Murder Stones

 Murder Stone – 2

Margaret Williams
St. Catwg's church
Cadoxton, Neath
I wrote an article which was published in the Bay Magazine, Sweet F.A., April 2021.  In the article I wrote about the murder stone at St. Catwg’s church, Cadoxton, Neath.

It is commemorating the murder of Margaret Williams.  26-year-old Margaret hailed from Carmarthen and found employment in the local farm at Cadoxton.  When she fell pregnant, Margaret was asked to leave the farm.

The figure of suspicion of the murder was pointed to the farmer’s son, Llewellyn Richard.  After the inquest, the jury couldn’t find enough evidence towards Llewellyn, and he was released.  He soon left completely onboard a cargo ship to America.

The headstone was erected with the echoing words Alton born Quaker, Elijah Waring which reads:-

 



1823

To record MURDER

This stone was erected over the body of MARGARET WILLIAMS

Aged 26

A Native of Carmarthen

Living In Service in this Parish

Who was found dead with marks of violence on her person in a ditch on the marsh below this churchyard on the morning of Sunday the Fourteenth of July 1822

Although the SAVAGE MURDERER escaped for a season the detection of man of God had set his mark upon him either for time of eternity and the cry of blood will assuredly pursue him to certain and terrible but righteous JUDGEMENT

 

St. Illtyd's church
Oxwich, Gower
Unknown Sailor
St. Illtyd's church
Oxwich, Gower
Yesterday, on what I thought I read, that there was an Unknown Sailor, who was killed during the First World War, buried at Thursley.  How very strange, that a there was an Unknown Sailor how wasn’t he known!  Not like the Unknown Sailor/s who is/are buried at St. Illtyd’s church, Oxwich, Gower.  That is a different story completely!

Unknown Sailor headstone
St. Michael and All Angels church
Thursley, Surrey
There is however, certainly and Unknown Sailor buried at Thursley.  This is his story.

September 1786, an Unknown Sailor was first recorded in the Red Lion Inn, Old Portsmouth Road, Thursley, he was walking back from London to join his ship docked in Portsmouth.  Whilst there he met three seafarers, James Marshall,  Michael Casey and Edward Lonegon.  The Unknown Sailor brought them all a drink and food.  He was last seen in their company leaving Hindhead Hill.  The three men murdered the Sailor and stripped him of his clothes.  The men making off with the clothes, a few hours later they were arrested in the Sun Inn, Rake a few miles away trying to selling the clothes. 

Six months later, April 1787, the three men were tried at Kingston assizes, where they were found guilty.  Two days later, the three men were hanged in chins on gibbet, close to where the murder took place.

The Unknown Sailor’s body was found, and he was buried at St. Michael and All Angels church, Thursley. The parishioners and residents paid for the headstone.  Which bears this inscription.



In memory of

A generous but unfortunate Sailor

Who was barbarously murder’d on Hindhead

On September 24th 1786

By three Villains

After he had liberally treated them

And promise them his father assistance

On the rod to Portsmouth

 

When pitying Eyes to see my grave shall come

And with a generous tear bedew my tomb

Here shall they read my melancholy Fate.

In perfect Health and flower of Age

Fell victim to three Raffians Rage,

On bended knee I mercy stove to obtain

Their thrift and Blood made all Entreaties vain

No dear relation or still dearer Friend

Weeps my hard lot or miserable End

Yet o’er my sad Remains (my name unknown)

A generous Public have inscribed this Stone.

 

Richard Court, Blacksmith
St. Michael and All Angels church
Thursley, Surrey
Also buried in the churchyard is Richard Court, the Blacksmith, who responsible for the chins and cages used in the hanging.

Charles Dickens mentions the murder of the Unknown Sailor in his novel Nicholas Nickleby, 1839.

“They [Nicholas Nickleby and Smike] walked on the rim of the Devi’s Punch Bowl; and Smike listened with greedy interest as Nicholas read the inscription upon the stone which, reared upon that wild spot, tells of a murder committed there by night. The grass on which they stood, had once been dyed with gore; and the blood of the murdered man had run down, drop by drop, into the hollow which gives the place its name. ‘The Devil’s Bowl’, though Nicholas, as he looked into the void, ‘never held fitter liquor than that!’

Today, the headstone is listed as Grade I.

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