of Rev. Charles Fisher, Rector of Ovington-cum-Tilbury.
          
          I skipped I1 through Lx here
          
          
        • F3. Isabella R, + 1808, Md.1), John Mayne, of Telfont, Wiltshire, Md.2) 1788, Archibald Cochrane, 9th Earl of Dundonald, * 1748, + 1831.

If you want the full tree then refer back to the Freer tree. There are Rs that I cover here and are interred in the family tomb that I have omitted above.

• I1. 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.
  Great Grandfather
• J1. Samuel Philip St.Clere R, of Belchamp Hall, Essex, * 1886, +, Md. 1914, (Caroline) Mabel Louisa Astell, d. of William Wynyard Astell.
  Grandfather

and

• H3. Oliver R, * 1816, + 1857.
• H4. Edward Marriott R, * 1819, + 1872.
• H5. John Stevens R, * 1823, + 1862.

and

• H7. Emma Brereton R, Md. 1858, Frederick Perry, + 1885.

I can't find Philip Edward St. Clere (d. 1861) on the family tree.

The politics

When John R I (of Belchamp Hall) purchased the Manor in 1611 it was before the English Civil War (1642 - 1651). It was also at a time when the Feudal System https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Feudalism was coming (had come) to an end. See quote from the Wikipedia page below: