The Garrard Monument

The history of the Garrard Monument below was written by Lt. Col. P.D.S. Palmer in 1978. We echo his request "for any information to fill the gaps".

THE GARRARD MONUMENT

Lt. Col. P.D.S. Palmer.

The Garrard Monument in the Chapel at St. James Church, Dorney, is the memorial of Sir William Garrard of Dorney, Kt, High Sheriff of Bucks 1598, and son of Sir William Garrard Kt, Lord Mayor of London 1555, and of his wife Elisabeth, daughter of Sir Thomas Rowe Kt, Lord Mayor of London 1568/9. They were married c.1573.

Sir William was one of 500 persons knighted on 23rd July 1603 - in the Royal gardens at Whitehall before the coronation of King James 1. He died in the 70th year of his age on 17th November 1607 and was buried in the vault below the Monument on ' 19th November. His wife was buried there on 7th December 1624.

The monument, which originally included Sir William's helm and standards, was equipped at his expense and was set up by his widow. It was completed under the direction of his son-in-law, John Kedermister. The monument was enlarged by his widow at her expense so that it should serve both her and their 15 children. Their effigies and arms are shown on it. The events recorded on the monument cover the period from 1607 to 1625 so that John Kedermister's responsibility probably lasted some 20 years.

Five of the children are shown with skulls in their hands and this indicates that they had died in their father's lifetime, e.g. before 1607. I do not know why the two eldest sons, Thomas and George, are depicted in armour. Nor do I know if the various head-dresses of the daughters have significance.

It is thought that the monument is the work of Nicholas Janssen or Johnson. Some of the effigies are most beautifully done, but others are not of the same high standard and may be the work of one or more of his pupils.

In May 1628 some 3 ½ years after his mother's death, Thomas Garrard, the eldest son, sold Dorney to Sir Roger Palmer K.B. of the Wingham branch of the family and he leased it to his younger brother, James, on 3rd July 1628, who made it his home and founded the Dorney line of the family. 

As some 40 of us have been buried in the vault over the past 350 years, I have felt it proper for me to take an interest in the Garrard monument and to keep it in repair. A.H. Packe of Burnham has helped me by cleaning, re-gilding and re-painting  it between lst January to 3lst July 1978. He made no charge for doing the work other than for the cost of materials. He did a most excellent job for which I am very grateful. I think it looks lovely and I am so glad that I had it done.

Lipscombs "Burnham Hundred" shows that in 1847 he was unable to read all the Latin inscriptions, so naturally I wondered whether our re-painting of the text was accurate. However the lettering was incised so that it was almost impossible to make a mistake. D.P. Simpson of Eton College confirms that the text as re-painted is correct Latin. Incidentally he says that while the top two inscriptions are Latin prose, the bottom two are verse. David Simpson was also kind enough to translate the Latin for me and I hope to frame the result and put it up on the monument. I give below a copy.

Between the two bottom inscriptions there is a shield showing the arms of John Kedermister impaling those of his wife, Maria Garrard. I think this is intended to indicate that he was the son-in-law responsible for the completion of the monument. 

The marriages of the Garrard children show how the Parish of Dorney became linked with neighbouring Parishes at that date.  I have been helped in my research on the Garrard family by Robert Garrett, who is an authority on them. Our combined efforts are given in the attached Table, which I offer as a possible help to local historians and others. The Table does not profess to be complete and I would be grateful for any information to fill the gaps. I hope to frame a copy and to hang it in the Chapel.

1978

Translation from the Latin of Garrard Monument Inscriptions.

By D.P. Simpson Esq. of Eton College, 1978

.

Here, reader, is laid William Garrard, Knight (son of William Garrard, Knight), a man about whom general report does not lie, conspicuous for loyalty integrity and piety, and of remarkable kindness towards the needy, who so died as he will have taught others to live. He died on the 17th of November in the year of Our Lord 1607 and in the seventieth year of his life.

Over his bones his wife Elizabeth, daughter of Thomas Rowe, Knight, fortunate in thirty years of harmony with her husband and blessed with numerous offspring, but in this untimely duty most unhappy, set up this monument, lest death itself should separate those whom outstanding love had united, and intended it to serve herself and her family.

This monument the father-in-law equipped at his own expense and ordered the business to be completed under his son-in-law's direction.

But this was enlarged by the wives of the son-in-law and father-in-law, through the weeping of one and through the tears and expenditure of the other.

THE GARRARD MONUMENT

May be the work of Nicholas Janssen or Johnson and was cleaned and re-gilded and re-painted by A.H. Packe of Burnham in 1978.

Notes on the Garrard family of Dorney compiled by Lt. Col. P.D.S. Palmer with the help of Robert Garrett Esq. in 1978.

Their 15 Children