Memorial to Capt. Stephen Hutchens

Original

Bounas heb dueth Eu poes karens wei Tha Pobl Bohodzhack Paull han Eglis nei.

SWF

Bownans heb diwedh yw powas kerensa hwi dhe bobel boghojek Paul ha'n eglos nei.

Translation

Eternal life is the reward of your love to the poor people of Paul and our church.

Notes

• John Boson 1709 (PBE says perhaps by Gwavas. Gwavas also writes 'karenz' for kerensa in Letter to John Boson)
• This is a Cornish inscription at Paul church in Penwith, on a memorial to Captain Stephen Hutchens who came from Paul. An English inscription reads “Stephen Hutchens of this parish, who departed this life at Port Royall in Jamaica, the 24th day of August, 1709. He hath given one hundred pounds towards the repairing and beautifying this church, and six hundred pounds for building a house for six poor men and six poor women born in this parish.”
• A more liberal English translation is often given: "Eternal life be his whose loving care gave Paul an alms-house and the church repair".

Links

• Modern Cornish http://moderncornish.net/late-texts/Boson-John-memorialtocaptstephenhutchens.html
• West Penwith - Paul Church http://west-penwith.org.uk/paul1.htm

Further reading

• Cornwall, by Arthur L Salmon, 1903, page 229 http://www.forgottenbooks.com/readbook_text/Cornwall_1000767718/229
• The Cornish Language and Its Literature, Peter Berresford Ellis, 1974. p98