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                    Some Monumental Inscriptions of Sibertswold Church,  Noted by Rev Bryan Faussett in 1756-60

Kindly typed up for the website by Pat Tritton

1. On a Handsome Monument on The East Wall, on ye South Side of the Communion Table - with this Coat. [Or, 3 martlets az. on a chief az. a leopd. or imp. Arg. on a Λ az. 3 molets or]. In Memory of William MERRYWETHER Gent, who died in the Faith and Fear of God, on the 9^th Day of June 1702 in the 52d. Year of his Age. He married Sarah, eldest Daughter of Mr James MATSON, of this Parish of Sybertswold. He had Issue by her one Son and Four Daughters, Richard, Anne and Mary, Living, (Sarah dead) and Sarah now Living. Near this Place also lies the Body of Mrs Sarah, Wife of Mr William Merrywether who died Sept. 4 1737. Aged 73. Barely to say, here she lived, and here she died would be injurious to her Memory. Did the Marble admit of her true Character. And to give an impefect Account of it, would be equally so. Tho, Therefore the Monument be silent and speak not the Virtues that adorned her, yet let no One fear that they should lay concealed; Since she has left behind her so many living Witnesses of them, Her Friends, Relations and Acquaintance all who loved her, that is, all who knew her, will bear Testimony to them. And, the Poor, the Sick, and the industrious, as many as, in any Respect, stood in Need of either her Counsell or Assistance, In the Place and Neighbourhood especially, will not be able easily to forget them. Here lies Sarah ye Daughter of Mr William MERRYWETHER aged 1 Year. Sarah, the 2 Daughter of that Name, of William Merrywether, Gent, and of Sarah his Wife, was here buried May the 24^th 1703. Aged 5 Years. M.M. (Mary Merrywether) obijt Sept. the 8^th 1706. Aetatis 25. Men who admired the Virtues of the Maid, Complained, her Death no longer was delaid. But Angells thought twas Time She shd. remove, Who, here on Earth, could live like those above. Here also lies the Body of Richard Merrywether, Gent. The only Son of the said William Merrywether, The last Heir Male of the Familie. Obijt Oct. 26 1720. Aetatis 27.

2. On a Neat Monument on the S. Wall. [Arg. a fret az. on a canton gu. a lion’s head erased or, with MERRYWETHER as Before (p.100) in pretence]. Near This Place lie the Bodies of Mr John LOWNDES of Overton in Cheshire and of Anne his Wife, Daughter of Mr William and Mrs Sarah Merrywether of Sibertswold. He died June 30 1734. Aged 52. She survived him only a few months and departed this Life the Nov. following in the 48^th Year of her Age. They had Issue 2 Sons, and 3 Daughters, 4 of which died in their Infancy. Sarah, The only remaining Daughter, ordered this Monument to be erected in Memory of her deceased Parents.

3. On Another, on The N. Wall. In Memory of Anne the virtuous discreet, religious Wife of Paule PETIT of Dantdelion in Thanett, Gent. Eldest Daughter of John Merrywether of Sheepardswell, Gent. She died Nov. 12 1676. Aged near 60 Years.

4. On a Flat Stone. Here lieth the Body of Mr Robert MATSON, who had Issue by Joanna his Wife, 3 Sons, and 5 Daughters, whereof 2 Sons and 4 Daughters survived. He died Feb. 8 1715/16. Aged 53 Years. Also James Matson, their Son, died July the 14^th 1716. Aged 18 Years. They lived belov’d, and died lamented.

5. On Another. Here lieth the Body of Mary The Wife of Mr James MATSON. She died Apr. 13 1714. Aged 73 Years. Here also lieth the Body of Mr James Matson late of this Parish, who had Issue by Mary his Wife 3 Sons and 2 Daughters, Robert, Sarah, Mary, James and John. He died June 20 1708 after a long Sickness of The Stone. Aged 78. Imitate him in his Life, who never fell from God for any Pains of Death.

6. On Another. Here lieth the Body of Mr John MATSON, late of Wingham, who first married Mary, Daughter of Stephen GOLDFINCH of Eastry, by whom he had 2 Sons and 2 Daughters. His Second Wife was Anna,

7. Relict of Thomas BOYSE of Betshanger, by whom he had 3 Sons and 3 Daughters, of which 4 Sons and 4 Daughters survived him. He died Oct. 27 1731. Aged 60 Years.

8. On Another. James, Son of Mr John MATSON died Jan. 17 1712-13. Aged 12 Years.

9. On a Brass Plate fix’t to an Oaken Plank on ye Floor. Heare lieth the Body of Philemon POWNDALL, deceased the 13^th of March 1660-61. Hee was 55 Years Old when he died. He had 1 Wife, and 1 Son, and 6 Daughters.

10. On a Flat Stone. Here lieth the Body of John COWLEY who died the 10^th of Aprill 1648. Aged 45 Yeares. He had Issue by Mary his Wife 2 Daughters Anne and Elizabeth and 1 Soune, Valentine, dead.

In The Body.
11. Are five Flat Stones, but none of them legible.

12. WEEVER (p.266) Mentions several Flat Stones being in this Church which were obliterated even in his Time; he say’s they belong’d to The Family of PHILPOT, or PHILIPOT, which resided formerly at Upton Court in this Parish.

13. This Church consists only of The Chancell and Body. It has no Steeple; it having fell down abt. 20 Years ago, is not yet rebuilt; A Small Bell, without Inscription, hangs at the West End of the Church.

14. It was dedicated to St. Andrew. It is a Vicarage, in the Patronage of the Arch Bishop. It is united to Coldred.

15. The Present Vicar is The Revd. Mr Thomas RYMER.

16. The Plague made great Havock among the Inhabitants of This Parish, in ye Years 1665 & 1666.

17. On The Downe, at ye East of this Village, are a great many Tumuli standing close together, of different sizes, none of them very large; there seem to be near 200; they seem to have been fenc’d in on all sides by Ditches or Trenches; that on ye South Side is now about 14 Feet broad, & about 2 Feet deep. See ye 2d. Vol. of my Collect. P.69, Waldershare.

18. (Added) See my Account of their Contents in ye 4^th Vol. of my Inventorium Sepulchrale.

19. In ye Court Wall of ye Great House is a Statue, about 2 or 3 Feet high, supposed to represent King SIBERT.

Index of Names and Places