George Mead
Male, b. circa 1673, d. circa 1726
George Mead, son of George Mead and Mary ____, was born circa 1673 and baptized on 6 August 1673 at Sawbridgeworth, Hertfordshire.1
It would seem that George and his younger brother Thomas migrated from Sawbridgeworth to the Essex town of Billericay and the nearby village of Great Burstead, but throughout the following century their descendants continued to keep in contact with and even marry their cousins and family friends in Hertfordshire.2
He was named as a beneficiary in the will of his father George Mead written on 17 October 1700. His father made him a bequest of twenty shillings but quite probably he would have already received something more substantial when he had reached the age of twenty one.3
George and Mary Goodwin obtained a marriage licence on 1 May 1701. Mary's father Joseph, a carpenter of Shenfield, stood as their Bondsman.4 Three weeks later George married Mary, daughter of Joseph Goodwin, on 22 May 1701 at Charterhouse Chapel, near Smithfield, London (Middlesex). The register of marriages describes her as a spinster of Shenvill [Shenfield] in Essex while George was a Mercer and bachelor of Billericay in Essex.5
By 16 December 1706 his father-in-law Joseph Goodwin had died and at the Court of Edward Hawker, esq. George admitted, on behalf of his wife Mary, Joseph's only daughter and heiress, to a "...tenement called Fearne Hatches and Seven Crofts of land, in occupation of Anth. Reynolds, copyhold of the manor of Doddinghurst, in Doddinghurst..."6
George made a will on 23 September 1722 in which he described himself as, " ... of Great Burstead in the County of Essex, Grocer ...". At the age of 49 he had become a man of some standing and was able to leave each of his children a substantial amount of property. His wife was to receive various goods in the chamber over the shop, except for the silver, and all linen and a pair of sheets and pillows and £10 per year. To Richard he left a parcel of land called Flanders of about 150 acres, including a barn, next to the road from Maldon to Fambridge (east of Great Burstead) and in the occupation of Mr Thomas Finch; his eldest son George was to administer this until Richard became twentyone. Mary and her heirs were to receive his farm in Bomflet and Wifford of about 100 acres in the occupation of Robert Webb, and also £200 when she became twentyone. The house with barn and about 90 acres called Sparrows in the occupation of Mr Thomas Finch and all the remainder of his estate was to go to George. His brother Richard Mead was appointed Overseer of the will.7
George Mead died circa 1726 was buried on 11 April 1726 in the churchyard at St Mary Magdalene, Great Burstead, Essex.8 His estate was probated on 13 May 1726.7
It would seem that George and his younger brother Thomas migrated from Sawbridgeworth to the Essex town of Billericay and the nearby village of Great Burstead, but throughout the following century their descendants continued to keep in contact with and even marry their cousins and family friends in Hertfordshire.2
He was named as a beneficiary in the will of his father George Mead written on 17 October 1700. His father made him a bequest of twenty shillings but quite probably he would have already received something more substantial when he had reached the age of twenty one.3
George and Mary Goodwin obtained a marriage licence on 1 May 1701. Mary's father Joseph, a carpenter of Shenfield, stood as their Bondsman.4 Three weeks later George married Mary, daughter of Joseph Goodwin, on 22 May 1701 at Charterhouse Chapel, near Smithfield, London (Middlesex). The register of marriages describes her as a spinster of Shenvill [Shenfield] in Essex while George was a Mercer and bachelor of Billericay in Essex.5
By 16 December 1706 his father-in-law Joseph Goodwin had died and at the Court of Edward Hawker, esq. George admitted, on behalf of his wife Mary, Joseph's only daughter and heiress, to a "...tenement called Fearne Hatches and Seven Crofts of land, in occupation of Anth. Reynolds, copyhold of the manor of Doddinghurst, in Doddinghurst..."6
George made a will on 23 September 1722 in which he described himself as, " ... of Great Burstead in the County of Essex, Grocer ...". At the age of 49 he had become a man of some standing and was able to leave each of his children a substantial amount of property. His wife was to receive various goods in the chamber over the shop, except for the silver, and all linen and a pair of sheets and pillows and £10 per year. To Richard he left a parcel of land called Flanders of about 150 acres, including a barn, next to the road from Maldon to Fambridge (east of Great Burstead) and in the occupation of Mr Thomas Finch; his eldest son George was to administer this until Richard became twentyone. Mary and her heirs were to receive his farm in Bomflet and Wifford of about 100 acres in the occupation of Robert Webb, and also £200 when she became twentyone. The house with barn and about 90 acres called Sparrows in the occupation of Mr Thomas Finch and all the remainder of his estate was to go to George. His brother Richard Mead was appointed Overseer of the will.7
George Mead died circa 1726 was buried on 11 April 1726 in the churchyard at St Mary Magdalene, Great Burstead, Essex.8 His estate was probated on 13 May 1726.7
Children of George Mead and Mary Goodwin
- George Mead+ b. 30 April 1703, d. 27 December 1763
- Mary Mead b. 24 August 1705
- Joseph Mead9 b. 2 October 1707
- Richard Mead b. 27 October 1709
Citations
- [S91] Microfilm of the Parish Registers of Sawbridgeworth, Hertfordshire, 1654 to 1712 (Hertfordshire Archives and Local Studies, County Hall, Pegs Lane, Hertford, Hertfordshire, England. Reference: D/P 98 1/2, reel 94). "1673 ... George the Sonne of George Meade and Mary his wife was Baptized - August 6 ...". [HRTPAR].
- [S100] Will of George Mead, Grocer of Great Burstead, Essex, dated 23 September 1722, proved 13 May 1726 in the London Commissary Court (Essex and Hertfordshire Division). (Essex County Record Office, Wharf Road, Chelmsford, Essex, England. Reference: D/ABR 19/218). [DOC0011/WIL0013].
There seems no doubt that George Mead born in Sawbridgeworth and George Mead, grocer of Billericay are one and the same. George's will refers to his brother Richard and two of the witnesses are named Joseph Watts - these would be his brother-in-law and nephew, named in his mother Hannah's will.. - [S79] Will of George Mead, yeoman of Sawbridgeworth, dated 17 October 1700, proved 25 February 1708/1709 in the Prerogative Court of Canterbury. (The National Archives, Kew, Richmond, Surrey, England. Reference: PROB11/508). [DOC0010/WIL0009].
- [S101] Correspondence from Thora Broughton to Don Green, dated p 25, Marriage licences reference D/AEL 1701 ... 1 May 1701 George Mead of Billericay, singleman, merchant [shopkeeper]; Mary Goodwin of Shenvil [Shenfield] single woman; Bondsman Joseph Goodwin, carpenter of Shenvil ... ", A.R. Mead's records, Epsom, Surrey, reference COR14/13-27, relating to research on Mead and associated families of Hertfordshire and Essex, 1700-1850. The letter refers to various records (Essex County Record Office, Wharf Road, Chelmsford, Essex, England CM2 6YT) which have not been checked.
- [S98] Francis Collins, editor, published transcript of the Registers and Monumental Inscriptions of Charterhouse Chapel, 1671-1890, published by Mitchell & Hughes, printers, London (1892), the publications of the Harleian Society, registers vol. 18, marriages 1671-1890, baptisms 1696-1836 and burials 1695-1854, (City of London Guildhall Library, Aldermanbury, London, England. Reference: barcode: 8582626X). p13. [LONNPR].
"... 1701 May 22 George Mead, of the parish of Billericay, in the County of Essex, Mercer, Batchelor, and Mary Goodwin, of Shenvill, of the same, Spinster. Mr. Gideon, Fa. By Licence (164), Rich. Tillesley, Curate of St. Sepulchre's...". - [S99] Seax, Essex Archives Online, catalogue of manuscripts at Essex Record Office, Wharf Road, Chelmsford, Essex, England (http://seax.essexcc.gov.uk/ : accessed 9 May 2009), miscellaneous, manorial admissions and probate certificate relating to Doddinghurst, Essex, Admission of George Mead in right of wife Mary, 1706, reference D/DU 797/3. " ... Admission of George Mead in right of wife Mary. Tenement called Fearne Hatches and Seven Crofts of land, in occupation of Anth.Reynolds, copyhold of the manor of Doddinghurst, in Doddinghurst. Presentment of death of Joseph Goodwin siezed of property, that as he had no beast for a heriot, the lord took a cauldron called a Brewing Copper, valued at 40s., which was the best of the goods of the decd., and that Mary Mead in his only daughter and heiress. Court of Edward Hawker, esq., and wife Jane Steward: John Gill, gentleman ...". [SEAX]
- [S100] Will of George Mead of Great Burstead, grocer, Essex, 1726.
- [S88] Parish Register of St Mary Magdalene, Great Burstead, Essex, 1677-1728, content: Baptisms 1677-1728, Marriages 1678-1680 1685-1728 and Burials 1678-1682 1687-1728, (Essex County Record Office, Wharf Road, Chelmsford, Essex, England. Reference: D/P 139/1/2). Burial, 11 Apr 1726, " ... George Mead ... ". [ESSPAR].
- [S88] Parish Register of St Mary Magdalene, Great Burstead, Essex, 1677-1728. Baptism. " ... Joseph son of George Mead and Mary his wife ... ". [ESSPAR].