Gravestones of the Donaldson-Hudson family

There are a  number of graves in the old churchyard of St Swithun's Church in Cheswardine.

Four members of the family are buried at the north east of the graveyard, adjacent to the road leading to the Old Hall.

Below is shown a general view of these gravestones

Charles Donaldson-Hudson's  grave is marked with a large stone cross bearing a copper plate on the east side with the following inscription:-

TO THE DEAR MEMORY OF 

CHARLES DONALDSON HUDSON

BORN FEBRUARY 12TH 1840

DIED APRIL 18TH 1893

THE SOULS OF THE RIGHTEOUS

AER IN THE HAND OF GOD.

Below is shown more clearly the text of Charles Donaldson-Hudson's memorial.

 Sara Marie Collier (nee Streatfeild), formerley married to Charles Donaldson-Hudson and secondly to Dr Charles Collier.

Violet Marie Donaldson-Hudson

 Ruth Donaldson-Hudson

Caroline Donaldson

The grave of Catherine Donaldson is at the back of the church, to the right of the path leading to group of Donaldson-Hudson graves to the north. It was hidden by rhododendron and holly bushes until recently and is not associated to any other family graves. Catherine was born in Wigton in Cumberland on the 8th August 1813, the daughter of a calico printer, Anthony Halliley. She married John Donaldson on the 10th December 1835. They had four children. Her husband died in May 1856 and afterwards spent some time living at Cheswardine Hall, and then moved to Charminster, Dorset to live with her daughter Annie and her son in law Robert Dymond. She died on the 28th November 1805 in Charminster. Caroline was known as "a woman of rough speech, pungent humour and rude uncouth manners". Her portrait shows an unattractive, unpleasant tempered woman in middle age, who to the distress of her relations, lived on to be nearly 92. Further information can be found on the main pages.

Michael Donaldson-Hudson.

His gravestone is sited in front of Charles Donaldson-Hudson's gravestone.

Helen Margaret Leche, nee Donaldson-Hudson

Her grave lies next to that of John Donaldson-Hudson on the south side of the church, to the east of the porch.

John Donaldson-Hudson and Dorothy Elizabeth Seth Smith, nee Freemantle and formerly the wife of John Donaldson-Hudson

John's grave is not with those shown above. It is found on the south side of the church, to the east of the porch.

Hersey Muriel Corbet

First wife of Michael Donaldson-Hudson later marring Reginald Charles Bowyer Astley-Sparke.inald Charles Bowyer Astley-Sp

Ralphn Charles Donaldson-Hudson and his wife Muriel Donaldson-Hudson nee Balfour.

Their joint graves lie to the south of the church tower at St Swithun's.