William and Jane Outram

William Outram (or Owtram), Canon of Westminster from 1670-1679, is buried in the south transept of Westminster Abbey. On the wall is a white marble monument surmounted by an urn. The Latin inscription can be translated:

Near this place lies William Outram D.D. born in Derbyshire, fellow of Trinity and Christ College in Cambridge, Canon of this church and Archdeacon of Leicester. A deep and finished divine, in all respects, a nervous and accurate writer, an excellent and constant preacher, first in Lincolnshire, afterwards at London, and at length at St Margaret's Westminster, where he finished the course of his life with great applause and no less success; but in so great labours and intentness of mind he being so inflamed with study of scripture and the Holy Fathers, grew much distempered with the gravel [disease of the kidneys] with which being long afflicted, and at length worn out, he ended his life with the utmost composure of mind, 23rd August 1679 having completed his 54th year

On the base below has been added:

After a long decline into a God fearing old age, after 42 years of widowhood, here lies Jane, wife of William Outram D.D. most dear to heaven, beloved of many, universally renowned for her life lived according to the highest principles, her piety towards God, her loyalty to her friends, and her charity to the poor. In honour of the deceased and for an ensample to the living. She died the 4th day of October 1721.

He was a son of Robert Outram of Derbyshire and was born 17th March 1636. He was rector of Navenby in Lincolnshire and then at St Mary Woolnoth, London and served as curate at St Margaret's, adjoining the Abbey, from 1664 until his death. The couple appear to have had no children.

Further reading

Oxford Dictionary of National Biography

Jane's will is at The National Archives, Kew, Surrey