History

In the south aisle of the nave of Westminster Abbey is the grave and monument to Carola Morland, second wife of writer and mathematician Sir Samuel Morland (1625-95) who is buried at Hammersmith in London. He was the inventor of the speaking trumpet and improver of the fire engine among other things and assistant to Thurloe (secretary to Oliver Cromwell). At the Restoration of Charles II in 1660 he was knighted and created a Baronet and Gentleman of the Privy Chamber. Samuel married Carola in the Abbey on 26 October 1670. The monument is of black and white marbles by sculptor William Stanton and was erected by Sir Samuel with inscriptions in English, Hebrew and Greek, to show off his learning in these languages. The English reads:

"Carola daughter of Roger Harsnett Esqr. and of Carola his wife, ye truly loving (and as truly beloved) wife of Samuel Morland Kt. & Bart.[Baronet], bare a second son Oct. 4th, died October 10th in the year of our Lord 1674 aged 23"

The Hebrew part can be translated:

"Blessed be thou of the Lord, my honoured wife! Thy memory shall be a blessing, O virtuous woman"

The Greek can be translated:

"When I think of thy mildness, patience, and charity, modesty and piety, I lament thee, O most excellent creature! and grieve accordingly: but not like those who have no hope; for I believe and expect the Resurrection of them that sleep in Christ".

The coats of arms are painted. Their sons Thynne and Edmund (or Edward) died as infants and were buried on 19 December 1671 and 11 June 1675 respectively in the north cloister of the Abbey.

Sir Roger Harsnett

Carola was the daughter of Sir Roger Harsnett, serjeant at arms at the House of L,ords who was buried in the north cloister on 27 October 1692.  His wife Carola (Barne) was born about 1623 and was buried in the cloister in May 1676, with their young son Charles. No marker remains for them. Another son was the Rev.Robert Harsnett.

Ann Morland

Ann Morland, Sir Samuel's third wife, was a daughter of George Feilding, and married in the Abbey on 16 November 1676. She is also buried in the nave and her memorial is very similar to that of Carola's and is also by Stanton, with a coat of arms. English, Hebrew and Geez inscriptions appear on her monument:

"Ann daughter of George Filding Esqr. and of Mary his wife, the truly loving (and as truly beloved) wife of Samuel Morland Knt. & Bart. died February 20th in the year of our Lord 1679/80 aged 19 years"

The other inscriptions can be translated:

"Come, let us weep with an honoured husband for thee; hoping that thou art departed in Christ"

"This lady was truly religious, sincere, and chaste while she lived. Praised and blessed was she in her death".

As the letter cutter would not have been familiar with these languages there are some errors in the Geez.

Photos of the monuments can be purchased from Westminster Abbey Library.

Further reading:

"Sir Samuel Morland" by H.W.Dickinson, 1970

Oxford Dictionary of National Biography 2004.

"Mystery of Ann Morland's 'Ethiopic' grave in Westminster Abbey" by Richard Pankhurst in Ethiopia Observer 1972.