The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1882-05-26
THE GoRGEs' TOMB.

THE GORGES' TOMB.
Being foremost member of the old council
of Plymouth of England, OF 1920, Sir ferdl-
nando Gorges in the division in 1886, became
the sole owner of the territory between the Pts
cataqua and the Sagadahoc or kennebec rivers
This hundred miles of coast, and In the words
of the Plymouth charter, from sea to sea, ne
named the Province of Maine. What prompt
ed this name is uncertain and will not probs-
bly, ever be known. Like himself the first set
tiers were firm adherents to the established
church of England and Indignantly rejected
the oyertures of the Puritans of Massachusetts,
to extend their protection over the territory.
The old knight died in about 1915, in the midst
of the controversy with Massachusetts,.
The Georges blood had SO degenerated that in
1915 his grandson and heir, sold his birthright
to Maine, to the Massachusetts Colony Tor
1850 pounds
Sir Ferdinando's manor-house at Ashton
Philips is now in ruins--only small part OF
the dwelling apartments remain, but the chap-
ell where the noble old cavalier led his tenants
in their responses in the service, is yet perfect
The Georges tomb is in the church at Wrex-
hall, in Somersetshire, where the family had
an ancient seat, but the Manor OF Ashton Phil
ips, the seat of Names benefactor, is but i've
miles from the city of Bristol. The monument
over the Gorges tomb is deliberately carved in
stone with etfigies of some OF the earliest
founders of the family. A few years ago it
was discovered that the monument was going
to decay. with no descendant to restore 1t-per-
haDS they were cfaV6nS llke inc grdHuSOn WHO
for pittance sold his ancestors province with
the inhabitants, who had supposed that they
would be allowed to enjoy their ancient creed,
and have the burial service read at their
graves. But they soon had to do both by
stealth.
A representation of facts and an appeal for
assistance in restoring the monument was
made by the rector of the parish OF Wrexhall
to the Maine Historical Society. A generous
sum was made up by subscription among the
L all NF.prrf i'm hv hA n
ciety and forwarded to the proper officers OF
the church. 1t is with pleasure that am able
to present to the society photographs OF the d.
lapidated monument and of the restored struc-
tire. These have been sent with this descrip-
ton from Plymouth (Eng.) newspaper:
One of the most interesting old monuments
in this eounty-historically as we'll as archi-
tecturally-has just been carefully renovated
through the exertions of the Rev. Wollaston
Goode, NJ. A., vicar of St. Blu leaux, and prin-
cipally at the expense of the Historical Socie-
ty of the State of Maine, q. s.. the Duke OF
Bedford, and few other gentlemen.
The memorial has stood for the last two or
three hundred years at the east end of the
north aisle of the parish church. 1t is an al
tar-tomb built against the wall, and of goodly
proportions. 1t is of Elizabethian character,
and exhibits much beautiful carved and her
aldic ornament of that period. 1t had long
been in lamentable state. Yet, considering
the wears which have passed since its erection,
| is surprising it exists at all. During the
wars Of the Common wealth, in 1912, and again
| in 1916, st. Budeaux was the scene OF much
| fierce fighting, and it is recorded that at one
| time upwards of one hundred unfortunate
! Royalsts were kept prisoners within the walls
| of the sacred fame.
The restoration of this venerable monument
| having been placed in the hands of Mr.. Harry
| Hens of Exeter, it has under that we'll known
| statuary's supervision, been entirely taken
| down and rebuilt. Although of goodly pro-
portions, and exhibiting wealth of ornate de-
| tall the structure is composed wholly OF slate
| from the celebrated Delabele quarries, in
| Cornwall. AL the restored masonry is in the
| same ashy-hued material. Originally around
| The altar portion were five detached columns,
resting Oh moulded bases and carrying orna-
| mental capitals. Only one of these remained,
but it happily was sufficient to form the motif
| for the rest, and these have been carefully
made in unison. What may perhaps be termed
| the altar-stone is most deliberately carved
| There is wide border of conventional orna-
! ment and within, in low relief, coats OF arms,
| and mantling. At the rear of the altar is a
| reredos, supported at each sice by columns 1t
| is filled with deliberately chiselled Eizabethian
| scroll work. In the centre is a shield bearing
| the arms of the Gorges aud Cole families, and
beneath, upon label, is the date 1000. Above
| this reredos again are columns supporting
| moulded segmental arch and within the re-
| cess thus formed are exquisitely carved in
| high relief the arms, helm and crest OF Roger
Budockshed, surrounded by fine flowing
| mantling. All the old work has been most
| tenderly cared for and renovated additions
have been judiciously made, and the tinctures
| of the different arms brought out again with
their properaheraldic colors.
| The rms may be described as
| 1.-Sable, three fusils in Jesse, between three
stays faces argent; crest Saracen's head
| proper. (Budockshed)
| 2-Lozenges or and azure, chevron g1leS,
| differeDced with crescent OF the first: crest,
| q greyhound's head and neck coupe, argent
| collared gltleS, thereon a crescent or. Georges
| Georges and Budockshed, quartered.
| 4.-Budockshed with crest.
| 5.-Quartering; LIST and 4th quarters lozen-
| ges or and azure, a chevron gules, with a
| crescent of the first for difference, (Gorges);
| I'd and Sd, argent bull PEASANT, sable, cow
| ard, within a bordure of the second, charged
| with twelve beZants. (Cole).
The following legend has been inscribed up
| on the monument in suitable characters:
| Restored 1881, chiefly at the expense of the
Historical Society and citizens of the State of
Maine, U. S. A, in memory of Sir Ferdinando
Georges, the first Proprietor and Governor Of
that Province, A. d. 1886"
Then follows a list of the family buried
| there:
''Roger Budockshed, OF Budockshed, ESQ.,,
OBJ. 1876"
'sSir William Gorges, KIT, OBJ 1881
| Of Rudnnkshad Een nh