Magdalen Laver 1863 Whites directory
LAVER (MAGDALEN) parish lies south-west of High Laver, 4miles S.E. of Harlow, and 5 miles N.N.W. of Chipping Ongar. It has a small scattered village, and contains 236 souls, and about 1000 acres of land, which gives rise to one of the tributary streams of the small river Cripsey. At the Norman Survey it belonged to Ralph de Todeni, and it afterwards passed to the Burnaville, Waldene, Bataile, Aylet, Cole, and other families. The Executors of the late James Ewing, Esq., are lords of the manor, but part of the parish belongs to J. A. Houblon, Esq., G. E. Frere, Esq. , and a few smaller owners. In 1757, some labourers, when ploughing in the field called Red Mill Shot, found a stone coffin containing a skeleton. Human bones have been ploughed up in other parts of the same field, but no traces have been found of there having been a church or other building there.
The parish Church (St. St Mary Magdalen) is a small ancient fabric, with a wooden belfry, leaded. A handsome wooden screen, of ancient appearance, separates the nave and chancel. In the latter is a Latin inscription inmemory of the Rev. George Kindleton, who was rector here, and suffered much for his loyalty and orthodox faith during the Commonwealth, and after being banished sixteen years, was reinstated in the living on the restoration of Charles II. The rectory, valuedin K.B. at £16.12s. 1d., and in 1831 at £283 , is in the patronage of the Rev. S. C. Mason, and incumbency of the Rev. W. Webb Ellis, M.A., of London. The glebe is 27A., and the tithes were commuted in 1847 for £310 per annum.
Brown George, parish clerk
Crane John, vict. Green Man
Robinson Rev. Thomas Jas. curate
Spencer Jane, beerhouse & shopkeeper
Winger James, schoolmaster
FARMERS.
Brittain Samuel
Brittain Edmund
Edwards James
Halls Thomas
Flower John
Church Samuel
James John
Larter Mary
Lucking William
Wilson Mrs Eliz.
Pyne Robert Bnd.
Pyne Mr Benj .
Post via Ongar.