Our first night in the English countryside was nothing short of a dream. Our cottage is lovely. We are just a short 5 minute drive to the nearest village of Boxford in the county of Suffolk. Complete with a woodfire stove, claw foot tub, and homemade jam and scones from our hosts. We feel right at home and very relaxed. Today was our first full day here. We slept late, after being exhausted from our travels. The sky was bright when we left the cottage in our muck boots. Camera in hand, we were ready for an adventure. Just a short drive from our lovely cottage, is the quaint village of Boxford.
Boxford, England
We parked on the side street and walked through town, toward the church. Boxford is a beautiful little village with a small population of only 833 people. It is a quinticential English country village. The homes here are the typical colorful yellows, pinks, and greens. They seem to all be made of brick or stucco. Rooftops are slate or wooden shakes. Some homes even have thatch roofs. It’s early February and the grass is green here. The atmosphere is a bit like that of the Pacific North West. The sky is blue, with a tinge of dark clouds in distance. It’s a bit chilly and wet, but the flowers are starting to bloom. Daffodilles and Forget-me-nots greeted us on our way through the village. Many of the cottages have plaques near their front doors with the cottage name. I feel as though I am in a storybook.
St. Mary’s Church
As we rounded the corner from the local market, we neared the church of St. Mary. The gate was open to the cemetary grounds, so we walked closer. A woman and her dog passed, and she stopped as we said hi to her dog. She asked where we were coming from and as we explained we were looking for my Great Grandpa’s tomb, she encouraged us to go inside the church. So we walked around the side door, where David popped his head in and then turned to motion me in. We walked into a church service. Father Rob came over to us and greeted us. He asked if we would like to stay for the service. I was SO thrilled to join for service at the church where my Grandfather was so heavily involved. We sang hymnals with their congregation, prayed, and donated to the church.
Finding William Doggett’s Tomb
When the service was over, Father Rob came to us and asked if we were in town visiting. I explained that we were looking for my 10th great grandfather, William Doggett’s tomb in the church. Our research had lead us here, and we were so hopeful that our research was accurate. We told him we had read that the tomb was under a carpet in the new part of the church.
At first Father Rob wasn’t sure who we were talking about, but he was so kind to take us to the side office behind the Nave. He opened the door for us and told us to have a look. My husband, David, was infront of me. When the door opened I coudnt see inside at first. But then David turned to me with a huge smile on his face and said, “It’s here!”
Paying Respects to my Great Grandpa Doggett
With goosebumps and emotions running high, I approched the door, looking down. There, preserved in stone with brass plaques, my Great Grandfather laid. I said to David, “I wish I had brought flowers.” Father Rob disappeared and came back with a red rose in hand. Almost teary eyed, I thanked him and walked inside the office. Standing over William’s grave I knelt down and placed the single red rose there. How long had it been since somone had paid their respects to him? To whom did he still matter? To me – he was the reason I had traveled nearly 4,000 miles, in search of a history that tied me directly to the Puritans who fled England under King James.
St. Mary’s
As we left the tomb, Father Rob approached us again. We had a lovely chat with him about the church. He gave us a book about the church history. In the book are pages describing William Doggett’s tomb and the meaning behind the four plaques. At the top, on the right-hand side, are the arms of the Mercers’ Company, and on the left that of the City of London. At the bottom on the right-hand side are the arms of the Merchant Adventurers, and on the left those of the East India Company, both now hidden by a fitted cupboard.
Doggett House
The story of William Doggett in my family tree is a fascinating one, and this tomb is just one small part of it. In the coming days, David and I will visit the Doggett’s home, also named, Groton Manor. The current owners have invited us over for a tour!! We are so thrilled. Stay tuned for photos and videos. The manor is only a few miles from us. It is a home that was lived in by William Doggett and his children. One of his grandsons, John Doggett, was among the Puritans who came to America on the Arabella ship, as part of the Great Migration of Puritans. The connections between John Doggett and John Winthrop run deep. John Winthrop purchased the Groton Manor before leaving for New England with John Doggett and his family.
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