Christopher Duckworth – Packhorse Driver

There must have been thousands of men and women who drove teams of packhorses before the days of canals and railways.  Not many, I suspect, were laid to rest so grandly as represented by this gravestone which was to be found in the churchyard of Haslingden Parish Church.  Sadly I have not yet been able to locate it, I therefore quote from a Short Account of Haslingden Parish Church.

“Underneath This stone are deposited the remains of Christopher Duckworth, who (in the capacity of a servant to Mr. Richard Lonsdale, and his son, Mr Daniel Lonsdale, of Haslingden) followed a gang of packhorses upwards of half a century, and died on 18th day of June, 1810, Aged 66 years.

Fifty six years he unoffensive mov’d

Loving his horses, by his horses lov’d

In faithful servitude the Roads along,

And seldom said, and seldom did he wrong.

His faithful services have due Regard

His Master’s Honer, high Heaven’s Reward,

Where long prov’d worth, and Honesty combine

To illume his Spirit with Ray divine;

A grateful Master whom he lov’d and fear’d,

With trembling eye this stone memorial rear’d.

Reader, Repose in Christ the Lord thy Trust,

Like Honest Christopher, Be true and just.”

Text taken from

A Short Account of Haslingden Parish Church

Compiled by Henry Stephenson with Corrigendum by Thomas Woodcock 1949.