Murder Stones

 Wilful Murder against a Person or Persons Unknown, these were the returned verdicts of two inquests regarding two murders. Inquests unlike today, where they are heard at a Coronor’s Office, were heard at the local Public House, close to the murder.

What is a Murder Stone? They are an historic marker usually a stone, which has an engraved inscription. They are to be found in England, Scotland and a handful in Wales.

Since the publication of last April’s bay Family History article, Sweet F.A., which featured a murder stone located at St Catwg’s church, in Cadoxton, Neath, I have visited St Michaels and All Angels church, in Thursley, Surrey where there is a Grade I listed murder stone, which commemorates the murder of an unknown sailor.

In September 1786, an anonymous sailor who was returning from London to join his ship docked in Portsmouth, had stopped off at the Red Lion pub in Thursley.  It was here that he bought a round of drinks for three other men. The sailor, now accompanied by the men, set off for Portsmouth. The men, thinking that the sailor was well off, murdered him and stripped him. The three men then went into the next village, Rake and tried to sell the clothes. They were caught, tried and found guilty of murder, then executed at a local gibbet.

So infamous was the murder that Charles Dickens features the events in the novel Life and Adventures of Nicholas Nickleby, in 1839.

We will now look at two murder stones that are located in Swansea. 

Murder Stone 1

 St Andrew’s church, Penrice, Gower; the chancel and nave are thought to date from the 12th century with additional parts built around the 15th/16th centuries. The church we see today, is the result of a generous donation made by Miss Emily Talbot of Penrice Castle, to have the church restored during 1893/94.

St Andrew’s Penrice

The murder stone commemorates the murder of Mary Kavanagh. The inscription reads:

To The Memory of Mary

Wife Of James Kavanagh of Penmaen

Who Was Murdered on

the 3rd of October 1829

Aged 75 Years

    The Cambrian reported in a lengthy article published on 10th October 1829 that widow Mary Kavanagh, was last seen alive at 5pm on Saturday 3rd October. The following day, the curtains remained drawn, they remained the same on the Monday. On Tuesday 6th, Mary was found in the garden brutally murdered. The house had been ransacked and all that was taken was 2 watches, hanging from the mantelpiece. Her life savings of £120 (£9,210 today) had not been taken as it was locked in an oak chest.

Nebo pic: John Truman

Murder Stone 2  

Nebo Independent Chapel, Felindre. The murder stone commemorates the murder of Eleanor Williams. The inscription reads:

1832

To Record a Murder

This stone was Erected by General Subscription Over the Body of Eleanor Williams

Aged 29 Years A Native of Carmarthenshire Living in The Hamlet in The Parish Of

Llangyfelach

With Marks of Violence Upon Her Person She Was Found Dead in A Well By

Llwyngwenno Farmhouse Then in The Occupation of Thomas on The Morning Of

Sunday Dec 9th 1832

Although

The Savage Murderer May Escape for A Season the Detection of Man Yet Doubtless

God Hath Set His Mark Upon Him Either for Time or Eternity

And

The Cry of Blood Will Assuredly Pursue Him to A Terrible and Righteous Judgement

Nac Ymddielwch Rai Annwyl Ond Rhoddwch Le I Ddigofaint Canys Y Mae Yn Y Sgrifenedig I Mi Y Mae Dial

Myfi A Dalaf Medd Yr Argglwydd

Rhufeiniad XII 19

Beloved Never Avenge Yourself but Leave It to The Wrath of God for It Is Written

“Vengeance Is Mine I Will Repay Says the Lord”

Romans XII 19

    The Cambrian reported on 19th December 1832, “On the 9th inst., the corpse of a young woman named Eleanor Williams was discovered in a well of a farmyard in the parish of Llangyfelach with her skull fractured and other marks of violence and the jury at the inquest held before Charles Collins Esq., Coroner after a patient investigation returned a verdict Wilful murder against some person or persons unknown.”

Unfortunately, many of these stones, which record important social history, are being lost due to the weathering of the inscriptions.

Copyright - Bay Magazine, October 2021