Victorian Books, Notes of the Churches of Cheshire

In the Woodhey chapel [of St Mary's Church, Acton [Map]] is a marble altar tomb, with recumbent effigies of Richard Wilbraham in plate armour and his wife Grace. At their feet are couchant wolves.

Inscription on on the south side: Of the most distinguished married couple. By Sir Richard Wilbraham, knight and baronet, son of Thomas Wilbraham of Woodhey, esquire, and Frances, daughter of Hugh Cholmondeley of Cholmondeley, knight, his only and most devoted wife, in both name and character, Grace, daughter of Sir John Savage of Rock Savage, knight and baronet. Both were worthy of heaven, greater than earth could contain, their piety, virtue, and faith made them so: He was brave, just, and wise; She was generous, kind, and devout. They were blessed with a large family, six sons and seven daughters. He died on April 3rd, 1643, at the age of 64. His grieving wife, unfortunate to outlive both husband and all her children, survived them. She died a widow of both husband and offspring on March 8th, 1661, at the age of 76. Lest future generations forget, a faithful daughter-in-law entrusted this sacred memory to marble.

Inscription on the north side: Stop, stranger; it will be worth your while to learn who lies here. Sir Thomas Wilbraham, baronet, son and heir of Sir Richard Wilbraham, knight and baronet, and his wife Grace. He married Elizabeth, co-heiress and daughter of Sir Roger Wilbraham, Knight Bachelor and Master of Requests to King James. He studied deeply in natural philosophy and theology, both in reading and writing. A man to be eternally celebrated for his supreme kindness, wisdom, charm, and integrity, though, due to his own humility and the injustice of the age, celebrated by few. He had seven sons, one daughter, many friends, and not a single enemy. A truly good man, he outlived the worst of times, and returned to heaven on October 31st, 1660. To her most beloved and most deserving husband, his mourning wife [set this up], until it may be granted her to embrace his beloved ashes, a monument breathing sorrow, though she herself will outlast it as a greater one.

South: Lectissimorum conjugum par Ricardus Wilbraham eques et baronettus, Thomæ Wilbraham de Woodhey armigeri et Francisca filiæ Hugonis Cholmondeley de Cholmondeley equitis filius, unica et pientissima uxor, nomine et re Gratia, Johannis Savage de Rock Savage, equitis et baronetti, filia. Utrosq' cœlo dignos, terris majores, reddiderant pietas, virtus, fides, hic fortis, justus, sapiens ; illa benefica, affabilis, pia, numerosa sobole, filiis sex, filiabus septem, donati. mortuus est 3° Apri's, An^o Domⁱ MDCXLIII ætat LXIV. Mæerens uxor marito et filiis omnibus supervixit infelix. Conjugis pariter et prolis vidua mortua est 8° Martis MDCLXI. ætat LXXVI ne posteros capiat oblivio hoc sacrum nurus fideli commisit marmori.

North: Siste advena, qui vir hic situs sit te more pretium erit Thomas Wilbraham, baronettus, Richardi Wilbraham, militis ac baronetti ac Gratiæ conjugis filius hæesq uxorem duxit Elizabetham, Rogeri Wilbraham, equitis aurati (regi Jacobo libellorum supplicum magistri), filiam cohæredem. Physicis, theologicis, perlegendo, scribendo, plurimum versatus summa humanitate, sapientia, amænitate et probitate æternum celebrandus; paucis tamen (humilitate propria, sæculoq. iniquo) celebris. Septem habuit filios, filiam unicam, amicos plurimos, inimicum neminem. Tempora optimus supervixit pessima, cælumq' rediit Oct. XXXI anno salutis MDCLX Amantissimo et optimè merenti conjugi uxor mærens P. usque dum dilectos cineres complecti datum sit, luctûs monumentum spirans, et majus ipsa superfutura.

In the north-cast side of the chancel [of St Boniface's Church, Bunbury [Map]] is a sumptuous monument to Sir George Beeston — a recumbent figure, in a recessed arch in the wall, supported by two tall pillars, with an entablature representing a cannon, a cross-bow, a corslet of steel, and a ship of the period. Above this is a slate-blue tablet with the inscription:

Here lies Sir George Beeston, Knight Bachelor, a devoted follower of virtue and truth, trained from youth in the arts of war. He was admitted into the Band of Pensioners by the most invincible King Henry VIII when he besieged Boulogne. He served under Edward VI in the battle against the Scots at Musselburgh, and afterward in naval wars under the same king, under Mary, and Elizabeth, either as commander of the fleet or vice-admiral. After the defeat of the mighty Spanish Armada in 1588, he was honored with knighthood. Now in his advancing age—having proved his loyalty to princes and bravery against enemies—he was dear to God, beloved by the good, and long waited for Christ. In Christ, he peacefully fell asleep in the year 1601, at the age of 102, so that he may joyfully rise again in Him. Alongside him rests his most beloved wife, Alicia, daughter of Davenport of Henbury, esquire— a most holy and chaste matron, generous to the poor. After living in sacred matrimony for 66 years, she bore to her husband three sons—John, Heyon, and Hugh— and likewise three daughters—Anne, Jane, and Dorothy. She passed into the heavenly homeland in the year 1591, at the age of 86, to live forever with Christ. To these most excellent and beloved parents, their son Hugh Beeston the younger, esquire, Receiver General of all the Crown's revenues both in the County Palatine of Chester and in the counties of North Wales, placed this monument out of filial piety.

Hic situs est Georgius Beeston, Eques auratus, virtutis et veritatis cultor, a juventute bellicis artibus innutritus ab invictissimo Rege, Henrico VIII cum obsideret Boloniam in cohortem Pensionarior ; cooptatus ; meruit sub Edwardo VI in prœlio contra Scotos apud Muskelborrow, postea sub eodem Rege, Maria et Elizabethâ, bellis navalibus, vel ut classis præfectus, vel ut sub præfectus. Aquâ postea profligatam potentissimam illam classem, 1588, Equestri dignitate ornatus est: jamque ingravescente ætate, cum fidem principibus, fortitudinem hostibus egregie probasset, Deco gratus, bonisq. charus, Christum diu expectans, in Christo, anno 1601, ætatis suæ 102, obdormivit, ut in ipso lætus resurgat. Unaque cum illo requiescit charissima conjux, Alicia, filia — Davenport de Henbury, armigeri, matrona sanctissima, pudicissima, et erga pauperes liberalis, qua cum sancto matrimonio 66 annos vixisset, viroque tres filios, Joannem, Heyonem, et Hugonem, toti demque filias, Annam, Janam, et Dorothcam peperisset, anno 1591, ætatis sue 86, celestem patriam migravit, cum Christo æternum victura. Parentibus optimis et charissimis, pietas filii Hugonis Beeston junioris armigeri, receptoris generalis omnium reventuum coronæ tam in comitatu palatino Cestriæ, quam in comitatibus North Walliæ hoc monumentum posuit.