St Mary's Church, Acton, Cheshire, Welsh March, England, British Isles [Map]

Notes of the Churches of Cheshire. In the Woodhey chapel [of St Mary's Church, Acton [Map]] is a marble altar tomb, with recumbent effigies of Richard Wilbraham in plate armour and his wife Grace. At their feet are couchant wolves.

Inscription on on the south side: Of the most distinguished married couple. By Sir Richard Wilbraham, knight and baronet, son of Thomas Wilbraham of Woodhey, esquire, and Frances, daughter of Hugh Cholmondeley of Cholmondeley, knight, his only and most devoted wife, in both name and character, Grace, daughter of Sir John Savage of Rock Savage, knight and baronet. Both were worthy of heaven, greater than earth could contain, their piety, virtue, and faith made them so: He was brave, just, and wise; She was generous, kind, and devout. They were blessed with a large family, six sons and seven daughters. He died on April 3rd, 1643, at the age of 64. His grieving wife, unfortunate to outlive both husband and all her children, survived them. She died a widow of both husband and offspring on March 8th, 1661, at the age of 76. Lest future generations forget, a faithful daughter-in-law entrusted this sacred memory to marble.

Inscription on the north side: Stop, stranger; it will be worth your while to learn who lies here. Sir Thomas Wilbraham, baronet, son and heir of Sir Richard Wilbraham, knight and baronet, and his wife Grace. He married Elizabeth, co-heiress and daughter of Sir Roger Wilbraham, Knight Bachelor and Master of Requests to King James. He studied deeply in natural philosophy and theology, both in reading and writing. A man to be eternally celebrated for his supreme kindness, wisdom, charm, and integrity, though, due to his own humility and the injustice of the age, celebrated by few. He had seven sons, one daughter, many friends, and not a single enemy. A truly good man, he outlived the worst of times, and returned to heaven on October 31st, 1660. To her most beloved and most deserving husband, his mourning wife [set this up], until it may be granted her to embrace his beloved ashes, a monument breathing sorrow, though she herself will outlast it as a greater one.

South: Lectissimorum conjugum par Ricardus Wilbraham eques et baronettus, Thomæ Wilbraham de Woodhey armigeri et Francisca filiæ Hugonis Cholmondeley de Cholmondeley equitis filius, unica et pientissima uxor, nomine et re Gratia, Johannis Savage de Rock Savage, equitis et baronetti, filia. Utrosq' cœlo dignos, terris majores, reddiderant pietas, virtus, fides, hic fortis, justus, sapiens ; illa benefica, affabilis, pia, numerosa sobole, filiis sex, filiabus septem, donati. mortuus est 3° Apri's, An^o Domⁱ MDCXLIII ætat LXIV. Mæerens uxor marito et filiis omnibus supervixit infelix. Conjugis pariter et prolis vidua mortua est 8° Martis MDCLXI. ætat LXXVI ne posteros capiat oblivio hoc sacrum nurus fideli commisit marmori.

North: Siste advena, qui vir hic situs sit te more pretium erit Thomas Wilbraham, baronettus, Richardi Wilbraham, militis ac baronetti ac Gratiæ conjugis filius hæesq uxorem duxit Elizabetham, Rogeri Wilbraham, equitis aurati (regi Jacobo libellorum supplicum magistri), filiam cohæredem. Physicis, theologicis, perlegendo, scribendo, plurimum versatus summa humanitate, sapientia, amænitate et probitate æternum celebrandus; paucis tamen (humilitate propria, sæculoq. iniquo) celebris. Septem habuit filios, filiam unicam, amicos plurimos, inimicum neminem. Tempora optimus supervixit pessima, cælumq' rediit Oct. XXXI anno salutis MDCLX Amantissimo et optimè merenti conjugi uxor mærens P. usque dum dilectos cineres complecti datum sit, luctûs monumentum spirans, et majus ipsa superfutura.