HARTFORD, the capital of the county of the same name, signifying, as is commonly thought, the "ford of harts," stands on the river Lea, in W. Long. 7. N. Lat. 51. 45. In William the Conqueror's time, as we find in doomsday-book, there were 26 burghesses in it. It has a castle upon the Lea, supposed to have been built by Edward the Elder, which Edward III. granted to his son John duke of Lancaster, together with the town and honour of Hartford, that (as it is expressed in the grant) he might keep a house suitable to his quality and have a decent habitation. Here the East-Saxon kings often kept their court; and here, in 673, was held a synod. King Edward the Elder built a village for his tenants, and fortified it with a wall of turf for their defence, which is what was originally meant by a burgh, whence the houses were called burghes, and the inhabitants burgher or burghesses. The manor of this town was an honour and a royal manor, and even the town and castle were held of the king in capite; of the latter of which the sheriffs of Hertfordshire and Essex were usually governors. The manor was granted by queen Elizabeth to lord Burleigh, whose descendants still possess it. The town sent members to parliament in Edward I.'s time, but after the seventh of Henry V. the bailiff and burghesses petitioned the parliament to be excused on account of their poverty. It has had several charters and grants of privileges from different kings, particularly several fairs and markets. In Henry VII.'s reign, the standards of weights and measures were ordered to be kept here. Here was anciently a monastery; founded by a nephew of William the Conqueror's, and five churches, which are now reduced to two. As the town is remarkable for its pleasant dry situation and wholesome air, the governors of Christ's-hospital have fitted up a large building for the reception of their sickly or supernumerary children. It is governed at present by a mayor, high-steward, recorder, nine aldermen, a town-clerk, chamberlain, 10 capital burghesses, and 16 assistants; and it has two sergeants at mace. Its markets are very considerable for wool, wheat, and malt; of which, especially the last, great quantities are conveyed to London by the river Lea. The town has had a great many benefactors; but to particularize them and their benefactions, would require more room than we can allow. It gives the title of earl to the noble family of Seymour-Conway.