Exhibition: The History of Walton Hall

Parishioners of Walton during the Eighteenth Century

Pinkard

The Pinkards were another family who chose to be buried at Walton. Although we have been unable to discover very much about this family, there are three with the surname whose graves still exist in St Michael’s churchyard. William Pinkard died aged 73 on 6 June 1776 and was buried at Walton two days later. His grave, which can be viewed here, is located not far from the south wall of the church. It is extremely weathered and covered in lichen but some of the inscription can just be deciphered. There is a baptism for a William Pinkard at Lathbury near Newport Pagnell on 20 April 1705 which could be the same William. The register records that his birth took place in 1704 and that his parents were William and Elizabeth Pinkard. 

 

The second Pinkard grave at Walton belongs to another William, described as the son of William and Mary Pinkard who died on 25 July 1771. He shares the grave with Mary Pinkard, described as the wife of William Pinkard. She died on 19 April 1760 aged 60 years. No age is given for William which may suggest he was an infant and the son of this Mary, who in turn may have been the wife of the William Pinkard mentioned earlier. The two Pinkard graves are situated on the south side of the church. They are close but not positioned next to each other.

 

Amy Smith

Not far from the grave of William Pinkard (1704-1776), there is a headstone inscribed with the names of 6 members of the Smith family and two angels or cherubs carved at the top. This is the grave of Amey Smith who died aged 55 in 1745 and was buried with five of her children. The headstone is weathered with age and only partly decipherable. However, the full inscription included in the monumental inscriptions of 1909 is as follows: “In memory of Amey ye wife of Rich[a]rd Smith who died Novbr. The 28^th, 1745 in ye 55 year of Her age. Here also lieth 5 of her children. John, Rich[a]rd, Martha, Henry and Keziah all died in their infancy”.

 

Amey Stratford/Stratfold (c.1690-1745) married Richard Smith (c.1688-1766) of Walton by licence at Soulbury on 13 March 1719, about 7 miles from Walton. They had five children, all baptised at Walton between 1720 and 1734. Sadly, all five children died within a year of their births. Richard Smith died in 1766 aged 78 years and was buried at Walton on 25 October 1766. It is likely that his grave is the one situated next to Amey’s but the inscription is no longer visible. A photograph of the Smiths' headstones can be viewed on this page. 

 

Mary Mitchell

Mary Mitchell was buried at Walton on 24 January 1770 aged 49 years. Her headstone stands close to the church on the north side and has a visible sculpture of an angel carved at the top. It can be viewed on this page. Mary died unmarried and left a considerable sum of £250. Probate was granted to her sister a year later, but with a condition attached!

“Memorandum. That Mary Mitchell of Walton in Bucks Spinster, died possessed of two hundred & fifty pounds consolidated £4 percent annuities, and dying Intestate Letters of Administration dated at Doctors Commons 21^st January 1771, were granted to her sister Annie Harrison wife of Thomas Harrison, who may dispose of these annuities with the consent of her husband. Registered 27^th April 1771. E. Bangham”

 

Ashbee/Ashby

Frances Ashbee (Ashby) was buried at Walton following her death on 19 April 1749. She was the nine year old daughter of John and Mary Ashby and had been baptised at Great Linford on 30 July 1740. John was a labourer born in 1697. He married Mary (née Horne) at Great Linford on 27 December 1736. It appears that the family relocated to Walton after their marriage. John died at the age of 72 on 18 September 1759 and was buried at Walton two days later. His grave is no longer identifiable but according to the 1909 Buckinghamshire Monumental Inscriptions the wording on his headstone read “In memory of John Ashbee Husband of Mary Ashbee” suggesting Mary was still alive in 1759. The burial of a Mary Ashby took place at Walton twenty years later on 30 April 1779. Although her grave is not recorded in the Buckinghamshire County Records from 1909 it is likely that this is John Ashby’s widow.