Insightful headstone inscriptions (revised title)

[Stanwix England]

I've become a bit of a cynic about this inscriptions after going through some death notices in the paper I'd uncovered with my Grandma who knew some of the people in question. So death notice A would read 'much beloved husband A, how will I ever live without you blah blah blah, love B' and my Grandma would say that B couldn't stand the sight of A, they slept in separate rooms and fought every waking hour etc etc.

Makes you wonder how much of what is on tombstones is just for appearances? I don't suppose anyone could have bribed the Vicar to allow the erection of a tombstone which read 'Good riddance to a grumpy old b*****d' or words to that effect.

I do remember my Grandad had book about headstone inscriptions and one has stuck with me until this day.

Here I lie at the chapel door,
Here I lie because I am poor,
The further in, the more you'll pay,
And here I lie as warm as they.

I always liked that one.

[Whipby]

Another old thread I'm catching up on!  Some wonderful inscriptions here, thank you for sharing, and sorry I'm so late!

[Edward Scott]

The inscription for the wife of a 5th great uncle includes "Died of her 17th child in her 46th year"

Born 1745, married 1763, died 1790.

Married for 330 months, pregnant for about 153.

Edward

[Edward Scott]

It then continues (sorry I forgot I had this as well)

A soul prepared needs no delays
The summons comes
The Saints obey
Swift was her flight
And short the road

[Whipby]

Oh dear, that poor lady, Edward.   

[River Tyne Lass]

I have just come across this very interesting thread .. I think it is not just the grave stones which may show a white washed story.  I am often cynical too about what I read.

Stanwix England I have a death notice for a great x 2 Grandfather which refers to him as the beloved husband etc along the lines of what might have been expected conventionally ..

However, a different story emerged when I looked at the old newspapers .. more drunk than sober .. and made his family's life quite miserable by all accounts.  He apparently, also spent a month in Durham jail on account of family mistreatment ..

Not nice reading but I much prefer to have the unvarnished truth rather than any whitewashed version.

Thanks for posting this thread Whipby - it is really interesting to read through especially on such a drab cold and wet day here in Tyneside.

[River Tyne Lass]

https://www.boredpanda.com/funny-tombstones-epitaphs/?utm_source=rootschat&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=organic

Here is a link showing some humorous epitaphs

and another ..

https://www.quora.com/What-are-some-of-the-funniest-epitaphs

[Lisajb]

There’s a grave in Winterbourne church yard, not far from Bristol, known as the Maids Grave.

It belongs to Hannah Fouracre, wife of Robert, who died in 1829.

"Thirty years I was a maid
thirteen months a wife
four hours I was a mother and then I lost my life,
Behold my friend and cast an eye
then go thy way prepare to die
repent with speed make no delay
in my prime was called away"

[goldie61]

This one tells  this man's whole life story - he died aged 112!
From 1791, the stone has been re-done because it was such an interesting one.
At Longnor in Staffordshire