Two tombs lie in the middle of Barthen Walf Mall Road. Concrete apparently reinforces the original tombs. One tomb is unmarked. The marked tomb is for Thomas Jordan Spencer, said to be an ancestor of both Winston Churchill and Diana Spencer, though if the following account is accurate, he died while he was still only 14.
Here lyes interr'd the body of
Thomas Jordan Spencer.
Born Octbr. the 14th, 1723, who departed
this life Sunday morning, September the
17th, 1738.
The [coat of] Arms [carved into the tomb] are : Quarterly argent and gules, in the second and third quarters a frette or : over all, on a bend sable, three fleurs-de-lis of the first. The Crest an esquire's helmet.
This monument is not mentioned in Lawrence-Archer's "Monumental Inscriptions of the British West Indies." The quartering of the shield is very much worn owing to the exposed position of the tomb.
Tradition says that at a tavern which formerly stood hard by, a friendly party was interrupted by angry words which led to a duel, in which both combatants fell, and that they were buried side by side.
There are many local tales to explain these tombs, including one about two men fighting over a woman and another tale of single combat between a Spanish soldier and an English soldier meant to settle a battle.
There was a traffic accident in the vicinity of the Tombs a few years ago that damaged one of them, but repairs were made. The above information remains the most current available.
Historic Jamaica : With fifty-two illustrations
Frank Cundall.
Published for the Institute of Jamaica by the West India Committee. Ballantine, Hanson & Co. Ltd. Press, London, England, 1915.
Chapter XIII "St. Elizabeth".
Pages 370-371.
Visitjamaica.com,
"Lacovia: Don't Miss"
accessed 15 January 2011.
Jamaica National Heritage Trust,
79 Duke Street, Kingston, Jamaica W.I.
http://www.jnht.com
Georgia Rookwood,
E-mail letter dated 24 Jan 2011.
Here lyes interr'd the body of
Thomas Jordan Spencer.
Born Octbr. the 14th, 1723, who departed
this life Sunday morning, September the
17th, 1738.
The [coat of] Arms [carved into the tomb] are : Quarterly argent and gules, in the second and third quarters a frette or : over all, on a bend sable, three fleurs-de-lis of the first. The Crest an esquire's helmet.
This monument is not mentioned in Lawrence-Archer's "Monumental Inscriptions of the British West Indies." The quartering of the shield is very much worn owing to the exposed position of the tomb.
Tradition says that at a tavern which formerly stood hard by, a friendly party was interrupted by angry words which led to a duel, in which both combatants fell, and that they were buried side by side.
There are many local tales to explain these tombs, including one about two men fighting over a woman and another tale of single combat between a Spanish soldier and an English soldier meant to settle a battle.
There was a traffic accident in the vicinity of the Tombs a few years ago that damaged one of them, but repairs were made. The above information remains the most current available.
Historic Jamaica : With fifty-two illustrations
Frank Cundall.
Published for the Institute of Jamaica by the West India Committee. Ballantine, Hanson & Co. Ltd. Press, London, England, 1915.
Chapter XIII "St. Elizabeth".
Pages 370-371.
Visitjamaica.com,
"Lacovia: Don't Miss"
accessed 15 January 2011.
Jamaica National Heritage Trust,
79 Duke Street, Kingston, Jamaica W.I.
http://www.jnht.com
Georgia Rookwood,
E-mail letter dated 24 Jan 2011.
Two tombs lie in the middle of Barthen Walf Mall Road. Concrete apparently reinforces the original tombs. One tomb is unmarked. The marked tomb is for Thomas Jordan Spencer, said to be an ancestor of both Winston Churchill and Diana Spencer, though if the following account is accurate, he died while he was still only 14.
Here lyes interr'd the body of
Thomas Jordan Spencer.
Born Octbr. the 14th, 1723, who departed
this life Sunday morning, September the
17th, 1738.
The [coat of] Arms [carved into the tomb] are : Quarterly argent and gules, in the second and third quarters a frette or : over all, on a bend sable, three fleurs-de-lis of the first. The Crest an esquire's helmet.
This monument is not mentioned in Lawrence-Archer's "Monumental Inscriptions of the British West Indies." The quartering of the shield is very much worn owing to the exposed position of the tomb.
Tradition says that at a tavern which formerly stood hard by, a friendly party was interrupted by angry words which led to a duel, in which both combatants fell, and that they were buried side by side.
There are many local tales to explain these tombs, including one about two men fighting over a woman and another tale of single combat between a Spanish soldier and an English soldier meant to settle a battle.
There was a traffic accident in the vicinity of the Tombs a few years ago that damaged one of them, but repairs were made. The above information remains the most current available.
Historic Jamaica : With fifty-two illustrations
Frank Cundall.
Published for the Institute of Jamaica by the West India Committee. Ballantine, Hanson & Co. Ltd. Press, London, England, 1915.
Chapter XIII "St. Elizabeth".
Pages 370-371.
Visitjamaica.com,
"Lacovia: Don't Miss"
accessed 15 January 2011.
Jamaica National Heritage Trust,
79 Duke Street, Kingston, Jamaica W.I.
http://www.jnht.com
Georgia Rookwood,
E-mail letter dated 24 Jan 2011.
Here lyes interr'd the body of
Thomas Jordan Spencer.
Born Octbr. the 14th, 1723, who departed
this life Sunday morning, September the
17th, 1738.
The [coat of] Arms [carved into the tomb] are : Quarterly argent and gules, in the second and third quarters a frette or : over all, on a bend sable, three fleurs-de-lis of the first. The Crest an esquire's helmet.
This monument is not mentioned in Lawrence-Archer's "Monumental Inscriptions of the British West Indies." The quartering of the shield is very much worn owing to the exposed position of the tomb.
Tradition says that at a tavern which formerly stood hard by, a friendly party was interrupted by angry words which led to a duel, in which both combatants fell, and that they were buried side by side.
There are many local tales to explain these tombs, including one about two men fighting over a woman and another tale of single combat between a Spanish soldier and an English soldier meant to settle a battle.
There was a traffic accident in the vicinity of the Tombs a few years ago that damaged one of them, but repairs were made. The above information remains the most current available.
Historic Jamaica : With fifty-two illustrations
Frank Cundall.
Published for the Institute of Jamaica by the West India Committee. Ballantine, Hanson & Co. Ltd. Press, London, England, 1915.
Chapter XIII "St. Elizabeth".
Pages 370-371.
Visitjamaica.com,
"Lacovia: Don't Miss"
accessed 15 January 2011.
Jamaica National Heritage Trust,
79 Duke Street, Kingston, Jamaica W.I.
http://www.jnht.com
Georgia Rookwood,
E-mail letter dated 24 Jan 2011.
