St. Just in Penwith

See the first page for an introduction and description.

1898

January 3rd 2-40 Dr Nesbitt Called and handed me £3.13.6 amount of Burial Fees less (5/–) already paid to William Merryfield clerk 2/6 Mr Pike 2/6. Upon which I handed him back £1.1.0. for the Vicar, and £2.2.0 due the Churchwarden, and kept in had 10/6 Sextons fee of which 7/6 goes to the Deputy Sexton and 1/6 for sundry disputements, cartage of planks etc. These fees relate to the burial of the late Maria Oats about whose grave in the Lower churchyard there was so much trouble at the end of last year.

January 8th By this mornings Post received receipt from the Vicar for his Fee over the above burial—it seems that he told Henry and Peter Olds “he did not know what became of the Fees, he never had any” a deliberate lie because I hold his receipt for all Fees paid him since he came to the place, our Worthy Vicar is a most dangerous man to have any business with, untruthful he is and dishonest I have found him.

January 11th was in town this afternoon when I called on Nesbitt and handed him the balance of (1/6) of the Sextons Fees anent Mrs Oats funeral after paying gravedigger and cartage, this makes Churchwardens fees on the above £2.3.6. instead of £2.2.0.

Jan 18th 6-30pm Met Mr Mason of Bolankew at Kelynack as I was returning from Sennen Cove, he told me that his brother was dead and they wished to bury him in his Vault where the remains of his wife are now lying. Said Vault is in the North West corner of the old Churchyard and close to the stile leading to Nancherrow. William Marks would do the masons work—I sent a letter to William Marks—Book 3 Folio 63. 8pm William Marks called down about this Vault when I promised to meet him in the Churchyard at 10-00am tomorrow morning.

Jan 19th at 9-57. was in the Churchyard and set Trevorrow to sink on this Vault after the kerb and Headstones had been removed, found on reaching the capsulates that the Headstone and kerb were about 18" too far to the North, so had to cut away more ground to the south to get at the top for opening to see what was underneath. 12-10pm lifted one of the states and found the vault was not ready for two, in fact it was a single coffin vault, this placed me in a fix.which can only be got over by raising a sufficient Brick tomb for Amos Mason as there is no time between now and the funeral to communicate with the family at Bolankew, and have an alteration. I shall report this to the Home Secretarys Office, and ask their advice in any future case of this sort. Mrs? Mr Mason was buried in 1873 so may be supposed that no one really knew what was built there except the man lying dead and to be interred with his wife.

Jan 21st wrote Home Sec. on this matter Book 3 Folio 65/66. Funeral took place at 3-45, body was interred and the grave sealed down with 4 flag slates, bedded and pointed in cement. Mr Mugford officiated. Amos Mason age 67 corner of the Churchyard, next stile to Nancherrow. Paid Gravedigger 9/– William Merrifield 2/6 Mr Pike 2/6. Wrote out cheque for Vicar £1.1.0 to go to him tomorrow morning. Will call and give Nesbitt the £2.2.0 Churchwardens fee.

Feb 7th 11 am Mr Williams called to arrange for a grave for his father William Davey Williams age 68 funeral for Weds 9th 4pm Grave No 20, A section, 3rd Row.

Feb 9th 4-20pm Sergeant Williams was buried as arranged. Mr Hooper officiated.

Feb 10th 10-40am Mr Peter Thomas Senr. Kelynack Moor called to arrange for a grave for the widow of Henry Pascoe buried in No 2 Section 1st row. As we could not bury her with him arranged for No 38, A Section 3rd Row at the foot of her fathers grave. Funeral 12th 4 pm Church. Name Margaret Pascoe age 66

Feb 12 th 4-05pm Margaret Pascoe was buried as arranged. Mr Mugford officiated.

Feb 22nd 8-15 Mr Roberts undertaker called to arrange for a grave for Ann thomas age 73 Funeral for Friday at 4 o’clock. Grave No 17 southside Row 3 Section A.

February 25 Mrs Thomas was buried at 4-15 as arranged. A screaming crowd of women. Mr Mugford officiated.

Feb 28th 1-20pm Mrs Murley of Kelynack called to arrange for a grave for her husband Thomas Murley aged 68 died 10-30 this morning. Arranged for grave 18 Southside Sec A 3rd Row. Funeral for Weds 23rd about 4 o’clock. 7-45pm Mr Roberts of Chynoone called to ask me to arrange for the burial of a child which survived its birth 5 minutes, to be buried in the grave with his Wife No 32. 2nd Row A section. I sent him to Trevorrow with instructions to do as he wished tomorrow morning.

March 1st Child was buried as desired 7-30am.

March 2nd 4-30pm Thomas Murley was buried as arranged. Vicar officiated. First part in Mission Room.

March 16th Noon Mr Thomas Reseigh called to arrange for a grave for his Mother No. 42 A Section 3rd Row Northside. To be 9ft deep so as to bury his father with his Mother at a future date. Funeral for Friday 18th 4pm 9ft grave.

March 18th 4-20pm Mary Ann Reseigh aged 73 was buried as arranged. Bier. Mr Mugford officiated.

March 21st 4-45pm Mr Henry Hall called to arrange for the burial of his niece Beatrice Matthews, age 13 months. Funeral for Weds 23rd 4 pm Church.

March 23rd 11-55am Mr Rowe Penrose called to arrange for a grave for William Humphreys. age 75. Grave to be 9ft for 2 bodies. Saw Mr Hooper saw Mr Hooper this morning—funeral now arranged for 5pm Friday 25th. 4-40pm Beatrice Matthews was buried in No 27 grave. Northside C row. Childrens.

March 25th William Humphreys was buried in No 40. A Section. 3rd row. at 5-30pm Mr Hooper officiated.

May 7th 10-00am Mr Williams called to arrange for a grave for Mary Ann Williams age 50. Funeral for Tuesday at 3 pm Church—grave No 19. Southside. 3rd Row. Section A.

May 10th Mary Ann Williams was buried as arranged at 3-30pm Mr Mugford officiated.

May 24th Richard Nicholes called at 9-35am to order a grave be prepared for his infant child Gracie Nicholes aged 9 months. the funeral for Thursday 26th at 5 o’clock.

May 26th the infant Gracie Nicholes was buried at 5-40pm Grave no 28 C Row. Northside Mr Mugford officiated.

August 10th 3-10pm at Mr Cornish’s shop door Mr Inch undertaker spoke to me about the burial of Mrs Nicholas Boynes in the vault in the Lower Churchyard in which her husband was buried on 15th June 1897 and requested me to engage mason with all materials required for carrying out the same, on returning home I wrote to the Vicar on the subject as per letter book No 3 Folio 114 and to Churchwarden Folio. Funeral for Saturday, time yet to be settled. Sent for Bill Angwin as soon at I reached home and at 9 o’clock he came down when I arranged with him to remove the superstructure on Friday next and the cap on Saturday morning. Only cement will be required, as this will fill the Vault and close it forever.

Aug 11th Arranged with Angwin this evening to provide 6 men at 2/6 each as bearers, and gave him 6 pairs of black gloves to distribute among them which I received from Mr Inch the undertaker, in Penzance today. Told Angwin I had sent the boards from the Higher Churchyard to the Lower one for purpose of the burial.

Aug 12th was at the lower Churchyard at 11-15 and found the iron structure over Boyns Vault removed earth cleared off, capstones removed. Vault ready for tomorrow, told Angwin to point up afresh around the top, whitewash the walls and sprinkle some sand over the surface of the slates. Told my deputy Trevorrow to have the pathway cleaned down before the funeral tomorrow.

August 13th 10-45am was in town and saw everything ready for the funeral this afternoon. 3-12pm the funeral reached the Church, and at 3-30pm Elizabeth Boyns age 71 was buried in the vault with her husband Nicholas Boynes. This vault is now full and covered down with granite slabs, bedded in cement and at 5-10pm all hands left with the work completed and the iron railings replaced. No fees were paid at the time or expenses which I have paid tendered to me. 15/– for 6 bearers 5/6 Sextons deputy.

Aug 15th 7-10pm Mr John Olds came to me to order grave for his infant son William John Olds age 3 months. Funeral for Wednesday 5-30pm Churchyard.

Aug 16th Sent on at Mr Richard Boyns request the bill in connection with his Mothers funeral £6.13.6.

August 17th Mr Boyns called at 1-15pm and settled account. 5-35pm The infant son of John Olds was buried as arranged. I was absent Mr H officiated.

Sept 8th 7-50pm Samuel George called to arrange for a grave for his infant daughter Bessie George aged 8 weeks. Funeral for Sat 10th 4-30pm. at the Church.

Sept 10th 5-00 the infant child of Samuel George was buried in No 30. C Section 1st row Northside. Mr M officiating.

Sept 19th 1-40pm Benjamin Uren called to arrange for a grave for his grand child Elizabeth Ellen Uren age 3 months. Grave next to Bessie George No 31 Section C. 1st Row Northside.funeral 4 o’clock at church. 22nd September 4-20pm the child Elizabeth Ellen Uren was buried as arranged Mr M Officiated.

Nov 11th 10-45am Richard Oats came to arrange for a grave for his child Bertha Oats age 13 days. Child unbaptised. Funeral for this evening at 5o’clock Sent Joe up to the churchyard to prepare a grave at once. No. 32 C 1st row Northside. Sent Oats to the vicar to tell him the circumstances and to shew him the certificate at 11-40 Oats returned saying he had seen the Vicar who sent his compliments. to say that there would be no service required, the child could be buried as soon as liked.

Nov 29th 3-10pm John Goldsworthy called to have a grave prepared for his brother-in-law John Nicholas age 37 but was only half prepared with instructions, so had to go back to get them, the coffin was 10ft, he knew but was not certain. Other matters just as wild, rambled through his brain, so sent him off to get fresh instructions. He called back about 7 o’clock, the coffin was 6ft 2½ inches the funeral for Dec 2nd 4pm at the Church. The child to be buried name was William Thomas Nicholas. No 17 from south wall. De Section so that No 8 A section 4th Row would be as near as once can get to the position wished for the grave in which to lay the father. Told him that special grave would be 5/– extra. making the Fee 12/6 in all, to which he said the friends were agreeable. Started Joe to sink the grave about 10-30am Nov 30th No 8 4th Row.

Dec 2nd John Nicholas was buried in the grave as arranged but the funeral very late, only left the house at 4-15pm consequently was late all through. Mr M Officiated. Salvation members sang a hymn and offered a prayer afterwards.

Dec 12th 7pm Mr Joseph Rowe called to arrange for a grave to be prepared for remains of the late William Bosprednick, aged 82 Naval Pensioner. The funeral Wednesday 14th 3pm. at the Church. Grave No 22 Section A 3rd Row. Northside.

Dec 13th Sent the gravedigger up at 9am to sink the grave. Dec14th 3-15pm William Bosprednick was buried in the grave as arranged. Mr Courtice of Newlyn officiated.

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