Images of Wales

The monuments in St Bilo's Churchyard are widely distributed on the south, west and east of the church. The earliest identifiable tombstone is dated 1755, but several other 18th century stones are found in the southern section. However this webpage focuses on a selection of the mainly 19th-century memorials mounted on the external walls of the church. A reduced size photo of each stone is accompanied by a transcription of its inscription.

		In Memory of Martha the Wife of Roger Prosser who died Octr the 30th 1777 AGED 55. Remember Man in pasing by as thou are now even so was I as I am now so shall thou be Remember thy Mortality. T. HUGHES

		To the Memory of Mary the Wife of Walter Vaughan of TREDOMEN Gent. She died March the 3rd 1779 AGED 41 - - - Death can hardly find another So good a Wife so kind a Mother Her actions were to all so kind That - - - rce her - - - - you can find.

		NEAR this Place was Interred the Remains of ANN the Wife of William Travers of the Parish of Glasbury who departed this Life the 13th Day of June in the Year 1801 AGED 20 Years. Farewell Dear Husband adieu I bid to you Whilst Life did last my Love was true: Since I am gone no Sorrow take But Love my Infant for my sake.

		IN Memory of ELIZABETH Wife of Walter Vaughan of Tredomen in this Parish; Gent. who died June the 6th 1813 AGED 55 Years	ALSO in Memory of the before- -mentioned Walter Vaughan who died May the 20th 1820 AGED 87 Years
		Great GOD we own thy sentence just And Nature must decay; We yield our Bodies to the Dust. To dwell with Fellow Clay.

		THIS TABLET IS PLACED HERE TO THE MEMORY OF WILLIAM VAUGHAN JOINER OF THIS VILLAGE WHO DIED FEBRY 6 1844 AGED 42 YEARS HE WAS A KIND AND AFFECTIONATE RELATIVE, A SINCERE AND WORTHY FRIEND HIS DEATH WILL BE LONG LAMENTED BY ALL WHO KNEW HIM. ALSO ESTHER HIS WIFE DIED MARCH 14 1874 AGED 68 YEARS

Many thanks to Joan Gill of Hertfordshire for providing details of the part of the inscription hidden under the ivy. Joan is the great great granddaughter of William and Esther Vaughan.

Joan adds, "William Vaughan and Esther Watkins were married in St Bilo's Church by the Rev. Thomas Price, the Curate, in 1831, and I have the family Bible which records this event, together with the births of their children. William Vaughan, the joiner, died at Llanfilo as a result of an accident on 6th Feb 1844. The coroner was the informant on the death certificate, but I have not been able to find a report of the inquest, so I do not know what the accident was. Esther died at the Wern, Llanfrynach, the home of her daughter and son-in-law, Margaret and William Phillips my great grandparents."

		"THE TIME IS SHORT" TO THE MEMORY OF MARY DAUGHTER OF THOMAS AND MARY WILLIAMS OF THIS VILLAGE: WHO DIED DEC 31 1840 AGED 20 YEARS. Long nights and days I bore great pain, Beging for help but all in vain. Till God who knew what time was best, Did ease my pain and gave me rest.
		ALSO OF JANE, THEIR DAUGHTER: WHO DIED JULY 6 1854 AGED 30 YEARS. As for man his days are as grass: as a flower of the field so he flourisheth, For the wind passeth over it, and it is gone. PSA C103.15.16. THOMAS PRICE DIED AUGST 8, 1868 AGED 78.	ALSO OF THE ABOVE THOMAS WILLIAMS. DIED MAY 23, 1870. AGED 75. AND HIS WIFE MARY. APRIL 20. 1874, AGED 79.
		ALSO OF CATHERINE WILLIAMS DAUGHTER OF THE SAID THOS & MARY WILLIAMS. DIED JUNE 1, 1897. AGED 70.

		NEAR THIS PLACE LIETH THE BODY OF MARTHA WIFE OF THOS DAVIES, LATE OF PENYRALLT IN THIS PARISH: WHO DIED MAY THE 29TH 1837 AGED 45 YEARS ALSO THE SAID THOMAS DAVIES DIED NOVEMBER 7, 1875 AGED 79 YEARS. [Welsh verse]

		TO THE MEMORY OF WILLIAM HAVARD LATE OF HILLIS IN THIS PARISH: WHO DIED NOVBR 18TH 1836 AGED 84 YEARS. ALSO OF EDWARD HAVARD, LATE OF HILLIS: WHO DIED APRIL 4TH 1836 AGED 75 YEARS Therefore be ye also ready: for in such an hour as ye think not the Son of man cometh. Matt. 24c. 44v.

If you recognise details of your own family on any of these monuments, please write to me (John Ball) via my Contact Page. I will happily send you the original high resolution digital photograph of the stone commemorating your ancestors.

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