Page 26 - Thrapston Life February 2025

To the right of this scroll memorial is another dedicated to John’s father Henry Leete, who died
at Clifton near Bristol in 1853 aged 74 and his wife who died in Camberwell, London in 1853 aged 72, both being interred in
the family vault in the churchyard.
There are two further family stones on the outside the church on the tower on the High Street side. The first one is quite weathered and difficult
to read. Along with all
the other graves in the churchyard the wording was recorded by Lewis Henry Chambers. This Leete stone was transcribed then to read:
“Sacred to the memory of Caroline eldest daughter of Henry and Nancy Leete obiit December 9th 1828 aetat 18 years. Mary Ann their youngest daughter obiit September 18th 1826 aetat 4 years. Thomas Elwyn and George Augustus died in their infancy. Also sacred to the memory of Henry Horrabin eldest son of Henry and Nancy Leete obiit February 23rd 1831 aetat 26 years. Also to the memory of Mrs Susannah Leete relict of the late John Leete and
mother of the late Henry Leete, both surgeons of this place and interred within this enclosure, who departed this life June 1815aetat 90 years. Also to the memory of Thomas Griffith youngest son of Henry and Nancy Leete who was accidentally drowned on his passage from China November 14th 1844 aetat 18 years.”
The final memorial is shown below and remains legible, which lists the children of Henry and Margaret Leete.
At the bottom it reads “This tablet was renewed by J G Leete June 1 1858.
At least three generations of Leete’s cared for this community’s medical needs
over many years and descendants still live in the area.
My thanks to the people who requested an item on some of the people who were interred in St James’ churchyard.
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Eric Franklin can be contacted for comments and suggestions for future articles at: ericfranklin2@hotmail.com