Today’s tombstone is that of Joseph Read of Lower Winchendon. He is a grandson of my 6 x great grandfather Cozens Read.
Joseph and his wife Sarah married in 1835 at Ashendon and had five children. Sadly, after only nine years of marriage, Joseph died.
Original photograph taken by me at Lower Winchendon in 2000 - copyright 2011
The Inscription is as follows:
In
Memory of
Joseph Read
who departed this life
July 3rd, 1844
aged 39 years
I left this fading world in blooming years.
And all my friends in mournful tears.
My earthly cottage moulders into dust.
Whilst my immortal soul is with the just.
Mourn not for me, prepare to die.
For you must sleep in dust as well as I.
Joseph was a farmer and I know from the Censuses that his wife Sarah continued running the farm until she died in 1884 aged about 76. So this family group lived there for about fifty years, depending on when Joseph first lived there. Just out of interest, this particular farm is now owned by the famous horse racing jockey Pat Eddery. It seems to be a thriving stud farm now.
