Catherine Eyre was the daughter of Robert Eyre of Sarum, Wiltshire, England, and Agnes Still, the daughter of John Still, Bishop of Bath and Wells. She was the wife of Charles Chauncey, minister, physician, and second President of Harvard. She was the mother of nine children. All six of her sons became minsters. She immigrated with her husband to America in 1637.
"The happy mother of these worthy sons, was Catharine, the daughter of Robert Eyre, Esq., who dying a little before her consort, had her holy life quickly after published; namely, by the publication of the directions for an holy life, which her pious father left as a legacy for his children; directions where of I shall say but this, that as they express the true spirit of Puritanism, so they comprise the wisest, the fruitfullest, the exactest, and the holiest rules of living, that ever I saw together in any short human composure; and the representing of them would not only give a description of the heavenly conversation endeavored by our great Charles Chauncy, whom we have been considering, but also procure the admiration if not imitation of them that read it."
~Cotten Mather
EPITAPH.
MRS. CATHARINE CHAUNCY.
Aged LXVI Dyed Jan. XXIII
Ano Dom. MDCLXVII
"We have found in manuscript the following epitaph:" - A. HARRIS.
Upon ye death of yt pious mother in God
Mrs Katharine Chauncy, deceased 24. 11. 67.
Here lies interr'd wthin this shrine
A spirit meek, a soule divine,
Endow'd wth grace, and piety,
Excelling in humility:
Preferring God's commands above
All fine delights, and this world's love,
Whilst here she lived she took delight
In reading, praying, day and night;
In faith she was a Puritan
Daily from selfe to Christ she ran
For aide and help whilst here she staid:
O This was y6 sweet, heavenly trade
Of this renowned matron which
Was to all saints a pattern rich,
Most richly fraught wth grace sublime:
With meeknesse and with love divine:
By hope she lived in grace she stood
Washt from her sins wth Xts own blood:
Active and constant she was here,
In heaven above ye palm she weares:
Wth Xst she reignes, in heaven she sings,
Hosannas to her Lord and King
Death was ye key wch let her out
Pale ghastly death hath sent his shaft
And hath by chance nigh broke our heart.
Deaths volleys sound, sad storms appear,
Mourning draws on: poor Harvard fear,
Lest this sad stroke should be a sign
Of sudden future death to thine. - J. B. 24. 11. 67.
~Taken from
MEMORIALS OF THE CHAUNCEYS, INCLUDING PRESIDENT CHAUNCY, HIS ANCESTORS AND DESCENDANTS. BY WILLIAM CHAUNCEY FOWLER.
BOSTON: HENRY W. DUTTON AND SON, PRINTERS,
Nos. 33 and 35, Congress Street.
M.DCCC.LVIII.
Pages 31 and 32