Some Monumental Inscriptions of St Margaret's at Cliffe Church

Some Monumental Inscriptions of St Margaret's at Cliffe Church, noted by Rev Bryan Faussett noted 1759. Kindly typed up for the website by Pat Tritton.

Funeral Inscriptions etc. at East (or St Margaret’s) Cliff in Kent, 1759.

In The Chancell.
1. On a Flat Stone. Here lieth interred the Body of Willmon OSBAN, second Wife of Richard ALLEN, yeoman, by whom Shee had Issue 2 Sonnes, Richard & John; shee died the 11th of Feb. A.D. 1653/4 aged 61 Yeares.

2. On another Flat Stone. Here lieth buried the Body of Richard ALLEN of this Parrish yeaman, who had Issue by Willmon Osban, 2 Sonns, Richard and John. Hee departed this Mortall Life the 12 Day of June, Anno Dom. 1648 being at the Age of 73 Years. Also the abovesaid Richard Allen left Issue by his first Wife, Mary, Daughter of William FREND of *Meneker, William, and Elizabeth.

*Meneker = Minacre Farm in N’Bourne, E. of Waldershare ch.
3. On Another. Here lieth interred the Body of William ALLEN, of this Parish, Yeoman, eldest Son of Richard Allen, by Mary FREND, his first Wife, who left Issue by Grace, his Wife, Daughter of Thomas TAMMS, Richard, William and Katherine. He died the 31st of May 1667. Aged 64 Years.

4. On Another. Here lieth interred, the Body of Richard ALLEN, Son of Richard Allen of this Parish, Yeaman, by his 2d. Wife, Willmon OSBON; he died 16 Feb. A.D. 1650/1 being the Age of 26 Yeares.

5. On Another. Here lieth interred the Body of John ALLEN, son of Richard Allen of this Parish, Yeoman by his Second Wife Willmon OSBAN, who had to Wife, Elisabeth, Daughter of Mr Ambrose WARD of Yalding; who died the 4th of December, A.D. 1652 being the Age of 26 Yeares.

6. On Another Flat Stone. [A + engrailed erm. imp. A molet sa.]. Here lies interred the Body of Mr William BARNAY and Barbara his Wife, the Daughter of Mr John ASHTON, Gent; he was Vicar of St Margaret’s at Cliff, 38 Years, and departed this Life 28 March 1700, aged 69 Years. She died 4th January 1684/5 aged 44. Here, likewise 3 of their Children are interred.

7. One Ancient Flat Stone, wch. has been inlaid with Brasses.

8. In The Body. Are 3 Flat Stones, not legible – 1 of them seems to be very ancient.

In The North Isle –
9. On a Flat Stone. [Or, 3 bars sa. in chief 3 +s paty fitchy sa. imp. Arg. 3 bars gu]. Here lye interred the Bodies of Edward SMITH Gent, who died 29 March 1719 aged 77 Years, and of Elizabeth his Wife, eldest Daughter of Sr. John BERRY Knt. who died 18 April 1705 in the 76th Year of her Age.

10. On Another. Here lieth the Body of William CHRISTIAN, who departed this Life the 3d. of Marche 1726/7 aged 62 Years, and also Elisabeth his Daughter, who departed this Life ye 11th of September 1718, aged 3 Years.

11. This Church is large, and high, and supported by many round, wrought Arches, and large tall Pillars. It has, also, round the Top of the Wall, on the out Side, many Small, round, wrought Arches and Pillasters. It consists of ye Chancell, Body, and 2 Side Isles. The Tower, which is very large and roomy, and adorn’d with Pillasters, Arches and carv’d Work, is at ye West End, and seems ready to fall. There were 3 Bells in it, wch. are now broken to Peices and lay in an Old Chest. They were taken down, for Fear of their falling, or overturning ye Tower; but what they were broken to Pieces for, I cd. not learn.

12. In The Church Yard are Head Stones for Persons of ye Names of BOWLES, CHITTY, CHRISTIAN, EASTES, FINNIS, JELL, KINGHAM, MARSHALL, MATSON, NASH, POPE, SHARP, SAYER, SPILLET, WELLARD and WOGAN.

13. This Church is without Doubt, dedicated to St Margaret; tho Mr KILBURNE says it was call’d St Peters. There is another Cliff, just by (see P.187) call’d West Cliff, of which no Notice has been taken by any of our Writers, wch. perhaps was dedicated to St Peter, & might be the Cause of Mr KILBURNE’s Mistake – but HARRIS, according to his usuall Candour and Exactness (because there is no such Place mention’d by ye Authors whom he has copied) boldly pronounces that, there is no such Place as West Cliff, (or to use his own Words that "there are not two Places call’d Cliff, hereabouts", tho, these Churches are scarce a Mile asunder.

14. It is a Vicarage in the Patronage of The Present Vicar is Mr John MARSH. 1759.

Index of Names and Places

Names Index
ALLEN 1, 2, 3, 4, 5
ASHTON 6
BARNAY 6
BERRY 9
BOWLES 12
CHITTY 12
CHRISTIAN 10, 12
EASTES 12
FINNIS 12
FREND 2, 3
JELL 12
KINGHAM 12
MARSH 14
MARSHALL 12
MATSON 12
NASH 12
OSBAN 1, 2, 5
OSBON 4
POPE 12
SAYER 12
SHARP 12
SMITH 9
SPILLET 12
TAMMS 3
WARD 5
WELLARD 12
WOGAN 12Places
Yalding 5