The first Philip Yorke (1743-1804), well known as the author of "The Royal Tribes of Wales" (published in 1799), was also well known for having a sneeze that resembled "the report of a musket".

One Sunday he was sitting in Marchweil Church and an elderly man, who was sitting behind him, fell asleep during the sermon. Suddenly, and without warning, Phillip Yorke gave one of his shattering sneezes.

The discussion at the time had been about the safety of the church tower, which was about to be repaired, and the poor man who had fallen asleep thought it had collapsed. He fell to the ground in fright and died, apparently of shock, a few days later.

Thereafter Phillip Yorke was often heard to say that he was the only man who had ever sneezed another to death!