Tuesday 21 August 2012

Fulsome praise

Gravestone of Frederick Cooper and his wife Mary Ann Cooper, St. Andrew's Old Church, Church Road.
The inscription reads: Sacred to the memory of Frederick Cooper, Esquire. Steward of the manors of the Dukes of Norfolk and for nearly forty years of this manor of Hove.
While respected in his profession for his attainments, high standard of duty, and strict sense of honor he was endeared to his friends and relatives by his amiability, affectionate solicitude and kind consideration for all. He died 18th May, 1864, aged 68 years.
Blessed are the dead which die in the Lord from henceforth: Yea saith the Spirit that they may rest from their labours and their works do follow them. (Revelation 14:13)
Also in memory of Mary Ann, widow of the above who died 30th September 1872 aged 69 years.
I haven't been able to discover anything about Frederick and Mary Ann apart from the entry of Frederick's death at Brighton - neither of them show up on census records for 1845, 1851 or 1861.
You can see more gravestones and memorials over at this week's Taphophile Tragics.

4 comments:

SeaThreePeeO said...

Beautiful picture, I love the pigeons.

Beneath Thy Feet

Halcyon said...

Interesting. Unlike Nicola, I don't like the pigeons. :)

Julie said...

This is a lovely tribute to him. I should love a tribute such as this. He is even called 'Esquire', although nowt but a hired-hand. And his wife is referred to as his 'widow' rather than 'relict'. Not just a chattel ...

CaT said...

i too like the pigeons!
i like that so much detail is on the stone... now only if there was a little bit more about his wife as well!