CH21. Elaborate memorial framed with drapes and cherubs with coat of arms and a crest at the top
Maritum Patrem Liberes Fratrem et Sororem / SAMUELEM JOHANNEM et JULIANAM / Simul lugent Superstites / Vidua, Liberi, Mater, Frater et Sorores / MARGARITA, SAMUEL, MARGARITA, et PHYLLIS NICOLL / Una pariter & Orbatt / JOHANNES Scholae Etonensis Alumnus Academiae Maturus / Et in Collegium Regate apud Cantab: jam cooptatus / E Schola simul et Vita migravit / Coelo Maturior / Perpaucos intra dies postquam decessit Filius aegrotavit Pater / Filii Morum Informator Sequacis / Eheu mutatis Vicibus Filii morientis / Premit Vestigia / (Cujus Ossa in Ecclesia Ellistrensi Com Hertford / Cum Majorum Reliquiis jussu suo reponuntur) / Anno jam elapso JULIANA Filia Soror & / Ad Disciplinam Sexus Elegantissimam composita / Eidem cui Pater Frater & occubuit Morbo / Chara Mortuorum Imago / Superstitum Exemplar / Insigne / Tantam tam improvisam Uni Domo Calamitatem / Intulerunt Variolae / Ob JOHES 18th Oct. 1723 Aetat 19 / Ob JULIANA 8th Dec, 1724 Aetat 24 / Supremum hoc Munus Frater moerens posuit.
Translation of the Latin: Husband, Father, Children, Brother and Sister / SAMUEL, JOHN and JULIANA / Those that are left mourn them together / widow, mother of the children, brother and sisters / MARGARET, SAMUEL, MARGARET and PHYLLIS NICOLL / singly and together bereaved / JOHN, a scholar of the old Academy of Eton / and then a student admitted to King’s College, Cambridge / at the same time from school and from life removed / to even older heaven / Within a very few days after the son died, the father became ill / his death following soon after / Alas the changes in his dying son / overwhelmed him / (whose bones by his request are deposited in the church of Elstree, Hertfordshire / to lie with his ancestor’s remains) / Now after a year has elapsed JULIANA, daughter and sister / who combined the most elegant and disciplined behaviour / the same like her father and brother died / of the disease / Dear image of the dead / to the living an example / a sign / of such great and unexpected calamities to one house / brought by smallpox / JOHN died 18th October 1723 aged 19 / JULIANA died 8th December 1724 aged 24 / Their grieving brother carried out these funeral rites.
This large memorial in the Lady Chapel is to Samuel Nicholl and two of his children John and Juliana, who all died from smallpox in the 18th century. John died in 1723 aged 19 and his father a few days later. Juliana died a year later age 24. Samuel’s body was buried at Elstree with his ancestors.
In the 18th century 300,000 people died every year in Europe from the smallpox virus.
This is one of 11 memorials in the church to a large extended 18th century local family. The Nicholl family lived at Uxbridge Common and were related by marriage to the Beale family of Hillingdon and the Newdegate family of Harefield Place. More information can be found on the family pages by following the links above.
Christine Bartlett