KENT ARCHAEOLOGICAL SOCIETY  -- RESEARCH   Studying and sharing Kent's past      Homepage

Great Mongeham with Index of names and places at end

Back to Churchyards listed

               Some Monumental Inscriptions of Great Mongeham Church,  Noted by Rev Bryan Faussett noted 1759

Kindly typed up for the website by Pat Tritton

In the Chancell.
1. On a Flat Stone, with this Coat. [3 griffins’(?) heads couped imp. A Λ betw. 3 bulls’ heads caboshed]. Here lieth interred the Body of the Reverend Divine, Mr Timothy WILLSON, The Rector of this Parish, and the Parish of Kingsnorth in Kent, and 1 of the 6 Clerks belonging unto Christ’s Church Canterbury. He left Issue surviving, two Daughters Damaris and Elisabeth; and departed this Life, June ye 4^th 1705 aged 63 Years. Here lieth, also, Mary his beloved only Wife, who departed this Life Sept. 21 1703 aged 53 Years; with Daniel their Son, who died 6 May 1695 aged 6 Months. Here also lieth Mary, their eldest Daughter, the Relict of John C….DELL, Gent. who departed this Life Nov. 14 1704 aged 27 Years.

2. On another flat Stone much defaced, with this Coat. [¼ly. 1&4, 3 chevronels, 2&3, blank imp. A Λ betw. 3 pears]. ……../ Corps ……/Divinity, late …../ Parish, who departed ……./ and leaving behind ………/by whom he had …nes/ and …. Daughters.

3. Three other Flat Stones all without Inscriptions.

4. On the North Side of this Chancell are 3 Arches, each having a Table, or Seat, under it, one higher than ye other, descending from ye East. The first, by 2 Hollows made in the Stone, appears to have been for ye Basons of Holy Water. The 2 Others, wch. are lower, have the Appearance of Confessional Chairs. The 2 uppermost Arches are supported by Pillasters – the Lowermost is not.

In the North Chancell.
5. On a fine Monument on ye North Wall, with the Figures of a Man, and a Woman kneeling before a Faldstool; and, under them, the smaller Figures of 6 Children, kneeling, also, at a Faldstool.

6. [2 coats: 1). a lion ramt. crowned. 2. [¼ly 1&4). Or, on a Λ sa. 3 eagles’ heads erased arg. 2). Sa. a saltire arg. 3). Az. 3 hogs or].
Here lieth the Body of Edward CRAYFORD, Esq. eldest Sonne of Sr. William Crayford of Great Mungeham. Who, by Anne his Wife, one of the Daughters of Sr. Rowland HAYWARD, thrice Lord Mayor of London, had Issue William, George, Richard, John, John and Anne. He died 28 Sept. 1615 of his Age the 39^th. Unto whose Memeory, Anne his Wife hath dedicated this.

7. On an Altar Tomb, in ye Area. Underneath is interred the Corps of George CRAYFORD, Esq. aged 51 who deceased July 30 A.D. 1661 whose Wife was Margaret, the Daughter of Edward BOYS of Betteshanger, Esq. by whom he had three Sons, Edward, Robert and George; and three Daughters, Anne, Judeth and Margaret.

8. On another Altar Tomb, in ye Area. [Az. a fret arg. a chief or imp. BARGRAVE (3.59 Bridge) Motto Hote et Bon]. Here lieth interred, the Body of Mr Edward ST LEGER, descended from a Family of great Honour & Antiquity; the Founder of it being Sr. Robert DE SANTO LEODEGARIO who came in with WILLIAM THE CONQUEROR, and settled at Ulcombe, in the County of Kent. His Descendants were eminent in War as well as Peace; for, we read of several Judges, Generals, Knights of the Garter, Lord Deputies of Ireland, and Knights Baronets, among them. Nor were their Alliances less honourable; for, to omit several of them who intermatch’d with the Prime Nobility, Sr. Thomas ST LEGER had the Honour to marry Anne, DUTCHESS OF EXETER, sister to EDWARD THE 4^th. Thus was this Gentleman descended. But, by the well known Vicissitude of human Affairs, inherited only the Virtues of his Ancestors, which in ye little Sphere, that Providence allotted him to move in, most plainly appeard. For, in the Forty Years that he took Care of the Sick and wounded, at Deale, it was hard to say, whether his Fidelity to the Government, his Honesty, and Skill in his Profession, or his Humanity to ye unhappy Sufferers were more conspicuous. Nor, were his private Virtues less than his publick; for, in him is lost, a most indulgent Husband; a tender Father; a kind Relation; a good Master; and, a faithfull Friend. Such was Mr ST LEGER. Be humble, and be just. He married Elisabeth, Daughter to Charles BARGRAVE of Eastry, Esq. by whom having had 6 Children, 4, viz Elisabeth, Dudley, Winifrid, and Hester lye here with him; Edward and Mary survived him. Obijt 17 Novembris 1729. Aet. suae 63.

9. In the Body. On a Flat Stone. Here lieth the Body of Daniel DENNE, of Deale, Pilott, who died 26 May 1717 aged 68 Years. As also Mary his Wife, who died 11 Decm. 1720 aged 79 Years.

10. Two Ancient Flat Stones without Inscription.

11. In the North Isle. On a Flat Stone. Ann, Wife of Samuel SHEPHERD and Daughter of Mr John SLADDEN died the 5^th of August 1730 in the 29^th Year of her Age; leaving three Children, Anne, John and Samuel. George, Son of Samuel Shepherd by Mary his second Wife, born at Feversham the 3d. of August 1736 died the 24^th of September 1737.

12. On Another Flat Stone. Here lieth interred the Body of William SLADDEN, late of this Parish who departed this Life 30 June 1689 aged 71 Years. He left surviving 2 Sonnes & 2 Daughters, Thomas, John, Anna and Mary. John Sladden, son of ye above mentioned William Sladden, died 1 Aug. 1740 aged 79 Years. Anne his Wife died the 27^th Day of November 1733 aged 70 Years.

13. Two other flat Stones, but without Inscription. 1 of them has a Cross on it.

Here has been a Rood Loft.

This Church consists of the Great and North Chancells; Body, and North Isle. In the Tower, at the West End, hang 4 Bells. I cd. not get at them to see their Inscriptions.

14. Over ye West Door, outward, is this Coat. [A – charged with a molet of 5 pts. betw. 3 tigers(?) passt. gardt.]

In the Church Yard.
15. On a Monument on The N.E. Buttrice of the Tower. [Arg. a chevn. az. betw. 3 hands apaumé gu]. To the Memory of Capt. Robert MAYNARD a faithfull & experience’d Commander of the Royal Navy; who, after he had distinguish’d himself by many brave and gallant Actions in the Service of his King and Country retired to this Place where he died 1 Jan. 1750-51 aged 67.

16. Here are, also, Memorials of BEDO, BIRCH, CULMER, HAMMOND, MUMBRAY, PETLEY, PARKER, POPE and TAYLOR.

17. This Church was dedicated to St. Martin. It is a Rectory in the Gift of The Arch Bishop. The present Rector is Mr HERRING. 1759.

Index of Names and Places