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Family Epitaphs at Box Church Jane Hussey Photos courtesy Carol Payne November 2019 There are a number of significant tomb chests in the Box churchyard. A most prestigious location was opposite the north door to commemorate important local families, because this was the main entrance to Box Church. As the Georgian period ended, these tombs included leading stone masons and quarry-owners from the 1830s. This article is about a different location, a wall plaque on the outside of the south wall of the church. Most of these residents were ordinary, working-class people who took a risk on leasing a quarry and found that it contained rich seams of building stone from which they became wealthy. Many were involved in the development of “Box Hill by the Road”, the turnpike road which runs from Pickwick down to the village, now called A4. The development of this area started about 1832 with the sale of three cottages and a plot of land “near the great Turnpike Road leading from Bath to London”.[1] The cottage tenants turned out to be significant Box people: Robert Newman, Mrs Wiltshire, widow, and Robert Shell, about whom more later. |
The north wall of the Nave (courtesy Carol Payne)
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Robert Newman
Robert Newman and his wife Mary Sympsion have the distinction of a plaque dedicated to them on the outside of the Box Church at the back, high on the wall. From the cottage on Box Hill, he became a wealthy mason and begat a dynasty of Robert Newmans. But this doesn’t seem adequate to explain the distinction of having one of the few plaques on the exterior of the building. The epitaph on the plaque reads: Robert Newman died June 1st 1788 aged 80 years. Mary his wife died February 28th 1800 aged 88 years, Eleanor daughter of Robert and Eleanor Newman died July 22 1814 aged 24 years. There are further words below but unfortunately these are no longer legible. We can trace some of the family of Robert senior born 1708 and Mary born 1712. Eleanor referred to as born in 1790 is likely to be their granddaughter which makes Robert junior and Eleanor their son and daughter-in-law. It is probable that these two are Eleanor Gibbons (born about 1748, died 1818) who married Robert Newman (probably 1748-1818) in Box in 1779. Both Eleanor and Robert were Box people. The record is confusing, however, because the marriage details also show a Robert Newman marrying Eleanor Gibbons in 1799, twenty years later. I would love to know where he came from if anyone could ever find out. |
Why the Exterior Newman Plaque?
The wall plaque is unusual and comparatively rare in Box Church. I haven’t seen an explanation for this or the blocked-in doorway below it. We can speculate a little about the circumstances which lay behind this construction. In the early 1800s there were several proposals to extend the church. In 1808 the plan was to reposition the belfry, open out the arch and remove some of the galleries.[2] By 1823 an enlargement was discussed to extend the north aisle.
Eventually, it was the opposite aisle which was built to accommodate the growing number of parishioners. In August 1830 the churchwardens advertised for tenders from builders desirous of contracting for building the intended additions to Box Church.[3] The work began in the following year and was completed by 1834.[4] Was it possible that Robert’s family were involved in extending the south aisle and, by way of gratitude, the churchwardens agreed to the placing of a family epitaph on the adjacent wall?
Richard Newman
Having said all that about Robert Newman, I don’t think my Newman family are connected to him directly but rather to Richard Newman. There is a table top coffin grave to my 5 x great grandfather Richard Newman (born about 1748 but unknown where) alongside the path leading to the church door (on the left) as you walk towards the door, and which is now very worn and flaking, but I did originally transcribe it:
To the memory of Richard Newman of this parish who departed this life May 25th 1824 aged 76 years.
Kind angels watch this sleeping dust
And Jesus come to raise the just.
Men may wake with sweet surprise
and in my Saviour's image rise.
Also: To Hester the wife of Richard Newman died December 9th 1829 aged 82 years.
Hester was Hester Gibbs born 1746/47 at South Wraxall and died 1829 at Atworth. I suspect the tomb was erected in their memory by one or several of their masonry sons, many of whom also made considerable money through their profession. I believe the fact that it is in this prominent position tells me that they had some standing in the community but I have never found out what Richard actually did for a living. I know that he received poor relief during the Napoleonic times.
Shell Monument
Back with the list of cottage holders in 1832, several are related to my ancestors. There is a Shell monument listed as a Historic Building adjacent to the path to Church Cottage which is reported as:
Shell monument in churchyard about 6 metres south of Bullock monument south-east of Church
Chest tomb, later 1700s, ashlar with two plaques each side, rectangular with quadrant curved lower corners, fluted central strip and fielded angle piers. Moulded base and cornice. The monument is adjacent to path to Church Cottage.
I belong to the huge Shell families of Box but don’t know to which of them this belongs. If anyone has any further information, I would be grateful.
Scrill Monument
When I was researching my ancestors the Newmans and Shells, I came across the Scrill monument – and this only because I know that Robert Newman (born about 1706 in Somerset) was apprenticed to him: Apprenticeship indenture No. 1711 - Newman Robert [?] of County of Somerset; to William Scrill, freemason of Box 5. May 1722; CIC £5.15.6d. (4 August 1722; 47/154).[5]
The Scrill monument is a Listed Building and details of it in the churchyard are: Scrill monument in the churchyard about 4 metres south of the south-east buttress of the south aisle of the church. A chest tomb, mid-1700s, ashlar with two shield plaques each side, fluted pilasters to the centre and angles and shield end plaques. On a moulded base and cornice with pulvinated frieze breaking forward over the pilasters. South side plaque to William Scrill died 1754; north side plaques to E Osmond and M Bull.
Conclusion
Box Churchyard has an amazing number of monuments listed for their special architectural or historic interest, considered to be of national importance and therefore worth protecting. There are 65 tombs with a Grade II listing in Box, part of the 213 listed buildings in the village. This is more than Monkton Farleigh 34, Atworth 69, Biddestone 91, Colerne 94, Melksham 152, Calne 178 and Lacock 187. It is a heritage that we need to treasure and preserve. Over the next few issues, we hope to get more details of the monuments in the churchyard of Box.
The wall plaque is unusual and comparatively rare in Box Church. I haven’t seen an explanation for this or the blocked-in doorway below it. We can speculate a little about the circumstances which lay behind this construction. In the early 1800s there were several proposals to extend the church. In 1808 the plan was to reposition the belfry, open out the arch and remove some of the galleries.[2] By 1823 an enlargement was discussed to extend the north aisle.
Eventually, it was the opposite aisle which was built to accommodate the growing number of parishioners. In August 1830 the churchwardens advertised for tenders from builders desirous of contracting for building the intended additions to Box Church.[3] The work began in the following year and was completed by 1834.[4] Was it possible that Robert’s family were involved in extending the south aisle and, by way of gratitude, the churchwardens agreed to the placing of a family epitaph on the adjacent wall?
Richard Newman
Having said all that about Robert Newman, I don’t think my Newman family are connected to him directly but rather to Richard Newman. There is a table top coffin grave to my 5 x great grandfather Richard Newman (born about 1748 but unknown where) alongside the path leading to the church door (on the left) as you walk towards the door, and which is now very worn and flaking, but I did originally transcribe it:
To the memory of Richard Newman of this parish who departed this life May 25th 1824 aged 76 years.
Kind angels watch this sleeping dust
And Jesus come to raise the just.
Men may wake with sweet surprise
and in my Saviour's image rise.
Also: To Hester the wife of Richard Newman died December 9th 1829 aged 82 years.
Hester was Hester Gibbs born 1746/47 at South Wraxall and died 1829 at Atworth. I suspect the tomb was erected in their memory by one or several of their masonry sons, many of whom also made considerable money through their profession. I believe the fact that it is in this prominent position tells me that they had some standing in the community but I have never found out what Richard actually did for a living. I know that he received poor relief during the Napoleonic times.
Shell Monument
Back with the list of cottage holders in 1832, several are related to my ancestors. There is a Shell monument listed as a Historic Building adjacent to the path to Church Cottage which is reported as:
Shell monument in churchyard about 6 metres south of Bullock monument south-east of Church
Chest tomb, later 1700s, ashlar with two plaques each side, rectangular with quadrant curved lower corners, fluted central strip and fielded angle piers. Moulded base and cornice. The monument is adjacent to path to Church Cottage.
I belong to the huge Shell families of Box but don’t know to which of them this belongs. If anyone has any further information, I would be grateful.
Scrill Monument
When I was researching my ancestors the Newmans and Shells, I came across the Scrill monument – and this only because I know that Robert Newman (born about 1706 in Somerset) was apprenticed to him: Apprenticeship indenture No. 1711 - Newman Robert [?] of County of Somerset; to William Scrill, freemason of Box 5. May 1722; CIC £5.15.6d. (4 August 1722; 47/154).[5]
The Scrill monument is a Listed Building and details of it in the churchyard are: Scrill monument in the churchyard about 4 metres south of the south-east buttress of the south aisle of the church. A chest tomb, mid-1700s, ashlar with two shield plaques each side, fluted pilasters to the centre and angles and shield end plaques. On a moulded base and cornice with pulvinated frieze breaking forward over the pilasters. South side plaque to William Scrill died 1754; north side plaques to E Osmond and M Bull.
Conclusion
Box Churchyard has an amazing number of monuments listed for their special architectural or historic interest, considered to be of national importance and therefore worth protecting. There are 65 tombs with a Grade II listing in Box, part of the 213 listed buildings in the village. This is more than Monkton Farleigh 34, Atworth 69, Biddestone 91, Colerne 94, Melksham 152, Calne 178 and Lacock 187. It is a heritage that we need to treasure and preserve. Over the next few issues, we hope to get more details of the monuments in the churchyard of Box.
References
[1] The Bath Chronicle, 1 March 1832
[2] Clare Higgens, Box Wiltshire: An Intimate History, 1985, Downland Press, p.19
[3] Bath Chronicle and Weekly Gazette, 26 August 1830
[4] See Box Church article
[5] NJ Williams, Wiltshire Apprentices and Their Masters, 1710-1760, Wiltshire Record Society, Vol XVII, 1961, P.109
[1] The Bath Chronicle, 1 March 1832
[2] Clare Higgens, Box Wiltshire: An Intimate History, 1985, Downland Press, p.19
[3] Bath Chronicle and Weekly Gazette, 26 August 1830
[4] See Box Church article
[5] NJ Williams, Wiltshire Apprentices and Their Masters, 1710-1760, Wiltshire Record Society, Vol XVII, 1961, P.109