KENT ARCHAEOLOGICAL SOCIETY  -- RESEARCH   Studying and sharing Kent's past      Homepage

Betteshanger with Index of names and places at end

Back to Churchyards listed

Some Monumental Inscriptions of Betteshanger Church,  Noted by Bax & Rice May 1892

                                             Pages 61 of Epitaphs from Kent Churches typed up by Margaret Broomfield

Also Some Monumental Inscriptions  Noted by Rev Bryan Faussett noted 1759, added 29th March 2007

'BETSANGER'

1a. Every old stone seems to have been cleared out. There is a memorial to 1^st Earl of Durham..

1b. Wooden rail to E of church Memory of Dan….l BAYLY died October the 14^th 1759. Also Elizabeth his wife who died June the 20 1783/8.

1c. NE of church all R. caps In memory of | Henry | sixth son of John BOYS Esq.| of Pack,| who died at Malmains on the 21^st Day of May 1847 aged 58 years.

2. HS with body stone E of church – copied by Mr. Rice R. caps. Here | rest the mortal remains | of | Mr. Richard EDWARDS, who departed this life | on the 6^th of May 1852 in the 77^th year of his age. He lived for upwards of 30 years as steward in the family of | F.E. Morrice Esq. | who, with feelings of attachment | and gratitude | inscribe this stone to his | memory | ell done, good and faithful servant. Enter then into the joy of they Lord Mark XXV Ver. 23.

3. NB There are not any old stones within churchyard 2 good modern low coped tombs one of grey and one of red, granite.


Noted by Rev Bryan Faussett noted 1759
In The Chancell. On a Monument on ye N. Side of ye Communion Table. [¼ly 1&4). BOYS (3.77, Nonington) (written). 2). Arg. a fesse counterembattd. gu. betw. 6 fleurs-de-lis sa. (BARRY). 3). Gu a – sa. with 3 plates betw. 3 trefoils slipped arg. imp. ¼ly 1&4). Arg. a bull salaient sa. on a mount purp. 2). Gu a Λ betw. 3 nags arg. 3). Gu a Λ betw. 3 martlets arg].
4. Here lieth The Body of Edward BOYS of Betteshanger, Esq. interred between his Two first Wives. He was the Sonne of Vincent Boys, of the Family of Fredville by his Wife Elisabeth, one of the Daughters and Heirs of Richard BARREY, of Sevington, in this County, Esq. Lieutenant of Dover Castle in 88. He had 3 Wives; The First Judith, one of the Daughters and Heirs of Robert RIDLEY of East Grinstead in the County of Sussex, Esq. by whom he had Issue, John his Sonne and Heir; Edward, who died sans Issue; Jane, married to Nicholas DARRELL, Doctor of Law; Judith, to Sr. Samuel SLEIGH of Ash, in Derbyshire, Knt.; Mary to Moses CAPELL, Clerke; Eliza, to Gervase Sleigh, Clerke, Brother to the said Sr. Samuel; and Margaret, to George CRAYFORD, of Great Mongeham, Esquier. His second Wife was Elisabeth TILSHAM, the Relict of Edward KELKE of Sandwich Gent. His 3d. Wife was, Judith, the Daughter of Mr WHEELER, of Totn’am High Crosse, near London. Hee departed this Life on the 23d. day of October, A.D. 1649. Quem per Lustra decem hac tantilla Paraechia novit Incolinsse Patiem, mortuus Ille jacet. Pacificus, Patiens, Prudens, Pius, atq. Pudicus; Mortuus astanti Moribus hic loquitur.

5. On a neat Monument, on ye S. Side of the Communion Table.
[3 shh. in line. I. BOYS (written) with THOMSON in pretence. Per fesse arg. & sa. a – ounterembattled betw. 3 falcons, all countercharged. II. Boys (written) with JEFFERAYE in pretence; Az. a fret or, on a chief or a lion passt. az. III. Boys (written) with ROUTH in pretence; Arg. on a \ cotised sa. 3 molets arg.].
To the Memory of John BOYS of Betteshanger Esq. Son and Heir of Edward Boys, of this Parish, Esq. He had 3 Wives. The First, Elizabeth, one of the Daughters and Coheirs of Nicholas THOMPSON of the City of Chichester, Gent. by whom he had Issue Edward and John; and Elisabeth, married first to Francis QUINTIN, Clerk; and after, to Edmund IBBOTT, Clerk; Mary, married to William DEY, Merchant; and Judith, married to Henry PARAMOR, Gent. His 2d. Wife was Letitia, one of the Daughters and Coheirs of Thomas JEFFERAY, of Chittingly, in Sussex Esq. by whom he had Issue Jefferaye and Thomas, and Letitia, married to Thomas BRETT of Wye, Gent. Anne married to Herbert WOODWARD of Ashford, Gent; and Margaret married to Christopher MILLES of Hern, Gent. He had, also, Issue by his First Wife, Nicholas, Margaret and Katherine; and by his second Wife, Thomas and Joanna, who all died young. His Third Wife was Margaret, one of the Daughters and Coheirs of Sr. John ROUTH, of Boughton, Knight. He dyed the 21^st of October 1678 in the 72^nd Yeare of his Age, when, according to his own Expression, Vitam, habuit in Patientia, Mortem in Desiderio. Cui Natura, dedit, Rerum et moderatior Usus Annoso et sano Corpore posse frui. Cui Res non parva, et Series numerosa Nepotum. Abstulerant Vitae Taedia cuncta suae. Illius Mens pura Palatia Regis anhelans Caelestis, Vitam hauc vix patienter habet.

6. On a Monument on the South Wall. [BOYS imp. JEFFERAY (both written)]. Here lyeth the Body of Letitia, Second Wife of John Boys, of Betteshanger, in the County of Kent, Esq. Who was eldest of the 2 Daughters and Coheirs of Thomas Jefferay of Chittingsly, in the County of Sussex. Esq. by Margarite, eldest daughter of Richard MOSELEY of Owesdon Hall in the County of Suffolk, Esq. She left Issue to the said John 2 Sonnes, Jefferay and Thomas; and 3 Daughters, Lettice, Anne and Margaret. Sub Saxo hoc Matrona jacet, pia Tabitha esenis, Sara viro, Natis Martha, Maria Deo. obijt Die Dominico et Pentecostae, decimo Junij, Annoq Domini 1660. Memoriae Sacrum, et, Amoris ergo, Monumentum hoc posuit maestissimus Maritus.

7. On Mont. on the N. Wall. [BOYS imp. Thomson (both written)]. Here lieth interred the Body of Mrs Elisabeth BOYS ye Wife of John Boys, of this Parish, Esq. and one of the Daughters and Coheirs of Nicholas THOMPSON, of Chichester, in Sussex, Gent: deceased. She departed this Life the 24^th of January, 1640-41 aged 31 Years, having Issue then living 2 Sonns, Edward and John; and 5 Daughters, Elisabeth, Mary, Judith, Margaret, and Katherine since dead. Comely she was, loving, humble, and kind; Her Portion fair, most beautyfull her Mind. Near Twelve Yeares married, aged Thirty one; She left a Cottage, and obtained a Throne.

8. On Another Mont. on the N. Wall. [BOYS(written) imp. Per fesse or a az. 3 rings countercharged DUKE)]. Here lyeth the Body of Edward BOYS, of Betteshanger Esq. eldest son of John Boys Esq. he was born Mar. 25 1636. Married Ann eldest daugr. of George DUKE, of Cosington, in this County, Esq. Sept. 18 1662 and, died without Issue April 3 1691.

9. On a Flat Stone. Here lieth buried the Body of Judith BOYS, late Wife of Edward Boys of Betteshanger Esq. who died the IX Day of Sept. 1628. Shee had Issue, by the said Edward two Sonnes, and 5 Daughters, the eldest whereof died before his Mother.

10. On Another. Here lyeth buried the Body of Elisabeth BOYS, sometimes Wife of Edward KELK, of Lincolnshire (and late of Sandwich) Gent: and Second Wife to Edward Boys of Betteshanger Esq. who died the 29^th of July 1630.

11. On Another. Under this Ston lieth interred the Body of John BOYS, late of this Parish, Esq. who departed this Life the 21^st of October 1678 in the 72d. Yeare of his Age.

12. In The East Window are these Coats. [3 shh. in line.
I. Sa. a Λ betw. 3 prs. of stags’ antlers arg. in centre chief a molet arg. for diffce.
II. Checky or & az. a fesse gu.
III. Az. on a + arg. X surmounted by I, both sa. (DEANERY OF CANTY.) imp. BOYS (written)]

13. In the North Chancell. Is a very sumptuous Monument for Admiral MORRIS, adorn’d with a Fine Busto of him, as also with Trophies, Arms, etc. and an elegant Basso releivo representing a Sea Prospect – it was done by P. SCHEEMAKERS. It bears ye following Coat and Inscription. The Coat is on an Obelisk, behind ye Busto. [Gu. a lion rampant or (MORRIS) imp. (WRIGHT). Az. 2 bars and in chief 3 leopards’ hds. arg]. Near this Place is interred Salmon MORRIS, Esq. Vice Admiral of his Majesties White Squadron, who died the 21^st of March, 1740-41 aged 68 Years. Also his beloved Wife Elizabeth, Daughter of William WRIGHT, Esq. late one of the Commissioners of his Majesties Navy. She died 22 Sept. 1733 aged 48 Years.

14. Over the South Door, is a small Figure, cut in ye Stone Work, sitting, and holding the Book of ye Gospell, wch. appears to be very ancient.

This Church consists of a Chancell, North Chancell, and Body, wch. are all very small. In a low wooden Spire, at ye West End, hang 3 Bells, which I could not get at, so know not whether they bear any Inscriptions.

15. It was dedicated to (St. Mary). It is a Rectory, in the Gift of the Proprietor of Betteshanger. The present Rector is Mr (Jn.) JAMES, who is also Rector of Upper Deal. 1759.

Index of Names and Places