Memorial Inscriptions: Challenor

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Waters Upton churchyard MIs: Challenor

Added October 2023:

In [Memor___ ?]
Sarah the wife of George Chall {rest of name inscribed above?}
Who died April [18th?] 1792
Aged [47 years?]
Also George Challonor Died
March [??] 1806 Aged 72
YEARS
Our Children [d___?] {rest of inscription illegible}

The inscription on this gravestone is very difficult to make out, which is not that surprising given that it has been subjected to well over two centuries of weather, lichen growth, and moss too. The details I have been able to read correspond to two burials in the Waters Upton register: Sarah, w. of Geo. Challenor, æ. 47 (23 April 1792), and George Chellenor, a Clerk, aged 72 (22 March 1806).

Based on his age at death, George was most likely “George Son of Thomas Challenor & of Joan his Wife” baptised at Stanton on Hine Heath on 14 March 1734. “George Challenor of this Parish Bachelor and Sarah Allen of this Parish” were married at Waters Upton, by licence, on 14 September 1775. And based on her age at death, Sarah was probably “Sarah daughter of John Allen, a joyner of Sleap” baptised 23 May 1746 at High Ercall.

The baptisms of three children for this couple can be identified in the Waters Upton register: George on 19 January 1777; Mary on 7 February 1779; and Elizabeth on 26 May 1782. George, son of George & Sarah Challenor, aged just 4 months, was buried on 26 Apr 1777. Mary was almost certainly the Mary Challenor who married Richard Nicklin, by licence, at High Ercall on 20 January 1803. And Elizabeth was more than likely the Elizabeth Challenor who married Samuel Tudor (of Ercall Magna parish) on 8 January 1807 at Waters Upton – these two had signed the High Ercall register as witnesses to the wedding of Mary and Richard in 1803.

So who was George Challenor, what part did he play in the local community? The bond completed in support of his marriage licence application provides the answer: the parties to that bond were secondly, John Mansell of Allscot, and firstly, “George Challenor of Waters Upton School master”.

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