Stone family

George Stone, archbishop of Armagh, was buried in the north aisle of the nave of Westminster Abbey on 28th December 1764. He was born on 7th January 1708, youngest son of Andrew Stone, eminent banker of London, and his wife Anne Holbrooke. After education at Westminster School, where he was a King's Scholar, he was elected to Christ Church, Oxford after which he was ordained. The Duke of Dorset, Lord Lieutenant of Ireland, employed him as one of his chaplains. He quickly attained preferment to be Dean of Ferns and Leighlin,and later bishop there from 1740, Dean and later Bishop of Derry, Bishop of Kildare and finally Archbishop of Armagh in Ireland. He was made archbishop in 1747 but was not enthroned until September 1752. He died unmarried, of gout, at his brother's house in Privy Garden, Whitehall. His coffin lay in state in the Jerusalem Chamber in the Abbey prior to burial.

His brother Andrew Stone was baptised in February 1703 and also educated at Westminster School and Christ Church. He followed a political career and was private secretary to the Duke of Newcastle. He was tutor to George III when he was Prince of Wales, and treasurer to Queen Charlotte, under secretary of state, secretary to the island of Barbados and Member of Parliament for Hastings. He married Hannah, daughter of Stephen Mauvillain, at Tooting on 7th July 1743. Their only son Thomas died young and was buried in the nave. Andrew died at his house in Whitehall and was buried in the nave on 24th December 1773 and Hannah on 13th June 1782. Hannah's sister Sarah was buried with her.

Another brother Richard Stone married Mary Harris in the Abbey on 17th February 1737. He died on 29th May 1763 and is buried in Barking churchyard.

Anne Stone, sister of the above, married William Barnard, bishop of Derry, who was buried in the Abbey.

Unfortunately the gravestones to this family were removed, with many others, when the nave floor was re-laid in 1834. Small lozenge stones with names and dates replaced them but most of these, being worn away, are now covered by a modern stone to William Herschel. Only George's small stone can now be seen. However the original inscriptions were recorded and the Latin can be translated:

Here lies Andrew Stone, treasurer to queen Charlotte. Died 16 December 1773 aged 71. And Thomas Stone his son died 7 February 1761 aged 12. Here are also deposited the remains of Hannah, wife of Andrew Stone, died 5 June 1782 aged 73. In the same tomb lies buried Sara Mauvillain sister of Hannah Stone died 22 January 1804 aged 91

The stone showed his coat of arms "Three cinquefoils, a chief azure".

Here lies the body of George Stone, S.T.P. [professor of sacred theology], archbishop of Armagh, Primate of All Ireland and Metropolitan. Died December 19 1764 aged 57.

George's stone included the carved arms of the see of Armagh impaling Stone.

Further reading for Andrew and his sons Andrew and George

Oxford Dictionary of National Biography 2004 for Andrew and George

Also buried in the Abbey, unrelated to the above family, are Robert Stone, Gentleman of the Chapel Royal who died aged 96 and was buried in the cloisters on 3rd July 1613. A native of Devon he served at the Chapel Royal from about 1553 until his death. His son John was a Lay Vicar at the Abbey from 1591 and was buried with his father on 6th June 1617. John was present at the funeral of Elizabeth I and the coronation of James I.

A James Stone was buried in the Little Cloister on 10th June 1786 aged 57. The position of his burial indicates he occupied a "humble" position, possibly a servant to one of the clergy.