Victorian Historians/Genealogists

The history of the region is mainly an interpretation of the works of a few Victorian sources coupled with some evidential ecclesiastical artifacts found in the parish church.

My research for the history of Belchamp Walter started like so many with some searches on the Internet. Yes, you can do the same and you will find results in the same way as I. My starting point was "The History and Topography of Essex" by Thomas Wright.

Continuing my research I found the Dutchess of Cleveland and her "Battle Abbey Roll". While both Thomas Wright and Wilhelmina Powlett, Duchess of Cleveland, must have based a lot of their work on earlier Medieval manuscripts much of what they wrote has been the subject of critism into its integrity. Particularly the Battle Abbey Roll in its catalog of names of those presumably came over from Normandy with William the Conqueror.

The royal lineage and the fates of their subjects and beneficiaries is also described in Inquistions Post Mortem, which at one time were kept in the Public Records Office. Many of these I.P.M.s have been sold to academic libraries around the world, particularly the United States.

Dutchess of Cleveland