Chelsea, in the Olden & Present Times

by George Bryan

Near the principal window here is a small brass plate fixed into a marble tablet to the memory of Humphrey Peshall, Esq., who died in 1650.

There are a few other inscriptions in different parts of the church, but the principal and most ancient ones have been all noticed. We will now proceed, therefore, to describe some of the monuments in the old churchyard.

Dr. Chamberlayne.—On the south side, fronting the river, there are several monuments to the memory of this family, for the erection of which and for making a vault Dr. Chamberlayne obtained a grant from the parish, in consideration of a benefaction which will probably be mentioned hereafter. He was buried here in 1703. On the left side of the western window, on a large mural slab, is an inscription to his memory. The latter part of it is remarkable:—“He was so studious of doing good to all men, and especially to posterity, that he ordered some of his books, covered with wax, to be buried with him, which may be of use in times to come. God preserve thee, O traveller! go, and imitate him. This monument, not to be rashly violated, his friend, Walter Harris, Doctor of Physic, caused to be erected as a testimony both of his respect and grief.”

“Dr. Harris evinced some singularity of opinion,” says Mr. Faulkner, “in supposing that posterity would gain any information from works thus entombed with the body of their author; but whatever might have been the intention, his views in depositing the books in the tomb of his friend have been frustrated, as, some years since, Dr. Chamberlayne’s tomb yielded to the injuries of time, and, on examination, it was discovered that the damp and moisture admitted by the general decay, had totally obliterated almost every appearance of them; his seal, with his arms, was however still perfect.”

A Female Heroine.—One of the inscriptions to the memory of the Chamberlayne family is as follows:—In a vault hard by lieth Anne, sole daughter of Edward Chamberlayne, LL.D., who long declining wedlock, and aspiring above her sex and age, fought under her brother, with arms and manly attire, in a fire-ship, against the French, for six hours, on the 30th June, 1690. After returning home she married Sir John Spragg, with whom she lived very affectionately for eighteen months, but, giving birth to a child, she died a few days after in 1691!

On the north side of the churchyard, on a mural monument, is an inscription to the memory of John Pennant, Esq., who died in 1709.

Sir Hans Sloane, Bart.—In the south-east corner is a large and handsome monument to the memory of this distinguished resident in the parish, and of his lady. As frequent notices are taken of Sir Robert Stanley in this work, it is only necessary here to give a brief description of the tomb. It is composed of Portland stone, on the top of which, under a portico, supported by four pillars, is placed a vase of white marble, with four serpents entwined around it, executed out of one piece; on each side is an entablature, the arms on one, and the crest on the other. It was executed by Wilton, the statuary, and was caused to be erected there by his two daughters, Elizabeth Cadogan and Sarah Stanley. Sir Hans Sloane died in 1753, in his 92nd year. Lady Sloane died in 1724.

Henry S. Woodfall, Esq.—Near the north-east corner of the churchyard, on a flat stone, was some years since an inscription to the memory of Henry S. Woodfall, the celebrated printer of the Letters of Junius, who spent the latter part of his life in calm retirement amongst his Chelsea friends. He was an associate of many distinguished literary characters, and died in 1805.

Philip Miller, Esq.—Close to the preceding spot is an obelisk to the memory of Philip Miller, Curator of the Botanic Gardens, Chelsea, and Author of the Gardeners’ Dictionary, &c. He died in 1771, aged 80. This monument was erected by the Fellows of the Linnæan and Horticultural Societies in 1815.

Against the wall of the old Vestry Room (now School Room) are tablets to the memory of Thomas Bowes, M.D., F.R.S., William Moncrieff, Professor of Humanity at St. Andrew’s, and Mrs. Methuen. The dates of these are 1723 and 1732.