Cemetery: Donadea Churchyard - AYLER & NUGENT TOMB

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Ireland Genealogy Projects Archives
Kildare Index
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File contributed by: C.Hunt & M. Taylor

CEMETERY: DONADEA CHURCHYARD
    [From Lord Walter FITZGERALD]

THE AYLMER & NUGENT TOMB
"The Protestant Church of Donadea stands in an old burial-
ground situated inside the demesne of Donadea Castle, the
residence of a branch of the AYLMERS of Lyons who were
created baronets in the year 1621 by King James I.

On the south side of the chancel in a recess built for the
purpose stands a seventeenth century AYLMER monument which
formerly stood in the ruins of the old church, some remains
of which still exist outside the church to the S.E. The
monument was placed in its present position by the eighth
baronet, Sir Fenton AYLMER IN 1812.

This monument consists of a three-sided altar-tomb being 14
1/2 feet and in breadth (where the kneeling figures in the
reredos are) 6 1/2 feet.  It is in very good preservation
and composed partly of limestone and partly of sandstone.
All of the inscriptions are incised.

In the following description of this monument we will
commence from the top downwards':-

'The uppermost portion of the reredos is ornamented with
three [p.94] pinnacles.  The centre and
highest one is topped by a skull over a single long bone
below which in the broad space is the
AYLMER coat-of-arms on a shield.

"Lanbrequined" or draped, surmounted by a helmet, crest and
motto viz. :-

Argent, a cross sable betwen four Cornish choughs (wings
expanded) sable"

There is also on the upper arm of the cross a small crescent
for difference; and at the junction of the arms a small
shield bearing a hand, denoting a baronetcy.

The crest is a Cornish chough rising out of a ducal coronet
with the motto "Alleluia."'

					[Illustration]
The right hand pinnacle (as one faces the tomb) bears a
shield with the AYLMER arms and the left pinnacle a lozenge,
bearing the NUGENT arms which are "Ermine, two bars gules"

Below on either side are two lion-headed ornaments; and
below this again is an inscribed tablet in the centre of the
monument' the wording is a follows:-

This Monument was Removed from the old Church Nov'ber 1812
by Sir Fenton AYLMER Bar't

A little further down there are two tables, side by side, on
which is inscribed :-

	STAY PASSENGER THY HASTIE FOOTE*
	THIS STONE DELIVIERS THEE*
	A MESSAGE FROM THE FAMOVS TWIN* (Twain ?)
	THAT HERE IN TOMBED BE.

	LIVE WELL FOR VIRTVE PASSETH WELTH*
	AS WE DOE FINDETH IT NOW*
	RICHES BEAVTIE AND WORLDLIE STATE*
	MUST ALL TO VIRTVE BOW.
				_______________

'We now come to the lower half of the reredos which is
divided into two round-arched recesses; each recess contains
two kneeling figures. In the arch of each is an inscription,
while overhead in the intervening space is a shield impaling
the AYLMER and NUGENT arms. The pillars
are ornamental with agricultural implements and warlike
weapons.'

				[Illustration]

'The recess on the right contains effigies of Sir Gerald and
his son Andrew.  They are represented kneeling one behind
the other on cushions. with their hands joined in prayer. In
front of Sir Gerald is a desk upon which rests a Bible.  Sir
Gerald [p96] unshaved and clad in armour. In the arch over
his head run these words' :-

	THE INSCRIPTE
	PRAY FOR THE SOVLE OF
	S'R GERALD AYLMER KNIGHT &
	BARRONETT WHOE BVYLT THIS CHA
	PPELL TOMBE & MONVMENT & W'TH
	ALL THE CHVRCH & CHANCLL AD
	IOYNING THER ANNO * D'O * 1626
	DICEASED THE 19TH OF AV'ST A'O DOMINI 1634

'In the left-hand recess in similar attitudes are Sir
Gerald's wife, Julia NUGENT, daughter of Christopher, 14th
Baron of Delvin, and their daughter Julia behind her,
Overhead in the arch is inscribed' :-

	PRAY FOR THE SOVLE
	OF DAME IVLIA NUG'E [sic] NT
	DAGHTER TO S'R CHRISTOPHER
	NVGENT L'E BARRON OF DELVEN &
	WIFE TO S'R GERALD AYLMER KNIGHT & BARRON
	BY WHOME HE HAD ISSVE ANDREW
	AYLMER & IVLIA AYLMER & SHE DECEASED THE
	10 * OF NOVEMBER'R * ANNO * DOM *  1617:

'This finishes the reredos,'

'The altar-tomb it rests on is 3 feet 6 inches in height and
as it is, and was placed against a wall.  It has but three
sides. Starting from the left the end side has a
representation of the  Virgin Mary crowned.

The front side is divided into four niches;  the arches are
round-headed and the columns spiral.  Cherubims are placed
between the arch-heads. The figures in the niches are all
bearded, and are standing each with his hands joined in
prayer.  Over the head of each appears
his name, which still going from left to right, are given
thus -

	S'T HEIROM: s* GREGORIE; S* AMBROS: & S* AVGVSTIN:
	'The other end side bears our Lord crucified.'

According to the Peerages, Sir Gerald married twice :-
	1st. To Mary and co-heiress of Sir Henry TRAVERS,
	Master of the Ordnance, and relict of James EUSTACE.
	Viscount [Baltinglass], by whom he had no issue.

	2nd. To Lord Delvin's daughter by whom he had
	Andrew, his successor and two daughters (?)

		1. Julia married to Sir	Christopher
		BARNEWALL, Bart., of Crickstown

		2. and Mabel, married to Sir Oliver [TUITE],
		Bart., of Sonnagh in the County of
		Westmeath.  But as this daughter is not
		mentioned on the tomb, she may have
		been born to Sir Gerald's first wife.

'There is a fairly good illustration if this tomb given at
p. 81 vol. i of "The Antholgia Hibernica Magazine." though i
tgives but little idea of the elaborate work in the stone
carving; but the copy of the inscription given therein is
very faulty.'

Source:
Journal of the Association for the Preservation of the
Memorials of the Dead in Ireland Vol 6, 1904 (FHL # 0258795)