buried in the chapel of St John the Baptist in Westminster Abbey mingled with those of Mary Kendall, died 4 March 1710. The inscription reads: "Mrs Mary Kendall daughter of Thomas Kendall Esqr. and of Mrs Mary Hallet, his wife, of Killigarth in Cornwall, was born at Westmr. Nov.8 1677 and dy'd at Epsome March 4, 1709/10, having reach'd the full term of her blessed Saviour's life; and study'd to imitate his spotless example. She had great virtues, and as great a desire of concealing them: was of a severe life, but of an easy conversation; courteous to all, yet strictly sincere; humble, without meanness; beneficient, without ostentation; devout, without superstition. These admirable qualitys, in which she was equall'd by few of her sex, surpass'd by none, render'd her every way worthy of that close uion and friendship in which she liv'd with the Lady Catherine Jones; and in testimony of which she desir'd that even their ashes, after death, might not be divided: and, therefore, order'd her selfe here to be interr'd where, she knew, that excellent Lady design'd one day to rest, near the grave of her belov'd and religious mother, Elizabeth, Countess of Ranelagh. This monument was erected by Capt. Charles Kendall". Mary Kendall was the niece of James Kendall, politician and governor of Barbados, who is buried in the south choir aisle of Westminster Abbey. She was born on 8 November 1677, the daughter of Thomas Kendall, Esquire (d. 1684), and of Mary Hallet, of Killigarth in Cornwall. She lived with Lady Catherine, and when she died, on 4 March 1709/10, she asked to be buried in the chapel of St John the Baptist in Westminster Abbey since she knew that Lady Catherine wanted to rest near her beloved mother, Elizabeth, Countess of Ranelagh, who was already buried there. Moreover, Mary Kendall asked that, considering the "close union and friendship in which she lived with the Lady Catherine Jones [...] she desired that even their ashes, after death, might not be divided". Jones' decision not to marry, and her close relationships and cohabitation with women throughout her life and into her death, merit speculation that she was a lesbian. The frustratingly minimal surviving documentation of her life make this difficult to assert with confidence. Nevertheless, one can make logical connections that the 'close union' she shared with Kendall, and with Astell, were not entirely platonic. References