“Mr. Kirkpatrick was one of the most able, laborious, learned, and useful antiquaries whom the county has produced. He was especially an indefatigable searcher into local antiquities, and had his life been spared to the term allotted by the holy Psalmist to man, it were impossible to say how much of what is now irretrievably lost to us might have been rescued from oblivion. He had accumulated copious materials, but his early death prevented him from digesting and publishing them. Better far had he contented himself with amassing less, and turning what he had got to account; a lesson hard to learn, but most important to be borne in mind and acted upon. As it was, he was obliged to leave the fulfilment of his task to others; taking all possible care for the safety of his collections, and not doubting that those who came after him, seeing what was prepared for their hands, would cheerfully undertake the office, perhaps with a praiseworthy zeal for communicating information, perhaps with the not less natural desire of building their own fame upon the labours of their predecessors. But in his expectations he was sadly mistaken, and has but furnished an additional proof how difficult it is for any one to enter completely into the objects and ideas of another, and consequently how imperative it is upon all, ourselves to finish the web we have begun, if we wish to see it come perfect and uniform from the loom.” Blomefield, who was a contemporary, acknowledges his great obligations to the learned Norwich antiquary, and recorded the death of his friend and his being buried in St. Helen’s Church, Norwich. The tomb, a black marble monument, by the steps of the altar, bears the following arms and inscription:— “_Argent_, a saltier and on a chief, _Azure_, three woolpacks of the field, _Crest_, a hand holding a dagger proper, _Motto_—I make sure. “Here resteth in hope of a joyful resurrection, the body of John Kirkpatrick of this city, Merchant, and Treasurer to this Hospital. He was a man of sound judgment, good understanding and extensive knowledge; industrious in his business, and indefatigable in that of the Corporation in which he was constantly employed. He died, very much lamented by all that knew him, on the 20th day of August, in the year of our Lord, 1728, aged 42.” _The Rev. F. Blomefield_.