Curious Epitaphs Part 16

Epitaphs on Notable Persons.

We have under this heading some curious graveyard gleanings on remarkable men and women. Our first is from a tombstone erected in the churchyard of Spofforth, at the cost of Lord Dundas, telling the remarkable career of John Metcalf, better known as "Blind Jack of Knaresborough":--

Here lies JOHN METCALF, one whose infant sight Felt the dark pressure of an endless night; Yet such the fervour of his dauntless mind, His limbs full strung, his spirits unconfined, That, long ere yet life's bolder years began, The sightless efforts mark'd th' aspiring man; Nor mark'd in vain--high deeds his manhood dared, And commerce, travel, both his ardour shared.

'Twas his a guide's unerring aid to lend-- O'er trackless wastes to bid new roads extend; And, when rebellion reared her giant size, 'Twas his to burn with patriot enterprise; For parting wife and babes, a pang to feel, Then welcome danger for his country's weal.

Reader, like him, exert thy utmost talent given!

Reader, like him, adore the bounteous hand of Heaven.

He died on the 26th of April, 1801, in the 93rd year of his age.

A few jottings respecting Metcalf will probably be read with interest. At the age of six years he lost his sight by an attack of small-pox. Three years later he joined the boys in their bird-nesting exploits, and climbed trees to share the plunder. When he had reached thirteen summers he was taught music, and soon became a proficient performer; he also learned to ride and swim, and was pa.s.sionately fond of field-sports. At the age of manhood it is said his mind possessed a self-dependence rarely enjoyed by those who have the perfect use of their faculties; his body was well in harmony with his mind, for when twenty-one years of age he was six feet one and a half inches in height, strong and robust in proportion. At the age of twenty-five, he was engaged as a musician at Harrogate. About this time he was frequently employed during the dark nights as a guide over the moors and wilds, then abundant in the neighbourhood of Knaresborough. He was a lover of horse-racing, and often rode his own animals. His horses he so tamed that when he called them by their respective names they came to him, thus enabling him to find his own amongst any number and without trouble. Particulars of the marriage of this individual read like a romance. A Miss Benson, the daughter of an innkeeper, reciprocated the affections of our hero; however, the suitor did not please the parents of the "fair lady," and they selected a Mr. d.i.c.kinson as her future husband.

Metcalf, hearing that the object of his affection was to be married the following day to the young man selected by her father, hastened to free her by inducing the damsel to elope with him. Next day they were made man and wife, to the great surprise of all who knew them, and to the disappointment of the intended son-in-law. To all it was a matter of wonder how a handsome woman as any in the country, the pride of the place, could link her future with "Blind Jack," and, for his sake, reject the many good offers made her. But the bride set the matter at rest by declaring: "His actions are so singular, and his spirit so manly and enterprising, that I could not help it."

It is worthy of note that he was the first to set up, for the public accommodation of visitors to Harrogate, a four-wheeled chaise and a one-horse chair; these he kept for two seasons. He next bought horses and went to the coast for fish, which he conveyed to Leeds and Manchester. In 1745, when the rebellion broke out in Scotland, he joined a regiment of volunteers raised by Colonel Thornton, a patriotic gentleman, for the defence of the House of Hanover. Metcalf shared with his comrades all the dangers of the campaign. He was defeated at Falkirk, and victorious at Culloden. He was the first to set up (in 1754) a stage-waggon between York and Knaresborough, which he conducted himself twice a week in summer, and once a week in winter. This employment he followed until he commenced contracting for road-making. His first contract was for making three miles of road between Minskip and Ferrensby. He afterwards erected bridges and houses, and made hundreds of miles of roads in Yorks.h.i.+re, Lancas.h.i.+re, Ches.h.i.+re, and Derbys.h.i.+re. He was a dealer in timber and hay, of which he measured and calculated the solid contents by a peculiar method of his own. The hay he always measured with his arms, and, having learned the height, he could tell the number of square yards in the stack. When he went out, he always carried with him a stout staff some inches taller than himself, which was of great service both in his travels and measurements.

In 1778 he lost his wife, after thirty-nine years of conjugal felicity, in the sixty-first year of her age. She was interred at Stockport. Four years later he left Lancas.h.i.+re, and settled at the pleasant rural village of Spofforth, not far distant from the town of his nativity. With a daughter, he resided on a small farm until he died, in 1801. At the time of his decease, his descendants were four children, twenty grandchildren, and ninety great-grandchildren.

In "Yorks.h.i.+re Longevity," compiled by Mr. William Grainge, of Harrogate, a most painstaking writer on local history, will be found an interesting account of Henry Jenkins, a celebrated Yorks.h.i.+reman. It is stated: "In the year 1743, a monument was erected, by subscription, in Bolton churchyard, to the memory of Jenkins: it consists of a square base of freestone, four feet four inches on each side, by four feet six inches in height, surmounted by a pyramid eleven feet high. On the east side is inscribed:--

This monument was erected by contribution, in ye year 1743, to ye memory of HENRY JENKINS.

On the west side:--

HENRY JENKINS, Aged 169.

In the church on a mural tablet of black marble, is inscribed the following epitaph, composed by Dr. Thomas Chapman, Master of Magdalen College, Cambridge:--

Blush not, marble, to rescue from oblivion the memory of HENRY JENKINS: a person obscure in birth, but of a life truly memorable; for he was enriched with the goods of nature, if not of fortune, and happy in the duration, if not variety, of his enjoyments; and, tho' the partial world despised and disregarded his low and humble state, the equal eye of Providence beheld, and blessed it with a patriarch's health and length of days; to teach mistaken man, these blessings were entailed on temperance, or, a life of labour and a mind at ease.

He lived to the amazing age of 169; was interred here, Dec. 6, (or 9,) 1670, and had this justice done to his memory 1743.

This inscription is a proof that learned men, and masters of colleges, are not always exempt from the infirmity of writing nonsense. Pa.s.sing over the modest request to the _black marble_ not to blush, because, it may _feel_ itself degraded by bearing the name of the plebeian Jenkins, when it ought only to have been appropriated to kings and n.o.bles, we find but questionable philosophy in this inappropriate composition.

The mult.i.tude of great events which took place during the lifetime of this man are truly wonderful and astonis.h.i.+ng. He lived under the rule of nine sovereigns of England--Henry VII., Henry VIII., Edward VI., Mary, Elizabeth, James I., Charles I., Oliver Cromwell, and Charles II. He was born when the Roman Catholic religion was established by law. He saw the dissolution of the monasteries, and the faith of the nation changed; Popery established a second time by Queen Mary; Protestantism restored by Elizabeth; the Civil War between Charles and the Parliament begun and ended; Monarchy abolished; the young Republic of England, arbiter of the destinies of Europe; and the restoration of Monarchy under the libertine Charles II. During his time, England was invaded by the Scotch; a Scottish King was slain, and a Scottish Queen beheaded in England; a King of Spain and a King of Scotland were Kings in England; three Queens and one King were beheaded in England in his days; and fire and plague alike desolated London. His lifetime time appears like that of a nation, more than an individual, so long was it extended and so crowded was it with such great events.

The foregoing many incidents remind us of the well-known Scottish epitaph on Margery Scott, who died February 26th, 1728, at Dunkeld, at the extreme age of one hundred years. According to Chambers's "Domestic Annals of Scotland," the following epitaph was composed for her by Alexander Pennecuik, but never inscribed, and it has been preserved by the reverend statist of the parish, as a whimsical statement of historical facts comprehended within the life of an individual:--

Stop, pa.s.senger, until my life you read, The living may get knowledge from the dead.

Five times five years I led a virgin life, Five times five years I was a virtuous wife; Ten times five years I lived a widow chaste, Now tired of this mortal life I rest.

Betwixt my cradle and my grave hath been Eight mighty kings of Scotland and a queen.

Full twice five years the Commonwealth I saw, Ten times the subjects rise against the law; And, which is worse than any civil war, A king arraigned before the subject's bar.

Swarms of sectarians, hot with h.e.l.lish rage, Cut off his royal head upon the stage.

Twice did I see old prelacy pulled down, And twice the cloak did sink beneath the gown.

I saw the Stuart race thrust out; nay, more, I saw our country sold for English ore; Our numerous n.o.bles, who have famous been, Sunk to the lowly number of sixteen.

Such desolation in my days have been, I have an end of all perfection seen!

A footnote states: "The minister's version is here corrected from one of the _Gentleman's Magazines_ for January, 1733; but both are incorrect, there having been during 1728 and the one hundred preceding years no more than six kings of Scotland."

Rowland Deakin died in 1791, aged 95, and was buried in Astley churchyard, near Shrewsbury. His epitaph is as follows:--

Many years I've seen, and Many things I have known, Five Kings, two Queens, And a Usurper on the throne; But now lie sleeping in the dust As you, dear reader, shortly must.

In Scott's "Tales of a Grandfather," there is an account of the Battle of Lillyard's Edge, which was fought in 1545. The spot on which the battle occurred is so called from an Amazonian Scottish woman, who is reported, by tradition, to have distinguished herself in the fight. An inscription which was placed on her tombstone was legible within the present century, and is said to have run thus:--

Fair Maiden LILLYARD lies under this stane, Little was her stature, but great was her fame; Upon the English louns she laid mony thumps, And when her legs were cutted off, she fought upon her stumps.

The tradition says that a beautiful young lady, called Lillyard, followed her lover from the little village of Maxton, and when she saw him fall in battle, rushed herself into the heat of the fight, and was killed, after slaying several of the English.

In Bolton churchyard, Lancas.h.i.+re, is a gravestone of considerable historical interest. It has been incorrectly printed in several books and magazines, but we are able to give a literal copy drawn from a carefully compiled "History of Bolton," by John D. Briscoe:--

JOHN OKEY,

The servant of G.o.d, was borne in London, 1608, came into this toune in 1629, married Mary, daughter of James Crompton, of Breightmet, 1635, with whom he lived comfortably 20 yeares, & begot 4 sons and 6 daughters. Since then he lived sole till the da of his death. In his time were many great changes, & terrible alterations--18 yeares Civil Wars in England, besides many dreadful sea fights--the crown or command of England changed 8 times, Episcopacy laid aside 14 yeares; London burnt by Papists, and more stately built againe; Germany wasted 300 miles; 200,000 protestants murdered in Ireland, by the Papists; this toune thrice stormed--once taken, & plundered. He went throw many troubles and divers conditions, found rest, joy, & happines only in holines--the faith, feare, and loue of G.o.d in Jesus Christ. He died the 29 of Ap and lieth here buried, 1684. Come Lord Jesus, o come quickly. Holiness is man's happines.

[THE ARMS OF OKEY.]

We gather from Mr. Briscoe's history that Okey was a woolcomber, and came from London to superintend some works at Bolton, where he married the niece of the proprietor, and died in affluence.

Bradley, the "Yorks.h.i.+re Giant," was buried in the Market Weighton Church, and on a marble monument the following inscription appears:--

In memory of WILLIAM BRADLEY, (Of Market Weighton,) Who died May 30th, 1820, Aged 33 years.

He measured Seven feet nine inches in Height, and Weighed twenty-seven stones.

On exhibiting himself at Hull Fair, in 1815, he issued a hand-bill, and the following is a copy of it:--

To be seen during the fair, at the house, No. 10, Queen Street, Mr.

Bradley, the most wonderful and surprising Yorks.h.i.+re Giant, 7 feet 9 inches high, weighs 27 stones; who has had the honour of being introduced to their Majesties & Royal Family at Windsor, where he was most graciously received. A more surprising instance of gigantic stature has never been beheld, or exhibited in any other kingdom; being proportionate in all respects, the sight of him never fails to give universal gratification, & will fill the beholder's eyes with wonder & astonishment. He is allowed by the greatest judges to surpa.s.s all men ever yet seen. Admittance one s.h.i.+lling.

In "Celebrities of the Yorks.h.i.+re Wolds," by Frederick Ross, an interesting sketch of Bradley is given. Mr. Ross states that he was a man of temperate habits, and never drank anything stronger than water, milk, or tea, and was a very moderate eater.

In Hampsthwaite churchyard was interred a "Yorks.h.i.+re Dwarf." Her gravestone states:--

In memory of JANE RIDSDALE, daughter of George and Isabella Ridsdale, of Hampsthwaite, who died at Swinton Hall, in the parish of Masham, on the 2nd day of January, 1828, in the 59th year of her age. Being in stature only 31-1/2 inches high.

Blest be the hand divine which gently laid My head at rest beneath the humble shade; Then be the ties of friends.h.i.+p dear; Let no rude hand disturb my body here.

In the burial-ground of St. Martin's, Stamford, is a gravestone to Lambert, a man of surprising corpulency:--

In remembrance of that prodigy in nature, DANIEL LAMBERT, a native of Leicester, who was possessed of an excellent and convivial mind, and in personal greatness had no compet.i.tor.

He measured three feet one inch round the leg, nine feet four inches round the body, and weighed 52 stones 11 lbs.

(14 lb. to the stone).

He departed this life on the 21st of June, 1809, aged 39 years.

As a testimony of respect, this stone was erected by his friends in Leicester.

Respecting the burial of Lambert we gather from a sketch of his life the following particulars: "His coffin, in which there was a great difficulty to place him, was six feet four inches long, four feet four inches wide, and two feet four inches deep; the immense substance of his legs made it necessarily a square case. This coffin, which consisted of 112 superficial feet of elm, was built on two axle-trees, and four cog-wheels. Upon these his remains were rolled into his grave, which was in the new burial-ground at the back of St. Martin's Church. A regular descent was made by sloping it for some distance. It was found necessary to take down the window and wall of the room in which he lay to allow of his being taken away."

In St. Peter's churchyard, Isle of Thanet, a gravestone bears the following inscription:--