Some Quaint and Ancient Epitaphs in the Churchyard
Governor Edward Nott
(Arms)
Under this Marble Rests ye Ashes of His Excellency Edward Nott
Late Governor of this Collony who
In his Private character was a good
Christian and in his Public a good
Governor he was a A lover of Mankind
And Bountiful to his friends By ye
Sanctity of his Moralls and ye Mildness
Prudence and Justice of his Administration
he was Deservedly Esteemed A
Public Blessing while he Lived & when
He Dyed A Public Callamity. he Departed
This Life the 23d Day of August 1706
Aged 49 Years.
In Grateful Remembrance of who
se many Dutyes the General Assembly
of this Collony have Erected this
Monument[1]
SYMBOLISM:—The symbolism on this tomb deserves more than passing notice. On the two sides angels are represented as seeking in vain to hide death from view. On the east end are the emblems of mortality, of the resurrection, of the book of deeds, and of the book of life, and on the west end the emblems of mortality, the symbol of the flight of time and the emblems of life, strength, and of nobility.
- ↑ Edward Nott entered upon his duties as Lieutenant-Governor August 15, 1705. He
procured the passage by the Assembly of an act for the building of a "palace" for the
Governor, with an appropriation of £3,000, also an act establishing the general court;
but the last was disallowed by the British Board of Trade. During Governor Nott's
administration the College of William and Mary was destroyed by fire.—R. A. Brock.
