John Smith 1795 - 1871 - a family vault

[catherine]

I posted about John Smith, papermaker at East Morton, a few weeks ago. I have just got a copy of his will which he wrote in July 1868. In it he requests to be interred in his 'family vault in East Morton Independent Chapel Yard'. He asks for his coffin to be placed on top of that of his daughter Sarah.

Does anyone know of such a burial ground at the Independent Chapel in East Morton? The chapel seems to be still in use but I am sure the graveyard is not.

I do not know if John Smith's wishes were carried out but it would seem that his daughter Sarah must be there - or have been moved somewhere else. Sarah died (unmarried) in her 30s of consumption, somewhere between 1861 when she was living in Ripon and 1868 when her father wrote his will. I would expect John Smith's wife Elizabeth to be in this vault too - she died in the 1850s.

Does anyone have any information about this?

Catherine

[vale]

www.genuki.org.uk/big/eng/YKS/PhotoFrames/WRY/EastMortonCongregationalChapelExBethel_1.html

East Morton as a Facebook page, maybe someone on there could find out about the grave for you.
www.facebook.com/pages/East-Morton/155124397839520


Am I right in thinking that Johns wife was Elizabeth Town, she might be buried with the Town family if she is.

[catherine]

Thank you.

Yes, John Smith did marry Elizabeth Town. Her parents were buried at Slack Lane but I am pretty sure she is not there. When she died c.1854 her brothers were still very much alive and relationships between Smiths and Towns were not good!

I will follow up the East Morton Facebook page.

Catherine