Abt 1743 - 1809 (66 years)
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| Name |
Abraham Leggatt |
| Prefix |
Dr. |
| Birth |
Abt 1743 |
| Gender |
Male |
| Death |
2 Aug 1809 |
Isles of Scilly, England  |
- In 1809 the Vicar of St Mary's Church, Old Town St Mary's, the Reverend William Tremayne, was requested to undertake one of the most unusual burials ever to have taken place on the Isles of Scilly. Appended to the Will of surgeon Abraham Leggatt, late member of the Council of Twelve, were detailed instructions as to the interment of his body in the Old Town churchyard. He was to be laid to rest in a stone coffin which was to be positioned by the south wall of the churchyard, not horizontal but placed in a vertical position so that the top section containing his head would allow him a view over Old Town Bay.
The top section of the stone sarcophagus / coffin, which acts as his headstone can be seen just above the wall to the right of the second entrance to the churchyard when taking the path towards Peninnis Head from Old Town Bay. It stands above the wall, about 2.5 metre from the path, the face & back stones appear to be slate-like and metal clips retain the two sides. [SV 91140, 10047].
It would appear that his wishes were carried out to the letter (or memorandum). Unfortunately the detailed instructions for his burial do not survive with the Will. This Will is reproduced below. When you read the underlined section, I think we must conclude that wanting to be buried in this manner is correct.
There are local stories that state he was a bachelor who, being in love with a young woman living on the other side of Old Town Bay, was the reason for the graves position looking out over the Bay. I suppose he could have been in love with the woman but if you study his remarkable Will it is very clear that he was certainly not a bachelor! Who Elizabeth Cooper is, is another matter!
Leggatt a naval surgeon appears first in the records to have been a church warden at St Mary's Church in Cardiff in 1772. He is also recorded as a surgeon in Cardiff c. 1769 to 1777. He appears to have come to Scilly c. 1779 and was appointed to the new Council of Twelve on the 28th May, 1783 by Francis Lord Godolphin. Later he became Deputy Commissary of Musters.
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| Burial |
Old Town churchyard, Isles of Scilly, England |
| Person ID |
I78188 |
My Genealogy |
| Last Modified |
7 Apr 2023 |
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| Notes |
- Abraham Leggett, Esq., of Cardiff, Glamorganshire
Lieutenant Thomas Lemon of the Royal Marines, whose wife is my niece,
He was a naval surgeon.
He appears first in the records to have been a church warden at St Mary's Church in Cardiff in 1772. He is also recorded as a surgeon in Cardiff c. 1769 to 1777.
He appears to have come to Scilly c. 1779 and was appointed to the new Council of Twelve on the 28th of May 1783 by Francis Lord Godolphin. Later he became Deputy Commissary of Musters.
Will (Extract:) by Abraham Leggatt, St Mary's Scilly 16th May 1807 Witness Elizabeth Cooper.
• twenty pounds to Lieutenant Thomas Lemon of the Royal Marines, whose wife is my niece, and whom I took to as my own child
• my three daughters, Ann Douglas, Elizabeth Lemon and Fanny Dennis.
• Sam Lemon, all my small silver buttons and my small silver stick.
• Mrs Douglas to have the Russian coat returned to her, also Murphy's horix [sic] and the lime kiln. • Jos. Douglas to have my red coat and large silver buttons, old Jack and the colt.
• Thomas Leggatt, the house he lives in, the gun he uses, my hone and all the shaving utensils and the large straw chair
• Andrew Leggatt to have the little mare.
• Mrs Robotham at [End] Pool in Wales, a dozen of wine and a gallon of spirits
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