Cornelius Vermuyden was commissioned for a project to reclaim Canvey Island from the encroachment of the sea (Decree in the Court of Chancery dated 17th February 1623) and in order to complete the job, he brought 300 Dutch workmen from Freisland/Holland. It was these Dutchmen who petitioned Charles I to allow them to worship in their own language - this was granted and a chapel was built on the island. Dom Cornelius Jacobson was elected their first Pastor and it his name that can be seen on one of the earliest British records so far found in 'A Calender of the Marriage Licence Allegations in the Register of the Bishop of London 1597-1770' which shows that on 24th July 1634 Jonas VANDEVORD married Elizabeth CAVE.

The Vandervords 'migrated' from Canvey Island to Leigh-on-Sea where they became involved with shipping and the sea. Over the next hundred years they moved eastwards along the coast of Essex, ending up in Southend-on-Sea as 'Hoymen' - these were the masters and crew of Hoys (one masted coasting ketches or barges) and over the next 150 years the Vandervords owned or sailed 34 Thames Barges. They owned their own granary and vineyard and as well as carrying trading goods, they transported passengers from one village or town to the next or to the city of London. In the 1850's they had weekly sailings advertised from Southend to Pickle Herring Wharf in the Pool of London. The family were responsible for the building of the first chain pier long before the Southend Pier project of 1829 was commenced.