The Weald of Kent, Surrey and Sussex

The Life and Times of Benjamin Slight (1800-1889)
by Keith Bulley
published in 2007
Reproduced with the kind permission of Keith Bulley

 

On 19 July 1888, Benjamin made a second codicil to his will (increased legacies for his wife's relatives) and a third (for a further increased legacy for Frances Esther Grove, Catherine Morris, Christina SLIGHT his sister, and the ROBSON and BRUCE families) the following day.

On August Bank Holiday Monday, 5 August 1889, Benjamin appeared at the drawing-room window of his residence "Nenthorn" to address, as he had done in previous years, the Sunday school children as part of their annual treat. Already ill, he caught a chill and he had to retire to his bed a few days later. His condition worsened but he rallied sufficienty however on Friday 15 August to come down for family prayers. Not long before his death, Benjamin was told of the Jubilee celebrations at Hawkenbury and the opening of the new chapel there. His recovery was short-lived and he died at 2.30 on the afternoon of Saturday 17 August. Dr. John Magrath was sent for and certified the cause of death as "senile asthenia - hypostatic pulmonary congestion". Mary Grove had been present and registered the death on the Tuesday.

The morning following his death saw the Rev. Meek preaching a sermon mourning Benjamin's death on a text from Psalm cxvi. 15. "Precious in the sight of the Lord is the death of His saints".

Benjamin's funeral took place on Thursday 22 August. There was a brief, simple and well-attended service at Ashurst Wood Chapel conducted by Rev. James Caddell, Benjamin's old friend from Sevenoaks:

"The coffin was borne from the house to the chapel in the presence of the mourners and many of the Sunday-school children. It was carried by Messrs. B. Groves, J. Bowrah, H. Mitchell and E. Morris, and was placed on the platform where the pulpit usually stands. Among those present we noticed the Rev. W. J. and Mrs. Meek, Mr. J. R. Pearless, Mr. Mrs. and Miss Young, Mr. and Mrs. Jenks, Miss Owden, Mr. and Mrs. Martin, Miss Groves, Mr. and Mrs. Huggett, Mr. and Mrs. Bysh, Mrs. Potten, Mrs. Sayers, Mr. Jas. Waters, Mr. and Mrs. G. J. Vince, Mr. and Mrs. McNaughton, Mr. H. Mills, Mrs. Cox, Mr. and Mrs. John Waters, Mr. and Mrs. Baxendale, Mr. and Mrs. Mitchell, Mr. Groves, Mrs. Tester, Miss Hooker, &c. The chief mourners present were Mr. Robson (nephew), Mrs. Phillips (niece), Mr. Suermondt (great nephew from Rotterdam) and Miss Morris (adopted daughter). At the conclusion of the service, the coffin, which was of polished oak, with massive brass furniture and covered with some beautiful wreaths, was placed in a hearse and taken to Tunbridge Wells, the congregation following a portion of the way."

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