The
Pavitts were connected with Clavering and Little Hallingbury and connected to
the Mumford, Hawkes, Rayment, Archer, Burton,
Spencer, Overall and other families, covering a wide range of parishes in Uttlesford
and beyond.
The
Pavitts came to Clavering through the Nottage family, who owned property
including a shop here in the 18th century. When Thomas Nottage died
in 1803 with no family, his property was inherited by his nephew, James Pavitt
from Little Hallingbury. James Pavitt married Lydia Hawkes and had 9 children: Edward 1804, Emma 1805,
Mary 1806, Martha 1809, Jane 1811, Lydia 1813, Sarah 1815, James 1816,
Ann 1818. Their mother died 1820 and he married a second wife, Jane who gave
him another 4 children: Louisa 1825, Elizabeth 1827, Hannah 1829, Henry 1831.
Mr
Pavitt was an important man in Clavering, owning the principal shop next to the
Fox & Hounds, one of the mills, a number of houses including what later
became the post office in Middle Street,
where he lived after his second marriage. He was also lessee of the Roast Farm.
Like his uncle before him, he was a deacon of the Congregational Church.
In
the census of 1841 James Pavitt snr had lived at Bury Gate (now the Old Post Office)
in Middle Street,
and his trade was given as miller. His eldest son also James, married with one
child was then the shopkeeper at the Water lane premises which was also the
post office. Also in 1841 another Pavitt was living at The Old House, she was
Mary Cooper, nee Pavitt, widow of John Cooper who was also a shopkeeper. The
records of Saffron Walden workhouse in the 1830s show Pavitt and Cooper
supplying flour, rice, pork, Dutch cheese and country cheese, yellow soap and
candles. In 1841 Widow Cooper had a large family and two spinster sisters
living with her. In the local Directory Mary is listed as one of the two
sextons for Clavering. In the census of 1851 there were no Coopers or Pavitts
at The Old House. Mary Cooper died at Hertford in 1855 but is buried in the
Clavering Congregational churchyard. Her two sisters, Nancy and Elizabeth also
died at Hertford and are buried here. James Pavitt of Bury Gate died in 1845
but his second wife Jane and some of his children were still living there at
the census of 1851. James and his two wives are buried in the Congregational
churchyard too.
The
will of James Pavitt snr was complicated because under the will of old Thomas
Nottage he was still bound to provide money for several cousins and he also
wanted to provide money for all his ten children. This must have made things
very difficult for his eldest son James, who inherited the business. It is
interesting to note that at the census of 1851 some of the cousins who had an
interest in the will were living at the shop. The deeds show that James jnr had
to raise a mortgage and he moved away to Battlebridge near Wickford, although
he still owned the shop and also his strips in the open fields when they were
enclosed in 1861 and perhaps other property. James sold the shop in 1878 and it
seems likely that he sold the other property then. The Pavitts were
Congregationalists as probably the Nottages were before them. The
Congregational Chapel and the manse were set in the middle of land belonging to
them. They married into other Nonconformist families. The Hawkes, Rayments and
Mumfords were traders like the Pavitts, although Stephen Hawkes, nephew to
James snr was the doctor (living at Piercewebbs). In 1851 Louisa Pavitt married
Robert Spencer, son of the biggest tenant farmer at Clavering Hall, renting 530
acres and employing 30 men and several house servants. In the 1851 census they
are living at Mill end and Robert Spencer is the miller at the mill owned by
his father in law.
There
are various Pavitt letters in the Clavering Collection: a letter from Martha to
Elizabeth, her sister: ‘I am very pleased to hear you are comfortable in
your present situation and I sincerely hope you will continue to be so. persons
are generally happy when they are usefully employed. I trust your present
occupations will promote your future advantage. May you, dear, be in early life
devote yourself to God, you are aware that this alone can render you truly
happy, and fit you so much all the ranging circumstances of life. I must not
tell you any news as you will hear from Mama all that has transpired since you
have left us. I dare say you would like to peep at my old man and myself in our
new abode as much as we should like to see poor old Billy do so. I hope you
will one day have an opportunity of doing so. Mr Archer desires his love to
you, but I think he will write you a lien or two if he can find time. Accept,
dear, the love of your affectionate sister Martha. Clavering, bury, November
1841.
Another
from Martha to Elizabeth: will you have the
kindness to see that my little girl [Lydia Pavitt Archer’ wears the
enclosed tomorrow or I should say the accompanying cape. Her Spencer must I am
sure by very shabby. Francis happened to call so I thought it a good
opportunity for sending it. I am in haste. Yours sincerely Martha Love to all.
Another
letter from Clavering Nov
25th 1842: My dear Sister, Mamma is quite surprised
that you have not written to us, to tell us how you got home, and how Sister
Jane was after the ride. You will be pleased to hear that Mr Archer has a very
nice plump little Daughter, I have been nursing it. Sister Sarah and Harriet
have also been to see her, it was born on Tuesday morning, the day we had
company to dinner. I have some bad news to send you. Mrs Laird was taken very
ill last Thursday week , and she died on Wednesday last, about one o’clock in the morning. Mr and Mrs
Burton came the day you left us they went to Beeches to dinner. Mr Burton
returned home that night, and she said with us till Monday afternoon that she
might hear her dear Mr Bromley preached the sermons at a Missionary meeting at
Berden on Wednesday evening E Cooper went by herself there and came home in a
Cart with the Misses Hawkes. I did not go, as it rained and was a dark night.
Edward Cooper drunk tea with me, and EC said it was very unkind of me not to
let him go – Papa has just had a Letter from Louise she is very comfortable. We
shall be glad to know when you are coming home, and whether we are to send for
you. Mind and write as soon as you can.’
Another
letter written 1841 by Martha from Clavering Bury (=Bury Gate, now Old Post
Office) to young stepsister Elizabeth Letter, and another probably from Hannah
at Clavering 1842 to another sister reporting birth of Martha’s baby Lydia.
Note from Martha to step sister Elizabeth with whom Lydia appears to be staying.
The
letters were donated to the Clavering Collection by descendants of Martha,
daughter of James Pavitt snr who emigrated to Canada
c1843 with her husband James Archer of Newport
and baby daughter Lydia Pavitt Archer. There is also a newspaper report of Lydia’s death in Canada 1922. Note the letters which
were obviously treasured by Martha were all written before the Archers went to Canada and were found among Lydia’s possessions when she died
1922.
Notes by the late Eileen Ludgate
