Richard Willis & family

On the south wall of St Margaret's church Westminster is a memorial tablet to Richard Willis and members of his family. It was put up by his son Richard. His achievement of arms is shown above - Quarterly 1&4 "argent three griffins passant in pale sable within a bordure engrailed gules bezanty" for Willis, impaling 2&3 "azure a wolf salient argent, a crescent for difference". The inscription has several contractions to words but they are given in full in this transcript:

Neere this place resteth expecting joyful resurrection the body of Richard Willis Esqr. who departed this life the XXIth [21st] of June 1640 at the Starchamber in Westminster, in the LXXVIth [76] yeere of his age & XLVth of his marriage to Elioner (daughter of Christian White) yet lyving, by whom he had VIII children. Susanna, buryed an infant in the styllyard parish, Richard who erected this monument, Fulke buryed in St. Dunstans in the West, Henry, bachelor in divinity, parson of Stanwick in Northamptonshire now also lyving, a second Susanna wife to Ralph Howard, Gent. buryed at Westerdale in Yorkshire. Henry her eldest son lyes buried also in this isle [aisle] Mary wife to Lyonell Baily Gent: buryed at Woodford in Essex, John buryed by [beside] him in this isle & Christopher buryed in St Giles Cripplegate.

Heere also lyeth Elizabeth late wife of the said Richard, erector of this monument, who was daughter of Richard Gibson, Gent. She left this life ye XXVIIIth [28] of May 1629. By her lie also Weatherfield their first childe & Susanna their last, Elizabeth their second surviving. Here lyeth also Richard, first sonne and Elionor first daughter to the said Richard Willis by Prudence, his now wife, who was one of the daughters and coheirs of Wymond Bruggs, Gent

Richard Willis junior married Prudence at St Margaret's on 2nd May 1631. Her father Wymond Bridges (Bruggs) was a "gentleman waiter in the presence chamber" and leased property from the Abbey in Tothill Street (his other daughters were Alice (1617-1695) who married the minister of St Margaret's Dr Gilbert Wimberley, Elizabeth and Martha).

A memorial to Elizabeth, daughter of Richard and Prudence, was also erected in the north aisle but is now partly hidden behind the organ. This is a rectangular tablet surrounded by an elaborate architectural frame with two columns and a basket urn above. The coats of arms shown are for Willis and Bridges (argent on a cross sable a leopards face or). The inscription reads:

To the pious memory of Elizabeth daughter of Richard Willis late of the parish Esq. by Prudence his second wife the daughter of Wymond Bridges, Esq. She lived beloved a great example of piety, modesty and ingenuity. She dyed a virgin much lamented in the 28th year of her age upon the 5th day of March An. Dom. 1674.