Stealing Dead Bodies Folkestone 1888

[RonGoose]

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.

[PrueM]

Hi Ron,
Yuk    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

[RonGoose]

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.

[PrueM]

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.

[RonGoose]

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.

[casalguidi]

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

[RonGoose]

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.

[casalguidi]

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

[RonGoose]

Hi Casalguidi,

Have emailed for M I look up.

Thanks,

Ron