Date: Fri, 05 Nov 2004 08:10:50 -0500 From: Barbara Ribling From: "More Monumental Inscriptions: Tombstones of the British West Indies", by Vere Langford Oliver Two slabs at St. Thomas, Lowland, parish church, Nevis. This is copied from the book, the language is a bit difficult. Most of the "Vs" seem to be "Us". West wall, South Transept, blue marble, lower corners missing. "HERE LYES THE MIROVR OF EACH MARTIALL MIN RELIGION WHO CONFIRMED AND REFINED IN ALL HIS ACTIONS, WHO WAS FORTVNATE AN ATLAS TO SVPPORT THE WEIGHT OF STATE THIS ILANDS SAFGARD AND HER FOES DECREASE THE FLOWER OF ARMES AND THE TOWER OF PEACE NOW NEVIS MOVRNE READING THIS EPITAPH, HERE IACOB RESTETH AND HERE LYES YOVR STAFFE" "HERE LYETHTHE BODY OF CAPTAIN IACOB LAKE ESQVIRE LATE GOVERNOVR OF THIS ILAND NEVIS WHO DEPARTED THIS LIFE IN OCTOBER, 1649" Jacob Lake was an early settler on Nevis in 1628. He became Governor in 1648. He had, at age 30 in 1635, a licence to go to Barbados. A white marble stone next to the above: "HERE LYES YE BODY OF MRS ELIZABETH LAKE DAUGHTER TO IACOB LAKE ESQ LATE GOVERNOR OF THIS ILAND OF MEVIS WHO DEPARTED THIS LIFE YE 18TH DAY OF THIS PRE SENT IVNE 1664 BEING AGED FOVRTEEN YEARES AND MOVNTHS NINE" "A pious, Vertuovs, Blamelesse, Spottlesse maid By Cruell Death was Suddenly Betraid Of Sweetest life (alas) a Barbarous Crime To Cropp a flower so Sweet so neare ye primr Let zoilus Carpe I may not ore termit Her Admirable worth her pregnant witt. Modest She was Cahste dutifull and Staide Not orovd not Scornefull (yet) a perfect maid Her parents onely Joy thid Islands grace In heauen sure shall bee her resting place Cease Brinish teares : forbeare your greuious moane A happy Change tis a Caelestiall throne. Prepared is what Comfort doth this giue To pay a debt, to dy, and yet to liue" Mrs. Elizabet Lake, wife of Jacob Lake, was buried April 30, 1667 at St. Michael, Barbados. "Eliz. Stapleton of Nevis used a seal on her deed of 1750 with the single arms of Lake...A bend between six crosses crosslet fitchee." The two slabs of Jacob Lake and his daughter Elizabeth were originally in the aisle but later were removed and placed upright on the wall of this church at Nevis. In the churchyard at Christ Church, Bahamas, is a slab, "Richard Lake, died 3 March, 1769, aged 41."