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MONUMENTAL INSCRIPTIONS OF

S E A V I N G T O N   S T    M I C H A E L  S O M E R S E T

54 memorials, 1620 - 1996

Recorded, indexed and copyright by Sir Mervyn Medlycott, 2003.

SURNAME INDEX (reference number(s) of memorial descriptions below, not page numbers)

ADAMS: 6
AMOS: 42
ASH: 19, 26 & 29

BAYLISS: 9
BROWNING: 38
BUCKERELL: 18

DENYS: 2
DUNSTER (Dunstr): 11-13, 16, 47, 48 & 51

ELLIOTT: 17
ENGLAND: 45

GIBBONS: 15

HARDING: 44
HOLE: 23
HUTCHINGS: 28 & 34

JACK: 32

KIDDLE: 42

LANE: 10
LAWRENCE: 40
LITTLEJOHNS: 46

MALE: 43

PARKHOUSE: 37
POOLE: 3, 5, 14, 21 & 45

RENDELL: 22
REYLAND: 39
ROWSWELL: 30

SHORE: 6
SINGLETON: 31
SKELLEN: 20 & 50
STRAWBRIDGE: 27
STUCKEY: 7
SWAIN: 8

TEESDALE: 41
TUCK: 18

VAUX: 24 & 25

WARE: 1 & 36
WARRY: 33 & 35

 
(for most post-1837 memorials exact wording is not given on stones, but genealogical abstracts, giving all information in a concise form. Exact  wording is however given for all  pre-1837, and some other memorials, which are in double inverted commas, in most instances with obliques ‘/’ indicating the ends of lines).

Memorials post-dating 1980 have been omitted.

(there are no memorials recorded here in Collinson’s “History of Somerset” (1791))

 

ST. MICHAEL’S CHURCH

The parishes of Seavington St. Michael and Seavington St. Mary shared the same Rector from the mid-19th. century, and were combined into one parish in 1913. In 1983 the combined parish chose to continue to use Seavington St. Michael church only, and Seavington St. Mary church was declared redundent and taken into the care of the Redundent Churches Board, now called the Churches Preservation Trust. The churchyard at Seavington St. Mary however continues in use as a civil cemetery in the parish.

Now part of the Benefice of South Petherton with Seavington.

St. Michael’s church is a small mediaeval building, with Victorian and modern alterations, with a chancel, nave and north porch. There is no tower, only a covered belfry at the west end of the nave. The nave has a west gallery.

CHURCH INTERIOR

The War Memorial on the south wall of the nave is an exact duplicate of the War Memorial which I have already recorded in Seavington St. Mary church, so is omitted from my record of memorials here.

Chancel

1). Stained glass east window.  “This window is erected to the/ glory of God and in loving memory/ of Robert and Sarah WARE / by their children, May 1883” (see also no.36).

2). Recumbent effigy of a man in civilian clothes (which was repositioned upright in the north-west corner of the chancel in 1939) which an information board beside it states is believed to represent Adam le DENYS, of about 1280-1290.

3). Small white on black marble Tablet on south wall.  “Sacred/ to the memory of/ Charles Harding POOLE / son of/ Abraham Harding/ and Eliza Poole/ who departed this life/ November the 21st. 1852 / aged one year and/ three months”.

Nave
(there is framed glazed list of Rectors of Seavington St. Michael on north wall beside the entrance door – names not recorded)

4). Framed wooden board Royal Coat of Arms of King Charles II over the north door.

5). Stone Tablet on north wall. “The bells of this church were rehung &/ one new bell added to the glory of God/ in memory of Abraham Harding POOLE / and Eliza his wife and their children:/ James, Elizabeth, Mary, Charles / and Florence Emma / Churchwarden of this parish/
  1911 – 1937” (note: it is not clear who was Churchwarden. This cannot be the first two named as, according to memorial no.3, they had an infant child who died in 1852. Presumably it was Florence Emma who was the churchwarden. See also no.14 for her).

(no memorials in the north porch)

 

CHURCHYARD

(there are no memorials west of the church)

North of the Church
(recorded from west to east)

6). Small Flatstone. “D.A. and Eileen Dunstan ADAMS / 1893 – 1978, 1897 – 1978 / and Sally, 1981”. (note: Recorded exactly. PR: indicates that “Alfred Dunstan Adams” had dates “1893-1978” whilst “Eileen Dunstan Adams” had dates “1897-1978”. The ashes of “Sally Margaret SHORE” were buried 1981, aged 44)

7). Headstone. Florence Bessie STUCKEY, died 12 Nov 1964, aged 75. And Kate Stuckey, died 12 June 1975, aged 85.

8). Headstone and kerb. ‘husband and father’ Frederick SWAIN, died 16 July 1938, aged 45.
 
9). Small Flat concrete Slab at the entrance to the north porch.  “Allan W.E. BAYLISS / 1893 – 1970 / This path was laid/ to his memory/ by his wife and daughter/ August 1973”.

(here is a paved pathway between the north porch and the north-west entrance gate)

10). Large Cross. Elizabeth LANE, born 19 Dec 1824, died 24 March 1900. And James Lane, died 5 Jan 1912, aged 87.

11). Small Headstone (leaning backwards. worn). “Here/ lieth ye body/ of Elizabeth/ the wife of/ Thomas DUNSTR / who died the/ 10th. of May and/ was buried/ (two lines illegible)” (early 17th.century, clearly a pair to the next memorial. PR: defective, does not not record her 1578-1644).

12). Small Headstone (leaning backwards)  “Here lieth/ the body of/ John DUNSTER / who was bur/ied the 29 day of/ December, Ano: Dni:/ 1620” (not given in PR:).

13). Chest Tomb (south and east panels are blank). north panel: “Here lyeth the body of John/ DUNSTER, who was buryed the/ IX (9) day of November, Ano: Dni: 1625”. west panel: “Here lyeth the body of Gyles / Dunster, who was buried the/ 8 day of February, Ano: Do: 1675”.

14). Kerb.  Mary ‘Pips’ POOLE, died 11 Oct 1935, aged 86. And Florence Emma Poole, died 4 Dec 1937, aged 82 (see also no.5).

15). Sloping Stone. George James GIBBONS, husband of Vera, 1910 – 1975.

16). Chest Tomb (south, east and west panels are blank). left-hand north panel: “Here ly/eth the body/ of Thomas/ DUNSTER, who/ was buryed the/ 27 day of Septm/br, An: Do: 1678”. right-hand north panel: “here lieth/ the body of Joan/ the late wife of/ Thomas Dunstr / of Sevington Mary / who was buried/ the 20 day of Aprl:/ Ano: Dni: 1686 / aetatis suae 66”.

17). Headstone. “Here/ lyeth ye bodys of two/ Josephs, sons of John and/ Susanna ELLIOTT, one died in ye/ year 1737 & ye other in 1749 / Here a(lso) lies the body of/ John Elliott, sener: who died/ April the 14th. 1773, aged/ 74 years/ Here also lies ye body of/ Susanna, wife of John Elliott / sener: who died Janry: 12th./ 1776, aged 71 years” (first two not given in PR:).

18). Chest Tomb (south and east panels are blank).  west panel: “Hear lyeth the body/ of Ales BUCKERELL, wife/ of John Buckerell, Gent:/ daughter of John TUCKE / of Hewish, Gent: who/ was buried the 24 daye/ of August, Ano: 1661”. north panel: “Here lyeth the body of John Buckerell / Gent: who was buried the 28 day of/ October, Ano: Doni: 1681”.

19). Headstone. George ASH, died 11 Aug 1893, aged 72. And Elizabeth Ash, died 20 Jan 1897, aged 74.

20). Headstone (top right-hand corner has flaked off). “Here lieth ye …./ John SKELLEN ……/ died November ye 2- / 1712, aetatis suae …/ years/ (4 lines of verses)” (not given in PR:).

21). Headstone and kerb. Joseph POOLE, born 17 June 1882, died 26 March 1949. And his sister, Elizabeth Poole, born 12 July 1873, died 17 April 1949. Also Charles Mark Poole, died 6 Sept 1956, aged 79.

22). Open Book. ‘my husband’ Kenneth Howard RENDELL, died 22 Feb 1952, aged 23.

23). Headstone. Dorothy Maud HOLE, born 28 Feb 1883, died 14 Nov 1945. And her husband Robert ‘Tom’ Hole, born 16 July 1876, died 30 Nov 1952. Also their daughter, Marjory, 1906 – 1983. And their son, Thomas Geoffrey, 1920 – 1991.

24). Headstone (in two columns. very worn). left-hand column: “Here lieth ye/ body of / William …… (remainder illegible)”.  right-hand column: “Here lieth the/ body of Esther/ wife of William/ VAUX …. who/ died Feb: the …/ 1773, aged 54 years”.

25). Headstone. William VAUX, died 25 Sept 1883, aged 63, “for 33 years was Clerk of the parish church”.  And his wife, Elizabeth Vaux, died 6 May 1886, aged 65. Also their daughter, Asenath Vaux, died 23 Aug 1881, aged 27. And their daughter, Sarah Vaux, died 21 Oct 1944, aged 83.

26). Headstone. Thomas ASH, died 8 May 1900, aged 42. And his wife, Emma Ash, died 4 May 1942, aged 78.

27). Flower Holder. ‘husband and father’ Ernest G. STRAWBRIDGE, 1879 – 1953. And his wife, Emily, died 22 June 1955, aged 67.

 

East of the Church
(recorded in rows from west to east)

28). Base of a Cross (shaft lies in pieces alongside). Emily HUTCHINGS, died 16 Jan 1942.

29). Low Headstone, Flower Holder and kerb. on headstone: Eliza ASH, died 10 May 1936, aged 65. And her husband, Fred Ash, died 11 Jan 1958, aged 88. on flower holder: “To my darling sister from Sarah Ann”.

30). Low Headstone and kerb. John ROWSWELL, died 1 Feb 1953, aged 76. And his wife, Emma Netta Rowswell, died 2 June 1970, aged 92.

31). Open Book. Rose May SINGLETON, died 25 Dec 1974, aged 86. And her husband, Herbert Singleton, died 5 Aug 1977, aged 91.

32). Large Flat Ledger Stone. “Alan JACK / 1979 / France (sic) Jack/ 1993”.

33). Headstone and kerb. Harriett WARRY, died 16 April 1953, aged 89. And her husband, Francis, died 19 Sept 1956, aged 86.

34). Small Headstone (in the form of a scroll) on a high plinth. Eliza HUTCHINGS, died 15 March 1895, aged 59. And her husband, William Hutchings, died 23 Oct 1903, aged 58.

35). Headstone and two Footstones (displaced, leaning against the headstone). Emma WARRY, died 14 July 1896, aged 61. And her husband, Richard Warry, died 17 Sept 1921, aged 81. Also their daughter, Florence, died 21 Dec 1949, aged 84. And their grandchild, Kathleen Elizabeth Warry, died 24 July 1905, aged 10 months. on footstones: “E.W.” and “R.W”.

36). Headstone (surmounted by a cross). Robert WARE, died 15 Dec 1867, aged 62. And his wife, Sarah, died 10 Dec 1882, aged 77 (see also no.1)
 
37). Cross. Elizabeth PARKHOUSE, died 19 March 1909, aged 99 years and 9 months.

38). Base of a Cross (shaft broken off, leaning against the base). James BROWNING, died 12 March 1886, aged 68. And his wife, Elizabeth, died 4 Feb 1875, aged 54.

39). Open Book (with angel peering over the top!) within a small kerb. ‘our darling baby’ Nigel A.J. REYLAND, died 25 Feb 1955, aged 3 weeks.

40). Headstone. Charles LAWRENCE, died 22 April 1955, aged 73. And his wife, Elizabeth Kate, died 9 Oct 1955, aged 74.

 

South of the Church
(recorded from west to east)

41). Headstone and Sloping Stone. on headstone: Avice Watson TEESDALE, born 27 July 1900, died 18 Feb 1966. on sloping stone: Philip Herbert Teesdale, born 13 Jan 1894, died 13 May 1976.

42). Headstone. Rachael KIDDLE, 1878 – 1968. And ‘a dear friend’ Nan Kiddle, of Buckrells, Seavington St. Michael, died 1981. Also Rachael Mary AMOS, nee Kiddle, also of Buckrells, Seavington St. Michael, 1908 – 1996.

43). Headstone (very worn). name just about legible as “John MALE”, remainder of inscription illegible, (looks c1800, but PR: gives no Males 1770-1850, probably defective).

44). Headstone (in two columns. worn). left-hand column: “In memory of/ Charles, son of/ Abraham and Anna/ HARDING, who died/ the 12th. Augst: 1793 / aged 16 years/ (4 lines of verses)”. right-hand column: “Also of/ Anna Harding/ who died April 9th. 1807 / aged 59 years/ (4 lines of verses)”. all the way across the bottom: “Also in memory of the above named Abraham/ Harding, who departed this life Sept: the 5th? 1817 / aged 65? years/ (4 lines of verses)” (PR: buried 27 Sept 1817, aged 67).

45). Base of a Cross (shaft on ground in pieces). James POOLE, died 28 Nov 1854, aged 79. And his wife, Elizabeth, died 12 Oct 1849, aged 70. Also their children: James, died 11 Dec 1843, aged 28; Emma, died 27 Jan 1853, aged 32; Charles, died 18 April 1854, aged 44; Abraham, died 8 Aug 1859, aged 41; Lucy, died 20 April 1907, aged 86, and Jessica, widow of Robert White ENGLAND, died 29 Jan 1899, aged 87.

along the south boundary just inside the hedge is a line of displaced headstones lying on the ground face-upwards, some of which are legible and others not (recorded west to east):

46). Headstone. “Here/ lieth the body/ of Ruth, the wife of/ Edward LITTLEJOHNS / who died June ye 15th./ 1744, aged 65”.

47). Headstone. “Here ly/eth the bo/dy of Henry / son of John / DUNSTER, who/ was buried ye 18 / day of Nove: 1668”.

48). Headstone. “Here/ lyeth the/ body of Gyles / DUNSTER, the/ son of John/ Dunster, who was/ buried the 23 of/ June, Ano: Doi: 1674”.

50). Headstone. “Here lieth the body of/ Thomas SKELLEN, who/ departed this life Oct: ye 24th. / 1754, aged 59 years/ (4 lines of verses)”.

51). Headstone. “Here/ lyeth the bo/dy of Joane, the/ daughter of/ Thomas DUNSTER/ who was buried/ the 9th. day of/ Novemb: 1665”.

52). Three Headstones, now illegible.

*******

Queries checked with Parish Registers 1578 - 1986, at Somerset Record Office.

copies to: Somerset & Dorset Family History Society (MI Index).
                 Somerset & Dorset Family History Society (Library).
                 Yeovil Reference Library.
                 Somerset Record Office, Taunton.
                 Society of Genealogists Library, London.
                 Incumbent and PCC of Seavington.
                 Sir Mervyn Medlycott.