124 THE ESSEX NATURALIST.
Cole Pension Committee out of the fund raised by the voluntary subscrip-
tions of Members and friends.
Formal, but no less hearty, votes of thanks were passed to Sir Thomas
and Lady Barrett-Lennard for their kind hospitality.
The party was then conducted by our kind host and hostess through
the mansion, with its wealth of old Jacobaean and other furniture, and
its remarkable collection of family portraits, which forms au almost per-
fect series from the time of Elizabeth up to the present baronet. Sir
Thomas proved an ideal host, and was full of interesting anecdote touching
the qualities, both good and bad, of his predecessors: he kindly contributes
the following account:—
Belhus takes its name from the family of "de Belhouse," who once
owned that Manor. The house now existing was built by John Barrett
on the site of an earlier one. John died in 1526, and in his will speaks of
"my place called Belhouse Hall, alias Barretts, which I have newly
builded."
The last Barrett to own Belhus was Edward, who was Chancellor of
the Exchequer, and also of the Duchy of Lancaster, and who was created
Baron Newburgh. He died in 1644, and, having no surviving children,
left Belhus to his kinsman, Richard Lennard, a son of Richard Lennard,
Lord Dacre, on condition that he assumed the name and arms of Barrett.
This Richards grandson, also christened Richard, married his cousin,
Lady Anne Lennard, younger daughter of Thomas Lennard, Lord Dacre
and Earl of Sussex, and a grand-daughter of Charles II and the Duchess
of Cleveland.
The Lennards since 1612 had been Lords Dacre, owing to the marriage
of Samson Lennard to Margaret Fynes, who, upon the death of her brother
Gregory, Lord Dacre, became entitled to that Barony in her own right.
The Richard who married Lady Anne died not long after, from an attack
of small-pox, leaving her enceinte with a posthumous son, who was chris-
tened Thomas after his grandfather, the Earl. When the Earl died, his
title of Sussex became extinct, as he had no sons who lived to grow up.
The Barony of Dacre being one that went in the female line, remained
in abeyance between his daughters, Lady Barbara and Lady Anne. In
course of time, the former having died without issue, Lady Anne became
Baroness Dacre in her own right. She died in 1755, and thereupon her son
Thomas succeeded to her title, and then it was that he changed his name
from "Barrett" to "Barrett-Lennard."
Thomas, Lord Dacre, had only one legitimate child, who died in 1749,
aged about 9 years. He died in 1786, and was succeeded in the estates
by his illegitimate son, Thomas, who had been adopted by Lady
Dacre, and who in accordance with the terms of his father's will assumed
the names of Barrett-Lennard. Thomas took an active part in public
life, and when England was in danger of invasion from Napoleon, raised
a troop of horse, known as the Barstaple and Chafford Yeomanry. The
troop was so efficient that in 1801 Thomas was created a Baronet for his
services. Sir Thomas's eldest son, Thomas, was for many years M.P.
for Maldon, but he never succeeded his father, dying the year before the
latter. Sir Thomas, who lived to be nearly 96, died in 1857, and was