Birkhead Family

Several members of the Birkhead family are buried in the cloisters of Westminster Abbey but the exact location is unknown and there are no gravestones or memorial for them.

Anne Birkhead (Brickhead or Bricket) was buried in 1568. She died on 25th August aged 102 years. According to Christopher junior's family Bible in the Abbey Library her maiden name was Forrest and her husband was Christopher. 

Her son Christopher died 20th May 1595 aged 77 years and was buried with her. He was a Lay Vicar in the Abbey Choir 1549-1595 and had been a chorister. On 17th October 1569 he married Katherine Banyster (Banister) in St Margaret's Westminster and they leased a tenement in Tothill Street near the Abbey. Their children were Rowland (died young), Gabriel and Anne (who married a Mr Wright and had two children). His second wife was Margaret Forster.

Gabriel was buried in the cloister on 23rd December 1614. He was godson to Gabriel Goodman, Dean of Westminster, and attended Westminster School. He held the posts of Sacrist, bellringer and library keeper at the Abbey. His wife was Frances Hayne, whom he married at St Margaret's on 1st May 1604. (She married secondly Isaac Bush and was buried in the cloister 9th September 1641). Their son Christopher Birkhead was born in 1605.

(A Revd. Thomas Birkhead was a prebendary (clergyman) of the Abbey 1551-54 but it is not known what relationship he had with the above. A Robert Birkhead leased property from the Abbey 1553).

Further reading

"Acts of the Dean and Chapter of Westminster 1543-1609" 2 vols, edited C.S. Knighton, 1999.