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My body to be buried.....

Pauline

Pauline

LostCousins Megastar
It is not unusual for testators to give a brief mention in their will about their burial, if only to say something like "to be decently buried" or "at the discretion of my executors", but I was interested to come across the following in a 1722 PCC will:

"... and my Body to be buried the Evening after my decease amongst my Family as private as possible the Company not to exceed the Number of twenty persons and those of my own sex relations and intimate Friends whereof the Bearers and Clergy to have Rings of fifteen shillings each and Gloves and hatbands as the rest. Item to the Minister of the parish that burieth me one Guinea and five yards of black cloth for the pulpett and deske to read in the Church as usuall the Service for Burialls."

At least he was generous as well as particular.
 
Where did they live? to be able to get access to an unknown number of 15/- rings, gloves hatbands etc within 24 hours? And an available clergyman?
 
This was Wotton under Edge, Gloucestershire, so I would guess things like rings, gloves and hatbands would be fairly easy to source locally. If he was showing signs that he might soon die, maybe they made ready for it in advance.
 
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