GIFFARD CHAPEL, ST HIERITHA'S CHURCH
CHITTLEHAMPTON, DEVON
Plaque erected by Edward Giffard in 1841 to the memory of John Giffard of Dublin, Ambrose Hardinge Giffard and John William Giffard.
The plaque bears the following inscription:
NEAR THE ASHES OF THEIR FOREFATHERS,
OF THE ANCIENT FAMILY OF
GIFFARD OF HALSBURY AND BRIGHTLEY,
WHO FLOURISHED IN THIS VICINITY FOR NEARLY
SEVEN CENTURIES.
THIS TABLET IS ERECTED TO THE MEMORY
OF JOHN GIFFARD, ESQR. OF DUBLIN,
REPRESENTATIVE OF BOTH THESE FAMILIES;
WHO DIED IN HIS 73RD YEAR ON THE 5TH MAY 1819.
DURING THE UNHAPPY TROUBLES THAT PREVAILED
IN IRELAND AT THE CLOSE OF THE LAST CENTURY
REMEMBERING THE RACE FROM WHICH HE SPRUNG
HE DESPISED DANGER IN THE MIDST OF SEDITION
AND CIVIL WAR, AND STRUGGLED WITH SINCERITY
FOR LIBERTY, WITH CONSTANCY FOR THE PUBLIC WEAL,
AND WITH LOYAL DEVOTION FOR CHURCH AND KING.
ALSO TO THE MEMORY
OF SIR AMBROSE HARDINGE GIFFARD, KNIGHT,
LATE CHIEF JUSTICE OF CEYLON,
ELDEST SON OF THE ABOVE,
WHO HAD INTENDED TO ERECT THIS TABLET
TO HIS FATHER’S MEMORY,
BUT WAS PREVENTED BY HIS OWN DEATH
ON THE 30TH OF APRIL 1827, IN HIS 57TH YEAR
AFTER AN ABSENCE OF MANY YEARS
OF LEGAL AND JUDICIAL SERVICE IN CEYLON.
AND ALSO TO THE MEMORY OF HIS ELDEST SON,
JOHN WILLIAM GIFFARD ESQR.
WHO DIED AFTER A LINGERING ILLNESS
ON THE 31ST OF JULY 1835, IN THE 22ND YEAR OF HIS AGE.
THEIR GRANDSON, SON, AND BROTHER,
EDWARD GIFFARD,
PLACED THIS MEMORIAL HERE,
1841.
[image copyright: Jane Sercombe Lewis]