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Appendix III. The old church in 1898 and monumental inscriptions in churchyard

On 5th August 1898—over forty-three years ago—I visited Colston Bassett old church and copied all monumental inscriptions in the churchyard prior to 1813, after which age at death is given in the parish registers, so that this information, so important in fixing the identity of individuals or tracing their origin, is obtainable from another source.

At that date I made the following notes about the then condition of the ruined church, which may be of sufficient interest to record here.

The church is roofless. Heaps of debris lie within the walls. Hemlock and elder grow in nave and aisle. Thistles and nettles in the chancel. In the south transept a rabbit sprang from under my feet and sought refuge in a heap of stones and rubbish in the nave. The dead body of a half-fledged magpie lay on the ground alongside the bell-hammers and the Royal Arms, the canvas of the latter torn to shreds.

Under the tower lies the iron parish chest which had formerly contained the registers and documents. Its lid, which is cracked, bears this inscription:-

REV. J. BROOKS
VICAR
W. CRABTREE
I. CRABTREE
CHURCH-WARDENS
COLSTON-BASSETT
1813

The church had been cruciform, with transepts and side aisles, but the North aisle and transept must have been taken down long ago, their arches being filled up with stone-built masonry, through which were pierced round topped windows; excepting the smallest arch next the tower, in which is a small north door with tiny window over. Glass, but not coloured, still remains in the windows, through the broken panes of which ivy has forced its way. The masonry of the battlemented tower appears unsafe.

I could see no trace of any monumental inscriptions, or of any mural tablet, slab, brass, or tomb, except that on the floor was lying a slate slab to Mrs. Anna Church, dau. of Mrs. Sarah Austin, who "obiit 21 Octo: 1777 aetat 76" "Requiescat in pace." [Two Golding floorstones escaped me, as they were then covered with debris. They have since been found and removed to the churchyard, so are included in. the appended list of monumental inscriptions.]

The east end and part of the walls of the church are built of brick on the inside, the rest of the church of stone throughout. There is a small piscina at the east end of the south wall of the cnancel and another in the end of the south transept. T.M.B.

Tombstone and headstone inscriptions extant in Colston Bassett Churchyard 5th Aug. 1898.

AUSTIN	Sarah, relict of Thomas, gent. d. 18 Nov. 1761
	in 97th year [see also under CHURCH].
BARNES	John, d. Friday 11 Apr. 1823, in his 5th year.
	"This stone, to commemorate the fortitude
	with which he bore his sufferings, and to
	remind us of the uncertainty of life, was
	placed by order of Henry B. Martin, who
	calling to see him during his illness, was
	unfortunately witness of his departure"
BARRATT	Ferneough, d. 4 Mch. 1799, aged 56.
	Mary, wife of Ferneough, d. 8 Oct. 1791,
	aged 41.
BASILICO	Andrew, of this parish, gent. d. 29 Aug. 1824
	in 79th year.
	Sophia Charlotte, his wife, d. 26 Aug. 1830,
	in 67th year.
BASS	Ann, wife of Thomas, d. 8 July, 1748, aged 39.
	Elizabeth, wife of Thomas, d. 4 Dec. 1775,
	aged 77.
	Thomas, d. 1st Jan. 1775, aged 75. .
BONSER	Mary, daughter of John and Ann, d. 24 Nov.
	1727, aged 29.
BONSER	Henry, d. 27 Feb. 1842, aged 23.
	Sarah Ann, sister of above, d. 17 Apr. 1842,
	aged 14.
	"Peace be with them."
BONSER	John, d. 25 Nov. 1826, aged 67.
	Sarah, his wife, d. 16 March 1797, aged 39.
	"Ye who come our graves to view,
	Think the glass still runs for you;
	Think on death, for die you must,
	And, like us, return to dust:
	Seek your Saviour for your friend,
	Seek that life which has no end.

BONSER	John (who for upwards of 40 years was Clerk
	of this Parish) d. 28 Aug. 1858, aged 03.
	"Esteemed for his many virtues, generous
	and open-hearted, he lived respected and
	died universally lamented."
	Sarah, his wife, d. 18 Sept. 1877, aged 79.
BROOKE	Revd.Joshua, "for 53 years vicar of this
	parish" Born 4 Oct. 1810, died 30 Apr. 1888.
	Joshua, his father, rector of Gamston, also
	formerly vicar of Colston Bassett, d. 12 Mch.
	1851.
	"erected by his surviving sisters."
BUCKNALL	Jonathan, d. 18 July 1798, aged 86.
	Rebecca, his wife, d. 17 Apr. 1763, aged 61.
BUCKNALL	Susannah, wife of Jonathan, d. 16 Mch. 1784,
	aged 48.
	Jonathan, d. 18 Nov. 1798, aged 53.
BURROWS	Thomas, d. 15 Apr. 1798. aged 59.
	Sarah, wife of Thomas, d. 18 Feb. 1811, aged
	70.
CAM	John, senior, d. 6 Feb. 1750, aged 47.
	John, son of John and Sarah, d. 18 Dec. 1756,
	aged 18.
CHURCH	Ann Eliz. wife of Charles, d. 22 Oct. 1729,
	aged 62.
CHURCH	Anna, dau. of Mrs Sarah Austin, d. 21 Oct.
	1777, aged 76.
	(on tablet within church, see headnote).
CHURCH	Charles, junior, d. 30 Nov. 1736, aged 34.
	"R.I.P."
CHURCH	Mary, wife of Thomas, d. 18 June 1757, aged
	58.
	"Hard pangs of labour gave Benoni birth,
	The Child of Sorrow caused ye Mother's
	death."
CHURCH	Thomas, d. 29 Oct. 1775, aged 75.
CHURCH	John, son of Charles and Ann, d. 30 Jan.
	1793, aged 13.
	Ann, relict of Charles, d. 15 Nov. 1793, aged 38
	Charles, d. 26 Mch. 1791, aged 47.
	"also two children, Charles and Elizabeth,
	who died in their minority."
CHURCH	Thomas, son of Charles and Ann, d. 30 Nov.
	1798, aged 21.
CHURCH	Ann, d. of Charles and Ann, d. 6 July 1800,
	aged 16.
CRABTREE	Thomas, d. 22 Aug. 1683.
CRABTREE	Ann, wife of John, d. 18 May 1761, aged 63.

CRABTREE	Thomas, son of Thomas and Mary, d. 8 Dec.
	1781, aged 15.
CRABTREE	Ann Hoe, dau. of Thomas and Mary, d. 4 Oct.
	1803, aged 36.
CRAMPTON	Thomas, d. 24 Jan. 1769, aged 42.
	Mary, wife of Thomas, d. 12 Apr. 1784, aged
	55.
	John, junior, d. 20 Nov. 1753, aged 24.
DICKMAN	John, d. 25 Feb. 1737, aged 37.
DRAPER	Mary, d. of John and Ann, d. 28 Mch. 1799,
	aged 12. .
	"Sleep on thou fair, and wait th'almighty's
	will,
	Then rise, unchanged, and be an angel
	still."
FOX	Margaret, wife of Richard, d. 23 July 1733,'
	aged 44.
GEESING	Ann, wife of William, d. 9 Sept 1721.
	(no age given, also William Geesing, an infant)
	Mary, wife of William, d. 1 Sept. 1727, aged 29
	also Ann and Robert, both infants.
GILES	William, d. 26 Nov. 1809, aged 67.

[Two floor slabs in the church, hidden under the debris when the above abstracts were made in 1S9S, were removed and erected as headstones in the churchyard about 1924:—

GOLDING	Elizabeth, second dau. of Charles Golding,
knight, d. in London 29 July 1685, in her
	21st year.
GOLDING	Mary, d. of James Ravenscroft, esq. and wife
	of Charles Golding, knight, d. 13 Feb.	1686.
	in her 53rd year.]
HARVEY	See under SLEIGHT.
HERRICK	Thomas d. 10 Dec. 1812, aged 62.
	Elizabeth, wife of Thomas, d. 15 July	1792,
	aged 35.
HICKSON	Joseph, d. 26 June 1761, aged 62.
HICKSON	Charles, d. 27 Apr. 1766, aged 61.
	Susanna, wife of Charles, d. 18 Sept.	1766,
	aged 60.
HOLT	Ann, dau. of Henry and Mary, d. 5 Feb.	1785,
	aged 28.
	Mary, dau. of Henry and Mary, d. 4 July	1785,
	aged 16.
KIRKBY	John, d. 14 Aug. 1752, aged 28.
KIRKBY	John, d. 15 Mch. 1785, aged 70.
	Sarah, wife of John, d. 23 Nov. 1784, aged 67.

MARTIN	George Bohun, esquire, captain in her Majesty's Navy, C.B., d. 14 Oct. 1854, aged 55
“	Mary Ann, 6th dau ,of George Bohun Martin . esq. and Sabella his wife; d. 18 Nov. 1859, aged 10.
“	Henry Burgess Martin, esq. J.P. late of this place, who died at his residence, East Bridg-ford, 9 June 1889, aged 84.
“	Henry, son of Henry Martin, esq. d. 28 Aug. 1867, aged 6 months; also Isabella, Lucy, Frank and Maria, also his children, who died in their infancy.
PARKER	William, junior, d. 23 Oct. 1773, aged 27.
“	Elizabeth, dau. of William and Mary, d. 5 Apr. 1757, aged 17.
“	William, d. 17 June 1792, aged 92.
“	Mary, wife of William, d. 4 Jan. 1794, aged 75.
PARKER	John, d. 25 Nov. 1792, aged 90.
“	Mary, wife of John, d. 22 Apr. 1750, aged 33. "Six times five years I liv'd a single life; Two times five years I lived with my wife: Ten times five years I liv'd a Widower chaste; Then tired of this mortal life I rest. Through this past time I in my life have seen, Four Reigning Kings in England and a Queen. The Blossom'd Rose in time must surely Fade, And Brightest Gemmes in the Dust be laid"
PRATT	Elizabeth, wife of Richard, d. 14 Apr. 1759, aged 38.
RAVENSCROFT	see under GOLDING.
RICHARDS	George, of Alfreton, co. Derb. aged 49 [no date
RICHMOND	see under SPENCER.
RICK	Mr. George, d. 5 Apr. 1729, aged 62.
ROE	Ann, wife of William, d, 4 Jan. 1751, aged 55.
SIMPSON	Sarah, relict of William, d. 27 May 1788, aged 82.
“	Ann, wife of John, d, 8 Nov, 1798, aged 54.
SLEIGHT	"Here lieth interred the body of Abigail, the wife of Thomas Wilkon Sleight of Bunny and daughter of James and Eliz: Harvey late of this parish" d. 21 Mch. 1746, in 24th year. "She left issue one son and a dau. viz Joshua and Ann."

	"She was a loving Wife, a tender and affectionate Mother. As she was well instructed in the Principles of the Christian Religion, so was she Constant and Serious in the Practice of it. She gained the Love and Esteem of all when alive and deserves the Imitation of those who survive her. READER DO THOU LIKEWISE."
SPENCER	John, d. June 1730, aged 40.
SPENCER	Joseph, d. 2 Nov. 1805, aged 63.
	Mary, wife of Samuel RICHMOND, and dau. of Joseph and Dorothy Spencer, d. 28 Nov. 1805 aged 28.
SUMNER	Thomas, d. 13 Nov. 1727 aged 61.
"	Ann, wife of Thomas, d. 21 Dec. 1736, aged 67.
"	Mary, dau. of Thomas and Ann, d. 28 July 1710, aged 10.
	On the back of this headstone are recorded: — "Eliz: died Aug: 24 1696 Tho: died Aug : 25 1696 Ann died Nov: 22 1697 John died Octo: 28 1698 John died Jan: 15 1702 who all died in their Infancy ."
SUMNER	Mary, wife of John, d. 23 Oct. 1762, aged 64.
SUMNER	Mary, relict of Thomas, d. 11 Apr. 1798, aged 67.
SUMNER	John, son of John and Mary, d. 6 Feb. 1806, aged 31.
SUMNER	John, d. 15 Aug. 1812, aged 80.
THOMPSON	Joseph, d. 16 Apr. 1771, aged 55.
"	Ann, wife of Joseph, d. 30 Jan. 1763, aged 46,
THOMPSON	Thomas, d. 27 May 1784, aged 38.
THOMPSON	Joseph, d. 3 June 1784, aged 31.
THOMPSON	Ann, dau. of Joseph and Mary, d. 5 Jan. 1811, "and of three other daughters who died in their infancy. "
WHITE	John, d. 23 July 1784, aged 75.
"	Mary, wife of John, d. 10 Oct. 1783, aged 73.
"	John, son of John and 'Mary, d. 11 Oct. 1783, aged 35.
WHITE	Samuel, d. 9 Dec. 1811, aged 59.

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