Israel Vanderplank was a procurator of the vicars choral at Salisbury cathedral and this memorial plaque commemorates his life. I was struck by the unusual name, and trying to find out more, I find that there was also an Isaac Vanderplank who was connected with the church. Israel was the vicar at Salisbury Cathedral for sixty years and died in 1797 at the age of eighty-five.
There was the sad loss of a child named Israel, in 1744 in Fordingbridge which is only a dozen or so miles from Salisbury. Another Israel Vanderplank died in 1761, the son of Israel and Martha, also in Fordingbridge… it was not uncommon in those days for a child to be named after a brother or sister who had died before they were born. A third child called Israel Vanderplank also died between the other two, this time in Portsmouth, in 1748.
I can find out nothing more about him… but if I do, no doubt I will share it with you!
Lois Elsden 