Author Topic: Memorial Stones & Symbols  (Read 26642 times)

Offline Chris in 1066Land

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Memorial Stones & Symbols
« on: Thursday 29 January 04 15:50 GMT (UK) »
Have any Family Historians ever stopped to read all the words and look at all the symbols on an ancestors memorial – or are you all just looking for name, age, date of birth/death and possible connections with others in the same grave/cemetery.

How about the picture below of a headstone to Mark Sharpe in St John Sub Castro in Lewes.  A Transcription of the stone is:

“In memory of/ Mark Sharp Carpenter/ late of this parish who died/ 26th May 1717 aged 61 years/ 'My flesh and my heart faileth/ but God is the strength of my heart/ and my portion for ever - Psalm 73 v 25'/”

It is very straight and to the point but look at the symbols on the stone – they show both his Mortal and Immortal state and clearly show how he felt about life, death and eventual ressurection..

The Symbols are an Angel blowing a trumpet waking up the dead, 3 cherubs are in the clouds. His body is in a shroud rising up out of the coffin. On the same level as the coffin are other deaths heads and broken bones - obviously non believers.

Chris in 1066Land (Hastings)
   
One of Rootschats Founder Members RIP 1942-2021
Living at the Heart of English History in 1066Land. 
www.Rootschat.com/history/hastings

Swarbrooke Family Heritage
https://swarbrooke.co.uk

Own Ancestral Website:    http://maythornemill.webs.com                                          
Monumental Sculptures Website:    http://Tombstones.webs.com

 Local History Site: http://zouch.webs.com
Baldslow Local History site
http://web.archive.org/web/20140626153455/http://www

Offline Chris in 1066Land

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Re:Memorial Stones & Symbols
« Reply #1 on: Thursday 29 January 04 15:54 GMT (UK) »
His Footstone is even better than the Headstone as it shows all the tools of his trade carved in stone. Remember this stone is over 250 years old as he died in 1747 - Notice those teeth on the Saw, what a skill to carve those.

How many of the tools can you recognize that are still to be found in a Carpenters shop today.

Chris in 1066Land (Hastings)
One of Rootschats Founder Members RIP 1942-2021
Living at the Heart of English History in 1066Land. 
www.Rootschat.com/history/hastings

Swarbrooke Family Heritage
https://swarbrooke.co.uk

Own Ancestral Website:    http://maythornemill.webs.com                                          
Monumental Sculptures Website:    http://Tombstones.webs.com

 Local History Site: http://zouch.webs.com
Baldslow Local History site
http://web.archive.org/web/20140626153455/http://www

Offline anne

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Re:Memorial Stones & Symbols
« Reply #2 on: Monday 16 February 04 18:57 GMT (UK) »
Hi Chris,your right,i have looked at many headstones and i have never taken that much notice to anything other than names and dates.I was fascinated by the picture of the headstone,i have seen headstones like that but never knew what all the tools or symbols ment.Thankyou for teaching me something new,now i know what they are.Anne. ;)
Ayrshire,Kennedy,Faulds,Cuthbert,Crawford,Young,Edgar,Bell
Dundee,Nicol,Cant,Kennedy,Jamison,
Dumfrieshire,Wilson,Maxwell,Lammie,Cowan,Young,

Offline Chris in 1066Land

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Re:Memorial Stones & Symbols
« Reply #3 on: Monday 16 February 04 23:43 GMT (UK) »
Hi there Anne

Thankyou for those kind words, and I am glad you found the meaning of the symbols interesting.

If you go to my web page at

http://tombstones.webs.com

you will find many more symbols and pictures together with some of my research here in Sussex

Chris in 1066Land (Hastings)
One of Rootschats Founder Members RIP 1942-2021
Living at the Heart of English History in 1066Land. 
www.Rootschat.com/history/hastings

Swarbrooke Family Heritage
https://swarbrooke.co.uk

Own Ancestral Website:    http://maythornemill.webs.com                                          
Monumental Sculptures Website:    http://Tombstones.webs.com

 Local History Site: http://zouch.webs.com
Baldslow Local History site
http://web.archive.org/web/20140626153455/http://www


Offline anne

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Re:Memorial Stones & Symbols
« Reply #4 on: Thursday 19 February 04 21:03 GMT (UK) »
Hi Chris,i did visit your site and its very interesting.It just goes to show you learn something new every day.I even wonderd if when i eventualy find my GGGGGrandfathers grave there might be the symbol of the stonemason on,as he was a stonemason in Dundee.I havent as yet found the graveyard he is buried in but when i find him i will visit the grave and see if his stonemason mark is on his stone.Thankyou again Chris,if i had ever found him and seen the symbol i would never have known what it ment without your explanation into gravestone markings.Thankyou again.Anne. :)
Ayrshire,Kennedy,Faulds,Cuthbert,Crawford,Young,Edgar,Bell
Dundee,Nicol,Cant,Kennedy,Jamison,
Dumfrieshire,Wilson,Maxwell,Lammie,Cowan,Young,

Offline Blue-Spirit

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Re: Memorial Stones & Symbols
« Reply #5 on: Sunday 04 October 09 05:03 BST (UK) »
Hi Chris.
I have been photographying grave stones for many yrs which has become cheaper with the introduction of digital.
It took me a couple of years before i became more interested in the symbols many of which would relate to the persons occupation. Even now i find the odd one here in Norfolk that becomes unexplainable,. In all the years i have been doing this i only recently came across the name MOSES, twice now and in different church yards.

Anyway thought i might just throw my 2 penith in..
Researching My Family in Norfolk.
Barker-Barnard-Brooks-Bush.
Eagling-Fincham-Goddard-Gooch.
Hammond-Johnson-Long.
Musk-Mickleborough/Mickleburgh.
Oakley- Parker-Potter-Smith-Wright...

Offline Berlin-Bob

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Re: Memorial Stones & Symbols
« Reply #6 on: Thursday 06 January 11 18:42 GMT (UK) »
Some more symbols:
Happy New Year  :D

Just to let everyone know there is a new page on the project website to showcase a series of pics taken by Spatts of the various different gravestone carvings:-

http://mgctp.moonfruit.com/#/symbolism/4546652049

I think the whole subject is fascinating and hope others will too.  Hopefully we will be able to add to the collection once the weather improves and the cemetery visits start again.
Any UK Census Data included in this post is Crown Copyright (see: www.nationalarchives.gov.uk)