Brighton Gazette - Thursday June 4th, 1868

Cuckfield

Funeral of Warden Sergison Esq -

The remains of this lamented gentleman, whose sudden death we recorded in our last, were brought from Harley Street, London, but he died to Cuckfield Park, on Tuesday se’nnight, in a hearse with four horses, passing through the town, accompanied by his own private carriage in which were his brother, the Reverend William Sergison, of Slaugham, and J.P. Fearon Esq., steward of the estate.

The shops were all closed as it passed through, and the knell tolled, and the coffin was deposited in the family mansion until Thursday, when the funeral took place. The Sergisons have hitherto been buried within the church ever since the first of the family known here, Charles Sergison, Esquire, who is described on his monument as having been in the civil service, of the Navy, under several kings and queens, for 48 years, and settling at Cuckfield in 1719, died in 1732; but the old vaults being all filled and closed for good, a large and deep vault has been sunk in the cemetery adjoining the old churchyard – capable of containing eight coffins in two tiers – to receive his remains.

At 1 o'clock all shops in the town were closed, and the blinds of the front windows drawn down, showing not only the respect which the inhabitants have for the memory of the deceased and his family, but also their sympathy with the mournful event about to take place.

The 2nd Sussex Rifle Volunteers, of which from the commencement of the movement until a few weeks back, Mr Sergison was an officer and strong supporter, mustered at the armoury at half past one. The officers present were Major Meek, Captain Commandant Hankey, Captain Loder, Lieutenant Thompson, and the number on parade was six sergeants, two buglers, and 70 rank-and-file, independent of many followers among the tenantry who belonged to the Volunteers.

The corps was marched to the top of Place Walk, leading to Cuckfield Park, where they formed single file on each side of the road to paces apart, and awaiting the arrival of the cups.

The tenants and tradesmen, numbering nearly 100, assembled at the mansion and partook of luncheon.

At 3 o'clock the solemn cortege started from the old Clockhouse and proceeded up the Avenue, the coffin being born the whole distance to the church by relays of six of the tenants. The procession was formed in the following order:-

The housekeeper and female servants.

The vicar (Reverend T. A. Maberley) and a curate (Reverend H. Hollingsworth).

Mutes.                                     Mutes

Tenants and Tradesmen (in twos)

Dr Byass                                 Dr Mercer

THE BODY

Chief Mourners

Rev. William Sergison (Rector of Slaugham)

William Sergison, Esq (nephew of the deceased)

Sixty Friends (in twos)

Among whom were J. M. Norman Esq., and Lieutenant Colonel Holden-Rose

As soon as the procession had passed the line of volunteers they closed in by twos, with arms reversed, and wearing black on the left arm. On reaching the bottom of the town, the procession passed by a private road belonging to the family to the western entrance of the church, where it was met by the children attending the National Schools, headed by their master, Mr Norris, and a numerous body of the inhabitants, most of whom, especially the ladies, were attired in mourning.

The body having been placed on the trestles in the aisle as usual, the beautiful burial service of the Church of England was most impressively read by the vicar, assisted by the Reverend H. Hollingworth.

The corpse was then born to the cemetery, the volunteers having formed three sides of an open square around the vault, allowing a space for the congregation and mourners, who must have numbered at least 1000.

At the conclusion of the ceremony, the assembly departed with the greatest order and decorum, made expressions of the deepest regret at the irreparable lows they had suffered.