From Petworth, Sussex, we have the following:—
| In Memory of Sarah Betts, widow, who passed nearly 50 Years in one Service and died January 2, 1792 Aged 75. |
| Farewell! dear Servant! since thy heavenly Lord Summons thy worth to its supreme reward. Thine was a spirit that no toil could tire, “When Service sweat for duty, not for hire.” From him whose childhood cherished by thy care, Weathered long years of sickness and despair, Take what may haply touch the best above, Truth’s tender praise! and tears of grateful love. |
In the year 1807, died, at the age of eighty-five years, Mary Baily. She was buried at Epsom, and her gravestone says: “She passed sixty years of her life in the faithful discharge of her duties in the service of one family, by whom she was honoured, respected, and beloved.”
A gravestone at Beckenham, Kent, bears testimony to long and faithful service:—
In memory
of
John King
who departed this Life 29th of
December 1774 aged 75 years.
He was 61 years Servant
to
Mr. Francis Valentine,
Joseph
Valentine, and Paul
Valentine,
from Father to Son,
without ever
Quitting their Service,
Neglecting
his Duty, or being
Disguised
in Liquor.
From the same graveyard the next inscription is copied:—
Sacred to the Memory of
William Chapman
of this Parish,
who died December the
25th 1793
Aged 77 years.
Sixty years of his life were passed under the Burrell Family, three successive Generations of which he served with such Intelligence and fidelity, as to obtain from each the sincerest respect and Friendship, leaving behind him at his Death the Character of a truly Honest and good Man.
The poet Pope caused to be placed on the outside of Twickenham Church a tablet bearing the following inscription:—
To the Memory of
Mary Beach
Who died Nov. 5th 1725,
Aged 78.
Alexander Pope
whom she nursed in his infancy
and constantly attended for
38 years, in gratitude
to a faithful old
servant
erected this Stone.