Declaration of Mrs Mary Hannah Clayton as to various facts connected with The Harridge Family. Dated May 19th 1860. Essex Record Office reference D/Dje/T75

I Mary Hannah Clayton of Rochford in the County of Essex Widow do solemnly and sincerely declare that I am 72 years of Age and very well knew David Harridge formerly of Little Stambridge in Essex Gentleman to whom I was related my Grandfather Thomas Harridge late of Rayleigh in Essex Esquire deceased being the brother of the said David Harridge deceased

That the said David Harridge died and was buried at Little Stambridge aforesaid in or about the year One thousand eight hundred and seven

That he had two sons namely David Young Harridge and Edward Isaac Harridge

That the said David Young Harridge was the Eldest and died and was buried at Little Stambridge aforesaid in or about the year One thousand eight hundred and twenty one Aged 43 years or thereabouts

That the said Edward Isaac Harridge was much younger and died a bachelor and was buried at Little Stambridge aforesaid in or about the year One thousand eight hundred and one Aged about 20 years

That the said David Young Harridge lived first at Rochford in the said County and was married at the Parish Church of Eastwood in Essex aforesaid to Ann Fullford Spinster in or about the month of April One thousand eight hundred and one by whom he had several children of whom The late Reverend David Fullford Harridge of Lamarsh in Essex aforesaid was the eldest and was born at Rochford in or about the month of June One thousand eight hundred and two and afterwards married to my Niece Sophia Carter Spinster at Chelmsford Essex and died and was buried at Lamarsh aforesaid in or about the Month of November One thousand eight hundred and thirty nine

And I further say that I knew and was intimately acquainted with John Carter late of Great Baddow deceased who was one of the Trustees under the Will of the said David Fullford Harridge and who married my Aunt That the said John Carter died and was buried at Great Baddow aforesaid in the month of July One thousand eight hundred and thirty seven

And I further say that I knew and was intimately acquainted with Edmund Taylor late of Southend in Essex Gentleman deceased and Elizabeth Sarah Taylor his Wife formerly Elizabeth Sarah Harridge a Sister of the before mentioned David Young Harridge

That the said Edmund Taylor was married to the said Elizabeth Sarah Taylor his Wife at Little Stambridge aforesaid in or about the year One thousand seven hundred and ninety nine

That there was Issue of the said marriage only one child namely Mary Anne Sarah Taylor who was born at Rawreth in the said County of Essex in or about the year One thousand eight hundred and five and is now living

That the said Edmund Taylor and Elizabeth Sarah Taylor his Wife are both dead and were both buried at Prittlewell in the said County of Essex that is to say the said Edmund Taylor in year One thousand eight hundred and thirty nine And the said Elizabeth Sarah Taylor in the year One thousand eight hundred and fifty two Aged 73 Years or thereabouts

And I make this solemn declaration conscientiously believing the same to be true and by virtue of the Provisions of an Act made and passed in the Session of Parliament of the fifth and sixth Years of the reign of His late Majesty King William the Fourth intituled An Act to repeal An Act of the present Session of Parliament intituled An Act for the more effectual abolition of Oaths and Affirmations taken and made in various Departments of the State and to substitute Declarations in lieu thereof and for the more entire suppression of voluntary and extra judicial oaths and affidavits and to make other provisions for the abolition of unnecessary Oaths.

Signed Mary Hannah Clayton

Subscribed and declared at Rochford in the County of Essex this nineteenth day of May 1860 before George Wood A Commissioner to administer Oaths in Chancery in England