The heir to this estate for the time being is to have the nomination of the usher of the free school and alms people, together with the payment of the stipend of the former (under the inspection of the masters and other governors) and the distribution of the alms to the latter.

The former buildings were taken down in the year 1758, and in their room six neat brick dwellings erected, with the following inscription, which is affixed in the centre:

Founded by THOMAS MILDMAY, Esq. of Moulsham Hall, 1565. Rebuilt by WILLIAM MILDMAY, Esq. of Moulsham Hall, 1758. The old houses had the following on a free stone table :

DEO, TRINO, ET UNI SIT GLORIA.

The foundation of Sir THOMAS MILDMAY, of Moulsham, Bart. and the Lady Anne his wife.

The great road through this hamlet was very indifferent, but is now levelled and made much better.

It had been remarked by many travellers, that this ap proach to the town of Chelmsford was much confined, and through a low, narrow, watery lane, a quarter of a mile long; by which they were deprived of a delightful view of the town and its neighbourhood. To remedy this the com missioners appropriated an adjoining field, for the purposes of making a new road, under the inspection of Sir William Mildmay, bart.

The antient manor of Bexfield is partly in the hamlet of Moulsham, and was formerly called Bekeswell. It was in

Chelmsford, to be payable at Lady Day and Michaelmass, whereof two pounds towards finding an usher. Six pounds to be divided in equal portions, at Easter and Michaelmass, to and amongst six aged, and of the poorest people inhabiting in the hamlet of Mulsham; three whereof to be men, and three women. And the five pounds six shillings and eight-pence, being the remaining part of the said twenty marks, or thirteen pounds six shillings and eight-pence, to be laid out in the following manner: two pounds to buy an ox or bullock, to be distributed amongst the poor people of Mulsham on Christmas Eve. And three pounds sixshillings and eight-pence to buy three barrels of white herrings, and four cades of red herrings, to be distributed amongst the poor people of Moulshain and Chelmsforde, the first and second week of clean Lent,"

the

the possession of Francis Bathenne in the reign of Edward II, from whom it descended to John de Insula of Burglee, knt. who in the reign of Edward the Third, in the year 1334, granted it to, Henry de Burghersh, alias Burwash, then bishop of Lincoln (who was lord treasurer, and chancellor of England,) and his heirs for ever. Upon the death of this prelate, it came to the next heir, his brother Bartholomew lord Burghersh. Upon his succes sion, an inquisition was taken of it, which described it to contain "one carucate of arable land; forty acres of wood; eight of meadow; two of pasture; and a hundred shillings rent in Chelmsford, holden of the abbot of Westminster by the service of four pounds yearly." He procured from Edward the Third a charter of free warren in this manor: but dying in 1355, he was succeeded by his son Bartho lomew lord Burghersh, who attended Edward in his wars. with France, and was made one of the first knights of the Garter. Upon his decease in 1369, these possessions came to an only daughter, who married Edward le Despenser. It was afterwards enjoyed by Sir Thomas Tyrel, knt. and Alice his wife. Richard II. in the sixteenth year of his reign, granted his royal licence, empowering John Thurston, Thomas Aston, and Simon Barton, chaplains, to be stow this manor, and 36s. 5d. rent in Moulsham and Chelms. ford, upon the abbey of Westminster; (the abbot and convent whereof being then lords of the manor of Moulsham aforesaid) by the service of 4l. yearly rent, and suit at the court of the said manor. He likewise by his licence enabled Richard Stoke, clerk, and Thomas Aston, chaplain, to give to the monastery of Westminster, a mill in the hamlet of Moulsham, which was held by the service or annual rent of 20s.

Upon the suppression of these houses the properties and premises of this manor came to the crown; when Henry the Eighth granted them unto Thomas Mildmay, Esq. and his heirs for ever *.

CHELMSFORD

* The Mildmay family is said to have been of great consequence ín the reign of king Stephen. Their first ancestor was Hugo Mildeme, or

Mildme,

!. CHELMSFORD

stands at the confluence of the Chelmer, and the Cann; from the former of which it derived its name. In Domesday Book it is called Celmeresfort, and Celmeresforde.

id

Mildme, who lived about the year 1147, and upon his disease was succeeded by his son Sir Robert, who was living in 1235, in the time of Henry the Third. He had male issue two sons; Herbert, and Roger, who resided at Hambleton in Lancashire. Roger's successors were Henry, and Ralph; the former seated at Stonehouse in Gloucestershire, 1349. Robert, living in 1401, married the daughter and heiress of Le Rous, and had by her Thomas, who espoused Margaret, daughter and heiress of John Cornish, of Great Waltham. This seems to have been the first of the family who had any connections in this county. He was succeeded by his son and heir Walter, who settled at Writtle, marrying the daughter of Everard, Esq. formerly of Mashbury, but afterwards of Great Waltham; by whom he had two sons, Thomas and John.

"In the days of Henry the Eighth, at the suppression of the religious houses, Thomas was one of the auditors of the court of augmentations, and purchased of that monarch the manor of Moulsham, &c. He ma ried Agnes, the daughter of Reade, Esq. by whom he had issue four sons and four daughters. The names of the former were Thomas, William, John, and Walter; who afterwards became the heads of many great families.

-1.Thomas, of Moulsham Hall, married Avice, daughter of William Gernon of the city of London, Esq. and had by her issue eight sons, and seven daughters. His eldest son and heir was Sir Thomas Mildmay, who espoused Frances, oply daughter of Henry Ratcliff, earl of Sussex, through whom the title and claim to the barony of Fitzwalter, &c. came to the family. Three of her descendants inherited them; viz. Benjamin, summoned to parliament as baron Fitzwalter, February 10, 1609, whose two sons, Charles and Benjamin, severally succeeded him. The latter of these was created earl Fitzwalter, and viscount Harwich, in the year 1730; who dying February 29, 1756, without issue, this first branch became extinct.

བརྩ From the second son, William of Springfield Barnes, was descended the late Sir William Mildmay, bart. to whom Benjamin, earl Fitzwalter, devised his estates; in consequence of which he became seated at Moulsham Hall. E

From the third son John, descended Robert Mildmay, of Terling: which branch likewise is totally extinct.

The

resforde. Antient records denominate it Chelmereford, Chelmesford, and Chelmsford; it is evidently a contraction of Chelmersford.

It is the capital of the county, gives name both to the hundred and deanry, and is distant from London twenty

The fourth son, Sir Walter Mildmay, married the sister of Sir Francis Walsingham, chief secretary of state; and had by her two sons. He was at that time Chancellor of the Exchequer, and one of queen Eliza beth's Privy Council; he also founded Emanuel College in Cambridge. His sons were Sir Anthony and Sir Humphrey. To the former, on his embassy from queen Elizabeth to the court of France, he bequeathed his estates at Aplethorp in Northamptonshire. Sir Humphrey inherited his estate at Danbury Place. Sir Walter likewise left an only daughter, who married Francis Fane, earl of Northumberland. Sir Humphrey had two sons, John and Sir Henry; the former of which dying without issue, des vised his Danbury estate, by will, to his wife. She married a second husband, Robert Cory, D. D. and had by him one daughter, who was espoused to William Ffytche, Esq. Sir Henry Mildmay, knt. was in the reign of Charles the First, master of the jewel office, &c. He espoused Anne, eldest daughter and co-heiress of William Halyday, Esq. an alderman of the city of London; whose monument is in the church of St. Lawrence Jewry, London; he had issue Henry Mildmay, Esq. of Shawford in Hampshire, father of Halyday Mildmay, who left one only daughter named Lætitia, heiress in the male line of that branch. She intermarried with Humphrey, younger son of Carew Hervey Mildmay, of Marks, Esq. who was also descended from William Mildmay, Esq. of Springfield Barnes. Their issue were Carew, Anne, and Catharine; which Anne being espoused to the late Sir William Mildmay, bart. the several branches of that family were in them united.

Upon the death of Sir William without issue, the estates passed to Carew Mildmay, Esq. of Shawford, Hants, whose daughter Janc, having married Sir Henry Paulet St. John, son of Sir Paulét St. John, bart. of Dogmersfield Park, Hants, he assumed the name of Mildmay.

In the latter end of the reign of James the First, there were nine several families of this name in the county of Essex, possessed of con-. siderable estates:

Sir Thomas Mildmay, Moulsham Hall, bart.; Sir Henry Mildmay, Woodham Walter, knt.; Sir Humphrey Mildmay, Danbury, knt.;. Sir Henry Mildmay, Wanstead, kut.; Sir Thomas Mildmay, Springfield Barnes, knt.; Sir Henry Mildmay, Graces, knt.; Sir Walter Mildmay, Great Badow, knt.; Carew Heryey Mildmay, Marks; Sir Robert Mildmay, Terling, knt.

Vol. VI. No. 131.

G

nine

nine measured miles. The town consists of four beautiful, regular, and well built streets. The entrance from London is over an old stone bridge, built by Maurice, bishop of London (anno 1100) in the reign of Henry the First.

. At the upper end of a spacious well built street of considerable length, ornamented with handsome houses, upon a little ascent, stands the shire-house; which is a very magnificent edifice: it contains two handsome roomy courts, finished in an elegant manner; besides many large and useful rooms for the purposes of transacting the business of the county; and in front, which is of stone, is a capital ball room; four beautiful pillars of the Ionic order are placed between the windows, above which are emblematic figures representing Justice, Wisdom, and Mercy. This beautiful edifice was built by Mr. Johnson, the county surveyor; and will be a lasting monument of the taste of the architect and of the spirit of the magistrates of this opulent county. On the left of this building is seen the tower, spire, and chief part of the church; terminating this elegant piece of perspective. Each street lies with an easy descent towards the centre, and is washed with a current of clear water. What contributes much to the peculiar cleanliness of this town, is its being gravelled, with such skill and judgment as to form a regular unjointed pavement; whilst the inhabitants seem inspired with a laudable emulation in endeavouring to outvie each other in the neatness of their dwellings. The Chelmer and the Cann form here an angle; along which lie many pleasure gardens, &c. In an open space (nearly a square,) adjoining to the shirehouse stands the conduit. When it was first erected is uncertain, as it bears no date: but it was beautified by the noble family of the Fitzwalters, and is of a quadrangular form about fifteen feet high, constructed with stone and brick it has four pipes, one on each side. The following inscription is inscribed on one of the sides:

This Conduit in one minute runs 1 hogshead and and 4 gallons and. In one day 2262 hogsheads and 54 gallons.