A Month of Scottish Gravestones - Deeply Regretted

While Scottish gravestones can be an absolute goldmine of genealogical information and may also give us an insight into the personality of the deceased, there are some words that we certainly would never expect to find today.

One such example is this stone from the Old Kincardine Kirkyard. It has not particularly stood the test of time but the bottom of it reads:

“Thus had enclosed the ashes of his Deeply Deplored Relations” 

The use of the phrase deeply deplored today would be taken as him not having a particular fondness for his relations. However in 1813, it would have meant that they were in deep mourning – having deeply deplored his loss. 

And a wonderful example of the deceased being Deeply Regretted (meaning their death was deeply felt) is this gravestone in Old Calton Cemetery in Edinburgh for the Rev'd Thomas Thomson

It reads:

Sacred to the memory of the Rev’d Thomas Thomson

Minister of the Relief Congregation

St James Place, Edinburgh 

After a long illness which was borne 

with Exemplary patience, 

He Departed this Life on the 16^th of April

 1819 

In the 62d of his age 

and 40^th of his Ministry,

Deeply Regretted

By all his Friends and in particular by

His congregation

Who in token of their respect 

for the Piety and Worth of his Character

 All of their grateful recollection

 Of his Fidelity and Tenderness as a 

Pastor

Erected this Monument As a Mournful Tribute of Affection

 to his Virtues.

 

Also sacred to the memory of 

his widow

Ann Drummond Smith

Born 13^th July 1779. Died 8^th May 1848.

And their second son

The Rev’d Thomas Drummond Thomson

Born 29^th June 1814. Died 25^th July 1847

And then the gravestone gives the parameters of the lair:

Size of Ground 8 Feet by 10