Osea Island

Osea Island, which before the Conquest was called Uvesia, and later Ovesey, or Osey, is situated in the Blackwater Bay known formerly by the Romans as the Fluvius Indumanum.

Osea Island in the Distance

During the reign of Edward the Confessor (1004-1066) it was owned by one Turbert, who was Lord of the District.

At the time of the Norman Conquest it was in the possession of one Hamo Dapifer, nephew to William the Conqueror. He held it as a Manor, and four hides of land, and there resided on it, one Bordar or Resident. According to the Doomsday Survey Book (1086), there had always previously been on the Island three serfs, one fisherman, and pasture for 60 sheep, and at the time of the Survey, belonged to the Bouchier family, afterwords created Earls of Essex; and was included in the Capital Manor, or Parish of Great Totham.

During the reign Henry II. (1154-1189), it was held by Henry Malache, from the king, as one knight’s fee. This is found in a MS. of the time of Henry VIII, viz. : “TothamMagna cum Ovesem, alias Ovesey. ” It is not known how this Henry Malache was related to Bouchier family.

In the reign of Edward II. (1315), the Island of Osea was owned by Gilbard de Clare, Earl of Gloucester, and then came into possession of Bartholomew de Bouchier and his wife, who retained it from 1410-1411 under Henry IV.

Osea Island: Marine Wild Park. South Side.

Its next owner was Sir Hugh Stafford, who married Elizabeth, daughter of Bartholomew, Lord Bouchier, who died in 1420, and was “held by him as the Manor of Oveseye from King Henry V., as the Honor of Bologne, by the service of half knight’s fee.”

The island next came into the hands of one Ludovic Robbesart, and Elizabeth his wife, in 1431, during the reign of Henry V., and upon their death for the following two years held by Anne, widow of the Earl March.

Goldhanger, Nearest Village on the Mainland

To be continued…