St. Just in Penwith

See the first page for an introduction and description.

1897

April 5th—Mr John Tonkin called at 12-15 to order a grave for his mother Jane George, aged 63 yrs. Funeral for Wednesday 4 o’clock at Church. Grave No 11 A section 3rd row.

April 7th Jane George was buried as agreed funeral well to time, weather very wet.

April 13th Henry Hall called at 8pm to order a grave for his sisters child Annie Matthews, aged 18 months. funeral for Saturday 4pm.

April 17th. The child Annie Matthews was buried in Childrens section C No 25.First row. Mr Courtice officiated.

May 3rd Mr Goninian came down at 10 o’clock to order a grave to be prepared for his mother Mrs Goninian aged 91 years. Selected grave no 45. 11th Row B section next to Mrs Thomas. funeral on Tuesday about 5-30pm.

May 3rd Mr Johns, Carn Bosavern, met me in the road at 10-30 and bespoke a grave for John Dungey, age 44 yrs Funeral 4 o’clock at church on Wednesday Grave no 12. 3rd row A section.

May 4th Mrs Jane Goninian was buried as arranged. Funeral exact to time.

May 5th Mr John Dungey was buried as arranged.

May 10th Richard Oats at 2 pm called on me at 2 pm. to arrange for a grave for his father Henry Oats aged 48 yrs. who died on the 8th. We arranged that his father should be buried in No 13 Grave. 3rd row A Section at or about 5-30pm. on Wednesday. Military funeral, large crowd. Sgt. Hodge and his constable present to keep order. G.B.H. officiated. The band played a parody on the Dead March in Saul, excruciating—very.

May 14th. 9-50am A son of Mr James Olds came down to bespeak a grave for his brother William Olds, aged 21 years. Funeral Sunday at 4-30pm Grave no 21. A Section 3rd Row. Southside.

May 16th William Olds, was buried as arranged Messrs Hooper, Church—and Brenton, Non Conformist officiated. An immense crowd as might have been expected on such a day and at such an hour—great trouble to keep straps of girls and boys from trampling down the Graves, and flowers growing on them. May 17th Richard Thomas was buried as arranged. Funeral reached the Churchyard, at 6 o’clock. A large funeral, no trouble like yesterday. Mr Hooper officiated.

June 12th. Mr Richard Boyns of Hendra called at 3-20pm to arrange about opening their family Vault in the Lower Churchyard to put the remains of their father aged 80 years, in it. From what I could gather no interrment has taken place in the Vault for upwards of 33 years. When an infant called Alberta was laid in it. personally he knew nothing of the circumstances of that funeral. I showed him the list of the Fees exclusive of Tradesmens work, amounting to £3.18.6d. to which he expressed himself agreeable to. He also asked me to engage a mason to do all that was necessary in the way of removing the superstructures, the soil, opening the vault entombing the little coffin or coffins now in the Vault, and making all preparations for the funeral at 4 pm on Tuesday 15th. I sent away at once for William Angwin the mason, and gave him instructions to start on Monday morning on the work, which he agreed to do. I also instructed my deputy Joseph Trevorrow regarding moving the top soil and be at the Churchyard from start to finish.

June 14th reached the Churchyard at 10 o’clock as I arranged with William Angwin to open the Boyns vault, on opening it and allowing foul air to escape, removed the capstones and found the Coffin of Alberta Boyns as described by Mr Richard Boyns, but since that interrment the Vault had been opened on the Northside by the removal of some bricks, and another infants coffin had been pushed through the hole, falling on the end of the first Coffin, the bricks being replaced in a loose fashion without lime or cement. The coffin of Alberta Boyns was in very good order, the 2nd infants coffin was decayed, and the remains dust. There was about 4 inches of water in the bottom of the Vault. The mason measured for the slates to entomb the remains and for the bricks for the division and left for Penzance to obtain the materials for the work.

June 15th 9-45 was at the Churchyard, and found everything in the way of entombing the infants nearly completed, and when I left at Noon this was done and the grave ready from Mr Boyns. 4-20 Funeral reached the Church, there was some slight difficulty in getting the coffin down, the coffin being 6ft 6ins. whilst the Vault is only 6ft. 8 ins. Finished all off complete and replaced the iron superstructure. Sent the planks back to the Higher Churchyard by Hattams cart, and left for home at 6 o’clock. Fees not paid. June 21st Fees paid.

June 22nd. Paid Mr Hooper his fee £1 1 0. on the above at the Churchgate. my wife and daughter were present. Time 10-50am.

June 26th paid to Dr Nesbitt churchwardens fees on the above funeral £2-2-0 Paid Mrs Pike Churchwomans (?) fee for 2/6 for ditto. Paid Mr Pike for William Merrifield clerk 2/6 for ditto.

July 12th 8 am received a note from Mr Thomas W. Sandry requesting a grave be prepared for his wife Mrs Caroline Sandry, age 57 years. Sent Trevorrow at once to prepare a grave no 15 Section A 3rd Row.

July 13th funeral reached the yard at 5-55pm. when Mrs Sandry was buried as above. G.B.H. officiated.

July 26th 12-10pm William Ellis called to arrange for the funeral of his Mother Mary Jane Ellis aged 52. to be buried with her husband in No 21 A Section 1st Row.on Wednesday 28th. 5-30 at the Church.

July 28th. Mary Jane Ellis was buried at 6-15 as arranged, with her husband.

Sept 16th 6-50pm the parish undertaker Mr William Rowe Eddy called to order a childs grave for Andrew Trembath aged 4 months. a pauper child. I arranged to have everything ready for the funeral by 3pm. tomorrow—he had not notified the Vicar so I sent him to him at once. 7-20pm Mr Eddy returned saying that the Vicar could not perform any service as the child was unbaptised, and would I arrange for my deputy to remove the body in the morning and bury it as soon as he could. I agreed to send the man at 8. Churchyard fee of 5/– for the grave and digging it. Poor little soul, it is only a pauper as nobody owns—not even Mother Church about which these High Church Parsons make such a chatter about, well, well! the fault does not lie with Mother Church but it does with the Ecclesiastical rabble which presumes to rule the roost at the present day.

Sept 17th Reached the Churchyard at 11 o’clock and saw the body of the child placed in its grave. No 126. 1st Row C section. childrens graves. If not buried with the usual mumble jumble of the Parsons it was reverently lowered into its last resting place, and will await there the call which all expect, and have as good a chance aye! perhaps a better one than those parsons of all degrees who talk so glib about matters of which they know really so little.

Oct 12th 6pm Mr William Marks saw me at Mr Whittams about a grave for his brother Richard Marks who died in the top field this morning, we arranged that he should be buried as near his sister Emily Marks as possible.

Oct 13th on looking at the Map and books this morning I saw that No 41, 3rd. row. A Section Northside is the nearest we can get to it, and there the grave is to be dug.

Oct 14th 4pm The funeral reached the Churchyard, Mr H. officiating. The undertaker did not bring the Fee but promised to send it down to me tomorrow morning 7/6. I paid Trevorrow out of money in my pocket 5/6.

Oct 25th 10am Benjamin Richards called to arrange for a grave for his infant child Amelia Richards aged 3 months. Funeral for Wednesday 27th. at 4-30pm pending his arrangement with the Vicar. Grave ready by 5-30pm.

Oct 26th 11 50 Mary Dungey came to arrange for a grave for her Father James Henry Allen Dungey aged 73. Funeral on Thursday next at 4pm. Oct 27th 5pm The infant child of Benjamin Richards was buried in No 21 1st Row C section Childrens.

Oct 28th 5pm J.H.A. Dungey was buried in No 16 3rd Row A Section.

Nov 10th 9-15am Mr Peter Olds of St Just called to arrange for re-opening his vault for the purpose of burying his eldest son, he requested me to arrange for the mason work necessary to conform to the Act, which I promised to do. The funeral to take place on Sunday afternoon, he had spoken to the Vicar on the subject of Sunday afternoons funeral, the Vicar said he did not object, if I did not—I was not likely to do so, but suppose the Vicar, if there should be a refusal, would saddle me with it—not yet my Reverend friend?? 9-pm—William Angwin mason came down to see me about preparing the Vault for the funeral, I arranged to go up tomorrow morning to sound down on the cover, as there is some uncertainty as to the height of the present wall of the Vault, he thinks the Vault will have to be built—I differ as I think the cap of the Vault is within 18 inches of the surface. Anyway, we shall see tomorrow—he built it with Sam, but forgets.

Nov 11th 10-30 went to the Churchyard and sounded on the Vault cap, and found as I thought it was, within 18" of the surface, so there will be no need to open the Vault before Saturday. On opening this vault found that owing to settlement of the ground on the Northside, the side of the Vault had been pushed in, probably owing to the very light construction of the wall being only 4½" thick and ordinary lime joints, ground had to be cleared and the Vault on that side practically re-built.

Nov 14th went to the Churchyard at 11 o’clock, and found the Vault all ready for the funeral this afternoon. Told Joe Trevorrow not to be there or open the gates before 4 o’clock. 4-30pm got up to the Churchyard, funeral just passing the end of the road going to Town. 5-05pm Funeral reached the Churchyard and at 5-30 the crowd began to disperse. 5-45 the coffin was sealed down with flag slate and cement. 6-00pm fixed the cap of the Vault, with flag slate and lime. 6-25 finished filling in for the night—had to send to the house for lamps, quite dark. Mr Roberts undertaker, asked the amount of Fees, I told him £3.18.6. had not got the money but will send it or Peter himself would call and settle for them. Peter Olds jnr age 37 buried in No 1 1st row A Section Mr C officiated.

Nov 29th 3-15pm Mrs Nicholas called to have a grave prepared for her grandchild William Thomas James age 7 months. Father Richard James in Africa. Funeral for Wednesday at 4pm.

Dec 1st. 4-30pm The above child was buried in No 42a C Section Northside Mr C officiated.

Dec 18th received a message whilst in Town this morning from Mr Courtice, that he wished to see me on some important business, went at once to his house where he put into my hands correspondence that had passed between Messrs Trythal and Bodily and Whitehale in relation to burying Mrs Oats (not Dead) in the grave with her husband. I told him I could not see how it could be done in face of the order of Council of May 17th 1890 would I see Mrs Henry Olds (daughter of Mrs Oats. )I did so, and from what I gathered from her the thing was impossible without breaking law which I am not inclined to do. H. Olds was not at home, so I said he had better come down on Sunday afternoon to see me and talk matters over.

Dec 19th 3 o’clock—Mr Olds came down when I read him clauses in the Law as shewn in Bakers Law of Burials distinctly shewing that I as Sexton had no option in the matter and requesting him as Mrs Oats was not yet dead to let the matter stand over until the Vicars return on Tuesday—this he agreed to do.

Dec 21st Saw Mr Olds in Penzance who told me that Mrs Oats died last night.

Dec 22 Noon Mr Olds came down to arrange about burying Mrs Oats with her husband, had seen the Vicar (just returned Home) who saw no obstacle in the way of doing what was required. Funeral for Christmas afternoon. I declined to open the grave except with the written instruction of the Vicar (see copy of my letter in Book No 3 Folio 54) I wrote to the Vicar at the same time sending him the book Bakers Law of Burials, man started for the Vicarage at 11-40pm. I now await further information and instructions before doing anything in the matter. 5pm received answer from the Vicar saying “I will be responsible for any expenses incurred—so the grave may be opened.” I replied—answer scarce satisfactory and should send copy of my letter and his answer to Chief Sec. of the State, disclaiming all responsibility for breach of order in Council of May 17th 1890.

Dec 23rd met Mr Olds by appointment in the Churchyard at 11 am. where also was the Vicar. The opening of the Oats grave was the business. Mr Olds from hearsay told us the grave was 9ft deep in solid granite and might be opened as a vault, I said it was not a Vault in the meaning of the Order in Council, that as Sexton I would not have anything to do with opening it , and if anyone else interferred in the Churchyard with the soil in the way of opening the Grave I would report them to the Home Sec. at once, that they had better wire to Whitehall and get permission in the regular way. This Mr Olds, and the Vicar left to do, and I saw the churchyard closed.

Dec 24th Received letter from Mr Olds at 10-20 to say that sanction to open the grave had been received from the Home Secretary. and that they wanted to get the grave ready at once. I sent up to say that I would be with them at 11 O’clock at which time I got there, found the top stone taken off, and sinking going on,after getting down 4 ft 6 ins the ground caved in on the Coffin already there, ceased sinking, filled up the vacancy and placed over it an old Tombstone (belonging to certain Phear age 5yrs which had been laying in the Dead House for 33 years, was never erected) on which and some granite the Vault is to be built. Having seen this carried out, I at 4-30pm left the work to the masons and returned home leaving Joe Trevorrow my deputy to do anything necessary. all the stories told about this grave were untrue from first to last “Grave was 9ft deep cut out of solid granite, old Oats was at least 7 ft below the surface etc etc” whilst the fact was the whole of the ground was made, no rock in it, and the Coffin could never have been 7ft below the surface. I am glad I stuck out so strongly over the whole business.

Dec 25th Reached the Graveyard at 1-40 everything was as it should be, and at 2-20 Maria Oats age 88 was laid in the grave prepared for her.

Dec 27th wrote to the Home Secretary. expressing a hope that on no consideration should permission again be give to open any graves in the old Churchyards, see on cover of this book. I also told him the whole of the circumstances of Oats Grave.Folio 56 and 57 No 3 Book. Received a reply to my letter dated Dec 29th saying the matter shall receive due attention.

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