John and Mary Granger

John Granger (or Grainger) and his wife Mary are both buried in the centre part of the nave of Westminster Abbey. The original gravestone was taken up in 1834 when the nave was re-paved. The site is now covered by small lozenge stones with their names and dates of death (these are to the north of General Wade's grave and are quite faint).

An early 19th century book on the Abbey recorded the original inscription:

Here lieth Mary Granger wife of John Granger Esqr. dyed July 11th 1734. Also the body of the said John Granger Esqr. who died the 29th of February 1735 aged 75 years.

The coat of arms on the stone was "a fess between two thistles" for Granger, impaling "three goats, salient". His date of death is given in Old Style dating, the year now being 1736.

He was one of the deputy tellers of the Exchequer and it seems the coat of arms was granted to him, as his family previously did not bear arms. Letters of administration were granted to his sister's son William Thompson. Mary was a daughter of Charles Thorold, Alderman of London and his second wife Anne Clarke (daughter of George Clarke citizen and Merchant Taylor of London). Anne was the sister of Sir George and Sir Samuel Thorold, Baronets of Harmston in Lincolnshire. Mary married John at St Bride's church in London on 13th November 1712.