Tag: Hawkhurst

I was moderately fascinated by this section of the graveyard at St. Laurence’s Church near Hawkhurst as it had graves in situ from the early eighteenth century. This one commemorates John Exeter, of a birth date I can’t be sure, but he was married at this church to Elisabeth Stace on 12 February 1714.

The marriage record survives (clicking on the image will make it bigger) and it’s perhaps just a little magical to be able to see the handwriting of the vicar who performed that service over 300 years ago. Both John and Elisabeth lived in the parish, so this was very much a local affair.

John Exeter died on 28 January 1744 and was buried on 2 February 1744. Unfortunately, I can’t find out anything more about John, it’s so far back to be able to work much out, but at least his gravestone has survived and remains in decent condition.

I’m slightly puzzled how this grave has remained in such good condition, or at least the top section of it, give that it’s nearly 300 years old. It marks the burial of Thomas Exeter of the town, who died on 12 April 1727 at the age of 43. The burial records survive and note that he was buried on Monday 17 April 1727.

Thomas was married to Elizabeth, who is also marked on the same gravestone and she died on 10 January 1734 and was buried on 16 January 1734. It’s so far in the past that I can’t find anything else, but this is a remarkable survival.

Located in St. Laurence’s Church in The Moor, Hawkhurst, is what I considered to be this rather intriguing grave which was starting to be consumed slowly, but surely, by a tree.