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 an 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 Richard’s 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 Leonards 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 
