Sir Edmund Prideaux

In the north choir aisle of Westminster Abbey is a monument to Sir Edmund Prideaux. He and his second wife Anne are buried nearby in the middle aisle of the nave, although their graves are not marked. The monument of white and yellow marbles is by the sculptor Sir Henry Cheere. Two profile portraits appear at the top. The inscription reads:

Near this monument, in one grave in the Middle Isle, are deposited the remains of Sr EDMUND PRIDEAUX of Netherton in the County of DEVON Bart. [Baronet] and Dame ANNE his wife. He departed this life Febry. 26 1728 in the 55th year of his age. And she May 10th 1741 aged 55 years. Sr EDMUND married first MARY daughter of SAMUEL REYNARDSON Esqr. by whom he had issue MARY, married to JAMES WINSTANLEY Esqr. [Esquire] Afterwards he married the above mentioned ANNE, daughter of PHILIP HAWKINS of PENNANS in the County of Cornwall Gent. They had issue one son named Peter, who died in his infancy; and one daughter ANNE, married JOHN PENDARVES BASSETT of TENHIDDY in the County of Cornwall Esqr.; who surviving her father and mother erected this monument out of a due filial & affectionate regard to the memory of both of them.

On the base:

The above John Pendarves Bassett died 19th August 1739 leaving his said wife ensient of a son born 22nd May 1740 baptized John-Prideaux who dying in May 1756 lies interred in the same vault with his father at Illogen in Cornwall, the burying place of their ancestors; and the said Anne dying 10th December 1782 aged 42 lies buried in the same vault.

Between cherubs at the top of the monument is the coat of arms of Prideaux impaling Hawkins.

Sir Edmund was the eldest son of Sir Edmund Prideaux, 4th Baronet of Netherton by his first wife Susanna, daughter of James Winstanley and widow of John Austin. He was born 13th November 1675 and baptised at St Giles in the Fields church in London. In 1720 he succeeded his father as 5th Baronet. His first wife Mary died in 1712. He left no son living and his half-brother John succeeded to the title.