Wall tablet in St Margaret’s Westminster, London, commemorating James Rumsey d. 1743
Location
St Margaret's Westminster, Westminster, London, England
Transcript
'IN MEMORY OF THE LATE DECEASED VIRGIN / +MISTRIS ELIZABETH HEREICKE+ / SWEET VIRGIN / THAT I DO NOT SET / THY GRAVE-VERSE UP / IN MOURNFUL JET / OR DAPL'D MARBLE / LET THY SHADE / NOT WRATHFUL SEEME / OR FRIGHT THE MAID / WHO HITHER AT HER / WEEPING HOWRES / SHAL COME TO STREW / THY EARTH WITH FLOWRES: / NO, KNOW BLEST SOULE / WHEN THERE'S NOT ONE REMAINDER LEFT / OF BRASSE OR STONE / THY LIVING EPITAPH SHALL BE / THOUGH LOST IN THEM / YET FOUND IN ME / DEARE, IN THY BED / OF ROSES THEN / TILL THIS WORLD SHALL / DISSOLVE (AS MEN) / SLEEPE, WHILE WE HIDE THEE / FROM THE LIGHT / DRAWING THY CURTAINS ROUND / - GOOD NIGHT',
'This epitaph by ROBERT HERRICK, formerly on a mural tablet / in the middle of the north aisle of this church, was restored in memory of / JAMES RUMSEY / whom the State of West Virginia honours as the inventor of / the Steamboat, which he demonstrated privately to George / Washington in 1784 and publicly on the Potomac River at Shepherdstowne W Va. 3 December 1787. Born of English parents / in Cecil County, Maryland in 1743, he died while lecturing / on the principles of steam navigation to English scientists / in London, and was buried in St. Margaret's Churchyard / 24 December 1792'
Details
Position: South aisle south wall
Materials: Wood
People
Age: c. 49
Date of Death: 12/1792
Cause of Death: Unknown
Rank / Occupation: Engineer
Organisation:
Extra
Recorder: The Arts Society (NADFAS) 1998