Myrtilla (d.1706) – dated 1705, in accordance with the Old Style or Julian calendar:
St Lawrence Church, Oxhill, near Stratford-upon-Avon CV35 0QZ
Myrtilla’s grave is one of oldest surviving graves of someone of African descent in Britain. Although the inscription states that she was the slave of Thomas Beauchamp, the church’s burial records describe her as “a negro girl of Mrs Beauchamps”. The grave was restored in 1969. It originally had a footstone listing Myrtilla’s age, but this was moved to another part of the churchyard in the 1970s. A record was made in 1910, which would suggest Myrtilla was aged 72 when she died, but this has been queried. The grave was given Grade II listed status in 1988.
The Beauchamp family had sugar interests in Nevis, and it is presumed that when the family relocated to England, Myrtilla moved with them as a favoured servant. Little is known about her, and further research is ongoing.
Inscription:
Here
lyeth the body of
Myrtilla, negro slave
to Mr. Thos Beauchamp
of Nevis.
Bapt. Oct. hy 20th.
Buried Jan hy 6th,
1705.
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