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Tragic Whitfield Family |
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This stone stands just outside the porch door of St Peter's Church, Whitfield |
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The picture (above) tells the tragic tale of William and Mary Cross, who
outlived all but one of their grandchildren. William Cross was born about 1755, and lived to the ripe old age of 79; his wife, Mary, was born around 1759, and reached the age of 90. Their son, also William, was born around 1796; his wife, Jane, was born around 1899. They had a total (that we know of) of 12 children: 5 boys and 7 girls. The first 11 children all died in infancy: |
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Mary Jane Clara Jane George Thomas Frances Mary Susan Charles Anna Richard John Margaret |
Died |
November 3rd 1821 May 1st 1822 April 8th 1824 May 21st 1825 September 3rd 1826 August 28th 1827 September 19th 1828 November 13th 1829 March 7th 1831 December 1st 1833 August 15th 1835 |
Aged |
15 Months 2 Days 2 Days 1 Day 3 Days 1 Day 11 Days 14 Days 3 Days 11 Days 5 Days |
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William (snr) died on September 4th 1834, having outlived the first 10
grandchildren; Mary followed on July 11th 1839. Another daughter, Marian, was born in 1840. Jane died, aged 66, on January 1st 1866; Marian survived her mother by less than 10 months, following her to the grave on November 12th 1866. William (jnr) survived another 14 years, passing away at the age of 89 on July 10th 1885. |
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