Thursday 7th June 1984
Danny Howell writes:
On the wall of the south aisle of the Church of St. John the Baptist, Stockton, in the Wylye Valley, is a large monument to Henry Greenhill, whose grave is marked clearly beneath the eastern end of the south aisle.
Henry Greenhill’s epitaph reads:
“Henry Greenhill Esq Son of John Greenhill of Shipleaston in the County of Wilts Esq & Penelope his wife Daughter of Richard Champneys of Orchardley in the County of Somerset Esq. Born in this Parish the 21st of June 1646. Went to sea very young, made many voyages to the West Indies, & visited most other parts of the known world. In the year 1676 he did the Dutch Signal service by burning & destroying several French-Ships at Petit Guavas for which he was generously rewarded by the Lords of their Admiralty. In 1680 the Royal African Company sent him to Cabo Corso Castle their Agent General and Chief Governour of the Gold Coast of Africa. In 1685 he was elected Elder Brother of the Trinity-House of Deptford-Strond, to the poor of which Corporation he was a good benefactor. In 1689 made Comissioner of the Transport Office & in 1691 appointed one of the Principal Officers and Comissioners of the Navy. He laid the Foundation & finished the Buildings of her Maj’ties Dockyard near Plymouth where he died the 24th of May 1708 & lies inter’d near this place.”
Henry Greenhill’s epitaph is surrounded by carvings of cherubs, a skull crowned with a laurel wreath, a pistol, cutlasses and navigational instruments including sextants and telescopes. A trophy above the inscription features a cross-staff; while the lower right corner depicts a back-staff. The whole memorial, impressive as it is, provides a fitting tribute to the life of a sea-faring man who was born at Stockton during the 17th century.