ABEL Thomas (d 1540) Cleric and Royal Confidant Thomas Abel entered the priesthood and became chaplain to Catherine of Aragon who entrusted him with a secret  commission to Emperor Charles V concerning her divorce from Henry VII. As thanks for the completion of this task she presented him with the living at Bradwell juxta mer ( now known as Bradwell on Sea) King Henry VII obtained a divorce which Thomas preached against. Despite a period of imprisonment Thomas contained to preach against the divorce  and was put to death in the Tower of London on 30 July 1540.   BATE DUDLEY Sir Henry  ( b1745 d.1842) Rector, Magistrate and Squire Sir Henry combined the roles of Rector and Squire of Bradwell on Sea from his home at Bradwell Lodge. Bradwell Lodge was extensively extended by the well known architect John Johnson. He was a well known character including Gainsborough, Garrick, Hogarth and Mrs Siddons amongst his friends. He spent £28,000 of his personal fortune in draining the marshland around Bradwell and eventually reclaimed over 250 acres from the sea. Sir Henry was also a keen master of foxhounds . His most famous chase ended at Creeksea Church where the fox scrambled onto an ivy covered buttress on the Church Roof. The fox was followed onto the roof by Sir Henry and 6 foxhounds to make the kill on the roof of the chancel. To this day Sir Henry is remembered by the naming of a road in Bradwell on Sea as Bate Dudley Drive. BENSUSAN Samuel Levy ( b.1873 - d.1958)     Author Samuel Bensusan lived at Asheldham and St Lawrence . He became famous for novels centred on a fictitious village called Maychester which were affectionate portrayals of life in the Essex Marshes. CHAMBERLAIN Peter John ( b 1601  d1683)    Surgeon Peter Chamberlain lived at Woodham Mortimer Hall. He advocated the incorporation of Midwives and the provision of public baths. In surgical terms he was a pioneer in the use of forceps in the delivery of babies. At this time many babies and mother died during difficult labours. Chamberlain avoided becoming involved in the Civil War by buying Woodham Mortimer Hall away from London but still within a day's ride of his practice in London. His son Hugo (one of 18 children) was appointed as physician to King Charles II. In 1692 Hugo officiated at the birth of a son to princess Anne but the child died immediately after birth. Hugo advocated a state medical service paid for by taxation. Hugo fell from favour and moved to Amsterdam to practice although he died in at his Woodham Mortimer family home in Essex Peter and Hugh Chamberlain are both buried in the adjoining churchyard. DE VERE John Son of the Earl of Oxford who was Lord of the Manor of Stoke hall(Althorne) . He spent most of his life as a soldier in the service of Edward 111 in Scotland, France and Brittany. De Vere was a commander of the first division in the victories at Crecy in 1351 and Poiters in 1356 when 8,000 Britons beat 50,000 Frenchmen.   FITZWALTER The Fitzwalter family were a prominent Essex family. Their wealth was  founded by Walter Fitzwalter  (d 1198) who established home in the Dunmow area. His son Robert was elected leader of the Barons who forced King John to accept the Magna Carta and his signature appears on the document. Walter Fitzwalter ( b1400 d1432) was the 7th Baron had by this time moved the family seat to Woodham Walter .His only child was a daughter called Elizabeth who in 1444 she married Sir John Radcliffe . Their son John( b1452 b1492) was summoned to parliament in 1485 as Baron Fitzwalter. He took part in the Perkin Warbeck conspiracy and in 1495 was beheaded. John's son Robert ( b 1483 -1542) regained the trust of the Monarch and was created as 1st Viscount Fitzwalter. On the death of Robert, the 6th Earl Fitzwalter, in 1629 the title passed to the Mildmay family. GAMBLE John  ( d.1811)   Rector and Author John Gamble was Chaplain General to the forces and Rector at Bradwell on Sea. He was also an expert of telegraphy and published a book which was accepted as the definitive work on communications for that period. GAUDEN John( 1606 - 1662) Priest John Gauden was the son of the Rector of Mayland who entered the ministry and became Bishop of Worcester. In 1646 John Gauden was the author of a book about the execution of Charles 1st. MILDMAY see fitzwalter QUEEN MARY 1 Before her accession to the throne Mary lived at New Hall, Boreham. At times in and around 1550 her followers felt that her life was in danger at the hands of Queen Elizabeth 1. At these times she moved to Woodham Walter with a boat constantly kept ready at Maldon to carry her to the Continent if danger threatened. RADCLIFFE see fitzwalter ST CEDD  (d 664)     Missionary In 663AD St Cedd was commissioned to convert the East Saxons by King Oswy. St Cedd became Bishop of the East Saxons administering his diocese from Ythancestir at Bradwell on Sea next to the roman fort of Othona. St Cedd died of yellow fever in 664 . Many of his East Saxon converts believed that this was a sign that the old gods were offended by their conversion to Christianity and reverted to paganism. SCOTT Rev Alexander ( b 1768  d 1840)   Vicar Rev Scott was chaplain to Horatio Nelson at the time of Trafalgar . Nelson died in the arms of Rev Scott. From 1809 to 1840 he was vicar of both Southminster and Burnham on Crouch. On his retirement from Navy service Rev Scott was given Nelsons wardroom table which is still on display in the vestry of St Leonard's Church, Southminster SMITH Thomas   B 1857  D 1955        Horticulturist In 1879 Joseph Fels , a rich American, bought an area of land at Mayland . He then developed a co-operative letting sections of the land to smallholders who produced vegetable for the London market. The Co-operative was managed by Thomas Smith. After a few years Thomas Smith saved enough money to buy a small plot of land called the Homestead at Mayland. Smith and his wife lived frugally and ploughed all profits back into the land until he had two 50 x 20 greenhouses growing tomatoes, cucumbers and lettuces. Smith developed new  methods , based on French horticulture, which brought greater crops and allowed him to grow tender salad crops and melons which until then had to be imported. His methods brought him great fame and the Homestead was visited by H Rider Haggard, George Lansbury and Prince Kropotkin. Smith wrote The profitable culture of vegetables which became accepted as the definitive work  on horticulture for the next 50 years. STANSGATE Viscount William Wedgwood Benn, was born on the 10th May 1877 died 17th November 1960 Benn became the youngest MP winning the seat of Wapping for the Liberals in1906 When the First World War was declared in August 1914 although Benn was a junior minister he resigned to join the armed forces. Benn became a pilot with the Royal Flying Corps winning the Distinguished Flying Cross, the French Croix de Guerre and the Italian Military Cross.  In January 1927, Benn joined the Labour Party and in 1929 became secretary for state for India.  Although nearly sixty-three at the outbreak of the Second World War, Benn enlisted in the Royal Air Force as a pilot officer. Over the next four years he flew on several operational missions rising to the rank of Air Commodore.  In December 1940, Benn as asked by Clement Attlee to become a Labour member of the House of Lords. Benn took the title Lord Stansgate in deference to the Family home at Steeple, which has been built by his father.  On Lord Stansgates death, Lady Stansgate continues to reside in the family seat at Steeple although the second Viscount of Stansgate, better known as Tony Benn, immediately renounced the title to continue his distinguished political career, which meant that the title skips a generation. SUTTER Thomas Thomas Sutter lived at Cold Norton Hall . In 1610 he founded Charterhouse School . At the time he was described as the richest commoner in England having made his fortune from Soldiering and Coal mining in Durham. Until recent times the Governors of Charterhouse School owned Cold Norton Hall. WASHINGTON Lawrence        Rector of Purleigh Purleigh church was built in the 14th century but has a major restoration in 1892. This restoration was paid by Americans in memory of Laurence Washington who was Rector from 1632 to 1643 . The reason for this generosity? Rector Washington was Great Grandfather of the first president of USA.