There are 11 memorials in the church to a large extended 18th century local family. I will do my best to explain the connections!! There are 4 Nicholls memorials (CH021, CH030, CH049 and CH069), 1 Beale memorial (CH045) and 6 for Newdegates (CH042, CH046, CH047, CH049, CH045). For the sake of clarity, and not wishing to cause too much confusion, I shall deal with the Nicholl family, the Beale family and Newdegate family in separate articles!
The Newdigate (also spelt Newdegate) family are best known by their connections with Harefield, having lived at the Manor House known as Harefield Place for many generations but in the 17th and 18th centuries one branch of the family was resident in the Hillingdon parish and were very much involved in village life. They had a house just south of Uxbridge Common and were related by marriage to the Beale family of Hillingdon and the Nicholl family of Uxbridge Common.
Around the café area in church, there are 5 Hillingdon Newdigate memorials and we presume that they had a family vault underneath the floor in this area:
- CH042 George Newdegate: described as a serjeant at law, in other words he was a barrister. He was born in 1687, son of Robert & Juliana and baptised at St John’s. He married Sarah Jenkyn in 1714 and they had 6 children but only one lived longer than George. George is described on the monument as an endearing husband, a tender parent, a beneficient neighbour and a generous friend. George died in 1735 aged 48.
- CH049 Sarah, George’s wife. After George died, she married Samuel Nicoll, also a lawyer and whose monument is near the organ. Sarah died in 1766, aged 80. The wording on the monument points out that both husbands were grandsons of Robert Beale.
- CH045 Robert Beale, George’s grandfather on his mother’s side. Robert was also a barrister. Robert and wife Margaret had one son and 12 daughters!! Robert died on Christmas day in 1711. Also on this memorial, are remembered 5 children of George & Sarah.
- CH047 Jenkyn Newdegate, son of George & Juliana. He died from smallpox at the age of 18 in 1748 whilst he was a student at Trinity College Oxford.
- CH046 Catherine Barradall, George’s sister. She lived with her husband Henry at Little Hillingdon (where the junction of Blossom Way and Vine Lane is now).
I referred above to the Newdegates of Harefield Place. It’s incredible to think that July 1602, during one of Elizabeth 1’s ‘Royal progress’ tours outside London, the Queen visited Harefield Place and watched a performance of Shakespeare’s Othello performed by the King’s Men acting company. The house is no longer standing but the walled garden remains and is now being restored. The owners open their garden gates regularly for tours which need to be booked online at www.churchgardens.co.uk. I visited in 2019 and I was not disappointed. A really interesting garden which just oozes history. The gardens are next to St Mary’s Church. Highly Recommended!!
Christine Bartlett