Howe Green, Essex

[sarahtrems]

Hi. I wonder if anyone can help me? We've just moved into a new (built 1750!) house on the old Southend Road in Howe Green. The house was, as I say, built in 1750 as a farm. The title deeds state the name of the farm as Howe Green Farm, but somewhere along the line (before 1930) the name was changed to Howe Farm. My reason for posting here is that I would love to try and research the history of our house. I have found on the Essex Records website a record which relates to the sale of the farm as it still was then in 1930 which comprised the farm, approximately 52 acres of arable and grazing land, various outbuildings, 2 cottages (which are now privately owned opposite the farm) and another 4 acres of land on the opposite side of the road which was known as Poplars (there is a large house on this site now). Sadly sometime after 1930 the farm land was broken up and presumably sold off - our immediate next door neighbours house is probably no more than 10 years old and was obviously built on land previously belonging to the farm. Unfortunately our Deeds only show the previous 2 owners and I am desperate to try and find any further information and in particular old photos/drawings of the house.

If anyone can help I would be extremely grateful.

Many thanks
Sarah

[GeoffD]

I have found that the people of the Howe Green Community Association http://www.hgca.org.uk/ are very tolerant of people asking strange questions 'out of the blue'. I asked one from all the way over here in Australia, and they responded very promptly, so it should be even better for a new 'local'.

[ChristineR]

Using the census, you will be able to find out who was living there every 10 years from 1841 - 1901, sometimes the size of the farm will be indicated and how many were employed, as well as the names of any persons living there as servants or workers.

:) Christine

[Mythology]

In addition to the Howe Green Community Association the obvious thing to do, especially as you are so close, is to visit Essex Record Office.

In parish terms, Howe Green is Sandon. The ERO code for Sandon parish records (not just registers) is D/P 253. Typing that into the "document reference" box on the ERO site gave me 178 hits.

Obviously, a lot of these are outside the period of interest, but there is, for example, the 1837 Tithe Map (D/P 253/27/1), which is definitely something you should look at.

There are the early census returns (D/P 253/18/5). These local census returns vary enormously, but I see from the description that "1811 shows name of each family, how many houses occupied, how many families, how many families employed in agriculture, trade and otherwise and total number of males and females in each house" so that one is certainly worth a look.

There are all sorts of things in which a reference to a Mr. Whoever of Howe Farm might appear - for example, Vestry Minutes 1751-1858 (D/P 253/8/2).

All these documents are catalogued - but they are not indexed by personal names or property names. The only way you find out whether there is anything relevant to your quest in them is by actually going there, asking the advice of the staff as to which they suggest that you start with, and having a darned good rummage.

[Peter Goodey]

You may find some tips here -

http://www.hiddenhousehistory.co.uk/

and also details of the TV series starting in September (on The History Channel).

You may find some of the links on the site useful.

A trip to your local library to look out a book on how to do it might also be helpful.

[sarahtrems]

Thanks so much for all of your great advice and tips !! Now that I've got a few starting points I can't wait to get going ! I definitely think a trip to the Essex Records Office will be on the cards soon.

Thank you all once again !

Sarah

[Linda]

I thought, for a moment, that you meant Howe Green in the Purleigh area, where some of my ancestors lived. Having done a quick search on the ERO SEAX web site I came across a Deed dated 1860

"Abolute surrender of William FRANKLIN of HOWE GREEN, Purleigh, wheelwright, to Harriet FRANKLIN of Pureligh, spr."

Oh! I had Franklins living in the area at that time, maybe William is "mine"! :D

So Sarah, thanks for asking the question! I might never have discovered that little tidbit of info. |hug|

Going back to SEAX to do a bit more rummaging ;)

[sarahtrems]

Hi Linda

I glad my question has turned up a bit more information for you - hopefully William will be one of your ancestors and you will have filled in a little link in what I am sure is a very long chain !!

Good luck !

Sarah

[GeoffD]

1891 Census - Sandon RG12/1389 p.11 f.109
Howe Farm
Evan Raven, Head, Single, 58, Farmer, Employer, Little Baddow
Edwin Raven, do, Single, 48, do, Employer, do
Elizabeth do, Mother, Widow, 93,-, Stow Maries
Alice Turner, Niece, Single, 36, Domestic House Keeper, Employed, Little Waltham(?)


In 1881, this Raven family was occupying Grove Farm. Howe Farm House was enumerated as Uninhabited in 1881.

In 1871 Sandon Parish, no Howe Farm mentioned.

[Mythology]

"In 1871 Sandon Parish, no Howe Farm mentioned."
That's odd - I remember seeing it on the 1861.

[sarahtrems]

Thanks guys - I didn't have a clue where to start apart from visiting the ERO. Should I be subscribing to any census sites where I can obtain further information? If so, which are the best/official sites.

It also looks as though the farm had another name as well as Howe Green Farm, Howe Farm and Howe Farm House. No wonder everything is a bit confusing !!

Sarah

[Mythology]

Given that you're going to ERO anyway, and your interest is in a fixed place, not a family who might be anywhere in the country, I wouldn't spend money on census sites. They have the Essex census films at ERO, and it's not exactly the most densely populated of parishes, won't take you long to read through Sandon and spot it.

[Peter Goodey]

"I didn't have a clue where to start apart from visiting the ERO. Should I be subscribing to any census sites where I can obtain further information?"

I don't think you should subscribe to any census sites purely for this job (although you might have other reasons).

As others have pointed out, Essex RO is the place to visit and probably, in due course, the National Archives. In addition to the other resources mentioned, they will also have the censuses you need.

House history is a specialised area which is only distantly related to genealogy. I still think you need to look out a book that deals with this particular subject.

I've given you a link to one site that may help. Despite the many adverts for Ancestry on that site, I don't think Ancestry would actually be much help to you in this study.

[Peter Goodey]

Ah ha! Mythology and I have just said the same thing.

It must be good advice, then! ;)

[GeoffD]

That's odd - I remember seeing it on the 1861.

I didn't get around to browsing the 1861 - life and work intervened. But I even dredged through the neighbouring Great Baddow images to see if it had jumped across a line somewhere.
--------------------------
1861 RG9/1082 p.21 f.140

Schd 125 Howe Farm
James Hughes, Head, Married, 52, Farmer of 81 acres employing 4 men and two boys, b. Rivenhall.
Lydia Elizabeth do, wife, married, 41, b. Woodham Ferris
Ann Elizabeth do, daughter, 5, Scholar, b. Sandon
Louisa Biggs, servant, 12, House servant, b. Gt Baddow.
---------------------------------------
1851 HO107/776 p.26 f.561
Schd 104 Howe Farm
James Hughes, Head, unmarried, 42, farmer of 81 acres employing 5 labourers, Rivenhall
Anna Sparrow, mother, widow, 70, Annuitant (formerly farmer's wife), Rivenhall
Mary Rumsey, servant, unmarried, House servant, Great Baddow.
--------------------------------------
1841 HO107/326/6 p.7 f.6
How Farm (enumerator spelled Howe as How, consistently)
James Hughes, male, 30 farmer, in county
Emma do, female, 35, in county
Jane do, female, 25, in county
Thomas do, male, 20, Farmer, in county
Anna Sparrow, female, 60, Independent, in county.
-------------------------------------------------------
Doesn't get a mention in 1901 Census. So there are all the census records I could find. The Hughes family seemed to hang onto the place for quite a while.

[Mythology]

Geoff - you are too efficient! ;)

I'm still not 100% organised here after my move, couldn't find where I'd put my 1861 Essex CDs at the time, tripped over them this morning (plus the 1841) and came on here with the intention of posting the info ...

... but you've beaten me to it with your edit (and included 1851, which I don't have) - that's saved me some typing. :) :D

[GeoffD]

Such a small ED, and with a good broadband connection it doesn't take long to flip through the pages offered on the A-place.
;)

But I am wondering about Titles in the UK. Here, in our young country, we had Torrens Titles from very early on, and a titles search on a property is easy and relatively inexpensive. I have often gone back to the very first title documents for properties, usually signed by the Colonial Governor of the time. How difficult is a titles search over there. I'm asking because I am trying to finalise a discussion about a certain house in Illogan and the only way to do it would be to get hold of title deeds going back to no later than about 1840.

[Mythology]

I honestly don't have a clue, Geoff.

To quote Peter:
"House history is a specialised area which is only distantly related to genealogy."
Where they overlap - the obvious example being the tithe map that I referred to - I can spot something that will be useful, as that's the sort of thing that I've had out at ERO for family history reasons, but beyond that I'd be seeking advice myself.

My natural unguided instinct would be to trot along to the Land Registry, but I could be completely off track there - I really have no idea whether or not they'd be any use historically.

[GeoffD]

My natural unguided instinct would be to trot along to the Land Registry, but I could be completely off track there - I really have no idea whether or not they'd be any use historically.

That'd be one long trot, Myth.
:D

[tommy166]

This is NA research guide for Title:

http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/catalogue/RdLeaflet.asp?sLeafletID=148

Tom

[tommy166]

Looks like you can search online (for a price) for current Title Holder, but need to visit local Land Registry office (in this case Peterborough which covers Chelmsford district) to view previous owners.

Tom

[Sharonw]

I know this is an old thread but just came across it! My GGrandparents used to own this farm. My grandparents lived there too and bought up my mum and her siblings in that house. The ‘new’ house you refer to was built by my G Uncle who lived there for many years. The land was indeed part of the original farm. I would love to know how you got on with your research. This house and it’s land brings back fond memories. Xx

[Sue Mackay]

Welcome to BG. Sadly the original poster is no longer a member, as indicated by the word Guest in her profile, and so will not automatically see your reply, but with any luck she will one day come across your post in a Google search. Do have a good look round the site while you are here!

[Andrew Mead]

You know the address so you could always write to them and send it snail mail.