Cemetery: Old Ross Memorials

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Ireland Genealogy Projects Archives
Wexford Index
Copyright

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File contributed by: C. Hunt

OLD ROSS MEMORIALS

'In a corner of the churchward, surrounded by a wall, the 
following inscriptions are rudely cut on three different 
headstones, and even the entrance is cut':--

"The burial apartment of the ancient family of the |MURPHYS| 
of | LACKEN."

"Here amidst his friends doth lye
The remains of Mr. E. MURPHY
Who in 1741, on the first day
Did the great debt of nature pay
Precisely at the age of fifty seven
He quit this life, and soar'd for heaven,
Then let it be each readers prayer
That he has got admission there."
AMEN.
_____

"Here lies MARY, EDMOND'S wife,
Who spent a happy proper life
She was a comely well-bred woman
Descended from FERMOY and SHANNON.
Her parents were a ROCHE and BOYLE
Which cannot this assertion foyle
When of this stage in 1747
May God receive her soul in heaven"
AMEN.
_____

"Here's REV. BRYAN, the son of both
Who to his church did pledge his troth
See by the Cross, Host and Chalice
The emblems of his sacred office
Years thirty one, he filled this district
Which numbers doubled closed his exit
In 1779, the last day of May
Subtil death snatched him away
Let's wish him Requiescat in peace" (sic).
AMEN.
_____

The writer then mentions New Ross, and prophesies concerning 
the destruction of the fine old gates of the town--a 
prophecy which, alas ! has come true, with one exception, 
that of the "Fair Green"* gate. He says:- "This town had 
four gates, and was surrounded by a good wall. One of the 
gates has been pulled down, I suppose for the purpose of 
building, and in all probability the other three [which are 
now in good repair] will share the same fate in a short 
time, as the inhabitants seem particularly fond of building. 
"The walls are also gone to ruin, and likewise several 
ancient castles and religious houses that were 
interspersed." *This gateway has also been pulled 
down.--Eds.

He says the church was then (1792) of all other buildings 
perhaps the most wretched::-

"In the great aisle leading to the body of the church are 
two monuments--one erected to the memory of Mrs. TOTTENHAM, 
lady of the present CHARLES TOTTENHAM, Esq., of New Ross; 
and the other to the memory of Mrs. CLIFFE, lady of the Rev. 
JOHN CLIFFE, of Ross. The former is by much the grandest; it 
represents the body of the deceased sitting in a pensive 
attitude, her right arm reclined on an urn, beautifully 
sculptured in white marble. Beneath her feet are the family 
arms and crest, with the following inscription:-

"Conjugis perdilectae memoriae | sacrum | ANNAE NICH. DOM 
VICECOM LOFTUS | filiae stirpe materna Gul. Baron de Bessbo 
| rough prognata | Hoc marmor posuit | CAROLUS TOTTENHAM, 
ARMIGER."


SOURCE: 
Journal of the Association for the Preservation of the 
Memorials of the Dead in Ireland  FHL# 1279252