Osea Island

The next possessor of Ovesey Island was Henry Bouchier, created first Earl of Essex, and he held the Manor of Totham- Oveseye from King Edward IV., and died in 1483.

Osea Island

He was followed by Anne Bouchier, Marchioness of Northampton, who brought the Island to her husband under the title of the “Manor or Isle of Ovesey, with free fishery, free warren, and wrec of the sea.” She died in 1570, during Queen Elizabeth’s reign. Her husband for-feited his estates for espousing the cause of Lady Jane Grey, but his manor of Ovesey was returned to him by a letter patent from the Queen, dated August 8th, 1558, for his maintenance.

On the death of the above Anne Bouchier, Marchioness of Northampton, this Manor descended to the Heir at Law, one Walter Devereux, who has the first Earl of Essex of that name; but in order to carry on his warfare in Ireland he mortgaged and sold his Estates in Essex, including “Ovesey Island,” which was purchased by a Mr. Thomas Wiseman, of Great Waltham, as, or “in the name of one tenement, isle, or land surrounded with water in Great Totham and called “Awsey,” otherwise “Ovesey.” Mr. Wiseman held it of Queen Elizabeth by a Knight’s service. He died July 15th, 1584, without issue.

It then came into the possession of his two sisters, Elizabeth, wife of Richard Jennings, and Dorothy Wiseman.

Osea Island: Gathering the Harvest. South side.

Osea Island was purchased by a Mr. Chas. Coe, of Maldon, but it is now known from whom, and it was still owned by him at the time of his death in 1768, and afterwards was conveyed to the Pigott family, who were evidently related to him, because on the South wall of St. Peter’s Church at Maldon there is a mural monument to “John Coe Pigott,” and dated March, 1802.

The next owner of the Island known was Mrs. Piggot who married Henry Coape, and was succeeded by his son Henry Coe Coape who, through troubles, had to make it over to his brother, James Coape; he was followed by his son, Coape Arnold, who in 1903 sold it to F. N. Charrington, the present owner.