Moreton 1863 Whites directory
MORETON, a village on a pleasant acclivity, on the north side of the vale of the small river Cripsey, 3½ miles N. by W. of Chipping Ongar, has in its parish 544 souls, and 1435 acres of land, held by Sexi, a freeman, in Edward the Confessor’s time. It is now in two manors, viz , Nether Hall, belonging to William Hill Algar; and Upper Hall, or Lady Hall, belonging to G. E. Frere, Esq.; but a great part of the soil belongs to W. F. Maitland, Esq. , and several smaller owners.
The Church (Virgin Mary) is a small neat structure, with a brick tower, erected in lieu of the old wooden one, in 1787, at the cost of £150. The tower contains five bells, and is crowned by a shingled spire. The rectory, valued in K.B. at £20, and in 1831 at £375, is in the patronage of St. John’s College, Cambridge, and incumbency of the Rev. R. B. Tower, M.A., who has an old residence, and 86A. of glebe, of which 21 acres are in Fyfield, and 2A. 2R. 7P. in Bobbingworth parish. Dr. Pepys, late Bishop of Worcester, was rector here from 1822 till 1840. The Rev. Samuel Hoard, who held the rectory from 1626 to 1658, had the courage, when it was accounted a greater crime than treason, to boggle at the doctrine of absolute predestination, and to publish “God’s love to mankind manifested, by disproving his decree for their damnation,” printed in 1625, in 4 vo., and in 1673, in 8vo.
The tithes were commuted in 1839, for £390 per annum. Ahouse and 6A. of land have been vested from an early period for the reparation of the church. Here is a small Baptist chapel, erected in 1862.
In 1822, the Rev. Wm. Wilson, a late rector, bequeathed £400 three per cent. Reduced Annuities, and the annual sum of £23. 4s. out of the Rectory, to be applied for the support of the CHARITY SCHOOL, which was built by subscription in the same year, and has dwelling-house for the teacher. The annuity paid out of the Rectory is the amount of the land-tax, which the donor had redeemed. The same benefactor also left the dividends of £300 three per cent. Reduced Annuities, for yearly distribution among the poor parishioners in clothing. Of the same stock he left £300 for the use of the parish clerk, and £100 for the use of the parish beadle. In 1699, Jonathan Carver left the poor of Moreton a yearly rent-charge of £5, out of a house and 144. of land. They have also the dividends of £200 three per cent. Consols, left for their use by Mrs. Ann Brecknock, in 1804, except what is necessary for repairing her monument.
POST OFFICE at Mrs Matthews’s. Letters via Ongar.
Algar William Hill, Esq. Wood Farm
Crouchman Jonas, corn miller
French Miss My. A. schoolmistress
Holgate Joseph, hawker
Maryon Richard, hurdle maker
Matthews Mrs Ann, butcher
Matthews William, butcher
Nottage James, horse & cattle dlr.
Pain Charles, blacksmith
Pain William, victualler, White Hart
Sewell Mrs Mary, vict. Nag’s Head
White John Arnold, carpenter
Tower Rev. Robt. Beauchamp, M.A. rector, Rectory
FARMERS .
Church James
Church Samuel
Gingell D.Taylor
Marrable Nathaniel & parish clerk
Overall Richard .
Overall William,
Cross Lees
Pannell Samuel H.
Radley Thos. S.
Smith John
Soames Lewis
Talbut John
White Charles
SHOEMAKERS.
Branch James
Mitchell James
SHOPKEEPERS. (*Bakers.)
*Clayden Robert
Redington Thomas
Vale Alfred