John Coe (Norwich) 1839

"A person of eccentric character, named John Coe, of Chapel Street, Crook’s Place, Norwich, died on this date.  “For 34 years he was a trunk maker in St. Lawrence’.  Deceased had made his own coffin five years ago, of old soap chests and tea chests, and had polished it up so that it looked like mahogany.  It was composed of 165 pieces, and on the lid was a black plate, bearing a quotation from the Burial Service.  The deceased had also made a coffin for his wife, who survives him, but this had to be disposed of to inter the remains of a poor woman whose friends could not find the money to purchase one.”

Title: Norfolk Annals  A Chronological Record of Remarkable Events in the Nineteeth Century, Vol. 1     Author: Charles Mackie

Lexham

© Godric Godricson

Bryant Lewis - Thetford Epitaph

© Godric Godricson

On Bryant Lewis, who was barbarously murdered upon the heath near Thetford, Sept. 13, 1698.

"Fifteen wide wounds this stone veils from thine eyes,

But reader, hark their voice doth pierce the skies.

Vengeance, cried Abel’s blood against cursed Cain,

But better things spake Christ when he was slain.

Both, both, cries Lewis ’gainst his barbarous foes,

Blood, Lord, for blood, but save his soul from woe"

Title: Gleanings in Graveyards a collection of Curious Epitaphs Author: Horatio Edward Norfolk



Please also see a blog with a photo of the headstone of Bryant in Saint George's Church, Colegate, Norwich.  also   appears in British-History

Thomas Hancock - d. 9th December 1719

                                          

Thomas Hancock

Thomas Hancock by his will in 1717 gave, upon the decease of his wife and others, land in Reymerstone to Thomas Mason of Swaffham, grocer,' youngest son of testator's uncle John Mason of Necton.

Costessey Mills

"A singular story of a supposed murder was published.  A human skeleton was recovered from the bed of the river at Costessey Mills by a “didling” boat owned by Messrs. Culley.  The circumstance was recalled that a Jew pedlar, known as “Old Abraham,” had mysteriously disappeared eight years previously.  It was also remembered that one Robert Page, sentenced to transportation for life for sheep stealing at Drayton, on March 27th, 1834, had told the prison warders that if he were taken to Costessey he could show them, beneath a willow tree, “something that would make their hair stand on end.”  By a curious coincidence, the skeleton was found beneath a willow which overhung the river.  It was stated that the body had been staked down in the bed of the stream."

Title: Norfolk Annals  A Chronological Record of Remarkable Events in the Nineteeth Century, Vol. 1     Author: Charles Mackie