Interpretation

Churchyards and Monumental Inscriptions, Burial and headstone information

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piperpaul
Posts: 24
Joined: Sat Jun 18, 2011 7:44 am
Location: Australia/Tasmania.

Interpretation

Post by piperpaul » Sat Mar 09, 2019 10:52 am

Era 1851 involving Headstone inscription of a female who predeceased her husband who came from Ceres. The wife’s body was not located but an headstone inscription reads in memory of Mary Cooper wife of David Ferguson. The headstone is situated in a field next to a Kirk. The husband’s body is not buried at this site. Question 1. Headstone and no body, OK or suspicious? Question 2. Headstone, no body and maiden name on stone. OK or suspicious. I just want general comments please, names are fictitious to protect the innocent. Thanks to all who might reply.

WilmaM
Posts: 1870
Joined: Fri Dec 17, 2004 10:46 am
Location: Falkirk area

Re: Interpretation

Post by WilmaM » Sat Mar 09, 2019 12:11 pm

Second point first,
A woman in Scotland is always known by her ' own' name on headstones
ie Mary Brown wife of John Smith
So nothing suspicious there at all.

I am confused at the rest of your story, does the headstone say there is no body there?

I think sometimes a suicide would be buried out with the churchyard, but not sure if that pertained to Scotland much.
Were there other stones in the field? Has the boundary wall been moved? Are you aware of where her husband is buried?

More questions than answers, perhaps you could give the full story and we could help more.
Wilma

piperpaul
Posts: 24
Joined: Sat Jun 18, 2011 7:44 am
Location: Australia/Tasmania.

Re: Interpretation

Post by piperpaul » Sat Mar 09, 2019 11:42 pm

Thanks WilmaM,
This is one of those stories that have mixed up data over many years. The wife drowned and her body was not located. Her son of 14 months also drowned and his body was recovered. In the same accident another female (native, no relative) drowned and her body was recovered. The headstone is in a piece of land that was vacant at the time of the death but had a Kirk built upon it four years later! The piece of land minus Kirk has since been sold and the headstone stands alone!
The husband drowned in another incident eight years later and his body was not located.
The wife’s body can’t be buried beneath the headstone but maybe the son’s is there.
Any examples of headstones from a similar epic?
This event happened in Van Diemen’s Land in 1851. The husband was from Ceres but the wife of only 10 months has “no history” at this stage of research.
Look forward to replies,
Thank you

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