When entering St Munchin’s Church of Ireland graveyard turning to the right following the path around the church, you can’t help but to be struck by the beauty of the ornate gravemarker to the memory of Major Thomas Pakenham Vandeleur. The white gravemarker in a basic cross shape is ornately carved with vines and a dove.
Vandeleur Headstone reads:
Erected by his surviving children in loving memory of Major Thomas Pakenham Vandeleur
25 years Treasurer of the County of Limerick, who died at Bellefield, January 17. 1879. Aged 80 years.
And of Frances Lucy his wife, who died Octoer 9th 1891, aged 75 years.
Thou Shalt Call and I will answer Thee. Jo 11th Chap 15th Verse.
Also their children
Thomas Pakenham, died March 6th 1830 aged 6 months
Charlotte, February 10th 1837 aged 2 months
Frances, March 26th 1840, aged 15 months
Zina, March 12th 1848 aged 6 years
William Wray, March 10th 1852, aged 11 years
Susan, December 10th 1859, aged 12 years
Ormesby Henry, Lieut 49th M.N.I. died at Rangoon, May 3rd 1864 aged 24 years
It appears that many of the family including William Wray were interred in St John’s Church of Ireland, not in St Munchin’s Church of Ireland where this memorial is.
Major Thomas Pakenham Vandeleur, was born in November 1798 and died on 17th January 1879 at Belfied, Limerick. He entered the army in 1815 and served in the 85th Regiment and 21st Fusiliers. In 1830 he sold his commission and retired from the army.
The obituaries links come via Limerick Local Studies section of Limerick Library