Joseph Twigg served the Meynell family of Hoar Cross Hall for thirty seven years.
Towards the bank of the west side of the church, a headstone lies flat belonging to Joseph Twigg. The inscription reads:
JOSEPH TWIGG
WHO DIED AT HOAR CROSS
14TH JANUARY 1870
AGED 74 YEARS
FAITHFUL AND
VALUED SERVANT
OF HUGO
CHARLES MEYNELL
INGRAM ESQ FOR
THIRTY SEVEN YEARS
After researching the census records we found Joseph in 1841 working and living as a servant for Mr Meynell and his family in St James, Golden Square, Middlesex. In 1851 the family were living at Hoar Cross Hall with Joseph listed as their house servant. By 1861 Joseph is still serving the family as their Butler and he remained in this post until his death in January 1870
.As there was no church at Hoar Cross until 1876, Joseph was buried at St Nicholas Church, Abbots Bromley on the 19th of January 1870. He was buried near to his sister, Hannah Harvey who died a few years earlier. Although Joseph never married it is clear that the Meynell family truly valued him and Joseph dedicated his life to them in return.
.Joseph’s headstone was one of the first to catch our eye which gave us the idea of setting up the Churchyard Maintenance Fund. We’d truly love to see this grand headstone standing upright again.
If you would like to donate to the Churchyard Maintenance Fund you can do so by either leaving a donation at The Cash Stores or The Pie Shak, High Ash. You can also donate online via our JustGiving page.
Even sharing this post can help, if you are unable to donate please consider sharing Joseph’s story – we’d also love to find out more about him if anyone has any information.
Thank you for your continued support and for reading about this project.
Abbots Bromley Nostalgia Team