_The Monumental Inscriptions of the Bourchier Family_ (Vol. iv., p.
233.).--Your inquirer L. M. M. will most probably meet with the
information he desires in the county of Essex, of which portion of the
kingdom they were Earls, and held immense possessions from the early
part of the fourteenth to the sixteenth century. Their principal estates
were in the parishes of Moreton, Tollesbury, Chingford, Little Laver,
Greensted, Ramsden, South Church, Wakering, Maldon, North Farnbridge,
Lachingdon, Mayland, Langford, Great Totham, Bentley, Wickes, Tendring,
Great Holland, Beaumont, Ramsey, Bromfield, Rivenhall, Halsted,
Hanningfield, Chicknall, Ulting, Messing, Hedingham Sibil, Ballington,
Foxearth, Belchamp, Toppesfield, Braintree, Little Easton, Chickney;
Broxted, Roding Aythorp, Little Hallingbury, Walden, and Farnham. In all
these parishes they held manors, with the advowsons of several of the
churches. Many of the manors are called after the family, _Bourchier's
Hall_; some members of the family were buried in Bilegh Abbey, which
stood in the west part of the town of Maldon. In Halsted they founded a
chantry for a master and eight priests; and adjoining Little Easton
church still remains a fine chapel, known as Bourchier's chapel, where
there are tombs to some of the family in fine preservation. By a visit
to the churches of the parishes above enumerated, much information may
probably be obtained, for there can be little doubt but so powerful a
family were great benefactors to the churches of the several parishes
where their estates and mansions were situated; and most probably many
members of the family were interred in them, and had tombs to their
memory.