During the course of our restoration of the cemetery during the last five years it is always in our minds that the cemetery has probably more burials of infants and children than any other age group, such was the disease and deprivation during the Victorian era in Carmarthenshire. The headstone below is testament to that in recording the deaths of four children of one family, two of which died a day after each other aged 4 and 3 years old. Not a lot of detail is known of the family itself, which is sometimes the case but one thing is certain, that their names will not be forgotten.
IN
Loving Memory of
WILLIAM LAPHAM
Son of Edward Alfred & Alicia Owen,
Ship-Inn, of this Town,
who died April 18, 1880, aged 4 years.
Also of Eliza Jane, their daughter,
who died April 19, 1880 aged 3years.
Also of William Edgar, their son,
who died Feb 15 1886 aged 1 year.
Also of Beatrice Alicia, their daughter,
who died April 12, 1890 aged 4 years.
“HE SHALL GATHER THE LAMBS WITH HIS
ARM, AND CARRY THEM IN HIS BOSOM”
What’s in a name” EXTRA” The following comprises of a list of unusual surnames that appear on many of the memorials, together with a list of professions reflecting the huge and important mixture of people that made Carmarthen what it is today – many long since disappeared from the English Dictionary and only now found in history books, and finally Public Houses which are also recorded on many of the memorials as places of residence. Here then are the Three P’s …….
People, Professions & Public Houses.
PROFESSIONS
DRAPER
CATTLE DEALER
SEA CAPTAIN
COAL MERCHANT
TAILOR
SOLICITOR
ASSYLUM ATTENDANT
BUTCHER
WEAVER
OSTLER
GLOVER
HATTER
CURRIER
MARBLE MASON
SERGEANT (ARMY)
SERGEANT (POLICE)
SERGEANT MAJOR
PLUMBER
COACH BUILDER
TIMBER MERCHANT
SCULPTOR
WATCHMAKER
GUN MAKER
PAINTER
CABINET MAKER
SADDLER
TEACHER
IRONFOUNDER
MERCHANT
SLAUGHTERHOUSE KEEPER
PRINCIPAL/TRAINING COLLEGE
BOOT CLEANER
SURGEON
BOOTMAKER
CHURCH WARDEN
CONSTABLE
SHOEMAKER
TINPLATE WORKER
FISHMONGER
POST OFFICER
PRINTER
DRIVER
COOPER
GROCER
JOURNAL PROPRIETOR
VICAR
ARCHDEACON
PARISH WARDEN
GWR GUARD
GWR FIREMAN
MASTER MARINER
ALDERMAN
MAYOR OF CARMARTHEN
COMPOSITOR
ORGANIST
SHOEMAKER
GARDNER
GROOM
BUILDER
COUNTER CLERK (PO)
MIDWIFE
WATER INSPECTOR
CHAPLAIN (PRISON)
COUNCILLOR
BAKER
CHIEF CONSTABLE
BOOKBINDER
MAGISTRATE
BOROUGH SURVEYOR
CARMAN
HOUSEKEEPER
POTTER
SCHOOLMASTER
SPIRIT MERCHANT
SAILMAKER
HARBOURMASTER
COMMANDER- R.N.
MALTSTER
FOREMAN
MILLWRIGHT
PROCTOR IN CONVOCATION
MASTER OF THE INTERNATIONAL SCHOOL, LLANDEILO- FAWR.
DEPUTY LIEUTENANT
PEOPLE/SURNAMES
WOOZELEY
OLIVE
BASS
MEYRICK
NOTT
DUCKFIELD
BRODRIBB
WEATHERHEAD
BRIGHT
CASSIN
TRIVETT
WHITNEY
BURNELL
TALBOT
POOLEY
BARFIELD
BUCKLAND
WHARFINGER
DUFF
GOBLE
WOOLASTON
NEEDLE
SHELL
LAPHAM
AUBERY
COMPTON
KINDER
SPURRY
VALENTINE
POSTHUMOUS PRYSE
GILLELAND
BAGNALL
CADWALLADER
SHARKLAND
BLAND
SOPPITT
COTTRELL
VIGOR
GOWER
CLEVERLEY
NESBITT
DELL
PUBLIC HOUSES
BOAT & ANCHOR
ROYAL OAK INN
NAGGS HEAD
SQUARE & COMPASS
MORGAN ARMS
OLD WHITE LION
OLD PLOUGH INN
STAG & PHEASANT
SHIPP INN
RAILWAY TAVERN
GOLDEN LION
STAGS HEAD
SWANSEA CASTLE