Monumental Inscriptions, including wills (pre 1858) and other notes of Methodist Church, Union Street, Maidstone

Monumental Inscriptions, including wills (pre 1858) and other notes of Methodist Church, Union Street, Maidstone recorded by D. E. Williams 2016.


Union Street Methodist Church from the south

The headstones are against the wall on the east, under the trees (right). This church was built in 1823, the single storey porch, which is across the whole width is fairly modern. There was an earlier church here, built 1805.

INTERIOR

TABLETS AT SOUTH END AND STAINED GLASS WINDOWS

1.   STAINED GLASS WINDOW

IN MEMORY OF GEORGE BAKER DIED AUGUST 12th 1893

2.   STAINED GLASS WINDOW

IN MEMORY OF JOSIAH THOMAS BAKER DIED AUGUST 12th 1903 AGED 69

1881 CENSUS, BASKET AND TRUNK MAKER , BAZAAR PROPRIETOR AND HARDWAREMAN, BANK STREET.

BAKER SEE STANDEN

3.   MARBLE TABLET

TO
THE MEMORY OF
WILLIAM BEECHING
WHO DIED RESTING ON CHRIST
JAN 15th 1876 IN HIS 70th YEAR
OF HIS AGE
FOR ABOVE 50 YEARS HE HAD BEEN
A CONSISTENT MEMBER
AND A FAITHFUL LOCAL PREACHER
OF THE WESLEYAN METHODIST SOCIETY
"Thy Statutes have been my    ?
in the House of his Pilgrimage"
ALSO OF
RICHARD BEECHING
BROTHER OF THE ABOVE
BORN MARCH 7th 1805 DIED SEP 12th 1880
50 YEARS LOCAL PREACHER
48 YEARS SUPERINTENDENT OF SUNDAY SCHOOL
"O Thou that Dwellest
Between the Cherubins Shine Forth"

WILLIAM BEECHING, 1871 CENSUS, BOOTMAKER. RICHARD BEECHING, 1839 PIGOT DIRECTORY,
BOOT AND SHOE MAKER, 1871 CENSUS, MASTER CORDWAINER AND LOCAL PREACHER. THESE BEECHINGS ARE SAID TO BE RELATIONS OF DR. RICHARD BEECHING OF THE "BEECHING AXE", CUTTING (NOW SEEN AS A MISCALCULATION), OF RAILWAY LINES IN THE EARLY 1960'S. DR BEECHING CERTAINLY WENT TO SCHOOL IN MAIDSTONE.

4.   MARBLLE TABLET

SACRED
TO THE MEMORY OF THE
REVD. JOHN BRYANT
WHO DIED IN THE CITY OF EXETER
JULY 31st 1825
AGED 45 YEARS
"He was a Man of Unaffected Piety,
Powerful Intellect, Extensive Theological Knowledge,
Inflexable Integrity, Sauvity of Disposition,
And Profound Humility combined with
Distinguished Ministerial Talents,
Which he Diligently and Sucessfully Employed,
16 years in the Wesleyan Connection
And Finished his Itinerant Labours in Maidstone June 1st 1825"
This Tablet was Erected by the Society in Veneration
Of his Character and Regret for their Loss.

5.   STAINED GLASS WINDOW

N LOVING MEMORY OF 
CHARLES GHUZNEE HEWITT WHO 
FELL ASLEEP JUNE 17th 1917 ALSO HIS DAUGHTER
EVELYN MAY WHO PASSED
AWAY JANUARY 4th 1917

1881 CENSUS, BREWER'S CLERK, BOXLEY ROAD.

6.   STAINED GLASS WINDOW

IN LOVING MEMORY OF 
EDWARD HARRIS IVENS  
WHO FELL ASLEEP JUNE 20th 1916 ALSO TO HIS BELOVED WIFE
ELIZABETH CALLED HOME
AUGUST 11th 1915

1881 CENSUS, COMMERCIAL TRAVELER, UNEMPLOYED, UNION STREET.

7.   STAINED GLASS WINDOW

IN MEMORY OF ALFRED D. RATCLIFFE
WHO FELL ASLEEP DEC 1st 1916

1881 CENSUS, FLY PROPRIETOR, (LIGHT CARRIAGE), WEEK STREET.
(SEE CHURCHYARD HEADSTONE.)

8.   MARBLE TABLET

TO THE BELOVED MEMORY OF
THOMAS SMITH
WHO DIED ON SUNDAY OCTOBER 5th 1879
AGED 59 YEARS
AFTER A LIFELONG CONNECTION WITH THE
WESLEYAN METHODIST SOCIETY IN THIS PLACE
HAVING DISCHARGED FAITHFULLY THE DUTIES
OF IT'S VARIOUS OFFICES , MANY OF WHICH
HE HELD UP TO THE TIME OF HIS DEATH.
"God is our Refuge and Strength"
ALSO IN LOVING MEMORY OF
MARIANE
WIDOW OF THE ABOVE THOMAS SMITH WHO ENTERED
INTO REST ON MONDAY MARCH 10th 1913 IN HER 89th YEAR
"Thou, O Christ, art all I Want"

9.   STAINED GLASS WINDOW

IN MEMORY OF CHARLES 
LEAVER SMITH DIED 
NOVEMBER 2nd 1920 IN MEMORY OF FRANK
LEAVER SMITH KILLED
IN ACTION AUGUST 1916

 

1911 CENSUS, CHARLES, A GROCER

10.   MARBLE TABLET

SACRED TO THE MEMORY OF
MR THOMAS STANDEN
WHO DEPARTED THIS LIFE THE 25th NOVEMBER 1864 AGED 72 YEARS
HE HAD BEEN AN ACTIVE TRUSTEE OF THIS CHAPEL
AND A ZEALOUS MEMBER OF THE WESLEYAN CHURCH 50 YEARS

ALSO FANNY WIFE OF THE ABOVE
WHO DIED THE 11th JULY 1858 AGED 73 YEARS
ALSO LOUISA ELDEST DAUGHTER OF THE ABOVE
WHO DIED THE 16th JAN 1855 AGED 32 YEARS
ALSO ELIZABETH DAUGHTER OF THE ABOVE THOMAS & FANNY
STANDEN WHO DIED THE 30th AUGUST 1886 AGED 59 YEARS
"They Died in Christ"

1839 PIGOT DIRECTORY, PROBABLY THE GROCER AND TEA DEALER; 1861 CENSUS, GENTLEMAN
THERE ARE TWO THOMAS STANDENS LISTED IN 1839, THE OTHER A BOOTMAKER.

11.   BRASS PLAQUE

TO THE GLORY OF GOD
AND IN SACRED MEMORY OF
ELIZABETH TEBBUTT
WHO PASSED TO THE HOMELAND ON 14th JULY 1929
AGED 73 YEARS
SHE WAS FOR FIFTY FIVE YEARS
A DEVOTED MEMBER OF THE WESLEYAN METHODIST CHURCH
AND DURING HER LIFE MANNIFESTED
THE GRACES OF ANOBLE CHRISTIAN CHARACTER
LOVE, JOY, PEACE, PATIENCE, GENTLENESS, GOODNESS, FAITH.
WE THANK GOD UPON EVERY REMEMBRANCE OF HER

SMALL BRASS PLAQUE BELOW ABOVE

THE TRUSTEES RECORD WITH GRATITUDE
THAT THE GATES AND RAILINGS AT THE
FRONT ENTRANCE WERE ERECTED WITH
A LEGACY TO THIS CHURCH BY
CHARLES W, TEBBUTT
A BROTHER BELOVED
1877 – 1954

1911 CENSUS, ELIZABETH TEBBUTT WAS THE WIFE OF ELI, A BOOTMAKER.

12.   STAINED GLASS WIDOW

IN MEMORY OF EDWARD WRAITH DIED JAN 2nd 1896 AGED 79 YEARS

1881 CENSUS, GROCER ON GABRIEL'S HILL

13.   STAINED GLASS WINDOW

IN MEMORY OF EDWARD HENRY WRAITH DIED OCTOBER 29th 1905 AGED 48 YEARS

1881 CENSUS, GROCER, SON OF THE ABOVE

CHURCHYARD  (MOST OF THESE HEADSTONES ARE SOMEWHAT WORN, SOME BADLY, HOWEVER WITH THE APPLICATION OF CHALK I WAS ABLE TO READ, WITH GAPS, MOST OF THE FAINTEST)

14.   HEADSTONE

IN AFFECTIONATE REMEMBRANCE OF
HARRIET THE BELOVED WIFE OF
GEORGE BALDWIN
WHO DIED NOVEMBER 9th 1872
AGED 57 YEARS
"Her End was Peace"
ALSO THE ABOVE
GEORGE BALDWIN
WHO DIED JANUARY 18th? 1873 ?
AGED 60? YEARS
"Not Lost but Gone Before"
ALSO OF GEORGE BALDWIN
SON OF THE ABOVE
WHO DIED JULY 7th 1897
AGED 50 YEARS

1871 CENSUS, GEORGE SNR. HOUSE AGENT; GEORGE JNR. CLERK IN GAS WORKS.

15.   HEADSTONE

SACRED
TO THE MEMORY OF
JOSEPH BENSTED
OF THIS PARISH
WHO DEPARTED THIS LIFE
30th DECEMBER 18[3]0
AGED [   ] YEARS
ALSO OF
HENRY FILEY? SMITH
WHO DIED AT LOOSE THE 12th
OF JULY 1837?
AGED 5? MONTHS

1826 PIGOT DIRECTORY, WILLIAM AND JOSEPH BENSTED, WHARFINGERS AND WATER CONVEYANCERS.

16.   HEADSTONE

[                                  ]
JAMES BENYARD[WHO DIED] AUG 1[  ] 1849 AGED 59 YEARS
ALSO MARY WIFE OF THO. BENYARD
WHO DIED FEB 5th 1858 AGED 51 YEARS

17.   HEADSTONE

SACRED
TO THE MEMORY OF
JOHN BLACKSTOCK
A [NATIVE?] OF D[             ]
SCOTLAND
WHO DIED AT MAIDSTONE
FEBRUARY 10th? 1835 AGED [    ] YEARS

18.   LEDGER?

BENEATH
THIS STONE LIE THE REMAINS OF
EMILY CAMILIA
THIRD DAUGHTER OF
WILLIAM & ANN PLATER
AND WIFE OF
JOHN GOOD
OF THIS TOWN
WAS BORN THE 10th OF JULY 1829
DIED THE 25th OF OCTOBER 1850
ALSO OF ANN WIFE OF
WILLIAM PLATER
WHO DIED NOV 22nd 1850
[AGED 52 YEARS]

1881 CENSUS, JOHN GOOD OF BRUNSWICK STREET, BREWER'S CLERK

19.   HEADSTONE

[                              ]
EMMA
THE BELOVED WIFE OF
JAMES GRAY
[OF THIS PARISH ?]
WHO DEPARTED THIS LIFE
[                                1860]
[AGED 23 or 24 YEARS]

20.   HEADSTONE

IN MEMORY OF
JOHN LADBROOK
[                                ]
[                              1826]
[                           ]

PREROGATIVE COURT OF CANTERBURY WILL DATED 18th APRIL 1826
JOHN LADBROOK, PATTEN MAKER
    HE "HUMBLY DESIRES" THAT JAMES STANGER, STEPHEN LINK HAZELL AND THOMAS STANDEN WILL BE HIS EXECUTORS.
   AT THE TIME THEY JUDGE BEST, THEY TO SELL HIS PATTEN BUSINESS AND THE "LITTLE STOCK" CONNECTED WITH HIS GROCERY BUSINESS. THE PROCEEDS, AFTER HIS DEBTS ARE PAID, TO BE SHARED EQUALLY BETWEEN HIS FOUR DAUGHTERS, MARTHA, ELIZABETH, MARY AND HANNAH. DAUGHTER MARY HAS A "PECULIAR" DISABILITY, SO SHE IS TO HAVE £20 PRIOR TO THE SHARING OUT OF THE MONEY. HE HOPES HIS DAUGHTERS WILL CARE FOR THE "POOR ORPHAN", SARAH HEAD DURING HER MINORITY. SARAH AND HER SISTER, ANN COTTERILL HEAD TO HAVE £10 EACH WHEN HIS EXECUTORS WILL THINK IT MOST USEFUL FOR THEM.
   IF THEY BOTH DIE, THEIR LEGACIES WILL GO TO HIS FOUR DAUGHTERS.
   HOUSEHOLD FURNITURE AND ALL UTENSILS, HIS CLOTHES, LINEN, BOOKS, PLATE TO BE EQUALLY SHARED BY HIS DAUGHTERS.
   WITNESSES: JOHN LITTLE TANNTON AND THOMAS SUTTON.
   PROVED 26th JUNE 1826

MARTEN SEE TAPLIN

PLATER SEE GOOD


21.  
HEADSTONE

SACRED
TO THE MEMORY OF
[                                     ]
[                                        ]
[                                        ]
[                                        ]
ALSO
HANNAH POTTER
[                       NOVEMBER 1831]
[                           ]
ALSO
WILLIAM EDWARD POTTER
[                              1863?]
[                           ]

22.   HEADSTONE

IN
LOVING MEMORY OF
ALFRED DANIEL RATCLIFFE
BORN JAN 14th 18[40]
DIED DEC 1st 19[16]
ALSO ELIZA ANN
WIFE OF THE ABOVE
BORN [                  ] 1st 1842
DIED [                             ] 1911

1881 CENSUS, ALFRED RATCLIFFE, FLY PROPRIETOR (LIGHT CARRIAGES), WEEK STREET
(SEE INTERIOR)

23.   TABLET   (FORMERLY ON AN INTERIOR WALL?)

A FILIAL MEMORIAL
TO THE
REVD. GEORGE HAMBLY ROWE
WHO HAVING IRREPROACHABLY DISCHARGED
THE DUTIES OF A
WESLEYAN MINISTER
NEARLY 42 YEARS
DEPARTED THIS LIFE MARCH THE 4th 1850
IN THE 64th YEAR OF HIS AGE
AND WAS INTERRED IN FRONT OF THIS CHAPEL
"At Eve his Summons came,
He started up to Hear,
The Mortal Arrow Pierced his Frame,
He Fell?     ?    but [felt?] no Fear"

24.   HEADSTONE

IN
MEMORY OF
BETHANIA RUCK
WIFE OF JOSHUA RUCK
OF THIS PARISH WHO DEPARTED THIS LIFE
26th OF OCTOBER 1833 AGED 36 YEARS
"Hark [                           ] the Sky,
Happy are the Faithful Dead,
In the Lord who Sweetly Die,
They from all[                  ]"

1826 PIGOT DIRECTORY, JOSLHUA RUCK, PAWNBROKER.

25.   HEADSTONE

SACRED
TO THE MEMORY OF
JOHN SHADGETT
OF THIS PARISH
WHO DEPARTED THIS LIFE APRIL 16th 1821
AGED 44? YEARS
LEFT ISSUE 2 SONS AND 1 DAUGHTER
JOSEPH, BENJAMIN AND FANNY
ALSO THE ABOVE BENJAMIN SHADGETT
WHO DIED JAN 21st 1841
AGED 34 YEARS
ALSO FANNY WIFE OF JOHN SHADGETT
WHO DIED JAN 18th 1841
AGED 70? YEARS
ALSO EDWARD HENRY HER SON
WHO DIED SEPT [    ] 1854
AGED 62 YEARS

PREROGATIVE COURT OF CANTERBURY WILL , NOT DATED (IN FULL)
JOHN SHADGETT, CARRIER OF MAIDSTONE.
   "THIS IS MY WILL THE HOLE OF MY PROPERTY FOR MY WIFE AS LONG AS SHE LIVES EXCEPT SHE SHALL MARY AGANE THEN TO COME TO MY CHILDREN BUT IF SHE SHALL BEE SINGLE TO ENJOY IT TO HER END THE HOLE AFTER THAT SEAGER'S HOUSE TO COME TO JOSEPH AND CUTLER'S HOUSE AND FIELD TO BENJAMIN AND BOOTH'S HOUSE TO FAINNY MY STOCK AND TRADE TO BE PARTED FROM TO BE ADVISER TO LET ANY STEDY PERSON WILL FIND ANSWER RGEIR? PURPOSES MY STOCK AND TRADE IS WORTH TO ANY MAN £500 POUNDS AND THE MONEY TO BE PUT TO USE OR APIECE OF LAND BOUGHT TO BILD SUM COTEGE BILT ONE ALL THE BOOK DEBTS TO BE GOT IN AMEDELEY AND THERE IS MORE THAN A NUF TO SHARES I SHOU;D LIKE THE BOYS TO BE PUT PRENTES TO TRADE THAT THEY SHOULD LIKE AND THARE MOTHER TO SIST THEM IN DISON MANNER BUT NOTHER MORE THAN BECOME DISON."
   NOT SIGNED, NO WITNESSES.

AFFIDAVIT 21st NOVEMBER 1821
   FANNY, HIS WIDOW, JOHN HENTY OF MAIDSTONE, SHOE MAKER AND SARAH DAVIS OF THREE TUNS COURT, SOUTHWARK, SPINSTER, ARE SWORN.
   HENTY WAS WELL ACQUAINTED WITH SHADGETT AND IS FAMILIAR WITH HIS MANNER OF SPELLING AND HANDWRITING. HE STATED THAT SHADGETT HAD TOLD HIM HOW HE WANTED HIS PROPERTY TO BE DISBURSED AND THAT HIS WILL FOLLOWS THE SAME ORDER. HE SAW SHADGETT WRITING THE WILL AT A BUREAU AND BELIEVES THE WILL HE HAS EXAMINED ID THE SAME DOCUMENT. HENTY FOUND THE WILL IN THE SAME BUREAU, NO OTHER WILL WAS FOUND.
   SARAH DAVIS WAS ALSO WELL ACQUAINTED WITH SHADGETT AND WAS FAMILIAR WITH HIS SPELLING AND HANDWRITING, SHE HAS CAREFULLY EXAMINED THE WILL AND DECLARES IT TO BE IN SHADGETT'S HAND.
   WIDOW FANNY HAS SEARCH HER HUSBAND'S PAPERS BUT FOUND NO OTHER WILL. SHE STATES HER CHILDREN ARE MINORS, JOSEPH AND BENJAMIN ARE 14, UPWARDS AND FANNY IS 11, UPWARDS. FANNY SIGNS THE AFFIDAVIT WITH HER MARK.
   PROVED 5th DECEMBER 1821

IN PIGOT'S 1826 DIRECTORY JOHN'S WIDOW FANNY SHADGETT IS CARRYING ON THE BUSINESS AS A CARRIER FROM MAIDSTONE TO LONDON, BASED AT WEEK STREET.

SMITH SEE BENSTED

26.   HEADSTONE

SACRED
TO THE MEMORY OF
JABEZ WILLIAM STEVENSON
OF THIS PARISH
WHO DIED [    ] OCTOBER 1827
[                           ]
[                                          ]

27.   HEADSTONE

IN MEMORY OF
ELIZABETH TAPLIN
LATE OF BLOCKLEY
WORCESTERSHIRE
DIED FEB 3rd 1845
AGED 69 YEARS
ALSO TO THE MEMORY OF
JOHN MARTEN
LATE OF CANTERBURY
[                                        ]
[                        ]

28.   HEADSTONE

SACRED
TO THE MEMORY OF
WILLIAM TELFER
OF LANGHOLME IN THE
COUNTY OF DUMFRIESHIRE
SCOTLAND
WHO DEPARTED THIS LIFE
THE 27th? OF AUGUST 1830
AGED 26 YEARS

29.   HEADSTONE

IN MEMORY
OF
CHARLES WEBB
WHO DIED JUNE 29th? 1846
AGED 49 YEARS
LEAVING A WIDOW AND 3? CHILDREN
ALSO RICHARD HENRY
SON OF CHARLES AND SARAH WEBB
WHO DIED FEB 9th? 1838
AGED 2 YEARS & 3 MONTHS

30.   HEADSTONE

SACRED
TO THE MEMORY OF SARAH WHEATLEY
OF THIS PARISH WHO DIED THE 6th OF FEBRUARY
1830 AGED 78 YEARS
ALSO OF JOHN WHEATLEY
GRANDSON OF THE ABOVE
WHO DIED NOV 30th 1851
IN THE 43rd YEAR OF HIS AGE
ALSO WILLIAM WHEATLEY
SON OF THE ABOVE
WHO DIED MARCH 8th 1855
AGED 62 YEARS

PREROGATIVE COURT OF CANTERBURY WILL DATED 19th APRIL 1844
JOHN WHEATLEY OF THE FOUNTAIN INN, MAIDSTONE, VICTUALLER AND TAILOR.
HE WISHES TO BE BURIED IN A PLAIN AND INEXPENSIVE MANNER.
DEBTS, FUNERAL AND PROBATE COSTS FIRST PAID.
RESIDUE OF REAL AND PERSONAL ESTATE TO WIFE SOPHIA, ABSOLUTELY.
    BUT IF HIS WIFE DIES IN HIS LIFETIME, THEN HIS ESTATE TO HER TWO CHILDREN BY HER FORMER HUSBAND SAMUEL SOAMES, THAT IS, EDWARD AND LAURA , EQUALLY SHARED, SUBJECT TO PAYMENT OF HIS DEBTS, ETC.
   HIS WIFE AND WILLIAM LOGAN OF HIGH STREET, MAIDSTONE, BAKER ARE EXECUTORS.
   WITNESSES: SAMUEL VIGOR, 64 KING STREET, MAIDSTONE, TAILOR AND JOHN HARRIS OF BANK STREET, TAILOR.

AFFIDAVIT 24th APRIL 1852
   JOHN HARRIS IS SWORN AND STATES THAT WHEATLEY SIGNED THE WILL IN HIS AND VIGOR'S PRESENCE AND THAT THEY BOTH WITNESSED THE WILL IN WHEATLEY'S AND EACH OTHER'S PRESENCE.
   PROVED 28thL APRIL 1852

31.   HEADSTONE

IN MEMORY OF
JOHN WILES
WHO DEPARTED THIS LIFE
AUGUST? 9Th 1850
AGED 52 YEARS
ALSO H[ARRIE]TT HIS WIFE
[WHO DEPARTED THIS LIFE
[                  ] 1873
AGED [69] YEARS

1841 CENSUS, WATERMAN OF FAIRMEADOW

32.   HEADSTONE

[SACRED]
TO THE MEMORY OF
RICHARD WILLIAMS
OF THIS PARISH
[                                        ]
[                           ]

END

Index of Names - from gravestones only

Names Index
BAKER 1,2
BALDWIN 14
BEECHING 3
BENSTED 15
BENYARD 16
BLACKSTOCK 17
BRYANT 4

FILEY 15

GOOD 18
GRAY 19
HAMBLY 23
HARRIS 6
HEWITT 5

IVENS 6

LADBROOK 20
LEAVER 9

MARTEN 27
PLATER 18
POTTER 21

RATCLIFFE 7, 22
ROWE 23
RUCK 24

SHADGETT 25
SMITH 8, 9, 15
STANDEN 10
STEVENSON 26
TAPLIN 27
TEBBUTT 11
TELFER 28

WEBB 29
WHEATLEY 30
WILES 31
WILLIAMS 32
WRAITH 12, 13

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Some Monumental Inscriptions, with initial internment up to 1913 of St Margaret's Church, Rainham

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Monumental inscriptions in the churchyard of All Saints Church, Maidstone