Little Yeldham 1848 Whites Directory
YELDHAM, ( LITTLE) or Upper Yeldham is a small but pleasant village and parish, about 1½ mile E.N.E of Great Yeldham, and 8 miles N. by W. of Halstead. It contains 333 inhabitants, and 919 acres of land . In Domesday Book it is described as a berewick in the Honor of Clare, and as being held under the Earl of Boulogne. Little and Great Yeldham are variously spelt in old records, Geldham, Zeldham, and Geldeham. Colonel W. H. Meyrick owns a great part of the parish, and is lord of the manor of Little Yeldham, or Overhall, which was long held by the Earls of Oxford, but was sold by the 17th Earl, in 1584, to John Mabbe or Webbe. It afterwards passed to the Smith, Dod, Clark, Muilman, and other families. M. Saville, J. N. Gooch, J. Rumball, and D. Gurteen, Esqrs. , and a few smaller owners, have estates in the parish, partly copyhold, subject to arbitrary fines. An estate called Goddings, was anciently the seat of the Goddinge family, but the house was destroyed many years ago. The farm called Sewales, now held by Mr. J. Rumball, was held by the Sewale family in the 16th century, under the Earls of Oxford. The Church is a small antique structure with a wooden turret and two bells. The communion plate was given by the late Peter Muilman, Esq., who planted the fir trees which sur- round the churchyard. The rectory, valued in K.B. at £8, and in 1831 at £222, is in the patronage of the Lord Chancellor, and incumbency of the Rev. Jno. Gaselee, M.A., who has two acres of glebe, and a neat residence. The tithes were commuted in 1840 for £275 per annum. The poor of this parish have 36s. yearly , as their share of Cook’s Charity, noticed with Otten Belchamp.
Coller William , shoemaker
Cutler Robert, baker and shopkeeper
Gaselee Rev. John, M.A. rector and rural dean , Rectory
Marsh Robert, beerhouse
Smith Joseph , carpenter
Smith Sarah , baker & shopkeeper
FARMERS. (* are Owners. )
Brown James, Little Yeldham Hall
Byford John, Hyde Farm
Goodchild William Fredk. Red House
*Marsh Robert, North End
*Rumball James, (& maltster)
Sewales Rumball James, jun. Jay’s Farm
*Whitlock Elizabeth, Marshy Farm
[Letters from Great Yeldham.]