44 THE ESSEX NATURALIST.
including Samuel Gurney, Lady Buxton and others, was instru-
mental in erecting the Congregational Church in Forest Lane at a
cost of £1,530, the building being opened free of debt.
Jabez Legg was possessed of the Carnarvon Hall Estate,
which he inherited from his father, Mr. Samuel Legg, who died
on the 7th August 1846, at Stratford Green, aged 93 years, and
was buried on 14th August in Bunhill Fields Burial Ground,
City Road. His sister, Mary Westbrook, was buried the same
day, aged 87 years, and is described in the Burial Register as
residing at Stratford Green. Jabez Legg continued to reside at
Stratford Green until his death in 1867. He married Catherine, a
daughter of Robert Waylen, Esq., Mayor of Devizes. She died
on the 22nd April 1824, aged 39 years, and her remains were
deposited in a vault within the Congregational Church at Devizes.
Jabez Legg appears to have been buried in a grave outside the
Church, but adjoining the Church walls. The inscription on the
tablet in the church records as follows:—
In affectionate remembrance of Jabez Legg, Esq., of
Stratford Green, Essex, who died October 23rd, 1867,
aged 81 years.
Very little is known regarding his history, and few of the
inhabitants in the Borough have any information as to the
buildings in Forest Lane, Forest Gate, known as the Forest Gate
Retreat. They consist of a block of six cottages. Mr. Legg
originally built (in 1858) the first three, Nos. 1 to 3, for the
accommodation of his father's old servants, and added three
more in 1863, the whole being intended to provide free living
accommodation for six women having sufficient income to live
upon. The gift of presentation is in the hands of private trus-
tees. Under Mr. Jabez Legg's Will he left each inmate ten
pounds, but provided no fund for the maintenance of the build-
ings. Since his death his niece has invested, in the names of
trustees, funds for the maintenance of the property and upkeep
of the garden, and any surplus income is divided between the
inmates at Christmas.
The portrait is from an oil painting hanging in the room
of the senior inmate of the Retreat, and is reproduced by
permission of the trustees.