Elizabeth Gibbons, Countess of Home

Elizabeth, Countess Dowager of Home, was buried in a vault in St John the Baptist's chapel in Westminster Abbey on 23rd January 1784 aged 80. Her grave is marked by a 19th century stone with the inscription: 

Elizabeth [Gibbons] Relict [widow] of the 8th Earl of Home 1784

Her funeral hatchment remained on the wall of the chapel until the 1950s by which time it was in a poor condition. In 1998 this was given to Home House. 

She was the only daughter and heir of William Gibbons of Vere in the island of Jamaica. Her first husband was James Lawes, son of the Governor of the island. After his death she married William, 8th Earl of Home on 25th December 1742. He was a Lt. General in the army and Governor of Gibraltar but he deserted her the year after the marriage. She had no children and died at Home House in Portman Square, London. In her will she named a "relative" (possibly a nephew) William Gale, son of Henry Gale of Jamaica, then at Westminster School and left him her house, which she had built by Robert Adam.