Page:Notes and Queries - Series 11 - Volume 9.djvu/174

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NOTES AND QUERIES. [ii s. ix. FEB. 28, 191*.

Fox OF STRADBROKE, SUFFOLK. There is a large square tomb in Stradbroke Church- yard with its inscriptions partly illegible, but with (apparently) no dates inscribed.

" To this repository has lately been committed the body of Mr. Nathaniel Fox, who left wealth and a good name behind him. This tomb (as by deed of settlement appears) is to be kept in full repair, with an annual rent of lands in fee simple, formerly the estate of Mr. Christofer Fox ; the overplus to be yearly laid out and distributed in bread at this tomb to such poor of Stradbroke and at such times as they shall desire." On the north side are the arms of Fox, three foxes' heads erased.

"Here's hourly expected Simon the next de- scendant, with his son Simon who died young, though still preserved to be interred with his father, at the earnest request of his pious mother the Lady Hart. Also . Major John Fox, with his issue, who during the late rebellion loyally be- haved himself, undergoing with Great Courage, not only the dangers of the Field, but many severe imprisonments."

Is anything known of this Major Fox or of the Lady Hart ?

Relating to this monument there occurs the following entry on a paper dated 3 Feb. , 1693/4, signed by the Vicar and others : " Whereas we whose names are under written* at the request of Simon Fox, Esq., have visited a monument by him erected in the churchyard of Stradbroke "

In an old chest at the Rectory was found the following (no date) :

" Sir, 1 am anxious to ascertain whether you have in the archives of your registry at Norwich any wills of Simon or Christofer Fox, who died about 1697. My reason for this inquiry is that there is a spacious tomb in Stradbroke Churchyard on which is the following inscription [inscription ap- parently given on a separate paper]. This money has been for some time lost sight of, and the tomb is falling into a dilapidated state, and the church- wardens and myself are anxious to ascertain the precise lands which are charged with the repairs. It is singular that whilst there are remarkable inscriptions on three sides of this tomb, yet there is no positive date which I have been able to ascertain."

As there is no date or signature to this letter, it was probably the rough copy of a letter sent to the Norwich Registrar by the then Rector.

In 1625 there were living at Stradbroke a Symon Fox and a Symon Fox the younger.

In the Suffolk Hearth Tax in 1674 Ed- mund Fox paid for three hearths, Margery Fox for eight, and Symon Fox for four hearths at Stradbroke.

An Edmund Fox was buried on 27 April, 1684 (affidavit before Mr. Wickham).

A Simon Fox, Esq., was buried April, 1697 (affidavit before J n Corm [?], Esq.).

Nathaniel Fox was buried 2 July, 1699 1 (Affidavit before Mr. Shepherd).

In Woodbastwick Church were married on 12 Oct., 1619, Edmund, son of Symon Fox, and Marie Cooper. Were these two the Edmund Fox buried at Stradbroke, 27 April, 1684, and Mrs. Mary Fox, buried 13 Aug., 1680 ?

In 1756 a Mr. Joseph Fox was a feoffee for the Stradbroke Charity, and in 1761 he paid the churchwardens, Thomas Card and John Girling, the balance of 251. 6s. 4cf. Mr. Fox apparently held office until 1765. He may possibly be identical with the Mr. Joseph Fox of Stradbroke who was married at Worlingham (Suffolk) on 2 Nov., 1756, to Elizabeth, daughter of Mr. Philip Smallpece (and Mary Leigh) of that village. Joseph Fox had eight children, all baptized at Stradbroke by a priest from the house of Mr. Thomas Havers of Thelton, namely, Frances (1759), Harriet (1760), Charlotte (1761), Clementina (1763), Lucy (1764), Joseph Sanford (1765), Simon Roger (1768), Stephen (1771). They were all received into the congregation of the Church of England at Worlingham, and entered in the parish registers on 16 Nov., 1778 (appa- rently after their father's death).

A Joseph Fox of Stradbroke, gent, (in the list of Catholics and Nonjurors fined in 1715), was fined 1387. 10s.

There is a note among the papers in the parish chest at Stradbroke to say that in 1809 a Joseph Sanford Fox of London wrote to the then churchwardens, speaking of the tomb in the churchyard erected by his grandfather, and promising to send them the latter's will, stating that the lands chargeable with the repairs of the tomb were at Mersdale.

In view of the Christian names of the eight children of Joseph and Elizabeth Fox, the following from the parish registers o Stradbroke are noteworthy :

Baptisms. 1717 Thomas, son of Joseph Fox and Anne his wife,

23 Feb. 1720 Clementina Maria 28 April.

1722 Anne 13 Jan.

1723 Felix 29 August.

1726 Frances Winifred 7 July.

Burials.

1748 Mr. Joseph Fox, 31 Dec. 1757 Mr. Felix Fox (about 30), 4 August.

When Stradbroke Church was restored in 1871 the Fox tomb which was surrounded by iron railings in a very dilapidated condi- tion was rebuilt, and paid for out of volun- tary funds collected by the Vicar, the Rev-