St Andrew's, West Dean, West Sussex.
Gravestone of Daniel James and Elizabeth Woodbridge (Phelps) James
In the graveyard of St. Andrew's church in West Dean, West Sussex there is a gravestone for Daniel and Elizabeth Wood¬bridge (Phelps) James, who died in 1876 and 1847 respectively. The inscription reads:
In memory of Elizabeth Woodbridge,
the beloved wife of Daniel James, of this town,
and eldest daughter of Anson G. Phelps Esqr,
of New York, who died June 19th 1847, aged 39 years,
also of the above Daniel James,
for upward of 46 years a resident of this town,
born at Truxton, state of New York U.S.A. April 17th 1801,
died at his residence Beaconsfield, Woolton,
November 27th 1876.
The story behind the stone includes the founding of a dynasty that became one of the richest in America, the creation and development of one of America's largest companies, the tale of a New York grocer whose son would entertain the King of England (Edward VII) and the love of a man for his dead wife.
Daniel was the eldest of twelve children born to a Connecticut farmer in 1801. He left home to make his living in New York, walking barefoot to preserve his only pair of shoes. By the time he met and fell in love with Elizabeth he was a successful wholesale-grocer. Elizabeth's father was Anson G Phelps, a New York based merchant who dabbled in many fields of commerce, but primarily exported cotton to Britain and imported metals in return. After Daniel married Elizabeth in 1829, Phelps invited him to join the family firm and move to England to work in their Liverpool office. By late 1833 and with just a few years experience in mercantile, Daniel was made a partner and put in charge of the Liverpool operation - Phelps, James & Co.
The first real test of his ability came in 1837 when a financial crisis in America brought his business to the point of bankruptcy. It was a story all too familiar to us now: banks would not lend money, customers would not or could not pay their bills and Daniel's partners had high stock levels. The slowness of communication between America and the UK added to their problems; this was before the telegraph and a letter could take a month to cross the Atlantic in sailing ships. By 1842 the worst of the recession was over, Daniel had paid off his debts and the mercantile business began to thrive again. He developed interests in lumber, had directorships on other companies and his status in the community was such that he was elected chairman of the cotton workers' relief fund in 1863.
Sadly, just as he became successful Daniel lost Elizabeth. She had not enjoyed the best of health and died in 1847. She was buried in the Liverpool Necropolis, a cemetery built on the outskirts of the expanding and overcrowded city. Their son Daniel Willis, who was 15 when his mother died, left home two years later to work in the family business in New York. In 1879 he would take joint control of the company (Phelps, Dodge & Co) and help turn it into one of the biggest copper producers in the world and in the process become one of the richest men in America.
Daniel remarried in 1849 to Sophia Hitchcock and they had three sons. When Sophia died, Daniel married for a third time at the age of 70 to his children's former governess. However, she would have know that he still deeply loved his first wife Elizabeth as he chose to be buried with her, and when he died in 1876 his wish was granted.
Daniel and Sophia's youngest son was William Dodge James, who at 25 inherited his share of the fortune left by his father. He married and took residence in West Dean House, West Sussex; an estate consisting of farms, woodlands, villages and an imposing house overlooking the South Downs. His wife Evelyn was a favourite of the Prince of Wales (future Edward VII) and he often attended house parties and shoots at West Dean, not concerned that his host was the son of a grocer.
Back in Liverpool, there were plans to make alterations to the Necropolis, final resting place for Daniel and his first wife Elizabeth. The sheer number of burials over the years had created unsanitary conditions in the surrounding area. The council took control of the site and over a period of several years turned it into a park. The bodies of those buried there were not exhumed but the gravestones and memorial were removed. It was at this time that William James arranged for the gravestone to be transferred to the church just behind his house in West Sussex, where it remains today.
West Dean was inherited by William's son Edward who created a foundation, turning the house into an educational establishment with the grounds open to the public. A door in the wall at the rear of the house takes the visitor though to the church and just to the right is the gravestone of Daniel and Elizabeth, a memorial for two Americans in love, who made Britain their home and now lie in an unmarked grave together in Liverpool.
Gravestone of Daniel James and Elizabeth Woodbridge (Phelps) James
In the graveyard of St. Andrew's church in West Dean, West Sussex there is a gravestone for Daniel and Elizabeth Wood¬bridge (Phelps) James, who died in 1876 and 1847 respectively. The inscription reads:
In memory of Elizabeth Woodbridge,
the beloved wife of Daniel James, of this town,
and eldest daughter of Anson G. Phelps Esqr,
of New York, who died June 19th 1847, aged 39 years,
also of the above Daniel James,
for upward of 46 years a resident of this town,
born at Truxton, state of New York U.S.A. April 17th 1801,
died at his residence Beaconsfield, Woolton,
November 27th 1876.
The story behind the stone includes the founding of a dynasty that became one of the richest in America, the creation and development of one of America's largest companies, the tale of a New York grocer whose son would entertain the King of England (Edward VII) and the love of a man for his dead wife.
Daniel was the eldest of twelve children born to a Connecticut farmer in 1801. He left home to make his living in New York, walking barefoot to preserve his only pair of shoes. By the time he met and fell in love with Elizabeth he was a successful wholesale-grocer. Elizabeth's father was Anson G Phelps, a New York based merchant who dabbled in many fields of commerce, but primarily exported cotton to Britain and imported metals in return. After Daniel married Elizabeth in 1829, Phelps invited him to join the family firm and move to England to work in their Liverpool office. By late 1833 and with just a few years experience in mercantile, Daniel was made a partner and put in charge of the Liverpool operation - Phelps, James & Co.
The first real test of his ability came in 1837 when a financial crisis in America brought his business to the point of bankruptcy. It was a story all too familiar to us now: banks would not lend money, customers would not or could not pay their bills and Daniel's partners had high stock levels. The slowness of communication between America and the UK added to their problems; this was before the telegraph and a letter could take a month to cross the Atlantic in sailing ships. By 1842 the worst of the recession was over, Daniel had paid off his debts and the mercantile business began to thrive again. He developed interests in lumber, had directorships on other companies and his status in the community was such that he was elected chairman of the cotton workers' relief fund in 1863.
Sadly, just as he became successful Daniel lost Elizabeth. She had not enjoyed the best of health and died in 1847. She was buried in the Liverpool Necropolis, a cemetery built on the outskirts of the expanding and overcrowded city. Their son Daniel Willis, who was 15 when his mother died, left home two years later to work in the family business in New York. In 1879 he would take joint control of the company (Phelps, Dodge & Co) and help turn it into one of the biggest copper producers in the world and in the process become one of the richest men in America.
Daniel remarried in 1849 to Sophia Hitchcock and they had three sons. When Sophia died, Daniel married for a third time at the age of 70 to his children's former governess. However, she would have know that he still deeply loved his first wife Elizabeth as he chose to be buried with her, and when he died in 1876 his wish was granted.
Daniel and Sophia's youngest son was William Dodge James, who at 25 inherited his share of the fortune left by his father. He married and took residence in West Dean House, West Sussex; an estate consisting of farms, woodlands, villages and an imposing house overlooking the South Downs. His wife Evelyn was a favourite of the Prince of Wales (future Edward VII) and he often attended house parties and shoots at West Dean, not concerned that his host was the son of a grocer.
Back in Liverpool, there were plans to make alterations to the Necropolis, final resting place for Daniel and his first wife Elizabeth. The sheer number of burials over the years had created unsanitary conditions in the surrounding area. The council took control of the site and over a period of several years turned it into a park. The bodies of those buried there were not exhumed but the gravestones and memorial were removed. It was at this time that William James arranged for the gravestone to be transferred to the church just behind his house in West Sussex, where it remains today.
West Dean was inherited by William's son Edward who created a foundation, turning the house into an educational establishment with the grounds open to the public. A door in the wall at the rear of the house takes the visitor though to the church and just to the right is the gravestone of Daniel and Elizabeth, a memorial for two Americans in love, who made Britain their home and now lie in an unmarked grave together in Liverpool.
St Andrew's, West Dean, West Sussex.
Gravestone of Daniel James and Elizabeth Woodbridge (Phelps) James
In the graveyard of St. Andrew's church in West Dean, West Sussex there is a gravestone for Daniel and Elizabeth Wood¬bridge (Phelps) James, who died in 1876 and 1847 respectively. The inscription reads:
In memory of Elizabeth Woodbridge,
the beloved wife of Daniel James, of this town,
and eldest daughter of Anson G. Phelps Esqr,
of New York, who died June 19th 1847, aged 39 years,
also of the above Daniel James,
for upward of 46 years a resident of this town,
born at Truxton, state of New York U.S.A. April 17th 1801,
died at his residence Beaconsfield, Woolton,
November 27th 1876.
The story behind the stone includes the founding of a dynasty that became one of the richest in America, the creation and development of one of America's largest companies, the tale of a New York grocer whose son would entertain the King of England (Edward VII) and the love of a man for his dead wife.
Daniel was the eldest of twelve children born to a Connecticut farmer in 1801. He left home to make his living in New York, walking barefoot to preserve his only pair of shoes. By the time he met and fell in love with Elizabeth he was a successful wholesale-grocer. Elizabeth's father was Anson G Phelps, a New York based merchant who dabbled in many fields of commerce, but primarily exported cotton to Britain and imported metals in return. After Daniel married Elizabeth in 1829, Phelps invited him to join the family firm and move to England to work in their Liverpool office. By late 1833 and with just a few years experience in mercantile, Daniel was made a partner and put in charge of the Liverpool operation - Phelps, James & Co.
The first real test of his ability came in 1837 when a financial crisis in America brought his business to the point of bankruptcy. It was a story all too familiar to us now: banks would not lend money, customers would not or could not pay their bills and Daniel's partners had high stock levels. The slowness of communication between America and the UK added to their problems; this was before the telegraph and a letter could take a month to cross the Atlantic in sailing ships. By 1842 the worst of the recession was over, Daniel had paid off his debts and the mercantile business began to thrive again. He developed interests in lumber, had directorships on other companies and his status in the community was such that he was elected chairman of the cotton workers' relief fund in 1863.
Sadly, just as he became successful Daniel lost Elizabeth. She had not enjoyed the best of health and died in 1847. She was buried in the Liverpool Necropolis, a cemetery built on the outskirts of the expanding and overcrowded city. Their son Daniel Willis, who was 15 when his mother died, left home two years later to work in the family business in New York. In 1879 he would take joint control of the company (Phelps, Dodge & Co) and help turn it into one of the biggest copper producers in the world and in the process become one of the richest men in America.
Daniel remarried in 1849 to Sophia Hitchcock and they had three sons. When Sophia died, Daniel married for a third time at the age of 70 to his children's former governess. However, she would have know that he still deeply loved his first wife Elizabeth as he chose to be buried with her, and when he died in 1876 his wish was granted.
Daniel and Sophia's youngest son was William Dodge James, who at 25 inherited his share of the fortune left by his father. He married and took residence in West Dean House, West Sussex; an estate consisting of farms, woodlands, villages and an imposing house overlooking the South Downs. His wife Evelyn was a favourite of the Prince of Wales (future Edward VII) and he often attended house parties and shoots at West Dean, not concerned that his host was the son of a grocer.
Back in Liverpool, there were plans to make alterations to the Necropolis, final resting place for Daniel and his first wife Elizabeth. The sheer number of burials over the years had created unsanitary conditions in the surrounding area. The council took control of the site and over a period of several years turned it into a park. The bodies of those buried there were not exhumed but the gravestones and memorial were removed. It was at this time that William James arranged for the gravestone to be transferred to the church just behind his house in West Sussex, where it remains today.
West Dean was inherited by William's son Edward who created a foundation, turning the house into an educational establishment with the grounds open to the public. A door in the wall at the rear of the house takes the visitor though to the church and just to the right is the gravestone of Daniel and Elizabeth, a memorial for two Americans in love, who made Britain their home and now lie in an unmarked grave together in Liverpool.
Gravestone of Daniel James and Elizabeth Woodbridge (Phelps) James
In the graveyard of St. Andrew's church in West Dean, West Sussex there is a gravestone for Daniel and Elizabeth Wood¬bridge (Phelps) James, who died in 1876 and 1847 respectively. The inscription reads:
In memory of Elizabeth Woodbridge,
the beloved wife of Daniel James, of this town,
and eldest daughter of Anson G. Phelps Esqr,
of New York, who died June 19th 1847, aged 39 years,
also of the above Daniel James,
for upward of 46 years a resident of this town,
born at Truxton, state of New York U.S.A. April 17th 1801,
died at his residence Beaconsfield, Woolton,
November 27th 1876.
The story behind the stone includes the founding of a dynasty that became one of the richest in America, the creation and development of one of America's largest companies, the tale of a New York grocer whose son would entertain the King of England (Edward VII) and the love of a man for his dead wife.
Daniel was the eldest of twelve children born to a Connecticut farmer in 1801. He left home to make his living in New York, walking barefoot to preserve his only pair of shoes. By the time he met and fell in love with Elizabeth he was a successful wholesale-grocer. Elizabeth's father was Anson G Phelps, a New York based merchant who dabbled in many fields of commerce, but primarily exported cotton to Britain and imported metals in return. After Daniel married Elizabeth in 1829, Phelps invited him to join the family firm and move to England to work in their Liverpool office. By late 1833 and with just a few years experience in mercantile, Daniel was made a partner and put in charge of the Liverpool operation - Phelps, James & Co.
The first real test of his ability came in 1837 when a financial crisis in America brought his business to the point of bankruptcy. It was a story all too familiar to us now: banks would not lend money, customers would not or could not pay their bills and Daniel's partners had high stock levels. The slowness of communication between America and the UK added to their problems; this was before the telegraph and a letter could take a month to cross the Atlantic in sailing ships. By 1842 the worst of the recession was over, Daniel had paid off his debts and the mercantile business began to thrive again. He developed interests in lumber, had directorships on other companies and his status in the community was such that he was elected chairman of the cotton workers' relief fund in 1863.
Sadly, just as he became successful Daniel lost Elizabeth. She had not enjoyed the best of health and died in 1847. She was buried in the Liverpool Necropolis, a cemetery built on the outskirts of the expanding and overcrowded city. Their son Daniel Willis, who was 15 when his mother died, left home two years later to work in the family business in New York. In 1879 he would take joint control of the company (Phelps, Dodge & Co) and help turn it into one of the biggest copper producers in the world and in the process become one of the richest men in America.
Daniel remarried in 1849 to Sophia Hitchcock and they had three sons. When Sophia died, Daniel married for a third time at the age of 70 to his children's former governess. However, she would have know that he still deeply loved his first wife Elizabeth as he chose to be buried with her, and when he died in 1876 his wish was granted.
Daniel and Sophia's youngest son was William Dodge James, who at 25 inherited his share of the fortune left by his father. He married and took residence in West Dean House, West Sussex; an estate consisting of farms, woodlands, villages and an imposing house overlooking the South Downs. His wife Evelyn was a favourite of the Prince of Wales (future Edward VII) and he often attended house parties and shoots at West Dean, not concerned that his host was the son of a grocer.
Back in Liverpool, there were plans to make alterations to the Necropolis, final resting place for Daniel and his first wife Elizabeth. The sheer number of burials over the years had created unsanitary conditions in the surrounding area. The council took control of the site and over a period of several years turned it into a park. The bodies of those buried there were not exhumed but the gravestones and memorial were removed. It was at this time that William James arranged for the gravestone to be transferred to the church just behind his house in West Sussex, where it remains today.
West Dean was inherited by William's son Edward who created a foundation, turning the house into an educational establishment with the grounds open to the public. A door in the wall at the rear of the house takes the visitor though to the church and just to the right is the gravestone of Daniel and Elizabeth, a memorial for two Americans in love, who made Britain their home and now lie in an unmarked grave together in Liverpool.
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