Baptist Burial Ground - Bath Record Office

BAPTIST BURIAL GROUNDLYNCOMBE, BATHMEMORIAL INSCRIPTIONS

Baptist Burial Ground, Lyncombe, Bath – Memorial InscriptionsAuthor:Date:StatusChanges::::Bath Preservation TrustP J Bendall14 Sep 2017Issue 2Addition of internal memorials at the Manvers Street Baptist Churchii

Baptist Burial Ground, Lyncombe, Bath – Memorial InscriptionsBath Preservation TrustContentsIntroduction . 1Background1Burial Registers2Layout . 3Row A . 4Row B . 8Row D . 12Row E. 14Row F. 18Row G . 24Row H . 26Row J . 30Row K . 36Row L. 42Row M . 47Row N . 49Row P . 55Row Q . 57Row S . 60Row T . 64Annex Memorials at Manvers Street Baptist Church . 65Plaques65Windows76Index . 79iii

Baptist Burial Ground, Lyncombe, Bath – Memorial InscriptionsBath Preservation Trustiv

Baptist Burial Ground, Lyncombe, Bath – Memorial InscriptionsBath Preservation Trustv

Baptist Burial Ground, Lyncombe, Bath – Memorial InscriptionsBath Preservation TrustIntroductionThis document contains transcriptions of inscriptionson the surviving memorials in the Baptist BurialGround at the bottom of Lyncombe Hill, Bath.This burial ground was for the members of theSomerset Street Baptist Church. Previously thischurch used a burial ground on Snow Hill. Aprominent member of the church, Opie Smith, seemsto have provided the ground for the new burialground which opened circa 1809.Figure 1 The entrance between 5 and 9 Lyncombe HillBackgroundFrom the volume The Baptists of Bath 1752-1851 byKerry J Birch, 1986: “Opie Smith was a member of aninfluential Baptist family in Bath. His brother and hewere brewers who lived at Southcot House onLyncombe Hill. His prominence in the City is evidentfrom a casual reference to the house as a landmarkon the road to Twerton Roundhill [.] He became adeacon at Somerset Street in December 1796, andfrom this time seems to have developed a special giftin preaching the word of God: for on May 17th 1801,he was called to the ministry of preaching.”According to the same volume, drawing on thechapel’s accounts, the Baptists Burial at the bottomof Lyncombe Hill was formerly land belonging to OpieSmith.In The Baptist Annual Register for 1798, 1799, 1800and part of 1801 by John Ripon DD in its first articleentitled A List of the Particular Baptist Churches inEngland 1798 p30, the chapel at Bath was headed byJohn Paul Porter and “In Mr. Porter’s congregation atBath, public worship is well attended, and the churchis happy. The deacons are Messrs. John Williams,James Evil, John Smith, and Opie Smith. About 132members. They have conference meetings on aMonday, and prayer meetings on a Friday, which areevidently more blessed than the Monday services.”From The Baptists Magazine for 1837 Vol. XXIX(London: George Wrightman, 1837) p 4457 concerningthe opening of a chapel at Bideford “The origin ofthis cause may be traced to visit of the late OpieSmith, Esq., of Bath, and the Rev. C. Sharp, ofBradninch, in 1813; .” Cornwall Record Office(X/558/1) has an assignment of a lease for theOctagon chapel, Penzance dated 24 Jun 1802 and lists“Opie Smith of Bath, Somerset, esq.” as one of theparties to the agreement concerning “All that plot ofground called the Octagon meeting house, to be usedas a Baptist meeting house for preaching doctrines ofCalvinism”. Opie Smith is mentioned in Seamen’sMissions – Their Origin and Early Growth by RoaldKverndahl (William Carey Library, 1986) p118 inconnection with George Charles Smith “Findingfellowship at nearby Somerset Street (Baptist)Chapel, he was befriended by a well-known merchantand deacon there, Opie Smith, of Westfield House.Finally in the autumn of 1804, Opie Smith, afterpromoting occasional preaching excursions by theformer seafarer to neighbouring villages, proposedthat he should study for the ministry.”From Gentleman’s Magazine vol VI Jul-Dec 1837 p444in the October section with the date given as ‘lately’:“At Westfield House, near Bath, in his 85th year, OpieSmith.” The Bath Chronicle of Thu 30 Jun 1836 (vol.79 No 3861) had an announcement of Opie Smith’sdeath “June 25 at his residence Westfield House nearthis city much respected and deeply regretted by hisfamily and a numerous circle of friends Opie Smithesq in the 85th year of his age.” Westfield House is onBloomfield Road, Bath (the original Wells Road).Figure 2 The new gateRestorationFrom its closure at the end of the 19th century, thefell into neglect. Over the years, the owners of theBurial Ground tried to find alternative uses for it,ranging from recreation to building development andeven car parking! In 1981, Bath City Councilconcluded that ‘the overgrown land does not appearto be of much use to anyone’.1

Baptist Burial Ground, Lyncombe, Bath – Memorial InscriptionsBath Preservation TrustBurial RegistersNeither the burial registers for the Baptist chapel northe associated gravediggers’ register of plots andoccupants has survived. As a result, it is impossible togive a definitive list of those buried.Figure 3 View of the ground showing the row markersFigure 4 Row markersIn The Baptists of Bath 1752-1851 by Kerry J Birch,1986 p162 reports “a correspondent in 1958 notedfrom the register that between 1807 and 1853 therewere 324 children interred in the ground, and 204 ofthese were under 2 years of age.” Across Bath’scemeteries, around this period, about 50% of burialswere for children aged under 11. The graveyard wasclosed by Order in Council in 1887 although someburials occurred after this. Over the approximately 80years of its use the number of burials would havebeen over 1,000.Bath Preservation Trust acquired this historicabandoned burial ground, thereby protecting it fromthe threat of development. By that time the entirearea was covered under brambles, nettles and weeds.The centuries-old yew trees had grown to over 5mhigh and had totally lost their shape. Manyheadstones had fallen over onto the graves below.Access to the burial ground was in an equally poorstate. An arched entrance in Gothic style,surmounted by an upper room for the sexton, hadlong since been demolished in 1970, and replaced bygrey wooden gates. These were removed, revealingthe ornamental cast-iron gates at the end of theforecourt; these too needed restoration.The burial ground is open as part of Bath’s HeritageOpen Days, usually in September.Figure 5 Memorial showing a row marker on the wall2

Baptist Burial Ground, Lyncombe, Bath – Memorial InscriptionsBath Preservation TrustLayoutFigure 6 Overall Layout of the Burial Ground3

Baptist Burial Ground, Lyncombe, Bath – Memorial InscriptionsBath Preservation TrustRow AANamesCharles Gibbs(1786-1848)Elizabeth Gibbs(1781-1864)InscriptionsNotesCHARLES GIBBSdied 17th of April 1848Aged 61 YearsAlsoELIZABETH GIBBSWife of the abovewho died Decr 30th 1864Aged 83 Years.Flat slab.In the 1841 census at 2 Cottages behind 72 Avon Street,Bath: Charles Gibbs, aged 50, grocer, not born in Somerset,Elizabeth Gibbs, aged 50, born in Somerset, Chas Gibbs,aged 20, watch m[aker] ap[prentice], born in Somerset,and Ann Gibbs, aged 15.The death of Charles Gibbs, aged 61, was registered1848/Q2 Bath.In the 1851 census at Monmouth Place, Bath: ElizabethGibbs, aged 69, widow, proprietor of houses, born at Bath,son Charles, aged 29, unmarried, watchmaker, born atBath, a servant and a visitor.In the 1861 census at 4 Monmouth Place, Bath: CharlesGibbs, aged 38, jeweller & watchmaker, born at Bath, wifeEliza, aged 28, born at Bath, daughter Alice M, aged 2,born at Bath, Elizabeth Gibbs, aged 78, widow, mother,fund holder, born at Bath, and two servants.The death of Elizabeth Gibbs, aged 83, was registered1865/Q1 Bath. From BathBMD the event occurred in 1864.4

Baptist Burial Ground, Lyncombe, Bath – Memorial InscriptionsANamesElizabeth Cassin(1787-1863)Bath Preservation TrustInscriptionsNotesInMEMORY OFELIZABETH CASSINWHO FELL ASLEEP IN JESUSJANY 21ST 1863AGED 75“THE DEAD IN CHRIST SHALL RISE FIRST.”Flat ledger slab.In the 1851 census 2 De Montalt Place, Combe Down,Monkton Combe (Som): Elizth Cassin, aged 62, widow,inmate, born at Bath.In the 1861 census at 1 Isabella Place, Combe Down,Monkton Combe (Som): Elizabeth Cassin, aged 72, widow,lodger, annuitant, born at Bath.The death of Elizabeth Cassin, aged 75, was registered1863/Q1 Bath.ASarah Nowell (18031856)SACREDTO THE MEMORY OFSARAH NOWELLOF ROCK HALL COMBE DOWNWHO DEPARTED THIS LIFEAPRIL 18TH 1856AGED 52 YEARSFlat slab.The birth of Benjamin Nowell was registered 1842 Bath,mother’s maiden name: Williams.5

Baptist Burial Ground, Lyncombe, Bath – Memorial InscriptionsNamesInscriptionsBath Preservation TrustNotesThe birth of Elizabeth Nowell was registered 1845 Bath,mother’s maiden name: Williams.The birth of Philip Nowell was registered 1846 Bath,mother’s maiden name: Williams.In the 1851 census at Rock Hall Cottage, Combe Down(Som): Jacob Nowell, aged 40, quarryman, born atWidcombe (Som), wife Sarah, aged 39, born at Combe(Som), and children: Benjamin, aged 8, born at Widcombe,Elizabeth, aged 6, born at Widcombe, and Philip, aged 4,born at Widcombe.The birth of George Henry Nowell was registered 1853Bath, other’s maiden name: Edwards.The death of Sarah Nowell, aged 52, was registered 1856Bath.The marriage of Jacob Nowell to Sarah Scard wasregistered 1856/Q4 Bath.In the 1861 census at4 Rock Hall Cottages, Combe Down:Jacob Nowell, aged 50, quarryman, born at Widcombe(Som), wife Sarah, aged 49, born at Combe, children:Elizabeth, aged 16, laundress, born at Widcombe, Phillip,aged 14, born at Widcombe, and George, aged 8, born atWidcombe.In the 1871 census at 1 Rock Hall Cottages, Combe Down:Jacob Nowell, aged 60, stone quarry mason, born at CombeDown, wife Sarah, aged 58, born at Combe Down, sonGeorge, aged 18, yard porter, born at Combe Down, andtwo lodgers.In the 1881 census at the household of his son Philip at 1Mount Pleasant, Weston (Som): Jacob Nowell, aged 70,widower, stone quarryman, born at Bath.The death of Jacob Nowell, aged 79, was registered1890/Q1 Bath.6

Baptist Burial Ground, Lyncombe, Bath – Memorial InscriptionsANamesCharlotteWilhelmina Elwin(1784-1853)InscriptionsBath Preservation TrustNotesCHARLOTTE WILHELMINA ELWINFELL ASLEEP NOVR 6TH 1853AGED 69“Looking unto Jesus”Flat slab.In the 1841 census at Kensington Place, Bath: CharlotteElwin, aged 55, ind[ependent], not born in Somerset, AnnElwin, aged 35, not born in Somerset, and two servants.In the 1851 census at 15 Kensington, Bath: Charlotte Elwin,aged 68, widow, fund holder, born in Jamaica B[ritish]S[ubject], Eliza Evered, aged 43, widow, daughter, fundholder, born in Malta B[ritish] S[ubject], and threeservants.The death of Charlotte Wilhelmina Elwin was registered1853/Q4 Keynsham.Will of Charlotte Wilhelmina Elwin, Widow of Bath,Somerset, date 10 Dec 1853, PROB 11/2182.In the 1861 census at 1 Darlington Street, Bath: Eliza MEvered, aged 53, widow, born in Malta, and a servant.The death of Eliza Maria Evered, aged 74, was registered1881/Q1 Christchurch.7