St Nicholas' Church, Stanford-on-Avon, Northamptonshire, South-Central England, British Isles [Map]

Hatchments at St Nicholas' Church, Stanford-on-Avon [Map].

Hatchment of [probably] Maria Otway-Cave.

Hatchment of Captain Edmund Verney Wyatt-Edgell.

Hatchment of Reverend Edgell Wyatt-Edgell Baron Braye.

Hatchment of Thomas Cave 5th Baronet.

On 21st December 1582 Henry Knollys (age 40) died. Monument at St Nicholas' Church, Stanford-on-Avon [Map].

The inscription: "Sacred to the Memory Here rest in Christ, awaiting the resurrection, Henry Knollys, son and heir of Francis Knollys (age 70), Knight Bachelor, Privy Counsellor to Queen Elizabeth, Treasurer of her Household, and of Margaret (age 23), his wife, daughter and heir of Ambrose Cave, Knight Bachelor, also a Privy Counsellor to Queen Elizabeth and Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster. Margaret bore to Henry: Elizabeth (age 3), wife of Henry Willoughby of Risley (age 3), Baronet, and Laetitia, wife of William, Baron Paget of Beaudesert (age 10). Henry died .... Margaret .... To the best and most dearly loved parents, Elizabeth Willoughby, their daughter, set up this monument in loving devotion."

"Memoriæ Sacrum. Resurrectionem in Christo hic expectant Henricus Knollis filius et hæres Frangcisci Knollis Equitis avrati reginæ Elizabthæ a sanctioribus consiliis thesaurarii Hospitti eiusdem reginæ et margaretta vxor eius filia et hæres Ambrosh cave Equitis avrati Reginæ Elizabethæ a sanctioribus consiliis & ducatus Lancastriæ Cancellarii quæ eidem Henrico Peperit Elizabetham uxorem Henrici Willoughby de Risely Baroneetti & Lætitiam uxorem Guilielmi baronis Pagett de Beaudesert Henricus obit die .... Margarete .... Optimis & perquam Dilectis, Parentibus Elizabetha Willoughby, Filia Pietatis ergo hc monumentum, posuit"

Henry Knollys: he was appointed Esquire to the Body to Queen Elizabeth I of England and Ireland. Around 1542 he was born to Francis Knollys and Catherine Carey. On 16th July 1566 Henry Knollys and Margaret Cave were married.

Elizabeth Knollys: In 1579 she was born to Henry Knollys and Margaret Cave at Rotherfield Greys, Oxfordshire. After 6th February 1605 Henry Willoughby 1st Baronet and she were married.

Lettice Knollys Baroness Geneville Beaudasert: In 1583 she was born to Henry Knollys and Margaret Cave at Rotherfield Greys, Oxfordshire. Before 19th June 1602 William Paget 4th Baron Paget Beaudasert and she were married. She by marriage Baroness Paget Beaudasert. In 1655 Lettice Knollys Baroness Geneville Beaudasert died.

On 6th September 1613 Thomas Cave (age 51) died. Monument at St Nicholas' Church, Stanford-on-Avon [Map] with his wife Eleanor St John (age 46) depicted.

The inscription above: "Sacred to the pious memory of future generations. To Thomas Cave, knight, son of Roger Cave and Margaret Cecil, sister of Lord William Cecil, Baron of Burleigh, Lord High Treasurer of England. A man distinguished for his faith, piety, innocence, and charity, and blessed with many children. Having served the Lord faithfully for 51 years, he peacefully fell asleep in the Lord on September 6, in the year of our Lord 1613. His wife Eleanor Saint John, daughter of Nicholas Saint John, esquire, of the County of Wiltshire, his inseparable companion in life and (as she hopes) in the Lord in death, placed this monument, mourning."

Piæ posteritati sacrum. Thomæ Cave equity, filio Rogeri Cave, et Margaretæ Cecill sororis D. Gulieimi Cecill, Barosnis de Burleigh magni Angliæ Thesaurarii. Religione pietate, innocentia charitate claro, et multiplici prole ditato: (qui, cum. an^os 51 domino fæliciter militasset in eodem an^o DNI (1613) September 6^o placide Obdommivit) uxor Elenora Saint John filia Nicholai Saint John in Com: Wilt: Armigeri vitæ mortisq in Dño (vti sperat) comes: individva mærens posvit.

The inscription below: "'I came to see what lies in the tomb — what is this that is enclosed?'" This is a hollow place; yet now, this hollow is a house spacious enough. Wealth, honours, noble offspring by a worthy wife. While he enjoyed these, he was a great man. While he lived, they were with him; In death, all things are left behind. Now a single urn suffices for such a man, so great. Suffices but only for the body, not the whole: The vaulted heavens of the highest sky belong to him still. The mind holds this truth. But the hollow tomb cannot contain the soul."

Vin scire in cavea qvid sic qvod clauditur ista est cavus ista cavo est nunc satis amla domus. Divitiæ, tituli, lecta de coniuge proles egregia (his magnus dum frueretur erat;) Vivo aderant; vita defunctum cuncta relinquunt: Iam tanto, ac soli, sufficit urna viro. Soli, at non toti, cæli convexa supremi. Mens tenet hanc solam non capit urna cava.

Thomas Cave: Around 1562 he was born to Roger Cave of Stanford and Margaret Cecil. In 1586 Thomas Cave and Eleanor St John were married at St Nicholas' Church, Stanford-on-Avon [Map].

Eleanor St John: Around 1567 she was born to Nicholas St John and Elizabeth Blount. In 1654 Eleanor St John died.

On 4th July 1879 Captain Edmund Verney Wyatt-Edgell (age 33) was killed in action at Ulundi, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa. His remains were returned to England and buried at St Nicholas' Church, Stanford-on-Avon [Map]. The inscription on this monument: "To a Most Beloved Father Edmund Verney, eldest son of Edgell Wyatt Edgell (age 78) and Henrietta, Baroness Braye (age 70), outstanding in the study of letters, and also leader of a victorious troop in the Battle of Ulundi, glorious in death for his country. His only surviving brother, Alured, Baron Braye (age 4), set this up."

Mackinnon, J P., ed. The South African Campaign, 1879:

The Hon. Edmund Verney Wyatt Edgell Captain 17th Lancers.

Captain Edmund Verney Wyatt Edgell, who was killed in action at Ulundi on the 4th of July 1879, was the eldest son of the Rev Edgell Wyatt Edgell, by his marriage with Henrietta, fourth Baroness Braye, was grandson of Mr Wyatt Edgell formerly of Milton Place, Egham and of Great Missenden, was heir apparent to the barony of Braye and represented in his own person the ancient and political family of the Earls Verney (this earldom is extinct) and also the elder branch of the Caves of Stanford Hall, Leicestershire. He was born on the 16th of August 1845 and was educated at Eton and Christ Church, Oxford. He entered the army in 1866 being gazetted cornet in the 17th Lancers; became lieutenant by purchase in 1868 and obtained his troop in 1873. Captain Wyatt Edgell spent much of his leisure time in study, especially of the Latin classics, of which he read even the most obscure, and he was considered one of the best French as well as Latin scholars in the army. During a winter's leave he rode through the whole length of Persia and spent some time at Teheran; he completed his journey in safety, though quite unattended. On a vacancy occurring in the representation of the northern division of Northamptonshire in 1877, through the death of Mr Vard Hunt, he contested the seat in the Liberal interest, being opposed by Lord Burghley, who was returned. In February 1879 he entered the Staff College, where however he was only destined to spend a fortnight.

Captain Wyatt Edgell embarked with the 17th Lancers for Natal in the last days of the same February, shortly after the news of the disaster at Isandhlwana reached England. He landed at Durban soon after the battle of Ginghilovo and the evacuation of Etshowe, and on the return of Lord Chelmsford with the relieving column to Natal proceeded with the Lancers into the interior. With the right wing of the regiment under Colonel Drury Lowe, he joined General Newdigate's division, then in course of formation at Conference Hill on the 11th of May and subsequently served with his troop through the whole of the reconnoitring and other important duties on which it was employed during the advance of that force into the enemy's country.

On the morning of the 4th of July, the 17th Lancers covered the rear and flanks of the advancing column and on the force being attacked by the enemy, passed into the hollow square in which it was formed. When the fire of the enemy slackened Colonel Drury Lowe received orders to take out the regiment to strike the then wavering line. Passing through the rear face of the square the regiment rode towards the Nodwengo Kraal dispersing and killing those who had not time to reach its shelter, then wheeling to the right. The regiment charged through the remainder who in full flight were endeavouring to reach the lower slopes of the mountains beyond. Numbers of the enemy in this direction who had not taken part in the actual attack were now firing and momentarily strengthened by those retreating, were enabled to pour in a considerable fusillade on the advancing Lancers below them. It was at this moment that Captain Wyatt Edgell gallantly leading his troop was shot through the head.

"The country has lost a very gallant officer" — such were the words of the Secretary of State for War when he announced to the House of Commons the victory at Ulundi — and the feeling which they expressed has found an echo in the hearts of all to whom Wyatt Edgell was known. "A more gallant leader" wrote Colonel Drury Lowe in his official account of the engagement, "never rode in a charge." He will long be remembered in the 17th Lancers for his genial kindness and manly bearing, and the wide circle of friends to whom he had endeared himself will be slow to forget the pleasantness of his ways.

Captain Wyatt Edgell was by no means the first of his race who has met a soldier's death. At the battle of Edge Hill one of his ancestors Sir Edmund Verney, standard bearer to Charles I, was killed and so firmly did he grasp the staff in death that the hand had to be amputated before the flag could be released. John, second Lord Braye, fought at the battle of St Quintin and died aged thirty three, in 1557, from the wounds and exhaustion he had sustained. He was buried with much ceremony in Chelsea Church where the tomb is still shown. Captain Wyatt Edgell had he survived five months would have succeeded to the barony of Braye as fifth Lord, his mother dying on the 14th of November 1879.

Captain Edmund Verney Wyatt-Edgell: On 16th August 1845 he was born to Reverend Edgell Wyatt-Edgell Baron Braye and Henrietta Otway 4th Baroness Braye.

Adrian Verney Verney-Cave 6th Baron Braye: On 11th October 1874 he was born to Alfred Wyatt-Edgell 5th Baron Braye. On 28th August 1900 he and Ethel Mary Bouverie-Pusey Baroness Braye were married. On 1st July 1928 Alfred Wyatt-Edgell 5th Baron Braye died. His son Adrian succeeded 6th Baron Braye. Ethel Mary Bouverie-Pusey Baroness Braye by marriage Baroness Braye.