Section
A is a small
area north of the church between the porch and the east end of
the chancel.
1.
Large Headstone and two Body Stones on Large Slab
IN
MEMORY OF
HEBHZIBAH ELIZA ACWORTH
DAUGHTER OF
JOSEPH & ELIZA ACWORTH
WHO DIED THE 26th OF OCTOBER 1849
AGED 23 YEARS
"Blessed are the dead which die in the Lord,
From henceforth, Yea, saith the Spirit that they
May rest from their labours and their works
Do follow them"
ALSO ELIZA THE BELOVED WIFE OF
JOSEPH ACWORTH OF CHATHAM
AFTER A LONG AND PAINFUL ILLNESS WHICH
SHE BORE WITH EXEMPLARY CHRISTIAN
FORTITUDE AND RESOLUTION, SHE SWEETLY
FELL ASLEEP IN JESUS 21st JANUARY 1866
AGED 72 YEARS
ALSO JOSEPH ACWORTH ESQ.
HUSBAND OF THE ABOVE
LATE OF CHATHAM AND DIED AT BOUGHTON UNDER BLEAN
DECEMBER 12th 1866 AGED 70 YEARS
"Forever in the sight of the Lord as the
[ ] of his Saints"
Joseph Acworth was a Tallow
Chandler of 136/137 High Street, Chatham, (1847 Bagshaw's
Directory,1851 Census), Wholesale Tallow Chandler and Melter,
(1855 Post Office Directory)
AVELING
see D'URBAN
2.
Pink Granite Headstone, Large Plot
IN
LOVING MEMORY
OF
WILLIAM CASTLE
DIED 11th OCTOBER 1898
AGED 69 YEARS
"Peace, Perfect Peace"
William Castle was a Farmer of North Street,
(Kelly's Directory 1882 & 1891)
3.
Headstone
IN
MEMORY
OF
MARY FRANCES D'URBAN
RELICT OF
JOHN D'URBAN
FORMERLY OF DEAL
WHO FELL ASLEEP IN JESUS
ON THE 30th ? OF JULY
1855
IN THE [78th] YEAR
OF HER AGE
4.
Thick Grey
Granite Ledger
IN
MEMORY OF
ANNE D'URBAN
DIED SEPTEMBER 2nd 1873
AGED 73 YEARS
THOMAS AVELING
SON OF THE ABOVE
DIED MARCH 7th 1882
AGED 57 YEARS
SARAH
WIFE OF THE ABOVE
THOMAS AVELING
DIED NOVEMBER 19th 1898
AGED 71 YEARS
Thomas Aveling the well
known Industrialist, based in Strood. A pioneer manufacturer
of steam traction engines, for agricultural, civil and
military use. His machinery enabled farmers to increase
production. Henry Pye of St. Mary Hoo, was probably the first
to take advantage of this development, which revolutionised
agriculture in the 19th century, to plough and drain the North
Kent Marshes.
5.
Large
Ledger, Ground Level
SACRED
TO THE MEMORY OF
WILLIAM EDMUNDS
FORMERLY OF HOO AND LATE OF
REED COURT FARM, FRINDSBURY
WHO DIED 2nd OCTOBER 1842
IN THE 86th YEAR OF HIS AGE
"He loved the Habitation of God's Home,
And the Place where his Honour Dwelleth"
ALSO OF
SARAH EDMUNDS
WIFE OF THE ABOVE
WHO DIED 17th JANUARY 1852
AGED 98 YEARS
William Edmunds was a Farmer of Reed Court
Farm, situated in the Parish of Frindsbury. His Will is dated
18th June 1842:
To son in law, Joseph Acworth of Chatham,
Gentleman, (see above), John Thurstain of Hoo, Wheelwright and
the Rev. William Pope of Meopham, Dissenting Minister, who are
his Trustees, the Manor of Reed Court, including Manor House,
outbuildings and 389 acres. The land adjoins land owned by the
Sir Joseph Williamson School, Watts Charity and land formerly
owned by Samuel Nicholson, now Edward Butcher's. Reed Court is
now occupied by Joseph Acworth , is leased from the Dean &
Chapter of Rochester. All his personal and real estate also to
his trustees, upon trust. They to pay his wife, Sarah, for
life, an annuity of £400 in quarterly payments. Annual
interest of money in mortgage to William Twopenny on leasehold
estate in Frindsbury, occupied by Joseph Acworth, to be paid
by his wife from the £400 annuity. If Joseph Acworth pays off
the mortgage or part of, then interest of that part paid off
to be deducted from the annuity. After the death of his wife,
Trustees to sell real and personal estate to raise £3,000, to
be invested in Government Stocks. Dividends to his daughter
Mercy, wife of William Harvey, Yeoman, of Eythorne, near
Waldershare Park, Kent. After Mercy's death, to her children,
equally divided. (There follows long and detailed Trust
conditions.)
Witnesses: George Essell, Solicitor of Rochester
and H. Bullery, Clerk to Mr Essell
6.
Headstone,
Close to Porch
HERE
LIETH THE BODY OF
ANN WIFE OF JOHN FIELD
OF FRINDSBURY
WHO DEPARTED THIS LIFE
JULY 1748 AGED 47 YEARS
AND LIKEWISE THE BODY OF
JN. WEAVER* HER FIRST HUSBAND
AND 3 OF THEIR CHILDREN
* [JOHN WEAVER WAS BURIED APRIL 1742]
John Weaver, Ann Field's first husband was
a Farmer. His Will is dated 20th September 1735, he" is
sick and weak in body".
To wife, Ann his house, formerly let as two
dwelling houses, with 2 acres of land, in Hoo, in the
occupation of Edward Stevens, for her life. After her death,
if she has any of his children, not yet born, then property to
that child/children. If she dies with no surviving children,
then half the property to her heirs. The other half to nephew
John Weaver, son of William, late of Marden, Husbandman. To
William Stevens, son of Edward and Mary Stevens, £20, on
Bond, entered into "with me by his father, and all
interest accrued at 21 years of age. If William Stevens dies
before 21, then the Bond to wife Ann. Residue, household
goods, personal estate, corn, cattle, stock, husbandry tools,
etc. to wife Ann, who is sole Executor.
Witnesses: Susanna Austin, Mr. Weaver's Maid,
Mark of William Bodding (is this Botten ?) and John Burgis
HARDINGE
see JONES
7. Large
Ledger on Brick Base, once Railed
CAROLINE
MUNSTER
THE WIFE OF
HENRY TAYLOR JONES ESQ.
OF CHATHAM
AND FORMERLY WIDOW OF THE LATE
SIR RICHARD HARDINGE BART.
WHO DIED THE 4th OF JUNE 1858
IN THE 66th YEAR OF HER AGE
Sir Richard Harding, Bart., was Surveyor
General of the Customs. He married Caroline Wulff late in
life, at Bath, in March 1823, and died in London, the
following November.
8.
Granite
Pedestal, Cross, Curbs and Tablet
IN
LOVING MEMORY OF SARAH ANN
WIDOW OF CHARLES WALTERS OF REDHILL, SURREY ?
AND MOTHER OF THE VICAR OF THIS PARISH
WHO DIED [ NOVEMBER] 17th ? 1915 AGED 84 YEARS
(Indistinct Verses)
9.
Tablet
LEONARD
JOHN WALTERS
(PRIEST) VICAR OF THIS PARISH
1910 – 1951 WHO DIED JUNE 19th
1959 AGED 85 YEARS
ALSO HIS DEAR WIFE
DORIS ELEANOR WALTERS
( LATER ARCHER )
WHO DIED JANUARY 16th
1998 AGED 94 YEARS
10.
Detached
Pedestals, Broken Cross, Against Acworth Headstone
IN
LOVING MEMORY
OF
RICHARD HARTNELL
VIDGEON
INFANT SON OF
HARTNELL & ROSE
WEBB
PASSED AWAY APRIL 7th 1899
AGED 9 DAYS
"Sleeping in Jesus"
Hartnell Webb was landlord of the" Old
George", (Kelly's Directory 1903)
11.
Headstone
and Two Body Stones
WILLIAM WHITE
IN
MEMORY OF
WILLIAM WHITE OF THIS PARISH, YEOMAN
WHO WAS ON SUNDAY EVENING THE 11th OF DECR.
1808 MOST INHUMANLY MURDERED
IN THE BOSOM OF HIS FAMILY
BY A GUN DISCHARGED AT HIM THRO A WINDOW
WHILST SITTING BY HIS OWN FIRESIDE
THE PERPETRATOR OF THIS HORRID DEED IS
NOT YET DISCOVERED BUT THERE IS ONE "WHO
IS ABOVE OUR PATH AND ABOUT OUR BED
AND WHO SPIETH OUT ALL OUR WAYS"
WH[O] [WI]LL SOMETIME BRING IT TO LIGHT
HE LIVED ESTEEMED BY ALL WHO KNEW HIM
[AND HIS] SAD END IS UNIVERSALLY REGRETTED HE
[LEFT ISSUE] 6 SONS AND 5 DAUGHTERS TO BEWAIL
[HIS LOSS AN]D DIED [AT] THE AGE OF 58 YEARS
STONE WAS ERECTED JUNE THE 24th 1809
"[By] whose Assa[ssinating [H]and [I fell]
[Rests] yet Conc[ealed] [and Time alone] can Tell
[Drop] Reader [o'er my Grave one] Silent Tear
[Live Well remembering that your God is Near]
[If Rich or Poor or Relative you be]
[Strike your own breast and say – It was not Me !"]
Rear of Above
IN MEMORY OF
Mrs JANE WHITE
WIFE OF Mr WILLIAM WHITE
WHO DROPPED DOWN AND SUDDENLY DEPARTED
THIS LIFE MARCH 24th 1808 AGED 44 YEARS
"Bretheren Time is Short, Watch therefore for
You Know Not what Hour your Lord will Come"
EDMOND WHITE
SON OF THE ABOVE WHO DIED JAN 7th 1850
AGED 58 YEARS
ANN WHITE WIFE OF EDMOND WHITE
DIED JAN. 10th 1853 AGED 65 YEARS
Much has been written on the murder of
William White, it being widely believed that White's son
George was the culprit. There was no real evidence at the time
to bring charges, and George remains innocent, unless proved
otherwise, which, of course, will never be! There is certainly
nothing in his will, which is dated 22nd January 1808, which
indicates any ill feeling at all.
To Thomas Denton of Frindsbury, Farmer, (his
brother in law), upon trust, Properties and land in Hoo and
Gillingham, all stock, crops, personal estate, etc. To allow
wife, Jane to carry on business and take rents, profits for
her and children's support. After she dies, upon trust, to
sell and dispose of estate, proceeds to be equally divided
between his children. The share of his daughter, Sarah, wife
of John Rutherford, to be invested in Government or other
securities, to pay her interest for her life. After her death,
upon trust, to be shared equally amongst her children.
Thomas Denton and Jane White, Executors. (Jane
pre-deceased her husband)
Witnesses: George Pearce, marks of; James Moore
and Edward Loft
WEAVER
see FIELD
END
OF SECTION A