What is recorded here

Graveslab in Clonroad Beg is a missing marker that once lay in the southeast corner of Ennis Friary chancel, recorded by Westropp in the 1890s. Thomas Hickman of Ballyhinan and Elizabeth, his wife, died in 1677, and his will directed that a stone from Ballyhinan be polished and set over their tomb with their arms and name engraved. The slab has vanished, but the request remains sharp: a local man wanted to be remembered beside the people he loved, not buried into forgetfulness.

Cited by Westropp (1895-7, 39) as situated in the SE corner of the chancel of Ennis Friary (CL033-082001-), but now missing. The inscription, in Roman capitals, reads ‘HERE LYES THE BODYES OF THOMAS HICK(MAN) OF B(ALLY)HINNAN ESQ WHO DYED … OF 7 BER 1677 & E(LIZABETH) HIS WIFE WHO DYED … 30TH YE SAME YEARE DAUGHTER TO GEORGE COLPOVYS O(F) BALLICARR ESQ.’ . The will of Thomas Hickman of Ballyhinan (1677) reads ‘My bodie to be interred in the chancel of the church of Innish where my dear wife and Mother are interred or as conveniently near them as may be, and it is my will that my eldest sonne Thomas Hickman, junr., doe cause the stone now at Ballyhinan near the waterside for that purpose to be polished and layed over the tomb of mee and my wife, and my armes and name to be thereon ingraven’. (Westropp 1895-7, 39; Bradley, Halpin and King 1988, 78) Compiled by: Mary Tunney Date of upload: 15 April 2014

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