A Month of Scottish Gravestones - Symbolism

 October is Family History month in North America and in the past, I have blogged daily on various topics pertaining to Family History. This year, I decided to do something a little bit different and blog on some of the gravestones I have encountered in my travels to various graves in Scotland. 

To start, let's look at some of the meanings behind the symbolism often found on gravestones. 

The most common are symbols that signify death: the skull with or without cross bones, the bell that tolls for thee, the shovels and scythes used by the grave digger. All of these are to remind us of our own mortality, and really just to say "death is coming" 

Here we can see the bell, the skull and cross bones as well 

as the grave diggers shovel 

Here we see the tools of the grave digger

Another common symbol is the urn, which of course holds the remains of the deceased. Sometimes the urn is draped or partially draped with a cloth. This is to signify that the veil between this life and the after life is thin. 

And of course, there is also the Grim Reaper who is coming for all of us. 

Sometimes there are symbols which alert us to the occupation of the deceased:

In the centre, at the top of the other symbols is a ring, signifying that the deceased was a jeweller

I particularly like this one. The anvil symbolizes that the deceased was a black smith but we can also see a horseshoe at the top of the headstone, telling us he made shoes for horses. The crown in the centre symbolizes glory in death 

This one in the Auld Kirkyard in Alloway is in pretty rough shape however, because it is so decorative and so telling, there is also the "pattern" for it next to it

At the top is the crown, signifying glory over death. We can also see the cross bones. But in addition, we see a wrench (spanner) a horseshoe and the person putting a shoe on a horse. So once again, we know the deceased was a blacksmith

This tomb is found in the Glasgow Necropolis and is a monument to actor John Henry Alexander  who owned and managed the Glasgow Theatre Royal. You can see the curtains of the stage. There are also a number of symbols from his theatre life on the headstone. 

And although this monument looks like it has been vandalized but in fact it symbolizes that the deceased was "cut down in the prime of his life" and died as a young man. 

This gravestone in the old Kincardine Cemetery in Grangemouth is also telling. It appears to me that the man who died left behind a wife and possibly a mother or mother-in-law as well as 10 children: one daughter and nine sons. 

What symbols have you come across on gravestones while wandering through cemeteries that have made you stop and take notice?

Packing Your Cemetery Bag

Every genealogist or family historian has a inner taphophile - someone with a love of cemeteries. We might want to visit ancestor's graves, an historic cemetery or we might just enjoy wandering amongst the peace and tranquility of these sacred sites. 

If you plan to go and visit an ancestor's grave, make sure  you pack your cemetery bag before  you go. Here's what your cemetery bag should include:

•         a camera and batteries - take photos of everything. The sign to the cemetery, a wide angle view of the cemetery, the proximity of the grave to a landmark within the cemetery (a fountain, the office, a pond, a church). Photograph all sides of the gravestone. Check nearby stones as they may also be your ancestors. If the names are the same and you are unsure of a connection, take photos of all sides of the gravestone for further research. 
•         pencils and paper - take notes. Write down names, dates and inscriptions exactly as they appear on the stone. It is very easy to make assumptions in the excitement of the moment, and it will be important to have an accurate record once you return home. Take note of any symbols your are unfamiliar with so you can look them up later. These may give important clues about the life of your ancestor. 
•      garden clippers - carefully trim back any overgrowth that covers the stone - especially if the stone is a flat marker. Do NOT dig into the marker to remove moss or growth. Instead, try washing it away
•         water and soft cloth - wash away any dirt or moss that is obscuring  your ability to read the marker. If a marker is hard to read, pour some water over it to see if the wet stone allows for enhancement in reading the marker

  

Taphophilia

Taphophilia is a passion for and enjoyment of cemeteries . Taphophilia involves epitaphs, photography, brass rubbing, art, and history of (famous) deaths.

A Taphophile or Tombstone tourist describes someome who travels to visit cemeteries for the enjoyment of looking at old and unusual stones or to find the graves of famous people. The term has been most notably used by author and biographer Scott Stanton as the title of his 2003 book and his former website  on the lives and gravesites of famous musicians. Tombstone tourists are usually more interested in the historical aspects of cemeteries or the historical relevance of its "residents"