Some Monumental Inscriptions of Ham Church
Some Monumental Inscriptions of Ham Church, noted by Rev Bryan Faussett noted 1759. Also some Monumental Inscriptions Noted by Zechariah Cozens about 1795, added 10th September 2008.
Kindly typed up for the website by Pat Tritton
In the Chancell.
1. On a Flat Stone. Here lieth interred the Body of Edward BUNCE, Yeoman late of this Parish who died Aug. 14 1750 in the 66th Year of his Age. He left Issue 2 Daughters Anne, and Jane.
2. On Another. Here lieth interred the Body of Anne, the Wife of Edward BUNCE, late of this Parish who departed this Life Aug. 11 1749 in ye 48th Year of her Age. She left Issue 2 Daughters Anne, and Jane.
3. On Another. Here lieth interred the Body of Margaret BUNCE, late of this Parish; who departed this Life the 12th Day of March 1728-29 in ye 37th Year of her Age.
4. On Another. Here lieth interred the Body of Mary, the only Wife of Thomas BUNCE, who departed this Life the 2d. Day of October, 1726 in ye 66th Year of her Age. Hoping for ye glorious Resurrection through Jesus Christ, Our Lord.
5. On Another. Here lieth the Body of Thomas BUNCE, Yeoman late of this Parish, who departed this Life the 16th Day of September 1716 in the 65th Year of his Age. Lieth here waiting for the Resurrection of the Just.
6. One Ancient broken flat Stone, not legible.
7. In an Arch, on the South Side, is a very ancient flat Stone, rais’d about a Foot above ye Floor – without any Inscription.
In the Body.
8. On a Flat Stone. Here lieth the Body of Thomas FAGG, Esq. He died the 22d. of Apr. 1748 aged 65 Years. Also Lydia, Daughter of the abovesaid Thomas and Lydia Fagg – Murdered by her Maid, the 28th of May 1737 aged 22 Months.
9. One other Flat Stone, very ancient, and much broken, without Inscription.
This Church is very small, consisting only of the Chancell and the Body. At ye West End is a small and low shingled Steeple, in which hangs 1 small Bell, without Inscription.
10. In The Church Yard, one broken Head Stone in Memory of Thomas TURNER.
11. This Church was dedicated to St. George. It is a Rectory – in the gift of the King. The present Rector is
Dr Nicholas CARTER, 1759.
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Also some Monumental Inscriptions Noted by Zechariah Cozens about 1795, added 10th September 2008
12. Ham is situated a little more than a mile to the South east of Worth: it is a small Parish containing only three houses; the Church stands in a dry situation near the center of it. It is a very small mean structure, of one aile and one Chancel, open to the roof, on which at the West end is a small turret containing one Bell.
Epitaphs.
13. On a black marble grave stone adjoining the altar rails is: Here are deposited the Remains of Mrs Jane CURLING who departed this Life the 15th Decr. 1791 aged 60 Years. She was ye Daughter of Edward and Ann BUNCE and Wife of Mr John CURLING of Ham, the Offspring of whom was Seven Sons and Five Daughters all born in this Parish.
14. On another adjoining the above is: Here lieth interr’d the Body of Edward BUNCE Yeoman, late of this Parish who died August the 14 1750 in the 66 Year of his Age. He left Issue Two Daughters, Ann & Jane.
15. On another abreast of the last is: Here lieth interr’d the Body of Ann the Wife of Edward BUNCE late of ys. Parish who departed this Life August the 11 1749 in the ../ Year of her Age, left Issue 2 Daughters, Ann & Jane.
16. On a black marble stone, below the step in the chancel is: Here lieth interr’d the Body of Margaret BUNCE late of this Parish who departed this life the 12 day of March 1728/9. In the 37 Year of her Age.
17. On another near the above is: Here lieth Interr’d the Body of Mary the only Wife of Thomas BUNCE who departed this Life the 2d. Day of October 1726 in ye 66 Year of her Age. Hoping for the Glorious resurrection through Jesus Christ our Lord.
18. On another not far from the last is: Here lieth the Body of Thomas BUNCE Yoen. Late of this Parish, Who departed this Life the 16th Day of Septr. 1716 in the 65th Year of his Age. Lieth here Waiting for the Resurrection of the Just.
19. On another in the Aile is: Here lieth the Body of Thomas FAGG Esqr. He died ye 22d. of April 1748 Aged 65 Years. Also Lydia Daughter of the abovesaid Thomas and Lydia Fagg. Murder’d by her Maid the 28th of May 1737 Aged Twenty two Months. Mr Fagg, at the time of the above horrid transaction lived at Dover. Mrs Fagg, having occasion to reprimand one of her Maids for some impropriety of behaviour, she in revenge took the child abovementioned, whom the Mother was doatingly fond of, and threw it in the river at that place; the Infant swam ashore to the hardoned (sic) wretch, and used some endearing expressions that she might not be hurt; but her breast being steeled to any impressions of humanity, she again seized the innocent victim and gave her the fatal plunge, which put a period to her existence here. The maid absconded, and hid herself in a hole in the cliff, but was at last discovered through the sagacity of a dog, belonging to the family; confessed the above particulars, and suffered death at the ensuing assizes, for this unparalleled instance of inhumanity and revenge.
20. On a plain stone at the West end of the aile: In a Vault beneath this Stone lieth the Body of Matthew COLLET Esqr. late of Updown Place in this Parish, who departed this Life on the 27th Day of July 1777, Aged 53 Years.
21. The Commandments, etc. are on the partition between the aile and the chancel and are dated I.R. 1687.
22. This Parish is but small and the inhabitants are few, as must be manifest from the number of houses it contains. The antient family of CRIOL had a seat in this Parish, one of whom, Sir Thomas Criol who was a zealous friend to the House of York, was taken prisoner at the battle of St. Alban’s and executed by order of Margaret of Anjou.
23. The soil in this Parish being rather inclined to chalk is not so fertile as in the last; but from its being more elevated the prospects are astonishingly improved; as we can now command, not only the surrounding country, but a fine view of Deal Downs, with Ramsgate harbour and other parts of the Isle of Thanet.
24. The Living is a Rectory, and the Church is dedicated to St. George.
25. Patron: The Lord Chancellor. 1795. Incumbent: Wheler BUNCE.
26. King’s Books. £5.6s.6d. Tenths: 10s.7½d.
Index of Names and Places
Names Index
BUNCE 1-5, 13-19, 25
CARTER 11
COLLET 20
CRIOL 22
CURLING 13
FAGG 8, 19
TURNER 10PlacesDover 19
Ham
Updown Place 20
St. Alban’s 22General
Murdered 8
Yeoman 14