Harty Tomb

By Jack Latimer, Watford Museum Team

Before restoration
After restoration

Mr William Harty is buried in this tomb with his wife Elizabeth. It is thought that he may have been a Cooper and Ironmonger in Watford as one by the name of William Harty appears in a local directory from 1792. He could have already handed the business on to his son, William Harty Junior who is also buried in the tomb along with his wife Margaret.

William and Margaret both lived to a fair age, but some of their children were not so lucky. John was the first of the boys to be buried in the tomb after dying at just 9 years of age. His sister Elizabeth, named no doubt after her grandmother, died at 27. Their youngest son, Charles William, is described on the tomb as ‘late of Kingston, Jamaica’ and it is thought that he may have made is fortune there. Whether this is the case or not, someone in the family was wealthy enough to pay for this elaborate tomb. There are inscriptions on all four sides quoting dates from 1794 to 1849, but there is no way of knowing when the memorial was actually erected.

Last to be buried in the tomb was William Junior’s sister, Mary who unusually for the period lived to the impressive age of 94.

This page was added on 26/02/2014.

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