ABSTRACT
On a brass plaque in St. Margaret’s Church, Westminster, the grieving parents of ten-year-old Susanna Gray memorialized their daughter, enumerating their motives for doing so. These motives were widely held in common by creators of monuments for children in post-Reformation England:
Hallelujah Here under waiting for a glorious Resurrection rests ye body of Susanna Gray, Daughter of Henry Gray of Enfeild in ye Countie of Stafford Esq. She dyed ye 29 of October: 1654 Being Neare 10. Years of Age. First that such virtues as She practiced may encourage others to imitate her 2: That they may not fall into oblivion. 3: That other may see, tis not in vaine to be such. Ye most impartiall of them yt knew her thought it Justice, to her Memory to leave this testimony that she was the most modest, pious, & learned that hath beene knowne of her yeares.1
