Katherine Doyley Dyer facts for kids

Katherine Doyley Dyer (born around 1585, died 1654) was an English woman known for a special poem she wrote for her husband's tomb. This poem, called "My Dearest Dust," is found at Colmworth, Bedfordshire, England.

Katherine was one of four daughters born to John Doyley and Anne Barnard. She grew up in Merton. After her father passed away in 1593, her mother Anne Barnard married James Harington in 1601. At the same time, Katherine's sister Margaret Doyley married Edward Harington, James's son.

On February 25, 1602, Katherine Doyley married Sir William Dyer. He was the son of Sir Richard Dyer.

A Special Poem for Her Husband

Sir William Dyer died on April 9, 1621. Many years later, in 1641, Katherine placed a beautiful poem on their monument. This monument is located at the Church of St Denys, Colmworth. It is believed that Katherine herself wrote this poem, which is now famous.

The poem is known as "My Dearest Dust." It shows her deep love and sorrow for her husband.

If a large hart, joined with a noble minde

Shewing true worth unto all good inclin’d

If faith in friendship, justice unto all,

Leave such a memory as we may call

Happy, thine is; then pious marble keepe

His just fame waking, though his lov’d dust sleepe.

And though death can devoure all that hath breath,

And monuments them selves have had a death,

Nature shan’t suffer this, to ruinate,

Nor time demolish’t, nor an envious fate,

Rais’d by a just hand, not vain glorious pride,

Who’d be concealed, wer’t modesty to hide

Such an affection did so long survive

The object of ’t; yet lov’d it as alive.

And this greate blessing to his name doth give

To make it by his tombe, and issue live.

My dearest dust, could not thy hasty day

Afford thy drowsy patience leave to stay

One hour longer, so that we might either

Have sat up or gone to bed together?

But since thy finished labour hath possessed

Thy weary limbs with early rest,

Enjoy it sweetly, and thy widow bride

Shall soon repose her by thy slumbering side,

Whose business now is only to prepare

My nightly dress and call to prayer.

Mine eyes wax heavy, and the day grows old,

The dew falls thick, my blood grows cold,

Draw, draw the closed curtains and make room,

My dear, my dearest dust, I come, I come.

Katherine lived through a difficult time in England, known as the English Civil War. She mentioned in her will that she had faced many "losses" during these troubles. Katherine Doyley Dyer passed away in 1654.

Katherine's Children

Katherine Doyley Dyer and Sir William Dyer had seven children. Their children are remembered with statues on the family tomb at Colmworth.

• Sir Ludowick Dyer (1606-1670): He was the first and last Dyer baronet of Staughton. He married Elizabeth Yelverton. Their only son, Henry, died young in 1637 and is also remembered on the monument.
• Doyley Dyer (1613-1684)
• Richard Dyer (born 1608): He married a woman named Elizabeth.
• James Dyer (born 1617)
• Anne or Anna Dyer (1611-1684): She married William Gery. They had several children, including William, Richard, Katherine, Ann, and Mary.
• Katherine Dyer (born 1619): She married Sir Edward Coke of Longford, Derbyshire.
• Mary Dyer: She married a man named Mr. Wardour.