David and Anne Davis

In the west cloister of Westminster Abbey are buried David Davis and his wife Anne and their only son Walter. Their gravestone has now worn away but this read:

Here lieth the body of Walter Davis, the only son of David Davis, first groom of Her Majesty's Poultry Office, and Anne his wife. He departed this life Nov.22 1708 in the sixth year of his age. Here also lies interred the body of the said David Davis Esq. who died Yeoman-Usher of the Black Rod on Octobr. 25 AD. 1716 aged 54.

A wall tablet for this family was removed from the cloister in 1971, conserved and is now in the triforium. It will be on view in the new Queen's Diamond Jubilee Galleries from mid-2018. This inscription reads:

Near this place lieth interred the remains of Anne Davis, the most faithful, virtuous and beloved wife of David Davis, Yeoman-Usher of the most Honourable House of Peers [Lords], who exchanged this life for a better on December 18 Anno 1714 in the 47th year of her age; to the unspeakable grief of her said husband. And one daughter she left behind her. Here also lieth deposited the body of Walter Davis, the most dear and only son of the aforesaid David and Anne Davis, who departed this life the 22d day of November Anno 1708 in the sixth year of his age

Newspapers of the day said that David died suddenly, holding the offices of Deputy Usher of the Black Rod, doorkeeper of the House of Lords, Purveyor of the King's kitchen and Gentleman Porter at Whitehall. His brother was Walter and sister Dorothy (Chamberlain alias Knight). His only child Rachel is said to have married John Capell.