Sarah
Hawkins Genealogy Site
Newspaper
Articles
Taunton Courier, and Western Advertiser Wednesday 15 Aug 1838
Page 6 Column 3
TAUNTON.
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“MEMENTO MORI!” - A practical example of due attention to this precept, occurred a short time ago at Northmoor, near North Petherton. Valentine GARDNER, an eccentric old man, when a boy, had planted a willow twig in his garden, at Northmoor, which, having in the course of many years, grown into a large tree, GARDNER, being a strict economist, and having attained a good old age, determined on converting into a receptacle for his body, when he should have “shuffled off this mortal coil,” and the tree was cut down, and formed into a coffin accordingly. Desirous, however, of turning every thing to some profitable use, and wanting a convenient cupboard, he fitted up the inside of the coffin with shelves, and it served him several years for his bread and cheese purposes until April last, when GARDNER was finally shut up in his cupboard coffin, and interred in North Petherton Churchyard.
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<NOTES: Valentine GARDINER son of Valentine GARDNER and Joan PARKER, married Mary CROKER>