THE VIRGIN CROWNS OF ABBOTS ANN
Shared note | THE VIRGIN CROWNS OF ABBOTS ANN The custom of hanging chaplets or garlands on the death of an unmarried person is still observed in the church of St Mary the Virgin Abbotts Ann near Andover, Hampshire. As no record is kept of them it is impossible to say what their origin was or how long the custom has been in existence. The church was rebuilt in 1716 and probably any garlands then existing were destroyed, for the earliest shield now left from which the chaplet was originally suspended is dated 1740. Similar garlands are thought to be preserved in two Shropshire churches and at Matlock, Derbyshire. The chaplet or crown is made from hazelwood (virgin wood) or from oak in the form of a mitral crown, ornamented with black and white paper rosettes with five gloves or gauntlets attached on which are inscribed the name ages and date of death of the young person and texts and verses of hymns chosen by relatives. It is evidently a survival of the custom to throw down a gauntlet as a challenge to anyone to asperse the character of the deceased, if they can. As no one is able to do so the gloves are then taken up and attached to the crown as a proof that the purity of the character of the deceased is unassailable. The crown is suspended from a small white wand and carried by two girls aged between twelve and sixteen and dressed in white with folded handkerchiefs on their heads at the head of the funeral procession, laid on the coffin in the church and afterwards in the churchyard until the body is committed to the ground. After the funeral it is placed in the church, hung from a hook under the gallery, so that all entering church on the following Sunday may pass under it. After that day it is hung in its place on the wall with a small shield bearing the name, age and date of the person's funeral. There are forty-nine garlands on the walls now though the oldest have only the hooks and shields remaining, the garland having fallen to pieces. They are put up to either men or women who have led good lives, are church people, communicants, die unmarried and have either been born in, or connected with, the parish. The latest garland was put up in 1973. The names of recipients, listed below, are also commemorated on some of St Mary's many finely embroidered kneelers. No. Christian Name Surname Age Died 1 Lily Myra ANNETTS 73 1973 2 Mary Jane BAKER 1921 3 William George AMMETTS 15 1919 4 George CPPL 18 1839 5 J.C. BEST 29 1840 6 Elizabeth SEAWARD 15 1884 7 Margaret GUYATT 7 1841 8 Robert PERRET 30 1842 9 James PERRETTT 33 1842 10 Catherine MARTIN 15 1842 11 Charlotte ALLEN 77 1911 12 Florence Jane WISEWELL 72 1953 13 Louisa CRIPPS 10 1842 14 Mary LANSLY 29 1843 15 Elisabeth Tredgold RAY 24 1847 16 Thomas Byam MARTIN 29 1847 17 Betsy WELLS 6 1850 18 William DOWNTON 27 1852 19 Sarah MAY 14 1854 20 Ann SUGG 42 1906 21 James ANNETTS 31 1855 22 Henry Thomas WISE 15 1870 23 William Mundy TAMLYN 16 1855 24 Mary FENNELL 24 1811 25 Ellen BANTAM 14 1861 26 Mary DEAR 46 1971 27 John MORRANT 1740 28 L:ucy May TAPP 22 1855 29 Mary HICKSON 16 1812 30 Fanny ASJER 18 1856 31 Marianne Geraldine FENWICK 43 1919 32 Martha ANDREWS 12 1812 33 Alexander CLARK 18 1816 34 Hannah REDMAN 11 1821 35 Rosa Ann HARDY 15 1874 36 Heprhe STONE 19 1823 37 John REDMAN 19 1823 38 Charles HOPGOOD 28 1824 39 Sarah MEADS 16 1824 40 Louisa May RUMSEY 27 1890 41 Mary Maud FENNELL 25 1892 42 Hannah ORCHARD 36 1826 43 Frances FENNELL 25 1831 44 Sarah Jane DANCE 25 1897 45 Martha Ann TAPP 12 1837 46 Sarah MASLIN 22 1837 47 Elizabeth Annie EDWARDS 45 1915 48 Louisa POORE 16 1835 49 Ann FENNELL 17 1837 |
Last change | February 11, 2006 – 20:58:56 |
Given names | Surname | Sosa | Birth | Place | Death | Age | Place | Last change | ||||||||
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Florence Jane Wisewell | November 21, 1880 | 144 | Abbotts Ann, Hampshire, England | 0 | 1953 | 72 | 72 | February 2, 2007 - 10:13:49 p.m. | F | YES | Y100 |