Arborfield
Local History Society

 Churches - Old Church Monuments

Arborfield Tithe Apportionment Map 1839

Photos of the old church building, just before it became disused

Notes by Peter Ditchfield for a Berks Archaeological Society field-trip, 1922

Article in Berks Archaeological Journal, 1934

Article on the old church before removal of Conroy Chapel roof, 1939

Articles by Leslie North in the Reading Chronicle, 1960s

Monuments in the new churchyard, 1929

 

MONUMENTAL INSCRIPTIONS

ARBORFIELD BERKSHIRE OLD CHURCH


Copy of the transcript by L. H. Chambers, 5 Blandford Road, St Albans Herts.

visited November 1927, August 1928

held in Reading Reference Library


Inscriptions on the memorial stones in the old Churchyard.

This burial ground is almost square in shape and there are yew trees in it and it is situated in a rather secluded spot.

It is in a very neglected state and one would almost imagine that all Christians had left the neighbourhood. I trust some helpers will come forward to help restore this hallowed ground to its former beauty.

I commence the inscriptions inside the church gate and on the north side of the gravel path which extends through the centre of the churchyard.

The memorials are the ordinary head stones unless otherwise stated.

1

On a long oblong stone slab. Here lyeth the body of -THOMAS GROVE ESQ - of Arborfield - obt June the 13th AD 1789 - aetat 57.

2

Sacred to the memory of - SARAH the beloved wife of - WILLIAM YOUNG - who died Septr 9th 1859 - aged 26 years

3

Here lyeth the body of - RICHARD HAYES - 42 years -Rector of this Parish - who died 17 March 1797 - aged 76 -also the body of - HANNAH his wife - who died 1st July 1797 - aged 77

4

In memory of SOPHIA WINDIATE - daughter of Jno and MARTHA WINDIATE - who departed this life - April (remainder of words peeled off) Footstone SW 1797

5

In memory of - MARTHA wife of - JOHN WINDIATE -who departed this life - May 30th 1811 - aged 48 years.

6

Sacred to the memory of - MARTHA - the beloved wife of - JOHN PITHER - who died Aug. 8th 1852 - in the 58th year of his age - after painful sufferings - of eleven years - also near this grave lies - three daughters of - JOHN and MARTHA PITHER - MARTHA died Octr 21st 1824 - aged 2 years and 9 months - EMILY JANE - died Novr 3rd 1837 - aged 2 years and 2 months - SUSANNAH - died Feb 1st 1844 - in the 24th year of her age.

7

A tomb and 2 headstones enclosed with tall iron rails underneath the old yew tree. On tomb, chest shaped - Sacred to the memory of - HENRY SIMONDS - born Augst 20th 1772 - died March 3rd 1847 - also JENNY SIMONDS - sister of the above - born Decr 21 1777 died Octr 17 1852 (?) - Sacred to the memory of ELIZABETH SIMONDS - daughter of - HENRY and JANE SIMONDS - who died Novr 11th 1838 - aged 72 years.

8

In memory of - Mrs JANE SIMONDS who died Septr 29th 1803 - aged 57 years - also ANN and JAMES SIMONDS - son and daughter of - HENRY and JANE SIMONDS - ANN died 15th February 1781 - aged 10 years 9 months. JAMES died 12 Jan 1785 - aged 10 years 5 months.

9

Mors Janua vitae - in memory of - MR HENRY SIMONDS - of this parish - who died Sept ye 7th 1778 - aged 38 years - also two daughters of ye said - HENRY and JANE SIMONDS - JANE died Aug ye 8th 1767 - aged 1 year and 4 months - ELEANOR died Feby ye 8th 1778 - aged 2 years and 5 months.

10

Sacred - to the memory of - SUSANNAH - the beloved wife of - JAMES FULLER - of this parish - who died in firm and full hope of a glorious resurrection - deeply lamented by her - family and friends - June 22nd 1842 - aged 64 years. - Sacred - to the memory of - MR JAMES FULLER - late of this parish who died February 23rd 1849 - aged 76 years.

11

Sacred - to the memory of - JOSEPH CHAPMAN - who departed this life - May 20 1857, aged 85 - also of ANN - the beloved wife of - the above - who departed this life - November 30th 1860 - aged 75.


(This completes the first section, the next is on the south (?) side of the gravel path previously mentioned)


12

North east side of the churchyard near the iron swing gate: Sacred to the memory of - EMMA JOLLIFFE - obiit 7th Decembris A.D. 1840 - aetat 28

13

Sacred - to the memory of - THOMAS BURRETT - who departed this life - June 5 1852 - aged 87 years - also HARRIET his wife - who departed this life - Sept 24th 1856 - aged 85 years.

14

Sacred to the memory of - MARY NUTLEY who departed this life November 5th 1847 - aged 46 years.

15

Sacred to the memory of THOMAS APPLEBY who departed this life - March 22nd 1851 aged 70 years. He was clerk of this parish for 33 years.

16

Wording nearly all obliterated. ANN wife of THOS BART......

17

To the memory of MARY SMALLBONE - who died Decr 19th 1852 aged 72 years - also of JEMIMA SMALLBONE - who died Novr 29th 1853 aged 53 years. In memory of RICHARD SMALLBONE - who died MARCH 3rd 1855 aged 76 years.

18

To the memory of - JOSEPH TOWGOOD - Lt Colonel in the Bengal Army - late of the 35th Light Infantry - who departed this life 24th Oct 1858 - aged 47 years.

19

To the memory of - FREDERIC WILLIAM only son of Captain TWOGOOD 35th Lt Infy Bengal Presy who departed this life 3rd May 1854: aged 10 years 6 mths

20

Sacred to the memory of - WILLIAM the beloved - and only child of - RICHARD and ANN - LEADBETTER - died August 3 - 1852 - aged 8 years - also WALTER WILIM - son of the above - died Dec 15 18(5?) aged 9 months.

21

ELIZABETH wife of JOHN - TARGETT - died 17 June 1823 - aged 31 years - ELEANOR ALLWRIGHT - TARGETT daughter of - JOHN and ELIZ TARGETT - died April 16 1816 aged 5 months.

22

Sacred - to the memory of - THOMAS HALL - died June 20th 1824 - aged 51 years

23

In memory of - ROBT BUSSEY - who died Novr 30 1807 - aged 52 years.

24

In memory of - MARY wife of - ROBERT BUSSEY - who died Nov 25 1812 - aged 46 years

25

DANIEL BLAKE - died June 9 1838 - aged 84 years.

26

Within tall iron rails. The grave in a very neglected state. Believed to be the family vault of Sir EDWARD CONROY.

27

Sacred - to the memory of - THOMAS ROGERS - son of - THOMAS and ANN ROGERS - who died - Febry 27th 1834 - aged 1 year and 5 months.

28

In full assurance - of a blessed immortality - MR WILLIAM COOK - departed this life - December the 15th 1751 - aged 51 years - also MRS ANN COOK - relict of - MR WILLIAM COOK - followed her honoured husband - into eternal bliss the - 18th day of February 1789 - in the 86 year of her age.

29

Sacred - to the memory of - JOHN WEBB - who died Decr. 4th 1811 - aged 65 years.

30

In memory of - ELIZth the wife of JOHN WEBB Junr - who died July 14th 1781 - aged 31 years.

31

In memory of JOHN WEBB - late of Swallowfield - who departed this life - the 13th of March 1786 - aged 69 years.

32

In - memory of ANN the wife of JOHN WEBB - who departed this life - May 3rd 1771 - aged 49 years.

33

Here - lyeth the body of - ELEANOR GRACE - the wife of - ROBERT GRACE - who departed this life - the 10th of Nov 1750 - aged 58 years.

34

In memory of - ROBERT GRACE who died - July ye 1 (8?) 1765 aged......

35

In memory of - THOS THACKHAM Senr - who died April 11th 1771 - aged 77 years - also of THOS THACKHAM Junr - who died Janry 23rd 1804 - aged 79 years.

36

In memory of - JOHN THACKHAM - who died Feb the 21 1794 - aged 64 years.

37

In memory of - RACHEL wife of - THOMAS THACKHAM - who departed this life - Feb the 7 1797 - aged 76 years.



This completes all the inscriptions in this churchyard as they appeared in Nov 1927.

 

Link to an article on the Inscriptions in the Conroy Chapel, also by Mr. Chambers.

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