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Sonning Church

South Wall: Alabaster Mural Monument
with Kneeling Figure

Katherine, Lady Litcott, was the second daughter of William Barker of Sonning (d.1575) and married, firstly, William Yonge (d.1584) Esq. of Basildon in Berkshire, by whom she had a son, William (dsp.1618; a baronet and Sheriff of Berkshire, 1615). She married, secondly, her cousin, Sir Christopher Litcott, Kt (dsp. at Basildon 1599; Sheriff of Berkshire) and, after his death, remained a widow. In 1623, she gave a yearly rent charge of £5.10s payable on messuages and farms in Streatley in Berkshire to provide a sermon on Good Friday and £5 to the poor of Basildon. Lady Litcott died in 1630 aged 76 years.  

"Here lieth the body of Katherine, Lady Litcott, late of St. Sepulchre's parish, London, widow, daughter of William Barker of Sonning in the County of Berkshire, Esquire, who was first married to William Yong of Basildon in the County of Berkshire, Esquire, by whom, she had Sir William Yong, Knight, who married Anne ye daughter and coheir of Sir Richard Palet, Knight, and died without issue; before whose death, ye said Katherine took to a second husband, Sir Christopher Litcott, Knight, who died without issue; after whose death she continued a widow more than thirty years, leading a virtuous and sanctified life in meditation every day of her last day consecrating herself to a pious hearing and reading ye word of God, zealous of good works, exceedingly charitable to ye poor, as well by settle allowance to diverse as by her daily open hand, a faithful steward of God's blessings and laying VPP for herself much treasure in heaven, helpful to all her friends in great measure, respected of ye best where she lived, beloved of all, always of good name and happy fame, a credit to her friends and family, and as ye whole course of her life was truly godly, so was ye end thereof rightly happy in a longing desire to be with Christ, often iterating these words, "Come, Lord Jesus.  Come quickly," and calling upon God in a strong assured faith in ye merits of Christ her Saviour, departed this life upon ye 17th day of January in ye beginning of ye 77th year of her age, Anno Domini 1630."