Epitaphs Outside the North Door of Box Church Alan Payne June 2020
The Pybus family about 1769 by Nathaniel Dance Holland
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Pybus Family
Despite their appearance in the painting, the Pybus forfathers weren’t wealthy and, as a young man, John Pybus senior was sent to Madras, India, to work as a humble clerk for the East India Company. He met and made friends with Robert Clive (better known as Clive of India) and John rose through the company’s ranks to become Chieftain of Masulipatnam, a trading port on the Indian east coast. After 25 years’ service in the country, he had become very wealthy, left India and returned to England with his family. Here he displayed all the trappings of an English nabob (wealthy ex-patriot) buying a town house in Berkeley Square and a country property in Barnet, Hertfordshire. In 1773, he set up a private banking house, Pybus, Hyde, Dorsett & Cockell, at 148 New Bond Street, London, which was inherited by his son after John senior’s death at Cheam, Surrey in 1789.[2]
We can see something about banking and society at this time from a court case in 1783 when a forger William Munroe was sentenced to death for presenting a fraudulent bill of exchange for £10.10s drawn on Pybus’ firm.[3] Munroe was executed by simple hanging on 9 December 1783 for a crime worth under £2,000 in today’s terms. Such was the importance of banking in Georgian society.
John Pybus junior (1754–1808)
John junior was admitted into his father’s firm in 1779, replacing Mr Hyde, an original partner. Shortly before his father’s death, the firm admitted more new partners and in 1785 a new bank was founded called Pybus, Cockell, Pybus & Call, working from premises in Old Bond Street. The family home in Cheam, Surrey, was sold by John Pybus junior in 1803 following his mother’s death and it is conceivable that the new firm was undergoing a financial downturn at that time.
The characters in the family were described by Mr Russell, John junior’s tutor in 1778: Mr Pybus (senior) and son are partners in a Bankers shop in Bond Street. The former struggles incessantly with an asthma and other disorders, which frequently renders his life doubtful for four and twenty hours. His son John finds full employment in the shop and has but little leisure for literary pursuits or any other pleasure.
On his death aged 53 on 13 March 1808, John Pybus junior was described in flowing Georgian exaggeration and deference: a man of irreproachable life and of manners most amiable. He was ever dearly beloved by his friends because, to solid worth, he united those conciliating habits which render mankind more disposed to remark and to revere whatsoever is really good in character. His last days like his whole life were an example of patient sweetness and, by throwing new light on the excellence of his disposition, have added to the deep affection of his widow and family and made them more sensible of the magnitude of their loss.[4]
Elizabeth Pybus (1767-1836)
The connection with Box comes from John junior’s wife Elizabeth McDonnell, originally from Southampton. They married in St Georges Church, Hanover Square, Westminster, London, in October 1799 and they lived in London until John’s death.[5] We can’t trace Elizabeth’s circumstances thereafter but it is conceivable that she had an income for life but few assets. The reason for saying this is that in his will of 1808, John junior left all the family paintings, including the headline picture, directly to his dear son John Bryan Pybus.
Despite their appearance in the painting, the Pybus forfathers weren’t wealthy and, as a young man, John Pybus senior was sent to Madras, India, to work as a humble clerk for the East India Company. He met and made friends with Robert Clive (better known as Clive of India) and John rose through the company’s ranks to become Chieftain of Masulipatnam, a trading port on the Indian east coast. After 25 years’ service in the country, he had become very wealthy, left India and returned to England with his family. Here he displayed all the trappings of an English nabob (wealthy ex-patriot) buying a town house in Berkeley Square and a country property in Barnet, Hertfordshire. In 1773, he set up a private banking house, Pybus, Hyde, Dorsett & Cockell, at 148 New Bond Street, London, which was inherited by his son after John senior’s death at Cheam, Surrey in 1789.[2]
We can see something about banking and society at this time from a court case in 1783 when a forger William Munroe was sentenced to death for presenting a fraudulent bill of exchange for £10.10s drawn on Pybus’ firm.[3] Munroe was executed by simple hanging on 9 December 1783 for a crime worth under £2,000 in today’s terms. Such was the importance of banking in Georgian society.
John Pybus junior (1754–1808)
John junior was admitted into his father’s firm in 1779, replacing Mr Hyde, an original partner. Shortly before his father’s death, the firm admitted more new partners and in 1785 a new bank was founded called Pybus, Cockell, Pybus & Call, working from premises in Old Bond Street. The family home in Cheam, Surrey, was sold by John Pybus junior in 1803 following his mother’s death and it is conceivable that the new firm was undergoing a financial downturn at that time.
The characters in the family were described by Mr Russell, John junior’s tutor in 1778: Mr Pybus (senior) and son are partners in a Bankers shop in Bond Street. The former struggles incessantly with an asthma and other disorders, which frequently renders his life doubtful for four and twenty hours. His son John finds full employment in the shop and has but little leisure for literary pursuits or any other pleasure.
On his death aged 53 on 13 March 1808, John Pybus junior was described in flowing Georgian exaggeration and deference: a man of irreproachable life and of manners most amiable. He was ever dearly beloved by his friends because, to solid worth, he united those conciliating habits which render mankind more disposed to remark and to revere whatsoever is really good in character. His last days like his whole life were an example of patient sweetness and, by throwing new light on the excellence of his disposition, have added to the deep affection of his widow and family and made them more sensible of the magnitude of their loss.[4]
Elizabeth Pybus (1767-1836)
The connection with Box comes from John junior’s wife Elizabeth McDonnell, originally from Southampton. They married in St Georges Church, Hanover Square, Westminster, London, in October 1799 and they lived in London until John’s death.[5] We can’t trace Elizabeth’s circumstances thereafter but it is conceivable that she had an income for life but few assets. The reason for saying this is that in his will of 1808, John junior left all the family paintings, including the headline picture, directly to his dear son John Bryan Pybus.
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The Pybus chest tomb outside the north door of Box Church (courtesy Carol Payne)
It is probable that Elizabeth was wealthy enough to rent houses for herself and her children during their minority. After they had left home, she probably sought the company of contemporaries and amusement in her life. Bath was always an attraction for widowed ladies. For those who could not afford city prices, a rented property in Box was nearby. So, Elizabeth moved to Ashley and, on her death in 1836, was buried in Box churchyard. Her tomb chest is both substantial and prominent, outside the main north door entry. The top tablet reads: Erected to the memory of Elizabeth, relict of John Pybus, Esq, of Old Bond Street, London, who departed this life January 9th 1836, aged 69. The Lord gave and the Lord has taken away; may the name of the Lord be praised.
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Thomas Strong
Next to the Pybus memorial and immediately outside the north door of the church is a large monument erected to the Strong family. The monument is a listed building described as: Large ornate carved stone urn on pedestal with moulded base. Inscription to Thomas Strong of Fogleigh, died 1851. Thomas Strong was a master builder, born in 1781 who lived at Box Hill in 1841 with his wife Rowena, his son Robert and his brother and sister-in-law. Thomas leased a 2-acre plot of land (the site of a quarry) from at least 1832.[6] Thomas became extremely wealthy, building cottages on rough pieces of land between the new turnpike road and the old track.[2] By 1851 the extended Strong family had all moved to Fogleigh House, where they were attended by two domestic servants. This ownership is reinforced by the Tithe Apportionment reference that Thomas Strong owned Fogleigh in 1840.[7] Thomas died there aged 72 in April 1851. This is presumed to be an early property on this site because the current Fogleigh House is dated 1881, designed by architect James Hicks of Redruth for the Pictor family. |
The Strong monument (courtesy Carol Payne)
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We can trace the subsequent the Strong family. In 1856, Robert died leaving three infant children and by 1860 his widow, Eliza Ursula Strong, put the whole of the Wiltshire estate up for sale.[8] Possibly she was still suffering consequence from the bankruptcy that her husband had suffered in 1847.[9] Much of the land was cottages and building plots on Box Hill and, although not mentioned, it is likely that the Pictor family bought the Fogleigh area by private treaty at this time. The Strong family continued in the quarry industry when another Robert Strong (1819-1887), possibly cousin, took over the excavation rights in the area, calling himself a quarry master. MORE Elizabeth Strong Grant Church Epitaphs (11)
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Pictor Monument
There is another connection between the Strong and Pictor families because, immediately to the north of the Strong monument in the churchyard, is another stone mason’s tomb of the Pictor family. This is also a listed building (seen right courtesy Carol Payne), described by English Heritage as Chest tomb, mid-1800s, ashlar with 3 Gothic panels each side separated by buttresses, Gothic end panels, moulded base and ridged top stone over capstone. Inscriptions to members of the Pictor family, quarry owners, earliest decipherable date 1857. This date records the death of Job Pictor, the man who founded the Pictor dynasty and whose wife did much for the construction of Clift Quarry. |
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The tombstones immediately outside the north door weren’t buried there by chance. In their time these people were considered important in the village and the location of their burial honoured their memory and the status of these families as the congregation shuffled in and out of the church. To secure these spots other bodies were interred and buried elsewhere. Now they have been trapped in a time capsule of our reverence to our past history.
Strong Family Tree
Siblings:
Thomas Strong (1781 - April 1851),
John Strong (1792 - 1850), a mason, and his wife Mary. It is possible that their child was Robert (b 1819 in Berkshire, d 1887) who took over the quarry company. By 1881 this Robert had married Mary A (b 1824) and they lived at Box Quarries where this Robert was called quarry master.
Thomas Strong (1781 - April 1851), master builder, married Rowena Rawlings on 5 April 1817 and they lived at Box Hill in 1841. In 1851 they lived at Fogleigh House with two domestic servants. Children include: Robert (1818 - 1856)
Robert (1818 - 1856) married Eliza Ursula (b 1821 Brighton, d 10 July 1900). Children: Eliza R (b 1848); Eleanor (b 1850); Robert MC (b 1855).
Strong Family Tree
Siblings:
Thomas Strong (1781 - April 1851),
John Strong (1792 - 1850), a mason, and his wife Mary. It is possible that their child was Robert (b 1819 in Berkshire, d 1887) who took over the quarry company. By 1881 this Robert had married Mary A (b 1824) and they lived at Box Quarries where this Robert was called quarry master.
Thomas Strong (1781 - April 1851), master builder, married Rowena Rawlings on 5 April 1817 and they lived at Box Hill in 1841. In 1851 they lived at Fogleigh House with two domestic servants. Children include: Robert (1818 - 1856)
Robert (1818 - 1856) married Eliza Ursula (b 1821 Brighton, d 10 July 1900). Children: Eliza R (b 1848); Eleanor (b 1850); Robert MC (b 1855).
References
[1] The information about the painting and the history of the Pybus family is indebted to Emma Lauze, 2014, on-line at: https://www.ngv.vic.gov.au/essay/a-nabobs-return-the-pybus-conversation-piece-by-nathaniel-dance-2/
[2] Bath Chronicle and Weekly Gazette, 2 July 1789
[3] The Digital Panopticon William Munro, Life Archive ID obpt17831029-32-defend497 (https://www.digitalpanopticon.org/life?id=obpt17831029-32-defend497).
[4] London Morning Post, 17 March 1808
[5] The Hampshire Telegraph, 28 October 1799
[6] The Bath Chronicle, 1 March 1832. The land was probably leased from the lord of the manor of Lullington, Somerset, near Frome, possibly William Duckworth.
[7] Tithe map reference 99
[8] The Bath Chronicle, 17 April 1856
[9] The Wiltshire Independent, 21 January 1847
[1] The information about the painting and the history of the Pybus family is indebted to Emma Lauze, 2014, on-line at: https://www.ngv.vic.gov.au/essay/a-nabobs-return-the-pybus-conversation-piece-by-nathaniel-dance-2/
[2] Bath Chronicle and Weekly Gazette, 2 July 1789
[3] The Digital Panopticon William Munro, Life Archive ID obpt17831029-32-defend497 (https://www.digitalpanopticon.org/life?id=obpt17831029-32-defend497).
[4] London Morning Post, 17 March 1808
[5] The Hampshire Telegraph, 28 October 1799
[6] The Bath Chronicle, 1 March 1832. The land was probably leased from the lord of the manor of Lullington, Somerset, near Frome, possibly William Duckworth.
[7] Tithe map reference 99
[8] The Bath Chronicle, 17 April 1856
[9] The Wiltshire Independent, 21 January 1847