Mary ALSTON [3205]

  General Notes:

CHESTER'S LONDON MARRIAGE LICENCES, 1521-1869.
London, Quaritch 1887. ALSTON.
James Langham, gent., of St. Helen, Bishopsgate, bachelor, 26, and MARY ALSTON, of St. Mary's Hill, London, spinster, 20, daughter of Edward Alston, of the same, doctor of physic, who consents, at Greet or Little St. Bartholomew, or St. Peter le Poor, 8 Dec., 1647.

Mary married Sir James Langham, 2nd Bart., of Cottesbroke, Northants (see Collins Baronetage, Vol.3)

Her funeral sermon delivered by Dr Reynolds, later Bishop of Norwich, said of Mary. In her youth "she had a propensity to atheism but as she advanced in years and understanding she became a Christian upon sound principles and rational conviction. . . . . no woman of her age was more religious or less superstitious. She was equally a stranger to moroseness and flights of bigotry and displayed a constant cheerfulness".
Mary had five children only Mary her namesake survived to adulthood.
She was buried in the south side of the altar in St. Helen's Church, Bishopsgate, London aged 32.
The Rev. J.A.L.Airey, Rector of St. Helen's has a very curious and interesting photograph of the leaden shroud enclosing the remains of Dame Mary Langham. The remains were found in the works connected with the restoration of the church in 1891/3. The coffin case had moulded into dust but its memorial plate was found resting on the shroud, thus identifying the remains.

There are a number of portraits of Mary at the National Portrait Gallery London.

Rosemary Woodbridge-Smith 2013
I had this response to an email that I sent to someone at St Helens church in Bishopsgate, London regarding Mary Langham and Sir Edward Alston. I plan to visit the church again next time I'm in London. I do remember reading somewhere about Mary's grave being opened at some stage, perhaps it was when they removed all the remains to Ilford.

"I have checked all our existing records and only found a reference in a 1904 book of St Helen's registers which shows Mary's burial in 1660 and Sir Edward in 1669. This reference book by 'The Harlein Society' states under Sir Edwards details that he and Mary were buried together just to the north of Sir John Crosby's tomb. Crosby's tomb is still in its original position, so it can reasonable be assumed where Mary and Edward were buried. The tomb was never marked with a ledger stone or memorial slab ( not uncommon) and was probably a simple brick covered in earth affair. All remains within the church were removed for re-ordering in 1894. All remains were put into a mass grave at City of London Cemetery, Ilford Essex."

Mary married Sir James LANGHAM 2nd Bart of Cottesbroke. [3206] [MRIN: 1081], son of Alderman Sir John LANGHAM 1st Bart of Cottesbrooke Northants. [3207] and Mary BUNCE [4870], on 8 Dec 1647 in Gt. or Lt. St. Bartholomew, London. (Sir James LANGHAM 2nd Bart of Cottesbroke. [3206] was born in 1621, died on 22 Aug 1699 in Lincoln's Inn Fields. and was buried in St Helens Bishopsgate London..)