Cemetery: Ballyburly Churchyard *********************************************** Ireland Genealogy Projects Archives Offaly (Kings) Index Copyright ************************************************ File contributed by: C.Hunt and Celia Ewald BALLYBURLY CHURCHYARD, COUNTY OFFALY (KINGS) [From Lord Walter FitzGerald.] 'In this churchyard stands the Protestant parish church, just in rear of Judge Wakely's residence. This church was built by John Wakely in 1686, as stated on a slab over the doorway referred to further on; but it must have been rebuilt then, as Roman Catholics still bury in this churchyard, showing it to have been of greater antiquity than the seventeenth century. 'Outside and on the left-hand side of the doorway is inserted in the wall a slab 1 foot 2 inches in breadth, and 3 feet 8 inches in length. It bears no inscription. Down its length is cut a quite plain cross, with its head completely encircled by a ring. On either side of the stem is an ornamental device. That on the right is a ladder of six rungs, and on the opposite side is an object resembling a large linked chain. The date of this slab is doubtful, but it does not belong to an early period. The whole is sculptured in relief. 'Over the doorway there is an interesting slab bearing a crest, arms, motto, and an inscription in three lines, all in relief. 'The Crest: A stag's head, full face. 'The Arms are those of Wakely impaling Lambart, viz." "A chevron between three corsses crosslet," for Wakely. "Three narcissuses," for Lambart. ""Lambrequin" fall to either side of the shield. 'The Motto is TOUT - DHAVLT ------ "Tout vient de haut," i.e., all comes from on high) 'The Inscription runs':-- JOHANNES - WACKLEY - EDIFICAVIT - HAS - EDES - ANNO SECVNDO - REGNI - REGIS - IACOBI - SECVNDI ANNOQVR - DOMINI - 1686 'John Wakely's wife was Elizabeth, daughter of the Hon. Oliver Lambart, of Painstown, Co. Meath, brother of the Earl of Cavan, by whom he had eight sons and eight daughters: . . 'A Wakely monument, dated 1617, inside the church, appeared on p. 22, vol. i, of the Journal.' _____ On the south side of the church there are two large slabs, lying side by side, one belonging to the family of Shortt, and the other to that of North. The latter slab required a sod of clay and nettle-roots to be removed before its inscription could be read':-- This Tomb was Erected by | Clues Shortt in Memory of | his Father Edward Shortt who | Departed this Life Jany the 19th 1775. Aged 76 yrs. Also | his Mother Jane Shortt who | Departed this Life Decbr ye | 30th 1772. Aged 68 yrs. Also | his Brother John Shortt Depar | ted this Life July ye 16th | 1772. Aged 32 yrs. See, passengers, see where I ly, for as you are so oncet Was I. And as I am, so will you be, Prepare for Death, and follow me, Clues Shortt who Departd This Life Decbr ye 8th 1777. Aged 30 yrs. Here lyeth the Body of | Elizabeth Shortt wife to | Thomas Shortt who Depar | ted this Life the 3rd day of | August 1777. Aged 70 yrs. _____ This Tomb was Erected by | Margarette, Anne, & Grace North | as a Grateful [sic] Monument to the Memory of their dear Father | and Mother | Berachah North, Esq. Departd this Life May 9th 1793. Aged 77 yrs | And Isabella North his wife | Departed this Life October 11th 1814 | Aged 73 years. _____ Source: Journal of the Association for the Preservation of the Memorials of the Dead in Ireland Vol. IX (FHL# 1279285)