Avening

Church Monuments at Avening

compiled by Graham Thomas

Avening is situated in the Longtree Hundred and is close to Minchinhampton. The village is pretty, nestling on the side of a steep combe.
The church in Avening, which still retains many Norman features, was recorded from 1105. The Church of the Holy Cross is built in the form of a cross and the oldest parts may date from the late 11th century. A tower was added in the late 12th century and further additions made subsequently. However, the church escaped zealous restoration and is very much seen today as original in form.
This information on the monuments is taken from Rudders' History of Gloucester and Bigland.

Here lieth the Bodye of William Bvsfhie Rector of the churche of Avening, who deceased the 1 of December Anno Dn. 1600.
Here resteth the body of William Hall, rector of this church, who departed this life ye 9th day of Nov.1683 Aet: 74.

Iohannes Swynfen Staffordienfis, Sacrae Theologiae Baccalaureus, hujus Ecclefiae ob viginti et duos Annos Rector, Nat. Aug.15, 1654. Denat. Apr.29, 1728.

Here lyeth the body of SAMUEL SANDFORD late of London, Merchant who departed this life the ninth day of April, Anno Dom. 1710, in the sixty eighth year of his age.

Id quod morti ceffit Roberti Browne Pharmacopoei, de Oppido Stroud in agro Glocestriensi, juxta exuvias Elizabethae matris, Thomas fratris, Chirurgi, Elizabethae Clementis forosis, Gulielmi Hall A.M. Avunculi fubtus jacet depositum. Die quinto Julii anno aetatis 59, aere Christianae 1739, Animan in manus Dei efflavit.

George Fletcher, clothier, died April 6th 1762, aged 43
A dutiful son; a loving husband;
A tender father; a sincere Christian;
A man of the strictest Intergrity
in all his conversation.

Mary, his disconsolate Widow erected this small Monument to his memory.

Margery Buck, the daughter of William Buck, died 1605
William Buck, Rector of Avening, died 1st Dec. 1609

Jane, wife of William Window, died April 30, 1678

Richard Webb, clothier, died April 16th, 1712, aged 78
Richard Webb, died June 11, 1748, aged 60 years

Johannes Swyfen, Rector, died April 29, 1728
Rebecca Swynfen, Relict of the Rev. John Swyfen, died April 4th 1752 aged 82.

Thomas Davis, of Hampton, died Spet. 28, 1746

To the happy memory of John Driver Gent, who deceased June the 12th 1681, in the 85th year of his age. And also Elizabeth his wife who deceased January 28th A.Dni 1675, aged 73 years, they having lived together 52 years. Refurrectionem expectantes gloriofam.

Carolus filius natu maximus Iohannis Driver Gent. obijt xx die Januarij Anno Domini 1636, Aetat.5.
Mattheus ejusdem Johannis natu fecundus, olim Colleg. Omnium Animarum in Oxon Socius, potfea Conciliarius ad legem, obijit xxviii die Januarij Anno Dom. 1661, Aetat 27.
Refurrectionem corporum expectamus gloriofam.

Other Driver names include:
John Driver, died Jan, 5 1687; Walter Driver; Joan, wife of Robert Driver, died 6 Nov. 1746; Robert Driver of Forwood, died April 25, 1671; Dorothy, daughter of Robert, died July 28, 1749;Nathaniel Driver of Aston, died April 17, 1695, aged 53; Dorothy, daughter of John Driver, Gent, died Jan 14, 1683; Robert Driver, died March 29, 1751, aged 77; John Driver of Aston, died Dec. 6, 1725; Charles Driver, M.D. died August 21, 1740, aged 57; Mary, daughter of Charles and Mary his wife, died Nov. 29, 1740, aged 19; Mary, the wife of Charles, died Jan. 21, 1742, aged 65; Rachell Driver, widdow of Nathaniel Driver, died Dec. 26, 1700, aged 51.

Here lyeth the body of Mary, the wife of William Gyde, Clothier, and eldest daughter of Samuel and Mary Kinn, of this parish, who departed this life the 10th day of October, 1693, aged 45.
William Gyde, Clothier, who departed this Life 27 April, 1708, Aged 63.
Here also lyeth the Body of Daniel Gyde, late of this parish, Clothier, who departed this Life the 22nd Day of Dec. 1752, aged 69.
Margaret, the Relict of the above Daniel Gyde. She departed this life 23. Oct. Anno Dom. 1773, aged 90.
Also, the body of William Gyde, Jun. the son of Daniel and Margaret Gyde, who died March 26, 1728, aged 17.

Here lieth the body of Henry Brydgis Esquier, sonn to Iohn Lord Chavndos Baron of Shevdley, who departed this life the 24 day of Iannvari Anno.Dom.1615.

There are many local traditions connected with Henry Brydges one of which was that he was a notoroius highwayman. He was said to have "followed the life of a freebooter, indulging in deeds of lawlessness and robbery almost surpassing our modern powers of belief. We can readily imagine how the almost impassable roads, thick woods, and broken ground must have aided the young nobleman in his first stpes as a freebooter."
He was also a pirate as recorded in his pardon granted by James I. in 1611:
"And whereas Henry Bydges of Avening County of Gloucester, and others on the 20th day of February, in the 23rd year of the reign of Her Majesty Elizabeth, late Queen of England, France, and Ireland, did arm and supply with gunpowder, picks, darts and other weapons of a warlike nature, the aforesaid ships called the Salamander, of the port of Bristol and the Mary Grace, of Penzance, and did feloniously send the same to sea, and support, aid and abet John Kirkham and Thomas Maid, the respective captains and others their accomplices and associates, in perpetrating piracy on the aforesaid ship the Whalefishe and its cargo of salt, hemp and coined metal..."

In Memory of Sarah, the wife of William Sandford of Stonehouse, Gent and daughter of Samuel Adams of this parish, Cloth'. who died the 17th of February Anno Dom. 1722. She gave by consent of her husband the houses, garden, orchard, and a piece of pasture ground adjoining, lying and being in this parish, at a place called the Crofs, then in the tenure and posession of one John Harris, who does hold it by Leafe for three lives, paying yearly twenty shillings due at Christmas. And after that leafe shall be expired, then the full profits for ever to be applyed towards the education of poor children belonging to this tithing of Avening, as directed by deede of trust left with her husband.

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Bigland records other memorials within the church including:
Thomas Bailey, died July 5th 1763, aged 76.
Grace, his wife, died Nov. 13, 1762, aged 63
William, their son, died Sept. 14, 1760, aged 29

Richard Webb, Clothier, died August 19, 1712, aged 78
Richard, his son, died June 11, 1748 aged 60 years

John Seager of Chevenage, died Feb 3, 1755, aged 47
William his son, died April 19, 1757, aged 25

Rebecca, wife of Samuel Rodway, died August 8, 1738, aged 46
John, their son, died August 5, 1737, aged 24
Samuel Rodway, died August 1, 1757, aged 64
Charles, son of Rebecca and Samuel, died April 25, 1761, aged 41

Elizabeth Bull, daughter of George Bull, Rector, died December 29, 1690
George, the son of George and Rachel Bull, died Feb. 19, 1702

Mary, 5th Daughter of William Hall, died 11. May 1683, aged 23
William Hall, Rector, died Nov. 9, 1683, aged 74.
(A more recent addition is the 1947 tablet in the north aisle to Viscount Lee of Fareham. He was born in 1868, educated at Cheltenham College and Woolwich, after which he joined the Royal Artillery. He became an MP in 1900, representing Fareham as a Conservative. He was a Minister of State and 1919 was first Lord of the Admiralty. It was he who presented the Chequers estate to the nation for the use of Prime Ministers.)

Church Yard Tombs

Ann, daughter of Edward Adams, died 23. Oct. 1663
Edward Croucher, died April 15, 1755, aged 62
Ann, his wife, died Nov. 9, 1754, aged 63
Thomas Earle, of Hampton, Malster, died July 9, 1759, aged 63
Elizabeth, his wife, died May 16, 1731, aged 35
John Harris, died April 10, 1738, aged 84
Thomas, his son, died July 3, 1739, aged 30
Dinah, daughter of Thomas Harris, died July 19, 1731, aged 17
Thomas Harris, died March 29, 1750, aged 67
John Humphris, died May 8, 1764, aged 69
Christian, Relict of John, died Aug. 12, 1764, aged 76
Samuel Kinn, clothier, died April..., 1701, aged 77
Bartlee Smith, died Nov, 2, 1736, aged 27
Thomas Smith, died Nov. 7, 1714, aged 78

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Headstones in the Church Yard

Name	Died	Age	Name	Died	Age
Thomas Hill	Dec. 1752	77	Elizabeth Effex	3. May. 1731	20
Bridget, his wife	14. Dec 1753	87	Henry Lucas	1. June 1754	70
Joanna, wife of Richard Blackwell	12. Jan. 1767	31	Thomas, son of William Lucas	28. Feb. 1756	21
John Pavey	25. June. 1753	35	William Gleed	25. May. 1774	46
William Pavey	24. Oct. 1767	63	Benjamin Hopkins, Yeoman	15. Oct. 1772	72
John Pavey	6. Sept. 1764	75	William, son of John Hopkins	22. Aug. 1745	28
Thomas Ferley	16. Aug. 1760	51	John Howard	7. July 1745	42
Richard James	1751	72	John Stafford	25. Sept. 1773	47
Sarah, his wife	1728	49	Robert Howard	19. April. 1757	32
Bridget, the wife of William Green	6. Nov. 1706	-	Mary his wife	10. March. 1773	56
William Cloudfley	8. Jan. 1766	59	Benjamin Hill	7. March. 1773	42
William Ovens	17. April. 1751	35	Sarah, his wife	23. Jan. 1762	61
Mary, the wife of William King	17. Dec. 1752	61	Hannah, wife of William Avery	4. Nov. 1737	43
Richard James	1728	41	Thomas Hudd	July 1746	64
Sarah, his wife	1731	72	John Hudd	17. July 1744	62
John Cull	1. April. 1779	58	Matthew Saunders	7. March. 1725	34
Thomas, his son	1. March. 1774	18	Matthew Saunders	26. Dec. 1723	77
Sarah, wife of Robert Ind	21. Sept. 1771	60
William Effex	22. Aug 1779	80

Links

1.The Church of the Holy Cross has its own web-site.
2. Avening Village 1851 Census.

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