Author Hugh Meller, who was the curator with the National Trust in Devon for 26 years, has compiled a book celebrating the gravestones and memorials found in 700 or more religious buildings and burial sites in Devon. From Abbotsham to Zeal Monachorum, Devon Dead & Buried: Graves and Memorials of the Notable and Notorious is a fascinating look at the lives of those who have gone before us. Here's just a handful plucked from its 312 pages
DROWNED AT SEA
A memorial at St Mary's Church at Molland marks the deaths of Frances Dovell and her son William in 1850. They drowned alongside 14 other passengers when their ship The Adelaide, foundered in the Atlantic. The only survivor was Captain Dovell, Frances' husband, who commissioned the memorial depicting the shipwreck. The sculptor John Thomas had supervised the sculpture for the rebuilt Houses of Parliament and worked at Buckingham Palace.
In the churchyard is a memorial to the Pincombe family - Thomas, Sarah and their six young children. They were emigrating to Canada but six hours after leaving Plymouth their ship John smashed into the Manackes rocks off the Lizard peninsula. Almost 200 of the 263 passengers drowned.
WHEEL OF FORTUNE
Walter Bassett (1863 to 1907) was an engineer who designed the Ferris wheels at Earls Court, Blackpool, Paris and, notably, Vienna which for many years was the largest in the world. It was built in the Prater Park in 1891 and is the only one of the four to survive. It has featured in several films, memorably in The Third Man (1949). A monument to Walter Bassett is in St Peter's Church, Berrynarbor.
CAPTURED IN CAROLINA
Raleigh (Rawlegh), who died in 1589, was the first native American to be baptised and buried in England. He had been captured by Sir Richard Grenville at Roanoke Island, Carolina, and transported to Devon where he lived with the Grenville household. Unfortunately he enjoyed no immunity from common European infections so died, probably from influenza, a few months after his baptism.
A monument to Raleigh is in St Mary's Church, Bideford. His grave is unmarked.
STRANGER THAN FICTION
Mary Whiddon was shot dead by a jealous lover as she left St Michael the Archangel church at Chagford in 1641. To this day newlywed brides lay a flower on her tomb beside the altar.
The tragedy inspired the writer R.D.Blackmore to describe in Lorna Doone how Carver Doone attempted to murder Lorna in Oare Church.
SCYTHED TO DEATH
The church at Chittlehampton in North Devon is dedicated to St Hieritha - also known as Saint Ulrith. She was a local girl converted to Christianity by Glastonbury monks in the sixth century. Hieritha was martyred by heathen villagers who cut her to pieces with scythes, believing her faith was responsible for a devastating drought. She is thought to be buried near the altar, resulting in Chittlehampton becoming a place of pilgrimage until 1539 when her tomb was dismantled.
A CHAMPION WRESTLER
Abraham Cann's gravestone in St Andrew's churchyard, Colebrook, was erected by public subscription after he died in poverty in 1864. A wrestler, during the 1820s he was unbeaten and earned the title Champion of England. He offered to fight any many for £500 - confident in his ability which compensated for his lack of height and weight. His most famous bout, in 1826, was against James Polkinghorne, champion of Cornwall, and was staged in front of 12,000 spectators. It ended in a disputed draw.
THE SMUGGLING VICAR
Ambrose Stapleton, who died in 1852, is remembered by a monument in All Saints, East Budleigh, where he was the rector for 58 years. He was well known for organising smuggling in the village. Contraband was hidden in the rectory and even the church. He allegedly disguised himself as a ghost to deter the inquisitive from witnessing smuggling activities.
A RIVER HERO
Frank Shotter, who died in 1917, was known as 'The Hero of the Exe'. He was the bathing superintendant at the Head Weir bathing pool on the river and it was estimated he saved over 200 bathers from drowning during his 37 years in office. He was awarded several Humane Society medals and taught thousands of Exonians to swim, organised swimming matches and managed a gym. He's buried at Exeter (Exwick) Cemetery, within sight of the weir.
SHOT IN A DUEL
Peter Hennis, whose memorial stone is in St Sidwell's churchyard, Exeter, was the last man in Devon to be killed in a duel. He died in 1833, by which time duelling was illegal. His opponent was Sir John Jeffcott, a judge in Africa, whose fiancee had just broken off their engagement. He believed Hennis had made a slighting remark about the separation and challenged him. The duel took place on Haldon racecourse. Jeffcott fired prematurely, fatally wounding Hennis who died eight days later, a month before his wedding.
POISONED BY A TEENAGE WITCH
Richard Jarvis was murdered in 1782 by his 16-year-old servant Rebecca Downing, who poisoned him. She was tried as a witch, found guilty and burned at the stake. She may have been the last person burned for the offence of witchcraft in England. Jarvis' epitaph in the churchyard at St Winwaloe, East Portlemouth, reads: 'Through poison strong he was cut off and brought to death at last. It was by his apprentice girl on whom there's sentence passed. Oh may all people warning take, for she was burned to the stake.'
Devon Dead & Buried by Hugh Meller is published by The Black Dog Press.
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