Little Maplestead 1863 Whites directory
MAPLESTEAD (LITTLE,) a pleasant straggling village, two miles N. of Halstead, has in its parish 325 souls, and 1063 acres of land. The lords of the manor, impropriators of the great tithes, patrons ofthe church, and owners of the Hall farm (3824.) are the trustees of Davis’s Charity, left in 1705, by Joseph Davis, for the benefit of that religious sect of Christians in London, who hold their Sabbath on the Saturday, and call themselves “ Sabbatarians.”
George De Horne Vaizey, Esq. , Jas. Brewster, Esq. , and several smaller owners have estates in the parish, mostly free and partly copyhold. In the reign of King Stephen, the whole parish was given by Juliana Doisnel to the Knights Hospitalers of St. John of Jerusalem. In 1540, it was granted to George Harper, from whom it passed to the Wiseman and other families.
The Church (St. John of Jerusalem,) is an ancient structure, celebrated as one of the ” round churches ; ” resembling those at Cambridge and Northampton, the Temple Church in London, and that of the Holy Sepulchre in Jerusalem. It is supposed to have been built on the site of the original church by the Knights Hospitalers, soon after they obtained possession of the parish. The west end forms a circle of 30 feet in diameter, and has a peristyle, consisting of eight clustered columns, supporting pointed arches. The whole length ofthe building is only 70 feet, and the east end is semicircular. It was renovated about four years ago, when a new porch was erected.
The perpetual curacy, valued in K.B. at £10. 10s., and in 1831 at £80, is in the incumbency of the Rev. John Fdk. Harward, M.A., who has 20A. of glebe at Gestingthorpe. The tithes were commuted in 1841. Here is a small Independent Chapel. Post from Halstead.
Callow Ann, beerhouse & shopkpr.
Cooper John, farmer, Aldricks
Callow Walter, cattle dealer, &c.
Harward Rev. John Fdk., M.A.incumbent
Candler Mrs, baker and shopkeeper
Hearn Robert, farmer
Howlett William, farmer
Hustler William Octavius, clerk of Halstead Union,farmer,&c. Dean’s Hall
Lewsey Isaac D. bricklayer, &c.
Mayes Thomas, carter, &c.
Nunn Travis, Esq. Hall
Potter Hy. blacksmith & wheelwright
Richard Samuel, vict. Cock Inn
Watkinson Rev. Joseph (Independent.)
Watkinson Thomas, blacksmith
Willsmore Edw. farmer, Gallants