Missing burials - a general discussion

[Mart 'n' Al]

Unless I know otherwise, any missing relatives of mine I always chalk up to alien abduction. I've never been proved to be wrong.

Martin

[Maiden Stone]

I wonder if the secret burials by night in the parish churchyard were in a hidden part or if a recent grave belonging to another family was used. I assume if the sexton or curate noticed the disturbed ground they would leave the deceased to rest in peace. I read an account of night-time funeral processions.
My R.C. 6xGGF with the missing burial c1738 was town innkeeper so he would have been missed by everyone when he died. There was land behind the inn and relatives had a farm; perhaps he was put in one of those places. His son and grandchildren were buried in the parish churchyard (20-40years later) and are in the burial register.

[Maiden Stone]

Here is a part of Carlisle Archdeacon Walter Fletcher's visitation of Nicholforest church (Cumbria) in 1817:

There was no chapel yard before [1817]. Some few were buried in the field without the Service being read. Some were carried to Stapleton and the Clerk there assured me "If the Minister was not in the way, they just happed them up [vernacular for covered up] and left them."

No wonder we can't find burials!

I've also heard of a corpse of a deceased Catholic being carried to the parish churchyard and placed on the ground, bearers then retreating to a distance from where they could keep watch over it. When curate or sexton arrived the mourners left. Identity of the deceased would have been known in a small parish.

[louisa maud]

I have often seen in records  that the body
" has been collected by friends" not a funeral director
surely if that is the case there is no knowing where they are buried

Louisa Maud

[philipsearching]

I have often seen in records  that the body
" has been collected by friends" not a funeral director
surely if that is the case there is no knowing where they are buried

Louisa Maud

If the friends organise a burial there would be a record.

[andrewalston]

There's one of my lot who has his date of death clearly inscribed on the stone in the churchyard - August 7th, 1894 - but the burial register fails to mention him.

Since I can't find him in 1891, I have to assume he actually died overseas.

[louisa maud]

In a local churchyard near me I know there is  an inscription on  a tomb stone and the person isn't in there

Philip,  my remark about bodies being taken by " friends" goes back to a query of mine year 1870, it was suggested that even though the body had been taken by friends they weren't necessarily buried, there was no mention of a burial, just the body was taken by friends

Louisa Maud

[Billyblue]

There's one of my lot who has his date of death clearly inscribed on the stone in the churchyard - August 7th, 1894 - but the burial register fails to mention him.

Since I can't find him in 1891, I have to assume he actually died overseas.
/quote]

I have one like that too.  The lady mentioned on the tombstone - actually a giant obelisk - as wife of the main person interred - is actually buried with her second husband, elsewhere in same cemetery!  But the obelisk gave no hint of a second marriage!

Dawn M