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Some Kentish Gravestones & other notes

Hoo St Werburgh M.I.s & other information with Index of names

Back to Hoo St Werburgh Introduction

Monumental Inscriptions of St Werburgh Church, Hoo
 - recorded by D. E. Williams August 2011

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

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