A Question about Gravestones.

[Aunt Sally]

Hello.

Iīm just wondering if anyone has an opinion on this.

I have ancestors buried in Great Hormead Churchyard - George Spicer and his wife and daughters, buried between 1882 and 1901.

There are two gravestones side by side for the family, typical standard size Victorian.

Whatīs puzzling me, is that George was only a gardener - how could the family have afforded these?  The rest of the relatives were all ag labs.  I couldnīt find any other Spicer gravestones, and they were a large family, who lived in the village for generations.

My question is - were gardeners in Victorian times well paid?  Does anyone know how I could trace who he worked for?

Best wishes,

Sally

[Guy Etchells]

It was common for the working class to join a club to pay for such funeral expenses etc.
In fact many would be in other types of club such as a cow club or pig club. It was a way of insuring against hard times.
Cheers
Guy

[Aunt Sally]

Thanks, Guy, thatīs very interesting!  A cow or pig club made me smile.

Best wishes,

Sally

[linmey]

Obviously none of my ancestors joined the club then because family gravestones are woefully sparce!!

Linda.

[JenB]

  A cow or pig club made me smile.

Totally off the original topic, but here are some interesting details of a World War 2 'Pig Club':

http://www.botolphsbarn.org.uk/documents/TheRulesofHelpstonPigClub.pdf

Jennifer

[Aunt Sally]

Thanks Jenny.

  Doesnīt matter if itīs off topic, itīs still interesting.

The old book "Cottage Life in a Hertfordshire Village " by Edwin Grey also mentions how important the village pig was to the villagers.  This book is worth a read.

Best wishes,

Aunt Sally