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Topic: Nicolson on Holy Island? (Read 720 times)
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MansfieldTerrier
RootsChat Veteran
Posts: 705
Henry Pashby, born Levisham 1816, and wife Mary
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Hi
I've just got back from visiting some of the wife's childhood holiday spots in Northumberland, and during that time we paid a visit to Lindisfarne. Whilst scrubbing around the churchyard I came across the headstone below, which I photographed simply because it looked interesting.
I think the inscription reads as follows ...
Here / Lies the body of / Alexander Nicolson / who being ten years ?? / ?? of the Gospel in / Holy Island departed / this life the 31 day of Au / gust 1711 and his age ??
Can anyone put me right on any of the above?
I hope that this will be of use to someone.
MT 
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« Last Edit: Saturday 26 July 08 18:13 UTC (UK) by MansfieldTerrier »
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PASHBY in Scarborough, Levisham, and outlying area SEDMAN in Scarborough BIRD in Easington, Patrington, Sculcoates and Hull DOBSON in Edinburgh, Wakefield, Scarborough SUTTON in Wintringham, North Yorks. Census information is Crown Copyright, from www.nationalarchives.gov.uk
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2zpool
RootsChat Aristocrat
Posts: 1442
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Interesting that the tombstone should have a jolly rodger on it. In 1711 the jolly roger was a symbol of a pirate ship. This particular one looks like the one Edward England used.
Janis
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Co. Durham: Hall, Snowdon, Makepeace, Barnfather, Barrass, Gray/Grey, Wilson, Carr, Cole, Richardson, Greener Northumberland: Grey/Gray, Richardson, Barnfather, Heron, Redpath ------------------------------------------------------------------ Census Information is Crown Copyright, from www.nationalarchives.gov.uk |
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2zpool
RootsChat Aristocrat
Posts: 1442
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Could be but hard to find the symbol categorized as used much outside of a pirate ship. Nowdays it is a symbol for poison. There was piracy at that time period and still is today.
Janis
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Co. Durham: Hall, Snowdon, Makepeace, Barnfather, Barrass, Gray/Grey, Wilson, Carr, Cole, Richardson, Greener Northumberland: Grey/Gray, Richardson, Barnfather, Heron, Redpath ------------------------------------------------------------------ Census Information is Crown Copyright, from www.nationalarchives.gov.uk |
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pb3
RootsChat Extra
Posts: 40
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Skulls and crossbones were quite commonly used as reminders of mortality on old headstones. They have no connection with piracy - unless shown on a flag of course - but are simply memento mori. There are several other reminders of mortality seen on headstones, including angels writing in record books , hourglasses or, as in the example attached, a winged hourglass denoting the fleeting nature of time.
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Ruskie
RootsChat Marquessate
Posts: 4701
Census information Crown Copyright, from www.nationalarchives.gov.uk
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Interesting photos.
There are some links here to topics about gravestone carvings and their meanings:
http://www.rootschat.com/links/045l/
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pb3
RootsChat Extra
Posts: 40
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This may appear to be off the subject, but it isn't really. I was in Escomb Churchyard in County Durham yesterday - about 2 miles west of Bishop Auckland and well worth a visit by any Family/Local Historian - and was surprised to see an Emoticon javascript:replaceText('%20:P',%20document.postmodify.message);on a very old headstone. The carving still represented the traditional skull and crossbones but was sculpted in a very idiosyncratic way and - aided by a certain amount of weathering - looked strangely modern. I think anyone seeing it in its rather sombre setting would be obliged to do a double take.
The very informative booklet available in the Church says that "The skull and thighbones were reckoned, by medieval theologians, to be a desirable minimum from which the angel Gabriel could constitute our resurrection bodies on the day of Judgement." So now we know!
PatB
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Earthstem
RootsChat Pioneer
Posts: 1
Census information Crown Copyright, from www.nationalarchives.gov.uk
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Hi, have a look at this site, it does relate to Alexander Nicolson - found that the stone translates Minister of the Gospel - overlapped again from the previous line above.
Search in the below link for Alexander, his surname is spealt with an 'h' as Nicholson.
http://www.ndfhs.co.uk/Articles/Wills/Wills5.html
My mum and dad recently went to the same stone and we have been trying to translate this - so happy to find you were doing the same one year ago.
Now we are trying to word what is written below the skull/bones, which may be his age on death.
Interesting detective work this !
Rgds
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Michael Dixon
RootsChat Aristocrat
Posts: 2622
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Using my x-ray vision , the stone reads.......
" Here lyeth the Body of Mr Alexander Nicolson who being 10 years Minister of the Gospel in Holy Island Departed this life the 31st day of August 1711 and his age 65 "
Just kidding about my eyesight... got the above from H.I. transcriptions in Newcastle Library this pm.
Also there is a "footnote" to the above M.I. transciption which just reads
" Raines North Durham"  name of Monumental sculptor ?? ( Holy Island Parish and neighbouring parishes comprised an area called Islandshire- Islandshire, Norhamshire and Bedlingtonshire, although lying within the bounds of Northumberland, were part of County Durham and collectively known as North Durham- until 1844)
From the H I burial records.
Buried 4 Sep 1711 Mr Alexander Nicholson, Minister in Holy Island
Michael Dixon
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Names.
GALLAGHER ( + variations).
Areas. Co Sligo, Co Leitrim, Co Mayo. IRELAND.
Ontario, CANADA
Lowell, Ma, USA
Counties of Northumberland & Durham, ENGLAND
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MALEY/MELIA/MALLEY - with or without " O "
Westport Co Mayo. Northumberland
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DIXON
Cumberland.. Brampton, Carlisle, ENGLAND
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Back_of_headstone.jpg
