Bicester Church Inscriptions & Graves

The following is an abbreviated alphabetical list of names on the Tombs and Gravestones in the Church Yard. Below the list are the inscriptions.

There are more links to Bicester graves and cemeteries on our Oxfordshire page.

Tombstones

Names Died Age
Wm. Allen 18 Aug. 1797 55 yrs
Thos. Eagles 24 Apr. 1787 70
Sarah his wife 25 Mar. 1749 25
Eliz. ditto 27 Nov. 1798 82
John Green 10 May 1723 78
Geo. Howlett 11 Mar. 1757 62
Edward King 18 Aug. 1784 44
Richard Kirby 14 Feb. 1772 55
Mary his wife 20 Dec. 1784 67
William Robins 29 Aug. 1776 26
Sarah his wife 16 Oct. 1772 25
Ann Woodford 22 Dec 1759 83

Gravestones

Names Died Age
Samuel Baker 10 Mar. 1810 60 yrs
Ann his wife 7 Aug. 1787 35
William Ball 18 Dec. 1785 76
John Barker 21 Feb. 1776 60
John Bathe 23 Apr. 1791 44
Hannah Bishop 21 Nov. 1792 81
T. M. Blowfield 5 June 1814 55
John Boffin 24 June 1811 41
Edw. Bowden 21 Nov. 1774 55
Rd. Buckle 12 Dec. 1786 43
Ann his wife 13 May 1788 40
Jon. Burnard 1 Nov. 1813 73
Eliz. his wife 2 Apr. 1797 62
William Busby 16 Mar. 1792 49
Robt. Carter 25 July 1787 55
John Castle 3 Nov. 1789 36
Eliz. his wife 12 Oct. 1786 42
Matthew Clarke 15 Dec. 1779 75
John Cleaver 2 Feb. 1794 76
Edward Crook 30 July 1801 39
Amy his wife 23 Aug. 1803 41
Richard Cox 15 Dec. 1723 73
George Foster 24 Aug. 1802 66
Eliz. Harris 10 May 1799 46
Jos. Humphrey 11 Aug. 1781 85
Fran. Jennings 13 Mar. 1801 56
John Jones 7 June 1807 55
Richard Jessop 24 July 1805 88
Richard Kendal 12 Aug. 1813 73
John Kent 24 Feb. 1800 33
Thos. Kingstone 24 July 1781 59
Lawrence Lord Mar. 1785 88
John Pavier 3 Dec. 1782 72
Sarah Phillips 26 Mar. 1809 60
William Potter 22 Oct. 1809 56
Susanna his wife 20 May 1803 59
Thos Reading 20 Aug. 1803 63
Rd. Reading 1 Dec. 1812 42
Henry Rolls 19 Jan. 1777 57
John Sanders 25 Jan. 1802 34
W. Shillingford 12 Sep. 1761 62
Robt. Shirley 6 May 1808 77
John Sirett 18 Oct. 1812 54
John Stevens 14 Mar. 1803 37
Wm. Tanner 8 May 1799 46
Thos. Timms 14 Aug. 1754 49
Johanna his wife 5 May 1785 84
Wm. Whichelle 20 Sep. 1772 60
Paul his son 20 Sep. 1772 22
Wm. Woodcock 27 June 1795 65
Mary Wright 31 Mar. 1812 40

Inscriptions in the Chancel and Church

John Blake who died May 24, 1777, aged 61. Ann his wife who died February 20, 1789, aged 59; and two of their sons.

A monument in memory of Gabriel Burrowes, who died March 14, 1676, aged 42.

A mural monument, which states that Mary, wife of John Burrowes, jun., died September 16, 1724, aged 29 years; and a memorandum of the birth and death of their three infants, Mary, Sarah, and Benjamin. A similar monument near the former, to the memory of Mary, the wife of John Burrowes; who died July 1, 1706, aged 39. John Burrowes, who was baptized March 29, 1666, and buried March 13, 1732, and four of their children.

Anne Clements, the wife of Mr. Richard Clements, by whome he had 4 sons, George, Richard, Thomas, Benjamin, and 6 daughters, Elizabeth, Anne, Grace, Anne, Judith, Grace, she departed this life the 28th of May. A.D. 1652, of her age 39.

Here lyethe the body of John Coker who departed this life the 14 of Feb. 1606. Here alsoe lyeth ye body of Joane Coker wife of the said John Coker, who departed this life the 16 of May Ano 1618.

Here also lyeth the body of Anne Coker wife of Cadwallader Coker eldest sone to the saide John Coker and Joane his wife who departed this life the 20 day of Aug. 1625.

Here also lie ye bodies of Cadwallder Coker above named and Catherine his second wife. He Dec. 15 Oct. 1653, Æt. 82. She 8 May 1635. Æt. 36 They had issue, John, Cadwallader, Frances, William, Catherine, Joane, and Elizabeth.

William Eagles of Aylesbury, who departed this life March 28, 1810, aged 62. And William his son who died December 31, 1808, aged 38.

An Inscription for Robert Evans, who died May 18, 1688, aged 56 years.

William, the son of John and Ann Finch, died May 16, 1701. John Finch, citizen of London and grocer in this town, born at Warfield, Berks., died Fehruary 11, 1707, aged 58; and Ann, his wife; who died July 30, 1720, aged 81.

On a brass plate fixed to the north wall is this Inscription: Here lyeth buried the bodye of William Horth alias Hortt, Gent. who deceased the v of July 1582 and also with him lyeth buried Emme his wife who was daughter unto Mr Ashton of Crostone in the county of Lancaster Esquier and deceased the VI of August following 1584 and had yssue two sons and four daughters.

In the south Aisle, is an inscription to the memory of Sarah, wife of Joseph Kendall, who died July 11, 1803, aged 23. Nearly opposite to Walker’s is a tablet which states that Elizabeth, daughter of John and Elizabeth Hicks, died June 19, 1741, aged 12 years. John, son of the above, died June 12, 1758, aged 35. John Hicks, sen. died November 21, 1760, aged 66. And Elizabeth, his wife, who died December 23, 1768, aged 74.

Here lyeth ye body of Mrs. Sarah Kennett, who dyed the 2 of March 1693. Aged 18 years and 34.

Here lyeth the body of John Lewes, born in Lyñ in the county of Carnarvon, Gent. who for the love he bare to the said John Coker desired by his will to be buried neere him. He dyed in Oxford on the 21 day of September, 1612.

On the south side a monument to the memory of John King, who died May 4, 1760, aged 76. Edward Lock, his nephew, who died August 26, 1772, Edward Lock, father, January 13, 1762, aged 80. Sarah, wife of the latter, died February 2, 1748, aged 54. Elizabeth, their daughter, died October 12, 1733, aged 7 years. Sarah, their daughter, wife of Thomas Harris of Oxford, died May 27, 1765, aged 45. And John, son of T. and S. Harris, who died September 6, 1760, in the 12th year of his age.

In the north aisle a monument to the memory of Thomas Russel, late of St. James’s, Westminster, who died January 4, 1718, aged 48. His wife, Elizabeth Walworth, who died March 13, 1734, aged 64; and a memorandum of two sons and five daughters, who died infants.

On the south side are monuments to the memory of John Walker who died January 28, 1783, aged 80, and Ann his wife who died January 28, 1772, aged 58. John Walker who died September 2, 1810, aged 70; and Hannah his wife who died January 2, 1790, aged 38.

At the west end a monument for Elizabeth, wife of Richard Walls who died November 3, 1737, aged 36. Their two daughters Anne and Elizabeth; and the above Richard Walls who died October 22, 1753, Aged 45.

An inscription for Elizabeth, wife of John Woodfield, who died March 13, 1742, aged 61 years. John Woodfield, who died May 10, 1758, aged 82.


On the south side of the church-yard is the grave of Edward Bowden, who was murdered by his journeyman George Strap, and for which, as the stone informs us, he was tried, found guilty at Oxford, hanged, and his body given to the surgeons to be anatomized. Bowden, a shoe-maker, had his brains beat out with a hammer as he sat at work late one evening.