Does this seem odd to you? It did to me

[jbml]

My great x3 grandfather was a shepherd, in a little village in Huntingdonshire.

On my first visit to the village, I found his grave ... right slap bang in the middle of the old burial ground, with one of the largest memorial stones there and a lengthy (and still almost completely legible) inscription.

This struck me as ... well ... not what one would expect of a humble shepherd.

Then again, his son was coachman at the manor house, which was owned by an elderly spinster, the daughter of a general of ancient and distinguished lineage. It makes me wonder whether it was my family that paid for the memorial stone, or hers ...

[Richview]

Hi,
Not that unusual - I visit a number of old churchyards & have seen some very nice memorials for butlers, gamekeepers etc that were erected by their  employer- normally the local landowner.
R

[frederickay]

Hi , i had similar experience .game keeper . large stone .. rest of family little or none. my great great grandfather Thomas valentine died 1858 in West Bilney was subject to an inquest where he may have been 'hit on head ' by the publican .. family stories mentioned murder. Publican excused of guilt. BUT was he the erector of large stone. Guilt. maybe more research on my behalf would let one know. also is the a hint of scandal in your story elderly spinsters and the coachman .. sorry if you think i am being facetious

[Richview]

Thomas Valentine gamekeeper on the Bilney Estate??
R

[barryd]

Thank you Colonel Blair-Imrie.

1909: Inscribed on a stone at Lunan Churchyard, [Angus, Scotland]

To DAVID CARCARY. Erected by Colonel Blair-Imrie of Lunan, to commemorate the faithful services of his land steward, who died on the 10th August 1909, aged 64 years. HELEN TAYLOR wife of DAVID CARCARY, died on 25th November 1930, aged 87 years. DAVID CARCARY MACFARLANE their grandson who died 22nd December 1993, aged 78 years. His beloved wife JANET BOYD MURRAY who died 11th November 1999, aged 82 years.

[lizdb]

I have an ancestor, a girl from poor ag lab family, where all sons were ag labs and all girls went into service. She worked for a family called Parish, and they emigrated to Buenos Aires and took Ann with them.
In Buenos Aires British Cemetery there is a headstone for numerous members of the Parish family, and on it is added " Also Ann Edmonds our faithful servant"

So - yes it does happen that employers sometimes did pay for a burial and a headstone for employees.

[jbml]

Thanks guys ... all very interesting