Anyone know of properties called Bigcotte & Wares in the Good Easter area?

[findem]

This query is more out of curiosity than a need to know.
I found the following entries in the Good Easter PRs

Three children of John and Ann Bernard baptised 1694 to 1698, the entry stated John was of Ware (or Wares).

Two children of John and Sarah Barnard born 1691 and 1696, the entry stated John was of Bigcotte.

I had a look in my UK road atlas to see if there were villages in Essex named Wares and Bigcotte, the nearest I found was Ware in Hertfordshire and Kent.

Although my interest at this stage is only out of curiosity the Johns could be related to my Barnard ancestor, one of them could even be a sibling.

[cep]

Can't find Bigcotte or similar.  But here is Wares.

This from www.multimap.com

Search Good Easter, then zoom in 2 - 3 clicks to get required detail.


Regards   CP

[findem]

Thanks for that cep, it took me by surprise a little, I thought if neither are a village they would be perhaps a house/cottage and wouldn't show on a map.  Just shows how wrong assumptions can be, I'll bear this experience in mind if I come across similar references again.

Regards.

[cep]

As I understand, the basic 'administrative unit' at this period was the Parish.

Parish church was central, and kept records of baptisms, marriages, deaths.

If someone decided not, or procrastinated, there is no record of baptism.

Sometimes, just prior to marriage, a zealous clergyman may demand proof of baptism, resulting in a flurry of 'adult baptisms'.

In the case of Wares, this may have been just a large farm, with a few cottages for the labourers. Then someone started selling beer.
Someone opened a blacksmith shop  ....

But it is still within the Parish of Good Easter. Eventually it becomes a recognized location.

Not sure of the definition of 'Hamlet'


Regards   CP

[findem]

I've seen instances of those flurries of baptisms, I have a note somewhere of a village where 50 adults and children were baptised in one day.  I guess there must have been an assembly line setup at the font.

I have on a database 8 children at Stebbing who were baptised at one go in 1715, the mother was baptised 3 days later.  The father's name was not given so when next in the UK I might just see if I can find the parent's marriage.  This will be just out of interest I know of no link to my ancestors, I would have checked it out last visit but I was in hot pursuit of ancestors and then run out of time.  I might also just go to Wares and have a looksee, it's not far from where I stay when in the UK.

Thanks again for your interest and comments.

Regards.