Sr Anthony Irby, Irby Tomb, St Mary’s church, Whaplode

Sir Anthony Irby 1576-1610 was the son of Sir Anthony Irby and Alice, daughter of Thomas Welby of Moulton. His wife Elizabeth was the daughter of Sir John Peyton of Iselham Cambridge, she died in 1625. He was a politician, and was knighted by James I on 23 July 1603. He was an investor in the Virginia company.
The Irby residence, Irby Hall, was almost a mile to the south of the church, and the family exerted quite an influence on the church.
The eldest son Anthony, also Sir Anthony, depicted as the largest of the children on the north side of the tomb, was Sheriff of Lincolnshire and represented Boston in Parliament, and became one of Cromwell’s commanders during the Civil War. He married Frances Wray in 1623, daughter of William Wray of Glentworth SK9488 : Sir William Wray 1555 – 1617
Of the five remaining children in the family, one is depicted holding a skull, which indicates that she died in early infancy. Two more factors that can be gleaned from the tomb are that the original Sir Anthony died at home (or at least away from battle), since at the foot of his effigy is a collared hound, instead of a rampant lion to indicate his death in battle. At the foot of his wife is a Griffin, which indicates that she was of Welsh stock, probably an aristocrat.
The canopied ten poster tomb is Sited at the west end of the south aisle. Surrounding the tomb on either side are the five children of their marriage, three boys beside their father on his left, and two girls alongside their mother, on her right. Sir Anthony and his wife have their heads resting on pillows and their feet braced against their respective family mementoes
The inscription on the tomb reads:
“Heere lieth buried Sr Anthonie Irby Knight sonne of Anthonie Irby esquire and Alice his wife daughter of Thomas Welbie esquire which Sr Anthonie tooke to wife, Elizabeth daughter of Sr John Peyton of Iselham in the countie of Cambridge knight and baronet of the noble race of the Uffordes sometimes Earls of Suffolk by whome he had issue Sr Anthonie Irby knight Edward Thomas Alice and Elizabeth who died an infant; Sr Anthonie the eldest married his first wife Fraunces daughter of Sir William Wray knight and baronet and Fraunces his wife daughter and coheire to Sir William Drury of Halsted in Suffolk; his second Margaret daughter of Sr Richard Smith of the countie of Kent knight.”