Vault lid – Francis (x2), Elizabeth and John (x2) Porter
Description
A horizontally fractured and slightly delaminated stone lid from the vault of the Porter family, previously in the South Nave Yard close to the churchyard wall and parallel with the second bay east of the South Porch. It commemorates several generations of the family: Francis snr (1640-1712); grandson (by his son George), Francis jnr (1703-56), merchant and master mariner, and his wife Elizabeth Blaydes (1699-90), who had married at St Mary's Lowgate 27 November 1730; their son John Porter snr (1731-93), twice Mayor; and his son John jnr (1758-93). Francis snr is also commemorated on a bequest board in the South Choir Aisle (Cat ID 10), and the two Johns on a wall plaque (Cat ID 95) in the North Choir Aisle. It is likely that John snr's wife Jane Thornton (a relative of William Wilberforce) was also buried in the vault in 1812.
'Inholder', in Francis snr's inscription, means 'inhabitant'.
Inscription and donor(s)
[Here lie]th the Body of
FRANCIS PORTER of this Town
Inholder, [w]ho departed this Life
the 28:th Day of September 1712
in the 72:d Year of his Age.
Also FRANCIS PORTER
Merchant who obi:t 26:th April
1756 aged 53 Years.
[and ELIZABETH his Wife] who
departed this life 25:th Feb:ry 1790
Aged 90 Years.
JOHN PORTER Esq:r obit 17:th May
1793, aged 6[3], who served twice
the Office of Mayor of this
Corporation.
[Also JOHN] PORTER Esq:r [son] of the
[above] JOHN PORTER Esq:r
[who de]parted this Life [15:th] of Dec:r 1793
Aged 35 Years.
