In hope of a Joyful Resurrection
I simply love this short but powerful little poem which emphasises the transience of life in a very sweet manner. It adorns the ledgerstone (not technically a gravestone but has made it onto my list anyway) of Mr. William King George and it reads:
Once I like you could walk and view
The tombs of friends interred,
So you like me Ee’r must be,
Go hence and be prepar’d
Although the name appears unusual now there was quite a fashion for naming children after royalty at this time. The first King George came to the throne in 1714 and subsequently the George family had this naming pattern for several generations. Prior to this there were several Prince Georges around the St. Albans area.
Either this was a popular fashion or the Prince Georges and King Georges are related.
His Life
William King George was born in 1721 in St Giles Cripplegate, London and was baptized at St. Botolph without Bishopgate. He died February 23, 1784 in London. He married Elizabeth Seaton on October 28, 1750 in Saint Benet Fink, London. She was born 1724 in Shoreditch. Together they had 8 children all baptised at St. Leonards, Shoreditch. At the time they were living in Holywell Street., Shoreditch. As there was mention of only 2 children, Augustin and Ann in his will it is likely that the other children died in infancy, as may be assumed by the repetition of the names William and King. It is apparant that they were all deceased by 1781.
His Will
This black ledgerstone can be found in St. Alban’s cathedral clearly following requested written in his will which states that he is to be “buried in the Abby Church of St Albans with a black marble slab over my grave”.
The will also instructs his son to ” pay the Rector Churchwardens and Overseers of the Abby Church of St. Albans such sum as will purchase 100 pounds in the 3% consolidated Bank Annuities which I direct to be invested in their names”.
William King Georges will indicates that he was a wealthy man who was providing for his nephew Jeremiah Couzins during his apprenticeship and he left his sister Martha Peace a modest annuity. He left the bulk of his estate of several thousand pounds to his wife, his son Augustin King George and his daughter Ann Gratton nee George.
The full inscription is as follows:
In Hope of a Joyful Resurrection
Here Lieth Interr’d the Body of
MR WILLIAM KING GEORGE
Native of this Parish, late of LONDON
who Departed this life the 23d Day
of Feby 1784 in the 62d year of his Age.Once I like you could walk and View
The Tombs of Friends Interr’d
So you like me Ee’r long must be,
Go hence and be Prepar’d.Also MR AUGUSTIN KING GEORGE, Junr.
Died March 12, 1809 Aged 55 (35?) Years.Also MRS ELIZABETH GEORGE Wife
of the above WILLIAM KING GEORGE
who departed this life the 3d October
1811 in the 87th Year of her Age.
With reference to Genealogy.com.
