High Halstow with Index of names and places at end Back to Churchyards listed Some Monumental Inscriptions of St Margaret's Church, High Halstow, Noted by D.L. Williams 2011 HIGH HALSTOW CHURCH FROM THE SOUTH WEST 1. Small Headstone (Western Section) SUSANNA BARR, DIED 1716 HERE LYETH THE BODY OF SUSANNA BARR WIFE OF WILLIAM [BARR OF] THE PARISH [OF STOKE] WHO [DEPARTE]D THIS LIFE -----------Ground Level---------- YE 11th OF DECEMBER 1716 AGED 71 YEARS "Death of me a Debt [ ], Claime I have it [ ]" 2. Headstone (Western Section) IN LOVING MEMORY OF ELIZA WIFE OF GEORGE R. BEARD OF THIS PARISH DIED SEPTEMBER 25th 1884 AGED 68 YEARS "Thy Will be Done" ALSO GEORGE ROBERT BEARD DIED MARCH 19th 1886 AGED 74 YEARS ALSO THOMAS BEARD DIED JULY 2nd 1878 AGED 50 YEARS George Beard, a Farmer at Clinch Street, 300 acres, employing 4 men (1881 Census) 3. Double Headstone (Western Section) WILLIAM AND JAMES COCKRELL, DIED 1732 & 1730 [HERE] [LIETH YE BODY OF] [WILLIAM] CO[CKRE]LL [WHO DIED] FEB. YE 24th 1732 AGED 79 YEARS | [HERE] [LIETH YE BODY OF] [J]A[M]ES SON OF W[M] [C]OCKRELL WHO DIED FEB. YE 22nd 1730 AGED [2]?9 YEARS | William Cockrell, may be the Shipwright of Hangman's Lane, St. Nicholas, Rochester. He died at the same time and was not buried at either St. Nicholas or St. Margaret's church. However, his Rochester Will, dated 11th March 1728 (29), gives no indication of any High Halstow connection. His personal estate, plate, rings, linen, money, wages due for work in H.M. Dockyard, Chatham, to wife Mary, who is Executor. Witnesses: George Lydal, Tho. Buckle and the mark of Wm. Lambe 4. Headstone (Western Section) IN MEMORY OF JAMES COLLER WHO DEPARTED THIS LIFE THE 31st OF MAY 1803 AGED 20 YEARS "In Love he Lived, In Peace he Died, His Life was Craved, But God Denied" 5. Small Eroded Headstone (Eastern Section) JOHN COLLEY, DIED 1695 H[ERE] LIETH] THE [BODY] [OF] JOHN [COLLEY] THE ELDER WHO [DEPARTED] THIS [LIFE] [THE] 14th OF [DE]CE MBER A[NN]O DOM 1695 AGED NERE 80 YEARES John Colley, of St. Mary's. His Rochester Will is dated 31st January 1695 (96) To "brother" Richard Pegram of St. Mary's, all his goods, chattles, utensils, money, stock, lease and leases, and money and movables remaining surplus to the "completing, fulfilling and satisfying" of his father's inventory. 10s to the poor of St. Mary's and 10/- to the poor of High Halstow, distributed on the day of his burial, and 10s more to the poor of the above parishes on 1st anniversary of his burial. Richard Pegram is Executor. Witnesses: Samuel Collier (Vicar of St. Mary's), the marks of Samuel Button and Elizabeth Dufty 6. Headstone and 6 Small Body Stones (Eastern Section, Edge of Path) FOREGROUND, HEADSTONE AND BODY STONES OF COMPORT CHILDREN. BACKGROUND, LEFT OF HEADSTONE, CRUMP HEADSTONE, IMMEDIATELY RIGHT OF HEADSTONE, COLLEY HEADSTONE SACRED TO THE MEMORY OF MARY ANN JANE DAUGHTER OF MICHAEL SMITH & MARY ANN COMPORT WHO DIED 1st NOVEMBER 1841 AGED 2 WEEKS ALSO WILLIAM ALFRED SON OF THE ABOVE WHO DIED16th AUGUST 1842 AGED 1 YEAR ALSO LAURA LOUISA DAUGHTER OF THE ABOVE WHO DIED 11th FEBRUARY 1848 AGED 1 YEAR AND 6 MONTHS ALSO LAURA LOUISA DAUGHTER OF THE ABOVE WHO DIED 2nd SEPTEMBER 1849 AGED 10 WEEKS ALSO ELIZABETH ANN DAUGHTER OF THE ABOVE WHO DIED 8th OCTOBER 1850 AGED 6 YEARS "But Jesus said, "Suffer Little Children and Forbid them not to come unto me for of such is the Kingdom of Heaven"" 7. Coped Stone on Stone Base (Eastern Section, Edge of Path) North Side [SACRED TO THE MEMORY OF] Mr MICHAEL SMITH COMPORT [WHO DEPARTED THIS LIFE] [JULY 1865] AGED 67 YEARS South Side [SACRED TO THE MEMORY OF] MARY ANN WIFE OF Mr MICHAEL SMITH COMPORT WHO DEPARTED THIS LIFE [AUGUST 1870] AGED [58] YEARS Michael Smith Comport, a Farmer, a member of the prominent family who lie buried at nearby Cooling. 8. Headstone, Most of Inscription Lost (Eastern Section, Close to Porch) HARRIET CRUMP DIED THE 11th JULY 181[2] AGED 7 YEARS AND 5 MONTHS SOPHIA TAYLOR DIED THE 9th JULY 1812 AGED 6 YEARS AND 4 MONTHS Harriet Crump and Sarah Taylor (Crump), were killed by a wagon (Register) 9. Small Headstone (Western Section) MERCY ELI or ELY, DIED 1716 [HERE] LYETH YE] [BODY OF] MERCY ELI DAUG[HTER] OF THOMAS AND MERCY ELI [WHO] DIED YE [ ] [JULY ?] 1716 [ ] 10. Granite Pedestals, Cross, Curbs and Tablet (Eastern Section, Edge of Path) IN LOVING MEMORY OF THE REVD. JOSEPH PHELPS GARDINER D.D. RECTOR OF CHURCH LANGTON, LEICESTERSHIRE AND FORMERLY C.M.S. MISSIONARY IN N.W. AMERICA BORN SEPT. 20th 1828 DIED JULY 6th 1913 ALSO OF JANE GARDINER WIFE OF THE ABOVE BORN JAN. 9th 1832 DIED NOV. 30th 1917 "In Peace let me Resign and Breath, And thy Salvation see, My Sins deserve Eternal Death, But Jesus died for Me" Tablet SADIE OSENTON DEARLY LOVED DAUGHTER OF JANE AND JOSEPH PHELPS GARDINER AT REST 27th MAY 1958 Rev. Joseph Gardiner, was formerly, Vicar of Bishop Ryder Church, Aston Warickshire, 1881/1891, and Rector of East Langton, Leicestershire, 1901 (Census) 11. Fallen Headstone (East of Chancel) IN LOVING MEMORY OF WILLIAM HENRY GOODGER DIED MAY 3rd 1906 AGED 70 YEARS "Sleep on, Beloved and take thy Rest, Lay down thy Head upon thy Saviour's Breast, We Loved thee well but Jesus Loves thee Best, Goodnight ! Goodnight ! Goodnight ! William Goodyer, a Shepherd at White House Farm (1901 Census) 12. Headstone, Most of Inscription Lost (Western Section) ALSO OF THE ABOVE Mr AMOS HEARNDEN WHO DEPARTED THIS LIFE 9th NOVEMBER 1843 IN THE 79th YEAR OF HIS AGE Amos Hearnden, was, in 1841 "Independent" and living at Grain (census) 13. Headstone, Two Putti (Western Section) MARGARET JEFFERY, DIED 1799 IN MEMORY OF MARGARET JEFFERY WIFE OF THOMAS JEFFERY OF THIS PARISH WHO DEPARTED THIS LIFE AUGUST THE 12th 1799 AGED 21 YEARS "Whilst in this World I did Remain. My Latter End was Grief and Pain, But then the Lord did think it Best, To take me to a Place of Rest" 14. Pedestal and Cross (Eastern Section, Edge of Path) IN SACRED MEMORY OF ARTHUR EDWIN THOMAS KEMP THE BELOVED HEAD TEACHER HIGH HALSTOW SCHOOL WHO DIED 27th JULY 1911 AGED 31 YEARS ERECTED BY SCHOLARS AND FRIENDS 15. Headstone (Western Section) IN MEMORY OF MARY KNIGHT DAUGHTER OF WILLIAM AND MARY KNIGHT OF THIS PARISH WHO DEPARTED THIS LIFE OCTOBER THE 24th 1796 AGED 15 YEARS "Though Young in Years, Her Life could not Withstand, Nor her Protect, From Death's Imperial Hand, Life's but an Object, Though we are here so Gay, And Death's a Broom , That Sweeps us all Away" 16. Eroded Double Headstone (Western Section) WILLIAM and MARY KNIGHT, DIED 1815 & 1802 IN MEMORY OF WILLIAM KNIGHT OF THIS PARISH WHO DEPARTED THIS LIFE APRIL 15th 181[5] AGED [65 YEARS] | IN MEMORY OF MARY WIFE OF WILLIAM [KNIGHT] [OF THIS PARISH] [WHO DEPARTED THIS LIFE] [APRIL 1802] [AGED [ ] YEARS] | 17. Fallen Pedestal and Cross, Curbs (Western Section , Edge of Path) IN MEMORIAM REVD. CHARLES LONGFIELD FOR 8 YEARS RECTOR OF THIS PARISH DIED DECR. 2Nd 1893 AGED 68 YEARS "Peace, Perfect Peace, Death Shadowing Us and Ours, Jesus has Vanquished Death and all it's Power" Curb ALSO RHODA LONGFIELD WIFE OF REV. C. LONGFIELD DIED MARCH 31st 1917 AGED 76 18. Small Headstone (Western Section) EDWARD MOTT, DIED 1699 [HERE] LYETH THE BODY OF EDWD. MOT[T] SON OF JOHN OF COWLING WHO DEPARTED THIS LIFE JANUARY YE 12th 1699 AGED 18 YEARES ---------------Ground Level------------ "We must die all Both Great & Small" 19. Ledger on Ground (Western Section) ELLEN ANNE STEVENS DAUGHTER OF THE REVD. G.E. NASH VICAR OF ALLHALLOWS AND MARY HIS WIFE BORN SEPT. 6th 1847 DIED MARCH 17th 1859 OSENTON see GARDINER 20. Pedestal and Cross (Eastern Section) IN FONDEST MEMORY OF MARY ANN THE BELOVED WIFE OF ALFRED OSENTON BORN FEBY. 27Th 1849 DIED APRIL 25th 1907 "Thy Will be Done" ALSO THE ABOVE ALFRED OSENTON ENTERED INTO REST SEPT. 22nd 1923 AGED 77 YEARS Alfred Osenton, Farmer at Solomon's Farm (1901 Census) 21. Double Headstone (Western Section) SACRED TO THE MEMORY OF THOMAS REED OF THIS PARISH WHO DEPARTED THIS LIFE THE 2nd OF NOVEMBER 1849 AGED 79 YEARS "Go Home my Friends and Shed no Tears, I must be here till Christ Appears Short was my Time, Long be my Rest, Christ took me when he Thought it Best" | SACRED TO THE MEMORY OF REBECCA WIFE OF THOMAS REED OF THIS PARISH WHO DEPARTED THIS LIFE THE 6th OF APRIL 1825 AGED 47 YEARS "When God cuts off the Thread of Life, The Fatal Death Parts Man and Wife" | Thomas Reed, Farmer, in 1840 Tithes, owned 84 acres. His Rochester Will is dated 12th August 1849. To son William and daughter Matilda wife of Toply Simmons, his household furniture, plate, linen, china, his watch and appendages , clothes, liquor, fuel and provision in housekeeping. To wife Catherine, £10. To grandchildren, George and Harriet Reed children of son Thomas, £5 each. Freehold and farm house where he lives, with barns, stables, yards, gardens at Clinch Street, and several pieces of arable, meadow, pastures, orchards and marshland occupied by him, also farming stock, cottages and other real estate, Upon Trust, to son William, son in law Toply Simmons and friend Thomas William Sanders of Sevenoaks, Gentleman, they to sell estate. One sixth of proceeds to son George, one sixth to son William, one sixth to daughter Harriott wife of William Smith, one sixth to daughter Ann, wife of John Bearman,one sixth to daughter Matilda, one sixth to children of deceased daughter Rebecca late wife of John Reuben Jenner at 21 years. William Reed, Toply Simmons and Thomas Sanders, Executors. Witnesses: Thomas Wolfe ?, Farmer of Mereworth and S. Fuggle, Tailor of Sevenoaks Proved 24th November 1849, value under £800 22. Headstone and Body Stone (Eastern Section, Edge of Path) SMITH FAMILY HEADSTONES SACRED TO THE MEMORY OF SARAH DAUGHTER OF GEORGE AND ANN SMITH OF THIS PARISH WHO DEPARTED THIS LIFE ON THE 17th DAY OF MAY 1839 AGED 34 YEARS "Reader ! This Silent Grave contains, A Much Loved Daughter's Dear Remains, Death like Frost has Nip't her Bloom, And sent her Early to the Tomb, Hence let the Young a Lesson Learn, Eternity is their Great Concern" GEORGE BROTHER OF THE ABOVE WHO DEPARTED THIS LIFE ON THE 15th DAY OF NOVEMBER 1823 AGED 25 YEARS AND WAS INTERRED IN A VAULT IN THE CHURCHYARD OF THE PARISH OF HOO 23. Headstone and Body Stone (Next to Above) SACRED TO THE MEMORY OF GEORGE SMITH OF THIS PARISH WHO DEPARTED THIS LIFE ON THE 14th DAY OF MARCH 1849 AGED 78 YEARS ALSO OF RICHARD SMITH YOUNGEST SON OF THE ABOVE WHO DEPARTED THIS LIFE ON THE [2]2nd DAY OF MARCH 1850 AGED 42 YEARS George Smith, Farmer (1841 Census) 24. Headstone and Body Stone (Next to Above) SACRED TO THE MEMORY OF ANN WIFE OF GEORGE SMITH OF THIS PARISH WHO DEPARTED THIS LIFE ON THE 14th DAY OF JUNE 1842 AGED 70 YEARS [Eroded Verses] 25. Headstone and Body Stone (Western Section) LEFT, WILLIAM SMITH, DIED 1849 MIDDLE, JOHN TODD, DIED 1851 RIGHT, LEDGER OF ELLEN NASH, DIED 1859 SACRED TO THE MEMORY OF Mr WILLIAM SMITH OF ST. MARY'S HOO ELDEST SON OF THE LATE GEORGE & ANN SMITH OF THIS PARISH WHO DIED THE 14th OF APRIL 1849 AGED 59 YEARS AND ALSO ANN SMITH WIDOW OF THE ABOVE WHO DIED THE 20th OF NOVEMBER 1884 AGED 84 YEARS 26. Eroded Chest Tomb, Inscription Reconstructed from Thorpe's Registrum Roffenses, 1769 (Eastern Section, Edge of Path) WILLIAM SOMER, DIED 1607, TOMB RESTORED 1672 West Side WILLIAM SOMER HERE[TOFORE OF THIS PARSH] GENT. WAS HERE [BURIED & THIS] TOMB THEN SETT UP [BY WILLIAM SOMER] HIS SON & EXECUTOR [IN THE YEAR 1607] AND NOW REPAIRED & [BEAUTIFIED BY] RICHARD SOMER OF CLI[FFORDS INN] LONDON, GENT. [HIS GRANDSON IN THE YEAR 1672] 27. Pedestal and Fallen Cross (Northern Section) IN FONDEST MEMORY OF ALFRED MARK THE BELOVED AND ONLY SON OF ALFRED AND MINNIE SPENCER WHO PASSED AWAY JUNE 22nd 1912 AGED 22 YEARS "Never Forgotten" 28. Pedestal and Cross (Western Section) JAMES CRABTREE SUTCLIFFE PRIEST BORN 1834 FELL ASLEEP NOV. 8th 1891 Rev. James Sutcliffe, formerly Curate of St. Peter, Bethnal Green (1881 Census) 29. Headstone and Plain Ledger (Western Section) SACRED TO THE MEMORY OF JOHN TODD OF THE MIDDLE TEMPLE WHO WAS ACCIDENTALLY DROWNED ON THE 2Oth ? OF APRIL 1851 AGED 26 YEARS DEATH OF JOHN TODD,1851, FROM "THE TIMES" " THE LATE FATAL ACCIDENT ON THE RIVER~ On Friday last an inquest was held at the Red Dog, High Halston, (sic) before Mr Hills, deputy coroner for West Kent, on view of the body of a person unknown to the jurors, but which proved to be that of Mr Todd, a barrister, who was accidentally drowned on Easter Sunday while cruising with some friends in the Thames below Gravesend. It appeared from the evidence of Edward Thomas Davis, a waterman of Gravesend, that on the 20th of April he took some gentlemen from Waite's hotel for a sail in the Lady Melville, a boat belonging to Marshall, a waterman of that place. After taking them on board they beat about off Gravesend for about two hours, when the tide slacked, and they went down the river below Yantlet. On their return two of the gentlemen were standing on the starboard deck, and there being little wind, caused the mainsail to come over, which knocked them both overboard. One saved himself by catching hold of the sail, but the other went down, and he saw him no more. The only gentleman witness knew of those on board was the one who was drowned, and that was Mr Todd, and whom he had taken out with him twice during last summer. Mr Todd had on a blue pilot cloth jacket, a waistcoat with glass buttons, and wore studs of a blue cast in his shirt. He had viewed the body then lying in the church, and had no doubt that it was that of Mr Todd, who he should think was about 26 years of age. William Glue, of Gravesend, waterman, accompanied the party down the river, and said they were out from 11 o'clock on Sunday morning until 3 o'clock on the following morning. The accident occurred between 9 and 10 o'clock at night, at which time witness was at the helm. There was very little wind, no moon, and so thick with rain they could not see where they were going. The sail coming over the was quite accidental. Witness identified the body as that of Mr Todd. Henry Clarke, a bargeman, living at Strood, proved the recovery of the body on Monday, the 12th inst., which he saw floating about midway in Sea Reach, about a mile and a half from the shore. Witness procured assistance at the Preventive station in Egypt Bay and took from the deceased a cigar box, two knives, comb, boot hook, tobacco stopper, a crown piece, and two shillings, which he gave to John Cross, a revenue officer, by whom they were produced, as also three studs taken from the shirt. There being no other evidence, the jury returned a verdict that the deceased was "Accidentally drowned" " 30. Headstone (Eastern Section) IN MEMORY OF JOHN WAKELIN WHO DIED 11th [NOV]EMBER 1828 AGED 59 YEARS ALSO SARAH WIFE OF THE ABOVE WHO DIED 24th SEPTEMBER 1847 AGED 74 YEARS ALSO JOHN WAKELIN SON OF THE ABOVE JOHN & SARAH WAKELIN [WHO] DIED 26th SEPTEMBER 1858 AGED 59 YEARS John Wakelin, Junior, Agricultural Labourer at Hoo (1851 Census) 31. Headstone (East of Chancel) IN LOVING MEMORY OF MARY THE BELOVED WIFE OF WILLIAM WELLARD WHO DIED JANUARY 7th 1897 AGED 67 YEARS "From our Happy Home and Circle, God has taken She we Loved, Borne away from Sin and Sorrow, To a Nobler Rest Above" 32. Fallen Headstone (Next to Above) IN LOVING MEMORY OF WILLIAM WELLARD WHO DIED 28th OCT. 1908 AGED 84 YEARS "Until the Day Break, And the Shadows Flee Away" William Wellard, Shepherd at Little Cop ?(1881 Census) END Index of Names and Places Names Index COCKRELL 3 COLLER 4 COLLEY 5 COMPORT 6, 7 CRABREE 28 CRUMP 8 ELI / ELY 9 | GARDINER 10 GOODGER 11 HEARNDEN 12 JEFFERY 13 KEMP 14 KNIGHT 15, 16 LONGFIELD 17 | MOTT 18 NASH 19 OSENTON 10, 20 PHELPS 10 REED 21 SMITH 22-25 SOMER 26 | SPENCER 27 SUTCLIFFE 28 TODD 29 WAKELIN 30 WELLARD 31, 32 |
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