Quaker Burial Ground, Steeple
The establishment of the Quaker movement at Witham in the 1600's led to an expansion in the movement throughout Mid and Eastern Essex.
The Quaker meeting decided that there was a need for a Quaker burial ground and so land was rented at Batts Road, Steeple where a plot of land called Lords Croft was rented and a burial ground created.
The first burial took place in 1685 and from then it was taken into use by the Quakers from Witham and Maldon.
The centre of the movement in the area remained at Witham and Maldon and so as time passed the burial ground was found to be remote from the main centres and a new burial ground was built at Witham.
By 1773 the burial ground was no longer in use and was eventually abandoned by the Quakers.
Today there is little to be seen of the Burial Ground.
The records of burials were maintained with the church records if Steeple Parish Church and can be accessed at Essex Records Office.
Records still survive of the deeds and rental of the burial ground which provide some names of local Quakers.
July 1693
John Woodward of Mundon
Thomas Retford of Stow Maries
Daniel Hardy of Stow Maries
Thomas Paulsgrove of Purleigh
Joseph Wright of Mundon
Thomas Woodward of Steeple Grange
James Tallen of Purleigh
Mention is made of adjoining land that was owned by John Woodward and John Blackwell.
1727
Thomas Retford of Woodham Mortimer
James Tallen of Heybridge
William Wright of Mundon
Thomas Rutlidge of Maldon.
Micah Corder of Steeple
Alexander Flack of Mundon
Thomas Briden of Maldon(draper)
James Tallen (The younger) of Heybridge
John Woodward of Witham
Joseph Wright of Mundon
August 1727
Micah Corder of Feering
Alexander Flack of Mundon
Thomas Brinden of Maldon (draper)
James Tallen of Mundon
James Balckwell of Southminster ( butcher)
September 1760
Micah Corder of Feering
Thomas watts of Witham
George Gibson of Maldon (draper)
November 1784
George Gibson formerly of Maldon but now of Saffron Walden (draper)
October 1809
Thomas Dowcra of Purleigh ( farmer)
Joseph Dowcra of Purleigh ( farmer)
Benjamin Puplett of Purleigh ( farmer)
Thomas Harvey of Maldon ( baker)
The rent of 1727 and 1760 also related to a building at North Lane, Southminster with a yard
Click here for a website with a list of
Quaker deaths from 1844 to 1886Click here for a website on the
history of Quakers in this area
