This pattern was inspired by a piece of needlework that I saw on display at the Brighton Fishing Museum, stitched as a memorial in 1868. On further investigation, I discovered that the verse, or epitaph, was used elsewhere too.  It is used on a grave of multiple people, dating to 1832 and 1833, but relates to the death of Thomas Britt, who died aged 5, on 8 August 1833. The verse continues ‘Grieve not for me my parents dear/But rather be ye glad/But as my time it was but short/The lesser sin I had’. This grave is located at Blewbury, near Didcot, Oxfordshire. More information can be found at Blewbury (blewbury.co.uk).