I am afraid that there are no Sells left here. My information is about third hand but there was Jim Sell who was the village bootmaker (very important trade when people rarely left the village) who flourished c. 1900. He lived in part of church cottage. There is a photo of him somewhere, I think in the village hall, standing outside his premises and looking rather propietorial. I believe his daughter, Jane, married a Wright. This seems to have been a good choice as she was able to sign a window pane in the Black Horse with the diamond of her wedding ring (Jane Wright 1881). It is still there.
I suspect that the Cole Green Farm to which you refer is the old one which was demolished in the 1960s. The present one is modern, not being built till 1900.
There was a Walter Sell who kept the Fox at Meesden and died in the early 30s?
Another Walter Sell lived in part of Meesden Corner Cottage,Brent Pelham. He worked for many years on the estate. I have seen a photo of him with a cart and horse outside Cole Green. I would guess that it was taken in the 1930s as Walter Reid (the elder) who is with him has a tractor. Unfortunately I cant find the book I saw it in.
This Walter Sell claimed that he was not a relation of the others. He was apparently an orphan and so may not have known. It seems unlikely that two families of unrelated Sells should live so close.
He was looked after by Walter Reid and his wife who lived next door. He never married.
As regards the lack of grave stones in Brent Pelham Churchyard I suspect That the reason is the lack of suitable local stone and therefore its` cost .In other words you had to be well off to afford one. There used to be a lot of timber ones, made much like a bedstead. with the names engraved on the bed head. Some were double. some single. Parts of one remain but rot has taken the rest.

HELLO ....
My mothers family come from Brent Pelham,and lived at cole green farm!!they moved to London in about 1900.There surname was SELL,i know there are two SELLS,buried in St Marys churchyard,but have not found a link yet!!!
Are there any SELLS still living n Brent Pelham (or did they all head south!)
I know some of them got baptised/ married in St Marys church.I can go back to about 1814,then thats it..

any info much appreciated..paul


p.s why is there so few grave stones in St Marys church yard...

Hello Ted,

I read with interest your information about the family of Sell's in Brent Pelham.

Caroline Sell (nee Goodwin) from Clavering Essex, aged 60 was living in Brent Pelham with her son Walter, aged 22 in 1901.

Would this be the same Walter you mention with the horse and cart? and does anyone know where might I obtain a copy of his photo. or find any information about this family of Sell after 1901.

Regards,
Angela
researching families from Clavering, Langley and Chrishall, Essex

Ted,
I miss all your stories!
Aurélie
PS : Hello every1

THANKS FOR THE INFORMATION TED...SORRY ITS TAKEN SO LONG TO REPLY....
PAUL

Mary Anne Driver (born Langley or Clavering in 1826 and died 1895 (somewhere in the Saffron Walden district) was the daughter of James and Lydia Driver. I am a direct descendant of James' brother Cornelius. The father of James and Cornelius was born in Furneux Pelham.
Mary Anne's daughter, Emily Baker married George Sell in langley in 1878.
George and Emily Sell's chi;dren (all born in Langley) were Ernest (1882), Hilda (1885); Florence (18987), Albert (1889) and Arthur (1891). Are any of these related to your Sells?
I would be interested in exchanging information,
David
(Brisbane, Australia)

Hello David....
Sorry cannot find a conection with the Brent Pelham sells yet,but this does not mean that there,s no link!
It may just be a matter of time,please keep looking on this site,for any more info....
PAUL.....

My mother, Emily Eleanor Sell lived in Furneux Pelham from shortly after her birth until she left to work in London. She was born in Sheering, Essex in June 1916 at her grandfather Brown's house (he was a carpenter/furnature maker). Her father was Harry Sell (a blacksmith and, later, a farm labourer, and her mother Emily Alice Sell (nee Brown).
One of her father's brothers kept the village shop in Much Hadham.

Mum had several brothers and sisters (Elsie, Joyce, Frank, Peggy, Herbert, and Leslie), was educated at the village school, and then entered service at Furneux Pelham Hall when it was owned by Lord Cunliffe. She stayed there until she moved to London where she also was in service, met my father, and married him.

Does anybody have any more info about the family? Were they connected with the oher Sells mentioned on the site?

Would love to hear from anyone.

John Gibbons

Hello there,

Responding to this whole series of messages - I have been working on Cole Green house, built 1704, demolished in 1801. It was built for the 1st Earl Cowper. In case no one knows, the carpenter there was Henry Sell, citizen of London, i.e. a freeman of the city.

See:
Article by John Brushe 'Further Light on Cole Green House' in Architectural History vol 24 1981 pp. 53-154.
Front page with ref. on: www.jstor.org/pss/1568398

Also; L. Stone 'Cole Green Park, Hertfordshire' in The Country Seat, ed. Howard Colvin and J Harris, (London 1970)

Pictures on website:
www.nmm.ac.uk/collections/prints/browseH...PLACES&node=4095

This Henry Sell was married to Mary Smith [married 10 October 1699 at St Botolph Bishopsgate - IGI]

Mary was the sister of Elizabeth Smith who was married to William Cooper, bricklayer, citizen of London. He died in 1708 and Elizabeth in 1709 leaving at least three children, Richard, William and Elizabeth. Possibly a fourth child, Samuel, born shortly before Elizabeth's death - connected with it? Testaments for both in National Archives London Prob. 11/499 and 11/506.

John Brushe in his article says that the bricklayer at Cole Green was John Cooper. Related?

The Richard Cooper here [b. 1701] became a stationer and engraver, setting himself up in Edinburgh c. 1726/7

Hope this is helpful to someone! If anyone can elaborate further on henry Sell, I would be most grateful.

Cheers,
Joe

I think that there is some confusion about different Cole Greens. There is the one near Hertingfordbury and the one at Brent Pelham. The former was much the grander but was , I believe , replaced by Panzhanger as the main house for a very large estate. All cottages in that area seem to have the letter "C" and a coronet stamped on their gable ends as they were built by Lord Cowper. Cole Green Farm house at Brent Pelham is rather humbler. I believe it once had " B. 1901", without coronet, stamped on it`s gable but it fell off!

Ted.