ROCHFORD, (Essex) 34. cm. 40 mm. from London, on a stream that falls into the creek, which opens into the Crowch, gives name to its H. as it did to its ancient Lds. from whom it came to the Butlers Es. of Ormond and Wiltshire; and from them to Sir Thomas Sullen, whom Hen. VIII. created Visc. Rochford and E. of Wiltshire. It was afterwards granted to Richard Ld. Rich (the ancestor of the E. of Warwick) who is said to have built the tower-steeple of the Ch. at his own charge. It came to the late E. of Bolingbroke, from the Ld. St. John's lady, and he sold it to the late E. Tilney. K. Will. considering his many faithful services and near relation to him, created William-Henry, son of Frederick of Nassau, Prince of Orange and Ld. of Zulestein, E. of Rochford, as well as Visc. Tunbridge and Baron of Enfield; which titles descended, by the death of William, the eldest son unmarried, to his 2d son Frederick, father of the present E. Some lands here bel. formerly to the priory of Berden; but were granted by Hen. VIII. to Henry Parker, to be held of the crown in capite. The late Cha. Tyrrel, Esq; had a seat here. The Mt. is Th. Fairs April 2, Whit-Tu. and Oct. 6. The above-mentioned Ld. Rich bequeathed one of his manors here, for building and endowing an almsh. at this place; to the statutes whereof are subject 6 other almshs. built by the last Ld. Warwick, for 5 men and 1 woman, who were each to have 3 s. and 6 d. a week, a gown at Christmas of the value of a guinea, and 2 loads of wood out of the E's. woods for ever.