HEXAB1036

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Wall plaque in memory of Gulielmus Johnſton and Elizabeth Douglas

plaque | memorial

stone

Stone (marble ?) slab, with bold lettering on dark, rectangular, slightly convex surface, surrounded by lighter elaborate mantling, shield above, three-dimensional skull below. Two apparently unrelated inscriptions in different styles.
“The arms are richly mantled, but the execution of the whole is indifferent. Shield, azure, a bend dexter argent between 3 stags' heads of the first, and 3 crosslets argent. Crest a stag's head and antlers, proper.” [Wright, 1823 p.97]

H . S . E .
Gulielmus Johnſton,
Mercator Laboribus
finitis, Naturæ ceſsit
26º: die Maij A.D. 1725.
Ætat'. Suæ 69.

And of ELIZABETH Daughter,
of the late JAMES DOUGLAS,
189, OXFORD ST, LONDON,
who died at HEXHAM, 8^TH Nov. 1861,
Aged 28 Years.
And is Interred at the Cemetery.

Latin & English

Here is buried William Johnston, Merchant, his labours finished, he yielded to the law of Nature 26^th day of May AD 1725 In the year of his age 69.

H. S. E. = Hic Sepultus Est

1725–1861

1823 (Wright's History p.97 & 118): “On the east side of the north transept, a stone slab, beneath a canopy, enveloped in mantling — H. S. E. GULIELMUS JOHNSTON …”.
1894: “North transept, west wall” [A B Hinds, History of Northumberland p198]
1899 guidebook has photo showing the plaque fixed to the wall closing the arch which now leads to the nave north aisle; plaque moved when wall taken down for building of nave in 1908; part of it shown in postcard lying near NW corner of N Transept before its re-fixing on north wall of Chancel.
Burial register: Wm Johnson, chapman, 29 May 1725; Elizabeth Douglas, 13 Nov 1861. Elizabeth Douglas was probably the great-great-great-granddaughter of William Johnson.
“In memory of Elizabeth the beloved daughter of James DOUGLAS of 189 Oxford St. London who d. at Hexham 8 Nov. 1861 aged 28 yrs. Also of Jane, wife of the above James DOUGLAS, who d. 7 June 1863 at Kilshane, Tipperary, Ireland, aged 63 yrs. ‘Come unto me all ye that labour and are heavy laden and I will give you rest’.” [Inscription at Cemetery 30/60]
From burial register: 291; Douglas, Elizabeth; Governess; 28; Hexham; 18 Nov 1861; J.Hudson; C573.
“1724/5, 6^th February. Will of William Johnson of Hexham, merchant: wife Jane, son Robert Johnson, 1s.; son Alexander Johnson, my house in Market Street and £600; son John Johnson, an annuity of £6 13s. 4d.; son Herbert Johnson, £600; daughter Jane Parker; brother Alexander Johnson. To the poor at the church door when I am buried, £5. Residue to my son David Johnson. Proved 26^th July, 1725.” [NCH4 p60]

1^st URL shows family links; 2^nd URL shows 3d image of monument.

H 2.25 m | W 1.15 m | D 0.16 m

Foot 1 m from floor

Chancel/North Aisle/North Wall/Bay 1 (W)

CND: CNW1; EM 214; NCH3 p198; A B Wright, 1823, pp97 & 118