Grave - Edmonds; Jacob and Charlotte

Jacob Edmonds died in 1874 and was for 62 years parish clerk at St. Mary’s, an extraordinarily long time to hold that position. Jacob would have been originally appointed by Rector Richard Miles and retained by his successor Giles Daubeney. His would have acted as their clerk and perhaps to the vestry also. Amongst his duties he would have assisted at church services and led the responses. In some parishes the clerk would have acted as the sexton as well and actually dig the grave and maintain the churchyard, but we do not know whether Jacob undertook this more strenuous role at Lydiard Tregoze. 

During Jacob's tenure the St. Mary's underwent some major changes including a reordering that saw the removal of the west gallery and the installation of an organ. In his time the church's medieval wallpaintings were discovered and recorded in two watercolour paintings before being whitewashed over again.

Location

South in churchyard

Inscription

In affectionate remembrance / JACOB EDMONDS / FOR SIXTY-TWO YEARS / CLERK OF THIS PARISH / WHO DIED DEC R 30TH 1874. AGED 88 YEARS. / ALSO OF / CHARLOTTE WIFE OF / JACOB EDMONDS / WHO DIED JUNE 5TH 1852 / AGED -9 YEARS.

Sources

Memorials … and other Grave Matters, by the Rev. Brian Carne, B.Com. Friends of Lydiard Tregoz Report No 12 published 1979