R:M
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A very interesting matter relating to the history of pottery in this locality is the number of coarse earthenware gravestones which may be noticed in the churchyards at Burslem, Wolstanton, and elsewhere. They are formed of the common dark brown marl, or sagger clay, and the inscriptions are generally deeply incised, or pressed in. In some instances, however, they are laid on in white slip, and in others the incised letters are filled in with white clay. They are fired in the usual manner. The earliest, as regards date, which I noticed on my cursory examination of the two churchyards just mentioned, is at Wolstanton, and bears the inscription, “ThomAs PAin 1718.” (Fig. [345]). In the same churchyard are other earthenware memorials of various dates, the latest of which is 1828, viz., “William Heath departed this life 14 February, 1828 aged 6 weeks.”
Among others of which I made notes in the same churchyard are—
“Here Lyeth the Body of John Bin[ns] who Departed this Life November the [ ] 4 1751 Aged 41 years.”
“Here lieth the body of Samuel Willshaw died th 20 1755 aged 11 [?]”; at the top are the remains of cherubs’ wings.
“Here Lyeth the Body of Thos. Son of William and Mary Rowley of Red Street who Died November the 17 in the year 1767 in the 7 year of His age.”
“Here Lieth the Body of Mary Meller who departed this Life January the 6th 1750 aged 10.
Short was my time