Eastwood, Essex Beggars Bush Farm 1772

The English Place-Name Society volume for Essex, p.182, gives as the source Benton, P. History of Rochford Hundred, (1878-88). An edition dated 1867 p.140 says that “”Biggles Bush” commonly called Beggars-bush, was formerly the property of the late Joseph Smith, who was buried at Hadleigh. He built the present house and premises. His successor was Sir John Jacob Hasler, knight, and his executors sold the estate in 1868”. The ealiest record I can find is a copy Will made on 13 August 1772 of William Carr of Hawkwell, gentleman (proved 24 May 1775) in which he gave to his grandson George Davis Carr lands in Rochford including Beggars Bush Farm with the kiln ground in Eastwood, which the testator had purchased from Mrs Railton and others (Essex Record Office, D/DNe T43/27)

The name survived into the twentieth century. Abstracts of title of the trustees of Alesander Winton Robertson of Southend, gentleman (d. 13 February 1919) include, in 1931 Bislers alias Biggles Bush alias beggard Bush Farm from sources c.1898, and a further Abstract c.1935 gives Bislers alias Biggles Bush alias Beggars Bushals Beggars Bush Farm. (Essex Record Office,  Family Records of Dr W. D. Leigh, D/DGs/T232 and D/DGs/T234).  They also have a microfilm of Survey of Rochford Hundred by W.F. Noble which includes at p.203 a Sale Plan, 1868, of Biggles Bush Farm in Eastwood (TS 5/3 Microfilm of T/P 83/5-6).

This is the only Beggars Bush place name in Essex. The Essex Place-Names Database includes many other Beggars names which are almost all derogatory, including Beggars Ley (Felsted and also Great Leigh where it is next to Bushy Common Field), Beggars Row (Ingatestone), Make Beggars (Stisted), Beggars Bread, Beggars Bridge and Beggars Hall (Terling),  Beggars Hoppet (a small piece of enclosed ground)(High Roding) and Mockbeggars also Mobbeggars alias Maltbeggar’s Farm alias Mole Beggars Wood (Feering).

OS Grid

TQ840880

Thanks

John Pile

Posted: May 8th, 2011 | Filed under: Places | Tags: Eastwood, Essex | No Comments »