Memorial to Frances Jones

Memorial to Frances Jones

c.1672

Marble

This stone memorial is to Frances Jones. It is a plain rectangle marble memorial with a long poem. On the marble, in hollow relief is the memorial text, noting she died in 1672, aged 28. It also mentions that she was Daughter of Arthur, Lord Viscount of Ranelagh and his wife Lady Katherine Boyle who was the daughter of Richard Boyle, Earl of Corke and Lord High Trefuror of Ireland. This memorial is from the former St Martin-in-the-Fields church, 1544-1721. The memorial is located in the back of the Crypt Gallery, under the St Martin-in-the-Fields Church. The stone is inscribed: Engraved on the memorial: Here lyes buried the body of Mriss FRANCES lONES daughter of ARTHR Lord vicecount of Ranelagh, by his wife the Lady KATHERINE BOYLE, who was daughter to RICHARD BOYLE Earl of Corke, and Lord high Trefuror of Ireland. She dyed in the prime of her Age, have ing never been marryed, the xxvili of March in the yeare M DCLXXII. Enough, and leave the rest to Fame: "Tis to Commend her but to name. Courtship, which liueing the declind When dead to offer; were unkind: Where neuer any could fpeake ill, Who would officious Praifes spill? Nor can the trueft Wit or Friend Without Detracting her Commend. To fay the liud A Virgin Chaft. In this Age loofe and all unlaid; Nor was, where vice is to allowd, Of Virtue or Ashamed or Proud; That her Soule was on heav’n so bent, No minute but it Came and Went; That, ready her saft debt to pay, She summd her life up every day; Modeft, as Morne, as Midday, Bright; Gentle, as Evening, Coole, as Night; Tis true, but all so weakly laid, 'Twere more Significant: She's Dead.

Engraved on the memorial: / Here lyes buried the body of / Miss FRANCES lONES daughter of ARTHR / Lord vicecount of Ranelagh, by his wife the / Lady KATHERINE BOYLE, who was daughter / to RICHARD BOYLE Earl of Corke, and Lord / high Trefuror of Ireland. / She dyed in the prime of her Age, have / ing never been marryed, the xxvili of / March in the yeare M DCLXXII./ Enough, and leave the rest to Fame: / "Tis to Commend her but to name. / Courtship, which liueing the declind etc... 'Twere more Significant: She's Dead.

SMITF.H.84