Unusual Epitaphs - Yorkshire, England

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         BRIGGS, Hezekiah
Buried in Bingley, Yorkshire, England

    In memory of Hezekiah Briggs, who died August 5th, 1844,
    in the 80th year of his age. He Was sexton at this church 43 years,
    and interred upwards of 7000 corpses.

    Here lies an old ringer, beneath the cold clay,
    Who has rung many peals both for serious and gay;
    Through Grandsire and Trebles with ease he could range,
    Till death called a Bob, which brought round the last change.

    For all the village came to him
    When they had need to call;
    His counsel free to all was given,
    For he was kind to all.

    Ring on, ring on, sweet Sabbath bell,
    Still kind to me thy matins swell,
    And when from earthly things I part,
    Sigh o'er my grave, and lull my heart.

    Source : Andrews 1899


BROADBENT, John
Buried in Saddleworth, Yorkshire

    Here was interred the body of John Broadbent, Sexton, who departed this
    life, August 3rd, 1769, in the 73rd year of his age.

    Forty-eight years, strange to tell,
    He bore the bier and toll'd the bell,
    And faithfully discharged his trust,
    in earth to earth and dust to dust.
    Cease to lament,
    His life is spent,
    The grave is still his element;
    His old friend Death knew 'twas his sphere,
    So kindly laid the sexton here.

    Source : Andrews 1899


BROWN, Charles
Died in Yorkshire
Buried : Parish of Leslie, Fife, Scotland

    Here lies the dust of Charles Brown,
    Some time a wright in London town,
    When coming home parents to see,
    And of his years being twenty-three,
    Of a decay with a bad host
    He died upon the Yorkshire coast
    The 10th of August 1752
    We hope his soul in Heaven rests now.

    Source : Rogers 1871 v.2


CONSTABLE, Philip
From Yorkshire
Inscription in Steeple Barton Church, Oxfordshire

    Here lyeth the Body of Sr. Philip
    Constable of Everingham in the County
    of York Baronet, whose whole Estate
    was confiscated by the Usurpers for
    his Loyalty to K. Charles the first.
    He died Febr. 25. Anno Dno 1664.
    This Sr. Philip was Father to Katherine
    Wife of Edward Sheldon of Steeple
    Barton Esq; which Edward was Son
    of Ralph, and he the younger son of
    Edward Sheldon of B... and he
    the son and heir of Ralph Sheldon
    of the said place, in Com. Wig...
    which last purchased one of the
    three Mannors in Steeple Barton
    of the Dorms whith the house
    belonging thereto (built by John
    Dorm) which is now possest by
    Ralph Sheldon, Son and heir of
    Edward Sheldon by Katherine
    Constable his Wife.

    Source : Le Neve 1718


DARNBROUGH, William
Hartwith Chapel burial ground, Nidderdale, Yorkshire, England

    In memory of William Darnbrough, who for the last forty
    years of his life was sexton of this chapel. He died
    October 3rd, 1846, in the one hundreth year
    of his age,

    Thou shalt go to thy fathers in peace; thou shalt be buried in a good old age. - Genesis xv. 15.
    The graves around for many a year
    Were dug by him who slumbers here, -
    Till worn with age, he dropped his spade,
    And in the dust his bones were laid.

    As he now, mouldering, shares the doom
    Of those he buried in the tomb;
    So shall he, too, with them arise,
    To share de judgment of the skies.

    Source : Andrews 1899


FLOCKTON, Thomas
Buried in the Rothwell church porch, Yorkshire, England

    In memory of Thomas Flockton, Sexton 59 years, buried
    23rd day of February, 1783, aged 78 years.

    Here lies within this porch so calm,
    Old Thomas, Pray sound his knell,
    Who thought no song was like a psalm-
    No music like a bell.

    Source : Andrews 1899


SCROPE, Gervase
Buried : St. Michael's graveyard, Coventry, Warwickshire
Family from Bolton, Yorkshire

    Here lyes the Body of Captain Gervase Scrope, of the
    Family of Scropes, of Bolton, in the County of York, who
    departed this life the 26th day of August, Anno Domini, 1705.

    An Epitaph Written by Himself in the Agony and
    Dolorous Paines of the Gout, and dyed soon
    after.

    Here lies and Old Toss'd Tennis Ball,
    Was Racketted from Spring to Fall
    Whith so much heat, and so much hast,
    Time's arm (for shame) grew tyr'd at last,
    Four Kings in Camps he truly seru'd,
    And from his Loyalty never sweru'd,
    Father ruin'd, the Son slighted,
    And from the Crown ne'r requited,
    Loss of Estate, Relations, Blood,
    Was too well Known, but did no good,
    With long Campaigns and paines of th' Govt,
    He cou'd no longer hold it out :
    Always a restless life he led,
    Never at quiet till quite dead,
    He marry'd in his latter dayes,
    One who exceeds the com'on praise,
    But wanting breath still to make Known
    Her true Affection and his Own,
    Death kindly came, all wants supply'd
    By giuing Rest which life deny'd.

    Source : Andrews 1899


STRATTON (or Strutton), William
Hyden Churchyard, Yorkshire

    Here lies the body of William Stratton, of Paddington, buried 18th day
    of May, 1734, aged 97 years; who had by his first wife 28 children; by
    his second 17; was own father to 45; grandfather to 86; great-grandfather
    to 23. in all 154 children.

    Source : Fairley 1873


TAYLOR, John and Sarah
Buried in Silkstone churchyard, Yokshire, England

    John Taylor, of Silkston, potter died July 14th, 1815, aged 72;
    Hannah his wife, died August 13th, 1815, aged 68:
    Out of the clay they got their bread;
    Themselves of clay (or dust) were made;
    To clay returned, they now lie dead;
    In churchyard clay all must be laid.
    His wife to live without him tried,
    Hard found the task, fell sick and died;
    And now in peace their bodies lie,
    Until the dead be called on high,
    New moulded for their home - the sky.

    Source : Fairley 1873


TAYLOR, John and Sarah
Buried in Silkstone churchyard, Yokshire, England

    In memory of John Taylor, of Silkstone, potter, who departed this life,
    July 14th, Anno Domini 1815, aged 72 years.
    Also Hannah, his wife, who departed this life, August 13th. 1815, aged 68 years.

    Out of the clay they got their daily bread,
    Of clay were also made.
    Returned to clay they now lie dead,
    Where all that's left must shortly go.
    To live without him his wife she tried,
    Found the task hard, fell sick, and died.
    And now in peace their bodies lay,
    Until the dead be called away,
    And moulded into spiritual clay.

    Source : Andrews 1899


THACKWRAY, Joseph
Former proprietor of the Crown Hotel, Harrogate Wells, Yorkshire
Tomb in the parish church, Pannal, Yorkshire, England

    Here
    Lieth the body
    of
    Joseph Thackwray by name,
    Who, by the help of God,
    Brought Sulphur Wells to Fame.
    In the year of our Lord 1740
    I came to the Crown;
    In 1791 they laid me down.
    When I shall rise again,
    No man can tell;
    But, in hopes of Heaven,
    I'm not afraid of Hell.
    To friends I bid farewell,
    And part without a frown;
    In hopes to rise again,
    And have a Better Crown.
    He departed this Life the 26th of November,
    in the 79th year of his
    age.

    Source : Johnson 1883


WILLOUGHBY, Katherine (m. GODFREY)
Buried in Darfield Church, Yorkshire, England.

    Here lyeth buried the Body of Kathe-
    rine the daughter of Will. Willoughby Esqr;
    eldest son of Charles Ld Willoughby Baron
    of Parham, Wife to Joseph Godfrey of Thorock
    in the County of Lincolne Esqr; 27 yeares
    1 Month and 21 dayes his Widow; Dyed 15th
    Aug. Ao. Dni. 1658. Aged about 75 yeares. Wil-
    loughby Godfrey of Ederthorpe second Son
    to her, having decently seene her interred
    did erect this, as his last duty, with her
    due armories.

    Source : Le Neve 1718



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