merican Plymouth on the Mayflower with 102

passengers, again many from Essex. John

Thomas Hooker, appointed Town
Lecturer and Curate of St Mary’s,
Essex enjoys a fascinating heritage with
important historical links with America.
Sherman connected with the Civil War,
a Vice-president of the US and other
5. Braintree
In 1632, a group of religious dissenters
to form The Braintree Company. The
ship Lyon was charted to sail to Boston,
Connections Carver of Braintree chartered the vessel; Chelmsford, censured for his Puritan beliefs, Allow extra time to discover some of the distinguished luminaries. known as the Braintree Company sailed on Massachusetts arriving in 1632. Many
in the real Christopher Jones of Harwich was Master
and Samuel Fuller from Ockendon was
emigrated in 1633 and is remembered for
co-founding the State of Connecticut.
towns and villages that played such a vital
part in our county’s fascinating past. Visit 3. Copford
“The Lyon”. They settled initially at Mount settlements were named after the towns
and villages they had left. Hooker who had
Essex
Wollaston, later renamed Braintree in
ship’s doctor. Great Burstead was the In 1635 Brentwood squire, John Wright the Stour Valley, whose landscape inspired John Haynes, who came from the tiny memory of their home-town. John Bridges, fled to Holland, emigrated to America in
home of at least five of the Mayflower’s of Marygreen Manor said farewell to son, the world-famous artist John Constable village of Copford, sailed to America in a Braintree resident, founded the school 1633, and founded the town of Hartford in
The ancient Essex ship quays on the banks passengers, with Christopher Martin Thomas, who emigrated to New England, who lived at Flatford. Nearby Dedham 1633. Taking up residence in New Town that developed into Harvard University. Connecticut. Chelmsford Cathedral bears
of the Thames played a vital part in the providing the supplies. His home still stands sailing on the ship ‘Susan and Ellen’ with his was where he was educated. It became (renamed Cambridge in 1636), he was John Adams, second president sailed on a plaque commemorating the great man.
early history of the New World. Today, many in Billericay High Street. These religious family making for Old Bay, Massachusetts his favourite location because of its elected Governor. He married his second “The Lyon” and his son John Quincy Adams
towns and villages link Essex with America. visionaries set out to make their homes in a and settled at Watertown, near Boston. exquisite scenery, shady lanes, thatched wife, Mabel Harlackenden, a member of became sixth president. Further information 11. Maldon
This year marks the 400th anniversary New World, free from religious persecution. The contribution of Robert James, 8th cottages and beautiful churches – truly an eminent Earls Colne family, who had on “The Lyon” detailing passengers is at Once known as “the jewel on the East
of the foundation of Jamestown, Virginia. They landed at Cape Cod, Massachusetts Lord Petre (1713-1742) to the development “Constable Country”. migrated in 1635. They had three sons Braintree District Museum. Coast”, imbued with healing powers linked
On 19th December 1606, three small ships sixty-six days later. of horticulture in England was enhanced and two daughters. Haynes pioneered to its densely-salted estuaries, Maldon has
sailed from London’s Blackwall pier to Essex was a strong recruiting ground with his friendship with American botanist 1. Harwich the colonisation of the Connecticut valley 6. Great Saling Replica of The Lyon displayed at Braintree District Museum been settled since the Bronze Age. The
establish the first British Colony in North for the Colonies. Descendants from many John Bartrum of Philadelphia. He supplied Many famous sea-going fraternities are and in 1637,he became the father of the Andrewsfield hangar at Great Saling Saxon King Edward the Elder built a fort at
America. Under the overall command of the county’s families particularly those seeds and cuttings of many varieties of associated with this ancient town. Captain new colony of Connecticut. Haynes died airfield was the unlikely stage setting for philosopher, John Locke, also lived at High
of Harwich-born Captain Christopher originating in Dedham, Chelmsford and American trees planted at Thorndon Hall, Christopher Newport (1560-1617) was at Hartford, USA, in 1654. some of Hollywood’s greatest performers Laver in the years preceding his death in
Newport (1560-1617), the ships Godspeed, Braintree are listed. The Sherman family Ingrave, unknown in England at that time. baptised in St Nicholas Church. He rose during spring and summer of 1944. James 1704. Locke’s theories were used within
Discovery and Susan Constant, carrying traced its descendants as founders of During 1783 Lady Petre of Thorndon Hall to become one of England’s greatest 4. Messing Cagney. Danny Kaye, and many other the Declaration of Independence and his
144 men and boys, many of them from Rhode Island, while another was General in Ingrave sent pear and apple seeds sea-captains, which led the Virginia The ancestral line of the presidential Bush stars including the Glen Miller Orchestra ideas are embodied in the United States
Essex, set sail for the unknown. W T Sherman of the American Civil War. with cuttings to a friend in Philadelphia. Company of London to commission him family can be traced back to the area visited Essex. Bob Hope is remembered as Constitution. A monument to Locke can
Sponsored by the Virginia Company Braintree produced John Adams, the The outbreak of the War of American to take overall command of the three around Messing and Feering from the performing on a stage created from large be found in High Laver churchyard.
of London, the purpose was to find the second president and his son who became Independence sent the 44th and 56th vessels and passengers bound for Virginia 14th century. Reynold Bush is recorded in wooden packing cases. Andrewsfield is
legendary north-west route to China, the sixth. Presidential connections are found Regiments (later the Essex Regiment) to in 1606. Newport commanded the Susan Messing’s Baptismal Register at All Saint’s named in memory of Lieutenant General 9. Springfield
bring Christianity to the people, but in Purleigh where Lawrence, the great- America. Landing in 1775, they took part Constant, Discovery and Godspeed. Church. He emigrated to Massachusetts Frank Andrews, who died in 1943 in a flying William Pynchon was born in 1590 into a
underlying all, was the alluring possibility great grandfather of the first American in several battles and in 1780, transferred Harwich was also home to Christopher in the 1630s, possibly on board “The Lyon”. accident in Iceland. family of wealthy landowners. His colonial
of discovering gold. president, George Washington, was to Canada, staying there until 1786. Jones who famously captained the The Bush family flourished in the New Word, activities began in 1629 when he was
Sailing via the West Indies, and with minister during the mid-1660s. Lawrence In 1903 descendants of John Wright Mayflower in 1620. acquiring land and status. The church still 7. Great Dunmow one of the 18 patentees named in the
fresh supplies, they arrived in Chesapeake is buried in Maldon’s All Saints Church. of Brentwood – Wilbur and Orville Wright stands, but the font where the Bush family This famous airfield built at Easton Lodge Massachusetts Bay Company Charter. All Saints’ Church, Maldon

Bay on 26 April 1607. By the 13 May Ancestors of the present Bush family can – made history by flying the first ‘heavier 2. Dedham were baptised, is now in at Wakes Colne at the home of Countess ‘Daisy’ Warwick, He and his family sailed to New England
the colonists established a base they be found at Messing and Feering from than air’ biplane at Kitty Hawk, North This village was a Church near Colchester. friend of King Edward VII. More than 12,000 in 1630 with his friend John Winthrop. the head of the estuary and at the Battle
named Jamestown in honour of their the 14th century. Reynold Bush emigrated Carolina in 1903. recruiting ground trees were uprooted from the estate’s Pynchon famously founded the town of of Maldon in 991, that great Anglo-Saxon
new King, crowned in 1603. They faced during the 1630s, possibly on The Lyon. Henry Ford came to Dagenham in for the American deer-park to make way for the American Springfield, Connecticut in 1636. He also Essex leader, Brithnoth lost his life defending
many difficulties: terrible harvests resulting the late 1920s and cut the first sod with colonies. A dozen airfield, which opened in July 1943. This established the first court in Massachusetts. the town against marauding Vikings. Within
in the “starving time”, constant Indian his silver spade that started off the huge descendants of was the first base on General Eisenhower’s The Pynchon-Winthrop association may All Saints’ Church is the commemorative
attacks, and unrest within the colony. Dagenham plant. A decade later, Henry Henry Sherman April 11, 1944 itinerary during his USAAF tour. have been through Sir Henry Mildmay, Washington Window dedicated to
Illness from malaria killed many, making Ford founded a training centre at Boreham. emigrated to New By September 1944 there were over 2,700 lord of the manor at Springfield. Lawrence Washington, great-great-
this first attempt unsuccessful. But thanks In 1942 thousands of American England between airmen and 68 aircraft at Great Dunmow. grandfather to America’s first president,
to the perseverance and courage of servicemen arrived in the county and 1633 and 1640. 10. Chelmsford who is buried there. The window was
those first pioneers Jamestown survived joined the 23 air-bases located in Essex, The Sherman family 8. High Laver As Town Lecturer and curate of St Mary’s presented in 1928 by citizens of Malden,
and is celebrated in the USA as “the first all of which were speedily built. left their significant St Mary’s Church, Dedham The three villages that comprise the Lavers Church in Chelmsford – now Chelmsford Massachusetts.
successful, English settlement in the New From the end of World War II, numerous mark on the United lie to the north-west of Ongar. At High Cathedral, Thomas Hooker was persecuted
World” – indeed it is also quoted as “the Town Twinning Associations have States. Through their family tree, they Laver lived the Masham family, who gave for his Puritan beliefs. His eloquent sermons 12. Purleigh
Cradle of the Nation”. maintained important America-Essex links can claim a co-founder of Rhode hospitality to Roger Williams, before he attracted huge congregations to Lyons America’s first president, George
Thirteen years later, on 6 September and visits across the Atlantic are frequent Island, a signatory of the Declaration of was forced to emigrate to Boston for his Hall, Bocking where he lived. William and Washington has ancestral roots at Purleigh.
1620, another expedition set sail from Thomas Hooker plaque and friendly. Independence, General William Tecumseh Messing village sign religious beliefs. The celebrated Ozias Goodwin were inspired by Hooker His great-great-grandfather – Reverend

REdiscover
“The deepest Essex few explore, where Lawrence Washington from 1633 to 1643,
was described as “a malignant royalist
and lasting relationships and exchange
ideas on a long-term basis. Brentwood “I hope I shall possess firmness and
steepest thatch is sunk in flowers, and who should be removed from the ministry.” became linked in March 1985 with
virtue enough to maintain what I
out of elm and sycamore, rise flinty His parishioners, however, declared him
to be “a very worthy and pious man”.
Brentwood, Tennessee, and enjoys student
exchanges to the mutual benefit of both consider the most enviable of all titles,
fifteenth century towers.” In his honour, the flint tower of the church
was repaired through the generosity of
American and English communities.
the character of an honest man.”
John Betjeman US citizens. Unhappy with their father’s 15. Stondon Massey
George Washington
treatment, Washington’s sons John and England’s famous
Lawrence left England to seek a fresh composer, William
start in the New World. Byrd, lived at
Stondon Place from
Welcome to the 13. Billericay 1593 until his death

county of Essex Among the 102 passengers who

boarded The Mayflower at Plymouth on
in 1623. He and
his contemporary,

Close to the European mainland, many

different cultures and historical events
Map of the
United Kingdom
6 September 1620 was Christopher Martin,
the ship’s provisioner. Previously serving
Thomas Tallis, were
elected Gentlemen
1,000 years
of history. Searching for your
Essex Ancestors?
as churchwarden at Great Burstead’s of the Chapel Royal
have influenced the county over the
St Mary Magdalene’s Church, he and to Queen Elizabeth. John Winthrop window at
centuries. Situated in the south-east
Marie Prower married there in 1607. He Nathaniel Ward was Great Stambridge Church
coastal region of England, Essex boasts Scotland is believed to have owned the Chantry Rector of Stondon
a strong maritime heritage. Coastal
House at 61 High Street, Billericay, where from 1623 to 1633. He had been offered the
towns, villages and estuaries come to
the emigrants prayed on the evening position of pastor with the Massachusetts
life in summer with yachts, fishing and
before the start of their epic journey on Bay Company, but declined. Deprived
watersports. As well as its coastal resorts
the Mayflower. Billerica in Massachusetts of his living for his non-conformity, Ward
Essex has a diverse range of attractions Northern
Ireland was established in 1655 and is now twinned migrated to Ipswich, New England in 1634.
to offer, its surviving heritage proving to
with Billericay, Essex. With John Winthrop, he helped draft the
be its biggest. Traces of medieval times
‘1641 Code of Laws’ for Massachusetts.
can be found in delightful small towns Ireland England
14. Brentwood
such as Saffron Walden, Coggeshall
Wales President Eisenhower initiated the Sister 16. Chigwell
and Thaxted. Medieval industries such as
Essex
City Programme in the USA during WWII. William Penn, founder of Pennsylvania,
weaving and saffron growing produced
From this, grew Sister Cities linking US born in 1644, lived at Wanstead, an Essex
great wealth, which led to the construction
Scale communities with towns throughout the village. He was educated at Chigwell
of historic buildings, beautiful houses and
0 Miles 100 world. Their objective is to learn about School, whose original buildings circa 1629
fine churches.
each other’s culture, develop meaningful are still in use. Penn founded Pennsylvania Before you visit us, browse
By Air: Stansted, Heathrow, Gatwick

Essex County – our

in 1681 as a place where his philosophy our catalogue online at
For more information please visit www.essexcc.gov.uk/ero
of tolerance, equality and understanding
www.realessex.co.uk By Sea: Harwich, Tilbury

American Connections
of fellow men could be practised. These
concepts were built into the American
Constitution drafted in 1787 in Philadelphia
www.realessex.co.uk www.realessex.co.uk Essex Record Office Opening times:
– the city Penn created. William Penn
Wharf Road Monday: 9am–8.30pm
is revered in Philadelphia where his Chelmsford Tuesday to Thursday:
magnificent statue dominates the City Essex 9am–5pm T: +44 (0)1245 244644
Hall skyline. CM2 6YT Friday and Saturday: E: ero.enquiry@
United Kingdom 9am–4pm essexcc.gov.uk

www.realessex.co.uk Eisenhauer with troops www.realessex.co.uk www.realessex.co.uk

Essex County – our American connections Discover real Essex
on the doorstep of
London. Historic houses
and gardens, ancient
woodlands and rolling
wheat-fields dotted with
poppies and windmills,
estuaries and coastal
villages are the essence
of this Saxon county.
It is the ideal location
J for relaxation and
rejuvenation.
Visit www.realessex.co.uk
for more information.

Places to stay
I Dedham
A Harwich
B The Pier Hotel: www.milsomhotels.com
F
Harwich B Dedham
Great Saling
A – Maison Talbooth: www.milsomhotels.com
K – milsoms: www.milsomhotels.com

Braintree C C Colchester
– Best Western Rose & Crown:
G Copford www.rose-and-crown.com
Great Dunmow E – The George Hotel:
H www.colchestergeorgehotel.co.uk
– Wivenhoe House Hotel:
www.wivenhoehousehotel.co.uk
L Messing
D Tolleshunt Knights
Five Lakes Resort: www.fivelakes.co.uk
E Coggeshall
White Hart Hotel:
M www.oldenglishinns.co.uk

High Laver F Halstead

D The Bull Hotel: www.oldenglishinns.co.uk
G Braintree
Springfield White Hart Hotel:
www.oldenglishinns.co.uk
Q H Great Dunmow
Chelmsford Maldon
The Starr: www.the-starr.co.uk
I Thaxted
N Stondon Massey The Swan Hotel: www.oldenglishinns.co.uk
Purleigh J Great Chesterford
The Crown House Hotel:
P www.crownhousehotel.co.uk
K Stansted
– Radisson SAS: www.radissonsas.com
– Hilton: www.hilton.co.uk
Chigwell O Brentwood Billericay – Best Western Stansted Manor:
www.compasshotels.co.uk
R
L Hatfield Heath
Down Hall: www.downhall.co.uk
M Harlow
Corus Hotel Harlow: www.corushotels.com
N Waltham Abbey
Marriott Waltham Abbey Hotel:
www.walthamabbeymarriott.co.uk
O Brentwood
Marygreen Manor Hotel:
S www.marygreenmanor.co.uk
P Stock
Greenwoodsestate:
www.greenwoodsestate.com
Q Chelmsford
– Best Western Atlantic Hotel:
www.atlantichotel.co.uk
– The County Hotel:
www.countyhotelgroup.co.uk
R Wickford
Chichester Hotel:
www.chichester-hotel.co.uk
S Southend
– The Gleneagles Hotel:
www.thegleneagleshotel.co.uk
– Ilfracombe Hotel:
www.ilfracombe-hotel.co.uk

Emanuel Bowen’s Map of Essex (1749),

reproduced by courtesy of the Essex Record Office.