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St Mary's, High Bickington
Monumental Inscriptions

Here are a few of the monumental inscriptions found in the St Mary's Churchyard. Some photographs appear courtesy of the late David Ryall.
Here lies in hopes of a joyful
Resurrection of the Body of Joan
the wife of John Alford late of
Sugworthy in Parish of Roborough
she departed this life the 17th day
of September in the year 1784
Aged 74 years
On earth... 		Joan ALFORD's gravestone is one of the oldest at St Mary's, High Bickington. Joan and her husband, John ALFORD, had several children baptised at High Bickington.
Sacred
to the memory of
CHARLES BROWNSCOMBE
of this Parish
Who died on the 11th day of April
1872
Aged 60 Years.
A husband dear a Father kind
His soul to God we have resign'd
 Charles BROWNSCOMBE, the son of Thomas BROWNSCOMBE and Susannah ANDREW was baptised at Atherington on 10 May 1813 and was buried at High Bickington on 15 Apr 1872.
Sacred
to the memory of
Ann wife of
Charles Brownscombe
of this parish who died on
the 9th day of May 1860
Aged 52 years
And I heard a voice from heaven
saying unto me, Write, Blessed are
the dead which die in the Lord
from henceforth: Yea, saith the Spirit,
that they may rest from their labours;
and their works do follow them.
14 Rev 13 		Ann CHICK, the daughter of George CHICK (1761-1823) and Sarah GAY (1770-1827), was baptised at Yarnscombe, Devon on 4 Oct 1807. She married Charles BROWNSCOMBE (1813-1872) at Yarnscombe in 1845. Ann was buried on 12 May 1860.
Here lieth the body of
Betty Pridham Cowman
wife of Henry Cowman
who departed ___ life
December the 12th 1784
Aged nigh 28 Years. 		Betty Pridham BABBAGE, a widow, married Henry COWMAN (1749-1815) at High Bickington on 17 Dec 1778.
Erected
to perpetuate the memory of
JOHN COWMAN
Yeoman of this Parish who exchanged
this mortal life for Immortality on the 2nd
day of July 1840 AGED 70 Years
A Father and Mother here are laid
Within this bed of clay
Close by each others' side thereto abide
Until the Judgement day 		John COWMAN, the son of Christopher COWMAN (1739 - ?) and Elizabeth SAGE (1744-1813), was baptised at High Bickington on 9 Jul 1770 and was buried on 4 Jul 1840.
SACRED
To the Memory of
Betsy Darch
Daughter of Richard & Joan
Darch of Fremington who departed
this Life the 18th day of Sepr 1825
Aged 10 Years
A daughter fair was buried here
That in the morning shine
God thought it fit to take her hence
That she might Heaven gain 		Betsy DARCH, the daughter of Richard DARCH (1785-1750) and Joan ALFORD (1786-1852) was baptised at Newton Tracey, Devon on 7 Apr 1816. She was buried on 21 Sep 1825.
Sacred
to the Memory
of THOMAS DOWN of
this Parish who departed
this life ye 6th day of Novr and
was Bury'd ye 9th in ye Year
of our Lord 1825
Aged 62 Years 		Thomas DOWN, the son of John and Ann DOWN, was baptised at High Bickington on 20 Jul 1763. He married Joan PADDON (1769-?), the daughter of William and Frances PADDON at High Bickington on 20 Oct 1789.
Sacred
to the Memory of
JOHN DOWN
of this Parish
Who died January 7th
1879
Aged 82 Years
 John DOWN, the son of Thomas DOWN (1763-1825) and Joan PADDON (1769-?) was baptised at High Bickington on 28 Jul 1797. He married Jane BRAGG (1803-1860), daughter of John and Elizabeth BRAGG, at High Bickington on 23 Mar 1825.
In loving
memory of
SIDDIE GREENWOOD PENNY
who died 20th May 1904
Also of
ROBERT GREENWOOD PENNY
her devoted husband
who died 27th Janry 1905 For now we see through a glass
darkly but then face no face
Now I know in part but then shall
I know even as also I am known
I Cor XIII:12 		During the late 19th century, Robert GREENWOOD-PENNY of Nethergrove was the largest land owner in High Bickington after the Pyncombe estate. Robert was born in Lympstone, Devon in 1843 and came to High Bickington about 1878. He married Sarah "Siddie" WINTERBOTTOM, the daughter of Edwin John and Sarah WINTERBOTTOM, in 1872 in Chelsea, Middlesex. Siddie was born in 1843 in Chelsea, Middlesex.
IN
Loving Memory of
HANNAH,
The beloved wife of
HENRY SQUIRE,
Of this parish,
Who died Sep. 28th 1902,
Aged 62 Years.
"God is our refuge and strength." 		Hannah HARRIS, the daughter of William HARRIS (abt 1799-?) and Hannah COLE (abt 1805-?), was born in 1840 in Ashreigney, Devon. She married Henry SQUIRE in 1867. Henry SQUIRE, the son of Charlotte SQUIRE, was born in Beaford, Devon about 1839 and died in High Bickington on 31 May 1914.
In
Memory of
MARGARET wife of
JOHN ROBINS of Yarnscombe
Died Jan 8 1865. Aged 70 Years.
Also
JOHN ROBINS husband of
The above died Jul 24 1866.
Aged 67 years.
 Margaret RICHARDS, the daughter of Thomas RICHARDS (1749 - 1829) and Mary HERN (1760 - 1835) was baptised at High Bickington on 30 Dec 1793. She married John ROBINS, the son of John ROBINS and Rebecca on 29 Mar 1825 at Yarnscombe. Margaret died at Illfracombe on 8 Jan 1865 and was buried at Yarnscombe on 21 Jan 1865. John ROBINS was baptised at St Giles in the Wood on 19 May 1799, died at Illfracombe and was buried at Yarnscombe on 28 Jul 1866.
Sacred
to the memory of
ELIZABETH MILTON
of this parish who
died on the 11th
day of June 1859
AGED 40 YEARS
I shall be satified when
I awake, with thy like-
ness. Psalm XVII, XV 		Elizabeth NEWCOMBE, the daughter of John NEWCOMBE (abt 1775 - 1859) and Jane ASHPLANT (abt 1791 - 1864), was baptised at High Bickington on 28 Feb 1819 and was buried on 17 Jun 1859. She married Thomas MILTON (abt 1818 - 1886), the son of John MILTON (abt 1770 - 1854).
Sacred
to the memory of
JOHN MOORE
of the parish of
GT TORRINGTON
who departed this life on the
6th day of April
in the year of our Lord
1856 Aged 84 Years Seek ye the Lord while he
may be found call ye upon... 		John MOORE, son of Richard MOORE and Joanna, was baptised at High Bickington on 29 Jul 1772 and was buried on 10 Apr 1856.
Here
Lieth the Body of
ROBERT NORMAN of this
Parish who departed this
LIfe the 12th Day of September
1804 Aged 74 Years

Sacred
to the Memory of
JOHN NORMAN
son of
John and Jane
NORMAN
of this parish who depd
this Life on the 2nd day
of May in the Year of
our Lord 1839 AET
3 Weeks & 2 Days
`Tis on the Saviours bosom laid
And feels no sorrow there
`Tis by an Heavenly parent fed
And needs no more your care

Sacred
To the memory of
JOHN NORMAN
of this parish Who depd
this Life on the 16th day of
June in the Year of our Lord
1836
Aged 76 Years
 Robert NORMAN, the son of Richard NORMAN (1700- ?) and Susannah VODDEN (1704- ?), was baptised at St Giles in the Wood, Devon on 21 Aug 1730.

John NORMAN, the son of Robert NORMAN (1730-1804) and Rachel GILL (1734- ?), was baptised at High Bickington on 7 Nov 1759. He was buried on 20 Jun 1836.

John NORMAN, the son of John NORMAN and Jane, was baptised at High Bickington on 30 Apr 1839 and was buried on 7 May 1839.
ELIZABETH
wife of
William Parker
of this parish
born March 24th1816
died May 17th1890
May our loss be her eternal gain
Rest in peace 		Elizabeth was born in Ashreigney, Devon. She married William PARKER (13 Oct 1822 - ?), son of William PARKER and Dorothy TURNER.
To The Memory
of
Reginald Guard Palmer
late Captn in H.M. 3rd West India Regt
2nd Son of the Revd Septs Palmer M.A. Rector of this Parish
who died on the 11th day of Septr 1859
Aged 27 years
O! Nobis in vita Chare Charior Heu!
in Morte quando iterum te aspiciemus?
Vale! Dilectissime
at non in AEternun Vale!
Monumentum hor Parentes Mirstissimi
poni ruraverunt
A.D. 1860

Hic requiescit
omne quod mortale fuit
Septimi Palmer
Parochiae hujus viginti annos rectoris
quem nec morbo languentem
nec senio confectum
mors heu! Inopina rapuit
anno aetatis suae LXXIII
salutis nostrae MDCCCLXXI
"VIILATE ET ORATE" 		Reginald Guard PALMER, the son of Reverend Septimus PALMER and Susan GUARD was baptised at St David's, Exeter, Devon on 13 Jul 1831. He died at Dunster, Somerset, England "in consequence of an accident in a state of somnambulism when on a visit at Dunster Castle." He was buried at High Bickington on 16 Sep 1859.

Septimus PALMER, the seventh son of the Very Reverend Joseph PALMER (1749-1829) and Elizabeth EDWARDS (1763-1832), was born in Great Torrington, Devon on 29 Mar 1798 and was baptised there on 27 Oct 1801. Septimus matriculated at Peterhouse, Cambridge in 1820 and received his Master of Arts degree in 1827. He was Rector of High Bickington from 1850 until 1869. He died in Dawlish, Devon and was buried at High Bickington on 2 May 1871.
Sacred To The
Memory of Henry Richards
of Yarnscombe who departed
this Life the 11th day of July 1831
Aged 35 Years
How Sudden and how awful was the Stroke
By which the slender thread of life was broke
O may this admonition ___ us all
How frail is man how unforseen his fall
Leaving a Wife and two Children ___
in the Almighty ___ 		Henry RICHARDS, the son of Thomas RICHARDS (1749 - 1829) and Mary HERN (1760 - 1835) was baptised at High Bickington on 29 May 1798 and was buried on 14 Jul 1831. Henry married Mary LEMON (1807 - ?) at Atherington on 24 Mar 1829. Their two children were Thomas (1830 - ?) and Mary Ann (1831 - ?)
In Affectionate Remembrance of
RICHARD SLEE
Of this parish,
Who departed this life
July 13th 1888,
Aged 77 Years.
"I know that my Redeemer liveth."
Also of his wife
MARY SLEE,
Who entered into rest
May 27th 1893,
Aged 82 Years.
 Richard SLEE, son of Richard SLEE and Jane, was baptised at Roborough, Devon on 23 Oct 1811. He married Mary COWMAN on 18 May 1836 in High Bickington. Mary COWMAN, daughter of John COWMAN and Mary was baptised at High Bickington on 21 Aug 1810.
Sacred
to the memory of
Mary Webber wife of the late
JOHN WEBBER
of Lee Barton in this parish
who died January 18th1845
AGED 92 YEARS
Blessed are the dead
Which __ the lord
 Mary's husband, John WEBBER, was born about 1747 and was buried at High Bickington on 22 Jan 1816.
In Loving Memory of
ELIZABETH,
The beloved wife of
WILLIAM WOOLLACOTT,
Who entered into rest
Dec. 28th 1904,
Aged 79 Years.
"Father, I will that they also, whom thou
Hast given me, be with me where I am."

Also of the above
WILLIAM WOOLLACOTT,
Who passed peacefully away
Jan. 20th 1920,
Aged 88 Years.
"With Christ which is far better." 		William WOOLLACOTT, son of Robert WOOLLACOTT (1789-1855) and Mary COLE (1795-1873), was baptised at High Bickington on 15 Jan 1832. He married Elizabeth GOODING, daughter of Thomas GOODING (1779-1847) and Elizabeth DOWN (1790-1872) in 1856. Elizabeth GOODING was baptised at High Bickington on 6 Jun 1825.
Sacred
to the memory of
JOHN WOOLLACOTT
son of
Robt and Mary Woollacott
OF GT YELLAND IN
this parish who
died the 18th day of Novr 1853
AGED 29 YEARS
As you pass by pray cast an eye
As you are now so once was I
As I am now so you must be
Prepare for Death __ follow me
Greave not my friend __
Here I must lay __ 		John WOOLLACOTT, son of Robert WOOLLACOTT (1789-1855) and Mary COLE (1795-1873), was baptised at High Bickington on 9 Feb 1825 and was buried on 23 Nov 1853.
IN
loving memory of
RICHARD YERBURGH
Rector of this Parish
Died August 29th 1886 aged 69 years
Waiting for the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ 		Richard YERBURGH, the son of Reverend Richard YERBURGH (1774-1851) and Elizabeth NORTON, was baptised on 5 May 1817 at Little Stanmore, Middlesex. He was educated at Harrow and Christ's College, Cambridge and was Vicar of Sleaford, Lincolnshire from 1851 to 1882, and Rector of St Mary's, High Bickington from 1882 until his death in 1886.
IN
Loving memory of
ELLEN YERBURGH
Widow of the
Revd Richard Yerburgh
Rector of this Parish
Died the 10th February 1897
Rest in Peace
 Ellen RODGERS, the daughter of Charles RODGERS (1807-1881) and Ann Muggleston JAMES (1807-1899), was baptised at New Sleaford, Lincoln on 4 Mar 1841. She married Richard YERBURGH on 7 Feb 1882 at North Finchley, Middlesex.

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