Reviews
The Stories Behind the Stones: The Churchyard of St Thomas a Becket Haverfordwest
Pat Swales Barker
Published by PASB. ISBN 978-1-9160765-1-8
One might think that a description of graves and their occupants would be dreary and cheerless but Pat and her friends Brenda and Linda have produced a work of great interest, not just for the people of Haverfordwest but for the county in general.
The parish of St Thomas is just one of three in the town and the records produced here, including many photographs, and material from historical documents and census returns, reveal the nature of life here in the last few hundred years.
A number of locally well-known and influential families are buried here, among them Stokes, Lort Phillips, Eaton Evans, Leach and Rule Owen. Rev. James Thomas, vicar of St Mary’s Church, and for many years master of the town’s grammar school, is buried here as is George Hamson, master of the lunatic asylum. Contributors to the commercial wealth of the town include Marychurch and the Trews who ran the shoe shop in Market Street,well remembered by me and many others.
We learn much about the occupations and family connections of the people buried here, often folk who had moved to the county from away. One example is Anne Lemons, born in Lancashire in 1793, described in 1851 as an unmarried tea dealer in High Street. Buried with her was Mary Lemons of Dew Street, a grocer and straw hat maker, who was a few years later a tallow chandler in Quay Street. The graves of a number of mariners and military men are recorded. Colonel Thomas F Wade who was born in County Meath, Ireland and served under Wellington in the Peninsular War, died in the town in 1846 ‘while engaged in his official duties as Poor Law Commissioner for Wales.’
One naturally cannot avoid the sorrow of this place. The early deaths of a number of children are sadly recorded. In 1874 two children of William and Mary Jones of Merlins Hill died, Willie in March, aged 4 year, and Lilly, aged 13 months in November.
There is much to be learned from this book about activities, occupations and family connections in the area of Haverfordwest and it is an invaluable resource for local historians.
Unfortunately the church closed in 2012 but it is now being converted into a happy family home.
Mary John