Nicolson on Holy Island?

[BassinghamTerrier]

Hi

I've just got back from visiting some of the wife's childhood holiday spots in Northumberland, and during that time we paid a visit to Lindisfarne. Whilst scrubbing around the churchyard I came across the headstone below, which I photographed simply because it looked interesting.



I think the inscription reads as follows ...

Here / Lies the body of / Alexander Nicolson / who being ten years ?? / ?? of the Gospel in / Holy Island departed / this life the 31 day of Au / gust  1711 and his age ??[/size]

Can anyone put me right on any of the above?

I hope that this will be of use to someone.

MT

[2zpool]

Interesting that the tombstone should have a jolly rodger on it.  In 1711 the jolly roger was a symbol of a pirate ship.  This particular one looks like the one Edward England used.

Janis

[forthefamily]

Well considering the date it wasn't related to piracy.......I remember reading somewhere that it was a common symbol of death put on grave markers.....something to do with the crucification of Christ.

mab

[2zpool]

Could be but hard to find the symbol categorized as used much outside of a pirate ship.  Nowdays it is a symbol for poison.  There was piracy at that time period and still is today.

Janis

[pb3]

         Skulls and crossbones were quite commonly used as reminders of mortality on old headstones. They have no connection with piracy - unless shown on a flag of course - but are simply memento mori. There are several other reminders of mortality seen on headstones, including angels writing in record books , hourglasses or, as in the example attached, a winged hourglass denoting the fleeting nature of time.

[forthefamily]

Your website is interesting...will have to have a look around 

mab

[Ruskie]

Interesting photos.

There are some links here to topics about gravestone carvings and their meanings:

http://www.rootschat.com/links/045l/

[pb3]

     This may appear to be off the subject, but it isn't really. I was in Escomb Churchyard in County Durham yesterday - about 2 miles west of Bishop Auckland and well worth a visit by any Family/Local Historian - and was surprised to see an Emoticon javascript:replaceText('%20:P',%20document.postmodify.message);on a very old headstone. The carving still represented the traditional skull and crossbones but was sculpted in a very idiosyncratic way and - aided by a certain amount of weathering - looked strangely modern. I think anyone seeing it in its rather sombre setting would be obliged to do a double take.

     The very informative booklet available in the Church says that "The skull and thighbones were reckoned, by medieval theologians, to be a desirable minimum from which the angel Gabriel could constitute our resurrection bodies on the day of Judgement." So now we know!

     PatB

[forthefamily]

That is bizarre 

Also, thank you for the information.

mab