Little Easton, Essex, Home Counties, England, British Isles

Life's Ebb And Flow Chapter IV. [Around 1811]. Those incomparable officers of the Blues, Colonel the Honourable Oliver Montague and Colonel Seymour Wynne Finch, were in the centre of the Marlborough House set; we shall never see their like again. I must mention also Viscount Curzon (now Earl Howe) and his wife, the late Lady Georgina Curzon — my fast friend from the days of our Phoenix Park gallops, when her parents, the Duke and Duchess of Marlborough, reigned at the Viceregal Lodge, Dublin. She drove tandem; so did I. I went "one better" and got a team, and she followed suit with a four-in-hand. At that time she and I were the only two women in England to pursue so "fast" an equine venture! I once drove my coach from Easton to the Land's End in Cornwall, three hundred odd miles, with fresh teams of horses sent down from Ward's in London.

Life's Ebb And Flow Chapter IV. [Around 1881]. Of another group were Henry (age 28) and Violet Manners (age 24), the late Duke of Rutland and the present Dowager Duchess, Lord Rowton (age 42), the witty Henry Calcraft, Mr. and Mrs. Henry White (later Ambassadors of the United States in Paris, both now dead), beautiful Gladys deGrey (the late Marchioness of Ripon), Sir Robert Collier (the painter, father of the Hon. John Collier), Lady Randolph Churchill (age 26) (who was first at Easton in 1885, and figured in all our gatherings afterwards), Admiral Sir Hedworth Lambton, and Henry Chaplin (age 40) ("the Squire," the late Lord Chaplin), and Lord and Lady Carmarthen (afterwards the late Duke and Duchess of Leeds). Sir William Gordon Cumming, the smartest of men about town and more sinned against than sinning, was a constant friend, but he cut us all off in his retirement, and I often had sad thoughts of him, and always kept a warm comer in my heart for him. Mr. and Mrs. Hwfa Williams, who founded Sandown Park racing, were welcome everywhere. Maurice and Beatrice Ephrussi were dear Paris racing friends. Prince Charles Kinsky rode his own winner of the Grand National, "Zoedone," and was a sharer of my horsey adventures!

Life's Ebb And Flow Chapter IV. Queen Mary's (age 20) brothers, Prince Adolphus (age 19) and Prince Francis of Teck (age 17), were often at Easton. The latter, a constant visitor until his death, was godfather to my youngest daughter, Mercy.

Life's Ebb And Flow Chapter IV. The ebb and flow of life brings to memory many names, many thoughts of friends who formed our little circle at Easton in the eighties, most of whom have crossed the ferry from which there is no return. Among others, dear Prince Leopold came as a bachelor in February 1883, and afterwards as Duke of Albany with his Duchess in December.

On 4th April 1483 Henry Bourchier 2nd Count of Eu 1st Earl Essex (age 79) died. He was buried firstly in Beeleigh Abbey [Map] and, thereafter, St Mary's Church, Little Easton [Map]. His grandson Henry succeeded 2nd Earl Essex, 3rd Count Eu, 2nd Viscount Bourchier, 6th Baron Bourchier.

In 1610 Henry Maynard of Estaines Parva (age 63) died. He was buried at St Mary's Church, Little Easton [Map] where there is a fine monument to him and his wife.

On 14th May 1615 William Maynard 1st Baron Maynard (age 28) and Anne Everard Baroness Maynard (age 21) were married at St Mary's Church, Little Easton [Map]. They had 2 sons and 5 daughters.

On 19th November 1665 Charles Maynard (age 67) died. He was buried at St Mary's Church, Little Easton [Map].

The Chelmsford Chronicle, January 13, 1865, p. 6, col. 2

Little Easton. – Funeral of the Hon. Colonel Maynard (deceased). – On Saturday the remains of the lamented only son and heir apparent of the worthy and respected Lord-Lieutenant of the county, the Right Hon. Viscount Maynard, were consigned to their last resting place in the family mausoleum at Little Easton church [Map]. The body, in a costly coffins covered with black cloth and massive gilt ornaments and handles, was brought down by railway in the course of the forenoon to Bishop Stortford, and thence in a heavily plumed hearse, drawn by four horses, to Easton Lodge, followed by two mourning coaches, and was punctual to the appointed time under the conduct of the undertaker, Mr. Fox, of Bishopsgate-street. The mourning followers were the Hon. Mrs. Maynard (age 25), widow of the deceased; H. Fitzroy (age 58), Esq., her father; W. Fitzroy (age 27), Esq., her brother; G. Ives, C. Ives, and O. H. Capel, Esqrs., nephews of the deceased; F. Sitwell, Esq., H. Cheffins, Esq., agent to his lordship; W. B. Clapham, Esq., family surgeon; Mr. Moffat, head gardener, and Mr. Bridgeman, park ranger. Alighting from the carriages, the mournful procession was met at the churchyard by the Rev. V. Knox Child, rector of Little Easton, who read the burial service most impressively in the church and at the entrance to the mausoleum. There was a very large and respectable attendance of his lordship's tenantry and tradespeople, as well as humbler neighbors from Dunmow, Great Easton, Broxted, &c., who testified their respect by the utmost silent attention and decorum during the whole of the funeral solemnities. The deceased gentleman was laid in front of the coffin of his mother, the Viscountess, who died in October, 1857.

Life's Ebb And Flow Chapter IV. In August 1886, my [Frances Evelyn "Daisy" Maynard Countess Warwick (age 24)] sister Blanche (age 22) married the Duke of Richmond's (age 68) son, Lord Algernon Gordon-Lennox (age 38), in Little Easton church [Map], the Bishop of St. Albans [Map] performing the service, and a family party assembling. The only child of this marriage is my niece, Ivy, Marchioness of Titchfield, who married the eldest son [William Arthur Henry Cavendish-Bentinck 7th Duke Portland] of the present Duke (age 28) and Duchess (age 22) of Portland.