High Laver 1863 Whites directory
LAVER (HIGH) is a parish of scattered houses, 7 miles N.E. by N. of Epping, and 5 miles N. by W. of Chipping Ongar, near one of the sources of the small river Cripsey. It has 534 souls, and 1994 acres of land, belonging to various owners. The small estate called Otes was held by a family of its own name in the reign of Edward II. , and was long a seat of the Mashams. That learned and celebrated philosopher, John Locke, passed a great part of the last ten years of his life at the Otes, with his friends, Sir Francis and Lady Masham. With them he lived with as much ease and freedom as if the house had been his own, and he found a suitable literary companion in Lady Masham, who was inured from infancy to deep speculations in theology, metaphysics, and moral philosophy.
He died here in 1704, aged 73, and lies buried under a black marble gravestone in the churchyard. His Essay on the Human Understanding, and some of his other works, were published during his residence at the Otes. The Mashams came from a town of that name in the North Riding of Yorkshire, and in 1711, Sir Samuel was created Baron Masham of Otes, but, on the death of his son, in 1776, the title became extinct. They purchased the Otes in the reign of James I., but the ancient mansion has been pulled down since the death of the last lord.
The Church (All Saints) is an ancient structure, with a tower surmounted by a lofty spire. Among its numerous monumental inscriptions is a lengthy epitaph on Locke, written by himself. The rectory, valued in K.B. at £14. 1s. 8d. , and in 1831 at £373, is in the patronage of Captain Budworth, and incumbency of the Rev. H. B. Smith, who has an old residence in the Elizabethan style. The tithes were commuted, in 1847, for £520 per annum.
Byford Daniel, shopkeeper
Burgess John, parish clerk
Cooper Thomas, carpenter and vict. Chequers
Ellis Geo. baker
Heath Mr Thos.
Godfrey Chas. wheelwright & beerhouse – Kings Head
Redington John, wheelwright
Robinson Rowland, blacksmith
Smith Rev. Horace B., B.A. rector
Scott Samuel, tailor
Stock John, carpenter, &c.
ValeGeorge, basket maker, &c.
FARMERS.
Barnard William, High Laver Hall
Benson Tobias
Blyth Charles
Cassidy James
Caten James
Gingell George
Hazlewood James
Stone Francis, and maltster
Snow John, and castrator
Stone John
Thurgood John H.
POST via Ongar.