I visited Hampstead Cemetery this morning. In short, nothing directly useful. However, like yesterday, there is some additional information that begs further questions, maybe.
The plot was easy to locate. The map was accurate, the grid system is tightly packed and plenty of the neighbouring plots have stonework indicating their plot numbers. I have no doubt that I found the right grave.
This area was under some trees and was rather overgrown: holly, ivy, brambles, nettles. I always forget to bring gloves. Neighbouring memorials were mostly covered with ivy but it was fairly easy to remove. Plot N6/28 appeared to have no memorial.
Then after a while I noticed a bump at the foot of the grave, rather than the head. When I cleared it, I found a small memorial, only about a foot high. Obviously once the base of a cross or similar, but the top part was long gone. The wording, on the (stone) pages of a book, was:
Left side:
BABY
NELLIE
DIED
22ND | Right side:
APRIL
1884
AGE 8
MONTHS |
Underneath:THIS LOVELY BUD SO YOUNG AND FAIR
THUS EARLY CALL'D TO DOOM
JUST CAME TO SHOW HOW SWEET A FLOWER
IN PARADISE COULD BLOOM
Obviously rather unexpected, given that the Strawbridge plot was purchased in 1888. I did a couple of cursory searches (e.g. female Strawbridge deaths in 1884) but there's nothing immediately obvious.
My theory is that this is actually the monument from the apparently unmarked grave in the next row, and that over time it has moved from the head of that plot (which would be N5/28) to the foot of its neighbour (i.e. N6/28).
Could be confirmed by asking the cemetery service to check that plot, but as the original objective was to find pointers to the burial place of George Nelson Strawbridge, I'll leave it there for now. If anyone thinks it's worth researching the above info further, I'm open to persuasion.
