For almost 200 years there had been a doctor resident in Bow. I was the twenty-ninth.
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THE MEDICAL GENTLEMEN OF BOW
Christopher Lethbridge (1610 - 1670) of Exeter
Christopher Lethbridge was born at Walson, near Bow, but within Clannaborough Parish. This memorial to him and his first wife Maria née Jourdain is on the North wall of the ancient church of St Mary Arches in Exeter. They had ten children. The monument was erected by the only one to survive, Johanna, wife of William Trevill.
In his 1669 will Lethbridge endowed the building of six alms houses for the poor of Exeter, as well as the distribution of bread to churchgoers in Bow.
Detail below, and a transcription.
PIAE MEMORIAE
CHRISTOPHORI LETHBRIDGE ARMIGERI
HUJUS CIVITATIS NUPER PRAETORIS. SIMVL AC MARIAE UXORIS
EJUS QUI POST VARIA PIETATIS ET CHARITATIS OFFICIA SUMMA FIDELITATE
PERACTA PLACIDE IN DOMINO OBDORMIVERUNT HAEC 15 MAIJ ANNO
DONI 1659 : ILLE 28 JULII ANNOQ. DOMINI 1670.
READER
IF THOU MORE THAN THE NAME WOULDST HEAR
FOR WHOM THIS HEARSE DOTH THUS APPEAR,
THE SOBER RIGHTEOUS GODLY MEN
WILL TELL THEE SHE WAS ONE LIKE THEM
A VIRTUOUS WIFE, HIS HELP MOST MEET,
ERST MADE HER DRESS HER WINDING SHEET
WITH CHILDREN TEN THEY BOTH WERE BLEST
ONE YET SURVIVES AND NINE AT REST
FAILES THIS THY CURIOSITY
THEN VIEW HIS WORKES OF CHARITY
THE POOR HE DID AND DOTH RELIEVE
TO HIM GOD GAVE A HEART TO GIVE,
FROM HENCE THAT THOU MAYST PROFIT MAKE
DO HIM FOR THINE EXAMPLE TAKE
STAND NOT AT GAZE TO FEED THINE EYES
GIVE GOD THE PRAISE AND DOE LIKEWISE.
JOHANNA FILIA ET HERES UNICA SUPERSTES UXOR GULIELMI
TREVILL DE BUTSHEAD AR. INSERENS POSUIT.
QUAE OBIJT 5° JULY A° DOM 1706.
