American Connections

Early Settlers

Essex has always had a strong relationship with the United States. Since 1606, when the first ships set sail for the New World from London’s Blackwall pier, Essex has held strong links with North America. The county was also a strong recruiting ground for the Colonies with descendants from many of the county's families listed among the New World’s notable residents.

However, the county’s historical links with the United States didn’t end there. In fact, it continued to blossom over the decades and during World War 2 the county was home to over 7,000 US airman, from the 8th and 9th Army Airforce, in what has become know as the ‘Friendly Invasion’. With airfields at Great Dunmow – home of the Flitch Trials - Andrewsfield and Ridgewell, the county’s skies were filled with P51-Mustangs, B26-Mauruaders and the B-17 Flying Fortress.

Mayflower

The Mayflower set sail on 16th September 1620 from Plymouth, UK, to voyage to America. But its history and story start long before that. Its passengers were in search of a new life – some seeking religious freedom, others a fresh start in a different land. They would go on to be known as the Pilgrims and influence the future of the United States of America in ways they could never have imagined.

Christopher Jones was the Captain of The Mayflower, the vessel which was hired to take The Pilgrim Fathers to the New World in 1620. He was born around 1570, at 21 King’s Head Street in Harwich. St. Nicholas Church records the baptism of Jones. In December 1593, Jones married 17 year old Sarah Twitt - her father being a wealthy ship owner and merchant.

Christopher Martin was from the Chantry House in the High Street at Billericay in Essex. He was a merchant, who acted as governor onboard The Mayflower. At nearby Great Burstead, the Church of St. Mary Magdalen has a record of the marriage of Martin to Marie Prower in 1607. He was the church warden here, and a stained-glass window shows The Mayflower.

You can visit the many sites in Harwich connected to the Mayflower including Christopher Jones’s house, St Nicolas Church and the Alma pub which was Sarah Twitts house.

Roughly 20,000 people emigrated from England between 1620 and 1640, and about half of them came from East Anglia, including Essex including a group of religious dissenters who fled to America in 1632 in “The Lyon”. They settled initially at Mount Wollaston, later renamed Braintree in memory of their home-town. John Bridges, a Braintree resident, founded the school that developed into Harvard University. John Adams, whose ancestors sailed on “The Lyon” and his son John Quincy Adams both became US presidents.

Other early settlers include:

Sherman family from Dedham. At least eleven descedants of this family emigrated to New England between 1633-1640 including one of the founders of Rhode Island and a signatory on the Declaration of Independence
Haynes, John (1593-1654) was born at Copford (nr. Colchester). He traveled to America in 1633, becoming governor of Massachusetts in 1635, and went onto become the first Governor of Connecticut in 1639.
John Locke (1632-1704), the famous English philosopher lived at High Laver. His political writings were used by American rebels to justify their actions - his words echoed in the Declaration of Independence, and his ideas embodied in the United States Constitution.
William Penn, was an English Quaker and founder of Pennsylvania lived at Wanstead, an Essex village.
Thomas Hooker, was the towns lecturer at Chelmsford Cathedral. He is remembered as the founder and spiritual leader of the State of Connecticut.

American Presidents

It is not only presidents John Adams and John Quincy Adams that have their roots in Essex. George Bush’s family descend from an Essex family, who farmed land around the village of Messing (nr. Colchester) from at least the 14th C. The ancestral line has been traced back to Reynold Bush - who is recorded in Messing’s 16th C. Bush emigrated to Cambridge, Massachusetts in 1632, where the family prospered, acquiring land and business interests which made them widely respected.

George Washington’s great, great grandfather was Lawrence Washington (born in 1602), who was vicar of All Saints Church, Purleigh, nr. Maldon (Essex) from 1633-43. Washington died in 1653, and is buried in All Saints Church at Maldon (Essex), where there is also a window dedicated to his memory. His son John sailed for Virginia in 1656.The Washington family's coat of arms contains the inspiration for the US Stars and Stripes flag - a white shield with two red stripes across the middle and three red stars above them. Visit the south porch at Chelmsford Cathedral (Essex), which shows the shield in stained glass.

The Friendly Invasion

Essex was home to several thousand US Airmen during the latter stages of the Second World War. The first USAAF service men arrived in 1942 and by May 1944 there were 43390 servicemen at the 16 US airbases throughout the county. These airfields include; Little Walden, Shortgrove Park, RAF Debden, London Stansted Airport, Great Dunmow airfield, Andrewsfield airfield, Wethersfield, Birch, Rivenhall, Gosfield, Ridgewell, Earls Colne, Wormingford, Boreham and Boxted.

The Dame Johane Bradbury School (Saffron Walden Grammar School) was the headquarters of the USAAF 65th Fighter Wing. Glen Miller and his Orchestra played one of his last concerts in what is now the school hall. During World War 11 baseball was played on the town’s football ground. The Anglo-American War Memorial on the playing fields off Castle Street contains the names of all those in the 65th Fighter Wing who lost their lives in the war.

The Headquarters of the 9th Army Airforce was at the Elizabethan mansion of Marks Hall between Coggeshall and Earls Colne. The mansion has gone but the estate remains. The grounds are now open to the public and have attractive lakes, a walled garden and woodland walks. There is a memorial to all those who flew out of Earls Colne Airbase.

Best places to Visit with American connections

Essex Records Office ,Chelmsford, find out about your own ancestors and history
Marks Hall Estate - The old deer park (now the Arboretum) was used to serve as a base for fighter and bomber forces, hosting RAF Squadrons and US Air Force Divisions
Boxted Airfield A WWII airfield, home to the 56TH USSAF. There is now a museum on site with US Air Force Memorabilia
Wivenhoe House Hotel - Set in the grounds of Wivenhoe Park the hotel and surroundings were immortalised in canvas by renowned British artist John Constable, when he was commissioned by the then owner Major-General Francis Slater Rebow in 1816. The resulting painting now hangs in the National Gallery of Art, Washington DC
The Gardens Of Easton Lodge - Elegant gardens designed by Harold Peto. The site was used as an airfield during World War II, and features a memorial walk with different tree varieties commemorating the various nations.
Dedham, Dedham was a well know recruiting ground for early settlers as well as home to the Sherman family. The family is commemorated in St Marys Church. Now is a lovely English village where you can go rowing on the river.
Chelmsford Cathedral – There is a plaque commemorating Thomas Hooker at the entrance of the cathedral and there is a Memorial stained glass window in to the USAAF based in Essex 1942-1945.
The Guildhall, Harwich - Home to Harwich Town Council, which bought this former pub in 1673. Tour rooms with oak panelling and stained glass, and marvel at the Carvings Room covered in graffiti by American prisoners of war.
Harwich Town – why not take a walking tour with the Harwich Society where you can learn about the connections with Jamestown and the Mayflower. On route you will be able to stop at Captain Christopher Jones’s house and have a bit to eat in the Alma pub former home of Sarah Twitt.