In the churchyard of North Wingfield, Derbyshire, a gravestone bears the following inscription:
In memory of Thomas, son of John and Mary Clay, who departed this life December 16th, 1724, in the 40th year of his age.
| What though no mournful kindred stand Around the solemn bier, No parents wring the trembling hand, Or drop the silent tear. No costly oak adorned with art My weary limbs inclose; No friends impart a winding sheet To deck my last repose. |
The cause of the foregoing curious epitaph is thus explained. Thomas Clay was a man of intemperate habits, and at the time of his death was indebted to the village innkeeper, named Adlington, to the amount of twenty pounds. The publican resolved to seize the body; but the parents of the deceased carefully kept the door locked until the day appointed for the funeral. As soon as the door was opened, Adlington rushed into the house, seized the corpse, and placed it on a form in the open street in front of the residence of the parents of the departed. Clay’s friends refused to discharge the publican’s account. After the body had been exposed for several days, Adlington committed it to the ground in a bacon chest.
We conclude this class of epitaphs with the following from Winchester Cathedral yard:—
| In memory of Thomas Thetcher, a Grenadier in the North Regiment of Hants Militia, who died of a violent fever contracted by drinking small beer when hot the 12th of May, 1764, aged 26 years. In grateful remembrance of whose universal goodwill towards his comrades this stone is placed here at their expense, as a small testimony of their regard and concern. |
| Here sleeps in peace a Hampshire Grenadier, Who caught his death by drinking cold small beer; Soldiers, be wise from his untimely fall, And when ye’re hot drink strong, or none at all. |
This memorial, being decayed, was restored by the officers of the garrison, A.D. 1781:—
| An honest soldier never is forgot, Whether he die by musket or by pot. |
This stone was placed by the North Hants Militia, when disembodied at Winchester, on 26th April, 1802, in consequence of the original stone being destroyed.