Show Posts
784
Graveyards and Gravestones / Re: What rights do living relations have regarding headstones
« on: Monday 11 June 07 02:46 BST (UK) »
One post on here reminds me of my 'da Vinci' code type grave search last year.
My grandfather's mother died when he was eight, and his father went off the rails a bit leaving my grandfather in the care of other family. Anyway, my grandfather died when I was only 5 and my grandmother did not talk about his family (there was a bit of a rift).
When my grandmother died last year, I inherited all the family papers and records that were available. That is what started my search. There was nothing from my grandfather's side bar his birth ceritficate and a lair transfer certificate from the local cemetary.
I was having some trouble finding out about what happend to my great grandfather. He seemed to disappear off the map after 1926. So then I decided it was time to check up on the lair certificate.
I thought it was the certificate of my great grandmother and as such, her husband would be on the records being buried beside her. I emailed the regestrars office and they confirmed that the lair had been opened in 1934 to bury my great grandmother. They refused to give me further information without appointment. So I made an appointment.
After months of searching I thought that the mystery of my great grandfather was over. I was wrong. Turns out the lair was last opened in 1934. She is buried alone.
A few months later, the mystery of my great grandfather was finally revealed. Unbeknown to us, he had remarried. I was told this by his daughter, my grandfather's half sister. Neither of them knew about the other. Anyway, it turns out that he is resting in Rugby, England. He died there while working and the family could not afford to pay for the transportation of his body. My great grandmother is buried in Fraserburgh, Aberdeenshire.
It just goes to show what family rifts can do in the long term.
Anyway, I have since had the lair transfered to my name. Alls that I had to do was prove that I was a direct relation of the 'inhabitant'. I also had to get the signatures of two other family members to acknowledge my right to the lair.
At least when my time comes my great grandmother will be joined by her great grandson, rather than some recycled-grave stranger (although I'm not sure if these new re0using guidelines apply to Scotland).
My grandfather's mother died when he was eight, and his father went off the rails a bit leaving my grandfather in the care of other family. Anyway, my grandfather died when I was only 5 and my grandmother did not talk about his family (there was a bit of a rift).
When my grandmother died last year, I inherited all the family papers and records that were available. That is what started my search. There was nothing from my grandfather's side bar his birth ceritficate and a lair transfer certificate from the local cemetary.
I was having some trouble finding out about what happend to my great grandfather. He seemed to disappear off the map after 1926. So then I decided it was time to check up on the lair certificate.
I thought it was the certificate of my great grandmother and as such, her husband would be on the records being buried beside her. I emailed the regestrars office and they confirmed that the lair had been opened in 1934 to bury my great grandmother. They refused to give me further information without appointment. So I made an appointment.
After months of searching I thought that the mystery of my great grandfather was over. I was wrong. Turns out the lair was last opened in 1934. She is buried alone.
A few months later, the mystery of my great grandfather was finally revealed. Unbeknown to us, he had remarried. I was told this by his daughter, my grandfather's half sister. Neither of them knew about the other. Anyway, it turns out that he is resting in Rugby, England. He died there while working and the family could not afford to pay for the transportation of his body. My great grandmother is buried in Fraserburgh, Aberdeenshire.
It just goes to show what family rifts can do in the long term.
Anyway, I have since had the lair transfered to my name. Alls that I had to do was prove that I was a direct relation of the 'inhabitant'. I also had to get the signatures of two other family members to acknowledge my right to the lair.
At least when my time comes my great grandmother will be joined by her great grandson, rather than some recycled-grave stranger (although I'm not sure if these new re0using guidelines apply to Scotland).
