The Curious Tale of Maria Frances Watson (and Beatrix Potter)
  

  
One of the most interesting gravestones in St Alban's churchyard is this one to Maria Frances Watson. 
Some of the curiosity comes from her husband who it says lived at Hill Top, Ambleside; this would later be the home of Beatrix Potter.
Thanks to a descendant of Maria, Bob Watson, we now know the story of how Maria ended up buried in Withernwick.
She was born c 1798 and her husband was Captain John Watson, he was a captain in the Lancashire Militia, which would explain why he would live in Ambleside.
  
Ralph had two sons, Henry (or Harry) and Ralph junior (b 1820) and also a daughter Maria junior (b 1822).
John Molyneux Crockett was vicar of St Alban's from 1863-1891 (click here to see his memorial inside the church),
previously he was a curate in Yoxall in Staffordshire, while there he married Maria junior (she is also mentioned on the memorial).
John was born in Staffoedshire in 1816, it is a bit of a puzzle how Maria arrived in Yoxall.
Presumable John and Maria brought mum, Maria Frances to live with there here in Withernwick, 
and hence why she ended up buried in such a prominent place in the churchyard right next to the church.
Maria France wouldn't have arrived in the viilage before 1863 (when John arrived) and so she only lived here for a maximum of 5 years.