1759 - 10th October - A monumental inscription at the parish church of St Mary’s Bitton, and another seaman: Beneath this stone secure from Storm or Tempest rests at peace the body of Captain Samuel Alden, native of New England. He was bred in the sea service from his youth in which dangerous employment by the Providence of God he was so successful as never to meet with an accident. After a passage of life of 45 years he launched into Eternity October 10 1757. To whose memory this Stone is erected by his truly afflicted widow Edith Alden.'

(Who was this New England sailor, so far from his home port? And why was he in dry dock at Bitton? Edith married again - George Williams of St James’s in Bristol - but she Joined her first husband at Bitton when she died 29th November 1775 aged 55.)

image below right: Tom the cat was well known for 15 years, and often slept in the pulpit at St Marys Redcliffe Church when this much loved cat died he was buried in the churchyard.

image below right: A mysterious grave by the riverside 100 yards from the Bull Inn Crews Hole Conham. It is thought to be the grave of a Baptist preacher who drowned in the nearby river.

Image Above : Crow Lane Welsh Back this citizen was buried above ground but his wishes did not survive his body was re-interred elsewhere to make way for the development of Telephone House.

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