Mead in Watford, 16th and 17th centuries

[Alan Mead]

Vance,

You suggested a while back that George might have been born in the 1640s rather than around 1655. I found a record of his monumental inscription at the SoG and he died 22 March 1708 aged 68. Therefore he was born 1640. Spot on!

I also discovered the excellent "Mead family of Somerset and Essex 1300-1900" compiled by Elizabeth Holliday, which I know you helped greatly with. Fascinating but too much to take in during the time I had available - I wonder if Elizabeth has copies for sale? I'll email her.

I went through the transcripts of the Ugley parish registers and unfortunately didn't come up with anything that helps. Mead(e) data that I noted is too large to fit onto a message on this forum - I'll send it to you directly.

Alan

[Vance Mead]

Alan
It's too bad that was the wrong George - it would have taken you back 4 or 5 generations. What's you next step? There are still two dozen or so Mead wills in Essex between 1640 and 1700 that I haven't transcribed. Some are quite far away, but there are several from Farnham and other nearby places.

Thanks for sending those parish records. It will help me sort out all the Johns and Williams. At least there you're lucky, that George was a relatively uncommmon name. If you were looking for John or Thomas, you'd have dozens to choose from and no way to decide which one it is.

I have a vague recollection that I exchanged emails with Elizabeth Holliday 10 or 12 years ago. I think she was researching Meads in Great Waltham and High Easter. Have you contacted her? Has she got any copies of her book she'd be willing to sell? She also deposited copies at the Essex and Hertfordshire record offices.
Vance

[Alan Mead]

Vance,

I'm going to work on two fronts - hopefully as methodically as possible!

I'll draw up a list of all the parishes surrounding Sawbridgeworth and try to work through the registers. If that fails then I'll move out to the next ring, and so on.

Secondly I'm going to try to draw up a list of all the Mead wills from Essex and Herts, check and tick off the ones I already have, and try to track down and get copies of the others.

I've emailed Elizabeth Holliday so now will wait to see if copies of her book are available.

I had a real stroke of luck a while back. I was flicking through a magazine (nothing to do with family history) and saw a property for sale - Waters Place Farm, Ware. It sounded familiar so I checked my records and found that Robert Mead of Great Burstead mentioned the farm in his will proved 1819. It was occupied then by relations/friends of the Meads - the Flack family. This family and others - the Hummerstone family - seemed to be intermarrying with Meads from Sawbridgeworth days right through to the mid 19th Century and there must have been a fair bit of traffic between this side of Herts and Essex. I even tracked down a picture of the place on the internet - and of course had to make a detour to view it (from afar) after visiting the Hertfordshire Record Office one day. Just behind it is the appropriately named Mead Wood.

Alan

[Vance Mead]

Alan
I have lists of all the Mead wills for Essex and Herts on my site, including PCC and Consistory Court. The ones I lack which are nearby are in Farnham, Berden, Great Easton, Henham and Hatfield Broad Oak. Maybe one or two others.
Vance

[Vance Mead]

I should have said I have listed all the wills before 1700, with the possible exception of any wills that might have been proved in the Peculiar Court of the Dean and Chapter of St Paul's. This covered the parishes of Albury, Brent Pelham and Furneux Pelham.

[Vance Mead]

Alan

Any luck getting in touch with Liz Holliday?

Is that her email address, at one-name.org?

Vance

[Alan Mead]

Yes Vance.

She replied to me yesterday and has very kindly sent me a copy of the narrative part of her book. She has also asked for a GEDCOM copy of my data which I'll send later today.

Alan