"half a coffin"

[speleobat2]

Hi all,

Just received my latest journal from ANESFHS and it has as part of it's databank the St. Nicholas Burials 1666-1793 plus some kirk session records and the Aberdeen Stent Roll 1669: http://www.anesfhs.org.uk/databank/

When I was searching the St. Nicholas Burials I found an entry for: James Chalmers burial half a coffin. The charge was 1pound 5.

Anyone heard of this? It's new to me.

Carol

Edit: It was actually James Cadenhead and the entry is in the Kirk Session records. He also got a winding sheet for 1pound 8. This was in 1691.

[Currie]

Hello Carol,

My first thought was that it would be for someone very short or very thin or very flat.

Perhaps a coffin for a child, or for someone whose dead body was just a collection of bits and pieces, or frozen in such a position that a special construction had to be arranged.

I vaguely remember reading somewhere about recyclable coffins used to transport the body to the grave but not buried with the body. I think there was something special about their construction but I can’t remember what or where I saw it. I’m probably thinking about mortcloths.

I’m not sure what all this is about, I haven’t looked at the full version.
http://books.google.com.au/books?id=rSc ... UQ6AEwBTgK
And not in an inclosed deep coffin as is our custom in the west, but in something that can only be described as half a coffin, the other half being carried immediately behind by six black-garbed men! Yes, it is the body of a large, bearded — really an obese — Russian, his bushy black beard sticking out and up, sidewise and down over his chest, and his large feet fully in evidence, toes up. Not a handsome man, either; rather gross and animal-looking. But all done for now, and being borne along in this funereal, eerie, reducing way ...

Or this one, I’m not sure I want to know.
http://books.google.com.au/books?id=Acx ... IQ6AEwBzgK
‘Stead of straightenin’ him out, they buried him in half a coffin. Lorda mercy, them geezers. I bet they all of 'em, dyin' like that, I bet they all wind up in heaven, if they ever got such a place." "I believe when you're dead you go in the ground and ...

The cost of the winding sheet is slightly more than the coffin. I wonder if there is a pointer there as to whether the coffin was a ‘cheap’ one? Does anyone have any examples of OPR era funeral costs?

Probably not very useful,
Alan

[LesleyB]

Hi Carol

I'm wondering if he himself, or someone else on his behalf, had already paid for half of it? A bit like folk do today with funeral plans. No evidence to back this up, just a thought.


Alan

I vaguely remember reading somewhere about recyclable coffins used to transport the body to the grave but not buried with the body. I think there was something special about their construction but I can’t remember what or where I saw it. I’m probably thinking about mortcloths.

I wonder if you are thinking of those coffins which were resuable - the body was carried to the grave in them, but the end of the coffin ( I think it was the end section) was really a flap and the body was able to slide out into the grave (wrapped in a winding sheet) and the coffin could be used for the next burial. As far as I remember this was an option for very poor burials, or perhaps when there were a great many deaths due to epidemics and there was not the time or resources to have coffins made for all. I do have a reference for that in a book but no time to look it out just now.
Could "half a coffin" relate to this kind of coffin as Alan suggested?

Best wishes
Lesley

[speleobat2]

Thanks Alan and Lesley!

I hadn't heard of the reusable coffins before, but that makes sense in a dark sort of way! I'm not even sure when coffins as we know them came in to use. The winding sheet or mortcloth is sure to be much older.

I have to admit that all sorts of ideas popped into my mind when I first read that "half a coffin" starting with "Which half?"

Carol

[Alan SHARP]

Greetings.

Quote above:
http://books.google.com.au/books?id=rSc ... UQ6AEwBTgK
And not in an inclosed deep coffin as is our custom in the west, but in something that can only be described as half a coffin, the other half being carried immediately behind by six black-garbed men! Yes, it is the body of a large, bearded — really an obese — Russian, his bushy black beard sticking out and up, sidewise and down over his chest, and his large feet fully in evidence, toes up. Not a handsome man, either; rather gross and animal-looking. But all done for now, and being borne along in this funereal, eerie, reducing way ...
End of Quote


Drawing my own conclusions, clearly in the case example supplied by Alan (Currie) it was the BOTTOM half, carried stretcher fashion for all to see the deceased. Attendants following along with the top half.

Correct me if I'm wrong.

Alan SHARP.

[speleobat2]

Hmmm. Now that's a real logical possibility. Again, not being familiar with funeral customs around 1691, maybe the deceased was carried in an open coffin from the family home to the graveyard, then the top was attached and the grave filled.

I'm going to have to read up on this! Interesting the paths that this hobby takes one down!

Carol

[LesleyB]

Hi Carol

The winding sheet or mortcloth is sure to be much older.

These are two different articles:

A winding sheet would be a white fabric, linen or cotton depending on the times, closely wrapping the body. You sometimes see representations of these on old gravestones, or even christian imagery representing the resurrection, with the winding sheets dropping away from the resurrected body. (I'll see if I can find a picture of this kind of thing)

A mortcloth was black, usually velvet or similar, sometimes with tassled edges, draped OVER the coffin when its way to burial. It was removed before burial and was "hired out" either by the church or by trade incorporations.

Best wishes
Lesley

[speleobat2]

Thanks Lesley!

I'm learning more everytime I log on!

Carol

[dizzybint]

Never heard of half a coffin unless it meant a coffin being shared by another corpse,, sounds a bit gruesome but hard times back then and cant see it being a mortsafe.. they were only used by more wealthy people to secure the body until it decomposed in case of grave robbers..