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England (Counties as in 1851-1901) => Kent => England => Kent Lookup Requests => Topic started by: RonGoose on Monday 17 March 08 08:38 GMT (UK)
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Hi,
A vault in Folkestone churchyard containing the bodies of Francis Macnamara Faulkner, his two wives and a daughter was broken into and the coffins removed in 1888.
Can anyone tell me if the vault is still there and the detail of the inscriptions.
I know that his first wife was Fanny (nee Simon) and his second was possibly Emily (nee Cook). So far I am unable to identify which daughter it was.
Thanks,
Ron.
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Hi Ron,
Yuk :o :o How terrible - do you know whether the bodies were ever recovered?
I found this entry in Folkestone MIs on the Kent Archaeology site:
331. A brass plate:-
In Memory of Emily Wife of Francis FAULKNER She fell asleep in Jesus February XV. AD.MDCCCLXII Aged XXXIX. Also of their child Maria Macaamara who followed her mother March iii aged iii.
Top one illegible
http://www.kentarchaeology.org.uk/Research/Libr/MIs/MIsFolkestone/01.htm
Prue
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Hi Prue,
Thanks for that.
No, I don't know if they were ever recovered.
I am hoping that someone will perhaps get me a photo of the vault if it is still there.
Best wishes,
Ron.
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I can't help with that part of it, I'm afraid, but if you haven't already it might be worth contacting the Folkestone FHS:
http://www.folkfhs.org.uk/index.htm
Not sure which churchyard 'your' vault is in, there seem to be several in the area. The old parish church was, I think, SS Mary & Eanswythe.
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Yes Prue, that's an idea.
My information came from the London evening newspaper "The Star" dated Wednesday 17 October 1888. In addition to what I have already quoted above, it says "the first interment took place in 1853 (which ties up with the death I have of his first wife). The churchyard is in the centre of the town, and hundreds of persons pass through it daily"
Ron.
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Hi Ron
There is a lookup offer for the monumental inscriptions of Folkestone parish church on the Kent Lookup Exchange http://members.tripod.com/~jo42/knt.html
It might be worth trying that first to see if one survives before anybody embarks on a journey.
Casalguidi :)
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Thanks for that Casalguidi but Prue in her posting above has already answered the Monumental inscription aspect.
However, I have received a PM from a kind lady who is going to Folkestone on Saturday to try to find the vault.
Ron.
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Hi Ron
I think those inscriptions on the Kent Archaelogy site are for inside the church http://www.kentarchaeology.org.uk/Research/Libr/MIs/MIsFolkestone/01.htm
I would recommend enquiring about the monumental inscriptions as mentioned previously as I assume these would include the churchyard. I am unsure of the date(s) those in the lookup offer were recorded - various inscriptions for that churchyard have been recorded at different times - so I would guess it worth an email.
Casalguidi :)
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Hi Casalguidi,
Have emailed for M I look up.
Thanks,
Ron :)
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Hi Ron
Did you have any luck with this?
Casalguidi :)
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Hi Casalguidi,
Yes, I received the following after asking for a Kent lookup for MIs.
"Only 1 Faulkner inscription in St Mary & St Eanswythe. but definite match
(a large Vault - above the entrance is a white marble slab) Fanny wife of Francis M Faulkner died 29 Dec. MDCCCLIII in her 35th year. Also Emily wife of Francis M. Faulkner died 15 Feb. MDCCCLXII in her 39th year. Also Maria Macnamara Faulkner daughter of the above Emily died iii March MDCCCLXVIII, aged 11 years and x months. The above Francis Macnamara Faulkner died 21 March MDCCCLXVIII. (?) LIXIII rd year."
There seems to be some discrepancy in the death year and age of the child Maria. The GRO birth and death registers agree with the inscription mentioned in the earlier posting which you think may be from inside the Church. I have also found out that Francis Faulkner died at age 63 so the LIXIII above may be a typing error.
I am still waiting for the photograph which a kind lady is hoping to get for me when she next visits Folkestone. She contacts me through the PM system.
Best wishes and thanks.
Ron.
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Hi Ron, I don't know if the lady you referred to sent you a photo of the vault. I have just moved to Folkestone and have been taking photos for Find-a-Grave. I photographed the vault earlier this week then found your message when searching for more information about the Faulkners.
The attachment button doesn't seem to work on this site.
I have however uploaded a photo of the vault on Find-a-grave. You will find it under Fanny Faulkner in St. Mary and St. Eanswythe Churchyard. I have a photo of the marble plaque but it is very dusty so I will try and brush some of the dust off to get a better photo and add that to the site as well.
Deborah
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Hi Deborah, welcome to Rootschat. Ron has not been active on the site since May 2015 but hopefully if he is still using the same email address he will be informed of your message.
Stuart
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Thanks Stuart.
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According to an Article in the Folkestone Express ,Sandgate ,Shornecliffe and Hythe Advertiser ,dated 20 October 1888 the whole story was a hoax that got out of hand and went nationwide.
Apparently a workman noticed the vault door was broken and on the floor and contacted the Vicar. On investigation all that was inside was rubbish,sawdust etc. The Vicar had it cleared out and the floor swept.
Rumours circulated among the townsfolk that the coffins and bodies had been stolen and the national press agencies got hold of the story.
In actual fact the Undertaker Mr Hambrook who had conducted the burials,stated that all 4 Coffins were bricked up on shelves on the South side of the vault leaving a large clear floor space . The vault was in the same state as when he closed it at the time of the last interment (except for the collapsed door) 20 years previously
Allegedly the hoax was perpetrated by the Mayor in revenge against a Newspaper cartoonist named Hans who had lampooned him and his wife as Niggers in a previous issue.
The article can be found on Find my Past.