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Bath and Bristol having been very favourite residential places for West Indians, no doubt on account of the hot springs and climate, as well as their gaiety and fashion, many memorial tablets are to be found in their churches. In Bath Abbey I have copied forty-six, and there are probably some hidden away under the pews. Owing to the great number of tablets the authorities have restricted their size, and in consequence there are but few heraldic shields. They are mostly very tastefully designed and are invariably of white marble.

The Burial Register of Bath Abbey down to 1800 has been printed by the Harleian Society.

"G.M." refers to the "Gentleman's Magazine."

"B.C." refers to the "Bath Chronicle."

North aisle, north wall, opposite the first bay:-

(Seven lines follow. His mother survived him.)

North aisle, north wall, opposite the fourth bay:

1772, Jan. 5, John Lambe, Esq. [Abbey burial].

1772, Jan. 2. John Lamb, Esq; of Jamaica, of the gout, at Bath. ("Town and Country Magazine," 55.)

North aisle, north wall, opposite fifth bay:

North transept, east wall:-

Above is a shield with:

ARMS.Quarterly: 1 and 4, Per fess Gules and argent, over all a cup with two wreaths of foliage issuant, between two crosses patee in base [LAWRIE, not in Papworth, 676] ; 2 and 3, Argent, on a chevron Gules between three crosses crosslet fitchee, a pineapple enclosed by two plates [? KENNEDY. See Papworth, 509.] CRESTS.The one to the left has disappeared. To the right is a dolphin.

MOTTO. INDUSTRIA ATQUE FORTUNA.

There is near the above a floorstone, with the name and date only.

1811, Thursday, Feb. 7. Monday, died in this city, Wiiiliam Kennedy Lawrie, esq; of Redcastle, Galloway, formerly of Woodhall Estates, St. Thomas, East Jamaica. (" B.C.")

South aisle, on an oblong white marble tablet:

(Eleven lines follow, but there are no dates.)

This relates, I think, to the Jamaican family.

1805, Nov. 25). Henry Archbould esq. died at Bath. (" G.M.," 1175.)

A notice of his wife's death is in the "Jamaica Magazine" for 1812.

[See Notes below on Archbould Tablet]

South aisle, south wall, opposite the fourth bay:

(Four lines follow. He was a husband & father.)

Near the transept corner is a white marble insertion in a floorstone with his name, date, and age cut on it.

1775, Nov. 26, James Pedder, Esq. By D^r Butt's stone, south aisle. Buried.

1775, Thursday, Nov. 30. Sunday the remains of John [sic] Pedder, Esq., a Jamaica planter, were interred in the Abbey Church. (" B.C.")

His will was proved in 1776 (P.C.C., 327, Bellas).

South transept, east wall

1775, Dec. 7, Roger Hope Elletson, Esq., Governor of Jamaica. Chancel. Buried.

1775, Thursday, Nov. 30. Yesterday morning, died at his house in Bennet-street, Roger Hope Elletson, Esq ; late Lieut.-Governor of the Island of Jamaica. ("B.C.")

1767, Jan. 9, Lady of Roger Hope Elleton, gov. of Jamaica. ("G.M.", 48.)

1770, April 17, Roger Hope Ellerson, Esq; Lieut.Gov. of Jamaica, to Miss Gamon, of Grosvenor-square. ("G.M.," 190.)

His will was proved in 1775 (P.C.C., 466, Alexander).

Anne Eliza, daughter of Richard Gamon and widow of Roger Hope Elletson, married 21 June 1777 James Bridges, 3rd Duke of Chandos. (Burke's "Extinct Peerage.")

South transept, east wall, on an oval tablet:

1794, Thursday, Dec. 18. Friday, died, truly lamented, in an apoplectic fit, at his house on St. James's-parade, John Tobin, esq; formerly a West-India captain, and merchant. (" B.C. ")

1795, Jan. 8, John Tobin, Esq. Buried

He was not apparently related to the Tobins of Nevis.

John Tobin, late of Hamble, co. Southampton, now of Bath, co. Somerset. Will dated 11 December 1790, proved 4 March 1795 (P.C.C., 215, Newcastle).

My wife Mary £100 a year. To be buried in the North Aisle of the Abbey where Roman Catholics are buried. Codicil, 13 Dec. 1790, My late father William Tobin of Paradise Street, Rotherhithe, was indebted subsequent to Jan. 1763 & his creditors are to be paid as also the debts of my late brother Michael Tobin who left Cowes on his last voyage to Grenada about Ap. 1772. I am a Member of the Society of Masters of Ships. Second Codicil, 27 Nov. 1794, The children of my aunt Rossiter of Eniscorty, Ireland.

On a flat stone over vault adjoining the preceding one:-

1821, Thursday, Aug. 2. Monday, died, to the inexpressible grief of her afflicted husband and family, the amiable and beloved wife of Robert Savage, esq; of Sydney-place. (" B.C.")

P. A. Scarlett was eldest brother of the find Lord Abinger. [See portraits] In Broadwater Church, co. Sussex, there is a tablet in the Chancel to Sir William Anglin Scarlett, Knight, Chief Justice of Jamaica, who died there 9 October 1831, and was buried at Mandeville [See portrait]. His widow Mary died at Worthing 11 October 1832. Their eldest son Robert William died at Worthing 22 October 1832, aged 22, and the monument was erected by the latter's brother.

1823, June 27. In Charlotte-st. Fitzroy-sq. Philip Anglin Scarlett, esq. ("G.M.," 92.) See "G.M." for 1832, p. 178, for a long notice of Sir William Anglin Scarlett, younger brother of Sir James Scarlett, late Attorney-General of Jamaica.

1832, Oct. 22. At Worthing, aged 22, Robert William Scarlett, esq. eldest son of the late William Anglin Scarlett, Chief Justice of Jamaica and nephew to Sir James Scarlett. (Ibid., 1833, 93.)

("The Church Rambler," i. 340.)

In the churchyard:-

In 1801 one of this name of Vere parish, and owner of "Woods," was then Speaker. (Lady Nugent's Journal.)

There was a Kean Osborne of Antigua, who died 17056; a second who died December 1781, and whose Son, an M.D. died 27 September 1852, aged 83. The curious Christian name would point to some relationship between the Osbornes of Jamaica and Antigua. (See " Antigua," ii. 368.)

Mrs. Jane Webb, late of Montserrat, now of St. George's, Hanover Square, widow. Will dated 23 October 1764. £100 in trust for Sarah Hamer, daughter of Will. White, planter, of Montserrat. My nieces Frances Osborne and Martha White, two other of his daughters, £100 each. £1000 on trust until Master Keene Osborne, son of my said niece Frances Osborne, be 21. Proved 19 October 1768 (P.C.C., 399, Seeker.)

South gallery, west wall, near the door. On the top of the tablet is an urn.

There is a monument to the family of Redwar in Box Church, co. Wilts, a few miles from Bath.

North gallery, north wall:

*(Communicated by R. Garraway Rice, F.S.A.)

1806 Feb 24. Andrew Wright, Esq., aged 54 years, late of the Parish of St. Elizabeth and Mitcham Penn in the Island of Jamaica.

He has a high stone tomb, formerly enclosed with iron rails, to the east of the church, and on the top there is this inscription:-

"Here lies Interred the body of Andrew Wright, Esqr., Formerly of this Place, and late of the Parish of St. Elizabeth, and of Mitcham Penn, in the Island of Jamaica, who departed this Life on the 18th, day of February 1806, Aged 54 Years. From his Great partiality to this Place (Mitcham, Surrey), He named his Penn in Jamaica Mitcham."

The iron railings were removed from his tomb in 1883 by order of the Mitcham Burial Board. His baptism is not recorded in the register. In his will, dated 21 January 1806, proved in P.C.C. 5 March in the same year (265, Pitt), he is described as: Andrew Wright of St. Elizabeth, co. Cornwall, Jamaica, Esq., and of Great Tower Street, London. He mentions: To my son in law John Pusey Wint of St. Elizabeths; to my Relation and Godson Andrew Wright Booth of the parish of Vere, Esq., at 21 years; to my wife Elizabeth Mary Wright; to my reputed daughters Ann Wright and Elizabeth Wright, born of the body of Ruth Sinclair, at their ages of 21 years; my Trustees John Chambers of St. Elizabeth aforesaid, Jeremiah Snow of Broad Street, Ratcliffe highway, co. Middlesex, Hatter, said John Pusey Wint, and James Cross of Southwark, Gentleman, my Pen and Plantation at St. Elizabeths called Mitcham. He directs that if the said Ann and Elizabeth Wright go to Jamaica unmarried that they should forfeit all benefit under his will. The will is a large one, and fills thirteen pages of the register.

South aisle, South wall. On a shield-shaped tablet:

1792, Thursday Aug. 9. Thursday died at her lodgings in Queen-square, aged 74, Mrs. Mary Poyntz, cousin to the Dowager Countess Spencer, and niece to the late Right Hon. Stephen Poyntz, who was Governor to the late Duke of Cumberland. ("B.C." )

Joseph Poyntz, a merchant of Jamaica, died 24 September 1728, aged 37, leaving: 1, Mary, whose death is recorded above; 2, Hannah, coheiress, married, 1748, Jacob Ricketts of Midgham, Jamaica (see Burke's "Landed Gentry "), and had with other issue the above George P. Ricketts (born 1750; Governor of Barbados 1794), who died at Liverpool 8 April. 1800. (See "Antigua," iii. 37.)

Ralph Allen of Bath, in a codicil to his will dated 28 June 1763, gave Mrs. Mary Poyntz £100.

On the South wall of the tower, on a lozenge-shaped tablet:

1830, March 22, died in Bennett-street, aged 75, Elizabeth, widow of the late J. McGlashan, esq; of the island of Jamaica, and Kensington place, in this city. ("B.C.") The volume for 1825 is not in the Library.

1807. Fri. Jan. 23. Tuesday was married at Bath, Capt. Elwin, of the 44th Regiment to Miss M'Glashan, only daughter of John M'Glashan, esq. late of the island of Jamaica. ("Dorchester and Sherborne Journal.")

On the north wall of north aisle

In Kingston Churchyard, Jamaica, is a stone to:-

Lieut.-Colonel Haffey, late of the 18th regiment of foot, nephew to Major-General Stevenson of the E.I.C.S., and to Henry Haffey, of the city of Bath Esq^r., died July 6, 1814, aged 41 years. (Archer 149.)

1814, Nov. At Jamaica, Lieut.-Col Haffey, 18th or Royal Irish foot. ("G.M," 509.)

On a tablet on the north wall of the chancel of the church:-

In the churchyard. On a white marble slab on the South face of a large oval tomb, with columns at the corners, and enclosed by iron railings:,

On the north face:-

1791. Lately, in Spanish-town, Jamaica, in his 55th year, the Hon. Rose Herring May, one of the members of his Majesty's Council. ("G.M.", 971, and "B.C." for 13 October 1791.) See ante, p. 13, for the marriage at St. Catherine's, 4 October 1670, of William May and Margaret Rose, possibly of this family.

1800, March 21. Miss Mary Trelawny May. [Abbey burial.]

1811, Thursday Dec. 12. At his house in Oxford-row, on Friday, William Vassall May, esq. of Jamaica, after a few days illness.

1829, Feb. 12. Feb. 9 died at her house in Oxford-row, after a short illness, Miss May, eldest surviving daughter of the late Hon. Rose Herring May, of the island of Jamaica.

1829, Feb. 19. Feb. 13 died at her house in Oxford-row, after an illness of three days, in consequence of bursting a blood-vessel, from the severe affliction she felt at the death of a beloved sister who died on the 9th instant, Catharine Douce May, third daughter of the Hon. Rose Herring May, one of his Majesty's Council of the Island of Jamaica.

1829, Feb. 26. Died on the 20th instant, Anna Maria May, sixth daughter of the Hon. Rose Herring May. The heart-rending sorrow of her relatives can be more easily conceived than expressed, having thus been bereaved of three beloved sisters within a fortnight, whose combined virtues and affection rendered them most dear to all who knew them.

Richard Mill of Jamaica, Esq., in his will, dated 1738, names his daughter-in-law Bathshua May, wife of William May, clerk. (264, Henchman.)

Florentius Vassall (born 1709, died 1778), in his will, dated 1776 (379, Hay), in default of issue intailed certain lands on his nephew Rose Herring May.

John Vassall, the first settler in Jamaica, by Anna Lewis his wife had a fourth son Florentius of St. Elizabeth, who married Ann, sister of Peter Beckford (she remarried the Hon. Richard Mill), and had issue one son Florentius (born 1709 in Jamaica, died 1776 in Marylebone), who married, 16 September 1729, Mary, daughter of Colonel John Foster; and one daughter Bathshua, who married (as his second wife) the Rev. William Kay, Rector of Kingston.

William May, Rector of Kingston in the Island of Jamaica. Will dated 22 September 1752. Now in my 58th year and in tolerable health. To be buried in the Church of Kingston between the tombstone of my first wife and the Church wall. My Executors £40 apiece. To each of the children of my late brother George May, deceased, £20, viz., my nephew John May and my nieces Eliz., Mary, and Mercy May, who are all now living in the Isle of Thanet. To my nephew John May and my niece Sarah May, children of my late brother Richard May, deceased, now of Ash, co. Kent, £30 apiece. My cousin Eliz. Pennington of Kingston, widow, £20. £40 to poor widows. Rev. George Eccles, Rector of St. Andrew's, my gowns if I have no curate. Books to the poor. My gold watch, my wife's picture, and my brother Vassalls to my son Rose Herring May, now or late at Eaton School, My negros James and Eliz. their freedom and £5 a year. All residue to my brother in law Florentius Vassall, Esq., late of the parish of Westmoreland, Jamaica, and the Rev. George Eccles and Mr. William Stevenson, late, of Kingston, Jamaica, Merchant, now of St. James, planter, in Trust for my said son, and in default of issue to all the children of my said two brothers equally but in that case £50 to the Bursar of St .John's College, Cambridge, for a piece of plate and £100 to the Free school at Sandwich in Kent. My negros houses in Kingston and penn.

Florentius Vassal to be sole Guardian. Trustees to be Executors. Witnessed by James Anderson, John Dickons, Alexander Sutherland. Proved 9 October 1754 by Florentius Vassal, Esq., power reserved to the others. (P.C.C., 278, Pinfold.)

In the Cathedral are inscriptions to him and his wives (Archer, 102, 103). The following letter from the Rev. R. F. Scott, Master of St. John's College, Cambridge, gives additional information about him:-

"William May, born at Ash, Kent, son of George May, deceased; educated at Sandwich under Mr. Smith; was admitted Pensioner of St. John's 12 February 1713-14, tutor Mr. Anstey. He took the degree of B.A. 1717 (i.e., 1717-18) and M.A. 1735. 1 find that he replaced his name on the Boards, 11 February 1734-5, doubtless for the purpose of taking the M.A. degree. I find from my notes (which I have been collecting for many years) that he was ordained by the Bishop of London Deacon 24 May 1719, Priest 20 September 1719. It looks as if he went out to Jamaica at once after his ordination."

Fothergill's "List of Emigrant Ministers to America" has: "William May, clerk, Jamaica, Oct. 22, 1719."

In the churchyard.. On the west face of a square tomb:

On the east face:

1794, March 20. In Jamaica, Capt. Storey, of the 20th regiment. ( "B.C.," and "G.M.," 281.)

1813, June 10. In Great Stanhope-street, in the bloom of youth, Miss Frances Story, only child of Mrs. Story. (Ibid.)

1839, Oct. 6. At Weymouth, Elizabeth, relict of Capt. Thomas Story, 20th Foot. ("G.N.," 547.)

Adjoining the Story tomb, on a flat stone over a vault:

On a flat stone over a vault, north-west of the church

In the "Gent. Mag." for 1805, part ii. 995, are a few M.I. from Bath Abbey, and among them the following:

At the foot of the stairs to the gallery and organ-loft, on a square tablet of white marble (lxxiv. p. 601) :

"Douglas, the beloved wife of John Sherwen, M.D. Enfield, Middlesex, died June 17, 1804. An amiable woman, who, with a most excellent understanding, had a mild, gentle, and benevolent heart."

In the middle, on a border of a yellow tablet, in gold letters:

"She was the posthumous and last surviving daughter of that worthy, honest and humane man, Dugald* Campbell, esq. of Salt Spring, Jamaica."

1804, June 16. At Bath, whither she had gone for the benefit of her health, Mrs. Douglass Sherwen, wife of John Sherwen, M.D. of Enfield, Middlesex; &c. as above. ( "G.M.," 601.)

*(One of this name was half-brother, 1796, of Duncan Campbell of St. Vincent. See tablet to the latter in Bristol Cathedral.)

Canon Mayo sent me some notices of West Indians, from the "Salisbury and Winchester Journal," amongst which occurs:

"1805, Dec. 2. On Monday at Bath, Henry Archbould, Esq., late of Jamaica, where he had large possessions; he was the last male descendant of Col. Archbould, who distinguished himself in the conquest of that Island."

See ante, p.14, for the marriage, 30 November 1671, of Henry Archbould and Joanna Morgan, and p.118, 14 July 1668, for that of Colonel Henry Archbould and Amy Tom. He was an officer in the army of occupation in 1656, and signed his name "Archbold." Very little seems to be known about this family. Can a reader supply a pedigree ?

In floor of central passage of nave, nearly opposite the fourth bay, and on an oblong piece of white marble, now much worn:

The above was copied 18 May 1909 on a sunny day, otherwise it would not have been seen. There are no doubt very many inscriptions hidden away under the flooring of the pews, portions of which are visible, in places. The Abbey memorials have suffered much mutilation and destruction in the past at the hands of the clergy. The font has been fixed on at least two early eighteenth-century armorial ledgers. Another slab in the floor of the south-west porch has had a large portion through the shield of arms chiselled out to make space for a door mat. Others have been ruthlessly chopped up to fit certain places in the floor.

Previous to the year 1844 there had been 3879 burials in the Abbey; there were none after 1845.

North aisle, north wall, opposite the second bay:

In All Saints' Church, Southampton, there is a tablet to Joshua Rouse, on which he is described as late of Jamaica.

1825, Jan. 20. At Bath, Mary, youngest daughter in her 9th year; and on the 22d, aged 44, Ann Elizabeth, wife of Joshua Rouse, esq. of Blenheim-house, Southampton. ("G.M.," 285.)

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