Born

Date calculated from age at death

Licence obtained for marriage to Sophia PORTER in Faculty Office.8

Married Sophia PORTER in Wormley.9,10

From the Parish Register .-
"Charles Welstead Esq. of this Parish Bachelor and Sophia Porter of the Parish of Enfield in the County of Middlesex Spinster were Married in this Church by Licence this sixth Day of March in the Year One Thousand seven Hundred and ninety eight by me Berd. Franken (Rector)
This Marriage was solemnized between us :-
Charles Welstead, Sophia Porter
In the Presence of :-
George Porter
A M  Porter"

Wrote will.1

Died.2,3,4,5

From the Essex Standard :-
"18th inst. in the 64th year of his age, Charles Welstead, Esq. of Valentines, Ilford"

From the Norfolk Chronicle :-
"In his 64th year, Charles Welstead, Esq, of Valentines, Ilford, one of the gentlemen nominated for Sheriff for the county of Essex"

From the Morning Post :-
"At Valentines, Essex, on Sunday, the 18th inst., Charles Welstead, Esq., in the 65th year of his age"

From the Bury and Norwich Post :-
"On Sunday last, in his 64th year, Charles Welstead, Esq. of Valentines, Ilford, one of the gentlemen nominated for Sheriff of the county of Essex"

Buried in Little Leighs.6

From the Chelmsford Chronicle :-
"On Saturday last the mortal remains of Chas. Welstead, Esq. were interred in the family vault at Little Leighs. The deceased was greatly beloved by all who knew him. The following are the particulars of the procession as it passed through the town -
Two mutes with full-trimmed gowns,
Eight bearers with truncheons,
Four tradesmen,
Messrs. Hart, Dorman, and Whitaker,
(The forgoing were on horseback.)
A plume of feathers,
Undertaker,
(Mr. Courn, of Chelmsford.)
The hearse,
Drawn by six horse; the family arms richly emblazoned.
About 20 relatives and friend as mourners in
Four coaches,
Each drawn by four horses,
Two pages
To each carriage,
The family coach,
The servants.
With the exception of those belonging to the family carriage, the horses were dressed with feathers and velvet. The tradesmen at Ilford, to mark the great respect they entertained for the deceased, closed their shops when the funeral passed through the own. - The executors of the deceased expressed the approbation of the manner which Mr. Count conducted the funeral."

Probate in Prerogative Court of Canterbury.1

Joint Executors :-
Sophia Welstead, widow, the relict
Charles Terry hereforeto the Younger, Esquire
George ? ?, Esquire
Edward Robert Porter, Esquire

Research Note in Valentines.7

Charles Welstead bought Valentines in 1808 and lived there until his death

Extracts from "Wilks and Welstead" on the Valentines website :-
"If so, Wilks had made a shrewd investment as he sold the property in 1808 for £13,000.
The new owner was Charles Welstead of Leyton Stone Esq. In 1798 he had married Sophia Porter at Wormley in Hertfordshire and she seems to have contributed to the purchase. The couple made many changes to the house, moving the front entrance from the south side to the north and building the porte cochiere. They converted the orangery (or conservatory) into the dairy wing and built the kitchen to link it to the main house. Charles Welstead also made substantial changes to the gardens and he probably created the lake which is now used for boating.
The estate is recorded in the ownership of Charles Welstead in the Barking Tithe Awards of 1847 covering approx. 170 acres.
When he married in 1798 Welstead was described as "deputy collector of the customs in the coastal business onwards and outwards". His memorial says he was "19 years in the service of his Majesty's Customs in the Port of London " but little more has been discovered about him, so far. He seems to have been a charitable man, involved in the Marine Society which was founded in 1765 by Jonas Hanway to supply young recruits (from the workhouse) and equip them for service in the British Navy.
Soon after he came to Ilford Charles Welstead built the "Forest Side school" in Horns Road, Barkingside, but this was closed after his death. He was also nominated for the honour of being Sheriff for the County of Essex shortly before he died in 1832. He was buried with other of his family in the churchyard at St. John's, Little Leights, a very quiet spot down a pretty winding lane off the A131 Chelmsford to Braintree Road. When he died there was a legal wrangle over his will and although his widow survived until 1847, Valentines was sold in 1838 to Charles Holcombe."