BURSTEAD, (LITTLE) or Little Burghsted, is a small scattered village and parish, from 1½ to 2½ miles S.S.W. of Billericay, and contains 186 souls, and 1830 acres of land, giving rise to two sources of the river Crouch. Earl Godwin was lord of the manor in the Confessor’s reign, and at Domesday Survey it was held by the Bishop of London. G. A. Loundes, Esq., is now lord of the manor, and owner of a great part of the parish; and the rest belongs to Lord Petre, Thos. Mayott, Esq., and other proprietors, mostly copyholders.
The Church (St. Mary) is a small antique fabric, in an obscure situation ; and the rectory, valued in K.B. at £12, and in 1831 at £280, is in the patronage of the Bishop of Rochester, and incumbency of the Rev. William B. Dalton, M.A., who has 35 acres of glebe and a commodious residence, pleasantly situated at a short distance from the church. The tithes were commuted in 1839, for £356 per annum, and the incumbent has £20 a year, left by the Rev. W. Dunbar, a late rector, in 1737. In the church are several neat monuments, and one is in memory of Sir George Walton, admiral of the blue, who died in 1739, aged 74, and distinguished himself at the destruction of the Spanish fleet, in 1718.
About the year 1600, John Cooper vested in trust, for the benefit of the poor parishioners not receiving parochial alms, 33A. 33P. of land, and a house and five cottages, now let for about £60 a year. After paying for repairs and incidental expenses, the residue is distributed by the vestry among the poor. The Parish School was built by subscription in 1814. The poor have also 20s. yearly from the church-wardens of St. Pancras, London, also 20s. yearly from the church- wardens of St. Pancras, London, left by Thomas Chapman, in 1626 ; and a yearly rent-charge of 3s., out of land called Buller’s, left by Mary Fiske, about 1707.
Dalton Rev. Wm. Browne, M.A. rector and rural dean
GrayBenj . Esq. , Stockwell Hall
Harris Benjamin, smith, and John, shoemaker
Johnson Robert, Esq. Hope House
Mayott Thos. gent. (high constable)
Moss William, shopkeeper
Raymond John, gamekeeper
Webster George, parish clerk
FARMERS .
Cole Mrs Sarah, St. Margaret’s
Cole Philip
Cole William
Drory James, Buller’s Farm
Jones Edgar
Miles John
Mayott Joseph, Sudburys