Some Monumental Inscriptions of St Margaret's Church, High Halstow
Some Monumental Inscriptions of St Margaret's Church, High Halstow, noted by D.L. Williams 2011.
HIGH HALSTOW CHURCH FROM THE SOUTH WEST
1. Small Headstone (Western Section)
SUSANNA BARR, DIED 1716
HERE LYETH
THE BODY OF
SUSANNA BARR
WIFE OF WILLIAM
[BARR OF] THE PARISH
[OF STOKE] WHO
[DEPARTE]D THIS LIFE
-----------Ground Level----------
YE 11th OF DECEMBER
1716 AGED 71 YEARS
"Death of me a Debt [ ],
Claime I have it [ ]"
2. Headstone (Western Section)
IN
LOVING MEMORY
OF
ELIZA WIFE OF
GEORGE R. BEARD
OF THIS PARISH
DIED SEPTEMBER 25th 1884
AGED 68 YEARS
"Thy Will be Done"
ALSO
GEORGE ROBERT BEARD
DIED MARCH 19th 1886
AGED 74 YEARS
ALSO
THOMAS BEARD
DIED JULY 2nd 1878
AGED 50 YEARS
George Beard, a Farmer at Clinch Street, 300 acres, employing 4 men (1881 Census)
3. Double Headstone (Western Section)
WILLIAM AND JAMES COCKRELL, DIED 1732 & 1730
[HERE]
[LIETH YE BODY OF]
[WILLIAM]
CO[CKRE]LL
[WHO DIED] FEB. YE 24th
1732
AGED 79 YEARS[HERE]
[LIETH YE BODY OF]
[J]A[M]ES SON
OF W[M] [C]OCKRELL
WHO DIED FEB. YE 22nd
1730
AGED [2]?9 YEARS
William Cockrell, may be the Shipwright of Hangman's Lane, St. Nicholas, Rochester. He died at the same time and was not buried at either St. Nicholas or St. Margaret's church. However, his Rochester Will, dated 11th March 1728 (29), gives no indication of any High Halstow connection.
His personal estate, plate, rings, linen, money, wages due for work in H.M. Dockyard, Chatham, to wife Mary, who is Executor.
Witnesses: George Lydal, Tho. Buckle and the mark of Wm. Lambe
4. Headstone (Western Section)
IN
MEMORY OF JAMES COLLER
WHO DEPARTED THIS LIFE THE 31st OF
MAY 1803 AGED 20 YEARS
"In Love he Lived,
In Peace he Died,
His Life was Craved,
But God Denied"
5. Small Eroded Headstone (Eastern Section)
JOHN COLLEY, DIED 1695
H[ERE] LIETH]
THE [BODY] [OF]
JOHN [COLLEY]
THE ELDER
WHO [DEPARTED]
THIS [LIFE] [THE]
14th OF [DE]CE
MBER A[NN]O DOM
1695 AGED
NERE 80
YEARES
John Colley, of St. Mary's. His Rochester Will is dated 31st January 1695 (96)
To "brother" Richard Pegram of St. Mary's, all his goods, chattles, utensils, money, stock, lease and leases, and money and movables remaining surplus to the "completing, fulfilling and satisfying" of his father's inventory.
10s to the poor of St. Mary's and 10/- to the poor of High Halstow, distributed on the day of his burial, and 10s more to the poor of the above parishes on 1st anniversary of his burial.
Richard Pegram is Executor.
Witnesses: Samuel Collier (Vicar of St. Mary's), the marks of Samuel Button and Elizabeth Dufty
6. Headstone and 6 Small Body Stones (Eastern Section, Edge of Path)
FOREGROUND, HEADSTONE AND BODY STONES OF COMPORT CHILDREN. BACKGROUND, LEFT OF
HEADSTONE, CRUMP HEADSTONE, IMMEDIATELY RIGHT OF HEADSTONE, COLLEY HEADSTONE
SACRED
TO THE MEMORY OF
MARY ANN JANE DAUGHTER OF
MICHAEL SMITH & MARY ANN COMPORT
WHO DIED 1st NOVEMBER 1841
AGED 2 WEEKS
ALSO WILLIAM ALFRED SON OF
THE ABOVE WHO DIED16th AUGUST 1842
AGED 1 YEAR
ALSO LAURA LOUISA DAUGHTER OF
THE ABOVE WHO DIED 11th FEBRUARY 1848
AGED 1 YEAR AND 6 MONTHS
ALSO LAURA LOUISA DAUGHTER OF
THE ABOVE WHO DIED 2nd SEPTEMBER 1849
AGED 10 WEEKS
ALSO ELIZABETH ANN DAUGHTER OF
THE ABOVE WHO DIED 8th OCTOBER 1850
AGED 6 YEARS
"But Jesus said, "Suffer Little Children and
Forbid them not to come unto me for of such is the
Kingdom of Heaven""
7. Coped Stone on Stone Base (Eastern Section, Edge of Path)
North Side
[SACRED TO THE MEMORY OF]
Mr MICHAEL SMITH COMPORT
[WHO DEPARTED THIS LIFE] [JULY 1865]
AGED 67 YEARS
South Side
[SACRED TO THE MEMORY OF]
MARY ANN WIFE OF
Mr MICHAEL SMITH COMPORT
WHO DEPARTED THIS LIFE [AUGUST 1870]
AGED [58] YEARS
Michael Smith Comport, a Farmer, a member of the prominent family who lie buried at nearby Cooling.
8. Headstone, Most of Inscription Lost (Eastern Section, Close to Porch)
HARRIET CRUMP DIED THE 11th JULY 181[2]
AGED 7 YEARS AND 5 MONTHS
SOPHIA TAYLOR DIED THE 9th JULY 1812
AGED 6 YEARS AND 4 MONTHS
Harriet Crump and Sarah Taylor (Crump), were killed by a wagon (Register)
9. Small Headstone (Western Section)
MERCY ELI or ELY, DIED 1716
[HERE]
LYETH YE]
[BODY OF]
MERCY
ELI DAUG[HTER]
OF THOMAS AND
MERCY ELI [WHO]
DIED YE [ ] [JULY ?]
1716 [ ]
10. Granite Pedestals, Cross, Curbs and Tablet (Eastern Section, Edge of Path)
IN LOVING MEMORY OF
THE REVD. JOSEPH PHELPS GARDINER D.D.
RECTOR OF CHURCH LANGTON, LEICESTERSHIRE
AND FORMERLY C.M.S. MISSIONARY
IN N.W. AMERICA
BORN SEPT. 20th 1828 DIED JULY 6th 1913
ALSO OF JANE GARDINER
WIFE OF THE ABOVE
BORN JAN. 9th 1832 DIED NOV. 30th 1917
"In Peace let me Resign and Breath,
And thy Salvation see,
My Sins deserve Eternal Death,
But Jesus died for Me"
Tablet
SADIE OSENTON
DEARLY
LOVED DAUGHTER OF
JANE AND JOSEPH PHELPS
GARDINER
AT REST 27th MAY 1958
Rev. Joseph Gardiner, was formerly, Vicar of Bishop Ryder Church, Aston Warickshire, 1881/1891, and Rector of East Langton, Leicestershire, 1901 (Census)
11. Fallen Headstone (East of Chancel)
IN LOVING MEMORY
OF
WILLIAM HENRY GOODGER
DIED MAY 3rd 1906
AGED 70 YEARS
"Sleep on, Beloved and take thy Rest,
Lay down thy Head upon thy Saviour's Breast,
We Loved thee well but Jesus Loves thee Best,
Goodnight ! Goodnight ! Goodnight !
William Goodyer, a Shepherd at White House Farm (1901 Census)
12. Headstone, Most of Inscription Lost (Western Section)
ALSO OF THE ABOVE
Mr AMOS HEARNDEN
WHO DEPARTED THIS LIFE 9th NOVEMBER 1843
IN THE 79th YEAR OF HIS AGE
Amos Hearnden, was, in 1841 "Independent" and living at Grain (census)
13. Headstone, Two Putti (Western Section)
MARGARET JEFFERY, DIED 1799
IN MEMORY OF
MARGARET JEFFERY WIFE
OF THOMAS JEFFERY
OF THIS PARISH
WHO DEPARTED THIS LIFE
AUGUST THE 12th 1799
AGED 21 YEARS
"Whilst in this World I did Remain.
My Latter End was Grief and Pain,
But then the Lord did think it Best,
To take me to a Place of Rest"
14. Pedestal and Cross (Eastern Section, Edge of Path)
IN SACRED MEMORY OF
ARTHUR EDWIN THOMAS
KEMP
THE BELOVED HEAD TEACHER
HIGH HALSTOW SCHOOL
WHO DIED 27th JULY 1911
AGED 31 YEARS
ERECTED BY SCHOLARS AND FRIENDS
15. Headstone (Western Section)
IN MEMORY OF
MARY KNIGHT DAUGHTER OF
WILLIAM AND MARY KNIGHT
OF THIS PARISH
WHO DEPARTED THIS LIFE OCTOBER
THE 24th 1796 AGED 15 YEARS
"Though Young in Years,
Her Life could not Withstand,
Nor her Protect,
From Death's Imperial Hand,
Life's but an Object,
Though we are here so Gay,
And Death's a Broom ,
That Sweeps us all Away"
16. Eroded Double Headstone (Western Section)
WILLIAM and MARY KNIGHT, DIED 1815 & 1802
IN MEMORY
OF
WILLIAM KNIGHT
OF THIS PARISH
WHO DEPARTED THIS LIFE
APRIL 15th 181[5]
AGED [65 YEARS] IN MEMORY OF
MARY WIFE OF
WILLIAM [KNIGHT]
[OF THIS PARISH]
[WHO DEPARTED THIS LIFE]
[APRIL 1802]
[AGED [ ] YEARS]
17. Fallen Pedestal and Cross, Curbs (Western Section , Edge of Path)
IN
MEMORIAM
REVD. CHARLES LONGFIELD
FOR 8 YEARS RECTOR OF THIS PARISH
DIED DECR. 2Nd 1893
AGED 68 YEARS
"Peace, Perfect Peace, Death Shadowing Us and Ours,
Jesus has Vanquished Death and all it's Power"
Curb
ALSO RHODA LONGFIELD WIFE OF REV. C. LONGFIELD DIED MARCH 31st 1917 AGED 76
18. Small Headstone (Western Section)
EDWARD MOTT, DIED 1699
[HERE]
LYETH THE
BODY OF EDWD.
MOT[T] SON OF JOHN
OF COWLING WHO
DEPARTED THIS
LIFE JANUARY YE
12th 1699 AGED
18 YEARES
---------------Ground Level------------
"We must die all
Both Great &
Small"
19. Ledger on Ground (Western Section)
ELLEN ANNE STEVENS
DAUGHTER OF THE
REVD. G.E. NASH
VICAR OF ALLHALLOWS
AND MARY HIS WIFE
BORN SEPT. 6th 1847
DIED MARCH 17th 1859
OSENTON see GARDINER
20. Pedestal and Cross (Eastern Section)
IN
FONDEST MEMORY
OF
MARY ANN
THE BELOVED WIFE OF
ALFRED OSENTON
BORN FEBY. 27Th 1849
DIED APRIL 25th 1907
"Thy Will be Done"
ALSO THE ABOVE
ALFRED OSENTON
ENTERED INTO REST SEPT. 22nd 1923
AGED 77 YEARS
Alfred Osenton, Farmer at Solomon's Farm (1901 Census)
21. Double Headstone (Western Section)
SACRED
TO THE MEMORY OF
THOMAS REED
OF THIS PARISH
WHO DEPARTED THIS LIFE
THE 2nd OF NOVEMBER 1849
AGED 79 YEARS
"Go Home my Friends and Shed no Tears,
I must be here till Christ Appears
Short was my Time, Long be my Rest,
Christ took me when he Thought it Best"SACRED
TO THE MEMORY OF
REBECCA
WIFE OF
THOMAS REED
OF THIS PARISH
WHO DEPARTED THIS LIFE
THE 6th OF APRIL 1825
AGED 47 YEARS
"When God cuts off the Thread of Life,
The Fatal Death Parts Man and Wife"
Thomas Reed, Farmer, in 1840 Tithes, owned 84 acres. His Rochester Will is dated 12th August 1849.
To son William and daughter Matilda wife of Toply Simmons, his household furniture, plate, linen, china, his watch and appendages , clothes, liquor, fuel and provision in housekeeping.
To wife Catherine, £10. To grandchildren, George and Harriet Reed children of son Thomas, £5 each.
Freehold and farm house where he lives, with barns, stables, yards, gardens at Clinch Street, and several pieces of arable, meadow, pastures, orchards and marshland occupied by him, also farming stock, cottages and other real estate, Upon Trust, to son William, son in law Toply Simmons and friend Thomas William Sanders of Sevenoaks, Gentleman, they to sell estate.
One sixth of proceeds to son George, one sixth to son William, one sixth to daughter Harriott wife of William Smith, one sixth to daughter Ann, wife of John Bearman,one sixth to daughter Matilda, one sixth to children of deceased daughter Rebecca late wife of John Reuben Jenner at 21 years.
William Reed, Toply Simmons and Thomas Sanders, Executors.
Witnesses: Thomas Wolfe ?, Farmer of Mereworth and S. Fuggle, Tailor of Sevenoaks
Proved 24th November 1849, value under £800
22. Headstone and Body Stone (Eastern Section, Edge of Path)
SMITH FAMILY HEADSTONES
SACRED
TO THE MEMORY OF
SARAH DAUGHTER OF
GEORGE AND ANN SMITH
OF THIS PARISH
WHO DEPARTED THIS LIFE
ON THE 17th DAY OF MAY 1839
AGED 34 YEARS
"Reader ! This Silent Grave contains,
A Much Loved Daughter's Dear Remains,
Death like Frost has Nip't her Bloom,
And sent her Early to the Tomb,
Hence let the Young a Lesson Learn,
Eternity is their Great Concern"
GEORGE BROTHER OF THE ABOVE
WHO DEPARTED THIS LIFE
ON THE 15th DAY OF NOVEMBER 1823
AGED 25 YEARS
AND WAS INTERRED IN A VAULT IN THE
CHURCHYARD OF THE PARISH OF HOO
23. Headstone and Body Stone (Next to Above)
SACRED
TO THE MEMORY OF
GEORGE SMITH
OF THIS PARISH
WHO DEPARTED THIS LIFE
ON THE 14th DAY OF MARCH 1849
AGED 78 YEARS
ALSO OF
RICHARD SMITH
YOUNGEST SON OF THE ABOVE
WHO DEPARTED THIS LIFE
ON THE [2]2nd DAY OF MARCH 1850
AGED 42 YEARS
George Smith, Farmer (1841 Census)
24. Headstone and Body Stone (Next to Above)
SACRED
TO THE MEMORY OF
ANN WIFE OF
GEORGE SMITH
OF THIS PARISH
WHO DEPARTED THIS LIFE
ON THE 14th DAY OF JUNE 1842
AGED 70 YEARS
[Eroded Verses]
25. Headstone and Body Stone (Western Section)
LEFT, WILLIAM SMITH, DIED 1849 MIDDLE, JOHN TODD, DIED 1851
RIGHT, LEDGER OF ELLEN NASH, DIED 1859
SACRED
TO THE MEMORY OF
Mr WILLIAM SMITH
OF ST. MARY'S HOO
ELDEST SON OF THE LATE
GEORGE & ANN SMITH
OF THIS PARISH
WHO DIED THE 14th OF APRIL 1849
AGED 59 YEARS
AND ALSO ANN SMITH
WIDOW OF THE ABOVE
WHO DIED THE 20th OF NOVEMBER 1884
AGED 84 YEARS
26. Eroded Chest Tomb, Inscription Reconstructed from Thorpe's Registrum Roffenses, 1769
(Eastern Section, Edge of Path)
WILLIAM SOMER, DIED 1607, TOMB RESTORED 1672
West Side
WILLIAM SOMER HERE[TOFORE OF THIS PARSH]
GENT. WAS HERE [BURIED & THIS]
TOMB THEN SETT UP [BY WILLIAM SOMER]
HIS SON & EXECUTOR [IN THE YEAR 1607]
AND NOW REPAIRED & [BEAUTIFIED BY]
RICHARD SOMER OF CLI[FFORDS INN]
LONDON, GENT. [HIS GRANDSON IN THE YEAR 1672]
27. Pedestal and Fallen Cross (Northern Section)
IN
FONDEST MEMORY
OF
ALFRED MARK
THE BELOVED AND ONLY SON OF
ALFRED AND MINNIE SPENCER
WHO PASSED AWAY JUNE 22nd 1912
AGED 22 YEARS
"Never Forgotten"
28. Pedestal and Cross (Western Section)
JAMES CRABTREE
SUTCLIFFE
PRIEST
BORN 1834
FELL ASLEEP NOV. 8th 1891
Rev. James Sutcliffe, formerly Curate of St. Peter, Bethnal Green (1881 Census)
29. Headstone and Plain Ledger (Western Section)
SACRED
TO THE MEMORY OF
JOHN TODD
OF THE MIDDLE TEMPLE
WHO WAS ACCIDENTALLY DROWNED
ON THE 2Oth ? OF APRIL
1851
AGED 26 YEARS
DEATH OF JOHN TODD,1851, FROM "THE TIMES"
" THE LATE FATAL ACCIDENT ON THE RIVER~
On Friday last an inquest was held at the Red Dog, High Halston, (sic) before Mr Hills, deputy coroner for West Kent, on view of the body of a person unknown to the jurors, but which proved to be that of Mr Todd, a barrister, who was accidentally drowned on Easter Sunday while cruising with some friends in the Thames below Gravesend. It appeared from the evidence of Edward Thomas Davis, a waterman of Gravesend, that on the 20th of April he took some gentlemen from Waite's hotel for a sail in the Lady Melville, a boat belonging to Marshall, a waterman of that place.
After taking them on board they beat about off Gravesend for about two hours, when the tide slacked, and they went down the river below Yantlet. On their return two of the gentlemen were standing on the starboard deck, and there being little wind, caused the mainsail to come over, which knocked them both overboard. One saved himself by catching hold of the sail, but the other went down, and he saw him no more. The only gentleman witness knew of those on board was the one who was drowned, and that was Mr Todd, and whom he had taken out with him twice during last summer. Mr Todd had on a blue pilot cloth jacket, a waistcoat with glass buttons, and wore studs of a blue cast in his shirt. He had viewed the body then lying in the church, and had no doubt that it was that of Mr Todd, who he should think was about 26 years of age.
William Glue, of Gravesend, waterman, accompanied the party down the river, and said they were out from 11 o'clock on Sunday morning until 3 o'clock on the following morning. The accident occurred between 9 and 10 o'clock at night, at which time witness was at the helm. There was very little wind, no moon, and so thick with rain they could not see where they were going. The sail coming over the was quite accidental. Witness identified the body as that of Mr Todd.
Henry Clarke, a bargeman, living at Strood, proved the recovery of the body on Monday, the 12th inst., which he saw floating about midway in Sea Reach, about a mile and a half from the shore. Witness procured assistance at the Preventive station in Egypt Bay and took from the deceased a cigar box, two knives, comb, boot hook, tobacco stopper, a crown piece, and two shillings, which he gave to John Cross, a revenue officer, by whom they were produced, as also three studs taken from the shirt.
There being no other evidence, the jury returned a verdict that the deceased was "Accidentally drowned" "
30. Headstone (Eastern Section)
IN MEMORY
OF
JOHN WAKELIN
WHO DIED 11th [NOV]EMBER 1828
AGED 59 YEARS
ALSO SARAH WIFE OF THE ABOVE
WHO DIED 24th SEPTEMBER 1847
AGED 74 YEARS
ALSO
JOHN WAKELIN
SON OF THE ABOVE
JOHN & SARAH WAKELIN
[WHO] DIED 26th SEPTEMBER 1858
AGED 59 YEARS
John Wakelin, Junior, Agricultural Labourer at Hoo (1851 Census)
31. Headstone (East of Chancel)
IN
LOVING MEMORY
OF
MARY
THE BELOVED WIFE OF
WILLIAM WELLARD
WHO DIED JANUARY 7th 1897
AGED 67 YEARS
"From our Happy Home and Circle,
God has taken She we Loved,
Borne away from Sin and Sorrow,
To a Nobler Rest Above"
32. Fallen Headstone (Next to Above)
IN LOVING MEMORY
OF
WILLIAM WELLARD
WHO DIED 28th OCT. 1908
AGED 84 YEARS
"Until the Day Break,
And the Shadows Flee Away"
William Wellard, Shepherd at Little Cop ?(1881 Census)
END
Index of Names and Places
Names Index
COCKRELL 3
COLLER 4
COLLEY 5
COMPORT 6, 7
CRABREE 28
CRUMP 8
ELI / ELY 9
GARDINER 10
GOODGER 11
HEARNDEN 12
JEFFERY 13
KEMP 14
KNIGHT 15, 16
LONGFIELD 17
MOTT 18
NASH 19
OSENTON 10, 20
PHELPS 10
REED 21
SMITH 22-25
SOMER 26
SPENCER 27
SUTCLIFFE 28
TODD 29
WAKELIN 30
WELLARD 31, 32