Some Monumental Inscriptions of Womenswold Church
Some Monumental Inscriptions of Womenswold Church, noted by Bax & Rice Monday 9th May 1892. Pages 38-40 of Epitaphs from Kent Churches typed up by Margaret Broomfield. Also some Monumental Inscriptions Noted by Rev Bryan Faussett noted 1758, added 31st October 2007.
Church
Copied by Mr. R.G. Rice1. Blue ledger floor of nave middle aisle – arms as above 3 lions ramp. crest a dexter arm in armour holding a tilting spear. Under this stone and the pew adjoining lye interr’d ye bodies of Stephen NETHERSOLE of this parish Gent. who died December 27 1731/2 of Katharine daughter of W. Bowell Gent. first wife of ye said S. Nethersole who died abt ye 19 of September 1694. Of May daughter of Vincent Denn Serjeant at Law and Recorder of ye City of Canterbury 2nd wife of ye said S. Nethersole who died abt ye 18 of February 1710/11. And of Anne Mary ye youngest daughter of ye said S. Nethersole by Katharine his first wife who dec’d (sic) abt ye 5 of April 1726.
2. Blue marble ledger East of last. Arms as rubbed – on a lozenge per pale --- 3 winged lions/wyverns?
Here lies the body of Mrs. Elizabeth NETHERSOLE who died May 14th 1737.
3. Armorial ledger on the S side of the chancel covered by the flooring/ with harmonium except the words "Under this stone" arms as rubbed 8 cross crosslets pitchee [gy semee of cross crosslets pitchee] a lion rampant. Crest – a demis-lion rampant holding a cross crosslet pitchee in dexter paw.
4. Blue ledger on North side of chancel nearly all covered with pews, viz both E and W end of it [ie top and bottom] John WINCHESTER Esq. departed this life July 24th 1781.
5. Small white marble slab to the N of last John WINCHESTER died January the 30 1753 aged 10 years.
6. White stone ledger floor of nave (East of Mrs. Elizabeth Nethersoles) the stone is cracked in two pieces.
Here lieth the body of Elizabeth, daughter of the Reverend Bladen DOWNING Curate of Nonnington with this parish and Elizabeth his wife who died August 23rd 1782 aged 10 years [?40]. Also the body of Richard their infant son.
8. Monument in N wall to John MARSH Esq., Councellor at Law died 3 December 1752 aged 70.
"Mr. Bax noted the other monuments but not …. in memorial windows" all inscriptions on floor of church copied by Mr. Rice.
Churchyard
9. Small HS South of church William BRADLEY late of Canterbury Gent. died the 28th January 1815 aged 88 years.
10. Head stone close to and to the N of last Hannah BRADLEY died the 20th of October 1811 aged 30 years.
11. Headstone with body stone close to the N of last In memory of John PEIRCE late of St. Martins Canterbury who died 2nd December 1808 aged 70 years. Also of Margaret his wife who died 1st August 1818 aged 82 years.
12. Double HS South of church. Dexter half blank, at top of stone are 2 trumpets in saltire, …. 2 sculls – sinister half Here lyeth ye body of John the son of William MARSHALL and Elizabeth his wife he departed this life September 30 1765 [?3] aged 23 years. My friend is gone to his eternal rest wherein I hope he is for ever blest.
13. Head stone South of chancel. Two cherub’s heads at top To the memory of Sampson WANSTALL of Chillenden and of two of his sons viz. Sampson died December the 6th 1742 aged 22 years and Anthony died November 4th 1743 aged 14 years. Also the above said Sampson Winstall died February 4th 1763 aged 78 years. (4 lines of poetry difficult to read).
14. HS scull and hourglass, cross bones Here lyeth the body of William SHARP late of Nonington who departed this life ye 27 of August 1744 aged 75 years. Here also lyeth the body of Jane his wife who departed this life the 3 of September 1749 aged 65 years.
15. Sacred to the memory of William Solly BAX who departed this life the 13th of July 1874 aged 82 years. Also Eleanor Bax wife of the above who died June 7th 1880 aged 83 years. This HS is under the yew tree on the South side of the path leading from the gate to porch. NB WSB signed a plan of the church now in the vestry, as church warden 1870.
South side of churchyard
16. HS In memory of Ann daughter of John and Susanna MARSH of this parish who died march 28 1790 aged 18 years. Line of poetry?
17. HS In memory of Ann wife of John MARSH of this parish who died January 31 1792 aged 66 years. 4 lines of poetry?
18. HS In memory of Mary wife of George BRICE of the parish of Barham. She departed this life the 12th of October 1745/9 aged 31/5 years. Left surviving 1 son viz. Thomas.
19. Names in churchyard Wright 1819, Carpenter 1815 1859 1860, Whitnall 17-- 1834 1832, Fox 1880 1891, Dunn 1864 1865 68 70, Bradley 1815 1811, Peirce 1808 1818 (one undecipherable), Marshall 1765, Bax 1874 1880, Dawkins 185-, Ousted 1869, Seath 1852 1868, Arter 1848, Hoskins 1865, Brice 1795, Marsh 1792, (3 undecipherable, ?Marsh), Sharp 1744, Finn 1881, Winstall 1742, Holdstock 1875, Harvey 1880 1881, Hambrook 1792, Hollaway 1841 1878 1849-1874, Holtum 1858-1862, Harrison 1838, Harvey 1883, Emma Croose 1890
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Also some Monumental Inscriptions Noted by Rev Bryan Faussett noted 1758, added 31st October 2007
Chancell.
20. Here is no Altar Piece, nor does the Communion Table stand in ye usual Place, but in ye Middle of the Chancell. And, On the East Wall, in the Place where the Altar Piece, in Other Churches, is always Placed, is a very elegant Monument, for the Late Colonel MARSH, with ye following Inscription and Coat. [¼ly gu. & arg. in the 1st quarter a horse’s head couped arg. (Marsh)]. To the Memory of Thomas Marsh Esq. who was Lieutenant Colonel of the Militia of the Cinque Ports, Captain of Sandown Castle, & of the Militia Troop of Horse; Deputy Lieutenant of Dover Castle, and to ye Lord Lieutenant of the County of Kent: and a worthy Justice of Peace for ye said County. He was descended from Anne, Sister to Sr. Francis NETHERSOLE, of Nethersole House, in this Parish of Wyminswould, and of Kingston adjacent, Knt. for Many Generations the Seat of his Ancestors: from whence, during the Civil Wars, he retired to Pollesworth in Warwickshire where he died and was buried, in ye Year 1659. For Want of Issue he, by his Will, gave his Estate, in Kent, to his Nephew, John MARSH, Son of his Sister Anne; whose eldest Son, Henry Marsh, succeeded his Father, in ye said House & Estate; where he continued, till ye Year 1697 when he surrend’red them to his eldest Son, ye aforesaid Thomas Marsh; who married Martha, Daughter of Sr. Edward CROPLEY, Knt. He died without Issue, in ye Year 1739. Aged 73 Years; by Will leaving his Estate, real and personal, without Limitation, or Condition, to his near Relation, John Marsh of the Middle Temple, Esq. who, in a New Vault, in ye Chancell, deposited his Remains, with those of his Wife’s; and erected this Monument, in Testimony of his Gratitude and Affection.
On an Atcheivement over the Mont. is this Coat. [MARSH, imp. Erm. on a chief gu. 3 owls (?) arg.]. ("as above").
21. On the North Wall is Another very Handsome Monument for The Late John MARSH Esq. with a Fine Bust of him & the following inscription. To the Memory of John Marsh Esq. Councillor at Law, who voluntarily quitted that Profession in 1740 at a Time when his Practice was very considerable and retired to his Seat at Nethersole, where he spent the Remainder of his Life. He was a constant and zealous Assertor of the Liberties of his Country; and died the 3rd. of December 1752. Aged 70. John WINCHESTER Esq. One of his Executors, to whom after many bountyfull Legacies to his Friends, He bequeath’d his Real and personal Estate, for Life only, in Gratitude, erected this Monument.
Over The Monument is an Atcheivement with this Coat. [¼ly. 1&4). ¼ly gu. & arg. in the 1st ¼ a horse’s head couped arg. 2&3). Arg. an escallop epr. on a chief sa. 2 cinquefoils arg. imp. Arg. on a bend sa. 3 swans arg.].
22. Here are 3 very Ancient Flat Stones; one of which is under an Arch in the North Wall; none of them legible. In The South Wall are 2 Arches, but the Gravestones are taken away. On a Large White Stone on The Floor, about the Middle of the Chancel, near ye Communion Table, is inscribed M. 1740 – it being the Entrance into the Vault.
In The Body.
23. On a Mural Monument, on ye East Wall – with this Coat. [NETHERSOLE, 3.44. Barham imp. Az. 3 otters, each with a fish in its mouth, in pale, or (PRUDE)]. Gulielmum Nethersole Gulielmi, qui in Academiâ Oxoniensi apud Reginenses Adolescens inclaruit, Filium, in eo patrissantem, testabuntur Mertonenses. Nec minus inter Juris Anglicani Studio addictos Interioris Templi Socios sui Temporis inclarescentem; Summae Spei Juvenem juxta Patrem sepeliri, et hoc Mo numento ornari curavit maerens Vidua Dorothaea Serli PRUDE de Garington in Agro Cantiano Armigeri Filia et altera Cohaeredum. Obijt primò dictus Gulielmus Cantuarij, Anno Salutis 1654. Aetatis suae 31.
24. On a Neat Mural Monument on ye N. Wall, with the Arms of NETHERSOLE and DENN as before. Near This Place lies interrd the Body of Mrs Elizabeth Nethersole (Daughter of Stephen Nethersole of this Parish, Gent, by Katherine, Daughter of Will. BOWELL, Gent, his First Wife). A Person worthy, if any other, to be number’d among ye Holy Women of Old, being adorned, like them, with the Ornament of a truly meek and quiet Spirit. Who as She had in her Lifetime, always remember’d the poor, so, at her Death, she was far from forgetting Them. For, by her last Will and Testament, She directed three Houses, with a Smith’s Forge, and about 3 Acres of Land to be sold and the Money to be placed out to Interest for the perpetual Use & Benefit of the poor of this Parish. Nor did She, while She was thus caring for ye Poor, neglect her own, whether living or dead; for, as to the former, (who were not a few) She gave very largely; so, in Memory of the latter, viz, of her foresaid Father & Mother, as also of Ann:Mary, her Youngest Sister, & Mary, Daughter of Vincent DENNE, Serjeant at Law, & Recorder of Canterbury her Father’s Second Wife, whom She always loved and honourd as her own Mother, She orderd this Monument to be erected, allotting for the Same the Sum of Sixty Pounds.
25. On a Flat Stone, with the above Arms. Under this Stone, and the Pew adjoining, lie interrd the Bodies of Stephen NETHERSOLE of this Parish, Gent, who died Dec. 27 173½. Of Katherine Daughter of W. BOWELL Gent, First Wife of the said S.Nethersole, who died about ye 15th of Sept. 1694. Of Mary, Daughter of Vincent DENNE Serjeant at Law & Recorder of the City of Canterbury, 2d. Wife of the said S.NETHERSOLE, who died about the 18th of Feb. 1710/11. And of Ann Mary, the Youngest Daughter of the said S.Nethersole, by Katherine his first Wife, who died about ye 5th of April 1726.
26. On Another. Here lies the Body of Mrs Elis. NETHERSOLE, who died May ye 14th 1737.
27. On Another. Here lieth the Body of Anne GORE, she departed this Life March 8 1745/6 aged 33 Years.
28. On Another. Here lieth the Body of John GORE Aged 44, 1749.
29. This Church, which is very Small, consists of the Chancell, Body & N.Isle or Chapel, and a Low Tower, at ye West End, in which hangs 1 Small Bell, thus Inscribed. Altho’ I’m Small/I’m heard by all.
30. This Church was dedicated to St Margaret, and is a Curacy, or Chappel to Nonnington.
31. It is in the Gift of …….
32. The present Curate is the Revd. Mr Edward LUNN, who is also Rector of Denton, viz. 1758.
Index of Names and Places
Names Index
Arter 19
BAX 15, 19
BOWELL 1, 24, 25
BRADLEY 9, 10, 19
BRICE 18, 19
Carpenter 19
Croose 19
CROPLEY 20
Dawkins 19
Denn 1
DENN 24
DOWNING 6
Dunn 19
Finn 19
GORE 27, 28
Hambrook 19
Harrison 19
Harvey 19
Holdstock 19
Hollaway 19
Holtum 19
Hoskins 19
LUNN 32
M. 22
MARSH 8, 16, 17, 19-21
MARSHALL 12, 19
NETHERSOLE 1, 2, 23-26
Ousted 19
PEIRCE 11, 19
PRUDE 23
Seath 19
SHARP 14, 19
WANSTALL 13
Whitnall 19
WINCHESTER 4, 5, 21
Winstall 13, 19
Wright 19
Places Index
Places Index
Barham 18
Canterbury 1, 9
Chillenden 13
Denton 32
Kingston, Kent 20
London Middle Temple 20
Nonington 6, 14, 30
Pollesworth, Warwickshire 20
St. Martins 11
Womenswold
Nethersole 21
Nethersole House 20
Smith’s Forge 24General
Captain of Sandown Castle 20
Colonel 20
Councillor at Law 8, 21
Curate 6
Deputy Lieutenant of Dover Castle 20
Lieutenant Colonel 20
Lord Lieutenant of Kent 20
Militia of the Cinque Ports 20
Militia Troop of Horse 20
Recorder of Canterbury 24, 25
Reverend 6
Serjeant at Law 24, 25
Serjeant at Law and Recorder 1