County archaeologists uncover historic gravestone in Linkages dig
Written by Shaun Moore on July 21, 2010
Gloucestershire County Council’s archaeology team has discovered a 19th century gravestone while working on the Gloucester Linkages scheme.
The gravestone was found down a well and is thought to have come from the burial ground of the Independent Chapel which stood on the west side of Southgate Street.
The discovery comes just weeks after workers found two skeletons in a medieval burial site and the Roman City wall at Kimbrose Triangle, and it further highlights Gloucester’s long and diverse history.
The gravestone inscription records the death of Catherine Jennings who died in 1838 at the age of 48. The inscription also refers to Catherine’s husband, the Reverend Robert Jennings, who was a missionary at Chittoor in the East Indies (modern day India).
Research by the archaeology team has established that Robert was born in 1797, served as a minister in Gloucester and was appointed as a missionary by the London Missionary Society in 1827.
He died in Chittoor on 1st June 1831 at the age of 34, leaving his widow and a child to return to England.
Records show that Robert and Catherine’s daughter, Harriet Jennings lived in The Promenade, Cheltenham. She was married twice first to Thomas Avery, a Gloucester lawyer, and then to Edwin Broad, the uncle of the philosopher C.D. Broad. Harriet died at the age of 80 in 1911.
The team believe this may mean Catherine’s relatives may still be living in the county.
Paul Nichols, senior project officer in the archaeology team, said: “Finds like this really bring the past to life and it’s exciting to think that some of Catherine’s relatives may still live locally”.
“The amazing range of finds we have had so far from the Linkages scheme really emphasise Gloucester’s rich heritage and we hope to discover more as we continue to monitor the project.”
The gravestone inscription reads:
…..also to CATHERINE Relict of
The Revd. Robert Jennings
(Missionary at Chittoor in the
East Indies) who died Oct 30th
1838 Aged 48 Years)
