This part gravestone has turned out to be the bottom part of gravestone 39 (George and Lydia Miller). When East Boldre Community Stores bought the chapel it was found tucked behind other gravestones. The width of the two stones is the same (63.2cm) and the groove detail inset from the edges aligned.

 

Having excavated the base of gravestone 39 the break along its bottom edge matched the break along the top edge of this gravestone. The two have now been re-united as a single gravestone by Colin Avery, an expert in gravestone restoration.

 

The first part of the inscription refers to Lydia Miller who, according to the chapel burial registers died in March 1846 aged 74.

​​

George and Lydia had a son Isaac on 27th Feb 1804, the third of their 8 children. He was baptised on 11th March 1804 at Beaulieu church.

​

Isaac married Ann Westbrook, a widow, at St. George the Martyr in Southwark in 1837. The 1841 census shows them living in Lyndhurst with her three daughters from her previous marriage.

​

Isaac's death was registered in St Pancras in 1845.

​

George, Lydia and Isaac all died in the mid 1840's which is most likely why they were all commemorated on the same gravestone.​​​