Wall monument in Michaelschurch

Within a ruinous 17th-century church dedicated to St Michael the Archangel. In the OS Letters (O’Flanagan ed. 1930, vol. 1, 235-6 (79)), a stone plaque is mentioned, which, ‘formerly stood in the south wall near the east gable on the inside’. It is described as, 'a small square cut stone at the head of a grave within the Church, with the following inscription in modern characters engraved on it:- "William Smyth, Esq. of Long Ashen near Bristol, built this Church and dyed the 24th day of April 1655, aged 65 years; Mary Smyth alias Kinsman, wife to said William, dyed on the 16th day of May 1658; Laurence Smyth, son to said William, was killed at the Siege of Drogheda the 11th day of September 1649, aged 28 years; Anna Maria Smyth alias Prebitzer, wife to said Lawrence, dyed at Bilboa on the 23rd day of January 1676" (ibid.). Holahan (1883, 83-6) also gives a transcription of this plaque, with addition information as follows, 'Valentine Smyth, son to said Laurence, dyed at Bath on the 15th day of March, 1700, aged 59 years. Mary Smyth, alias Bryan, wife to said Valentine, dyed on the 21st day of March, 1706. John Smyth, son to said Valentine, dyed on the 8th day of June, 1708, aged 41 years. Jane Smyth alias Read wide to said John, died on 28th day of August, 1747, aged 71'. Carrigan (1905, vol. 3, 443) who also gives a complete transcription, describes it as, 'a small headstone, in front of the altar, with a cross at the top, and the following inscription in very small incised letters'. Both Holahan and Carrigan provide a slightly different first line, 'William Smyth Esqr. Eldest son of [uncut] Smyth Esqr.' (ibid.). One of two wall monuments (KK018-051004-; KK018-051005-) which were formerly within recesses in the church interior. Compiled by: Jean Farrelly Date of upload: 7 July 2020