Francis Green - Y Cymmrodor - Vol XV pp125-126 &138-9

The memorial stone  in Boulston church covers a tomb which has the Wogan coat of arms at the head, and lies on the north side of the chancel.  The inscription is distinctly interesting, as it records no fewer than six generations of the family, and, although one corner of the stone has been broken off, the missing words can easily be surmised.

The article contains a drawing of the stone with the following inscription:-

"HERE LYETH INTERRED THE BODY OF SIR JOHN WOGAN OF BVLSTON KNIGHT THE

SONNE OF SIR JOHN WOGAN OF BVLSTON KNIGHT THE SONNE OF RICHARD WOGAN 

OF BVLSTON ESOVIER THE SONNE OF HENRY WOGAN  OF BVLSTON ESOVIER THE SONNE OF

HENRY WOGAN  OF BVLSTON KNIGHT THE SONNE OF SIR JOHN WOGAN OF WISTON

KNIGHT AND SO FORWARD WHO DEPARTED THIS MORTALL LIFE THE 19 DAY OF

SEP ANNO DOMINI 1616

  ..RE ALSO LYETH INTERRED THE BODY OF THE LADY FRAVNCIS WOGAN WIFE

...THE FORESAID SIR JOHN WOGAN OF BVLSTON KNIGHT WHOME WAS DAVGHTER

....EWIS POLLARD OF KINGS NYMPTON IN THE COVNTY OF DEVON ESOVIER

SONNE .....HVGH POLLARD OF KINGS NYMPTON KNIGHT SONNE OF SIR

LEWIS POLLARD KNIGHT .......S SONNE TO SIR HVGH POLLARD OF KINGS

NYMPTON KNIGHT AND SO FORWARD ........ DEPARTED THIS MORTALL LIFE

THE 7 DAY OF NOVEMBER ANNO DNI 1623 ......... E WAS MADE AND SET VP

BY THE FORESAIDE SIR JOHN ..GAN IN HIS LIFE TIME IN ANNO DOMINI 1607"      

  The inscription, on account of its length and the similarity of its wording, has been erroneously copied by both "E.L.", and Fenton.  The former, in a note says that Henry Wogan, the husband of Elizabeth Bowen,  is omitted on the monument, and Fenton not only falls into the same error but entirely omits the last two lines, stating that the stone was erected by Sir John in his lifetime in 1607.  The latter authority also makes the date of Sir John's death to have been in "Feb. 16 . .," but the proper reading is undoubtedly "Sep 1616."  It will be observed that the final two figures in question appear closer together in the sketch than the others of the group, and I am informed by Captain Reid, who now resides at Boulston and checked the figures for me, that the last two are clearly "16" but that there is no paint in them.  The explanation of the discrepancy is no doubt that the two final figures were filled in some years after Sir John's death, when the workman, either through carelessness or ignorance, cut "16" instead of "36".

In the little church of Boulston, which stands on the bank of the river a few hundred paces west of the old manor house, is a memorial stone erected by Lewis Wogan in his lifetime, on which are given the names of his eight great-grand-parents.

  "THE FOUR GREAT GRANDFATHERS AND THE FOUR GREAT GRAND MOTHERS OF

LEWIS WOGAN OF BOVLSTON ESQr WERE AS FOLLOWETH

  SIR JOHN WOGAN OF BOVLSTON  PEN

  FRANCES POLLARD OF KINGSNIMPTON DEVON

  SIR HUGH OWEN OF BODEON    ANG

  ELIZABETH WYRRIOT OF ORIELTON   PEM

  SIR THOMAS MANSELL OF MARGAM in GLAshire

  MARY MORDAVNT OF TVRVEY    BED

  SIR EDWARD LEWIS OF THE VAN  GLA

  BLANCH MORGAN OF TRREDEGAR   MON

THIS STONE WAS DVG OVT OF

  HAMPTON QVARRY 9r Y JO J70J

  THE ABOVE SAID LEWIS WOGAN OBt

This stone is on the south wall of the chancel, and underneath is the tomb of Maurice, or as he is there described "Morris" Wogan and several of his descendants, covered by a slab with an inscription erected by Anne, the sole heiress of Lewis Wogan.   It will be observed that in the illustration of the inscription to Morris the first few words have been duplicated. Presumably the sculptor commenced with the smaller lettering but afterwards decided to use a larger size.  The word "Esq." over the first line is evidently an afterthought, either of the original artist or of some irresponsible person, who apparently had some idea of making the inscription read "Morris Wogan, Esq., and Frances Wogan alias Owen".

"Here lye the bodys of Morris Wo HERE LIE THE BODYS OF MORRIS WOGAN

{ESQ WOG N} AND FRANCES OWEN OF ORIELTON HIS WIFE WHICH MORRIS WAS

SON OF SR JOHN WOGAN THE YOVNGER AS ALSO ABRAHAM WOGAN WOGAN ESQ

AND JANE MANSELL OF MARGAM HIS WIFE AND ALSO LEWIS WOGAN ESQ AND

KATHERINE PHILLIPS OF CARDIGAN PRIORY HIS WIFE AND ALSO FOVRTEEN

OF THEIR CHILDREN ONE DAVGHTER WAS BVRIED AT SAINT BRIDES

THE SAID LEWIS WOGAN DIED MARCH THE 25TH 1702 LEAVING

BEHIND HIM ANNE HIS ONLY CHILD AND SOLE HEIRESS MARRIED

THE 26TH OF DECEMBER 1698 TO JOHN LAVGHARN OF SAINT BRIDES

IN THIS COVNTY ESQ WHO CAVSED THIS MONVMENT TO BE ERECTED."

Boulston church, as will be seen from the illustration, which shews the north side of the edifice, is a very plain structure and is badly in  need of repair.  It was last restored in 1813 by Col. Ackland, but it is now many years since services have been held there.  It contains twelve pews, four of which are marked "free". The others bear the names of the different residences in the parish.  Four are appropriated to Boulston mansion and farm, and one each to "Hanton", "Norchard" and "Rose in Green".  In the north pillar of the arch dividing the nave from the chancel is a fireplace. [Since the above was in type Boulston church has once more been repaired, and re-opened for public services, after an interval of nineteen years.

  Back