Memorial of Richard L Wade
The memorial stone inscribed with the words "Inscription - In Memory of Mr Richd L Wade late Midshipman of HM Ship L'Aigle (George Wolfe Esq, Captn) who was unfortunately drowned the 6th day of Jan 1809. Aged 20 years"
The Plymouth Journal 14th January 1809, reports: "Monday 9th January 1809: wind WNW blows hard, rain.
"Came into Barn-Pool, the Diana, of 36 (guns), Capt.Grant, to refit and overhaul her rigging. Came in a French ketch, called La Paix, laden with brandy and wine, prize to L'Aigle, of 44, Capt Wolfe. We are sorry to state that another schooner, taken by L'Aigle, laden with wine and brandy, was wrecked last Friday, below Fowey in a gale. Mr Ward (Wade), master's mate, of L'Aigle, a promising young officer, and quartermaster, were unfortunately drowned in swimming ashore. Four crew who stuck by the wreck were providentially saved at low water"
L'Aigle was a British frigate on channel cruising service.
As there was a discrepancy between the name on the tombstone and the name which appeared in the newspaper, a check was made with the Online Parish Clerk (OPC) for Tywardreath. This very useful service has transcribed most of the available parish records, from their start in 1608. The reply received confirms the surname as Wade; but his Christian name is record as Henry:
We must assume that the Register is correct. The quartermaster was also buried at Tywardreath but it seems only the officer was given a headstone and buried in wool
The word "Inscription" appears at the top of the tombstone. This was presumably the instruction given to the stonemason!
"Burial in wool" was made compulsory by an Act of Parliament of 1666, to help the English woollen trade.
This Act directed that 'No corpse of any person (except those who shall die of the plague) shall be buried in any shirt, shift, sheet or shroud or anything whatever made or mingled with flax, hemp, silk, hair, gold or silver or in any other stuff or thing, other than what is made of sheep's wool only'. An affidavit was sworn at each burial that the law had been complied with. a penalty of £5 was imposed if wool was not used
The Act was eventually repealed in 1814 but it appears to have been disregarded long before then.