Floor Slab – Sarah Fernley or Fernely (née Maister)
Description
Badly worn grey stone heraldic ledger commemorating Sarah Fernley (née Maister; 1665-1745), second wife of Joseph Fernley snr (ID: 593, NADFAS: 1352), and mother of Joseph Fernley jnr. (ID: 505, NADFAS: 1343).
The heraldic achievement in relief is the best preserved part. In a roundel 760 mm in diameter, the arms of Fernley impaling Maister. Fernley: Or, on a bend vert three buck's heads caboshed argent attired or. (Gold/yellow, a green diagonal band on which are 3 white/silver stag's heads seen from front, with gold/yellow antlers). Maister: azure, a fess the upper part embattled, between 3 griffins' heads erased, or (blue, with a gold/yellow horizontal band with a battlemented top running between 3 gold/yellow griffin's heads. Crest: a talbot passant argent, collared or (white/silver hunting hound with gold collar).
Inscription and donor(s)
Here lieth the Body of Mrs SARAH
FERNELY Wife to the Late Mr
JOSEPH FERNELY [of this Town Mercht]
who after a well filled Life of four sc[ore]
Years chang'd it for a better [the]
[24th] of August 17[45]
