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Graves at St John the Evangelist, Stoke Row, Oxon


This is an unofficial record of the graves at St John the Evangelist, Stoke Row, Oxfordshire, as researched by Angela Spencer-Harper & Avril Bryant in Summer 1993.

We divided the churchyard into 4 plots: A, B, C and D, as marked on the sketch map below (not to scale).  The large number of unmarked graves reveals the past poverty of the village.

PLOT A

Row 1

    Triple grave: 1833? 'IHS', T&P, illegible stone crosses, mostly beneath the ground.
    1875 M&P. Illegible stone crosses mostly beneath the ground.
    ------------------------------------------------
    Beloved sister, Sarah Francis, died 12 Feb 1934, aged 66.
    Then 4, possibly 5, unmarked graves.
    Double grave: Hannah, wife of John Francis, died 24 Mar 1907, aged 69; John Francis, died 15 Dec 1916, aged 77.
    (Illegible)[Sarah Elizabeth] daughter of John & Elizabeth Francis, born 17 Apr 1905, died 15 Mar 1906[1908], aged 3[2].
    Then 11 or 12 unmarked graves.
    Triple grave: Annie, wife of John Earl, died 1837[1937], aged 60; John Earl, died 24 Feb 1950, aged 77; Frederick William, son of John Earl, died 25 Jul 1964, aged 63.
    Ellen Jackman, died 9 Feb 1942, aged 58.
    'Dear Little Nancy', no further details - possibly Nancy Bond, daughter of Police Constable Bond of The Police House at Stoke Row.  She died aged about 5.
    Then possibly 2 unmarked graves.

Row 2

    Then possibly 10-11 unmarked graves.
    Double grave: William Greenaway, died 3 Jan 1950, aged 63; Emily Greenaway, died 21 Feb 1966, aged 79.
    John Richard ('Jackie') [Greenaway], son of the above, died 23 Dec 1932, aged 13.
    Then possibly 12-13 unmarked graves.
    Charlotte Lockhart, died 6 May 1889, aged 52.
    William John Northam, died 3 Nov 1927, aged 52.
    Mary, wife of Thos Painter, died 9 Jan 1875, aged 78.
    Thomas Painter, died 16 Apr 1875, aged 70.
    Then possibly 2 unmarked graves.
    Double grave: Joseph Aldworth, died 29 Jan 1910, aged 80; Sarah Aldworth, died 25 Sep 1879, aged 59.
    Then possibly 15 unmarked graves.
    Double grave: Dinah Munday, died Jan 1836, aged ?; George William Munday, husband of the above, died ?, aged 76.
    Then possibly 13-14 unmarked graves.

Row 3

    Possibly 7-8 graves, unmarked.
    Edward Percy Evans, Leading Stoker, RN, 289027, HMS Wear, killed 4 May 1918, aged 42.
    Then 14, possibly more, unmarked graves.
    Henry Webb, who died of wounds, 27 May 1917.
    Then possibly 15-16 unmarked graves.

Row 4

    Possibly 22-23 unmarked graves.
    Emily, wife of Thos Clayton, died 2 Jan 1925, aged 55.
    Then possibly 10 unmarked graves.

Row 5

Row 5 is a line completely unmarked.

Row 6

    Triple grave?: Emma Murby, died Dec 1904, aged 64[65]; Albert Murby, died 1908, aged 69; Amos Murby, died Mar 1883, no age given[39].
    Remainder of lines 5-6 are illegible.

This is the oldest part of the churchyard and the remainder of the stones are illegible.

Row 7

    Thomas Powell (a weathered wooden cross).
    Many unmarked graves.
    The J&A, died 1901, no ages given.

PLOT B

    Double grave: James Whittick, died ?[1873], aged ?[75]; Susanna, wife of the above, died 2 Nov 1883, aged 88.
    War Graves Commission Grave: Rudolf Scholz, Sgt RAF, born 10 Feb 1924, died 10 Apr 1945.  (He was killed at Thane, Scotland, but his parents may have lived in Stoke Row, possibly as refugees?)
    Double grave: Martha Jane Potter, died 6 Feb 1949, aged 81; Frederick Potter, died 20 Sep 1955, aged 89.
    Francis William Page from his wife Rosemary (no date or age).
    Florence Alma Turner, died 14 Apr 1955, aged 47.
    Lilian Irene Evans, born 1900, died 1956.
    Joseph George Newman, died 21 Mar 1958, aged 75.
    Florence Annie Turner, died 26 Mar 1956, aged 72.
    An unmarked grave.
    Double grave: Arthur John Boyson, died 27 May 1961, aged 88; his 'dear wife, Annie', died 13 Apr 1976, aged 89.
    Kate Louisa Evans, died 1 Dec 1937, aged 63[69]; and William, her husband, died 5 Apr 194?, aged 79.
    Thomas Clayton, died 2 Sep 1947, aged 81.
    Robert Thos Absolom, born 13 Apr 1900, died 28 Sep 1956; and his wife, Drusilla Mary Absolom, born 24 Mar 1903, died 27 Feb 1991.
    Catherine Rigby Vevers, born 1889, died 1971.
    Shadrack Slade, died 14 Nov 1939, aged 66.
    Harriet Slade, died 23 Feb 1959, aged 88.
    Henry Marsden Oliver, died 28 Apr 1963, aged 82; and his wife Georgina Oliver, died 15 Oct 1979, aged 81.
    Wallace ('Wally'/'Boodle') Slade, died 26 Jan 1964, aged 58 (born at Sunnyside, School Lane, Stoke Row).
    William Edward Drury Butler, died 29 Dec 1972, aged 79; and Margaret Emily Butler, died 7 Jun 1977, aged 75.
    Double grave: Emily Beatrice Saunders, died 25 Jan 1952; George Frederick Saunders, died 18 Dec 1955; also Joseph Caleb Jones, died 19 Feb 1952.
    'A dear Sister' Jessie Emma Gonella, died 4 Nov 1957, aged 80.
    Tracey Jane Saunders, born 21 Jan 1878, died 26 Oct 1966.
    Of your charity, pray for the repose of: Eleanor Cicely Turner, born 1882, died 1972.  Warden of the Maharajah's Well for over 60 years, 'a much loved friend and teacher'.
    George Arthur Reginald Smallbone, died 6 Mar 1958, aged 71.
    Mabel Harriet Pitt, nee Smallbone, born 29 Jul 1889, died 11 Oct 1960.
    Henry Shurey, died 26 Jul 1961, aged 75; and Mercy Emily Shurey, died 17 Dec 1963, aged 73.
    Reginald George Lambourne, born 1909, died 1967, 'sadly missed but a servant of God till the last'.
    Maud Mary Lucy Frewin, died 4 Jan 1974, aged 85; and Frederick Frewin, died 13 Jul 1974, aged 85.
    Sidney Delafield, died 4 Jun 1946, aged 55, son of James and Martha, and his wife, Eva Kate Delafield, died 10 Jun 1952, aged 62.
    Francis George Gibbons, born 1901, died 1968.
    Double grave: Mary Jane White, born 27 Jun 1898, died 24 Jul 1972; and her husband Tom White, born 28 Oct 1898, died 15 Dec 1973.
    Double grave: Frederick Turner, died Oct ?, aged 72; ? Turner, died ?, aged ?
    Small iron cross of The Old Contemptibles Association Albert Powell, died 24 Jan 1957, aged 72.  5 Aug to 22 Nov, 1914: Albert Powell served in the Royal Berks Regiment, Reading Brigade.
    Amelia Cordery, died 3 Aug 1963, aged 56.
    Double grave: Kathryn Annie Rice, died 22 May 1972, aged 12; Cecily Madge Rice, died 29 Jul 1972, aged 63.  (A sad story: the girl was killed in a horse-riding accident, and her grandmother died of grief only two months later.)
    Florence Lena Saunders, born 2 Oct 1885, died 26 Feb 1972.
    Silas William Saunders, born 2 May 1880, died 8 Dec 1960.
    Robert George Randall, born 18 Feb 1922, died 21 Jun 1963(?).
    Alice Johnson, died 27 Feb 1939, aged 57; George J[ames] W Johnson, died 3 Feb 1953, aged 75.
    Edwin John Stallwood, died 17 Apr 1944, aged 59; Harriet Stallwood, died 7 Feb 1969, aged 84.
    Doris Jane Eke, died 24 Dec 1947, aged 35.
    Dear Sister and Aunt, Ada Lester, died 1 Nov 1959, aged 83.
    Irene Edith Stallwood, born 5 Apr 1910, died 5 Sep 1962.
    Jack Greenaway, born 21 Oct 1878, died 22 Mar 1971, aged 93.
    Helen Bowell born 6 Jan 1895, died 6 Jan 1972, aged 77.
    Reginald George Pitt, died 17 Aug 1978, aged 66.
    Edna Caroline Page, born 1908, died 1981; Roland Page, born 1909, died 1981.
    "James ('Jim') P Ramshaw, who died from an accident whilst playing football - the game he loved" on 31 Mar 1982, aged 24.
Much loved husband of Lyn, beloved son of Beryl and Jim.
    Rosanna Fullbrook, born 20 Mar 1910, died 9 Dec 1986.
    Reg Fullbrook, died 4 Nov 1993.
    Thomas Massie Hutchinson, Col. (Retd), DSO, OBE. One of the Pioneers of Motor Transport in the Army. born 14 Feb 1877, died 16 Aug 1952; and his wife, Gwendoline Hutchinson, born 12 Mar 1900, died 5 Oct 1987.
    Frederick George Pegram, born 1906, died 1983; Eileen Teharne Pegram, born 1911, died 1987.
    Gordon Lambourne, born 1912, died 1984.
    War Commission Gravestone 24683549: Gunner David D Stallwood, 26 Field Regt, died 3 Oct 1987, aged 20.  'To the world he was a soldier, to us he was the world'  (Another sad story: David died sleepwalking when he was out in Belize - he was the son of Ken and Daphne Stallwood, landlord of The Cherry Tree public house in Stoke Row).
    Ernest Stevens - no dates given.
    5504578 Pte G Pitt, The Hampshire Regt, died 16 May 1944, aged 24; also his son, Michael, died 1 Jun 1944, aged 14 months.

PLOT C

    Charles Edwin ('Jack') Day, born 21 Jan 1899, died 21 Aug 1930, aged 31.
    Then possibly several unmarked graves.
    Wal? (Walter?), died ?, aged ? (Flower holder, no inscription).
    Then possibly several unmarked graves.
    William Hope, died 20 Feb 1875, aged 26.
    Ann, wife of George Hope, died 15 Oct 1877, aged 55.
    Double grave: Henry Morris, died 31 Oct 1906, aged ?[65]; Rosetta Morris, died 16 Dec 1907, aged ?[63].
    Then possibly unmarked graves.
    Catherine Mitchell, died 1839, aged ?
    Walter John ('Jack') Channon, died 21 Jan 1945, aged 65.
    Annie Drusilla Channon, died Dec ?, aged ?  (Sadly, this grave has become an ant hill!)
    Arthur Ernest Povey, died 26 Jan 1952, aged 55; and his wife, Gertrude May, died 2 Oct 1962, aged 62.
    Albert Arthur Carter, born 22 Nov 1864 at Woodcote (South Stoke), died 1955.
    Emily Carter, born 15 Sep 1874, died 3 Feb 1958.
    Ernest John Denslow, born 1914, died 1989.
    Lawrence Bumpass, born 11 Oct 1910, died 8 Sep 1992.
    'Peace after pain' (No headstone yet, just a small besom broom.)  John Cottrell, besom broom maker and woodcraftsman, died Apr 1993.
    By the hedge: Louis Antoine Neel, died 23 Apr 1942, aged 67; and Ruby, his wife, died 3 May 1959, aged 79.  (These were the parents of Boyd Neel, the conductor and founder of the Boyd Neel Orchestra (now in Canada?) - the family lived at The Old Forge, known in 1993 as 'Cherry Tree Cottage', Newlands Lane, Stoke Row.)

PLOT D

    Double grave: Sarah Annie Smallbone, died 17 Apr 1919, aged 61; George Smallbone, died 28 Jun 1938, aged 79.
    George Delafield (son of James and Martha) died 9 Nov 1917, aged 30.
    Double grave: James Delafield, died 16 Mar 1930, aged 72; Martha Delafield (his wife) died 24 Mar 1957, aged ?[97].
    Double grave: John Tucker, died 30 May 1930, aged 76; Elizabeth Tucker, died 26 Feb 1947, aged 91.
    Edith Elizabeth Absolom, died 8 May 1945, aged 68.
    Robert Absolom, died 16 Dec 1949, aged 79.
    Triple grave: Albert Edward Absolom, son of James and Charlotte, died 19 May 1892, aged 16; James, husband of Charlotte Absolom, died 20 Oct 1899, aged 74; and Charlotte Absolom, died Dec 1923, aged 90.
    By the road and Glebe hedge: Emily Florence Rollings, died 23 Aug 1932, aged 41; and Ernest James Rollings, died 13 May 1952, aged 60.
    Violet Agnes Butler, born 22 Mar 1900, died 28 Dec 1931.
    Opposite the Church door: George Arthur Lambourne, Church Warden for 47 years, died 6 Feb 1961, aged 90; and his wife Annie, died 23 Apr 1956, aged 79.
    Iron railed grave: Rev Thos Wm Hutchinson, MA of St John's College, Cambridge and Vicar of Stoke Row for 19 years, died 6 Aug 1930, aged 79; and ?[Frances] Hutchinson, widow of TWH, died 24 Jan 1943, aged 91.
    Sarcophagus type gravestone: Edward Voss, died 28 Feb 1901, aged ?[72].
    Sarcophagus type gravestone: (illegible) James Tombs, died 11 Dec? 1903, aged 28[29].
    Double grave: Harriet Wells, wife of James Wells, died 5 Mar 1924, aged 73; and James Wells, died 26 May 1938, aged 89.
    Double grave: George Joy, died 28 Feb 1934, aged 62; and Caroline Ann Joy, died 12 Sep 1951, aged 76.
    Hilda Florence Wells, born 6 Oct 1911, died 16 Oct 1976.
    Victor Lawrence Wells, born 26 Feb 1913, died 17 Dec 1976.
    By the Church south wall: Ada Biggs, died 1 Jun 1960, aged 73.
    Walter John Biggs, died 31 Mar 1972, aged 85.  ('Wally' and Ada Biggs owned Stag Farm, Newlands Lane, Stoke Row).

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No gravestone found, but there was a double funeral at St John's Church, Stoke Row, in about 1926[1924]. Arthur Britnell, aged about 40[48] and his son, Robin[actually Walter Vincent] Britnell, aged about 20[19].  Both had pneumonia and died within a few hours of each other.  His widow was left with another son, John and a daughter called Edith.

No gravestone found, but William Albert Green was buried in St John's Churchyard, aged 66, in Aug 1970.

(Newspaper cutting, from the Stoke Row News, Sep 1916)  "Obituary: The death of Horace William Hillier took place at 'Thorneycroft', Goring Heath, on September 5th, after suffering from heart trouble for five years; his end was most peaceful.  His genial personality will be ever held in remembrance by those who knew and loved him.  The funeral took place at Stoke Row on Saturday last, in the presence of the deceased's mother, brothers, sisters and friends for whom much sympathy is felt.  Many lovely floral tributes were sent by relatives and friends."  The site of this grave, within Stoke Row Churchyard, is unknown.

Angela Spencer-Harper.  April, 2009.