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Combs &c. Families of
Watford, Hertfordshire

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Watford, a parish in the hundred of [not yet extracted], county of Hertford, is 7 miles southwest of St. Albans, " a parish in the hundred of Cashio, or liberty of St. Alabans [sic], county of Hertford, comprising the market town of Watford, and the hamlets of Cashio, Levesden, and Oxhey… 20 miles WSW of Hertford, and 15 NW of London…. A meeting of magistrates is held every Tuesday, and there is a weekly court of requests, for the recovery of debts under 40s., the jurisdiction of which is co-extensive with the liberty of St. Albans; this court is constituted of commissioners, whose qualification to act is the possession of £800 real or personal property. The living is a vicarage, in the archdeaconry of St. Albans, and diocese of London… in the patronage of the Earl of Essex. The church, dedicated to St. Mary… (Lewis, 1830).

1641 "The free school, founded by Elizabeth FULLER, in 1704… to which an augmentation of £1000 was made by C. DEANE, Esq….A parochial free school was founded and endowed by Francis COOMBES, in 1641, in which twelve boys are instructed… A National school is chiefly supported by the Earl of Essex. Almshouses for four poor widows were founded by Sir Christopher MORRISON and Sir B. HICKS*; and some for eight poor widows were founded and endowed by Francis, Earl of Bedford, and his Countess, in 1580. Dame MORRISON bequeathed £50 per annum, and Sarah EURE gave the sum of £200, for apprenticing poor children; and numerous other sums have been left for charitable uses." (ibid.)

*See Sir Baptist HICKS of Chipping Campden, Gloucester, grandfather-in-law of Anne LOVETT Bourchier Noel

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