61. Stairways to Heaven

Memorial tablets on the wall of Bath Abbey

Elizabeth Winckley (1719–1756)

Her underſtanding was excellent, Her genius innocently sprightly, Her heart sincere and generous, Her converſation agreeable, Her friendſhip conſtant, Her mind and perſon equally amiable…

Dr John Marten Butt, 1738–1769

He was a friendly, popular and ſucceſsfull Phyſician.  As a writer he was eaſy, elegant, methodical animated & ingenious, In converſation inexprſſibly candid, never oppreſſive, more inclined to hear than to be heard, yet quick in invention, fluent in elocution, and & endued with a peculiar livelineſs, & ſocial ſenſibility. In his moral character he was a ſincere Christian, & was equally led by the fineſt affections as well as the pureſt principles to diſcharge the ſeveral charities & duties of life, he fulfilled them all with equal beauty and energy     & therefore died Univerſally lamented…

Sir Nigel Bowyer Gresley, 7^th Bart. of Drakelow House in the County of Derby, who died March 26, 1808. By his descent from the famous Rolla, Duke of Normandy and Roger de Torre, Standard Bearer to William at the period of the conquest, the Honours which Sir Nigel Gresley derived from a long line of ancestors rendered the nobility of his family conspicuous: – whilst the elegance of his manners the accomplishment of his mind & the refinement of his taste gave additional ſplendour to the dignity of his birth. By his first marriage to Wilmot Gresley his cousin and an Heireſs he reunited the title with the estates of Drakelow and he had three daughters Wilmot Maria, Emma Sophia, and Elizabeth Augusta: by his ſecond Wife Maria Eliza Garway (also an Heireſs) and descended from Sir Henry Garway [...] in 1611 [?1811], he had Almeria, Georgiana Maria (who died young), Louisa Maria, Georgiana; Roger (the present Baronet) & Nigel, who died in 1816…

Granado Piggott, 1731–1802

A Man who supported through Life what he was entitled to by Birth:  The true Character of An English Gentleman; That he was sincere to his Friends, Affable to his Inferiors, and benevolent to all…

Ambrose Norton, a worthy and Loyal Deſcendant of worthy and Loyal Anceſtors. Her ſerv’d the Crowne of England aboue 40 year in Employments both Civil and Military in which he Ever acquitted himself faithfully and as a man of Honour. He was Exceeding graceful in perſon and behaviour, His luſtrice Gentleneſs and ſweetneſs of diſpoſition were equall to his Courage, and he Crown’d all his other virtues with a moſt Exemplary Piety. He was a Branch of the Antient Family of the Nortons of Somerſetſhire, and Couſin-Garman to S^R Georg Norton of Abbot’s Leigh in that County, a houſe happily Renouned in hiſtory for y^e Concealment and Preſervation of King Charles the 2^d at the Fatal Battle of Worceſtor…

In Memory of C.M. [d. 1765]

One of the moſt valuable Women that ever lived; Whoſe principal Happineſs conſiſted (altho’ ſhe was of ſome rank) in a real & unbounded Affection & Tenderneſs for her Huſband and Children…

Mrs Anne Welch of Aylesbury [d. 1810]

…Affectionate to her Friends, beloved by her Acquaintance, bleſsed with diſtinguiſhed Abilities, ſhe was ſo improved by the Knowledge of various Languages and Sciences that Elegance of Diction, Beauty of Sentiment, the Majeſty of Wiſdom, and the Grace of Perſuaſion ever hung upon her Lips: the Bonds of Life being gradually diſsolved, ſhe winged her Flight from this world in expectation of a better…

Two gentlemen whose inscriptionswere less noteworthy but whose names are certainly worthy of inclusion here:

Marmaduke Peacocke

and

Sir Manley Power.

I think I’d rather spend a dinner part with Anne, John and Elizabeth than C.M., Granado or Sir Nigel (Bart.).