St. Laurence Churchyard - John Woolward

Another story from St. Laurence Churchyard is that of John Woolward whose inscription reads:
“Sacred to the memory of John Woolward ESQ. Commander R.N. Who, after having served his country for years and fought under Admiral Earl Nelson at Aboukir, was appointed Harbour Master of the Royal Harbour of Ramsgate, which situation he held for 26 years. Her departed this life on the 15th December 1836 aged 56 years. He left a widow and six children to regret their irreparable loss.”

It is a family vault. Three children were buried before him, a son aged nine, another aged two and a daughter who died at the age of one and a half. A sad reminder of how heart-breaking life could be with childhood deaths so common, affecting people, irrespective of their status. Two other children died after him and were buried in the same vault. A daughter who lived until the age of 90 (dying in 1918), his youngest son's wife who died in 1898, and the youngest son, whose inscription is quite amusing, but shows a strong faith:

”This marks the wreck of Robert Woolward, who sailed the seas for fifty five years. When resurrection guns fire the wreck will be raised by the angelic salvage co. surveyed and found worthy: refitted and started on the voyage of eternity. Launched 15th April 1826 sunk 30th August 1903. R.I.P.”

Visitors to the grave some years ago told me that John Woolward was Nelson's brother-in-law and that Nelson's wife was Viscountess Frances Nelson nee Frances Herbert Woolward.

John Woolward was Harbour Master when the Clock Tower was completed in 1817, the Solar Observatory established in 1819 and the Meridian Line laid across the floor of the Observatory. Captains/Masters of trading ships were able to set their chronometers using it. Ramsgate Meantime was 5 minutes and 41 seconds faster than Greenwich Meantime and *from 1822, John Woolward used Ramsgate Meantime in his logbook.

The Battle of Aboukir in 1798 is also known as the Battle of the Nile, one of several battles where Nelson defeated the French during the Napoleonic Wars. Napoleon's plan had been to invade Egypt and block the Red Sea, which was the major trade route taken by the English to India. His ultimate aim being to push the English out of India.

Egypt was grateful that the French had been routed at Aboukir and in 1819, Muhammad Ali, ruler of Egypt and the Sudan, presented the United Kingdom with Cleopatra's Needle to commemorate the victory. It is standing on the Embankment in London to this day.

It was during these naval battles in the Mediterranean that Nelson met and fell in love with Lady Hamilton in Naples. Her husband Lord William Hamilton was the British Ambassador. This famous couple also had a connection to Ramsgate. **Emma brought her ageing husband to Ramsgate in 1802 to improve his failing health, but because society and reporters followed her, where-ever she went, it was impossible for him to rest. She returned again without her husband in 1804.

*A History of Ramsgate Harbour by Michael Hunt.
**England's Mistress by Kate Williams.

Written by:
Barbara Byne,
St. Laurence Churchyard Volunteer