Monumental Inscriptions, including wills (pre 1858) and other notes of Methodist Church, Union Street, Maidstone
Monumental Inscriptions, including wills (pre 1858) and other notes of Methodist Church, Union Street, Maidstone recorded by D. E. Williams 2016.
Union Street Methodist Church from the south
The headstones are against the wall on the east, under the trees (right). This church was built in 1823, the single storey porch, which is across the whole width is fairly modern. There was an earlier church here, built 1805.
INTERIOR
TABLETS AT SOUTH END AND STAINED GLASS WINDOWS
1. STAINED GLASS WINDOW
IN MEMORY OF GEORGE BAKER DIED AUGUST 12th 1893
2. STAINED GLASS WINDOW
IN MEMORY OF JOSIAH THOMAS BAKER DIED AUGUST 12th 1903 AGED 69
1881 CENSUS, BASKET AND TRUNK MAKER , BAZAAR PROPRIETOR AND HARDWAREMAN, BANK STREET.
BAKER SEE STANDEN
3. MARBLE TABLET
TO
THE MEMORY OF
WILLIAM BEECHING
WHO DIED RESTING ON CHRIST
JAN 15th 1876 IN HIS 70th YEAR
OF HIS AGE
FOR ABOVE 50 YEARS HE HAD BEEN
A CONSISTENT MEMBER
AND A FAITHFUL LOCAL PREACHER
OF THE WESLEYAN METHODIST SOCIETY
"Thy Statutes have been my ?
in the House of his Pilgrimage"
ALSO OF
RICHARD BEECHING
BROTHER OF THE ABOVE
BORN MARCH 7th 1805 DIED SEP 12th 1880
50 YEARS LOCAL PREACHER
48 YEARS SUPERINTENDENT OF SUNDAY SCHOOL
"O Thou that Dwellest
Between the Cherubins Shine Forth"
WILLIAM BEECHING, 1871 CENSUS, BOOTMAKER. RICHARD BEECHING, 1839 PIGOT DIRECTORY,
BOOT AND SHOE MAKER, 1871 CENSUS, MASTER CORDWAINER AND LOCAL PREACHER. THESE BEECHINGS ARE SAID TO BE RELATIONS OF DR. RICHARD BEECHING OF THE "BEECHING AXE", CUTTING (NOW SEEN AS A MISCALCULATION), OF RAILWAY LINES IN THE EARLY 1960'S. DR BEECHING CERTAINLY WENT TO SCHOOL IN MAIDSTONE.
4. MARBLLE TABLET
SACRED
TO THE MEMORY OF THE
REVD. JOHN BRYANT
WHO DIED IN THE CITY OF EXETER
JULY 31st 1825
AGED 45 YEARS
"He was a Man of Unaffected Piety,
Powerful Intellect, Extensive Theological Knowledge,
Inflexable Integrity, Sauvity of Disposition,
And Profound Humility combined with
Distinguished Ministerial Talents,
Which he Diligently and Sucessfully Employed,
16 years in the Wesleyan Connection
And Finished his Itinerant Labours in Maidstone June 1st 1825"
This Tablet was Erected by the Society in Veneration
Of his Character and Regret for their Loss.
5. STAINED GLASS WINDOW
N LOVING MEMORY OF
CHARLES GHUZNEE HEWITT WHO
FELL ASLEEP JUNE 17th 1917 ALSO HIS DAUGHTER
EVELYN MAY WHO PASSED
AWAY JANUARY 4th 1917
1881 CENSUS, BREWER'S CLERK, BOXLEY ROAD.
6. STAINED GLASS WINDOW
IN LOVING MEMORY OF
EDWARD HARRIS IVENS
WHO FELL ASLEEP JUNE 20th 1916 ALSO TO HIS BELOVED WIFE
ELIZABETH CALLED HOME
AUGUST 11th 1915
1881 CENSUS, COMMERCIAL TRAVELER, UNEMPLOYED, UNION STREET.
7. STAINED GLASS WINDOW
IN MEMORY OF ALFRED D. RATCLIFFE
WHO FELL ASLEEP DEC 1st 1916
1881 CENSUS, FLY PROPRIETOR, (LIGHT CARRIAGE), WEEK STREET.
(SEE CHURCHYARD HEADSTONE.)
8. MARBLE TABLET
TO THE BELOVED MEMORY OF
THOMAS SMITH
WHO DIED ON SUNDAY OCTOBER 5th 1879
AGED 59 YEARS
AFTER A LIFELONG CONNECTION WITH THE
WESLEYAN METHODIST SOCIETY IN THIS PLACE
HAVING DISCHARGED FAITHFULLY THE DUTIES
OF IT'S VARIOUS OFFICES , MANY OF WHICH
HE HELD UP TO THE TIME OF HIS DEATH.
"God is our Refuge and Strength"
ALSO IN LOVING MEMORY OF
MARIANE
WIDOW OF THE ABOVE THOMAS SMITH WHO ENTERED
INTO REST ON MONDAY MARCH 10th 1913 IN HER 89th YEAR
"Thou, O Christ, art all I Want"
9. STAINED GLASS WINDOW
IN MEMORY OF CHARLES
LEAVER SMITH DIED
NOVEMBER 2nd 1920 IN MEMORY OF FRANK
LEAVER SMITH KILLED
IN ACTION AUGUST 1916
1911 CENSUS, CHARLES, A GROCER
10. MARBLE TABLET
SACRED TO THE MEMORY OF
MR THOMAS STANDEN
WHO DEPARTED THIS LIFE THE 25th NOVEMBER 1864 AGED 72 YEARS
HE HAD BEEN AN ACTIVE TRUSTEE OF THIS CHAPEL
AND A ZEALOUS MEMBER OF THE WESLEYAN CHURCH 50 YEARS
ALSO FANNY WIFE OF THE ABOVE
WHO DIED THE 11th JULY 1858 AGED 73 YEARS
ALSO LOUISA ELDEST DAUGHTER OF THE ABOVE
WHO DIED THE 16th JAN 1855 AGED 32 YEARS
ALSO ELIZABETH DAUGHTER OF THE ABOVE THOMAS & FANNY
STANDEN WHO DIED THE 30th AUGUST 1886 AGED 59 YEARS
"They Died in Christ"
1839 PIGOT DIRECTORY, PROBABLY THE GROCER AND TEA DEALER; 1861 CENSUS, GENTLEMAN
THERE ARE TWO THOMAS STANDENS LISTED IN 1839, THE OTHER A BOOTMAKER.
11. BRASS PLAQUE
TO THE GLORY OF GOD
AND IN SACRED MEMORY OF
ELIZABETH TEBBUTT
WHO PASSED TO THE HOMELAND ON 14th JULY 1929
AGED 73 YEARS
SHE WAS FOR FIFTY FIVE YEARS
A DEVOTED MEMBER OF THE WESLEYAN METHODIST CHURCH
AND DURING HER LIFE MANNIFESTED
THE GRACES OF ANOBLE CHRISTIAN CHARACTER
LOVE, JOY, PEACE, PATIENCE, GENTLENESS, GOODNESS, FAITH.
WE THANK GOD UPON EVERY REMEMBRANCE OF HER
SMALL BRASS PLAQUE BELOW ABOVE
THE TRUSTEES RECORD WITH GRATITUDE
THAT THE GATES AND RAILINGS AT THE
FRONT ENTRANCE WERE ERECTED WITH
A LEGACY TO THIS CHURCH BY
CHARLES W, TEBBUTT
A BROTHER BELOVED
1877 – 1954
1911 CENSUS, ELIZABETH TEBBUTT WAS THE WIFE OF ELI, A BOOTMAKER.
12. STAINED GLASS WIDOW
IN MEMORY OF EDWARD WRAITH DIED JAN 2nd 1896 AGED 79 YEARS
1881 CENSUS, GROCER ON GABRIEL'S HILL
13. STAINED GLASS WINDOW
IN MEMORY OF EDWARD HENRY WRAITH DIED OCTOBER 29th 1905 AGED 48 YEARS
1881 CENSUS, GROCER, SON OF THE ABOVE
CHURCHYARD (MOST OF THESE HEADSTONES ARE SOMEWHAT WORN, SOME BADLY, HOWEVER WITH THE APPLICATION OF CHALK I WAS ABLE TO READ, WITH GAPS, MOST OF THE FAINTEST)
14. HEADSTONE
IN AFFECTIONATE REMEMBRANCE OF
HARRIET THE BELOVED WIFE OF
GEORGE BALDWIN
WHO DIED NOVEMBER 9th 1872
AGED 57 YEARS
"Her End was Peace"
ALSO THE ABOVE
GEORGE BALDWIN
WHO DIED JANUARY 18th? 1873 ?
AGED 60? YEARS
"Not Lost but Gone Before"
ALSO OF GEORGE BALDWIN
SON OF THE ABOVE
WHO DIED JULY 7th 1897
AGED 50 YEARS
1871 CENSUS, GEORGE SNR. HOUSE AGENT; GEORGE JNR. CLERK IN GAS WORKS.
15. HEADSTONE
SACRED
TO THE MEMORY OF
JOSEPH BENSTED
OF THIS PARISH
WHO DEPARTED THIS LIFE
30th DECEMBER 18[3]0
AGED [ ] YEARS
ALSO OF
HENRY FILEY? SMITH
WHO DIED AT LOOSE THE 12th
OF JULY 1837?
AGED 5? MONTHS
1826 PIGOT DIRECTORY, WILLIAM AND JOSEPH BENSTED, WHARFINGERS AND WATER CONVEYANCERS.
16. HEADSTONE
[ ]
JAMES BENYARD[WHO DIED] AUG 1[ ] 1849 AGED 59 YEARS
ALSO MARY WIFE OF THO. BENYARD
WHO DIED FEB 5th 1858 AGED 51 YEARS
17. HEADSTONE
SACRED
TO THE MEMORY OF
JOHN BLACKSTOCK
A [NATIVE?] OF D[ ]
SCOTLAND
WHO DIED AT MAIDSTONE
FEBRUARY 10th? 1835 AGED [ ] YEARS
18. LEDGER?
BENEATH
THIS STONE LIE THE REMAINS OF
EMILY CAMILIA
THIRD DAUGHTER OF
WILLIAM & ANN PLATER
AND WIFE OF
JOHN GOOD
OF THIS TOWN
WAS BORN THE 10th OF JULY 1829
DIED THE 25th OF OCTOBER 1850
ALSO OF ANN WIFE OF
WILLIAM PLATER
WHO DIED NOV 22nd 1850
[AGED 52 YEARS]
1881 CENSUS, JOHN GOOD OF BRUNSWICK STREET, BREWER'S CLERK
19. HEADSTONE
[ ]
EMMA
THE BELOVED WIFE OF
JAMES GRAY
[OF THIS PARISH ?]
WHO DEPARTED THIS LIFE
[ 1860]
[AGED 23 or 24 YEARS]
20. HEADSTONE
IN MEMORY OF
JOHN LADBROOK
[ ]
[ 1826]
[ ]
PREROGATIVE COURT OF CANTERBURY WILL DATED 18th APRIL 1826
JOHN LADBROOK, PATTEN MAKER
HE "HUMBLY DESIRES" THAT JAMES STANGER, STEPHEN LINK HAZELL AND THOMAS STANDEN WILL BE HIS EXECUTORS.
AT THE TIME THEY JUDGE BEST, THEY TO SELL HIS PATTEN BUSINESS AND THE "LITTLE STOCK" CONNECTED WITH HIS GROCERY BUSINESS. THE PROCEEDS, AFTER HIS DEBTS ARE PAID, TO BE SHARED EQUALLY BETWEEN HIS FOUR DAUGHTERS, MARTHA, ELIZABETH, MARY AND HANNAH. DAUGHTER MARY HAS A "PECULIAR" DISABILITY, SO SHE IS TO HAVE £20 PRIOR TO THE SHARING OUT OF THE MONEY. HE HOPES HIS DAUGHTERS WILL CARE FOR THE "POOR ORPHAN", SARAH HEAD DURING HER MINORITY. SARAH AND HER SISTER, ANN COTTERILL HEAD TO HAVE £10 EACH WHEN HIS EXECUTORS WILL THINK IT MOST USEFUL FOR THEM.
IF THEY BOTH DIE, THEIR LEGACIES WILL GO TO HIS FOUR DAUGHTERS.
HOUSEHOLD FURNITURE AND ALL UTENSILS, HIS CLOTHES, LINEN, BOOKS, PLATE TO BE EQUALLY SHARED BY HIS DAUGHTERS.
WITNESSES: JOHN LITTLE TANNTON AND THOMAS SUTTON.
PROVED 26th JUNE 1826
MARTEN SEE TAPLIN
PLATER SEE GOOD
21. HEADSTONE
SACRED
TO THE MEMORY OF
[ ]
[ ]
[ ]
[ ]
ALSO
HANNAH POTTER
[ NOVEMBER 1831]
[ ]
ALSO
WILLIAM EDWARD POTTER
[ 1863?]
[ ]
22. HEADSTONE
IN
LOVING MEMORY OF
ALFRED DANIEL RATCLIFFE
BORN JAN 14th 18[40]
DIED DEC 1st 19[16]
ALSO ELIZA ANN
WIFE OF THE ABOVE
BORN [ ] 1st 1842
DIED [ ] 1911
1881 CENSUS, ALFRED RATCLIFFE, FLY PROPRIETOR (LIGHT CARRIAGES), WEEK STREET
(SEE INTERIOR)
23. TABLET (FORMERLY ON AN INTERIOR WALL?)
A FILIAL MEMORIAL
TO THE
REVD. GEORGE HAMBLY ROWE
WHO HAVING IRREPROACHABLY DISCHARGED
THE DUTIES OF A
WESLEYAN MINISTER
NEARLY 42 YEARS
DEPARTED THIS LIFE MARCH THE 4th 1850
IN THE 64th YEAR OF HIS AGE
AND WAS INTERRED IN FRONT OF THIS CHAPEL
"At Eve his Summons came,
He started up to Hear,
The Mortal Arrow Pierced his Frame,
He Fell? ? but [felt?] no Fear"
24. HEADSTONE
IN
MEMORY OF
BETHANIA RUCK
WIFE OF JOSHUA RUCK
OF THIS PARISH WHO DEPARTED THIS LIFE
26th OF OCTOBER 1833 AGED 36 YEARS
"Hark [ ] the Sky,
Happy are the Faithful Dead,
In the Lord who Sweetly Die,
They from all[ ]"
1826 PIGOT DIRECTORY, JOSLHUA RUCK, PAWNBROKER.
25. HEADSTONE
SACRED
TO THE MEMORY OF
JOHN SHADGETT
OF THIS PARISH
WHO DEPARTED THIS LIFE APRIL 16th 1821
AGED 44? YEARS
LEFT ISSUE 2 SONS AND 1 DAUGHTER
JOSEPH, BENJAMIN AND FANNY
ALSO THE ABOVE BENJAMIN SHADGETT
WHO DIED JAN 21st 1841
AGED 34 YEARS
ALSO FANNY WIFE OF JOHN SHADGETT
WHO DIED JAN 18th 1841
AGED 70? YEARS
ALSO EDWARD HENRY HER SON
WHO DIED SEPT [ ] 1854
AGED 62 YEARS
PREROGATIVE COURT OF CANTERBURY WILL , NOT DATED (IN FULL)
JOHN SHADGETT, CARRIER OF MAIDSTONE.
"THIS IS MY WILL THE HOLE OF MY PROPERTY FOR MY WIFE AS LONG AS SHE LIVES EXCEPT SHE SHALL MARY AGANE THEN TO COME TO MY CHILDREN BUT IF SHE SHALL BEE SINGLE TO ENJOY IT TO HER END THE HOLE AFTER THAT SEAGER'S HOUSE TO COME TO JOSEPH AND CUTLER'S HOUSE AND FIELD TO BENJAMIN AND BOOTH'S HOUSE TO FAINNY MY STOCK AND TRADE TO BE PARTED FROM TO BE ADVISER TO LET ANY STEDY PERSON WILL FIND ANSWER RGEIR? PURPOSES MY STOCK AND TRADE IS WORTH TO ANY MAN £500 POUNDS AND THE MONEY TO BE PUT TO USE OR APIECE OF LAND BOUGHT TO BILD SUM COTEGE BILT ONE ALL THE BOOK DEBTS TO BE GOT IN AMEDELEY AND THERE IS MORE THAN A NUF TO SHARES I SHOU;D LIKE THE BOYS TO BE PUT PRENTES TO TRADE THAT THEY SHOULD LIKE AND THARE MOTHER TO SIST THEM IN DISON MANNER BUT NOTHER MORE THAN BECOME DISON."
NOT SIGNED, NO WITNESSES.
AFFIDAVIT 21st NOVEMBER 1821
FANNY, HIS WIDOW, JOHN HENTY OF MAIDSTONE, SHOE MAKER AND SARAH DAVIS OF THREE TUNS COURT, SOUTHWARK, SPINSTER, ARE SWORN.
HENTY WAS WELL ACQUAINTED WITH SHADGETT AND IS FAMILIAR WITH HIS MANNER OF SPELLING AND HANDWRITING. HE STATED THAT SHADGETT HAD TOLD HIM HOW HE WANTED HIS PROPERTY TO BE DISBURSED AND THAT HIS WILL FOLLOWS THE SAME ORDER. HE SAW SHADGETT WRITING THE WILL AT A BUREAU AND BELIEVES THE WILL HE HAS EXAMINED ID THE SAME DOCUMENT. HENTY FOUND THE WILL IN THE SAME BUREAU, NO OTHER WILL WAS FOUND.
SARAH DAVIS WAS ALSO WELL ACQUAINTED WITH SHADGETT AND WAS FAMILIAR WITH HIS SPELLING AND HANDWRITING, SHE HAS CAREFULLY EXAMINED THE WILL AND DECLARES IT TO BE IN SHADGETT'S HAND.
WIDOW FANNY HAS SEARCH HER HUSBAND'S PAPERS BUT FOUND NO OTHER WILL. SHE STATES HER CHILDREN ARE MINORS, JOSEPH AND BENJAMIN ARE 14, UPWARDS AND FANNY IS 11, UPWARDS. FANNY SIGNS THE AFFIDAVIT WITH HER MARK.
PROVED 5th DECEMBER 1821
IN PIGOT'S 1826 DIRECTORY JOHN'S WIDOW FANNY SHADGETT IS CARRYING ON THE BUSINESS AS A CARRIER FROM MAIDSTONE TO LONDON, BASED AT WEEK STREET.
SMITH SEE BENSTED
26. HEADSTONE
SACRED
TO THE MEMORY OF
JABEZ WILLIAM STEVENSON
OF THIS PARISH
WHO DIED [ ] OCTOBER 1827
[ ]
[ ]
27. HEADSTONE
IN MEMORY OF
ELIZABETH TAPLIN
LATE OF BLOCKLEY
WORCESTERSHIRE
DIED FEB 3rd 1845
AGED 69 YEARS
ALSO TO THE MEMORY OF
JOHN MARTEN
LATE OF CANTERBURY
[ ]
[ ]
28. HEADSTONE
SACRED
TO THE MEMORY OF
WILLIAM TELFER
OF LANGHOLME IN THE
COUNTY OF DUMFRIESHIRE
SCOTLAND
WHO DEPARTED THIS LIFE
THE 27th? OF AUGUST 1830
AGED 26 YEARS
29. HEADSTONE
IN MEMORY
OF
CHARLES WEBB
WHO DIED JUNE 29th? 1846
AGED 49 YEARS
LEAVING A WIDOW AND 3? CHILDREN
ALSO RICHARD HENRY
SON OF CHARLES AND SARAH WEBB
WHO DIED FEB 9th? 1838
AGED 2 YEARS & 3 MONTHS
30. HEADSTONE
SACRED
TO THE MEMORY OF SARAH WHEATLEY
OF THIS PARISH WHO DIED THE 6th OF FEBRUARY
1830 AGED 78 YEARS
ALSO OF JOHN WHEATLEY
GRANDSON OF THE ABOVE
WHO DIED NOV 30th 1851
IN THE 43rd YEAR OF HIS AGE
ALSO WILLIAM WHEATLEY
SON OF THE ABOVE
WHO DIED MARCH 8th 1855
AGED 62 YEARS
PREROGATIVE COURT OF CANTERBURY WILL DATED 19th APRIL 1844
JOHN WHEATLEY OF THE FOUNTAIN INN, MAIDSTONE, VICTUALLER AND TAILOR.
HE WISHES TO BE BURIED IN A PLAIN AND INEXPENSIVE MANNER.
DEBTS, FUNERAL AND PROBATE COSTS FIRST PAID.
RESIDUE OF REAL AND PERSONAL ESTATE TO WIFE SOPHIA, ABSOLUTELY.
BUT IF HIS WIFE DIES IN HIS LIFETIME, THEN HIS ESTATE TO HER TWO CHILDREN BY HER FORMER HUSBAND SAMUEL SOAMES, THAT IS, EDWARD AND LAURA , EQUALLY SHARED, SUBJECT TO PAYMENT OF HIS DEBTS, ETC.
HIS WIFE AND WILLIAM LOGAN OF HIGH STREET, MAIDSTONE, BAKER ARE EXECUTORS.
WITNESSES: SAMUEL VIGOR, 64 KING STREET, MAIDSTONE, TAILOR AND JOHN HARRIS OF BANK STREET, TAILOR.
AFFIDAVIT 24th APRIL 1852
JOHN HARRIS IS SWORN AND STATES THAT WHEATLEY SIGNED THE WILL IN HIS AND VIGOR'S PRESENCE AND THAT THEY BOTH WITNESSED THE WILL IN WHEATLEY'S AND EACH OTHER'S PRESENCE.
PROVED 28thL APRIL 1852
31. HEADSTONE
IN MEMORY OF
JOHN WILES
WHO DEPARTED THIS LIFE
AUGUST? 9Th 1850
AGED 52 YEARS
ALSO H[ARRIE]TT HIS WIFE
[WHO DEPARTED THIS LIFE
[ ] 1873
AGED [69] YEARS
1841 CENSUS, WATERMAN OF FAIRMEADOW
32. HEADSTONE
[SACRED]
TO THE MEMORY OF
RICHARD WILLIAMS
OF THIS PARISH
[ ]
[ ]
END
Index of Names - from gravestones only
Names Index
BAKER 1,2
BALDWIN 14
BEECHING 3
BENSTED 15
BENYARD 16
BLACKSTOCK 17
BRYANT 4
FILEY 15
GOOD 18
GRAY 19
HAMBLY 23
HARRIS 6
HEWITT 5
IVENS 6
LADBROOK 20
LEAVER 9
MARTEN 27
PLATER 18
POTTER 21
RATCLIFFE 7, 22
ROWE 23
RUCK 24
SHADGETT 25
SMITH 8, 9, 15
STANDEN 10
STEVENSON 26
TAPLIN 27
TEBBUTT 11
TELFER 28
WEBB 29
WHEATLEY 30
WILES 31
WILLIAMS 32
WRAITH 12, 13